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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
FORM 10-K
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20122013
 
of
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
 
a Georgia Corporation
IRS Employer Identification No. 58-2336689
SEC File Number 0-53717
 
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
(770) 828-2000

 
Atlanticus’ common stock, no par value per share, is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”).
 
Atlanticus is not a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933
1933.
 
Atlanticus (1) is required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act, (2) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act during the preceding 12 months and (3) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
 
Atlanticus has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months.
 
Atlanticus believes that its executive officers, directors and 10% beneficial owners subject to Section 16(a) of the Act complied with all applicable filing requirements during 2012,2013, except as set forth under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in Atlanticus’ Proxy Statement for the 20132014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Atlanticus is a smaller reporting company and is not a shell company.
 
The aggregate market value of Atlanticus’ common stock (based upon the closing sales price quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market) held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 20122013 was $29.4 million.$19.3 million. (For this purpose, directors and officers have been assumed to be affiliates, and we also have excluded 1,672,656 loaned shares at June 30, 2012.2013.)

As of February 15, 2013, 13,884,523March 21, 2014, 14,264,069 shares of common stock, no par value, of Atlanticus were outstanding. (ThisThis excludes 1,672,6561,549,800 loaned shares to be returned as of that date.)returned.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of Atlanticus’ Proxy Statement for its 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.





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Table of Contents
 

Page
Item 1.1
Item 1A.7Page
Item 1B.15
Item 2.16
Item 3.16
Item 4.16Part I
 Item 1.Business
 Item 1A.Risk Factors
 Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.Properties
Item 3.Legal Proceedings
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
 
 
Item 5.
 17
Item 6.
 18
Item 7.
 18
Item 7A.
 33
Item 8.
 33
Item 9.34
Item 9A.34
Item 9B.34
 Item 9A.Controls and Procedures
 Item 9B.Other Information
 
 
Item 10.
 35
Item 11.
 35
Item 12.
 35
Item 13.
 35
Item 14.
Part IV
 Item 15.35Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
    
Item 15.36


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Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
We make forward-looking statements in this Report and in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or otherwise make public. In this Report, both Item 1, “Business,” and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations,” contain forward-looking statements. In addition, our senior management might make forward-looking statements to analysts, investors, the media and others. Statements with respect to expected revenue, income, receivables, income ratios, net interest margins, long-term shareholder returns, acquisitions and other growth opportunities, divestitures and discontinuations of businesses, loss exposure and loss provisions, delinquency and charge-off rates, the effects of account actions we may take or have taken, changes in collection programs and practices, changes in the credit quality and fair value of our credit card loans and fees receivable and the fair value of their underlying structured financing facilities, the impact of actions by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and other regulators on both us, and banks that issue credit cards and other credit products on our behalf, and merchants that participate in our point-of-sale finance operations, account growth, the performance of investments that we have made, operating expenses, the impact of bankruptcy law changes, marketing plans and expenses, the performance of our Auto Finance segment, our plans in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), the impact of our U.K. Portfolio of originated credit card receivables (the “U.K. Portfolio”) on our financial performance, the sufficiency of available liquidity, the prospect for improvements in the liquidity markets, future interest costs, sources of funding operations and acquisitions, growth and profitability of our point-of-sale finance operations, our entry into international markets, our ability to raise funds or renew financing facilities, share repurchases, debt retirement, the results associated with our equity-method investees, our servicing income levels, gains and losses from investments in securities, experimentation with new products and other statements of our plans, beliefs or expectations are forward-looking statements. These and other statements using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions also are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. The forward-looking statements we make are not guarantees of future performance, and we have based these statements on our assumptions and analyses in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results, and actual future results could differ materially from those described in such statements. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or priorhistorical earnings levels.
Although it is not possible to identify all factors, we continue to face many risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from our expectations are the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” set forth in Part I, Item 1A, and the risk factors and other cautionary statements in other documents we file with the SEC, including the following:
the availability of adequate financing;
·  the extent to which federal, state, local and foreign governmental regulation of our various business lines and products limits or prohibits the operation of our businesses;
current and future litigation and regulatory proceedings against us;
·  current and future litigation and regulatory proceedings against us;
the effect of adverse economic conditions on our revenues, loss rates and cash flows;
the fragmentation of our industry and competition from various other sources providing similar financial products, or other alternative sources of credit, to consumers;
·  the effect of adverse economic conditions on our revenues, loss rates and cash flows;
the adequacy of our allowances for uncollectible loans and fees receivable and estimates of loan losses used within our underwriting and analyses;
the possible impairment of assets;
·  the fragmentation of our industry and competition from various other sources providing similar financial products, or other alternative sources of credit, to consumers;
our ability to manage costs in line with the expansion or contraction of our various business lines;
our relationship with the merchants that participate in our point-of-sale finance operations and the banks that provide certain services that are needed to operate our business lines; and
·  the adequacy of our allowances for uncollectible loans and fees receivable and estimates of loan losses;
·  the availability of adequate financing;
·  the possible impairment of assets;
·  our ability to reduce or eliminate overhead and other costs to lower levels consistent with the current contraction of our loans and fees receivable and other income-producing assets;
·  our relationship with the banks that provide certain services that are needed to operate our businesses; and
·  theft and employee errors.
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Most of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control. Any of these factors, or a combination of these factors, could materially affect our future financial condition or results of operations and the ultimate accuracy of our forward-looking statements. There also are other factors that we may not describe (generally because we currently do not perceive them to be material) that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations.
We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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In this Report, except as the context suggests otherwise, the words “Company,” “Atlanticus Holdings Corporation,” “Atlanticus,” “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Atlanticus Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries and predecessors. Atlanticus owns Aspire®, Embrace®, Emerge®, Imagine®, Majestic®, Monument®, Salute®, Tribute®, Fortiva®, and other trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and the U.K.


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PART I
ITEM 1.BUSINESS

On November 28, 2012, we announced a change in our name from CompuCredit Holdings Corporation to Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, and we changed our NASDAQ ticker symbol from “CCRT” to “ATLC.”  The name change became effective on November 30, 2012.  Our common stock began trading under our new ticker symbol on December 3, 2012.
Sale of Businesses

As discussed in more detail in the General discussion below, in August 2012, we completed a transaction to sell to Flexpoint Fund II, L.P. our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations.  As a result, these operations are included as discontinued operations for all periods presented within our consolidated statements of operations.  Also included within discontinued operations for all periods presented are the activities of our former MEM (a provider in the U.K. of Internet-based, short-term micro-loans) and Retail Micro-Loans segment operations, which we sold in 2011. We had no business operating assets that were held for sale as of December 31, 2012.
General
A general discussion of our business follows. For additional information about our business, please visit our website at www.Atlanticus.com. Information contained on or available through our website is not incorporated by reference in this Report.
We are primarily focused on providinga Georgia corporation formed in 2009, as successor to an entity that commenced operations in 1996. We provide various credit and related financial services. Through our subsidiaries, we offer financialservices and products and services to or associated with the financially underserved consumer credit market—a market largely represented by credit risks that regulators classify as “sub-prime.”sub-prime.
Within our Credit and Other Investments segment, we offer point-of-sale financing whereby we partner with retailers and service providers to provide credit to their customers for the purchase of goods and services or the rental of goods under rent-to-own arrangements. These services are often extended to customers who may have been declined under traditional financing options. We specialize in providing this "second look" credit service in various industries across the United States (“U.S.”). Using our infrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing activities, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and collections operations for third parties.
We traditionally have served our customers principally through our marketing and solicitationAlso within this segment, we continue to collect on portfolios of credit card accounts and otherreceivables underlying now-closed credit products and our servicing of various receivables. Given the global financial crisis arising in 2008,card accounts. These receivables include both receivables we worked with ouroriginated through third-party financial institution partners to close substantially allinstitutions and portfolios of the credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables portfolios in 2009.we purchased from third-party financial institutions. The only open credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables are those generatedwe generate through our credit card products in the U.K.  SeveralSome of our portfolios of credit card receivables underlying now-closed accounts are encumbered by non-recourse structured financings, and for some of these portfolios our onlyprincipal remaining economic interest is the servicing compensation that we receive as an offset against our servicing costs given that the likely future collections on the portfolios are insufficient to allow for full repayment of the financings. We have been successful in partnering with certain financing partners to purchase the debt underlying two of our portfolios. Beyond the aforementioned activitiesalso report within our Credit Cardsand Other Investments segment the income earned from investments in two equity-method investees—one that holds credit card receivables for which we are the servicer and another that holds structured financing notes underlying credit card receivables for which we are the servicer.
Lastly, through our Credit and Other Investments segment, we are applying the experiencesengage in testing and infrastructure associated with our historic credit card offerings to other credit product offerings, including private label merchant credit whereby we partner with retailers to provide credit at the point of sale to their customers who may have been declined under traditional financing options. We specialize in providing this "second look" credit service in various industries across the United States (“U.S.”).  Using our global infrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing activities, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and collections operations for third parties. Lastly, through our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, we are engaged in limited investment activities in ancillary finance, technology and other businessesproducts as we seek to build new products and relationships that could allow for greater utilization ofcapitalize on our expertise and infrastructure.

Within our Auto Finance segment, our CAR subsidiary operations principally purchase and/or service loans secured by automobiles from or for and also provide floor-plan financing for a pre-qualified network of independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here, used car business. We purchase the auto loans at a discount and with dealer retentions or holdbacks that provide risk protection. Also within our Auto Finance segment, we are collecting onmanage portfolios of auto finance receivables that we previously originated through franchised and independent auto dealers in connection with prior business activities.
activities, as well as provide additional lending products, such as floor plan financing and additional installment lending products to certain dealers.
As suggesteddiscussed above, we manage our business activities through two reportable segments—Credit Cardssegments-Credit and Other Investments, and Auto Finance. We further describe our segment operations below. (See, also, Note 4, “Segment Reporting,” to our consolidated financial statements included herein for segment-specific financial data.)
The most significant business changes or events for us during the year ended December 31, 2012 were:
·  Our receipt of $10 million from a lender to compensate us for excess costs we incurred for the benefit of the lender in servicing a portfolio that collateralized the lender’s loan to us;
·  The September 2012 repurchase of 8,250,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $82.5 million, pursuant to a tender offer;
·  The August 2012 sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations (the post-card issuance activities of which were historically reflected within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment), to Flexpoint Fund II, L.P. for a total of $130.5 million in fixed and contingent consideration—such transaction resulting in a net gain on sale (after related expenses and recognition of the contingent consideration we earned in November 2012) of $57.3 million as reflected within our income from discontinued operations category on our 2012 consolidated statement of operations; and
·  Our May 2012 repayment to investors in our 3.625% convertible senior notes of $83.5 million in face amount of such then-outstanding notes.
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In the current environment, the principal recurring cash flows we receive within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment areprincipally include those associated with (i)(1) our point-of-sale finance activities, (2) servicing compensation (ii) distributions from one of our equity-method investees that in March 2011 purchased and now holds all of the outstanding notes issued out of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust, and (iii) unencumbered(3) credit card receivables portfolios that have already generated enough cash to allow forare unencumbered or where we own a portion of the repayment of their underlying structured financing facilities. facility.
Although we are closely monitoringmonitor and managingmanage our liquidity position and(and in recent years have significantly reduced our overhead infrastructure (whichwhich was built to accommodate higher account originations and managed receivables levels), we are maintaining our global infrastructure and incurring heightenedincreased overhead and other costs in so doing as we pursueorder to expand point-of-sale finance solutions and new product offerings that we believe have the potential to grow into our infrastructure and allow for long-term shareholder returns.
Subject to the availability of growth capital at attractive terms and pricing, our shareholders should expect uswe plan to continue to evaluate and pursue a variety of activities, including:  (1) the expansion of our point-of-sale finance products; (2) the acquisition of additional credit card receivables portfolios, and potentially other financial assets that are complementary toassociated with our financially underserved credit products and services business; (2)point-of-sale finance activities as well as the acquisition of receivables portfolios; (3) investments in other assets or businesses that are not necessarily financial services assets or businesses; (3) repurchases(4) the repurchase of our convertible senior notes and other debt or our outstanding common stock; and (4)(5) the servicing credit cardof receivables and otherrelated

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financial assets for third parties (and in which we have limited or no equity interests) to allow us to leverage our expertise and infrastructure.
Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment. Our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment includes our continuing activities relating topoint-of-sale finance operations, investments in and servicing of our various credit card receivables portfolios as well asand other investmentstesting and credit products that generally use much of the same infrastructure as our credit card operations.   One such product is our private label merchant credit product, whereby we partner with retailers to provide credit (and in some cases “second look” credit) at the point of sale to their customers. Additionally, we include within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment certain limited investment activities in ancillary finance, technology and other businesses as we seek to build new products and relationships that could allow for greater utilization ofgenerally capitalize on our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment expertise andcredit infrastructure.
As previously discussed, our point-of-sale finance operations allow retail partners to offer installment lending or revolving credit options as well as rent-to-own arrangements to their customer base. With many potential customers currently declined under traditional financing terms offered by other lenders, we are able to increase a business' customer base by approving certain of these overlooked consumers for various financing arrangements. We currently provide this service by (i) allowing retail partners access to our proprietary online application processing and (ii) offering competitively priced financing options to consumers and other offerings unique to the industry. We believe that our ability to offer customers flexibility in their financing arrangements (from installment loans and revolving credit to rent-to-own options) affords us a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Currently our installment and revolving credit loans cover a variety of goods and services including consumer electronics, furniture, elective medical procedures and home-improvements. Alternatively, our rent-to-own options allow consumers to obtain and use brand name products (in the aforementioned categories) with flexible rental purchase agreements and no long-term obligations. Our growing portfolio of point-of-sale finance assets are generating and we believe will continue to generate attractive returns on assets, thereby allowing us to secure debt financing under terms and conditions (including advance rates and pricing) that will allow us to achieve our desired returns on equity, and we continue to pursue growth in this area.
Substantially all of the credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables and portfolios have been closed to new cardholder purchases (and hencesince 2009. We continue to service our credit card receivables growth) since 2009.  However,portfolios as described in more detail below,they continue to liquidate. In the current environment, we do have a growing number of openrefocused our expertise and infrastructure on our point-of-sale finance operations, rather than our credit card accounts in the U.K.
products, because we believe these operations offer an attractive return on investment and better growth opportunities.
Our credit card and other operations are heavily regulated, and over time wewhich may cause us to change how we conduct our operations either in response to regulation or in keeping with our goal of leading the industry in the application ofadherence to consumer-friendly practices. We have made several significant changes to our practices over the past several years, and because our account management practices are evolutionary and dynamic, it is possible that we may make further changes to these practices, some of which may produce positive, and others of which may produce adverse, effects on our operating results and financial position. Customers at the lower end of the FICO scoringcredit score range intrinsically have higher loss rates than do customers at the higher end of the FICO scoringcredit score range. As a result, we have pricedprice our products to reflect this higher loss rate. As such, our products are subject to greater regulatory scrutiny than the products of prime lenders who canare able to price their credit products at much lower levels than we can. See “Consumer and Debtor Protection Laws and Regulations—Credit CardsRegulations-Credit and Other Investments Segment” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
As is customary in our industry, we historically financed most of our credit card receivables through the asset-backed securitization markets. These markets worsened significantly in 2008, and the level of “advance rates” or leverage we can achieve against credit receivable assets in the current asset-backed securitization markets is far below 2008 levels. Considering this reality, along with a U.S. regulatory environment in which sub-prime credit card lending returns on assets are significantly lower than they were before 2008, we have concluded that we cannot achieve our desired returns on equity through U.S. credit card lending.  We continue, however, to originate credit cards in the U.K. because we believe the U.K. environment to be more favorable than the U.S. toward possible significant credit card origination growth in the future. Additinally, we believe that our growing portfolio of private label merchant credit receivables is generating and will continue to generate attractive returns on assets, thereby allowing us to secure debt financing under terms and conditions (including advance rates and pricing) that will allow us to achieve our desired returns on equity.
Auto Finance Segment.Our The operations of our Auto Finance segment historically has included a variety of auto sales and lending activities. Our originalare principally conducted through our CAR platform, CAR,which we acquired in April 2005,2005. CAR primarily purchases autoand/or services loans at a discount, services auto loanssecured by automobiles from or for a fee and provides floor-plan financing; its customer base includes a nationwidepre-qualified network of pre-qualified independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here used car business.  WeIn 2010, we started offering floor-plan financing to this same group of dealers and finance companies. In 2013 we also historically owned substantially allstarted offering certain installment lending products in addition to our traditional loans secured by automobiles.  While this product represented less than 10% of JRAS, a buy-here, pay-here dealerCAR's outstanding receivables as of December 31, 2013, we acquired in 2007 and operated from that time until our dispositionare seeking to grow the volume of certain JRAS operating assetsthese loans in the first quarter of 2011. Subsequent to the first quarter of 2011, our only remaining JRAS asset is the portfolio of auto finance receivables that it had originated while under our ownership. Lastly, our ACC platform acquired during 2007 historically purchased retail installment contracts from franchised car dealers. We ceased origination efforts within the ACC platform during 2009 and outsourced the collection of its portfolio of auto finance receivables. The auto finance receivables of both the JRAS and the ACC portfolios are liquidating with collections and charge offs, and the effects of these liquidating receivables portfolios on our results of operations are diminishing with each successive financial reporting period.coming quarters.

InThrough our CAR operations, we generate revenues on purchased loans through interest earned on the face value of the installment agreements combined with discounts on loans purchased. We generally earn discount income over the life of the applicable loan. Additionally, we generate revenues from servicing loans on behalf of dealers for a portion of actual collections and by providing back-up servicing for others’ similar quality securitized assets.assets owned by unrelated third parties. We offer a number of other products to our network of buy-here, pay-here dealers (including our floor-plan financing offering), but the vast majority of our activities are represented by our purchases of auto loans at discounts and our servicing of auto loans for a fee. OurAs of December 31, 2013, our CAR operations currently serveserved more than 675600 dealers in 37 states. These operations are performingcontinue to perform well in the current environment (achieving consistent profitability and generating positive cash flows with modest growth).


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Sale of Our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables Segment
In August 2012, we sold our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations, to an unrelated third party. As a result, these operations are included as discontinued operations for all periods presented within our consolidated statements of operations. We had no assets that were held for sale as of December 31, 2012 or December 31, 2013.
How Do We MaintainManage the Accounts and Mitigate Our Risks?
Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment. We manage account activityaccounts using credit behavioral scoring, credit file data and our proprietary risk evaluation systems. These strategies include the management of transaction authorizations, account renewals, over-limit accounts, credit line modifications and collection programs. We use an adaptive control system to translate our strategies into account management processes. The system enables us to develop and test multiple strategies simultaneously, which allows us to continually refine our account management activities. We have incorporated our proprietary risk scores into the control system, in addition to standard credit behavior scores used widely in the industry, in order to segment, evaluate and manage the accounts. We believe that by combining external credit file data along with historical and current customer activity, we are able to better predict the true risk associated with current and delinquent accounts.
For credit cardboth our point-of-sale finance consumers and the accounts that are open to cardholder purchases, (currently only those accounts opened under programs within the U.K.), we monitor authorizations, and we limit customer credit availability for transaction types we believe present higher risks, such as foreign transactions, cash advances, etc. We generally seek to manage credit lines to reward financially underserved customers who are performing well and to mitigate losses from delinquent customer segments, and we periodically review accounts exhibiting favorable credit characteristics for credit line increases.segments. We also employ strategies to reduce otherwise open credit lines for customers demonstrating indicators of increased credit or bankruptcy risk. Data relating to account performance are captured and loaded into our proprietary database for ongoing analysis. We adjust account management strategies as necessary, based on the results of such analyses. Additionally, we use industry-standard fraud detection software to manage the portfolio. We route accounts to manual work queues and suspend charging privileges if the transaction-based fraud models indicate a high probability of fraudulent card use.
Auto Finance Segment. Our CAR operations manage credit quality and loss mitigation at the dealer portfolio level through the implementation of dealer-specific loss reserve accounts. In most instances, the reserve accounts are cross-collateralized across all businessaccounts presented by any single dealer. CAR monitors performance at the dealer portfolio level (by product type) to adjust pricing or the reserve account or to determine if the dealer iswhether to be excludedterminate future account purchases from our account purchase program.such dealer.
CAR appliesprovides dealers with specific purchase guidelines based upon each product offering and we establish delegateddelegates approval authoritiesauthority to assist in the monitoring of transactions during the loan acquisition process. Dealers are subject to specific approval criteria, and individual accounts typically are verified for accuracy before, during and after the acquisition process. Dealer portfolios across the business segment are monitored and compared against expected collections and peer dealer performance. Monitoring of dealer pool vintages, delinquencies and loss ratios helps determine past performance and expected future results, which are used to adjust pricing and reserve requirements. Our CAR operations also manage risk through diversifying their receivables among multiple dealers.
How Do We Collect from Our Customers?
Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment. The goal of the collections process is to collect as much of the money that is owed to us in the most cost effectivecost-effective and customer friendlycustomer-friendly manner possible. To this end, we employ the traditional cross-section of letters and telephone calls to encourage payment. However, recognizing that our objective is to maximize the amount collected, we also willsometimes offer customers flexibility with respect to the application of payments in order to encourage larger or prompter payments. For instance, in certain cases we may vary from our general payment application priority (i.e., of applying payments first to finance charges, then to fees, and then to principal) by agreeing to apply payments first to principal and then to finance charges and fees or by agreeing to provide payments or credits of finance charges and principal to induce or in exchange for an appropriate customer payment. Application of payments in this manner also permits our collectors to assess real time the degree to which a customer’s payments over the life of an account have covered the principal credit extensions to the customer. This allows our collectors to readily identify our potential “economic”economic loss associated with the charge off of a particular account (i.e., the excess of principal loaned to the customer over payments received back from the customer throughout the life of the account). With this information, our collectors work cooperatively with our customers in a way intended to best protect us from economic loss on the customer relationship. Our selection of collection techniques, including, for example, the order in which we apply payments or the provision of payments or credits to induce or in exchange for customer payment, impacts the statistical performance of our portfolios that we reflect under the “Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment” caption within Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
We consider management’s experience in operating professional collection agencies, coupled with our proprietary systems, to be a competitive advantage in minimizing delinquencies and charge offs. Our collectors employ various and

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evolving tools when engaging with our customers, and they routinely test and evaluate new tools in their drive toward improving our collections with a greater degree of efficiency. These tools include programs under which we may reduce or eliminate a customer’s annual percentage rate (“APR”) or waive a certain amount of accrued fees, provided the customer makes a minimum number or amount of payments. In some instances, we may agree to match a customer’s payments, for example, with a commensurate paymentpayments or reductionreductions of finance charges or waiverwaivers of fees. In other situations, we may actually settle with customers and adjust their finance charges and fees, for example, based on their commitment and their follow through on their commitment to pay certain portions of the balances they owe. Our collectors may also decrease a customer’s minimum payment under certain collection programs. Additionally, we employ re-aging techniques as discussed below. We also may occasionally use our marketing group to assist in determining various programs to assist in the collection process. Moreover, we willingly participate in the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (“CCCS”) program by waiving a certain percentage of a customer’s debt that is considered our “fair share” under the CCCS program. All of our programs are utilized based on the degree of economic success they achieve.
We constantly are monitoringregularly monitor and adaptingadapt our collection strategies, techniques, technology and training to optimize our efforts to reduce delinquencies and charge offs. We use our operations systems to develop these proprietary collection strategies and techniques, whichand we employ in our operations. We analyze the output from these systems to identify the strategies and techniques that we believe are most likely to result in curing a delinquent account in the most cost-effective manner, rather than treating all accounts the same based on the mere passage of time.
Our collection strategies have included utilizing both internal and third-party collectors and creating a competitive process of rewarding the most effective and efficient group of collectors from within our system and among third-party agencies. We have divided our portfolios into various groups that are statistically equivalent and have provided these groups of accounts to our various internal and external collection resources. We compare the results of the collectors against one another to determine which techniques and which collection groups are producing the best results.
As in all aspects of our risk management strategies, we compare the results of each of the above strategies with other collection strategies and devote resources to those strategies that yield the best results. Results are measured based on delinquency rates, expected losses and costs to collect. Existing strategies are then adjusted as suggested bybased on these results. Management believesWe believe that maintaining the ongoing discipline ofroutinely testing, measuring and adjusting collection strategies will resultresults in minimizedlower bad debt losses and operating expenses. We believe this on-going evaluation differs from the approach taken by the vast majority of credit grantors that implement collection strategies based on commonly accepted peer group practices.
We discontinue charging interest and fees for most of our credit products when loans and fees receivable become contractually 90 or more days past due (and in certain circumstances where it is necessary in order to avoid so-called “negative amortization”), and we generally charge off loans and fees receivable when they become contractually more than 180 days past due (oror 120 days past due for the point-of-sale finance product. For our rent-to-own products, we generally charge off receivables and impair associated rental merchandise if the customer has not made a payment within 30 days of notification and confirmation of a customer’s bankruptcy or death).the previous 90 days. However, if a customer makes a payment greater than or equal to two minimum payments within a month of the charge-off date, we may reconsider whether charge-off status remains appropriate. Additionally,For all of our products, we generally charge off receivables within 30 days of notification and confirmation of a customer’s bankruptcy or death. However, in some cases of death, we do not charge off receivables are not charged off if with respect to the deceased customer’s account, there is a surviving, contractually liable individual or an estate large enough to pay the debt in full.
Our determination of whether an account is contractually past due is relevant to our delinquency and charge-off data included under the “Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment” caption within Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Various factors are relevant in analyzing whether an account is contractually past due (i.e.(e.g., whether an account has not satisfied its minimum payment due requirement), which for us is the trigger for moving receivables through our various delinquency bucketsstages and ultimately to charge-off status. WeFor our point-of-sale finance accounts, we consider an account to be delinquent if the customer has not made any required payment in full as of the payment due date. Accounts under our rent-to own program are considered delinquent if the customer has not made full payment of any rental amount by the due date and has not returned the rental equipment to us. For credit card accounts, we consider a cardholder’s receivable to be delinquent if the cardholder failshas failed to pay a minimum amount, computed as the greater of a stated minimum payment or a fixed percentage of his or herthe statement balance (for example 3% to 10% of the outstanding balance in some cases or in other cases 1% of the outstanding balance plus any finance charges and late fees billed in the current cycle).
Additionally, in an effort to increase the value of our account relationships, we sometimes re-age customer accounts that meet applicable regulatoryour qualifications for re-aging. It is our policy to work cooperatively with customers demonstrating a willingness and ability to repay their indebtedness and who satisfy other criteria, but are unable to pay the entire past due amount. Generally, to qualify for re-aging, an account must have been opened for at least nine months and may not be re-aged more than once in a twelve-month period or twice in a five-year period. In addition, an account on a workout program may qualify for one additional re-age in a five-year period. The customer also must have made three consecutive minimum monthly payments or the equivalent cumulative amount in the last three billing cycles. If a re-aged account subsequently experiences payment defaults, it will again become contractually delinquent and will be charged off according to our regular charge-off policy. The practice of re-aging an account may affect delinquencies and charge offs, potentially delaying or reducing such delinquencies and charge offs.
Auto Finance Segment. Accounts that CAR purchases from approved dealers initially are collected by the originating branch or service center location using a combination of traditional collection techniques.practices. Auto Finance segment accounts that

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have been loaded into our data processing system are centrally serviced to leverage auto dialer processing for early stage collections. The collection process includes contacting the customer by phone or mail, skip tracing and using starter interrupt devices to minimize delinquencies. Uncollectible accounts in our CAR operation generally are returned to the dealer under an agreement with the dealer to charge the balance on the account against the dealer’s reserve account. We generally do not repossess autos in our CAR operation as a result of the agreements that we have with the dealers.dealers unless there are insufficient dealer reserves to offset the loss or if a dealer instructs us to.
Consumer and Debtor Protection Laws and Regulations
Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment. Our U.S. business is regulated directly and indirectly under various federal and state consumer protection, collection and other laws, rules and regulations, including the federal Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the “CARD Act”), the federal Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the federal Truth In Lending Act (“TILA”), the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") Act, the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the federal Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. These statuteslaws, rules and their enabling regulations, among other things, impose disclosure requirements when a consumer credit loan isproducts are advertised, when thean account is opened, and when monthly billing statements are sent.sent and when consumer obligations are collected. In addition, various statutes limit the liability of credit cardholdersconsumers for unauthorized use, prohibit discriminatory practices in extending credit,consumer transactions, impose limitations on the types of charges that may be assessed and restrict the use of consumer credit reports and other account-related information. Many of our products are designed for customers at the lower end of the FICO scoringcredit score range. To offsetWe price our products to reflect the higher loss rates among these customers, these products generally are priced higher thancredit risk of our other products.customers. Because of the inherently greater credit risks inherent inof these customers and the resulting higher prices thatinterest and fees, we have had to charge for these products, they, and the banks that have issued them on our behalf,finance partners are subject to significant regulatory scrutiny. If regulators, including the FDIC (which regulates the lenders that have issued these products on our behalf)bank lenders), the CFPB and the FTC, object to the terms of these products, or how we have marketed them, thento our marketing or collection practices, we could be required to modify or discontinue them. Over the past several years, we have modified both ourcertain products and how we have marketed them in response to comments from regulators. Also, in December 2008, we settled litigation associated with allegations that the FDIC and FTC had made about some of our credit card marketingor practices.
In the U.K., our credit card operations are subject to U.K. regulations that provide similar consumer protections to those provided under the U.S. regulatory framework. We are licensed and regulated by the Office of Fair Trading ("OFT"(“OFT”), and we are governed by an extensive legislative and regulatory framework that includes the Consumer Credit Act, the Data Protection Act, Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, Consumer Protection and Unfair Trading regulations, Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations, the Enterprise Act, Money Laundering Regulations, Financial Ombudsman Service and Advertising Standards Authority adjudications. The aforementioned legislation and regulations impose strict rules on the lookform and content of consumer contracts, howthe calculation and presentation of APRs, are calculated and stated, advertising in all forms, parties who we can contactbe contacted and disclosures to consumers, among others. The regulators, such as the OFT, provide guidance on consumer credit practices including collections. The Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") will be taking over regulation of consumer credit from the OFT on April 1, 2014, and businesses intending to continue carrying out consumer credit activities in the U.K. will be required to undertake a comprehensive FCA licensing process over the next 12 to 18 months. We are currently undertaking steps to ensure that we continue to remain in compliance with all regulations.
Auto Finance Segment. This segment is regulated directly and indirectly under various federal and state consumer protection and other laws, rules and regulations, including the federal TILA, the federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the federal Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act. These statutes and their enabling regulations, among other things, impose disclosure requirements. In addition, various state statutes limit the interest rates and fees that may be charged, limit the types of interest computations (e.g., interest bearing or pre-computed) and refunding processes, that are permitted, prohibit discriminatory practices in extending credit, impose limitations on fees and other ancillary products and restrict the use of consumer credit reports and other account-related information. Many of the states in which this segment operates have various licensing requirements and impose certain financial or other conditions in connection with these licensing requirements.

Privacy and Data Security Laws and Regulations. We are required to manage, use, and store large amounts of personally identifiable information, principally customers’ confidential personal and financial data, in the course of our business. We depend on our IT networks and systems, and those of third parties, to process, store, and transmit that information. In the past, consumer finance companies have been targeted for sophisticated cyber attacks. A security breach involving our files and infrastructure could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. We take numerous measures to ensure the security of our hardware and software systems as well as customer information.
We are subject to various U.S. federal and state laws and regulations designed to protect confidential personal and financial data. For example, we must comply with guidelines under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that require each financial institution to develop, implement and maintain a written, comprehensive information security program containing safeguards that are appropriate to the financial institution’s size and complexity, the nature and scope of the financial institution’s activities and the sensitivity of any customer information at issue. Additionally, various federal banking regulatory agencies, and as many as at least

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46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, have enacted data breachsecurity regulations and laws requiring customer notification in the event of a security breach.
Competition
Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment. We face substantial competition from other consumer lenders, the intensity of which varies depending upon economic and liquidity cycles. Our point-of-sale finance, rent-to-own and credit card and private label merchant credit businesses compete with national, regional and local bankcard and consumer credit issuers, other general-purpose credit card issuers and retail credit card and merchant credit issuers. Many of these competitors are substantially larger than we are, have significantly greater financial resources than we do and have significantly lower costs of funds than we have.
Auto Finance Segment. Competition within the auto finance sector is very widespread and fragmented. Our auto finance operations target automobile dealers that oftentimes are not capable of accessing indirect lending from major financial institutions or captive finance companies. We compete mainly with a handful of national and regional companies focused on this credit segment (e.g., Credit Acceptance Corporation, Westlake Financial, Mid-Atlantic Finance, General Motors Financial Company, Inc. (formerly AmeriCredit Corp.), Drive Financial, Western Funding Inc., and America’s Car-Mart) and a large number of smaller, regional private companies with a narrow geographic focus. Individual dealers with access to capital may also compete in this segment through the purchase of receivables from peer dealers in their markets.
Employees
As of December 31, 2012,2013, we had 285315 employees, most of which are employed within the U.S., principally in Florida and Georgia. Also included in this employee count are 4750 employees in the U.K. We consider our relations with our employees to be good. Our employees are not covered by a collective-bargaining agreement, and we have never experienced any organized work stoppage, strike or labor dispute.
Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks
We have registered and continue to register, when appropriate, various trademarks, trade names and service marks used in connection with our businesses and for private-label marketing of certain of our products. We consider these trademarks and service marks to be readily identifiable with, and valuable to, our business. This Annual Report on Form 10-K also contains trade names and trademarks of other companies that are the property of their respective owners.
Additional Information
We are headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and our principal executive offices are located at Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia 30328. Our headquarters telephone number is (770) 828-2000, and our Internet address is www.atlanticus.com. We make available free of charge on our Internet website certain of our recent SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and amendments to those filings as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
Certain corporate governance materials, including our Board of Directors committee charters and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, are posted on our website under the heading “For Investors.” From time to time, the corporate governance materials on our website may be updated as necessary to comply with rules issued by the SEC or NASDAQ, or as desirable to further the continued effective and efficient governance of our company.

ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock or other securities involves a number of risks. You should carefully consider each of the risks described below before deciding to invest in our common stock.stock or other securities. If any of the following risks develops into actual events, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be negatively affected, the market price of our common stock or other securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
 
Investors should be particularly cautious regarding investments in our common stock or other securities at the present time in light of the current net contraction of our receivables levels over the last few years, uncertainties as to our business model going forward and our inability to achieve consistent earnings from our continuing operations in recent years.
 
Our Cash Flows and Net Income Are Dependent Upon Payments from Our Loans and Fees Receivable and Other Credit Products
 

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The collectabilitycollectibility of our loans and fees receivable is a function of many factors including the criteria used to select who is issued credit, the pricing of the credit products, the lengths of the relationships, general economic conditions, the rate at which customers repay their accounts or become delinquent, and the rate at which customers borrow funds from us.  Deterioration in these factors, which we have experienced over the past few years, adversely impacts our business.  In addition, to the extent we have over-estimated collectability,collectibility, in all likelihood we have over-estimated our financial performance. Some of these concerns are discussed more fully below.
 
Our portfolio of receivables is not diversified and originates from customers whose creditworthiness is considered sub-prime. Historically, we have obtained receivables in one of two ways—weways-we have either solicited for the origination of the receivables or purchased pools of receivables from other issuers. In either case, substantially all of our receivables are from financially underserved borrowers—borrowers represented by credit risks that regulators classify as “sub-prime.” Our reliance on sub-prime receivables has negatively impacted and may in the future negatively impact, our performance. Our various past and current losses might have been mitigated had our portfolios consisted of higher-grade receivables in addition to our sub-prime receivables. We have no immediate plans to issue or acquire significantly higher-grade receivables.
 
We may not successfully evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers and may not price our credit products so as to remain profitable.in a profitable manner. The creditworthiness of our target market generally is considered “sub-prime” based on guidance issued by the agencies that regulate the banking industry. Thus, our customers generally have a higher frequency of delinquencies, higher risks of nonpayment and, ultimately, higher credit losses than consumers who are served by more traditional providers of consumer credit. Some of the consumers included in our target market are consumers who are dependent upon finance companies, consumers with only retail store credit cards and/or lacking general purpose credit cards, consumers who are establishing or expanding their credit, and consumers who may have had a delinquency, a default or, in some instances, a bankruptcy in their credit histories, but who, in our view, have demonstrated recovery. We price our credit products taking into account the perceived risk level of our customers. If our estimates are incorrect, customer default rates will be higher, we will receive less cash from the receivables and the value of our loans and fees receivable will decline, all of which will have a negative impact on performance. While they have begun to rebound modestly, payment rates by our customers declined significantly in 2008 and 2009 and, correspondingly, default rates likewise increased throughout that time period.  It also is unclear whether our modestly improvedcurrent payment rates can be sustained given weakness in the employment outlook and economic environment at large.
 
Economic slowdowns increase our credit losses.During periods of economic slowdown or recession, we experience an increase in rates of delinquencies and frequency and severity of credit losses. Our actual rates of delinquencies and frequency and severity of credit losses may be comparatively higher during periods of economic slowdown or recession than those experienced by more traditional providers of consumer credit because of our focus on the financially underserved consumer market, which may be disproportionately impacted.

We are subject to foreign economic and exchange risks.Because of our businessesoperations in the U.K.,we have exposure to fluctuations in the U.K. economy, and such fluctuations recently have been significantly negative. We also have exposure to fluctuations in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and the British pound. Because the British pound has experienced a net decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar since we commenced our most significant operations in the U.K., we have experienced significant transaction and translation losses within our financial statements.
 
Because a significant portion of our reported income is based on management’s estimates of the future performance of our loans and fees receivable, differences between actual and expected performance of the receivables may cause fluctuations in net income. Significant portions of our reported income (or losses) are based on management’s estimates of cash flows we expect to receive on our loans and fees receivable, particularly for such assets that we report based on fair value. The expected cash flows are based on management’s estimates of interest rates, default rates, payment rates, cardholder purchases, servicing costs, and discount rates. These estimates are based on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. Substantial differences between actual and expected performance of the receivables will occur and cause fluctuations in our net income. For instance, higher than expected rates of delinquencies and losses could cause our net income to be lower than expected. Similarly, as we have experienced for our credit card receivables portfolios with respect to financing agreements secured by our loans and fees receivable, levels of loss and delinquency can result in our being required to repay our lenders earlier than expected, thereby reducing funds available to us for future growth. Because all of our credit card receivables structured financing facilities are now in amortization status—which for us generally means that the only meaningful cash flows that we are receiving with respect to the credit card receivables that are encumbered by such structured financing facilities are those associated with our contractually specified fee for servicing the receivables—recent payment and default trends have substantially reduced the cash flows that we receive from these receivables.
 
Due to our relative lack of historical experience with Internet customers, we may not be able to target successfully these customers or evaluate their creditworthiness. We have less historical experience with respect to the credit risk and

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performance of customers acquired over the Internet. As a result, we may not be able to target and evaluate successfully the creditworthiness of these potential customers should we engage in marketing efforts to acquire these customers. Therefore, we may encounter difficulties managing the expected delinquencies and losses and appropriately pricing our products.
 
We Are Substantially Dependent Upon Borrowed Funds to Fund the Receivables We Originate or Purchase
 
We finance our receivables in large part through financing facilities. All of our financing facilities are of finite duration (and ultimately will need to be extended or replaced) and contain financial covenants and other conditions that must be fulfilled in order for funding to be available. Moreover, mostsome of theseour facilities currently are in amortization stages (and are not allowing for the funding of any new loans), either based on their original terms or because we have not met financial or asset performance-related covenants.terms.  The cost and availability of equity and borrowed funds is dependent upon our financial performance, the performance of our industry generally and general economic and market conditions, and at times equity and borrowed funds have been both expensive and difficult to obtain.
 
Beginning in 2007, largely as a result of difficulties in the sub-prime mortgage market, new financing generally has been sparse for sub-prime lenders, and the financing that has been available has been on significantly less favorable terms than prior to 2008. As a result, beginning in the third quarter of 2007, we significantly curtailed our marketing for new credit cards and currently are not issuing a significant number of new cards. Moreover, commencing in October 2008 we reduced credit lines and closed a significant number of accounts in response to the unavailability of financing and to reduce our risk exposure. These activities continued into 2009, and as a result, substantially all of our credit cards are now closed to cardholder purchases. If additional financing facilities are not available in the future on terms we consider acceptable—an issue that has been made even more acute in the U.S. given recent regulatory changes that have reduced asset-level returns on credit card lending—we will not be able to grow our credit card businessoperations and it will continue to contract in size.
 
Our Financial Performance Is, in Part, a Function of the Aggregate Amount of Receivables That Are Outstanding
 
The aggregate amount of outstanding receivables is a function of many factors including purchase rates, payment rates, interest rates, seasonality, general economic conditions, competition from other credit card issuers and other sources of consumer financing, access to funding, and the timing, extent and success of our marketing efforts.

Our credit card businessoperation currently is contracting. Growth is a product of a combination of factors, many of which are not in our control. Factors include:
 
the availability of funding on favorable terms;
the level and success of our marketing efforts;
the degree to which we lose business to competitors;
the level of usage of our credit products by our customers;
the availability of portfolios for purchase on attractive terms;
levels of delinquencies and charge offs;
the availability of funding on favorable terms;
the level of costs of soliciting new customers;
our ability to employ and train new personnel;
our ability to maintain adequate management systems, collection procedures, internal controls and automated systems; and
general economic and other factors beyond our control.

We have substantially eliminatedcurtailed our U.S. credit card marketing efforts and have aggressively reduced credit lines and closed credit card accounts. In addition, the general economic downturn experienced in 2008 and 2009 significantly impacted not just the level of usage of our credit products by our customers but also levels of payments and delinquencies and other performance metrics. As a result, our credit card businessoperation currently is contracting, and until market conditions more substantially reverse, we do not expect overall net growthcontracting.  

Reliance upon relationships with a few large retailers in our Credit Cardpoint-of-sale finance operations may adversely affect our revenues and Other Investmentsoperating results from these operations. Our three largest retail partners accounted for over 82.0% of our point-of-sale finance and rental revenues in 2013.  Although we are adding new retail partners on a regular basis, it is likely that we will continue to derive a significant portion of this operations’ revenue from a relatively small number of partners in the future.  If a significant partner reduces or terminates its relationship with us, these operations’ revenue could decline significantly and our Auto Finance segments.  operating results and financial condition could be harmed.

 
We Operate in a Heavily Regulated Industry

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Changes in bankruptcy, privacy or other consumer protection laws, or to the prevailing interpretation thereof, may expose us to litigation, adversely affect our ability to collect our loans and fees receivable, or otherwise adversely affect our operations. Similarly, regulatory changes could adversely affect our ability or willingness to market credit cards and other products and services to our customers. The accounting rules that govern our business are exceedingly complex, difficult to apply and in a state of flux. As a result, how we value our receivables and otherwise account for our business is subject to change depending upon the changes in, and, interpretation of, those rules. Some of these issues are discussed more fully below.

Reviews and enforcement actions by regulatory authorities under banking and consumer protection laws and regulations may result in changes to our business practices, may make collection of account balances more difficult or may expose us to the risk of fines, restitution and litigation.Our operations and the operations of the issuing banks through which we originate some of our credit products are subject to the jurisdiction of federal, state and local government authorities, including the CFPB, the SEC, the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the FTC, U.K. banking authorities, state regulators having jurisdiction over financial institutions and debt origination and collection and state attorneys general. Our business practices, including the terms of our products and our marketing, servicing and collection practices, are subject to both periodic and special reviews by these regulatory and enforcement authorities. These reviews can range from investigations of specific consumer complaints or concerns to broader inquiries into our practices generally. If as part of these reviews the regulatory authorities conclude that we are not complying with applicable law, they could request or impose a wide range of remedies including requiring changes in advertising and collection practices, changes in the terms of our products (such as decreases in interest rates or fees), the imposition of fines or penalties, or the paying of restitution or the taking of other remedial action with respect to affected customers. They also could require us to stop offering some of our products, either nationally or in selected states. To the extent that these remedies are imposed on the issuing banks through which we originate credit products, under certain circumstances we are responsible for the remedies as a result of our indemnification obligations with those banks. We also may elect to change practices or products that we believe are compliant with law in order to respond to regulatory concerns. Furthermore, negative publicity relating to any specific inquiry or investigation could hurt our ability to conduct business with various industry participants or to attract new accounts and could negatively affect our stock price, which would adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital and would raise our costs of doing business.
 
If any deficiencies or violations of law or regulations are identified by us or asserted by any regulator, or if the CFPB, the FDIC, the FTC or any other regulator requires us to change any of our practices, the correction of such deficiencies or violations, or the making of such changes, could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or business. In addition, whether or not we modify our practices when a regulatory or enforcement authority requests or requires that we do so, there is a risk that we or other industry participants may be named as defendants in litigation involving alleged violations of federal and state laws and regulations, including consumer protection laws. Any failure to comply with legal requirements by us or the issuing banks through which we originate credit products in connection with the issuance of those products, or by us or our agents as the servicer of our accounts, could significantly impair our ability to collect the full amount of the account balances. The institution of any litigation of this nature, or any judgment against us or any other industry participant in any litigation of this nature, could adversely affect our business and financial condition in a variety of ways.
 
Our rent-to-own operations are regulated by and subject to the requirements of various federal and state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations which may be amended or supplemented or interpreted by the courts from time to time, could expose us to significant compliance costs or burdens or force us to change our business practices in a manner that may be materially adverse to our operations, prospects or financial condition. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia specifically regulate rent-to-own transactions such as those conducted in our rent-to-own programs. At the present time, no federal law specifically regulates the rent-to-own industry, although federal legislation to regulate the industry has been proposed from time to time. Any adverse changes in existing laws, or the passage of new adverse legislation by states or the federal government could materially increase both our costs of complying with laws and the risk that we could be sued or be subject to government sanctions if we are not in compliance. In addition, new burdensome legislation might force us to change our business model and might reduce the economic potential of our rent-to-own product offerings.
Most of the states that regulate rent-to-own transactions have enacted disclosure laws that require rent-to-own companies to disclose to their customers the total number of payments, total amount and timing of all payments to acquire ownership of any item, any other charges that may be imposed by them and miscellaneous other items. The more restrictive state lease purchase laws limit the total amount that a customer may be charged for an item, or regulate the amount of deemed “interest” that rent-to-own companies may charge on rent-to-own transactions, generally defining “interest” as lease fees paid in excess of the “retail” price of the goods.

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There has been increased attention in the United States, at both the state and federal levels, on consumer debt transactions in general, which may result in an increase in legislative and regulatory efforts directed at the rent-to-own industry. We cannot guarantee that the federal government or states will not enact additional or different legislation or regulation that would be disadvantageous or otherwise materially adverse to us.

In addition to the risk of lawsuits related to the laws that regulate rent-to-own and consumer lease transactions, we or our rent-to-own partners could be subject to lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state laws and regulations and consumer tort law, including fraud, consumer protection, information security and privacy laws, because of the consumer-oriented nature of the rent-to-own industry. A large judgment against us could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, an adverse outcome from a lawsuit, even one against one of our competitors, could result in changes in the way we and others in the industry do business, possibly leading to significant costs or decreased revenues or profitability.

We are dependent upon banks to issue credit cards and provide certain other credit products. Our credit card and some of our other credit product programs are dependent on our issuing bank relationships, and their regulators could at any time limit their ability to issue some or all products on our behalf, or that we service on their behalf, or to modify those products significantly. Any significant interruption of those relationships would result in our being unable to originate new receivables and other credit products.  It is possible that a regulatory position or action taken with respect to any of the issuing banks through which we have originated credit products or for whom we service receivables might result in the bank’s inability or unwillingness to originate future credit products on our behalf or in partnership with us. In the current state, such a disruption of our issuing bank relationships principally would adversely affect our ability to conduct credit card issuances in the U.K,U.K., and to grow our private label merchant creditpoint-of-sale finance product offerings and underlying receivables.
 
Changes to consumer protection laws or changes in their interpretation may impede collection efforts or otherwise adversely impact our business practices. Federal and state consumer protection laws regulate the creation and enforcement of consumer credit card receivables and other loans. Many of these laws (and the related regulations) are focused on sub-prime lenders and are intended to prohibit or curtail industry-standard practices as well as non-standard practices. For instance, Congress enacted legislation that regulates loans to military personnel through imposing interest rate and other limitations and requiring new disclosures, all as regulated by the Department of Defense. Similarly, in 2009 Congress enacted legislation that required changes to a variety of marketing, billing and collection practices, and the Federal Reserve recently adopted significant changes to a number of practices through its issuance of regulations. Additionally, the CFPB is expected to be an active issuer of credit-related regulations in the near-term, and it is impossible to predict the scope or nature of those potential regulations. While our practices are in compliance with these changes, some of the changes (e.g., limitations on the ability to assess up-front fees) have significantly affected the viability of certain of our prior (in particular our lower-tier) product offerings within the U.S. Changes in the consumer protection laws could result in the following:
 
receivables not originated in compliance with law (or revised interpretations) could become unenforceable and uncollectible under their terms against the obligors;
we may be required to credit or refund previously collected amounts;
certain fees and finance charges could be limited, prohibited or restricted, which would reduce the profitability of certain accounts;
certain of our collection methods could be prohibited, forcing us to revise our practices or adopt more costly or less effective practices;
limitations on the content of marketing materials could be imposed that would result in reduced success for our marketing efforts;
federal and state laws may limitlimitations on our ability to recover on charged-off receivables regardless of any act or omission on our part;
some of our products and services could be banned in certain states or at the federal level;
federal or state bankruptcy or debtor relief laws could offer additional protections to customers seeking bankruptcy protection, providing a court greater leeway to reduce or discharge amounts owed to us; and
a reduction in our ability or willingness to lend to certain individuals, such as military personnel.

Material regulatory developments are likely to adversely impact our business and results from operations.

Our Automobile Lending Activities Involve Risks in Addition to Others Described Herein
 
Automobile lending exposes us not only to most of the risks described above but also to additional risks, including the regulatory scheme that governs installment loans and those attendant to relying upon automobiles and their repossession and liquidation value as collateral. In addition, our most significant active Auto Finance segment businessoperation acquires loans on a wholesale basis from used car dealers, for which we rely upon the legal compliance and credit determinations by those dealers.
 

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Declines in automobile sales as we saw in recent years can cause declines in the overall demand for automobile loans.  While currently recovering fairly significantly, sales of both new and used cars declined precipitously in recent years. While the unavailability of funding may have had a greater impact on our business, the decline in demand in recent years was consequential as well because it adversely affected the volume of our lending transactions and our recoveries of repossessed vehicles at auction. Any such future declines in demand will adversely impact our business.
 
Funding for automobile lending ismay become difficult to obtain and expensive. In large part due to market concerns regarding sub-prime lending, it is difficult to find lenders willing to fund our automobile lending activities. Our inability to obtain debt facilities with desirable terms (e.g., interest rates and advance rates) and the other capital necessary to fund growth within our Auto Finance segment will cause periods (like our current period) of liquidations in our Auto Finance segment receivables and reductions in profitability and returns on equity. Although we did not experience any such adverse effects when our CAR facility began its required amortization period in June 2011 and was repaid in July 2011 (and although any concerns of such adverse effects are now abated given the new lending facility CAR obtained in October 2011), in the event we may not be ableare unable to renew or replace any future Auto Finance segment facilities that bear refunding or refinancing risks when they become due, our Auto Finance segment could experience significant liquidity constraints and diminution in reported asset values as lenders retain significant cash flows within underlying structured financings or otherwise under security arrangements for repayment of their loans.  If we cannot renew or replace future facilities or otherwise are unduly constrained from a liquidity perspective, we may choose to sell part or all of our auto loan portfolios, possibly at less than favorable prices.
 
Our automobile lending business is dependent upon referrals from dealers. Currently we provide substantially all of our automobile loans only to or through used car dealers. Providers of automobile financing have traditionally competed based on the interest rate charged, the quality of credit accepted and the flexibility of loan terms offered. In order to be successful, we not only will need to be competitive in these areas, but also will need to establish and maintain good relations with dealers and provide them with a level of service greater than what they can obtain from our competitors.
 
The financial performance of our automobile loan portfolio is in part dependent upon the liquidation of repossessed automobiles. In the event of certain defaults, we may repossess automobiles and sell repossessed automobiles at wholesale auction markets located throughout the U.S. Auction proceeds from these types of sales and other recoveries rarely are sufficient to cover the outstanding balances of the contracts; where we experience these shortfalls, we will experience credit losses. Decreased auction proceeds resulting from depressed prices at which used automobiles may be sold in periods of economic slowdown or recession have resultedwould result in higher credit losses for us. Additionally, higher gasoline prices (like those experienced during 2008) tend to decrease the auction value of certain types of vehicles, such as SUVs.
 
Repossession of automobiles entails the risk of litigation and other claims. Although we have contracted with reputable repossession firms to repossess automobiles on defaulted loans, it is not uncommon for consumers to assert that we were not entitled to repossess an automobile or that the repossession was not conducted in accordance with applicable law. These claims increase the cost of our collection efforts and, if correct, can result in awards against us.
 
We Routinely Explore Various Opportunities to Grow Our Business, to Make Investments and to Purchase and Sell Assets
 
We routinely consider acquisitions of, or investments in, portfolios and other assets as well as the sale of portfolios and portions of our business. There are a number of risks attendant to any acquisition, including the possibility that we will overvalue the assets to be purchased and that we will not be able to produce the expected level of profitability from the acquired business or assets. Similarly, there are a number of risks attendant to sales, including the possibility that we will undervalue the assets to be sold. As a result, the impact of any acquisition or sale on our future performance may not be as favorable as expected and actually may be adverse.
 
Portfolio purchases may cause fluctuations in our reported Credit Card and Other Investments segment’s managed receivables data, which may reduce the usefulness of this data in evaluating our business. Our reported Credit Card and Other Investments segment managed receivables data may fluctuate substantially from quarter to quarter as a result of recent and future credit card portfolio acquisitions. As of December 31, 2012,2013, credit card portfolio acquisitions accounted for 38.8%34.8% of our total Credit Card and Other Investments segment managed receivables portfolio based on our ownership percentages.

Receivables included in purchased portfolios are likely to have been originated using credit criteria different from the criteria of issuing bank partners that have originated accounts on our behalf. Receivables included in any particular purchased portfolio may have significantly different delinquency rates and charge-off rates than the receivables previously originated and purchased by us. These receivables also may earn different interest rates and fees as compared to other similar receivables in our receivables portfolio. These variables could cause our reported managed receivables data to fluctuate substantially in future periods making the evaluation of our business more difficult.
 

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Any acquisition or investment that we make will involve risks different from and in addition to the risks to which our business is currently exposed. These include the risks that we will not be able to integrate and operate successfully new businesses, that we will have to incur substantial indebtedness and increase our leverage in order to pay for the acquisitions, that we will be exposed to, and have to comply with, different regulatory regimes and that we will not be able to apply our traditional analytical framework (which is what we expect to be able to do) in a successful and value-enhancing manner.
 
Other Risks of Our Business
 
We are a holding company with no operations of our own.  As a result, our cash flow and ability to service our debt is dependent upon distributions from our subsidiaries.  Our ability to service our debt is dependent upon the cash flows and operating earnings of our subsidiaries.  The distribution of subsidiary earnings, or advances or other distributions of funds by subsidiaries to us, all of which are subject to statutory and could be subject to contractual restrictions, are contingent upon the subsidiaries’ cash flows and earnings and are subject to various business and debt covenant considerations.

The resolution of uncertain tax positions may be unfavorable.  Our businesses and the tax accounting for our businesses are very complex, thereby giving rise to a number of tax positions that are under consideration, and in some cases under dispute, in audits of our operations by various taxing authorities, including the Internal Revenue Service at the federal level with respect to net operating losses that we incurred in 2007 and 2008 and that we carried back to obtain tentative refunds of federal taxes paid in earlier years dating back to 2003.  It is possible that a court of ultimate jurisdiction may resolve tax positions in favor of the Internal Revenue Service or that we may ultimately settle with the Internal Revenue Service on one or more uncertain tax positions in a manner that differs from the liabilities that we have recorded associated with such positions under our recognition and measurement determinations.  The amounts involved in these audits, particularly the amounts of net operating losses that we carried back, are material.  To the extent that our ultimate resolution results in more liability than we have recorded, we could experience a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity.
 
Although our point-of-sale finance offerings are an important part of our strategic plan, we have limited operating history with these offerings. We only recently expanded into our point-of-sale finance offerings, including our rent-to-own offerings. As with many early stage endeavors, these product offerings may experience under-capitalization, delays, lack of funding, and many other problems, delays, and expenses, many of which are beyond our control. These include, but are not limited to:

inability to establish profitable strategic relationships with merchants;
inability to raise sufficient capital to fund our anticipated growth in this area; and
competition from larger and more established competitors, such as banks and finance companies.

Unless we obtain a bank charter, we cannot issue credit cards other than through agreements with banks. Because we do not have a bank charter, we currently cannot issue credit cards other than through agreements with banks. Unless we obtain a bank or credit card bank charter, we will continue to rely upon banking relationships to provide for the issuance of credit cards to our customers. Even if we obtain a bank charter, there may be restrictions on the types of credit that the bank may extend. Our various issuing bank agreements have scheduled expirationsexpiration dates. If we are unable to extend or execute new agreements with our issuing banks at the expirations of our current agreements with them, or if our existing or new agreements with our issuing banks were terminated or otherwise disrupted, there is a risk that we would not be able to enter into agreements with an alternate provider on terms that we consider favorable or in a timely manner without disruption of our business.
 
We are party to litigation. We are defendants in certain legal proceedings. This includes litigation relating to our former retail micro-loan operations and other litigation customary for a business of our nature. In each case we believe that we have meritorious defenses or that the positions we are asserting otherwise are correct. However, adverse outcomes are possible in these matters, and we could decide to settle one or more of our litigation matters in order to avoid the ongoing cost of litigation or to obtain certainty of outcome. Adverse outcomes or settlements of these matters could require us to pay damages, make restitution, change our business practices or take other actions at a level, or in a manner, that would adversely impact our business.
 
We face heightened levels of economic risk associated with new investment activities.  We recently have made a number of investments in businesses that are not directly allied to our traditional lending activities to, or associated with, the underserved consumer credit market.  In addition, some of these investments that we have made and may make in the future are or will be in debt or equity securities of businesses over which we exert little or no control, which likely exposes us to greater risks of loss than investments in activities and operations that we control.  While we make only those investments we believe have the potential to provide a favorable return, because some of the investments are outside of our core areas of expertise, they

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entail risks beyond those described elsewhere in this Report.  As occurred with respect to certain such investments in 2012 and 2011, as noted above, these risks could result in the loss of part or all of our investments.

Because we outsource account-processing functions that are integral to our business, any disruption or termination of that outsourcing relationship could harm our business. We generally outsource account and payment processing, and in 2012,2013, we paid Total System Services, Inc. $7.8$5.3 million for these services. If these agreements were not renewed or were terminated or the services provided to us were otherwise disrupted, we would have to obtain these services from an alternative provider. There is a risk that we would not be able to enter into a similar agreement with an alternate provider on terms that we consider favorable or in a timely manner without disruption of our business.
 
Unauthorized or unintentional disclosure of sensitive or confidential customer data could expose us to protracted and costly litigation, and civil and criminal penalties.  To conduct our business, we are required to manage, use, and store large amounts of personally identifiable information, consisting primarily of confidential personal and financial data regarding our customers.customers across all operations areas. We also depend on our IT networks and systems, and those of third parties, to process, store, and transmit this information. As a result, we are subject to numerous U.S. federal and state laws designed to protect this information. Security breaches involving our files and infrastructure could lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.
 
We take a number of measures to ensure the security of our hardware and software systems and customer information. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other developments may result in the technology used by us to protect data being breached or compromised. In the past, consumer finance companies have been the subject of sophisticated and highly targeted attacks on their information technology. An increasing number of websites have reported breaches of their security.
 
If any person, including our employees or those of third-party vendors, negligently disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to such data or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates that data, we could be subject to costly litigation, monetary damages, fines, and/or criminal prosecution. We do not maintain cyber-security insurance liability coverage and as such we are exposed to the financial risk and losses associated with such incidents.  Any unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information could subject us to liability under data privacy laws.  Further, under credit card rules and our contracts with our card processors, if there is a breach of credit card information that we store, we could be liable to the credit card issuing banks for their cost of issuing new cards and related expenses. In addition, if we fail to follow credit card industry security standards, even if there is no compromise of customer information, we could incur significant fines. Security breaches could also harm our reputation with our customers, which could potentially cause decreased revenues, the loss of existing merchant credit partners, or difficulty in adding new merchant credit partners.
 
Internet and data security breaches also could impede us from originating loans over the Internet, cause us to lose customers or otherwise damage our reputation or business.  Consumers generally are concerned with security and privacy, particularly on the Internet.  As part of our growth strategy, we have originated loans over the Internet. The secure transmission of confidential information over the Internet is essential to maintaining customer confidence in our products and services offered online.

Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the technology used by us to protect customer application and transaction data transmitted over the Internet.  In addition to the potential for litigation and civil penalties described above, security breaches could damage our reputation and cause customers to become unwilling to do business with us, particularly over the Internet. Any publicized security problems could inhibit the growth of the Internet as a means of conducting commercial transactions. Our ability to solicit new loans over the Internet would be severely impeded if consumers become unwilling to transmit confidential information online.

Also, a party that is able to circumvent our security measures could misappropriate proprietary information, cause interruption in our operations, damage our computers or those of our users, or otherwise damage our reputation and business.

Regulation in the areas of privacy and data security could increase our costs.  We are subject to various regulations related to privacy and data security/breach, and we could be negatively impacted by these regulations. For example, we are subject to the safeguards guidelines under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The safeguards guidelines require that each financial institution develop, implement and maintain a written, comprehensive information security program containing safeguards that are appropriate to the financial institution’s size and complexity, the nature and scope of the financial institution’s activities and the sensitivity of any customer information at issue. Broad-ranging data security laws that affect our business also have been adopted by various states. Compliance with these laws regarding the protection of customer and employee data could result in higher compliance and technology costs for us, as well as potentially significant fines and penalties for non-compliance.

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In addition to the foregoing enhanced data security requirements, various federal banking regulatory agencies, and as many as 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, have enacted data breachsecurity regulations and laws requiring varying levels of customer notification in the event of a security breach.

Also, federal legislators and regulators are increasingly pursuing new guidelines, laws and regulations that, if adopted, could further restrict how we collect, use, share and secure customer information, which could impact some of our current or planned business initiatives.

Unplanned system interruptions or system failures could harm our business and reputation.  Any interruption in the availability of our transactional processing services due to hardware and operating system failures will reduce our revenues and profits. Any unscheduled interruption in our services results in an immediate, and possibly substantial, loss of revenues. Frequent or persistent interruptions in our services could cause current or potential members to believe that our systems are unreliable, leading them to switch to our competitors or to avoid our websites or services, and could permanently harm our reputation.
 
Although our systems have been designed around industry-standard architectures to reduce downtime in the event of outages or catastrophic occurrences, they remain vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, floods, fires, power loss, telecommunication failures, computer viruses, computer denial-of-service attacks, and similar events or disruptions. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. Our systems also are subject to break-ins, sabotage, and intentional acts of vandalism. Despite any precautions we may take, the occurrence of a natural disaster, a decision by any of our third-party hosting providers to close a facility we use without adequate notice for financial or other reasons, or other unanticipated problems at our hosting facilities could cause system interruptions, delays, and loss of critical data, and result in lengthy interruptions in our services. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to compensate us for losses that may result from interruptions in our service as a result of system failures.

Because of our loan to a small surface coal mining operation (which, due to loan agreement modifications, we were required to consolidate into our financial statements in 2011, but which has since ceased mining operations), we could be subject to (i) significant administrative, civil, and criminal financial and other penalties if this operation does not comply with environmental, health and safety regulations and (ii) liability to third parties for environmental contamination. The coal mining industry is subject to strict regulation by federal, state and local authorities with respect to matters such as employee health and safety, permitting and licensing requirements, the protection of the environment, the protection of historic and natural resources, plants and wildlife, reclamation and restoration of mining properties after mining is completed, and the effects that mining has on groundwater quality and availability. Federal and state authorities inspect coal mines, and in the aftermath of the April 5, 2010 accident at an underground mine in Central Appalachia, mining operations have experienced, and may in the future continue to experience, a significant increase in the frequency and scope of these inspections. Numerous governmental permits and approvals are required for mining operations. Mining operations are required to prepare and present to federal, state and/or local authorities data pertaining to the effect or impact that any proposed exploration for or production of coal may have upon the environment. 
 
The costs, liabilities and requirements associated with the laws and regulations related to these and other environmental matters may be costly and time-consuming. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal financial and other penalties, the imposition of cleanup and site restoration costs and liens and other enforcement measures.
 
We also could be subject to claims by third parties under federal and state statutes and/or common law doctrines resulting from damage to the environment or historic or natural resources or exposure to hazardous substances on the mine property or elsewhere.  Liability for environmental contamination may be without regard to fault and may be strict, joint and several, so that we may be held responsible for the entire amount of the contamination or related damages.  These and other similar unforeseen impacts that the former mining operation may have on the environment, as well as exposures to hazardous substances or wastes associated with the former mining operation, could result in costs and liabilities that could adversely affect us.
 
Even though this former coal mining operation ceased mining operations as of December 31, 2012 and has always been owned and primarily operated by third parties, our financial relationship with this former coal mining operation could subject us to these types of claims and penalties, particularly if these matters were not properly addressed by the owners and operators of the operation.  If we are held responsible for sanctions, costs and liabilities in respect of these matters, our profitability could be materially and adversely affected.
 

Taxing authorities routinely review our tax returns and could challenge the positions that we have taken.  Our businesses and the tax accounting for our businesses are very complex, thereby giving rise to a number
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Climate change and related regulatory responses may impact our business.  Climate change as a result of emissions of greenhouse gases is a significant topic of discussion and may generate federal and other regulatory responses in the near future, including the imposition of a so-called “cap and trade” system.responses.  It is impracticable to predict with any certainty the impact on our business of climate change or the regulatory responses to it, although we recognize that they could be significant.  The most direct impact is likely to be an increase in energy costs, which would adversely impact consumers and their ability to incur and repay indebtedness.  However, it is too soon for us to predict with any certainty the ultimate impact, either directionally or quantitatively, of climate change and related regulatory responses.

Risks Relating to an Investment in Our Common StockSecurities
 
The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell your shares of our common stock when you want or at prices you find attractive. The price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market constantly changes. We expect that the market price of our common stock will continue to fluctuate. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include the following:
 
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;
changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates by securities analysts and investors;
the overall financing environment, which is critical to our value;
the operating and stock performance of our competitors and other sub-prime lenders;
announcements by us or our competitors of new products or services or significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
changes in interest rates;
the announcement of enforcement actions or investigations against us or our competitors or other negative publicity relating to us or our industry;
changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”),GAAP, laws, regulations or the interpretations thereof that affect our various business activities and segments;
general domestic or international economic, market and political conditions;
additions or departures of key personnel; and
future sales of our common stock and the transfer or cancellation of shares of common stock pursuant to thea share lending agreement.
In addition, the stock markets from time to time experience extreme price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

Future sales of our common stock or equity-related securities in the public market, including sales of our common stock pursuant to share lending agreements or short sale transactions by purchasers of convertible senior notes, could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings.  Sales of significant amounts of our common stock or equity-related securities in the public market, including sales pursuant to share lending agreements, or the perception that such sales will occur, could adversely affect prevailing trading prices of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through future offerings of equity or equity-related securities. Future sales of shares of common stock or the availability of shares of common stock for future sale, including sales of our common stock in short sale transactions by purchasers of our convertible senior notes, may have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.
 
Our business is going through a substantial period of transition and we are exploring various options. We are exploring various options designed to produce the greatest benefit possible for our shareholders.  Currently these options include share repurchases, and we may consider additional options in the future.  On December 31, 2009, we paid a $.50 per share dividend to our shareholders, and a tender offer that we completed on May 14, 2010 resulted in our repurchase of 12,180,604 shares of our common stock for $85.3 million, in addition to our repurchase of $24.8 million in face amount of our 3.625% convertible senior notes for $14.7 million. Further, in a tender offer completed in April 2011, we repurchased 13,125,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $105.0 million. Finally, we completed a tender offer in September 2012, whereby we repurchased 8,250,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $82.5 million.
We have the ability to issue preferred shares,stock, warrants, convertible debt and other securities without shareholder approval. Our common sharesstock may be subordinate to classes of preferred sharesstock issued in the future in the payment of dividends and other distributions made with respect to common shares,stock, including distributions upon liquidation or dissolution. Our articles of incorporation permit our Board of Directors to issue preferred sharesstock without first obtaining shareholder approval. If we issued preferred shares,stock, these additional securities may have dividend or liquidation preferences senior to the common shares.stock. If we issue convertible preferred shares,stock, a subsequent conversion may dilute the current common shareholders’ interest. We have similar abilities to issue convertible debt, warrants and other equity securities.
 

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Our executive officers, directors and parties related to them, in the aggregate, control a majority of our votingcommon stock and may have the ability to control matters requiring shareholder approval. Our executive officers, directors and parties related to them own a large enough stake in usshare of our common stock to have an influence on, if not control of, the matters presented to shareholders. As a result, these shareholders may have the ability to control matters requiring shareholder approval, including the election and removal of directors, the approval of significant corporate transactions, such as any reclassification, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and the control of our management and affairs. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us, impede a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

The right to receive payments on our convertible senior notes is effectively subordinated to the rights of our existing and future secured creditors. Our convertible senior notes are unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any of our existing and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations. As a result, in the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding of our company, our assets will be available to satisfy obligations of our secured debt before any payment may be made on the convertible senior notes. To the extent that such assets cannot satisfy in full our secured debt, the holders of such debt would have a claim for any shortfall that would rank equally in right of payment (or effectively senior if the debt were issued by a subsidiary) with the convertible senior notes. In such an event, we may not have sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts on any or all of the convertible senior notes.
As of December 31, 2013, Atlanticus Holding Corporation, excluding its subsidiaries, had outstanding $33.7 million of secured indebtedness, which would rank senior in right of payment to the notes; $160.1 million of senior unsecured indebtedness, which includes the convertible senior notes (at face value) and the interest accrued thereon and would rank equal in right of payment to the convertible senior notes, and no subordinated indebtedness. Included in senior secured indebtedness are certain guarantees we have executed in favor of our subsidiaries.
Our convertible senior notes are junior to the indebtedness of our subsidiaries. Our convertible senior notes are structurally subordinated to the existing and future claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors. Holders of the convertible senior notes are not creditors of our subsidiaries. Any claims of holders of the convertible senior notes to the assets of our subsidiaries derive from our own equity interests in those subsidiaries. Claims of our subsidiaries’ creditors will generally have priority as to the assets of our subsidiaries over our own equity interest claims and will therefore have priority over the holders of the convertible senior notes. Consequently, the convertible senior notes are effectively subordinate to all liabilities, whether or not secured, of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish. Our subsidiaries’ creditors also may include general creditors and taxing authorities. As of December 31, 2013, our subsidiaries had total liabilities of approximately $233.3 million (including the $33.7 million of senior secured indebtedness mentioned above), excluding intercompany indebtedness. In addition, in the future, we may decide to increase the portion of our activities that we conduct through subsidiaries.

Note Regarding Risk Factors
 
The risk factors presented above are all of the ones that we currently consider material. However, they are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us, or which we currently consider immaterial, may also adversely affect us. There may be risks that a particular investor views differently from us, and our analysis might be wrong. If any of the risks that we face actually occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected and could differ materially from any possible results suggested by any forward-looking statements that we have made or might make. In such case, the trading price of our common stock or other securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.  We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
None.



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ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
We lease our principal executive offices (which include the primary operations of our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment), and our lease is for 335,000 square feet, of which we have sub-leased approximately 220,000 square feet. Our Auto Finance segment principally operates out of Lake Mary, Florida in approximately 9,600 square feet of leased space, with additional offices and branch locations in various states. Our operations in the U.K. include approximately 2,7002,880 of aggregate square feet of leased space in Crawley and London. Currently, we have excess facility capacity that we are trying to sublease. As such, weWe believe that our facilities are suitable to our business and that we will be able to lease or purchase such additional facilities as our needs, if any, require.

ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in various legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of our business. The most significant of theseThere are described below.currently no pending material legal proceedings.

Certain of our subsidiaries are defendants in a purported class action lawsuit entitled Knox, et al., vs. First Southern Cash Advance, et al., No. 5 CV 0445, filed in the Superior Court of New Hanover County, North Carolina, on February 8, 2005. The plaintiffs allege that in conducting a so-called “payday lending” business, certain subsidiaries within our Retail Micro-Loans segment (the operations of which were sold in October 2011, subject to our retention of liability for this litigation) violated various laws governing consumer finance, lending, check cashing, trade practices and loan brokering. The plaintiffs further allege that certain subsidiaries were the alter ego of our former Retail Micro Loans segment subsidiaries and are liable for their actions. The plaintiffs are seeking damages of up to $75,000 per class member, and attorney’s fees. These claims are similar to those that have been asserted against several other market participants in transactions involving small-balance, short-term loans made to consumers in North Carolina.  On January 23, 2012, among other orders, the trial court denied the defendants’ motion to compel arbitration, and granted the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. We are vigorously defending this lawsuit.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None
     In 2010, we loaned money to a start-up coal strip mine operation located in the State of Alabama.  This loan was restructured in late 2011, which resulted in this operation being consolidated onto our financial statements as of December 31, 2011.  This restructured financial arrangement may have caused one of our subsidiaries to be deemed a mine “operator” under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended.  For this reason, information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  As of December 31, 2012, we had written off our investment in the aforementioned coal strip mine operation, and it had ceased operations and had begun reclamation efforts.



ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’SREGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ATLC.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. As of February 15, 2013,March 21, 2014, there were 5452 record holders of our common stock, which does not include persons whose stock is held in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers, banks and intermediaries.
 
       
2011
 
High
  
Low
 
1st Quarter 2011 $6.97  $5.90 
2nd Quarter 2011 $6.85  $2.32 
3rd Quarter 2011 $3.20  $2.25 
4th Quarter 2011 $4.21  $2.63 
         
2012
 
High
  
Low
 
1st Quarter 2012 $6.00  $3.78 
2nd Quarter 2012 $5.96  $3.29 
3rd Quarter 2012 $6.46  $3.72 
4th Quarter 2012 $3.99  $3.28 
   
2012HighLow
1st Quarter 2012$6.00$3.78
2nd Quarter 2012$5.96$3.29
3rd Quarter 2012$6.46$3.72
4th Quarter 2012$3.99$3.28
   
2013HighLow
1st Quarter 2013$3.68$3.20
2nd Quarter 2013$4.11$3.40
3rd Quarter 2013$3.85$3.50
4th Quarter 2013$3.75$3.31
The closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on February 15, 2013March 21, 2014 was $3.21.$2.47.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
There were noThe following table sets forth information with respect to our repurchases of common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2013:

 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
 
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
under the Plans or
Programs (1)
October 1 - October 3118,600
 $3.58
 18,600
 9,673,818
November 1 - November 3015,600
 $3.55
 15,600
 9,658,218
December 1 - December 3130,300
 $3.65
 30,300
 9,627,918
Total64,500
 $3.61
 64,500
 9,627,918


(1)Because withholding tax-related stock repurchases are permitted outside the scope of our 10,000,000 share Board-authorized repurchase plan, these amounts exclude shares of stock returned to us by employees in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements on vested stock grants. There were no such shares returned to us during the three months ended December 31, 2013.

Pursuant to a share repurchase plan authorized by our Board of Directors on May 11, 2012, we are authorized to repurchase 10,000,000 shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter endedthrough June 30, 2014, of which 9,627,918 shares remained authorized for repurchase as of December 31, 2012.2013. We will continue to evaluate our stock price relative to other investment opportunities and, to the extent we believe that the repurchase of our stock represents an appropriate return of capital, we will repurchase shares of our stock.



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ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
As a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide this information.


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ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included therein where certain terms have been defined.
 
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on our current plans, expectations and beliefs about future events. There are risks, including the factors discussed in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A and elsewhere in this Report, that our actual experience will differ materially from the expectations and beliefs reflected in the forward-looking statements in this section. Seeexpectations.  For more information, see “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

OVERVIEW
 
We are a provider of various credit and related financial services and products to or associated with the financially underserved consumer credit market—a market largely represented by credit risks that regulators classify as “sub-prime.”sub-prime.
 
Currently, within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, we are collectingapplying the experiences and infrastructure associated with our historic credit card offerings to provide point-of-sale financing, whereby we partner with retailers and service providers in various industries across the U.S. to provide credit to their customers for the purchase of goods and services or the rental of merchandise to their customers under rent-to-own arrangements. These products are often extended to customers who may have been declined under traditional financing options. We specialize in providing this "second-look" credit service. Using our infrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and collections operations for third parties. Also through our Credit and Other Investments segment, we engage in testing and limited investment in ancillary finance, technology and other products as we seek to capitalize on our expertise and infrastructure.

Beyond these activities within our Credit and Other Investments segment, we continue to collect on portfolios of credit card receivables underlying now-closed credit card accounts. These receivables include both receivables we originated through third-party financial institutions and portfolios of receivables we purchased from third-party financial institutions. The only open credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables are those generatedwe originate through our credit card products in the U.K.  SeveralSome of our portfolios of credit card receivables underlying now-closed accounts are encumbered by non-recourse structured financings, and for some of these portfolios our onlyprincipal remaining economic interest is the servicing compensation we receive as an offset against our servicing costs given that the likely future collections on the portfolios are insufficient to allow for full repayment of the financings. Beyond these activities

Lastly, we report within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment the income earned from investments in two equity-method investees—one that holds credit card receivables for which we are applying the experiencesservicer and infrastructure associated with our historicanother that holds structured financing notes underlying credit card offerings to other credit product offerings, including private label merchant credit whereby we partner with retailers to provide credit at the point of sale to their customers who may have been declined under traditional financing options. We specialize in providing this "second look" credit service in various industries across the U.S.  Using our global infrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing activities, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and collections operationsreceivables for third parties. Lastly, through our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment,which we are engaged in limited investment activities in ancillary finance, technology and other businesses as we seek to build new products and relationships that could allow for greater utilization of our expertise and infrastructure.the servicer.
 
In the current environment, theThe recurring cash flows we receive within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment principally include those associated with (1) our point-of-sale finance activities, (2) servicing compensation (2) distributions from one of our equity-method investees that in March 2011 purchased and now holds all of the outstanding notes issued out of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust, (3) unencumbered credit card receivables portfolios that have already generated enough cash to allow forare unencumbered or where we own a portion of the repayment of their underlying structured financing facilities, and (4) our private label merchant credit receivables. We are closely monitoring and managing our liquidity position, reducing our overhead infrastructure (which was built to accommodate higher account originations and managed receivables levels) and further leveraging our global infrastructure in order to maximize returns to shareholders on existing assets. Some of these actions, while prudent to maximize cash returns on existing assets, have had the effect of reducing our potential for profitability.facility.

As is customary in our industry, weWe historically financed most of our credit card receivables through the asset-backed securitization markets. These markets worseneddeteriorated significantly in 2008, and the level of “advance rates”rates,” or leverage we can achieve against credit card receivable assets, in the current asset-backed securitization markets is far below 2008pre-2008 levels. Considering this reality alongcoupled with a U.S. regulatory environment in which sub-primeconstraints on credit card lendingasset returns on assets are significantly lower than they were before 2008,in the U.S., we have concluded that we cannot achieve our desired returns on equity through U.S.no longer market or maintain open credit card lending.We continue, however, to originate credit cardsaccounts in the U.K. because weU.S. We do believe, the U.K. environment to be more favorable than the U.S. toward possible significant credit card origination growth in the future.  Additionally, we believehowever, that our growing portfolio of private label merchant credit receivables ispoint-of-sale finance activities are generating and will continue to generate attractive returns on assets, thereby allowing us to secure debt financing under terms and conditions (including advance rates and pricing) that will allow us to achieve our desired returns on equity.equity, and we continue to pursue aggressive growth in this area.


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Within our Auto Finance segment, our CAR subsidiary operations principally purchase and/or service loans secured by automobiles from or for and also provide floor-plan financing for, a pre-qualified network of independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here, used car business. In 2010, we started offering floor-plan financing to this same group of dealers and finance companies. We purchase the auto loans at a discount and with dealer retentions or holdbacks that provide risk protection. Also within our Auto Finance segment, we are collecting on portfolios of auto finance receivables that we previously originated through franchised and independent auto dealers in connection with prior business activities.activities, as well as providing certain lending products in addition to our traditional loans secured by automobiles.
 
In August 2012, we completed a transactionsold to sell to Flexpoint Fund II, L.P.an unrelated third-party for $130.5 million our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations, the credit card receivables (and underlying activities) of which were historically reflected within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment. The sales price included (1) $119.7 million (cash of $106.7at closing, which included a $13.0 million and a note receivable of $13.0 million, whichthat was subsequently repaid) at closing, of whichpaid and $10.0 million initially held in an indemnification-related escrow account that was released to us in cash will be held in escrow for 12 months following the closing date of the transaction to satisfy certain indemnification provisions,on August 5, 2013, and (2) an additional $10.8 million in cash that we received in the fourth quarter of 2012 upon the achievement of certain targets. Our basis inFor the net assets that were included inyear ended December 31, 2012, the sale was $67.0 million resulting in a gain on sale (after related expenses and recognitionresults of the additional contingent consideration) of $57.3 million, which isthese operations are reported within our income from discontinued operations category on our consolidated statements of operations.
 
We also completed transactions to dispose of our Retail Micro-Loans segment and our U.K. Internet micro-loan operations during 2011 as discussed further below.  In accordance with applicable accounting requirements, we have classified the results of all our sold operations as discontinued operations within our consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.
A summary of our most significant business changes or events during 2012 is as follows:
·  Our receipt of $10 million from a lender to compensate us for excess costs we incurred for the benefit of the lender in servicing a portfolio that collateralized the lender’s loan to us;
·  
The September 2012 repurchase of 8,250,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $82.5 million, pursuant to a tender offer;
·  The August 2012 sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations as described above; and
·  Our May 2012 repayment to investors in our 3.625% convertible senior notes of $83.5 million in face amount of such then-outstanding notes.
Subject to the availability of growth capital at attractive terms and pricing, our shareholders should expect uswe plan to continue to evaluate and pursue a variety of activities, including:  (1) the expansion of our point-of-sale finance products; (2) the acquisition of additional credit card receivables portfolios, and potentially other financial assets that are complementary toassociated with our financially underserved credit card business; (2)point-of-sale finance activities as well as the acquisition of receivables portfolios; (3) investments in other assets or businesses that are not necessarily financial services assets or businesses; (3) additional opportunities to(4) the repurchase of our convertible senior notes and other debt or our outstanding common stock; and (4)(5) the servicing credit cardof receivables and otherrelated financial assets for third parties (and in which we have limited or no equity interests) to allow us to leverage our expertise and infrastructure.




CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        Income 
  For the Year Months Ended December 31,  Increases (Decreases) 
(In Thousands) 2012  2011  from 2011 to 2012 
Total interest income $86,810  $145,517  $(58,707)
Interest expense  (31,124)  (43,828)  12,704 
Fees and related income on earning assets:            
Fees on credit products  16,478   10,474   6,004 
Changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value  89,502   181,502   (92,000)
Changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value  (30,150)  (90,524)  60,374 
Losses on investments in securities  (4,254)  (4,449)  195 
Loss on sale of JRAS assets  -   (4,648)  4,648 
Other  (3,366)  2,210   (5,576)
Other operating income:            
Servicing income  16,233   3,281   12,952 
Other income  2,487   7,070   (4,583)
Equity in income equity-method investees  9,288   32,657   (23,369)
Total $151,904  $239,262   (87,358)
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value  90,128   139,480   49,352 
Provision for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value  16,770   1,089   (15,681)
Other operating expenses:            
Salaries and benefits  17,317   21,022   3,705 
Card and loan servicing  41,095   45,345   4,250 
Marketing and solicitation  2,996   3,620   624 
Depreciation  2,742   4,642   1,900 
Other  24,687   26,110   1,423 
Net income  24,132   135,064   (110,932)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests  319   (1,047)  1,366 
Net income attributable to controlling interests  24,451   134,017   (109,566)
Income from discontinued operations before income tax  69,063   140,063   (71,000)

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     Income
 For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, Increases (Decreases)
(In Thousands)2013 2012 from 2012 to 2013
Total interest income$69,521
 $86,810
 $(17,289)
Interest expense(23,872) (31,124) 7,252
Fees and related income on earning assets:     
Fees on credit products23,879
 17,474
 6,405
Changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value45,601
 89,502
 (43,901)
Changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value(19,423) (30,150) 10,727
Rental revenue19,759
 
 19,759
Other(707) (7,620) 6,913
Other operating income:     
Servicing income8,218
 16,233
 (8,015)
Other income3,394
 2,487
 907
Equity in income equity-method investees8,437
 9,288
 (851)
Total$134,807
 $152,900
 $(18,093)
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value14,560
 90,128
 75,568
Provision for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value29,678
 16,770
 (12,908)
Other operating expenses:     
Salaries and benefits17,832
 18,313
 481
Card and loan servicing46,119
 41,095
 (5,024)
Marketing and solicitation8,719
 2,996
 (5,723)
Depreciation17,965
 2,742
 (15,223)
Other22,713
 24,687
 1,974
Net (loss) income(17,665) 24,132
 (41,797)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests(76) 319
 (395)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests(17,741) 24,451
 (42,192)
Income from discontinued operations before income tax
 69,063
 (69,063)



Year EndedDecember 31, 2013, Compared to Year EndedDecember 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
Total interest income.Total interest income consists primarily of finance charges and late fees earned on our point-of-sale finance, credit card private label merchant credit, and auto finance receivables. The decline period over period isperiod-over-period declines are due to continued net liquidations of our credit card and auto finance receivables over the past year. Moreover, absentyear, offset to some extent, however, by continued growth in our point-of-sale finance products. Notwithstanding the effects of possible portfolio acquisitions, we expectperiod-over-period declines in our ongoing total interest income, we are currently experiencing growth in our point-of-sale finance products and to decline fora lesser extent we are experiencing growth in our CAR receivables—growth which should cause us to experience net period over period growth in our total interest income within the next several quarters alongfew quarters. Future periods' growth is also largely dependent on the addition of new retail partners for our point-of-sale operations as well as continued growth within existing partnerships. This growth will be delayed late in the first quarter of 2014 as a significant retail partner in our point-of-sale operations undergoes a product shift that is expected to result in the temporary suspension of new account originations with continuing expected net liquidations ofus for both our credit cardinstallment lending product as well as our rent-to-own product. We anticipate this disruption will last into the second quarter and auto finance receivables.will result in slower growth for that quarter.
 

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Interest expense. The decrease in interest expense is due to (1) our debt facilities being repaid commensurate with net liquidations of the underlying credit card receivables and auto finance receivables that serve as collateral for the facilities, and (2) the effects of our repurchases of our convertible senior notes throughout 2011 and our May 2012 repayment of substantially all of our 3.625% convertible senior notes as discussed in Note 11, “Convertible Senior Notes,” in the accompanying notes to theour consolidated financial statements.
We also note that notwithstanding  Given new borrowings as evidenced within Note 10, “Notes Payable,” to our consolidated financial statements, anticipated additional debt financing over the next few quarters, and the effects of our convertible senior notes issuance discount accretion in increasing monthly interest expense amounts in the future, we expect lowerour 2014 quarterly interest expense for these notesto be slightly above those experienced in future periods attributable to our 2011 repurchases and our May 2012 repayment of substantially all of our 3.625% convertible senior notes.the current year.
 
Fees and related income on earning assets.The significant factors affecting our differing levels of fees and related income on earning assets include:

    The growth in rental revenue we experienced with the addition of our rent-to-own program, which began in earnest in the third quarter of 2013;
·  2012 increases in fees earned on our credit products, principally due to billings on credit card accounts in the U.K., net of the effect of continued credit card receivables liquidations;
Our 2013 increases in fees on credit products, principally associated with billings on credit card accounts in the U.K.;
Our $2.4 million second quarter 2013 write off of a note we had received from buyers of our JRAS buy-here, pay-here dealer operations that we sold in February 2011, such write off being the primary cause of the 2013 loss reflected in the "Other" category;
·  “Other” category losses arising in 2012 due to operating losses incurred byOur 2012 "Other" category losses principally being comprised of losses associated with our required consolidation of a former small coal mining operation we were required to consolidate in the fourth quarter of 2011 based on workout efforts we had undertaken related to a loan we made to the operation; and
The effects of changes in the fair values of credit card receivables recorded at fair value and notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value as addressed below.
·  our recognition of a $4.6 million loss in the three months ended March 31, 2011 corresponding to our sale of certain assets associated with our JRAS operations.

We do notAs we continue to expand the rent-to-own product offerings, we expect significant ongoing losses with respectto see continued increases in billings within the Rental revenue category, although we expect reduced growth in rental revenues during the second quarter of 2014 (when compared to the coal mining operationfirst quarter of 2014) due to shifts in our retail partner operations mentioned above. By December 31, 2012, it had ceased mining operations, and we had written off substantially allAs for our fees on credit products category, which is primarily influenced by the level of our investment; its only current activity is land reclamation.
Although not materially differentoriginated U.K. credit card receivables, we expect a diminishing level of fee income in amount between 2011 and 2012, we note2014 due to currently planned marketing levels for that with our $5.5 million in 2012 and $5.3 million in 2011 losses on investments in securities, we do not hold any material amounts of investments in securities as of December 31, 2012; as such, there is no potential for materialproduct offering. Further, given expected future losses on such securities holdings in the future.
Given expected net liquidations inof our credit card receivables (absent possible portfolio acquisitions) in the future,for which we use fair value accounting, we expect our change in fair value of credit card receivables recorded at fair value and our change in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value amounts to gradually diminish (absent significant changes in the assumptions used to determine these fair values) in the future. These amounts, however, are subject to potentially high levels of volatility if we experience changes in the quality of our credit card receivables or if there are significant changes in market valuation factors (e.g., interest rates and spreads) in the future. Such volatility will be muted somewhat, however, by the offsetting nature of the receivables and underlying debt being recorded at fair value and with the expected reductions in the face amounts of such outstanding receivables and debt as we experience further credit card receivables liquidations and associated debt amortizing repayments.
 
Servicing income. Our reported  We earn servicing compensation by servicing loan portfolios for third parties (including our equity-method investees). In 2013, we entered into new servicing agreements with third parties, which resulted in higher 2013 servicing income is comprised of servicing compensation paid to us by third parties associated with our servicing of their loans and fees receivable. Positively impacting 2012 is income from transitional services we providedcompared to the buyer of our Retail Micro-Loans segment, such services having substantially ended, andprior year.  Offsetting the year over year increase is $10.0 million in reimbursements we currently are providing to the buyer of our Investment in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment and balance transfer card operations since our disposition of these operations in August 2012. Additionally,received from a counterparty in the fourth quarter of 2012 we received $10.0 million from a lender to compensate us for excess costs we incurred for theits benefit of the lender in servicing a credit card portfolio that collateralized the lender’s loan to us.  Absent these revenues (none of which are expected to be material servicing income sources for us in 2013), servicing income would have declined commensurate with liquidations in the portfolios of loans and fees receivables we service for third parties.
Currently, servicing income is not a significant income source for us, andportfolio. However, unless and/or until we grow the number of contractual servicing relationships we have with other third parties or our current relationships grow their loan portfolios, we will not experience sustained levels ofsignificant growth and income within this category. We have startedcategory, and we currently expect to receiveexperience future quarterly declines relative to our 2013 servicing income associated with a new partner product rollout; however, revenues associated with this program are not yet sufficient to offset declines we are experiencing in this category.level.
 
Other income.  OtherHistorically included within our other income principally is represented by ourcategory are ancillary and interchange revenues. The decline in our ancillary interchange revenues, corresponds with our account closure actions and net liquidations we have experienced in all ofwhich are now relatively insignificant for us due to our credit card account closures and net credit card receivables portfolios in recent years.portfolio liquidations. Absent portfolio acquisitions, we do not expect significant ancillary and interchange revenues in the future. Also included within our other income category are certain reimbursements we received in respect of one of our portfolios; these other income inclusions were negligible in 2012 and in the second quarter of 2013, but were more significant in the other quarters of 2013. This accounts for the respective year over year increases in other income.
 
Equity in income of equity-method investees. The significant decrease in income associated with  Because our equity-method investees is principally related to our 50% interest inuse the joint venture that purchased in March 2011 the outstanding notes issued out of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust. Contemporaneous with our March 2011 acquisition of our 50% interest in the joint venture, it electedfair value option to account for its investmenttheir financial assets and liabilities, changes in fair value estimates can cause some volatility in the U.K. Portfolio structured financing notes at their fair value, and it recognized a $34.2 million gain (of whichearnings of these investees as occurred in the first three quarters of 2013. Although we increased our 50% share represented $17.1 million) equal toequity interest in one of our two equity-method investees in the excesssecond quarter of the fair value2013, because of the notes as of March 31, 2011 over the joint venture’s discounted purchase price of the notes.
We expect to see continued liquidations in thetheir financial assets (a credit card receivables portfoliosportfolio held by one equity-method investee and structured financing notes held by our equity-method investees for the foreseeable future. As such,other), absent possible additional

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investments in our existing or in new equity-method investees in the future, we expect gradually declining effects from our equity-method investments on our operating results.
 
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value.This account reflects charge offs (net of recoveries) of the face amount of credit card receivables we record at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet. We have experienced a general trending decline in, and we expect future trending declines in, these charge offs as we continue to liquidate our credit card receivables. TheAdditionally, our lower net losses in 2013 reflect the effects of this general trending decline were mutedreimbursements received in 2012, however, given our salerespect of a large volume of late-stage delinquent accounts and related receivables (which we treated as having been charged off contemporaneous with their sale) outone of our U.K. credit card receivables portfolio during the first quarter of 2012.portfolios.
 
Provision for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value.  Our provision for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value covers, with respect to such receivables, the aggregate loss exposures on (1) principal receivable balances, (2) finance charges and late fees receivable underlying income amounts included within our total interest income category, and (3) other fees receivable. We have experienced a year over year increaseyear-over-year increases in this category between 20112012 and 20122013 due to the effects of (1) disproportionately greater reductions in our allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivables recorded in the year ended December 31, 2011 associated with significant performance improvements experienced at that time, and (2)initial elevated losses incurred on new credit product testing and more recently growth in the year ended December 31, 2012.our new installment lending product lines. For the foreseeable future with the exception of the second quarter of 2014 as mentioned above, we expect growth in new product receivables recorded at net realizable value to exceed any further liquidations of our auto finance receivables recorded at net realizable value. Accordingly, we expect increases in our provisions for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value in future quarters—such increases predominantly expected to reflect the effects of volume associated with our point-of-sale finance product offering (i.e., growth of new product receivables), rather than credit quality changes or deterioration. Based on experienceHowever, continued testing associated with some of our new products (in particular our U.K. credit card product) in 2012, we expect net improvementsproduct in the credit qualityU.K. is expected to result in slightly higher provisions through the first quarter of our new product receivables throughout 2013.2014. See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components,” to our consolidated financial statements and the discussions of our Credit Cards and Other Investments and Auto Finance segment discussionssegments for further credit quality statistics and analysis.

Total other operating expense. Total other operating expense decreasedvariances for the year endedDecember 31, 20122013 relative to the year endedDecember 31, 2011, reflecting2012 reflect the following:
 
·  diminished salaries and benefits costs resulting from our ongoing cost-cutting efforts as we continue to adjust our internal operations to reflect the declining size of our existing portfolios;
modestly lower 2013 salaries and benefits costs resulting from 2012 cost-cutting efforts, offset by modest increases required to grow our new credit product offerings;
card and loan servicing expenses that are higher in 2013 based on new product efforts, the cost of such efforts overshadowing the cost effects of continuing credit card and auto finance receivables portfolio liquidations;
·  lower cardincreased depreciation in 2013 primarily associated with our rent-to-own program, totaling $16.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 with no amounts in prior periods, offset, however, by an impairment charge in the third quarter of 2012 on certain fixed assets held by a small coal mining operation we are required to consolidate; and loan servicing expenses reflecting the effects of continuing credit card and auto finance receivables portfolio liquidations;
increases in marketing and solicitation costs consistent with our aforementioned new product efforts.
·  decreases in depreciation for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflecting a diminished level of capital investments by us; and
·  decreases in marketing and solicitation and other expense levels consistent with the aforementioned receivables portfolio liquidations and our cost-cutting efforts.
A large portion of our operating costs are variable based on the levels of accounts we market and receivables we service (both for our own account and for others) and the pace and breadth of our search for, acquisition of and introduction of new business lines, products and services. However, a number of our operating costs are fixed and will over time compriseuntil recently have comprised a larger percentage of our total costs givenbased on the ongoing contraction of our credit card and auto finance loans and fees receivable levels. To this extent,This trend is reversing, however, because we are now experiencing net growth in our rate of cost reduction can be expected to slow relative to the rate of contraction in theseearning assets (including loans and fees receivable.receivable and rental merchandise) based principally on growth of our point-of-sale finance product offerings and to a lesser extent, growth within our CAR operations. We do, however, attempt to maximize the utility that we get from our incurrence of fixed costs by our testing and exploration of new products and services and areas of investment, and we continue to perform extensive reviews of all areas of our businesses for cost savings opportunities to better align our costs with our net liquidating portfolio of managed receivables.
 
Notwithstanding our cost-cuttingcost-control efforts and focus, we expect increased levels of expenditures associated with growth in our point-of-sale finance operations and while it is relatively easy for us to scale back our variable expenses, it is much more difficult (to which we alluded above) for us to appreciably reduce our fixed and other costs associated with an infrastructure (particularly within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment) that was built to support growing managed receivables and levels of managed receivables that are significantly higher than both our current levels and the levels that we expect to see in the near future. At this point, our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment cash inflows are sufficient to cover its direct variable costs and a portion, but not all, of its share of overhead costs (including, for example, corporate-level executive and administrative costs and our convertible senior notes interest costs). As such, if we are not successful in further reducingunable to contain overhead costs or expandingexpand revenue-earning activities to levels commensurate with such costs, then, depending upon the sufficiency of excess cash flows and earnings generated from our Auto Finance subsidiarysegment and those credit card portfolios that have repaid their underlying structured financing facilities and of liquidity we are able to obtain through debt and equity issuances, we may experience continuing pressure on our liquidity position and our ability to be profitable.achieve profitability.
 

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Noncontrolling interests.  We reflect the ownership interests of noncontrolling holders of equity in our majority-owned subsidiaries as noncontrolling interests in our consolidated statements of operations. Because of various transactions that took place in early 2011, unlessUnless we enter into significant new majority-owned subsidiary ventures with noncontrolling interest holders in the future, we expect to have negligible noncontrolling interests in our majority-owned subsidiaries and negligible allocations of income or loss to noncontrolling interest holders in future quarters. Transactions contributing to this development and the decline in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in 2012 versus 2011 include:
 
·  Our collective January 2011 and April 2011 purchases of most of the noncontrolling interest holders’ ownership interests in our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment majority-owned subsidiaries; and
·  Our April 2011 sale of the majority-owned subsidiaries through which we owned our former U.K. Internet micro-loan operations.
Income taxes. Computed considering results for only our continuing operations before income taxes, ourwe experienced effective income tax benefit rate was 35.9%rates of 22.5% and 35.6% for the yearyears ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, versus our effective income tax benefit rate of 48.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011.  We have experienced no material changes in effective tax rates associated with differences in filing jurisdictions, and the variationsrespectively.  Variations in our effective tax rates between the periods principally bear the effects of (1) changes in valuation allowances against income statement-oriented federal, foreign and state deferred tax assets (2) variations in the level of our pre-tax income among the different reporting periods relative to the level of our permanent differences within such periods and (3) the effects on financial reporting results of(2) intra-period tax allocations associated with our discontinued operations in 2012 as required under GAAP.
 
We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.  We recognized $1.9$3.1 million and $2.1 million in of potential interest and penalties associated with these uncertain tax positions during the yearsyear endedDecember 31, 2013, compared to $1.9 million during the year endedDecember 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.. To the extent such interest and penalties are not assessed as a result of a resolution of the underlyingan uncertain tax position, amounts accrued are reduced and reflected as a reduction of income tax expense. We recognized $1.0 million of such reductions in each of the years ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011.2012.

Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment
 
Included at the end of this “Credit Cards and Other Investments Segment” section under the heading “Definitions of Financial, Operating and Statistical Measures” are definitions for various terms we use throughout our discussion of the Credit Cards and Other Investments segment.
Our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment includes our continuing activities relating to investments in and servicing of our point-of-sale finance products and our various credit card receivables portfolios, as well as other product testing and investments and products that are not yet material to our overall financial position but which generally utilize much of the same infrastructure as our credit card operations.infrastructure.
 
The types of revenues we earn from credit card activitiesour products and services primarily include finance charges, the accretion of discounts associated with our point-of-sale finance installment loans or revolving credit offers, late fees, rental revenue, over-limit fees, annual fees, activation fees, monthly maintenance fees, returned-check fees and cash advance fees. Also, while insignificant currently, revenues (during previous periods of broad account origination and in which significant numbers of accounts were open to cardholder purchases) also have included thosecredit card fees associated with (1) our sale of ancillary products such as memberships, subscription services and debt waiver, as well as (2) interchange fees representing a portion of the merchant fee assessed by card associations based on cardholder purchase volumes underlying credit card receivables.
 
We record (i) the finance charges, discount accretion and late fees assessed on our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment credit products in the interest income - consumer loans, including past due fees category on our consolidated statements of operations, we include(ii) the rental revenue, over-limit, annual, activation, monthly maintenance, returned-check, cash advance and other fees in the fees and otherrelated income on earning assets category on our consolidated statements of operations, and we reflect(iii) the charge offs (and recoveries thereof) within our provision for losses on loans and fees receivable on our consolidated statements of operations (for all credit product receivables other than those credit card receivables underlying formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures)for which we have elected the fair value option) and within losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value on our consolidated statements of operations (for all of our other credit card receivables underlying formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures for which we have elected the fair value option). Additionally, we show the effects of fair value changes for those credit card receivables for which we have elected the fair value option as a component of fees and related income on earning assets in our consolidated statements of operations.
 
Depreciation associated with rental merchandise (totaling $16.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013)
for which we receive rental revenue is included as a component of our overall depreciation in our consolidated statements of operations.

We historically have originated and purchased credit card portfolios through subsidiary entities. Generally, if we control through direct ownership or exert a controlling interest in the entity, we consolidate it and reflect its operations as noted above. If we exert significant influence but do not control the entity, we record our share of its net operating results in the equity in income of equity-method investees category on our consolidated statements of operations.
 
BackgroundManaged Receivables
 
We make various references within our discussion of the Credit Cards and Other Investments segment to our managed receivables. In calculating managed receivables data, we include within managed receivables those receivables we manage for our consolidated subsidiaries, but we exclude from managed receivables any noncontrolling interest holders’ shares of the receivables during applicable periods.receivables. Additionally, we include within managed receivables only our economic share of the receivables that we manage for our equity-method investees.
 

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Financial, operating and statistical data based on aggregate managed receivables are important to any evaluation of ourthe performance in managingof our credit card portfolios, including our underwriting, servicing and collectingcollection activities and our valuing of purchased receivables.  In allocating our resources and managing our business, management relies heavily upon financial data and results prepared on this “managed basis.” Analysts, investors and others also consider it important that we provide selected financial, operating and statistical data on a managed basis because this allows a comparison of us to others within the specialty finance industry. Moreover, our management, analysts, investors and others believe it is critical that they understand the credit performance of the entire portfolio of our managed receivables because it reveals information concerning the quality of loan originations and the related credit risks inherent within the portfolios.

Reconciliation of the managed receivables data to our GAAP financial statements requires: (1) an understanding that our managed receivables data are based on billings and actual charge offs as they occur, without regard to any changes in our allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable or any changes in the fair value of loans and fees receivable and their associated structured financing notes; (2) inclusion of our economic share of (or equity interest in) the receivables we manage for our equity-method investees; (3) removal of ourany noncontrolling interest holders’ shares of the managed receivables underlying our GAAP consolidated results; and (4) treatment of the transaction in which our 50%-owned equity-method investee acquired our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust notes (a) as a deemed sale of the U.K. Portfolio trust receivables at their face amount, (b) followed by the 50%-owned equity-method investee’s deemed repurchase of such receivables for consideration equal to the discounted purchase price that it paid for the notes, and (c) as though the difference between the deemed face amount and the deemed discounted repurchase price of the receivables is to be treated as credit quality discount to be accreted into managed earnings as a reduction of net charge offs over the remaining life of the receivables.receivables; and (5) the exclusion from our managed receivables data of certain reimbursements received in respect of one of our portfolios which resulted in pre-tax income benefits within our total interest income, fees and related income on earning assets, losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value, net of recoveries, other income, servicing income, and equity in income of equity-method investees line items on our consolidated statements of operations totaling approximately $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013, $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013, and $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. This last category of reconciling items above is excluded because it does not bear on our performance in managing our credit card portfolios, including our underwriting, servicing and collection activities and our valuing of purchased receivables; moreover, it is difficult to determine the future effects of any such reimbursements that may be received.

We typically have purchased credit card receivables portfolios at substantial discounts. In our managed basis statistical data, we apply a portion of these discounts against receivables acquired for which charge off is considered likely, including accounts in late stages of delinquency at the date of acquisition; this portion is measured based on our acquisition date estimate of the shortfall of cash flows expected to be collected on the acquired portfolios relative to the face amount of receivables represented within the acquired portfolios. We refer to the balance of the discount for each purchase not needed for credit quality as accretable yield, which we accrete into net interest margintotal yield in our managed basis statistical data using the interest method over the estimated life of each acquired portfolio. As of the close of each financial reporting period, we evaluate the appropriateness of the credit quality discount component and the accretable yield component of our acquisition discount based on actual and projected future results.
 
Asset Quality
quality. Our delinquency and charge-off data at any point in time reflect the credit performance of our managed receivables. The average age of the accounts underlying our receivables, the timing of portfolio purchases, the success of our collection and recovery efforts and general economic conditions all affect our delinquency and charge-off rates. The average age of the accounts underlying our receivables portfolio also affects the stability of our delinquency and loss rates. We consider this delinquency and charge-off data in our determination of the fair value of our credit card receivables underlying formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures, as well as our allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable in the case of our other credit product receivables that we report at net realizable value. Our strategy for managing delinquency and receivables losses consists of account management throughout the customer relationship. This strategy includes credit line management and pricing based on the risks. See also our discussion of collection strategies under the heading “How Do We Collect from Our Customers?” in Item 1, “Business,” of this Report.
 


The following table presents the delinquency trends of the receivables we manage within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, as well as charge-off data and other managed loanreceivables statistics (in thousands; percentages of total):
 
 At or for the Three Months Ended
 2013 2012
 Dec. 31 Sept. 30 Jun. 30 Mar. 31 Dec. 31 Sept. 30 Jun. 30 Mar. 31
Period-end managed receivables$236,740 $248,584 $252,036 $263,265 $294,167 $326,557 $356,897 $401,394
Percent 30 or more days past due12.5% 10.9% 9.2% 9.4% 10.0% 11.0% 9.9% 10.4%
Percent 60 or more days past due9.2% 7.8% 6.3% 7.0% 7.2% 8.1% 6.9% 7.9%
Percent 90 or more days past due6.4% 5.2% 4.3% 4.9% 5.1% 5.8% 4.6% 5.9%
Average managed receivables$242,272 $246,147 $255,669 $277,457 $309,025 $340,628 $378,227 $438,601
Total yield ratio33.3% 36.3% 31.8% 29.4% 15.7% 23.5% 24.2% 22.9%
Combined gross charge-off ratio19.1% 14.6% 16.9% 18.5% 16.5% 15.3% 20.7% 53.9%
Adjusted charge-off ratio15.2% 10.7% 12.2% 14.1% 12.7% 11.4% 15.1% 30.6%

  At or for the Three Months Ended 
  2012  2011 
  Dec. 31  Sept. 30  Jun. 30  Mar. 31  Dec. 31  Sept. 30  Jun. 30  Mar. 31 
Period-end managed receivables $294,167  $326,557  $356,897  $401,394  $480,355  $540,023  $613,747  $698,226 
Period-end managed accounts  256   281   309   340   390   431   481   543 
Percent 30 or more days past due  10.0%  11.0%  9.9%  10.4%  13.0%  12.6%  11.9%  12.5%
Percent 60 or more days past due  7.2%  8.1%  6.9%  7.9%  9.7%  8.9%  8.7%  9.5%
Percent 90 or more days past due  5.1%  5.8%  4.6%  5.9%  6.9%  6.2%  6.2%  7.0%
                                 
Average managed receivables $309,025  $340,628  $378,227  $438,601  $511,834  $580,212  $659,686  $754,300 
Combined gross charge-off ratio  16.5%  15.3%  20.7%  53.9%  19.3%  20.9%  24.2%  29.7%
Net charge-off ratio  14.4%  13.1%  16.8%  47.4%  15.2%  16.7%  19.8%  24.1%
Adjusted charge-off ratio  12.7%  11.4%  15.1%  30.6%  12.2%  13.9%  16.7%  22.9%
Total yield ratio  15.7%  23.5%  24.2%  22.9%  23.2%  19.2%  21.8%  22.0%
Gross yield ratio  18.1%  19.2%  19.9%  18.9%  18.6%  19.3%  18.9%  18.6%
Net interest margin  12.3%  13.5%  13.3%  10.4%  12.6%  13.4%  12.8%  11.9%
Other income ratio  -2.9%  3.9%  3.5%  2.7%  3.7%  -1.0%  2.1%  2.2%
Operating ratio  7.3%  18.5%  18.2%  15.3%  12.1%  12.3%  12.5%  11.0%
Managed receivables. The consistent quarterly declines in our period-end and average managed receivables over the last eight quarters reflect the net liquidating state of our credit card receivables portfolios given theour closure largely in 2008 and 2009 of substantially all credit card accounts underlying the portfolios. Moreover, with the exception of originationsalthough we are marketing credit card accounts in the U.K., we have curtailed our U.S. credit card marketing efforts in lightefforts. Nevertheless, because of (1) dislocation in the liquidity markets and uncertainty as to when and if these markets will rebound sufficiently to facilitate organic growth in our credit card receivables operations and (2) an unfavorable credit card account origination regulatory climate in our primary U.S. market. Despite fairly rapid receivables growth we are experiencing and expect to continue to experience over the coming quarters (assuming sufficient capital) associated with our point-of-sale finance offerings, the rate of decline in our managed receivables levels fell significantly during 2013, and we now expect growth in our managed receivables levels over coming quarters. Future periods' growth is also largely dependent on the addition of new retail partners for our private label merchant credit offering, we do not anticipate receivables additionspoint-of-sale operations as well as continued growth within existing partnerships. This growth will be delayed late in the near term sufficientfirst quarter of 2014 as a significant retail partner in our point-of-sale operations undergoes a product shift that is expected to offsetresult in the temporary suspension of new account originations with us for our installment lending product. We anticipate this disruption will last into the second quarter and will result in declining managed receivables balance contractions noted above.during that quarter.
 
Delinquencies. Delinquencies have the potential to impact net income in the form of net credit losses. Delinquencies also are costly in terms of the personnel and resources dedicated to resolving them. We intend for the account management strategies we use on our portfolioportfolios to manage and, to the extent possible, reduce the higher delinquency rates that can be expected in a more mature managed portfolio such as ours. These account management strategies include conservative credit line management, purging of inactive accounts and collection strategies intended to optimize the effective account-to-collector ratio across delinquency categories. We further describe these collection strategies under the heading “How Do We Collect from Our Customers?” in Item 1, “Business” of this Report.  We measure the success of these efforts by measuring delinquency rates. These rates exclude accounts that have been charged off.
Our lower-tier credit card receivables typically experience substantially higher delinquency rates and charge-off levels than those of our other originated and purchased portfolios. Our delinquency statistics recently have benefited from a mix change whereby disproportionately higher charge-off levels for our lower-tier credit card portfolios relative to those of our other credit card receivables have caused a decline in lower-tier credit card receivables as a percentage of our aggregate managed credit card receivables.
Given that our accounts primarily consistthe vast majority of closedour credit card accounts withhave been closed and there has been no significant account actions takennew activity for these accounts in the past several quarters, one would logically expect to see the relatively lower delinquency and charge-off benefits of our more mature portfolios. This trend is bearing out as noted in the trendingthere have been year-over-year declines in our 2012 delinquency statistics of our credit card accounts relative to corresponding dates in prior years and is consistent withyears. This trend reversed in the fourth quarter of 2013 primarily due to growth in our expectations forpoint of sale finance operations which generally experience higher delinquency rates than those of our liquidating credit card portfolios. Additionally, our credit card originations in the next few quarters.U.K. have experienced higher than average delinquency rates as we continue to test these accounts. We doalso note, however, that we participated inthe effects on our first quarter 2012 delinquency and charge-off statistics of a unique transaction opportunity during the firstopportunity.  In that quarter, of 2012, whereby we sold for a total of $10.4 million, a price that we viewed as attractive, $44.0 million in face value of our U.K.2007 non-U.S. acquired portfolio (the "Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio") credit cards receivable associated with late-stage delinquent accounts that had not yet reached the 180-day charge-off threshold.  These receivables had a GAAP carrying value of $9.8 million on the sale date, thereby rendering an insignificant gain upon their sale.  This transaction had two effects on our managed receivables data:  (1) the future periods’ charge off of

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these receivables was accelerated into the first quarter of 2012 through our treatment of the accounts as having been charged off in all of our managed receivables charge-off ratios contemporaneous with the sale of these receivables; and (2) the removal of these late-stage delinquent accounts from our March 31, 2012 managed receivables balances contributed to a better-than-typical improvement in our delinquency statistics as of March 31 2012 and June 30, 2012.  Given this acceleration, we experienced a slight increase in our delinquency rates as of September 30 and December 31, 2012, in part due to the aforementioned transaction, but also in part to the effects of higher delinquency rates associated with our ongoing credit card originations in the U.K. (the effects

We expect our point-of-sale finance and other new product offerings to become a larger component of which are also evidentour managed receivables base, given the acceleration of growth in the table of current loans receivable, current fees receivable and delinquent loans and fees receivable as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 presented within Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components,” to our consolidated financial statements).  Nevertheless,these products. Further, we still expect to see continuing future trending declines in our delinquency rates when compared to similarincrease slightly as the risk profiles (and thus expected returns) for these receivables are higher than that experienced under our current mix of largely mature credit card receivables underlying closed credit card accounts. These delinquency rates will likely have a higher rate of increase during the second quarter of 2014 due to an overall decline in the managed receivables base as discussed above, coupled with prior year periods.period originations reaching peak chargeoff during the same period.
 
Combined gross charge-off ratio and Adjusted charge-off ratio .Charge offs. We generally charge off our Credit Card and Other Investments segment receivables when they become contractually more than 180 days past due or 120 days past due for the point-of-sale finance product. For our rent-to-own products, we generally charge off receivables and impair associated rental merchandise if the customer has not made a payment within 30 days of notification and confirmation of a customer’s bankruptcy or death.the previous 90 days. However, if a cardholdercustomer makes a payment greater than or equal to two minimum payments within a month of the charge-off date, we may reconsider whether charge-off status remains appropriate. Additionally,For all of our products, we generally charge off receivables within 30 days of notification and confirmation of a customer’s bankruptcy or death. However, in some cases of death, we do not charge off receivables are not charged off if with respect to the deceased customer’s account, there is a surviving, contractually liable individual or an estate large enough to pay the debt in full.
 
Our lower-tierCertain of our prior originated credit card offerings have higher charge offs relative to their average managed receivables balances, than do our other portfolios. Due to the recent higher rate of decline in these particular originated receivables relative to all of our other outstanding credit card receivables, all things being equal, one would expect reduced charge-off ratios. This is supported by the above overallratios for these receivables. However, this trend of declining year-over-year quarterly charge-off rates in all quarters but the first quarter of 2012. This trend iswas muted to some degree however, for our net charge-off ratio and our adjusted charge-off ratio (as discussed in more detail below) simply due to a change in the mix of our charge offs toward areceivable balances due to growth within our point-of-sale finance operations that have slightly higher relative level of principal charge offs versus finance and fee charge offs.charge-off rates than the liquidating credit card portfolios as well as increased charge-offs associated with ongoing credit card origination efforts in the U.K.
 
All of ourOur combined and adjusted charge-off ratios were skewed higher during the first quarter of 2012 by reason of the unique transaction opportunity mentioneddescribed in our the Delinquencies discussionsection above. In future quarters (and absent any unique transaction opportunities likeSince that quarter, however, we experienced in the first quarter of 2012), we expect thea general rate oftrending decline in our quarterly charge-off ratios. Such ratios declined significantly in 2013 based largely on the longer weighted average age and maturity of our managed receivables portfolio. This trend reversed somewhat in the fourth quarter of 2013 due primarily to moderate andgrowth within our point-of-sale finance operations that have slightly higher charge-off ratiosrates than the liquidating credit card portfolios as well as increased charge-offs associated with ongoing credit card origination efforts in the U.K.

In the next few quarters, we expect generally stable to generally stabilize (subject to normal seasonal variations). Ourperhaps modestly increasing charge off rates on a period-over-period comparison basis. This expectation of a reduced rate of decline in our charge-off ratios is based on (1) the age, maturity and stability of our portfolio of generally liquidating receivables associated with closed credit card accounts, coupled with (2) an expectation ofmodestly higher expected charge off rates on credit card receivables associated with credit card originations in the U.K.
Combined gross charge-off ratio. See the above general Charge Offs discussion.
Net charge-off ratio. See the above general Charge Offs discussion.
Adjusted charge-off ratio. This ratio reflects our net charge offs, less credit quality discount accretion with respect to our acquired portfolios. Therefore, its trend line should follow that of our net charge-off ratio, adjusted for the diminishing impact of past portfolio acquisitions and for the additional impact ofrapidly growing new portfolio acquisitions. In the first and second quarters of 2011, the gap between the net charge-off ratio and the adjusted charge-off ratio widened (as it typically does following each portfolio acquisition at a discounted purchase price) because we determine our managed receivables statistics by treating the transaction in which our 50%-owned equity-method investee acquired our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust notesproduct offerings such as a deemed sale of the U.K. Portfolio trust receivables at their face amount, followed by the 50%-owned equity-method investee’s repurchase of such receivables for consideration equal to the discounted purchase price that it paid for the notes. Although one would expect the gap between the net charge-off ratio and the adjusted charge-off ratio to gradually narrow (as we saw in the last two quarters of 2011) absent another portfolio acquisition, the unique transaction opportunity mentioned in our Delinquencies discussion above caused a significant widening of the gap between the net charge-off ratio and the adjusted charge-off ratio in the first quarter of 2012. That transaction opportunity caused our first quarter 2012 charge offs to be comprised of a disproportionally higher level of U.K. Portfolio charge offs than normal (for which significant levels of credit quality discount were accreted in the adjusted charge-off ratio computation in the first quarter of 2012).
We also note that our U.K. credit card receivables originations, which have produced high levels of delinquencies and charge offs for early vintages, caused a mix change whereby a greater proportion than typical of our net charge-offs inwas experienced during the fourth quarter of 2012 were comprised of receivables (i.e., early vintage U.K. receivables originations) not represented2013, offset by those in portfolios purchased at discounted purchase prices. Accordingly, notwithstanding year-over-year declines in our fourth quarter combined gross charge-off  and net charge-off ratios, we experienced a slight increase in our fourth quarter 2012 adjusted charge-off ratio relative to thatlower charge offs associated with ongoing credit card origination efforts in the fourth quarter of 2011.U.K. due to reduced marketing levels associated with this product and (3) an overall decline in the managed receivables base as discussed above, coupled with prior period originations reaching peak chargeoff during the same period.
 
Total yield ratio and gross yield ratio. As noted previously, the mix of our managed receivables generally has shifted away from those receivables of our lower-tiercertain higher-yielding credit card offerings.receivables that we originated prior to 2008. Those particular originated receivables have higher delinquency rates and late and over-limit fee assessments than do our other portfolios, and thus have higher total yield and gross yield ratios as well. Accordingly, we would expect to see a slight generally trending decline in our total yield and gross yield ratiosratio consistent with disproportionate reductions in our lower-tier credit cardthese particular originated receivables over the last several quarters due to their higher charge-off levels over the past several quarters.levels.  Our total and gross yield ratios also haveratio has been adversely affected over the past several quarters by our 2007 U.K.Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio acquisition. Its total and gross yields are below average as compared to our other portfolios, and the rate of decline in receivables in this portfolio has lagged behind the rate of decline in receivables in our other portfolios, thus continuing to suppress our total yield ratios.ratio.
 
Notwithstanding the above, our addition of lower-tier credit card accounts in the U.K. in 2012 has temporarily reversed and delayed our generally declining total and gross yield ratio trends.trends have largely been reversed due to growth in our newer higher yielding products, including our point-of-sale finance product and our originated U.K. credit card products. While the addition of these accountsthis growth has resulted in temporarycontributed to increases in our total and gross yield ratios,ratio, we expect that general growth in our new product

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offerings will slow or even modestly reverse the trend of our declining charge-off rates as discussed above because we expect these accounts to also reduce the rate of decline in our charge-off rates as the accounts season, mature, and charge off at higher rates than we currently experience on our liquidating pool of credit card receivables associated with closed credit card accounts.
We also note exceptions toanticipate continued growth in our new higher yielding products over the trendlines discussed above with respect tonext few quarters and continued accretive effects of this growth on our total yield ratios.
Although we have seen generally improving total yield ratio whereintrend-lines, our fourth quarter 2012 and third quarter 2011 total yield ratios wereratio was depressed by respectivea $5.5 million and $5.3 million write-downswrite-down of our investments in non-marketable debt and equity securities.  Absent these write-downs,this write-down, our total yield ratiosratio would have been 22.9% in both the fourth quarter of 20122012.
Rental Merchandise
The following table presents certain trends associated with our merchandise leasing activities within our Credit and Other Investments segment (in thousands; percentages of total):
 At or for the three months ended
 2013
 Dec. 31 Sept. 30
Period-end rental merchandise$28,849
 $16,976
Period-end rental merchandise accounts83
 42
Average rental merchandise$22,804
 $8,493
Other income ratio46.7% 38.1%

Average rental merchandise. Our merchandise leasing activities began in earnest during the third quarter of 2011. These write-downs also adversely impacted2013, and prior to this quarter, we had no significant experience or trends with this particular type of product. Subject to the availability of capital on desirable terms, we expect significant ongoing quarterly growth in our Other Income ratio as discussed below.
Net interest margin. Becauserental merchandise activities in future quarters with the exception of the significancesecond quarter of 2014 due to the late fees charged on our lower-tier credit card receivables asaforementioned disruption in new account originations. Our rental merchandise offerings comprise a percentage of outstanding receivables balances, we generally would expect our net interest margin to increase as our lower-tier credit card receivables become a larger percentage and to decrease as they become a smaller percentagesignificant part of our overall managed receivables. Accordingly, the disproportionate reductions we have experienced in our lower-tier credit card receivables levels is the principal factor that has contributed to the continued general declining trend in our net interest margins relative to those experienced in prior years.point-of-sale finance suite of products.

Our net interest margin also is affected by the effects of our 2007 U.K. Portfolio acquisition. The net interest margin for this portfolio is below the weighted average rate of our other portfolios, and the impact of this portfolio continues to be felt as our originated portfolios continue to decline in size at a faster pace than our acquired U.K. Portfolio, thus increasing the impact of this portfolio’s lower net interest margin on the overall results.
Consistent with our experiences in the past few quarters, we expect a relatively stable low-double-digit net interest margin for the foreseeable future.
Other income ratio. We generally expect The numerator of our other income ratio to increase asequals gross revenues associated with our lower-tier receivables become a larger percentage, and to decrease as our lower-tier receivables become a smaller percentage,leasing activities less depreciation of our overall managed receivables. When underlying open accounts, these receivables generate significantly higher annual membership, over-limit, monthly maintenance and other fees than do our other portfolios. Consequently, the closurerental merchandise. The denominator of credit card accounts and the mix change discussed above under which our lower-tier receivables comprise a much smaller percentage of our total receivables accounts in significant part for our low other income ratios.
As generally experienced in 2011 and 2012, we expect a positive generally low single-digit other income ratio for the foreseeable future unless we experience material gains or losses associated with future debt repurchases, investment write-downs or other unique transactions, which could cause an increase or decrease in the ratio. Negatively affecting our other income ratio forequals average rental merchandise as disclosed in the thirdtables above. Given the rapid growth in these operations, the timing of new account originations could significantly impact our quarterly ratios. Further, because of our limited history with our merchandise leasing activities as well as the expected disruptions in new account originations during the second quarter of 2011 were $5.3 million of losses2014 discussed above, we are optimistic, but uncertain at this time, that we recognized due to other-than-temporary declines in the values of non-marketable debt securities in which we had previously invested; excluding the impact of these write-downs, our future quarters' other income ratio would have been 2.1%.  Similarly in the fourth quarter of 2012, we experienced other-than-temporary declines in the values of non-marketable debt and equity securities in the amount of $5.5 million; excluding the impact of these write-downs, our other income ratio would have been 4.3%.
Operating ratio. Although we have been highly focused on expense reduction and cost control efforts, our managed receivables levels are generally fallingratios will continue at faster rates than the rates at which we have been able thus far to reduce our costs (particularly when considering our fixed infrastructure costs and costs of other non-receivables-based business initiatives and investments). This accounts for the trendline of generally increasing operating ratios over the past several quarters.  In the fourth quarter of 2012, this trend was significantly offset due to the receipt of $10.0 million from a lender to compensate us for excess costs we incurred for the benefit of the lender in servicing a credit card portfolio that collateralized the lender’s loan to us; excluding the impact of this payment, our operating ratio would have been 20.2%.
Future Expectations
Because the accounts underlying substantially all of our credit card receivables are closed and because of expected liquidations within each of our credit card receivables portfolios, we generally do not expect our yield-oriented managed receivables statistics to improve significantly from their current levels for the foreseeable future.
Our credit card operations within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment are separate and distinct from our other operations. As such, if we were ever to conclude that the ongoing costs of these operations exceeded their benefits (i.e., cash flows to us and residual asset values), we could liquidate our credit card operations (either by continuing to allow them to decline in size or through more aggressive action) with minimal impact on future financial performance of our other operations. We reference the table included in Note 11, “Convertible Senior Notes,” to our consolidated financial statements, which quantifies the risk to our consolidated total equity position associated with a complete liquidation of our credit cards receivables portfolios.
 
Definitions of Financial, Operating and Statistical Measures
Total yield ratio.Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which includes all finance charge and late fee income billed on all outstanding receivables, plus credit card fees (including over-limit fees, cash advance fees, returned check fees and interchange income), plus earned, amortized amounts of annual membership fees and activation fees with respect to certain of our credit card products, plus ancillary product income, plus amortization of the accretable yield component of our acquisition discounts for portfolio purchases, plus gains (or less losses) on debt repurchases and other activities within our Credit and Other Investments segment less any adjustments to finance and fee billings, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables.
Combined gross charge-off ratio. Represents an annualized fraction the numerator of which is the aggregate amounts of finance charge, fee and principal losses from customers unwilling or unable to pay their receivables balances, as well as from bankrupt and deceased customers, less current-period recoveries, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables. Recoveries on managed receivables represent all amounts received related to managed receivables that previously have been charged off, including payments received directly from customers and proceeds received from the sale of those charged-off receivables. Recoveries typically have represented less than 2% of average managed receivables.
NetAdjusted charge-off ratio.Represents an annualized fraction the numerator of which is the principal amount of losses, net of recoveries and the denominator of which is average managed receivables. (The numerator excludes finance charge and fee charge offs, which are charged against the related income item at the time of charge off, as well as losses from fraudulent activity in accounts, which are included separately in other operating expenses.)
Adjusted charge-off ratio. Represents an annualized fraction the numerator of which is principal net charge offs as adjusted to apply discount accretion related to the credit quality of acquired portfolios to offset a portion of the actual face amount of net charge offs, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables. (Historically, upon our acquisitions of credit card receivables, a portion of the discount reflected within our acquisition prices has related to the credit quality of the acquired receivables—that portion representing the excess of the face amount of the receivables acquired over the future cash flows expected to be collected from the receivables. Because we treat the credit

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quality discount component of our acquisition discount as related exclusively to acquired principal balances, the difference between our net charge offs and our adjusted charge offs for each respective reporting period represents the total dollar amount of our charge offs that were charged against our credit quality discount during each respective reporting period.)
Total yieldOther income ratio. Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which includes all finance charge and late fee income billed on all outstanding receivables, plus credit card fees (including over-limit fees, cash advance fees, returned check fees and interchange income), plus earned, amortized amounts of annual membership fees and activation feesequals revenues associated with respect to certainour leasing activities less depreciation of our credit card products, plus ancillary product income, plus amortization of the accretable yield component of our acquisition discounts for portfolio purchases, plus gains (or less losses) on debt repurchases and other activities within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment,rental merchandise and the denominator of which is average managed receivables.rental merchandise.

Gross yield ratio. Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which is finance charges and late fees, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables.
Net interest margin. Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which includes finance charge and late fee income billed on all outstanding receivables, plus amortization of the accretable yield component of our acquisition discounts for portfolio purchases, less interest expense associated with portfolio-specific structured financing debt facilities and finance charge and late fee charge offs, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables. (Net interest margins are influenced by a number of factors, including (1) the level of finance charges and late fees, (2) the weighted average cost of funds underlying portfolio-specific debt or within our securitization structures, (3) amortization of the accretable yield component of our acquisition discounts for portfolio purchases and (4) the level of our finance charge and late fee charge offs.)
Other income ratio. Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which includes credit card fees (including over-limit fees, cash advance fees, returned check fees and interchange income), plus earned, amortized amounts of annual membership fees and activation fees with respect to certain of our credit card products, plus ancillary product income, less all fee charge offs (with the exception of late fee charge offs, which are netted against the net interest margin), plus realized and unrealized gains (or less losses) on debt repurchases, investments in debt and equity securities, and other activities within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables.
Operating ratio. Represents an annualized fraction, the numerator of which includes all expenses (other than marketing and solicitation expenses) associated with our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, net of any servicing income we receive from third parties, and the denominator of which is average managed receivables.
Auto Finance Segment
 
Our Auto Finance segment historically included a variety of auto sales and lending activities.
 
Our original platform, CAR, acquired in April 2005, principally purchases and/or services loans secured by automobiles from or for and also provides floor-plan financing for a pre-qualified network of independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here used car business.  We have expanded these operations to also include certain installment lending products in addition to our traditional loans secured by automobiles.  While not currently material, these loans could represent a meaningful investment in the future.
 
We also historically owned substantially all of JRAS, a buy-here, pay-here dealer we acquired in 2007 and operated from that time until our disposition of certain JRAS operating assets in the first quarter of 2011.
 
Lastly,Additionally, our ACC platform acquired during 2007 historically purchased retail installment contracts from franchised car dealers. We ceased origination efforts within the ACC platform during 2009 and outsourced the collection of its portfolio of auto finance receivables.
 
Collectively, as of December 31, 2013, we currently serveserved more than 675600 dealers through our Auto Finance segment in 37 states.
 
Managed Receivables Background
 
For reasons set forth previously within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment discussion, we also provide managed-receivables-based financial, operating and statistical data for our Auto Finance segment. Reconciliation of the auto finance managed receivables data to our GAAP financial statements requires an understanding that our managed receivables data are based on billings and actual charge offs as they occur, without regard to any changes in our allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable.

Analysis of Statistical Data
 
Financial, operating and statistical metrics for our Auto Finance segment are detailed (dollars and numbers of accounts in thousands; percentages of total) in the following tables:table:
  At or for the Three Months Ended 
  2012  2011 
  Dec. 31  Sept. 30  Jun. 30  Mar. 31  Dec. 31  Sept. 30  Jun. 30  Mar. 31 
Period-end managed receivables $64,158  $67,858  $72,886  $75,275  $87,755  $99,237  $113,316  $128,254 
Period-end managed accounts  23   23   24   24   26   27   29   30 
Percent 30 or more days past due  14.0%  13.3%  10.7%  8.3%  12.8%  11.9%  10.2%  8.6%
Percent 60 or more days past due  5.0%  5.4%  3.6%  3.3%  4.9%  4.7%  3.8%  3.6%
Percent 90 or more days past due  2.1%  2.4%  1.1%  1.6%  2.1%  2.3%  1.5%  1.5%
Average managed receivables $65,065  $69,538  $75,877  $80,503  $92,719  $106,881  $120,773  $140,132 
Gross yield ratio  36.8%  35.3%  35.2%  33.9%  36.3%  35.5%  32.6%  29.2%
Adjusted charge-off ratio  5.9%  3.9%  4.2%  8.2%  8.3%  9.8%  10.9%  21.1%
Recovery ratio  3.5%  3.9%  4.7%  6.0%  7.1%  5.6%  7.0%  3.4%
Net interest margin  35.6%  23.8%  32.0%  17.0%  24.4%  25.6%  23.8%  20.5%
Other income ratio  3.8%  2.7%  2.3%  2.3%  1.4%  1.2%  0.9%  -11.2%
Operating ratio  26.1%  24.7%  24.0%  29.9%  21.3%  19.5%  18.7%  18.7%
 At or for the Three Months Ended
 2013 2012
 Dec 31. Sept. 30 Jun. 30 Mar. 31 Dec. 31 Sept. 30 Jun. 30 Mar. 31
Period-end managed receivables$63,491
 $59,249
 $60,706
 $60,449
 $64,158
 $67,858
 $72,886
 $75,275
Percent 30 or more days past due13.1% 12.3% 12.1% 10.0% 14.0% 13.3% 10.7% 8.3%
Percent 60 or more days past due4.3% 4.2% 3.6% 3.6% 5.0% 5.4% 3.6% 3.3%
Percent 90 or more days past due1.7% 1.6% 1.1% 1.5% 2.1% 2.4% 1.1% 1.6%
Average managed receivables$61,263
 $59,126
 $60,359
 $61,803
 $65,065
 $69,538
 $75,877
 $80,503
Total yield ratio40.2% 41.0% 25.5% 40.9% 40.6% 38.1% 37.5% 36.1%
Combined gross charge-off ratio4.0% 4.4% 4.1% 2.2% 6.4% 4.5% 4.9% 9.2%
Recovery ratio1.6% 1.8% 2.2% 5.1% 3.5% 3.9% 4.7% 6.0%

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Managed receivables.  Period-end  Average managed receivables have gradually declined because we curtailed purchasing and origination activities within our ACC and JRAS operations prior to 2011 (and sold our JRAS operations, but not its underlyingand those receivables in February 2011).have declined over time. For all of the periods set forth above, only CAR continues to purchase/originate loans, but until the second quarter of 2013, it had not done so at growth levels significant enough to offset the gradual liquidationsliquidation of our ACC and JRAS portfolios’ managed receivables. ACC and JRAS managed receivables are substantially liquidated at this point, and we are beginning to see and expect stability in the pacelevel of decline in our managed receivables levelswith some growth as receivable purchase opportunities arise. Although we seek to abate significantly overexpand our CAR operations, the next few quarters. We also expect to begin seeing net growthAuto Finance segment faces strong competition from other specialty finance lenders, as well as the indirect effects on us of our buy-here, pay-here dealership customers' competition with more traditional franchise dealerships for consumers interested in our managed receivables within the next year.purchasing automobiles.
 
Delinquencies.  Our ACC and JRAS receivables are substantially liquiditatedliquidated and are at largelyrelatively insignificant levels relative to our better performing CAR receivables, which have significantly lower late stage (60 or more days past due) delinquency and charge-off rates; this fact and a recovering economy accounted for the modest year-over-year general improvement inour generally improving delinquency statistics through the end of the second quarter of 2012. Because the JRAS and ACC receivables are largelyrelatively insignificant, we do not expect any material further improvements in our delinquency statistics associated with further liquidations of these receivables. Delinquencies rose somewhat within our CAR receivables portfolio in the third and fourth quarters of 2012, primarily due to seasonal patterns and a slightly weakened market. DelinquenciesThese delinquency rates abated in 2013 although they were still slightly higher in the first and second quarters of 2013 than those experienced in 2011the first and early 2012 reflected historically lowsecond quarters of 2012. In the first quarter of both years in particular, we saw the benefits of seasonally strong payment patterns associated with year-end tax refunds for most of our customers.  Our delinquency rates declined in the third and fourth quarters of 2013 relative to the same period in the prior year, and the current levels we are experiencing more closely represent what we would expect going forward. EvenWe are not generally concerned with modest fluctuations in delinquency rates and do not believe they will have a significantly positive or adverse impact on our results of operations; even at the slightly elevated rates (when compared to last year), becauselike we saw period over period in the first two quarters of this year, we earn significant yields on CAR’s receivables and have significant dealer reserves (i.e., retainages or holdbacks on the amount of funding CAR provides to its dealer customers) to protect against credit losses, we are not currently concerned that the rise in delinquencies will have a significantly adverse impact on our adjusted charge-off ratio.losses.
 
GrossTotal yield ratio, net interest margin and other income ratio.  With the exception of the first and third quarterssecond quarter of 2012,2013, we have experienced a general trend linetrend-line of improving net interest margins is evident relativetotal yield ratios compared to comparable prior year periods due in part to liquidation of the JRAS and ACC receivables, thereby causing the better-performinghigher yielding CAR receivables to comprise a greaterlarger percentage of our average managed auto finance receivables. This increasing trend is generally expected to cease as the impact of the JRAS and ACC receivables are no longer a significant component of the overall pool of receivables and as such we expect this ratio to remain relatively stable throughout 2014. The termssignificant decrease in the second quarter of 2013 was caused by the adverse effects of a $2.4 million write-off of a note we had received from buyers of our ACC debt facility provide that 37.5% of any cash flows (net of contractual servicing compensation) generated on the ACC auto finance receivables portfolio after repayment of the notes will be allocated to the note holders as additional compensation for the use of their capital. Significant recent improvements in performance of the ACC receivables caused us to resume significant accruals of contingent interest expense under the debt facility, and our accruals of such additional interest during the first and third quarters of 2012 caused the decline in our net interest margin relative to our improving net interest margin trend line. Because all principal under the ACC debt facility has now been repaid (and the only remaining obligation under the facility is for contingent interest that we have fully accrued at this point), we do not expect any significant future effects on our net interest margin associated with contingent interest under the ACC debt facility.
Consistent with our recent experiences, because our liquidating ACC and JRAS receivables are now largely insignificant relative to our total portfolio of auto finance receivables, the higher gross yields we achieve within our CAR operations generally are expected to continue to result in slightly higher trending gross yield ratios and net interest margins in future quarters relative to comparable prior year quarterly levels.
The principal component of our other income ratio was the gross profit that our former JRAS buy-here, pay-here dealer operations generated from their auto sales prior to our sale of these operationsthat we sold in February 2011. As such,2011; excluding the otherimpact of this write-off, our second quarter 2013 total yield ratio would have been 41.1% (and we would have had GAAP Auto Finance segment income ratio historically moved in relative tandem with the volume of JRAS’s auto sales. Our other income ratio in the first quarter of 2011 reflects the $4.6 million loss recognized on the sale of our JRAS operating assets in February 2011. Because of the sale of these operations (and the commensurate elimination of the principal source of other income), we expect an insignificant other income ratio for the foreseeable future in line with what we have experienced in 2012 quarters.during that quarter).

AdjustedCombined gross charge-off ratio and recovery ratio.  We generally charge off auto finance receivables when they are between 120 and 180 days past due, unless the collateral is repossessed and sold before that point, in which case we will record a charge off when the proceeds are received. The adjustedcombined gross charge-off ratio reflects our netrepresents an annualized fraction the numerator of which is the aggregate amounts of finance charge, offs,fee and principal losses from customers unwilling or unable to pay their receivables balances, as well as from bankrupt and deceased customers, less credit quality discount accretion with respect to our acquired portfolios. Our adjusted charge-off ratio was significantly elevated in the first quarter of 2011, principally reflecting the adverse effects of five 2010 JRAS lot closurescurrent-period recoveries, and the corresponding negative impact this had on JRAS collections.denominator of which is average managed receivables.  Because our ACC receivables and the receivables of our JRAS operations that we retained in connection with ourthe sale of our JRAS operations in February 2011 have declined and are now largely insignificant relative to our total portfolio of auto finance receivables and because of significantly improved performance of the ACC and JRAS receivables due both to the aging of the portfolios and some economic recovery and better than expected tax refund seasonal effects, our adjustedcombined gross charge-off ratio has declined significantly subsequent to the first quarter of 2011.significantly. Our CAR receivables, which experience significantly lower charge offs, now comprise a more significant proportion of our average managed auto finance receivables—a factor that not onlyhas contributed most significantly to our general trend-line of lower combined gross charge-off ratios. In the 2011 decline in our adjusted charge-off ratio, but is also expected to result in lower adjusted charge-off ratios in future quarters.  Also serving to reduce our secondfirst quarter 2011 adjusted charge-off ratio as well as increase our second quarter 2011of 2013, we experienced larger than anticipated recovery ratio was a large sale of repossessed autos at auction related to the receivables ofsales associated with our former JRAS operations, which had accumulated a growing inventory of such vehicles leading into the second quarter of 2011 as well as increased recoveries experiencedhelped to improve our recovery ratio and combined gross charge-off ratio in our ACC portfolio.  A similar increase in recoveries was seen during the fourth quarter of 2011 in our ACC portfolio.that quarter.  We expect our recovery rate to fluctuate modestly from quarter to quarter due to the timing of the sale of repossessed autos, but more importantly, we expect our recovery rate to fall gradually with the declining effects of ACC and JRAS on our operations; CAR experiences significantly lower charge offs and recoveries than we experienced in ACC’swith respect to ACC and JRAS’s operations.JRAS.
  
Operating ratio. We have experienced a modest general trend line of increasing year-over-year operating ratios, which largely reflects the higher costs of our CAR operations as a percentage of receivables than such operating costs of our ACC and JRAS operations as a percentage of their receivables in prior periods. (Such higher costs correspond with the significantly higher gross yield ratios and net interest margins within our CAR operations.) As noted above, our CAR receivables and operating costs now comprise a greater percentage of respective total Auto Finance segment receivables and operating costs given the gradual liquidation of ACC and JRAS receivables. Notwithstanding this general trend line, we do not expect a significantly higher operating ratio for the foreseeable future.  The spike in the first quarter of 2012 operating ratio arose due to an impairment charge of $1.2 million recognized during that quarter associated with unfavorable terms on the sublease of our former ACC offices and certain non-recurring costs we incurred in the collection of our JRAS receivables.
Future Expectations
 
Our CAR operations are performingcontinue to perform well in the current environment (achieving consistent profitability) and are expected to continue at current levels for the foreseeable future. Generally offsetting these positive results are ACC and JRAS operations, which are expected to modestly depress overall Auto Finance segment results relative to CAR’s stand-alone results for 2012. However, becauseBecause ACC’s and JRAS’s receivables are now substantially

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liquidated, theythe history of negative effects of these operations on our Auto Finance segment results should have a small and further diminishing adversebe abated in future effectperiods.  We continue to focus on growing our profitable CAR operations primarily from the positive results we are experiencing within our CAR operations.  Additionally, planned modest expansionsaddition of new branch operations in 2013, will have an initial negative impact on our operating ratio aswhich we incur start up costs associated with the new locations.expect to add to this segment's profitability in 2014.

Liquidity, Funding and Capital Resources
 
We continue to see some dislocationAs noted elsewhere in the availability of attractively priced and termed liquidity as a result of the market disruptions that began in 2007. This ongoing disruption has resulted inthis Report, a decline in liquidity available to fund sub-prime credit card receivables wider spreads above the underlying interest indices (typically LIBOR for our borrowings) for the loans that lenders are willingat acceptable advance rates and terms (coupled to make againstsome degree with constraints on credit card receivables, and a decreaseasset returns in advance rates for those loans.  Moreover, the most recent global financial crisis differs in key respects from our experiences during other down economic and financing cycles. First, while we had difficulty obtaining asset-backed financing for our originatedU.S.) caused us to cease credit card portfolio activities at attractive advance ratesmarketing operations in the last down cycle (2001 through 2003), the credit spreads (above base pricing indices like LIBOR) at that time were not as wide (expensive) as those seen during the recent crisis. Additionally, while we were successful during that down cycleU.S. beginning in obtaining asset-backed financing for credit card portfolio acquisitions at attractive advance rates, pricinglate 2007 and other terms, that financing has not been available from traditional market participants since the advent of the most recent crisis.
Although we are hopeful that subprime credit card liquidity markets ultimately will return to more traditional levels, we are not able to predict when or if that will occur, and we are managing our business with the assumption that such liquidity markets will not return to more traditional levels in the near term. We have closedclose substantially all of our credit card accounts (other than those associated with our originated U.K. accounts). ToUntil the extent possible given constraints thus far on our ability to reduce expenses at the same rate asthird quarter of 2013, we experienced net liquidations of our managed receivables at faster rates than we were able to reduce our costs. This resulted from the significant level of fixed infrastructure costs that had built up to support our significant legacy credit card lending operations. Our infrastructure costs are liquidating,still high now, and while we are managinghad in the past been focused on cost reduction, our primary focus now is on growing our point-of-sale finance offerings so that our revenues from these product offerings can cover our infrastructure costs and return us to profitability. In this regard, we experienced, for the first time in several years, growth in our earning assets (consisting of our managed receivables portfoliosand rental merchandise) during the last two quarters of 2013, and we expect, subject to the availability of capital to us at acceptable pricing and terms, to continue to experience growth in future quarters. This growth will be delayed late in the first quarter of 2014 as a significant retail partner in our point-of-sale operations undergoes a product shift that is expected to result in the temporary suspension of new account originations with a goal of generatingus for both our installment lending product as well as our rent-to-own product. We anticipate this disruption will last into the necessary cash flows oversecond quarter and will result in slower growth for that quarter.

Accordingly, we expect our key challenges in the coming quarters for us to use in de-leveragingbe (i) containing costs (as opposed to our business, while continuingrecent focus on reducing expenses) and (ii) obtaining the funding necessary to enhance shareholder valuemeet capital needs required by the growth of our new product offerings and to the greatest extent possible.cover our infrastructure costs until our new product offerings generate enough revenues and cash flows to cover such costs.
 
All of our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment’s structured financing facilities are expected to amortize down with collections on the receivables within their underlying trusts with no bullet repayment requirementsand should not represent significant refunding or refinancing balance sheet risks to us. Accordingly,our consolidated balance sheet.  Additionally, we now havedo not expect any imminent refunding or financing needs associated with our convertible senior notes given that the next redemption date for the remaining $0.5 million outstanding balance on our 3.625% convertible senior notes is May 30, 2015 and the remaining $139.5 million outstanding balance on our 5.875% convertible senior notes is not due for repayment until 2035. As such, the only one structured financing facilityfacilities that presents repayment requirementscould represent near-term refunding or refinancing balance sheet risks to us—that being our CAR structured finance facility into which we enteredneeds as of December 31, 2013 are those associated with the following notes payable in October of 2011 and which does not mature until October 2014.the amounts indicated (in millions): 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring April 1, 2016) that is secured by certain receivables$0.5
Revolving credit facility (expiring May 17, 2014) that is secured by the financial and operating assets of the entity4.0
Amortizing debt facility (expiring April 20, 2015) that is secured by certain receivables5.8
Amortizing debt facility (expiring September 11, 2014) that is secured by certain receivables3.5
Amortizing debt facility (expiring December 15, 2014) that is secured by certain receivables3.3
Amortizing debt facility (expiring July 15, 2015) that is secured by certain receivables8.3
Revolving credit facility (expiring December 3, 2016) that is secured by originated U.K. credit card receivables portfolio8.2
Revolving credit facility (expiring October 4, 2014) that is secured by the financial and operating assets of our CAR operations22.0
     Total$55.6
   
Our focusFurther details concerning the above debt facilities are provided in Note 10, “Notes Payable,” and Note 11, “Convertible Senior Notes,” to our consolidated financial statements included herein. Based on the state of the debt capital markets, the performance of our assets that serve as security for the above facilities, and our relationships with the lenders, we view imminent refunding or refinancing risks with respect to the above facilities as low in the current environment, and we believe that the quality of our new product offering assets should allow us to raise more capital through increasing the size of our facilities with our existing lenders and attracting new lending relationships.
While not representing a debt facility, we also note that there may be liquidity has resultedrisks associated with our uncertain tax positions. Although we believe we are several years away from ultimate resolution, and possible settlement and payment, with

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respect to our uncertain tax positions, including those taken in the 2007 and will continue to result2008 years under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, it is possible that we may ultimately resolve one or more uncertain tax positions in growth and profitability trade-offs. For example, as noted throughout this Report, we have closed substantiallya manner that results in a significant payment. Substantially all of our credit card accounts (other than those underlying our accounts in the U.K.); consequently, our portfolio of our managed credit card receivables is expected to show net liquidations for the foreseeable future.
At $55.3 million income tax liability at December 31, 2012,2013 represents our liability accrued for uncertain tax positions.

At December 31, 2013, we had $67.9$50.9 million in unrestricted cash. Because the characteristics of our assets and liabilities change, liquidity management has been a dynamic process for us affected by the pricing and maturity of our assets and liabilities. We historically have financed our business through cash flows from operations, asset-backed structured financings and the issuance of debt and equity. Details concerning our cash flows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, we used$26.9 million in cash flows from operations compared to generating$3.0 million of cash flows from operations during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012. The decrease was principally related to (1) lower collections of credit card finance charge receivables in the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 relative to the same period in 2012, given diminished receivables levels, and (2) purchases of rental merchandise associated with our point-of-sale finance operations during the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, offset, however, by lower payments of accounts payable and accrued expenses in the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 relative to the same period in 2012.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, we generated$49.7 million of cash through our investing activities, compared to generating$229.2 million of cash in investing activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012.  This decrease is primarily due to the reduced levels of our outstanding investments and the cash returns thereof in 2013 based on the shrinking size of our liquidating credit card and auto finance receivable portfolios as well as the net proceeds received during the year ended December 31, 2012 arefrom the sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations, offset by growth in our point-of-sale finance product as follow:
·  During the year ended December 31, 2012, we generated $32.9 million in cash flows from operations compared to $83.8 million of cash flows from operations generated during the year ended December 31, 2011. The decrease was principally related to (1) lower collections of credit card finance charge receivables in the year ended December 31, 2012 relative to the same period in 2011, given diminished receivables levels, (2) the lack of any finance and fee collections associated with our U.K. Internet micro-loan operations in the year ended December 31, 2012, given our sale of these operations in April 2011, and (3) reduced net liquidations of receivables associated with our JRAS operations in 2012 versus 2011.
·  During the year ended December 31, 2012, we generated $199.3 million of cash through our investing activities, compared to generating $433.5 million of cash in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2011.  This decrease is primarily due to the reduced levels of our outstanding investments and the cash returns thereof in 2012 based on the shrinking size of our liquidating credit card and auto finance receivable portfolios, as well as the net proceeds we received from the sale of our MEM and JRAS operations during the year ended December 31, 2011.  Offsetting this decline are net proceeds received during the year ended December 31, 2012 from the sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations.
·  During the year ended December 31, 2012, we used $309.4 million of cash in financing activities, compared to our use of $458.6 million of cash in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2011. In both periods, the data reflect net repayments of debt facilities corresponding with net declines in our loans and fees receivable that serve as the underlying collateral for the facilities (principally credit card and auto loans and fees receivable). Beyond the effects of higher 2011 than 2012 repayment levels based on receivables liquidations under our structured financing facilities, we used more cash to fund stock repurchases in 2011 than in 2012. We used $105.0 million in proceeds to repurchase stock in a April 2011 tender offer, versus our use of $82.5 million to repurchase stock in a September 2012 tender offer. These effects were partially offset, however, by the fact that we used only $59.7 million of cash for convertible senior notes repurchases in the year ended December 31, 2011, versus the $83.5 million we used to repay our 3.625% convertible senior notes upon the exercise by note holders of a put right in May 2012.
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well as our U.K. originated credit card receivables.
TableDuring the twelve months ended December 31, 2013, we used$40.7 million of Contentscash in financing activities, compared to our use of $309.4 million of cash in financing activities during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012. In both periods, the data reflect net repayments of debt facilities corresponding with net declines in our loans and fees receivable that serve as the underlying collateral for the facilities (principally credit card and auto loans and fees receivable). Also impacting prior year results is the May 2012 repayment of $83.5 million of our 3.625% convertible senior notes upon the exercise of a then-existing noteholder put right, as well as our use of $82.5 million to repurchase 8,250,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share in September 2012. Offsetting our 2013 use of cash in financing activities are borrowings associated with our new credit products.

We note that the $67.9$50.9 million in aggregate December 31, 20122013 unrestricted cash referenced above represents the aggregate of all unrestricted cash held by our various business subsidiaries.
 
Beyond our immediate financing efforts discussed throughout this Report, shareholders should expect uswe will continue to evaluate debt and equity issuances as a means to fund our investment opportunities. We expect to take advantage of any opportunities to raise additional capital if terms and pricing are attractive to us. Any proceeds raised under these efforts or additional liquidity available to us could be used to fund (1) potentialthe acquisition of additional financial assets associated with our point-of-sale finance activities as well as the acquisition of credit card receivables portfolio acquisitions, which may represent attractive opportunities for us in the current liquidity environment,portfolios, (2) further repurchases of our convertible senior notes and common stock, and (3) investments in certain financial and non-financial assets or businesses. Pursuant to a share repurchase plan authorized by our Board of Directors on May 11, 2012, we are authorized as of December 31, 2013to repurchase 10,000,000up to 9,627,918 shares of our common stock through June 30, 2014.
Lastly, we note that as of this Report date the only remaining material refunding or refinancing risks to us are those of the CAR financing facility into which we entered in October 2011 and which does not mature until October 2014 and our 5.875% convertible senior notes which are due in November 2035.
 
Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

Commitments and Contingencies
 
We do not currently have any off-balance-sheet arrangements; however, we do have certain contractual arrangements that would require us to make payments or provide funding if certain circumstances occur (“contingent commitments”). We do not currently expect that these contingent commitments will result in any material amounts being paid by us. See Note 12, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to our consolidated financial statements included herein for further discussion of these matters.
 




33


Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
See Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components,” to our consolidated financial statements included herein for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

Critical Accounting Estimates
 
We have prepared our financial statements in accordance with GAAP. These principles are numerous and complex. We have summarized our significant accounting policies in the notes to our consolidated financial statements. In many instances, the application of GAAP requires management to make estimates or to apply subjective principles to particular facts and circumstances. A variance in the estimates used or a variance in the application or interpretation of GAAP could yield a materially different accounting result. It is impracticable for us to summarize every accounting principle that requires us to use judgment or estimates in our application. Nevertheless, we describe below the areas for which we believe that the estimations, judgments or interpretations that we have made, if different, would have yielded the most significant differences in our consolidated financial statements.
 
On a quarterly basis, we review our significant accounting policies and the related assumptions, in particular, those mentioned below, with the audit committee of the Board of Directors.
 
Measurements for Loans and Fees Receivable at Fair Value and Notes Payable Associated with Structured Financings at Fair Value
 
Our valuation of loans and fees receivable, at fair value is based on the present value of future cash flows using a valuation model of expected cash flows and the estimated cost to service and collect those cash flows. We estimate the present value of these future cash flows using a valuation model consisting of internally developed estimates of assumptions third-party market participants would use in determining fair value, including estimates of net collected yield, principal payment rates, expected principal credit loss rates, costs of funds, discount rates and servicing costs.  Similarly, our valuation of notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value is based on the present value of future cash flows utilized in repayment of the outstanding principal and interest under the facilities using a valuation model of expected cash flows net of the contractual service expenses within the facilities. We estimate the present value of these future cash flows using a valuation model consisting of internally developed estimates of assumptions third-party market participants would use in determining fair value, including:  estimates of net collected yield, principal payment rates and expected principal credit loss rates on the credit card receivables that secure the non-recourse notes payable; costs of funds; discount rates; and contractual servicing fees.
 
The aforementionedestimates for credit losses, payment rates, servicing costs, contractual servicing fees, costs of funds, discount rates and yields earned on credit card receivables estimates significantly affect the reported amount of our loans and fees receivable, at fair value and our notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value on our consolidated balance sheet, and they likewise affect our changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value and changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value categories within our fees and related income on earning assets line item on our consolidated statement of operations.
 
Allowance for Uncollectible Loans and Fees
 
Through our analysis of loan performance, delinquency data, charge-off data, economic trends and the potential effects of those economic trends on our customers, we establish an allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable as an estimate of the probable losses inherent within those loans and fees receivable that we do not report at fair value. To the extent that actual results differ from our estimates of uncollectible loans and fees receivable, our results of operations and liquidity could be materially affected.
 
Recognition and Measurements with Respect to Uncertain Tax Positions
 
Our businesses and the tax accounting for our businesses are very complex, thereby giving rise to a number of uncertain tax positions, several of which are matters that are under consideration, and in some cases under dispute, in audits of our operations by various taxing authorities (including the Internal Revenue Service at the federal level with respect to net operating losses that we incurred in 2007 and 2008 and that we carried back to obtain tentative refunds of federal taxes paid in earlier years dating back to 2003).
 
In determining whether we are entitled to recognize, and in measuring the level of benefits that we are entitled to recognize associated with, uncertain tax positions, we (and experts we have hired to advise us) make an evaluation of the

34


technical merits of a tax position derived from sources of authorities in the tax law (legislation and statutes, legislative intent, regulations, rulings, and case law) and their applicability to the facts and circumstances underlying our tax position. Although we believe we are several years away from ultimate resolution, and possible settlement and payment, with respect to our uncertain tax positions, including those taken in the 2007 and 2008 years under audit by the Internal Revenue Service, it is possible that we may ultimately resolve one or more uncertain tax positions in a manner that differs from the liabilities we have recorded associated with such positions under our recognition and measurement determinations.

To the extent that our ultimate resolutions result in less liability than we have recorded associated with our uncertain tax positions, we could experience a material release of liability, increase in income, and greater liquidity than our investors might otherwise expect. Alternatively, to the extent that our ultimate resolutions result in more liability than we have recorded, our results of operations and liquidity could be materially adversely affected.

Valuation Allowances Against Net Deferred Tax Assets

Certain of our deferred tax assets relate to federal, foreign and state net operating losses, and the realization of our net deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon generating sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of these net operating loss carry-forwards. Our recorded tax benefits (or deferred tax assets) associated with net operating loss carry-forwards exceed our net deferred tax assets, and we provide valuation allowances against all of our net deferred tax assets because it is more likely than not that we will not be able to use our net operating losses to reduce future tax liabilities in applicable federal, foreign and state tax jurisdictions. To the extent we are able to realize recorded tax benefits associated with some or all of our net operating losses, our financial position could improve materially relative to that reported on our December 31, 2013 consolidated balance sheet.

Rental Merchandise

Our rental merchandise consists of consumer electronics and furniture that we initially record on our consolidated balance sheets at our cost. After our initial recording of the rental merchandise at cost, we reduce its carrying value for depreciation thereof. We typically depreciate our rental merchandise over contract rental periods, generally 12 months (monthly agreements) or 26 periods (bi-weekly agreements) under a $-0- salvage value assumption. These assumptions are periodically adjusted based on actual results and impairments as they occur. We follow this method to match, as closely as practicable, the recognition of depreciation expense with revenues associated with our customers' use of the rental merchandise. Currently, we do not maintain any levels of rental merchandise beyond what actually has been rented to our customers under our contracts with them. 

Revenue Recognition for Rental Merchandise

Our rent-to-own terms with our customers typically provide for 26, non-refundable, bi-weekly rental payments over a contract period of 12 months. Generally, the customer can take ownership of the merchandise by exercising a purchase option or making all required rental payments. We accrue periodic billed rental amounts (net of allowances for uncollectible billings) into revenues over the rental period to which the billed amounts relate, and we defer recognition in revenues of any advanced customer rental payments until the rental period in which they are properly recognizable under the terms of the contract. Additionally, we do not recognize a receivable for future periods' rental obligations due to us from our customers as our customers can terminate their rental agreements at any time with no further obligation to us, other than the return of rental merchandise.

ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Item 10 of Regulation S-K, we are not required to provide this information.

ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
     
See the Index to Financial Statements in Item 15, “Exhibits and Financial Statements Schedules.”
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f)) for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation and our

35


subsidiaries. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our principal executive and financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive and financial officers, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012,2013, based on the framework in Internal Control—IntegratedControl-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”)Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992).
Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—IntegratedControl-Integrated Framework, management has concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2012.2013.


ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
None.

ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As of December 31, 2012,2013, an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Act) was carried out on behalf of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation and our subsidiaries by our management with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon the evaluation, management concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2012.2013. During the fourth quarter of our year ended December 31, 2012,2013, no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Act) occurred that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our registeredindependent public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report is not subject to attestation by our registeredindependent public accounting firm pursuant to SEC rules that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
None.




ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 20132014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the sections entitled “Proposal One: Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers of Atlanticus,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 20132014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the section entitled “Executive and Director Compensation” and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
We maintain two stock-based employee compensation plans (our Employee Stock Purchase Plan or “ESPP” and our 2008 Equity Incentive Plan). The 2008 Equity Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and incentive awards. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under this plan and to which awards may relate is 2,000,000 shares (of which 953,518 remained as of December 31, 2012). Upon shareholder approval of the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan in May 2008, all remaining shares available for grant under our previous stock option and restricted stock plans were terminated.
All employees, excluding executive officers, are eligible to participate in the ESPP. Under the ESPP, employees can elect to have up to 10% of their annual wages withheld to purchase common stock in Atlanticus up to a fair market value of $10,000. The amounts deducted and accumulated by each participant are used to purchase shares of common stock at the end of each one-month offering period. The price of stock purchased under the ESPP is approximately 85% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the last day of the offering period.
The following table provides information about our outstanding option and restricted stock unit awards as of December 31, 2012.
Plan Category
 
Number of
Securities to Be
Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding
Options and Vesting of Restricted Stock Units (1)
  
Weighted-Average 
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options
  
Number of Securities Remaining Available for
Future Issuance under
Employee Compensation Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected in
First Column) (2)
 
Equity compensation plans previously approved by security holders  522,492  $40.99   1,013,518 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders  —    —     
Total  522,492  $40.99   1,013,518 

(1)Does not include outstanding shares of previously awarded restricted stock.
(2)Includes 953,518 options or other share-based awards available under our 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and 60,000 shares available under our ESPP as of December 31, 2012.

Further information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and is incorporated by reference.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 20132014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the sections entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and "Equity Compensation Plan Information" and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the sections entitled “Related Party Transactions” and “Corporate Governance” and is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for the 20132014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the section entitled “Auditor Fees” and is incorporated by reference.



ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
 
1. Financial Statements
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
2012
2. Financial Statement SchedulesF- 7
  2. Financial Statement Schedules
None.
 



3. Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Incorporated by Reference from Atlanticus’s
Atlanticus’ SEC Filings Unless
Otherwise Indicated(1)
  2.1Agreement for the sale and purchase of the entire issued share capital of Purpose UK Holdings Limited and certain shares in MEM Holdings Limited, dated December 31, 2010, among CCRT International Holdings B.V., Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation), Dollar Financial U.K. Limited and Dollar Financial Corp.March 4, 2011, Form 10-K, exhibit 2.2
  2.2Asset Purchase Agreement, dated August 5, 2011, by and among Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., AAFA Acquisition, Inc., Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation), CCIP Corp. (formerly CompuCredit Intellectual Property Holdings Corp. II), Valued Services, LLC, Valued Services of Alabama, LLC, Valued Services of Colorado, LLC, Valued Services of Kentucky, LLC, Valued Services of Oklahoma, LLC, Valued Services of Mississippi, LLC, Valued Services of Tennessee, LLC, Valued Services of Wisconsin, LLC, Valued Services of Ohio, LLC, VS of Ohio, LLC, Valued Services of South Carolina, LLC, and VS of South Carolina, LLC.LLCAugust 8, 2011, Form 8-K, exhibit 2.1
  2.3Membership Interest Purchase Agreement between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation) and JCAP Transitory Acquisition Sub, LLCAugust 9, 2012, Form 10-Q, exhibit 2.1
  3.1Articles of Incorporation.IncorporationJune 8, 2009, Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Annex B
  3.1(a)3.1(a)Articles of Amendment to Articles of IncorporationNovember 30, 2012, Form 8-K exhibit 3.1
  3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws (as amended through November 30, 2012).November 30, 2012, Form 8-K exhibit 3.2
  4.1Form of common stock certificate.certificateJuly 7, 2009, Form 8-K, exhibit 3.3
  4.2Indenture dated May 27, 2005 with U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association.AssociationMay 31, 2005, Form 8-K, exhibit 4.1
  4.3Supplemental Indenture dated June 30, 2009 with U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association.AssociationJuly 7, 2009, Form 8-K, exhibit 4.1
  4.4Indenture dated November 23, 2005 with U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association.AssociationNovember 28, 2005, Form 8-K, exhibit 4.1
  4.5Supplemental Indenture dated June 30, 2009 with U.S. Bank National Association, as successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association.AssociationJuly 7, 2009, Form 8-K, exhibit 4.2
10.1Stockholders Agreement dated as of April 28, 1999.1999January 18, 2000, Form S-1, exhibit 10.1
10.210.2†2008 Equity Incentive PlanApril 16, 2008, Schedule 14A, Appendix A
10.2(a)10.2(a)Form of Restricted Stock Agreement—Directors.Agreement–DirectorsMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.2
10.2(b)10.2(b)Form of Restricted Stock Agreement—Employees.Agreement–EmployeesMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.3
10.2(c)10.2(c)Form of Stock Option Agreement—Directors.Agreement–DirectorsMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.4
10.2(d)10.2(d)Form of Stock Option Agreement—Employees.Agreement–EmployeesMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.5
10.2(e)10.2(e)Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement—Directors.Agreement–DirectorsMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.6
10.2(f)10.2(f)Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement—Employees.Agreement–EmployeesMay 13, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.7
10.310.3†Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan.PlanApril 16, 2008, Schedule 14A, Appendix B
10.410.4†Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Richard R. House, Jr.December 29, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.4
 10.4(a)†Restricted Stock Agreement, dated May 9, 2006 between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation) and Richard R. House, Jr.May 15, 2006, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.1
10.4(b)†Option Agreement, dated May 9, 2006 between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation) and Richard R. House, Jr.May 15, 2006, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.2



Exhibit
Number
Description of ExhibitIncorporated by Reference from
Atlanticus’ SEC Filings Unless
Otherwise Indicated(1)
 
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Incorporated by Reference from Atlanticus’s SEC Filings Unless Otherwise Indicated (1)
10.510.5†     Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for David G. Hanna.HannaDecember 29, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.1
10.610.6†     Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for Richard W. Gilbert.GilbertDecember 29, 2008, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.3
10.7†10.7†     Amended and Restated Employment Agreement for J.Paul Whitehead, III.Jeffrey A. HowardAugust 9, 2012,Filed herewith
10.8†Employment Agreement for William R. McCameyFiled herewith
10.9†     Outside Director Compensation PackageNovember 12, 2013, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.1
10.8†     Outside Director Compensation Package.Filed herewith
10.910.10Master Indenture, dated as of July 14, 2000, among CompuCredit Credit Card Master Note Business Trust, The Bank of New York, and CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Corporation).November 14, 2000, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.1
10. 910.10 (a)First Amendment to Master Indenture dated as of September 7, 2000.2000November 14, 2000, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.1(a)
10. 910.10 (b)Second Amendment to Master Indenture dated as of April 1, 2001.2001March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.9(b)
10. 910.10 (c)
Third Amendment to Master Indenture dated as of
March 18, 2002.2002
March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.9(c)
10. 910.10 (d)Form of Indenture Supplement.November 22, 2000, Form 10-Q/A, exhibit 10.1(b)
10. 910.10 (e)Amended and Restated Series 2004-One Indenture Supplement, dated March 1, 2010, to the Master Indenture.IndentureJune 25, 2010, Form 8-K/A, exhibit 10.2
10. 910.10 (f)  
Transfer and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2000, among CCFC Corp. (formerly CompuCredit Funding Corp.), Credigistics
Atlanticus Services Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Corporation), CompuCredit Credit Card Master Note Business Trust and The Bank of New York.York
March 24, 2003, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.11
10. 910.10 (g)  First Amendment to Transfer and Servicing Agreement dated as of September 7, 2000.2000November 14, 2000, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.2(a)
10. 910.10 (h)  Second Amendment to Transfer and Servicing Agreement dated as of December 28, 2000.March 30, 2001, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.8(b)
10. 910.10 (i)  
Third Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of April 1, 2001.2001
March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(c)
10. 910.10 (j)  
Fourth Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of August 3, 2001.2001
March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(d)
10. 910.10 (k)  
Fifth Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of August 20, 2002.2002
March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(e)
10. 910.10 (l)
Sixth Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of April 1, 2003.2003
March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(f)
10. 910.10 (m)  Seventh Amendment to Transfer and Servicing Agreement dated as of June 26, 2003.2003March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(g)
10. 910.10 (n)  
Eighth Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of December 1, 2004.2004
March 2, 2006, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(o)
10. 910.10 (o)  
Ninth Amendment to Transfer and Servicing
Agreement dated as of June 10, 2005.2005
March 2, 2006, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.10(p)
 




Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Incorporated by Reference from Atlanticus’s
Atlanticus’ SEC Filings unless
Otherwise Indicated (1)
10.1010.11Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated March 1, 2010, among Merrill Lynch Mortgage Capital Inc., CCFC Corp. (formerly CompuCredit Funding Corp.), CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Corporation), and CompuCredit Credit Card Master Note Business Trust.TrustJune 25, 2010, Form 8-K/A, exhibit 10.1
10.1110.12Share Lending Agreement.AgreementNovember 22, 2005, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.1
10.11(a)10.12(a)Amendment to Share Lending AgreementMarch 6, 2012, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.12(a)
10.1210.13Agreement relating to the Sale and Purchase of Monument Business, dated April 4, 2007.2007August 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.1
10.12(a)10.13(a)Account Ownership Agreement for Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007, with R Raphael & Sons PLC.PLCAugust 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.2
10.13(b)10.12(b)
Receivables Purchase Agreement for Partridge
Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007, with R Raphael & Sons PLC.PLC
August 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.3
10.13(c)10.12(c)
Receivables Purchase Agreement for Partridge
Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007, with Partridge Funding Corporation.Corporation
August 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.4
10.12(d)10.13(d)Master Indenture for Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007, among Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and CIAC Corporation (formerly CompuCredit International Acquisition Corporation.Corporation)August 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.5
10.12(e)10.13(e)Series 2007-One Indenture Supplement for Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007.2007August 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.6
10.12(f)10.13(f)Transfer and Servicing Agreement for Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust, dated April 4, 2007, among Partridge Funding Corporation, CIAC Corporation (formerly CompuCredit International Acquisition Corporation), Partridge Acquired Portfolio Business Trust and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.AmericasAugust 1, 2007, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.7
10.1310.14Assumption Agreement dated June 30, 2009 between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation) and CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Corporation)July 7, 2009, Form 8-K, exhibit 10.1






Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibit
Incorporated by Reference from Atlanticus’s
Atlanticus’ SEC Filings unless
Otherwise Indicated (1)
10.1410.15Loan and Security Agreement, dated October 4, 2011 among CARS Acquisition LLC, et al and Wells Fargo Preferred Capital, Inc.March 6, 2012, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.16(a)
10.15(a)10.14First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement(a)August 13, 2013, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.1
10.15(b)Second Amendment and Joinder to Loan and Security AgreementAugust 13, 2013, Form 10-Q, exhibit 10.2
10.15(c)Third Amendment to Loan and Security AgreementFiled herewith
10.15(d)Fourth Amendment to Loan and Security AgreementFiled herewith
10.15(e)Agreement by Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (formerly CompuCredit Holdings Corporation) in favor of Wells Fargo Preferred Capital, IncInc.March 6, 2012, Form 10-K, exhibit 10.16(a)
10.15Credit Agreement, dated November 2, 2011, by and among Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC, Jefferson Capital Card Services, LLC and The Private Bank and Trust CompanyFebruary 24, 2012, Form 8-K/A, exhibit 10.1
10.15(a)Security Agreement, dated November 2, 2011 by and between Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC and The Private Bank and Trust Company.February 24, 2012, Form 8-K/A, exhibit 10.2
10.15(b)Security Agreement, dated November 2, 2011 by and between Jefferson Capital Card Services, LLC and The Private Bank and Trust Company.February 24, 2012, Form 8-K/A, exhibit 10.3
21.1Subsidiaries of the Registrant.RegistrantFiled herewith
23.1Consent of BDO USA, LLP.LLPFiled herewith
31.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).Filed herewith
31.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).Filed herewith
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and
Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350.1350
Filed herewith
95 Mine Safety Disclosure Filed Herewith 
99.1Charter of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.Filed Herewith
99.2Charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.March 1, 2004, Form 10-K, exhibit 99.2
101.INSXBRL Instance DocumentFiled herewith
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentFiled herewith
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase DocumentFiled herewith
 

Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.
(1)Documents incorporated by reference from SEC filings made prior to June 2009 were filed under CompuCredit Corporation (now CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation) (File No. 000-25751), our predecessor issuer.




The Board of Directors
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation as of December 31, 20122013 and 20112012 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion ofon the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation at December 31, 20122013 and 2011,2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
February 25, 2013March 28, 2014
 


F- 1

F-1



Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in thousands)


 December 31,  December 31, 
 2012  2011 December 31,
2013
 December 31,
2012
         
Assets         
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents $67,915  $144,913 $50,873
 $67,915
Restricted cash and cash equivalents  12,921   23,759 18,871
 12,921
Loans and fees receivable:         
  
Loans and fees receivable, net (of $8,252 and $7,480 in deferred revenue and $8,763 and $7,156 in allowances for uncollectible loans and fees receivable at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)  59,952   64,721 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, net (of $22 and $511 in deferred revenue and $2,388 and $7,537 in allowances for uncollectible loans and fees receivable at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively)  9,673   31,902 
Loans and fees receivable, net (of $13,258 and $8,274 in deferred revenue and $24,214 and $11,151 in allowances for uncollectible loans and fees receivable at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively)97,208
 69,625
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value  20,378   28,226 12,080
 20,378
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value  133,595   238,763 88,132
 133,595
Investments in previously charged-off receivables  -   37,110 
Rental merchandise, net of depreciation28,849
 
Property at cost, net of depreciation  7,192   8,098 8,937
 7,192
Investments in equity-method investees  37,756   49,862 35,134
 37,756
Deposits  16,397   2,968 1,908
 16,397
Prepaid expenses and other assets  14,647   17,585 10,243
 14,647
Total assets $380,426  $647,907 $352,235
 $380,426
Liabilities         
  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $38,596  $47,140 $48,625
 $38,596
Notes payable, at face value  22,670   23,765 56,740
 26,747
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at face value  4,077   23,151 
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value  140,127   241,755 94,523
 140,127
Convertible senior notes  95,335   176,400 95,934
 95,335
Income tax liability  60,434   59,368 55,255
 60,434
Total liabilities  361,239   571,579 351,077
 361,239
        
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)        
        
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

Equity         
  
Common stock, no par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized: 15,509,179 shares issued and outstanding (including 1,672,656 loaned shares to be returned) at December 31, 2012; and 31,997,581 shares issued and 23,559,402 shares outstanding (including 1,672,656 loaned shares to be returned) at December 31, 2011  -   - 
Common stock, no par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized: 15,594,325 shares issued and outstanding (including 1,672,656 loaned shares to be returned) at December 31, 2013; and 15,509,179 shares issued and outstanding (including 1,672,656 loaned shares to be returned) at December 31, 2012
 
Additional paid-in capital  211,122   294,246 210,315
 211,122
Treasury stock, at cost, 0 and 8,438,179 shares at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively  -   (187,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (1,154)  (2,257)(737) (1,154)
Retained deficit  (190,673)  (28,257)(208,414) (190,673)
Total shareholders’ equity  19,295   76,117 1,164
 19,295
Noncontrolling interests  (108)  211 (6) (108)
Total equity  19,187   76,328 1,158
 19,187
Total liabilities and equity $380,426  $647,907 $352,235
 $380,426

 
See accompanying notes.

F- 2


F-2


Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)



 For the Year Ended December 31, For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2012  2011 2013 2012
Interest income:         
Consumer loans, including past due fees $85,801  $144,331 $69,265
 $85,801
Other  1,009   1,186 256
 1,009
Total interest income  86,810   145,517 69,521
 86,810
Interest expense  (31,124)  (43,828)(23,872) (31,124)
Net interest income before fees and related income on earning assets and provision for losses on loans and fees receivable ��55,686   101,689 45,649
 55,686
Fees and related income on earning assets  68,210   94,565 69,109
 69,206
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value  (90,128)  (139,480)
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value, net of recoveries(14,560) (90,128)
Provision for losses on loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value  (16,770)  (1,089)(29,678) (16,770)
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets  16,998   55,685 70,520
 17,994
Other operating income:           
Servicing income  16,233   3,281 8,218
 16,233
Other Income  2,487   7,070 
Other income3,394
 2,487
Equity in income of equity-method investees  9,288   32,657 8,437
 9,288
Total other operating income  28,008   43,008 20,049
 28,008
Other operating expense:           
Salaries and benefits  17,317   21,022 17,832
 18,313
Card and loan servicing  41,095   45,345 46,119
 41,095
Marketing and solicitation  2,996   3,620 8,719
 2,996
Depreciation  2,742   4,642 17,965
 2,742
Other  24,687   26,110 22,713
 24,687
Total other operating expense  88,837   100,739 113,348
 89,833
Loss on from continuing operations before income taxes  (43,831)  (2,046)
Loss on continuing operations before income taxes(22,779) (43,831)
Income tax benefit  15,609   994 5,114
 15,609
Loss on continuing operations  (28,222)  (1,052)(17,665) (28,222)
Discontinued operations:           
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes  69,063   140,063 
 69,063
Income tax expense  (16,709)  (3,947)
 (16,709)
Income from discontinued operations  52,354   136,116 
 52,354
Net income  24,132   135,064 
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests (including $1,129 of income associated with noncontrolling interests in discontinued operations during the year ended December 31, 2011)  319   (1,047)
Net income attributable to controlling interests $24,451  $134,017 
Net (loss) income(17,665) 24,132
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests in continuing operations(76) 319
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests$(17,741) $24,451
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $(1.45) $(0.04)$(1.29) $(1.45)
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $(1.45) $(0.04)$(1.29) $(1.45)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $2.72  $5.25 $
 $2.72
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $2.71  $5.23 $
 $2.71
Net income attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $1.27  $5.21 
Net income attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $1.26  $5.19 
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic$(1.29) $1.27
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted$(1.29) $1.26

 
See accompanying notes.

F- 3

F-3



Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)Loss
(Dollars in thousands)


  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Net income $24,132  $135,064 
Other comprehensive income:        
Foreign currency translation adjustment  1,147   588 
Reclassifications of foreign currency translation adjustment to consolidated statements of operations  (19)  2,699 
Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive income  (25)  64 
Comprehensive income  25,235   138,415 
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests  319   (1,047)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests $25,554  $137,368 

 For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2013 2012
Net (loss) income$(17,665) $24,132
Other comprehensive (loss) income:   
Foreign currency translation adjustment562
 1,147
Reclassifications of foreign currency translation adjustment to consolidated statements of operations
 (19)
Income tax expense related to other comprehensive income(145) (25)
Comprehensive (loss) income(17,248) 25,235
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in continuing operations(76) 319
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests$(17,324) $25,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
See accompanying notes.

F- 4


F-4


Consolidated Statements of Equity
For the Years Ended December 31, 20122013 and 20112012
(Dollars in thousands)


 Common Stock                   
 Shares Issued  Amount  Additional Paid-In Capital  Treasury Stock  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Retained Deficit  Noncontrolling Interests  Total Equity 
                        Common Stock            
Balance at December 31, 2010  46,217,050     $408,751  $(208,696) $(5,608) $(151,609) $18,979  $61,817 
Use of treasury stock for stock-based compensation plans  (550,414)     (13,804)  24,469      (10,665)      
Compensatory stock issuances  35,677                      
Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation costs        2,460               2,460 
Purchase of treasury stock           (3,388)           (3,388)
Repurchase of noncontrolling interests        5,385            (20,243)  (14,858)
Contributions by owners of noncontrolling interests                    663   663 
Redemption and retirement of shares  (13,704,732)      (105,000)              (105,000)
Consolidation of variable interest entity                    (235)  (235)
Settlement of stock-based compensation plan        (3,513)              (3,513)
Net income                 134,017   1,047   135,064 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax        (33)     3,351          3,318 
Shares Issued Amount Additional Paid-In Capital Treasury Stock Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Retained Deficit Noncontrolling Interests Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2011  31,997,581   -   294,246   (187,615)  (2,257)  (28,257)  211   76,328 31,997,581
 
 294,246
 (187,615) (2,257) (28,257) 211
 76,328
Use of treasury stock for stock-based compensation plans  (118,277)  -   (944)  5,169   -   (4,225)  -   - (118,277) 
 (944) 5,169
 
 (4,225) 
 
Compensatory stock issuances  199,777   -   -   -   -   -   -   - 199,777
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation costs  -   -   320   -   -   -   -   320 
 
 320
 
 
 
 
 320
Purchase of treasury stock  -   -   -   (196)  -   -   -   (196)
 
 
 (196) 
 
 
 (196)
Redemption and retirement of shares  (16,569,902)  -   (82,500)  182,642   -   (182,642)  -   (82,500)(16,569,902) 
 (82,500) 182,642
 
 (182,642) 
 (82,500)
Net income  -   -   -   -   -   24,451   (319)  24,132 
 
 
 
 
 24,451
 (319) 24,132
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax  -   -   -   -   1,103   -   -   1,103 
 
 
 
 1,103
 
 
 1,103
Balance at December 31, 2012  15,509,179  $-  $211,122  $-  $(1,154) $(190,673) $(108) $19,187 15,509,179
 $
 $211,122
 $
 $(1,154) $(190,673) $(108) $19,187
Compensatory stock issuances465,664
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contributions by owners of noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 26
 26
Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation costs
 
 589
 
 
 
 
 589
Redemption and retirement of shares(380,518) 
 (1,396) 
 
 
 
 (1,396)
Net loss
 
 
 
 
 (17,741) 76
 (17,665)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax
 
 
 
 417
 
 
 417
Balance at December 31, 201315,594,325
 $
 $210,315
 $
 $(737) $(208,414) $(6) $1,158


See accompanying notes.

F- 5


F-5


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in thousands)

 For the Year Months Ended December 31, For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2012  2011 2013 2012
Operating activities         
Net income $24,132  $135,064 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Net (loss) income$(17,665) $24,132
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: 
  
Depreciation of rental merchandise16,146
 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net  2,574   6,187 1,553
 2,574
Losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value  90,128   139,480 27,843
 90,128
Provision for losses on loans and fees receivable  19,343   20,576 29,678
 19,343
Accretion of discount on convertible senior notes  2,428   6,442 
Stock-based compensation expense  320   2,460 
Interest expense from accretion of discount on convertible senior notes600
 2,428
Income from accretion of discount associated with receivables purchases(29,907) (29,963)
Unrealized gain on loans and fees receivable and underlying notes payable held at fair value  (59,352)  (90,978)(26,178) (59,352)
Deferred taxes  329   374 
Income from equity-method investments  (9,288)  (32,657)(8,437) (9,288)
Gain on buy-out of equity-method investee members  -   (619)
Net gain on sale of subsidiary operations  (57,341)  (106,481)
 (57,341)
Other non cash adjustments to income  1,602   (261)
Other non-cash adjustments to income159
 1,931
Changes in assets and liabilities, exclusive of business acquisitions:         
  
Decrease (increase) in uncollected fees on earning assets  15,597   (12,617)
Decrease in JRAS auto loans receivable  3,801   12,805 
Increase (decrease) in income tax liability  737   (3,903)
(Increase) decrease in uncollected fees on earning assets(2,466) 19,398
(Decrease) increase in income tax liability(5,277) 737
Decrease (increase) in deposits14,489
 (13,429)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses  (3,734)  9,001 (43) 9,695
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses  (3,501)  (4,660)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses9,480
 (3,501)
Additions to rental merchandise(44,996) 
Other  5,172   3,560 8,165
 5,492
Net cash provided by operating activities  32,947   83,773 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities(26,856) 2,984
Investing activities         
  
Decrease in restricted cash  9,611   13,752 
(Increase) decrease in restricted cash(5,948) 9,611
Investment in equity-method investees  (1,354)  (34,336)(3,750) (1,354)
Proceeds from equity-method investees  23,808   23,383 15,746
 23,808
Investments in earning assets  (227,293)  (611,231)(196,903) (197,330)
Proceeds from earning assets  298,009   852,419 244,057
 298,009
Investments in subsidiaries  (3,514)  (2,013)
 (3,514)
Net cash associated with newly acquired consolidated subsidiaries  -   1,025 
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary operations  102,191   192,054 
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary
 102,191
Purchases and development of property, net of disposals  (2,186)  (1,541)(3,487) (2,186)
Net cash provided by investing activities  199,272   433,512 49,715
 229,235
Financing activities         
  
Noncontrolling interests contributions, net  -   663 26
 
Purchase of outstanding stock subject to tender offer  (82,500)  (105,000)
 (82,500)
Purchase of treasury stock  (196)  (3,388)
Purchases of noncontrolling interests  -   (4,067)
Purchase and retirement of outstanding stock(1,396) (196)
Proceeds from borrowings  21,280   33,462 48,981
 21,280
Repayment of borrowings  (247,983)  (380,288)(88,326) (247,983)
Net cash used in financing activities  (309,399)  (458,618)(40,715) (309,399)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  182   896 814
 182
Net (decrease) increase in unrestricted cash  (76,998)  59,563 
Net decrease in unrestricted cash(17,042) (76,998)
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  144,913   85,350 67,915
 144,913
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period $67,915  $144,913 $50,873
 $67,915
Supplemental cash flow information         
  
Cash paid for interest $28,959  $38,083 $23,208
 $28,959
Net cash income tax payments $49  $6,479 $163
 $49
Supplemental non-cash information         
  
Issuance of stock options and restricted stock $559  $303 $1,512
 $559
Notes payable associated with capital leases $182  $- $155
 $182

See accompanying notes.

F- 6

F-6


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 20122013 and 20112012
 
1.Description of Our Business
 
Our accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) and those entities we control, principally our majority-owned subsidiaries.control. We are primarily focused on providing financial services. Through our subsidiaries, we offer an array of financial products and services to a market largely represented by credit risks that regulators classify as “sub-prime.” As discussed further below, we reflect our continuing business lines within two reportable segments:  Credit Cards and Other Investments; and Auto Finance. See also Note 4, “Segment Reporting,” for further details.

On November 28, 2012, we announced a change in our name from CompuCredit Holdings Corporation to Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, and we changed our NASDAQ ticker symbol from “CCRT” to “ATLC.”  The name change became effective on November 30, 2012.  Our common stock began trading under our new ticker symbol on December 3, 2012.
 
Within our Credit and Other Investments segment, we offer point-of-sale financing whereby we partner with retailers and service providers to provide credit to their customers for the purchase of goods and services or rental of merchandise to their customers under rent-to-own arrangements.
These services are often extended to customers who may have been declined under traditional financing options. We traditionally have servedspecialize in providing this "second look" credit service in various industries across the United States (“U.S.”). Using our customers principally through ourinfrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing activities, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and solicitationcollections operations for third parties.
Also within this segment, we continue to collect on portfolios of credit card accounts and other credit products and our servicing of various receivables. We closed substantially all of thereceivables underlying now-closed credit card accounts underlying our credit cardaccounts. These receivables include both receivables we originated through third-party financial institutions and portfolios in 2009.of receivables we purchased from third-party financial institutions. The only open credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables are those generatedwe generate through our credit card products in the United Kingdom ("U.K.  Several").  Some of our portfolios of credit card receivables underlying now-closed accounts are encumbered by non-recourse structured financings, and for some of these portfolios our onlyprincipal remaining economic interest is the servicing compensation that we receive as an offset against our servicing costs given that the likely future collections on the portfolios are insufficient to allow for full repayment of the financings. We have been successful in partnering with certain financing partners to purchase the debt underlying two of our portfolios, and we are pursuing other similar transactions. Beyond these activitiesalso report within our Credit Cardsand Other Investments segment the income earned from investments in two equity-method investees—one that holds credit card receivables for which we are the servicer and another that holds structured financing notes underlying credit card receivables for which we are the servicer.
Lastly, through our Credit and Other Investments segment, we are applying the experiencesengage in testing and infrastructure associated with our historic credit card offerings to other credit product offerings, including private label merchant credit whereby we partner with retailers to provide credit at the point of sale to their customers. We specialize in providing this "second look" credit service in various industries across the U.S.  Using our global infrastructure and technology platform, we also provide loan servicing activities, including underwriting, marketing, customer service and collections operations for third parties. Lastly, through our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment, we are engaged in limited investment activities in ancillary finance, technology and other businessesproducts as we seek to build new products and relationships that could allow for greater utilization ofcapitalize on our expertise and infrastructure.

Within our Auto Finance segment, our CAR subsidiary operations principally purchase and/or service loans secured by automobiles from or for and also provide floor-plan financing for a pre-qualified network of independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here, used car business. We purchase the auto loans at a discount and with dealer retentions or holdbacks that provide risk protection. Also within our Auto Finance segment, we are collecting onmanage portfolios of auto finance receivables that we previously originated through franchised and independent auto dealers in connection with prior business activities.activities, as well as provide additional lending products, such as floor plan financing and additional installment lending products to certain dealers.

In August 2012, we completed a transactionsold to sell to Flexpoint Fund II, L.P.an unrelated third-party for $130.5 million our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations.  Asoperations, the credit card receivables (and underlying activities) of which were historically reflected within our Credit and Other Investments segment. The sales price included (1)$119.7 million at closing, which included a result,$13.0 million note receivable that was subsequently paid and $10.0 million initially held in an indemnification-related escrow account that was released to us in cash on August 5, 2013, and (2) an additional $10.8 million in cash we received in the fourth quarter of 2012 upon the achievement of certain targets. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the results of these operations are included asreported within our income from discontinued operations for all periods presented withincategory on our consolidated statements of operations. Also included within discontinued operations for all periods presented are the activities of our former MEM and Retail Micro-Loans segment operations, which we sold in 2011. We had no business operating assets that were held for sale as of December 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012.

2.Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies we follow in preparing our consolidated financial statements, as well as a description of significant components of our consolidated financial statements.

F- 7


 
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates
 
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance GAAP,with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), under which we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of our consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period. We base these estimates on information available to us as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Certain estimates, such as credit losses, payment rates, costs of funds, discount rates and the yields earned on credit card receivables, significantly affect the reported amount of two categories of credit card receivables that we report at fair value and our notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value, as reported on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2012 and 2011;value; these estimates likewise affect ourthe changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value and changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value categoriesthese amounts reflected within our fees and related income on earning assets line item on our consolidated statementstatements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.operations. Additionally, estimates of future credit losses on our loans and fees receivable that we report at net realizable value, rather than fair value, have a significant effect on two categories of such loans and fees receivable, net, that we showas shown on our consolidated balance sheets, as well as on the provision for losses on loans and fees receivable within our consolidated statements of operations.
 
We have reclassified certain amounts in our prior period consolidated financial statements related to discontinued operations to conform to current period presentation, and we have eliminated all significant intercompany balances and transactions for financial reporting purposes.

Unrestricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents consist of cash, money market investments and overnight deposits. We consider all highly liquid cash investments with low interest rate risk and original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates market. We maintain unrestricted cash and cash equivalents for general operating purposes and to meet our longer term debt obligations. The majority of these cash balances are not insured.
 
Restricted Cash
 
Restricted cash as of December 31, 20122013 and 20112012 includes certain collections on loans and fees receivable, the cash balances of which are required to be distributed to noteholders under our debt facilities. Our restricted cash balances also include minimum cash balances held in accounts at the request of certain of our business partners.

Loans and Fees Receivable
 
Our loans and fees receivable include:  (1) loans and fees receivable, net; (2) loans and fees receivable, pledged as collateral under structured financings, net; (3) loans and fees receivable, at fair value; and (4)(3) loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value.

Loans and Fees Receivable, Net.  Our two categories of loans and fees receivable, net, currently consist of receivables carried at net realizable value (1) associated with (a) originated U.K. credit cardcards and U.S. private label merchantpoint-of-sale financing and other credit products currently being marketed within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment and (b) our Auto Finance segment’s CAR and former JRAS operations (all the aforementioned being labeled in loans and fees receivable, net), and (2) associated with our former ACC auto finance business, which is separately labeled as pledged as collateral for a non-recourse asset-backed structured financing facility.operations.  Our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment loans and fees receivable generally are unsecured, while our Auto Finance segment loans and fees receivable generally are secured by the underlying automobiles in which we hold the vehicle title.
 
As applicable, we show loans and fees receivable net of both an allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable and unearned fees (or “deferred revenue”). For example, our private label merchantpoint-of-sale and auto finance loans and fees receivable include principal balances and associated fees and interest due from customers which are earned each period a loan is outstanding, net of the unearned portion of loan discounts which we recognize over the life of each loan.
For our loans and fees receivable carried at net realizable value (i.e., as opposed to those carried at fair value), we provide an allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable for loans and fees receivable we believe we ultimately will not collect as a result of incurred losses. We determine the necessary allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable by analyzing some or all of the following:  historical loss rates; current delinquency and roll-rate trends; vintage analyses based on the number of months an account has been in existence; the effects of changes in the economy on our customers; changes in underwriting criteria; and estimated recoveries. A considerable amount of judgment is required to assess the ultimate amount of uncollectible loans and fees receivable, and we continuously evaluate and update our methodologies to determine the most appropriate allowance necessary.
 

The components
F- 8


Components of our aggregated categories of loans and fees receivable, net (in millions) for reporting periods relevant to this Report are as follows:

 Balance at December 31, 2011  Additions  Subtractions  Assets Sold  Balance at December 31, 2012 Balance at December 31, 2012 Additions Subtractions Sale of Assets Balance at December 31, 2013
Loans and fees receivable, gross $119.3  $178.7  $(190.3) $(18.6) $89.1 $89.1
 $255.3
 $(209.7) 
 $134.7
Deferred revenue  (8.0)  (26.5)  26.2  $-   (8.3)(8.3) (34.9) 29.9
 
 (13.3)
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable  (14.7)  (19.4)  19.3  $3.6   (11.2)(11.2) (29.7) 16.7
 
 (24.2)
Loans and fees receivable, net $96.6  $132.8  $(144.8) $(15.0) $69.6 $69.6
 $190.7
 $(163.1) $
 $97.2
                    Balance at December 31, 2011 Additions Subtractions Sale of Assets Balance at December 31, 2012
 Balance at December 31, 2010  Additions  Subtractions  Transfer to Assets Held for Sale  Balance at December 31, 2011 
Loans and fees receivable, gross $227.7  $366.6  $(432.7) $(42.3) $119.3 $119.3
 $178.7
 $(190.3) $(18.6) $89.1
Deferred revenue  (20.5)  (36.9)  43.6   5.8   (8.0)(8.0) (26.5) 26.2
 
 (8.3)
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable  (37.6)  (9.9)  28.8   4.0   (14.7)(14.7) (19.4) 19.3
 3.6
 (11.2)
Loans and fees receivable, net $169.6  $319.8  $(360.3) $(32.5) $96.6 $96.6
 $132.8
 $(144.8) $(15.0) $69.6
 
As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011,, the weighted average remaining accretion periods for the $8.3$13.3 million and $8.0$8.3 million, respectively, of deferred revenue reflected in the above tables were 12.712 months and 13.313 months, respectively.

A roll-forward (in millions) of our allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable by class of receivable is as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, 2012 Credit Cards  Auto Finance  Other Unsecured Lending Products  Total 
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable:
            
For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013 Credit Cards Auto Finance Other Unsecured Lending Products Total
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable:        
Balance at beginning of period $(4.0) $(8.4) $(2.3) $(14.7) $(4.6) $(3.1) $(3.5) $(11.2)
Provision for loan losses (includes $2.6 million of provision netted within income from discontinued operations)  (14.6)  1.0   (5.8)  (19.4)
Provision for loan losses (16.3) (0.3) (13.1) (29.7)
Charge offs  11.2   7.6   4.7   23.5  9.5
 3.6
 5.6
 18.7
Recoveries  (0.8)  (3.3)  (0.1)  (4.2) (0.2) (1.6) (0.2) (2.0)
Sale of Assets  3.6   -   -   3.6 
Balance at end of period $(4.6) $(3.1) $(3.5) $(11.2) $(11.6) $(1.4) $(11.2) $(24.2)
Balance at end of period individually evaluated for impairment $-  $-  $-  $-  $
 $
 $
 $
Balance at end of period collectively evaluated for impairment $(4.6) $(3.1) $(3.5) $(11.2) $(11.6) $(1.4) $(11.2) $(24.2)
Loans and fees receivable:                  
  
  
  
Loans and fees receivable, gross $7.2  $64.2  $17.7  $89.1  $21.9
 $63.5
 $49.3
 $134.7
Loans and fees receivable individually evaluated for impairment $-  $-  $-  $-  $
 $0.2
 $
 $0.2
Loans and fees receivable collectively evaluated for impairment $7.2  $64.2  $17.7  $89.1  $21.9
 $63.3
 $49.3
 $134.5



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F-9


For the Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 Credit Cards Auto Finance Other Unsecured Lending Products Total
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable:        
Balance at beginning of period $(4.0) $(8.4) $(2.3) $(14.7)
Provision for loan losses (includes $2.6 million of provision netted within income from discontinued operations) (14.6) 1.0
 (5.8) (19.4)
Charge offs 11.2
 7.6
 4.7
 23.5
Recoveries (0.8) (3.3) (0.1) (4.2)
Sale of assets 3.6
 
 
 3.6
Balance at end of period $(4.6) $(3.1) $(3.5) $(11.2)
Balance at end of period individually evaluated for impairment $
 $
 $
 $
Balance at end of period collectively evaluated for impairment $(4.6) $(3.1) $(3.5) $(11.2)
Loans and fees receivable:  
  
  
  
Loans and fees receivable, gross $7.2
 $64.2
 $17.7
 $89.1
Loans and fees receivable individually evaluated for impairment $
 $
 $
 $
Loans and fees receivable collectively evaluated for impairment $7.2
 $64.2
 $17.7
 $89.1
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 Credit Cards  Auto Finance  Other Unsecured Lending Products  Total 
Allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable:
            
Balance at beginning of period $(4.0) $(28.3) $(5.3) $(37.6)
Provision for loan losses (includes $8.8 million of provision netted within income from discontinued operations)  (4.2)  3.7   (9.4)  (9.9)
Charge offs  5.3   16.7   8.8   30.8 
Recoveries  (1.1)  (1.2)  (0.4)  (2.7)
Transfer to assets held for sale  -   -   4.0   4.0 
Sale of assets  -   0.7   -   0.7 
Balance at end of period $(4.0) $(8.4) $(2.3) $(14.7)
Balance at end of period individually evaluated for impairment $-  $(0.2) $-  $(0.2)
Balance at end of period collectively evaluated for impairment $(4.0) $(8.2) $(2.3) $(14.5)
Loans and fees receivable:                
Loans and fees receivable, gross $20.5  $91.5  $7.3  $119.3 
Loans and fees receivable individually evaluated for impairment $-  $0.6  $-  $0.6 
Loans and fees receivable collectively evaluated for impairment $20.5  $90.9  $7.3  $118.7 

The components (in millions) of loans and fees receivable, net as of the date of each of our consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Current loans receivable$103.3
 $71.4
Current fees receivable6.0
 0.8
Delinquent loans and fees receivable25.4
 16.9
Loans and fees receivable, gross$134.7
 $89.1
 
  As of December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Current loans receivable $71.4  $100.9 
Current fees receivable  0.8   1.9 
Delinquent loans and fees receivable  16.9   16.5 
Loans and fees receivable, gross $89.1  $119.3 
Delinquent loans and fees receivable reflect the principal, fee and interest components of loans that we did not collect on or prior to the contractual due date.  Amounts we believe we will not ultimately collect are included as a component in our overall allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable. We discontinue charging interest and fees for most of our credit products when loans and fees receivable become contractually 90 or more days past due. We generally charge off our Credit and typically are charged off 180 days from the pointOther Investments segment receivables when they become delinquentcontractually more than 180 days past due or 120 days past due for the point-of-sale finance product. For our auto finance, credit cardrent-to-own products, we generally charge off receivables and private label merchant creditimpair associated rental merchandise if the customer has not made a payment within the previous 90 days. However, if a customer makes a payment greater than or equal to two minimum payments within a month of the charge-off date, we may reconsider whether charge-off status remains appropriate. For all of our products, we generally charge off receivables within 30 days of notification and confirmation of a customer’s bankruptcy or soonerdeath. However, in some cases of death, we do not charge off receivables if facts and circumstances earlier indicate non-collectability.there is a surviving, contractually liable individual or an estate large enough to pay the debt in full.

 Recoveries on accounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance for uncollectible loans and fees receivable and effectively offset our provision for loan losses inon loans and fees receivable recorded at net realizable value on our accompanying consolidated statements of operations. (All of the above discussion relates only to our loans and fees receivable for which we use net realizable value (i.e., as opposed to fair value) accounting. For loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value, recoveries offset losses upon charge off of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value, net of recoveries on our consolidated statement of operations.)
 


We consider loan delinquencies a key indicator of credit quality as itbecause this measure provides the best ongoing estimate of how a particular class of receivables is performing.  An aging of our delinquent loans and fees receivable, gross (in millions) by class of receivable as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
As of December 31, 2012 Credit Cards  Auto Finance  Other Unsecured Lending Products  Total 
Balance at December 31, 2013 Credit Cards Auto Finance Other Unsecured Lending Products Total
30-59 days past due $0.7  $5.4  $0.6  $6.7  $1.6
 $5.6
 $2.5
 $9.7
60-89 days past due  1.0   2.0   0.5   3.5  1.9
 1.7
 2.2
 5.8
90 or more days past due  4.2   1.6   0.9   6.7  5.6
 1.1
 3.2
 9.9
Delinquent loans and fees receivable, gross  5.9   9.0   2.0   16.9  9.1
 8.4
 7.9
 25.4
Current loans and fees receivable, gross  1.3   55.2   15.7   72.2  12.8
 55.1
 41.4
 109.3
Total loans and fees receivable, gross $7.2  $64.2  $17.7  $89.1  $21.9
 $63.5
 $49.3
 $134.7
Balance of loans greater than 90-days delinquent still accruing interest and fees $-  $0.5  $-  $0.5 
Balance of loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest and fees $
 $0.1
 $3.2
 $3.3
                        
As of December 31, 2011 Credit Cards  Auto Finance  Other Unsecured Lending Products  Total 
Balance at December 31, 2012 Credit Cards Auto Finance Other Unsecured Lending Products Total
30-59 days past due $0.8  $6.9  $0.7  $8.4  $0.7
 $5.4
 $0.6
 $6.7
60-89 days past due  0.7   2.5   0.6   3.8  1.0
 2.0
 0.5
 3.5
90 or more days past due  1.5   1.9   0.9   4.3  4.2
 1.6
 0.9
 6.7
Delinquent loans and fees receivable, gross  3.0   11.3   2.2   16.5  5.9
 9.0
 2.0
 16.9
Current loans and fees receivable, gross  17.5   80.2   5.1   102.8  1.3
 55.2
 15.7
 72.2
Total loans and fees receivable, gross $20.5  $91.5  $7.3  $119.3  $7.2
 $64.2
 $17.7
 $89.1
Balance of loans greater than 90-days delinquent still accruing interest and fees $-  $1.3  $-  $1.3 
Balance of loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest and fees $
 $0.5
 $0.9
 $1.4

Loans and Fees Receivable, at Fair Value.  Both categories of our loans and fees receivable held at fair value represent receivables underlying credit card securitization trusts that wereare consolidated onto our consolidated balance sheet, pursuant to accounting rules changes on January 1, 2010, some portfolios of which are unencumbered (those labeled loans and fees receivables, at fair value) and some of which are still encumbered under structured financing facilities (those labeled loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value). Further details concerning our loans and fees receivable held at fair value are presented within Note 7, “Fair ValueValues of Assets and Liabilities.”
Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables
In August 2012, we completed a transaction to sell to Flexpoint Fund II, L.P. for $130.5 million our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations, the credit card receivables (and underlying activities) of which were historically reflected within our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment. The sales price included (1) consideration at closing of $119.7 million (cash of $106.7 million and a note receivable issued to us at closing of $13.0 million, which was subsequently repaid), of which $10.0 million in cash is being held in escrow for 12 months following the closing date of the transaction to satisfy certain indemnification provisions, and (2) an additional $10.8 million in cash we received in the fourth quarter of 2012 upon the achievement of certain targets. Our basis in the net assets that were included in the sale was $67.0 million resulting in a gain on sale (after related expenses and recognition of the additional contingent consideration) of $57.3 million, which is reported within our income from discontinued operations category on our consolidated statements of operations.
The following table shows (in thousands) a roll-forward of our investments in previously charged-off receivables activities leading up to our sale of these operations:

  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Unrecovered balance at beginning of period $37,110  $29,889 
Acquisitions of defaulted accounts  47,958   46,974 
Cash collections  (62,614)  (82,236)
Cost-recovery method income recognized on defaulted accounts (included as a component of discontinued operations on our consolidated statements of operations)  33,150   42,483 
Sale of unrecovered balance  (55,604)  - 
Unrecovered balance at end of period $-  $37,110 
Deposits
 
Deposits include various amounts required to be maintained with our landlords, third-party issuing and other banking relationships and retail electronic payment network providers associated with our ongoing credit card efforts in the U.K.  Also included in our December 31, 2012 balance is $10.0 million held in escrow for 12 months following the closing date of the sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, including its balance transfer card operations, to satisfy certain indemnification provisions. This amount was received from escrow and included in unrestricted cash as of December 31, 2013.
 
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets include amounts paid to third parties for marketing and other services. These prepaid amounts are expensed as the underlying related services are performed.  Also included are (1) commissions paid associated with our various office leases which we amortize into expense over the lease terms, (2) deferred loan costs associated with our convertible senior note issuances and (2) certain notes receivable including a note receivableand (3) ongoing deferred costs associated with the sale of our JRAS’s operations in February 2011 as discussed further in Note 10, “Notes Payable.”service contracts.

Property at cost, netCost, Net of depreciationDepreciation
 
We capitalize costs related to internal development and implementation of software used in our operating activities in accordance with applicable accounting literature.  These capitalized costs consist almost exclusively of fees paid to third-party

F- 11


consultants to develop code and install and test software specific to our needs and to customize purchased software to maximize its benefit to us.
 
We record our property at cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization. We compute depreciation expense using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of our assets, which are approximately 40 years for buildings, five years for furniture, fixtures and equipment, and three years for software. We amortize leasehold improvements over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the terms of their respective underlying leases.
 
We periodically review our property to determine if it is impaired, and we experienced no material impairments in 2013. For 2012 or 2011we experienced no material impairments other than those associated with an Alabama start-up coal strip mine operation that has now ceased mining operations.
Investments in Equity-Method Investees
 
We account for investments using the equity method of accounting if we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the investees. Significant influence is generally deemed to exist if we have an ownership interest in the voting stock of an incorporated investee of between 20% and 50%, although other factors, such as representation on an investee’s board of managers, specific voting and veto rights held by each investor and the effects of commercial arrangements, are considered in determining whether equity method accounting is appropriate. We record our interests in the income of our equity-method investees within the equity in income of equity-method investees category on our consolidated statements of operations.

We use the equity method for our investments in a limited liability company formed in 2004 to acquire a portfolio of credit card receivables. In June 2013, we increased, from 50.0% to 66.7%, our overall ownership in this limited liability company. We continue to account for this investment using the equity method of accounting due to specific voting and veto rights held by each investor, which do not allow us to control this investee. We also use the equity method to account for our March 2011 investment to acquire a 50.0% interest in a joint venture with an unrelated third party that purchased all (then $164.0 million in face amount) of the outstanding notes issued out of the structured financing trust underlying our U.K. portfolio ofnon-U.S. acquired credit card receivables (the “U.K.“Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio”) for a discounted purchase price of $64.5 million in cash, a price that the joint venture partners determined to be attractive based on a discounted cash flow analysis of the remaining expected payments on the notes (all of which were allocable to the class “A” portion of the outstanding notes given that no payments were expected associated with the class “B” portion of the outstanding notes thereby rendering them worthless). At the time of their acquisition by the joint venture, we carried the notes as a liability on our consolidated balance sheet at their fair value of $98.7 million. The 50.0%-owned joint venture elected to account for its investment in the U.K. Portfolio structured financing notes at their fair value, and it recognized a $34.2 million gain (of which our 50% share represented $17.1 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2011 equal to the excess of the fair value of the notes at that date over the joint venture’s discounted purchase price of the notes.  We record our respective interests in the income of our equity-method investees within the equity in income of equity-method investees category on our consolidated statements of operations.
In January 2011, we acquired an additional 47.5% interest in a 47.5% equity-method investee which we had historically accounted for under the equity method of accounting, thereby bringing our aggregate interest in this entity to a 95.0% ownership threshold and leading us to conclude that the assets and liabilities of this entity should be consolidated within our consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, we acquired the remaining 5.0% noncontrolling interest in April 2011 bringing our total ownership to 100% for all subsequent financial reporting periods.

We evaluate our investments in the equity-method investees for impairment each quarter by comparing the carrying amount of each investment to its fair value. Because no active market exists for the investees’ limited liability company membership interests, we evaluate our investments for impairment based on our evaluation of the fair value of the equity-method investees’ net assets relative to their carrying values. If we ever were to determine that the carrying values of our investments in equity-method investees were greater than their fair values, we would write the investments in equity-method investees down to their fair values.

Rental Merchandise, Net of Depreciation
Our rental merchandise consists of consumer electronics and furniture that we initially record on our consolidated balance sheets at our cost. After our initial recording of the rental merchandise at cost, we reduce its carrying value for depreciation thereof. We typically depreciate our rental merchandise over contractual rental periods, generally 12 months (monthly agreements) or 26 periods (bi-weekly agreements) under a $-0- salvage value assumption. These assumptions are periodically adjusted based on actual results and impairments as they occur. We follow this method to match, as closely as practicable, the recognition of depreciation expense with revenues associated with our customers' use of the merchandise. Currently, we do not maintain any levels of rental merchandise beyond what actually has been rented to our customers under our contracts with them. We include a "Rental revenue" line item within our table below detailing our fees and related income on earning assets category on our consolidated statements of operations. Depreciation associated with our rental merchandise totaled $16.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 with no amounts in prior periods.

Fees and Related Income on Earning Assets

Fees and related income on earning assets primarily include:  (1) fees associated with our credit products, including the receivables underlying our U.S. private label merchant creditpoint-of-sale finance activities, and our credit card receivables; (2) changes in the fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value; (3) changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value; (4) revenues associated with rent payments on rental merchandise; and (5) (losses) gains associated with our investments in securities;securities. 


F- 12


The following summarizes our revenue recognition policies for the revenue from our rent-to-own program. Our rent-to-own terms with our customers typically provide for 26, non-refundable, bi-weekly rental payments over a contract period of 12 months. Generally, the customer can take ownership of the merchandise by exercising a purchase option or making all required rental payments. We accrue periodic billed rental amounts (net of allowances for uncollectible billings) into revenues over the rental period to which the billed amounts relate, and (6) gross losseswe defer recognition in revenues of any advanced customer rental payments until the rental period in which they are properly recognizable under the terms of the contract. Additionally, we do not recognize a receivable for future periods' rental obligations due to us from auto sales formerly conductedour customers; our customers can terminate their rental agreements at any time with no further obligation to us, other than the return of rental merchandise. We include billed rental receivable amounts (net of allowances for uncollectible billings) within our Auto Finance segment. loans and fees receivable, net consolidated balance sheet category.

We assess fees on credit card accounts underlying our credit card receivables according to the terms of the related cardholder agreements and, except for annual membership fees, we recognize these fees as income when they are charged to the cardholders’ accounts. We accrete annual membership fees associated with our credit card receivables into income on a straight-line basis over the cardholder privilege period. Similarly, fees on our other credit products are generally recognized when earned, which coincides with the time they are charged to the customer’s account.
 
The components (in thousands) of our fees and related income on earning assets are as follows:
  Twelve months ended December 31,
  2013 2012
Fees on credit products $23,879
 $17,474
Changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value 45,601
 89,502
Changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value (19,423) (30,150)
Rental revenue 19,759
 
Other (707) (7,620)
Total fees and related income on earning assets $69,109
 $69,206

  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Fees on credit products $16,478  $10,474 
Changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value (1)  89,502   181,502 
Changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings recorded at fair value  (30,150)  (90,524)
Losses on investments in securities  (4,254)  (4,449)
Loss on sale of JRAS assets  -   (4,648)
Other  (3,366)  2,210 
Total fees and related income on earning assets $68,210  $94,565 
The above changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value category excludes the impact of charge offs associated with these receivables which are separately stated on our consolidated statements of operations.  See Note 7, “Fair valuesValues of Assets and Liabilities,” for further discussion of these receivables and their effects on our consolidated statements of operations.
Ancillary and Interchange Revenues
We offer certain ancillary products and services (e.g., memberships, subscription services and debt waiver) to Included within our cardholder customers (most of which are only offered with respect to open credit card accounts). When we market our own products, we record the fees, net of estimated cancellations, as deferred revenue upon the customer’s acceptance of the product and we amortize them on a straight-line basis over the life of the product (which ranges from one to twelve months). When we market products for third parties under commission arrangements, we recognize the revenue when we earn it, which is generallyOther category above during the same month the producttwelve months ended December 31, 2013 is a $2.4 million write-off of a note we had received from buyers of our JRAS buy-here, pay-here dealer operations that we sold to the customer. We consider revenue to be earned once delivery has occurred (i.e., when there is no further performance obligation), the commission is fixed and collectability is reasonably assured. Once these conditions are satisfied, we recognize our commission as ancillary product revenue.  Additionally, we receive a portion of the merchant fee assessed by retail electronic payment network providers based on cardholder purchase volumes underlying credit card receivables generated within open credit card accounts, and we recognize these interchange fees as we receive them.in February 2011.

Card and Loan Servicing Expenses
 
Card and loan servicing costs primarily include collections and customer service expenses. Within this category of expenses are personnel, service bureau, cardholder correspondence and other direct costs associated with our collections and customer service efforts. Card and loan servicing costs also include outsourced collections and customer service expenses. We expense card and loan servicing costs as we incur them, with the exception of prepaid costs, which we expense over respective service periods.
 
Marketing and Solicitation Expenses
 
We generally expense credit card account and other product solicitation costs, including printing, credit bureaus, list processing, costs, telemarketing, postage and Internet marketing fees, as we incur these costs or expend resources; however, we do capitalize certain direct receivables origination costs and amortize them over account lives.resources.

 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In August 2012,February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued proposed guidance that requires enhanced disclosures for reclassification adjustmentsan entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”).  The proposed disclosures would requireon respective line items in consolidated statements of income if an amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For amounts not required to be reclassified to net income in their entirety in the same reporting period, an entity is required to breakcross-reference other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The new reporting requirements do not

F- 13


change the current period changesway in the accumulated balances for each component of otherwhich net income or comprehensive income into two categories—amounts reclassified outis derived. The new standard applies to both interim and annual financial statements beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Our adoption of AOCI, and everything else.  Additional disclosures would be required displaying significant items reclassified out of each component of AOCI, including (1) the line items impacted for those items being reclassified into earnings and (2) a cross-reference to the financial statement notes where further discussion is contained for those items not reclassified into earnings.  A final rule was issued in Februaryguidance on January 1, 2013 and is first effective for us forhad no effect on our financial reporting period ending March 31, 2013.  We currently are evaluating the impactcondition, results of this new guidance, although we do not expectoperations or liquidity since it to be material to our consolidated financial statements.impacts disclosures only.
 
In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance requiring entities to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on an entity's financial position. The amendments require enhanced disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with current literature or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with current literature. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. This standard is effective for us for our financial reporting period ending March 31, 2013, and the disclosures are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. We currently are evaluating the impact of this new guidance, although we do not expect it to be material to our consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance on fair value that is intended to provide a converged fair value framework for U.S. GAAP and IFRS. The amended guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and IFRS. While the amended guidance continues to define fair value as an exit price, it changes some fair value measurement principles and expands the existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The amended guidance is effective for public entities for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited. The new guidance requires prospective application and disclosure in the period ofOur adoption of the change, if any, in valuation techniques and related inputs resulting from application of the amendments and quantification of the total effect, if practicable. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and iton January 1, 2013 had no material effectseffect on our consolidated financial statements.condition, results of operations or liquidity since it impacts disclosures only.
 
Subsequent Events
 
We evaluate subsequent events that occur after our consolidated balance sheet date but before our consolidated financial statements are issued. There are two types of subsequent events:  (1) recognized, or those that provide additional evidence with respect to conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing financial statements; and (2) nonrecognized, or those that provide evidence with respect to conditions that did not exist at the date of the balance sheet but arose subsequent to that date. We have evaluated subsequent events occurring after December 31, 2012,2013, and based on our evaluation, we did not identify any recognized or nonrecognized subsequent events that would have required further adjustments to our consolidated financial statements.

3.Discontinued Operations

In April, 2011 and October, 2011, respectively, we sold our U.K. Internet micro-loan subsidiaries and our retail micro-loans subsidiaries; additionally, in August 2012, we sold our Investments in Previously Charged-Off receivablesReceivables segment along with our balance transfer card operations. Accordingly, their results of operations are shown as discontinued operations within our consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. Key components of discontinued operations on our consolidated statements of operations are as follows:

  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets $37,137  $118,846 
Gain on sale of assets  57,341   108,829 
Other operating expense  25,415   87,612 
Income before income taxes  69,063   140,063 
Income tax expense  (16,709)  (3,947)
Net income $52,354  $136,116 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests $-  $1,129 
There were no assets heldfollows for sale on either our the year endedDecember 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011 consolidated balance sheets.:
 Twelve months ended December 31, 2012
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets$37,137
Other operating expense(25,415)
Gain on sale of assets57,341
Income before income taxes69,063
Income tax expense(16,709)
Net income$52,354
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests$

4.Segment Reporting
 
Our segment accounting policies are the same as policies described in Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components.”
We operate primarily within one industry consisting of two reportable segments by which we manage our business. Our two reportable segments are:  Credit Cards and Other InvestmentsInvestments; and Auto Finance. Due to the 2011 sales of our Retail and U.K.-based Internet micro-loans operations and our August 2012 sale of our Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, we have eliminated segment reporting for our former Retail Micro-Loans, Internet Micro-Loans and Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segments.segment.  Additionally, we have renamed our Credit CardCards and Other Investments segment as the Credit Cards and Other Investments segment to encompass ancillary investments and product offerings that are largely start-up in nature and do not qualify for separate segment reporting.  All prior period data have been reclassified to this new current period presentation.

As of both December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011,, we did not have a material amount of long-lived assets located outside of the U.S., and only a negligible portion of our 20122013 and 20112012 revenues associated with our continuing operations has beenwere generated outside of the U.S.
We measure the profitability of our reportable segments based on their income after allocation of specific costs and corporate overhead; however, our segment results todo not reflect any charges for internal capital allocations among our segments. Overhead costs are allocated based on headcounts and other applicable measures to better align costs with the associated revenues. Summary operating segment information (in thousands) is as follows:

  Credit Cards       
  and Other  Auto    
Year Ended December 31, 2012 Investments  Finance  Total 
Interest income:         
Consumer loans, including past due fees $61,423  $24,378  $85,801 
Other  740   269   1,009 
Total interest income  62,163   24,647   86,810 
Interest expense  (25,472)  (5,652)  (31,124)
Net interest income before fees and related income on earning assets and provision for losses on loans and fees receivable  36,691   18,995   55,686 
Fees and related income on earning assets  66,939   1,271   68,210 
Servicing income  15,438   795   16,233 
Equity in income of equity-method investees  9,288   -   9,288 
Income tax benefit (expense)  17,989   (2,380)  15,609 
(Loss on) income from continuing operations before income taxes $(46,666) $2,835  $(43,831)
Total assets $316,511  $63,915  $380,426 

  Credit Cards       
  and Other  Auto    
Year Ended December 31, 2011 Investments  Finance  Total 
Interest income:         
Consumer loans, including past due fees $108,201  $36,130  $144,331 
Other  960   226   1,186 
Total interest income  109,161   36,356   145,517 
Interest expense  (34,568)  (9,260)  (43,828)
Net interest income before fees and related income on earning assets and provision for losses on loans and fees receivable  74,593   27,096   101,689 
Fees and related income on earning assets  98,586   (4,021)  94,565 
Servicing income  2,773   508   3,281 
Equity in income of equity-method investees  32,657   -   32,657 
Income tax benefit (expense)  13,009   (12,015)  994 
(Loss on) income from continuing operations before income taxes $(6,560) $4,514  $(2,046)
Total assets $561,117  $86,790  $647,907 
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F-16




Twelve months ended December 31, 2013 Credit and Other Investments Auto Finance Total
Interest income:      
Consumer loans, including past due fees $46,050
 $23,215
 $69,265
Other 139
 117
 256
Total interest income 46,189
 23,332
 69,521
Interest expense (22,470) (1,402) (23,872)
Net interest income before fees and related income on earning assets and provision for losses on loans and fees receivable $23,719
 $21,930
 $45,649
Fees and related income (loss) on earning assets $71,286
 $(2,177) $69,109
Servicing income $7,411
 $807
 $8,218
Depreciation of rental merchandise (16,146) 
 (16,146)
Equity in income of equity-method investees $8,437
 $
 $8,437
(Loss on) income from continuing operations before income taxes $(25,294) $2,515
 $(22,779)
Income tax benefit (expense) $6,349
 $(1,235) $5,114
Total assets $292,748
 $59,487
 $352,235

Twelve months ended December 31, 2012 Credit and Other Investments Auto Finance Total
Interest income:      
Consumer loans, including past due fees $61,423
 $24,378
 $85,801
Other 740
 269
 1,009
Total interest income 62,163
 24,647
 86,810
Interest expense (25,472) (5,652) (31,124)
Net interest income before fees and related income on earning assets and provision for losses on loans and fees receivable $36,691
 $18,995
 $55,686
Fees and related income on earning assets $67,935
 $1,271
 $69,206
Servicing income $15,438
 $795
 $16,233
Depreciation of rental merchandise 
 
 
Equity in income of equity-method investees $9,288
 $
 $9,288
(Loss on) income from continuing operations before income taxes $(46,666) $2,835
 $(43,831)
Income tax benefit (expense) $17,989
 $(2,380) $15,609
Total assets $316,511
 $63,915
 $380,426

5.Shareholders’Shareholders' Equity
 
Retired Shares
 
Pursuant to the closing of a tender offer in September 2012, we repurchased 8,250,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $82.5 million.  These shares were retired contemporaneously with the repurchase transaction.closing of the tender offer. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2012, we retired all of our common sharesstock held in treasury, thereby resulting in a $182.6 million charge to retained deficit in that period. Lastly, pursuant to the closing of a tender offer in April 2011, we repurchased 13,125,000 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate cost of $105.0 million, and those shares were retired. We exclude all retired shares from our outstanding share counts.

Prior to the retirement of common sharesstock held in treasury during the three months ended March 31, 2012, we periodically reissued such shares to satisfy exercised options and vested restricted stock.  We reissued 154,815 of such shares at gross costs of $5.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012, and we reissued 732,567 of such shares at a gross cost of $24.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.2012. Also prior to the retirement of common sharesstock held in treasury during the three months ended March 31, 2012, we effectively repurchased treasury shares by having employees

F- 15


who were exercising options or vesting in their restricted stock grants exchange a portion of their stock for payment of required minimum tax withholdings. Such repurchases totaled 36,538 shares during the three months ended March 31, 2012 at gross costs of $0.2 million; this compares to such repurchases of 206,504 shares formillion.

During the year endedDecember 31, 2011, respectively,2013, we repurchased and contemporaneously retired 380,518 shares of our common stock at gross costsan aggregate cost of $1.1 million.$1.4 million.

We had 1,672,656 loaned shares outstanding at December 31, 2012,2013, which were originally lent in connection with our DecemberNovember 2005 issuance of convertible senior notes.

6.Investments in Equity-Method Investees
 
Our equity-method investments outstanding at December 31, 20122013 consist of our interests (aggregating 50%)66.7% interest (50.0% interest as of December 31, 2012) in a joint venture formed to purchase a credit card receivable portfolio and our 50.0% interest in a joint venture that was formed in 2004 to purchase a credit card receivables portfolio and our 50.0% interest in a joint venture that purchased in March 2011 the outstanding notes issued out of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust. The latter 50%-owned joint venture elected to account for its investment in the U.K. Portfolio structured financing notes at their fair value, and it recognized a $34.2 million gain (of which our 50% share represented $17.1 million) in the three months ended March 31, 2011 equal to the excess of the fair value of the notes at that date over the joint venture’s discounted purchase price of the notes.Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio.
In January 2011, we acquired an additional 47.5% interest in a then 47.5%-owned equity-method investee which we had historically accounted for under the equity method of accounting, thereby bringing our aggregate interest in this entity to a 95.0% ownership threshold and leading us to conclude that we should consolidate the assets and liabilities of this entity within our consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, we acquired the remaining 5.0% noncontrolling interest in this entity in April 2011 to bring our total ownership to 100%.
In the following tables, we summarize (in thousands) combined balance sheet and results of operations data for our equity-method investees:

 As of As of
 December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value $53,375  $78,413 $35,241
 $53,375
Investments in non-marketable debt securities, at fair value $46,564  $81,639 $36,158
 $46,564
Total assets $114,375  $167,898 $74,145
 $114,375
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $29,279  $59,515 $12,125
 $29,279
Total liabilities $29,558  $59,909 $12,251
 $29,558
Members’ capital $84,817  $107,989 $61,894
 $84,817
 Twelve months ended December 31,
 2013 2012
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets$15,105
 $20,815
Total other operating income$109
 $1,188
Net income$13,439
 $19,174
Net income attributable to our equity investment in investee$8,437
 $9,288
 

As previously noted, in June 2013, we increased, from 50.0% to 66.7% our overall ownership in a joint venture formed in 2004 to purchase a credit card receivables portfolio. We continue to account for this investment using the equity method of accounting due to specific voting and veto rights held by each investor, which do not allow us to control this investee. The additional June 2013 investment in this investee was made at a discount to the fair value of the investee's assets, thereby resulting in a gain of approximately $0.9 million for us in the three months ended June 30, 2013 based on the investee's reporting of substantially all of its assets at their fair values under its fair value option election.
  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets $20,815  $69,978 
Total other operating income $1,188  $310 
Net income $19,174  $64,726 

As noted above, theThe above tables include our aforementioned 50.0% interest in the joint venture that purchased in March 2011 the outstanding notes issued out of our U.K.Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio structured financing trust.  Separate financial data for this entity are as follows:
 As of
 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Investments in non-marketable debt securities, at fair value$36,158
 $46,564
Total assets$36,770
 $47,125
Total liabilities$
 $
Members’ capital$36,770
 $47,125

F- 16



  As of 
  December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Investments in non-marketable debt securities, at fair value $46,564  $81,639 
Total assets $47,125  $83,210 
Total liabilities $-  $- 
Members’ capital $47,125  $83,210 
 Twelve months ended December 31,
 2013 2012
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets$7,404
 $2,348
Net income$7,358
 $2,292
Net income attributable to our equity investment in investee$3,679
 $1,146


  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Net interest income, fees and related income on earning assets $2,348  $57,715 
Net income $2,292  $57,613 
As noted in Note 10, “Notes Payable,” notes payable with a fair value of $46.6$36.2 million correspond with the $46.6$36.2 million investment in non-marketable debt securities, at fair value held by our equity method investee as noted in the above table.

7.Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities
 
We elected the fair value option with respect to our investments in equity securities as well as our credit card loans and fees receivable portfolios, the retained interests in which we historically recorded at fair value under securitization structures that were off balance sheet prior to accounting rules changes requiring their consolidation into our financial statements effective as of the beginning of 2010. With respect to our equity securities, we decided to carry these assets at fair value due to our intent to invest and redeem these investments with expected frequency. For our credit card loans and fees receivable portfolios underlying our formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures, we elected the fair value option because, in contrast to substantially all of our other assets, we had significant experiences in determining the fair value of these assets in connection with our historic fair value accounting for our retained interests in their associated securitization structures. Because we elected to account for the credit card receivables underlying our formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures at fair value, accounting rules require that we account for the notes payable issued by such securitization structures at fair value as well. For all of our other credit card receivables that have never been owned by our formerly off-balance-sheet securitization structures, we have not elected the fair value option, and we record such receivables at net realizable value within loans and fees receivable, net on our consolidated balance sheets.
 
For all of our other debt other than the notes payable underlying our formerly off-balance sheet credit card securitization structures, we have not elected the fair value option. Nevertheless, pursuant to applicable requirements, we include disclosures of the fair value of this other debt to the extent practicable within the disclosures below. Additionally, we have other liabilities that we are required to carry at fair value in our consolidated financial statements, and they also are addressed within the disclosures below.
 
Where applicable as noted above, we account for our financial assets and liabilities at fair value based upon a three-tiered valuation system.  In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. Where inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety has been determined is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Valuations and Techniques for Assets
 
Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The table below summarizes (in thousands) by fair value hierarchy the December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011 fair values and carrying amounts of (1) of our assets that are required to be carried at fair value in our consolidated financial statements and (2) for our assets not carried at fair value, but for which fair value disclosures are required:

F- 17


Assets – As of December 31, 2013 (1) Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
 Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 Carrying Amount of Assets
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is practicable to estimate fair value $
 $
 $94,579
 $92,924
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value (2) $
 $
 $
 $4,284
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value $
 $
 $12,080
 $12,080
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral, at fair value $
 $
 $88,132
 $88,132

Assets – As of December 31, 2012 (1) Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Carrying Amount of Assets
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is practicable to estimate fair value $
 $
 $76,384
 $65,198
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value (2) $
 $
 $
 $4,427
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value $
 $
 $20,378
 $20,378
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral, at fair value $
 $
 $133,595
 $133,595
  
Assets – As of December 31, 2012 (1) 
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
  
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
  
Carrying Amount
of Assets
 
Investment securities—trading $-  $-  $-  $- 
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is practicable to estimate fair value $-  $-  $65,290  $55,525 
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value (2) $-  $-  $-  $4,427 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings,  net $-  $-  $11,094  $9,673 
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value $-  $-  $20,378  $20,378 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value $-  $-  $133,595  $133,595 
                 
                 
Assets – As of December 31, 2011 (1) 
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
  
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
  
Carrying Amount
of Assets
 
Investment securities—trading $151  $-  $-  $151 
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is practicable to estimate fair value $-  $-  $51,327  $43,671 
Loans and fees receivable, net for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value (2) $-  $-  $-  $21,050 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, net $-  $-  $26,530  $28,732 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at face value for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value $-  $-  $-  $3,170 
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value $-  $-  $28,226  $28,226 
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value $-  $-  $238,763  $238,763 
(1)For cash, deposits and other short-term investments (including our investments in rental merchandise), the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
(2)We do not disclose fair value for this portion of our loans and fees receivable, net because it is not practicable to do so.  These loans and fees receivable consist of a variety of receivables that are largely start-up in nature and for which we have neither sufficient history nor a comparable peer group from which we can calculate fair value.

GainsFor those asset classes above that are required to be carried at fair value in our consolidated financial statements, gains and losses associated with fair value changes for the above asset classes are detailed on our fees and related income on earning assets table within Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components.” Total realized net gains and losses on our investment securities—trading were a loss of $0.6 million and a gain of $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, all of which are included as a component of fees and related income on earning assets on our consolidated statements of operations. For our loans and fees receivable included in the above table, we assess the fair value of these assets based on our estimate of future cash flows net of servicing costs, and to the extent that such cash flow estimates change from period to period, any such changes are considered to be attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk.


F- 18


For Level 3 assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, the following table presents (in thousands) a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for 2012the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2011:December 31, 2012:

 
Loans and Fees
Receivable, at
Fair Value
  
Loans and Fees
Receivable Pledged as
Collateral under
Structured
Financings, at Fair
Value
  Total 
Balance at January 1, 2011 $12,437  $373,155  $385,592 
Transfers in due to consolidation of equity-method investees  -   14,587   14,587 
Loans and Fees
Receivable, at
Fair Value
 Loans and Fees
Receivable Pledged as
Collateral under
Structured
Financings, at Fair
Value
 Total
Balance at January 1, 2013$20,378
 $133,595
 $153,973
Total gains—realized/unrealized:

 

 

Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value
 38,066
 38,066
Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable, at fair value7,535
 
 7,535
Settlements, net(15,833) (83,727) (99,560)
Impact of foreign currency translation
 198
 198
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2013$12,080
 $88,132
 $100,212
Balance at January 1, 2012$28,226
 $238,763
 $266,989
Total gains—realized/unrealized:  -   -   -  
  
  
Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value  -   169,994   169,994 
 77,083
 77,083
Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable, at fair value  11,508   -   11,508 12,419
 
 12,419
Settlements, net  (25,024)  (289,717)  (314,741)(23,770) (181,964) (205,734)
Impact of foreign currency translation  -   49   49 
 3,216
 3,216
Net transfers between categories  29,305   (29,305)  - 3,503
 (3,503) 
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3  -   -   - 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2011 $28,226  $238,763  $266,989 
Transfers in due to consolidation of equity-method investees  -   -   - 
Total gains—realized/unrealized:  -   -   - 
Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value  -   77,083   77,083 
Net revaluations of loans and fees receivable, at fair value  12,419   -   12,419 
Settlements, net  (23,770)  (181,964)  (205,734)
Impact of foreign currency translation  -   3,216   3,216 
Net transfers between categories  3,503   (3,503  - 
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3  -   -   - 
            
Balance at December 31, 2012 $20,378  $133,595  $153,973 $20,378
 $133,595
 $153,973
  
The unrealized gains and losses for assets within the Level 3 category presented in the tables above include changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs. We provide below a brief description of the valuation techniques used for Level 3 assets and liabilities.
 
Net Revaluation of Loans and Fees Receivable. We record the net revaluation of loans and fees receivable (including those pledged as collateral) in the fees and related income on earning assets category in our consolidated statements of operations, specifically as changes in fair value of loans and fees receivable recorded at fair value. The net revaluation of loans and fees receivable is based on the present value of future cash flows using a valuation model of expected cash flows and the estimated cost to service and collect those cash flows. We estimate the present value of these future cash flows using a valuation model consisting of internally developed estimates of assumptions third-party market participants would use in determining fair value, including estimates of net collected yield, principal payment rates, expected principal credit loss rates, costs of funds, discount rates and servicing costs.



For Level 3 assets carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, the following table presents (in thousands) quantitative information about the valuation techniques and the inputs used in the fair value measurement for the year ended as of December 31, 2012:2013:

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements 
 Fair Value at      
  December 31, 2012    Range 
Fair value measurements (in thousands) Valuation TechniqueUnobservable Input (Weighted Average)(1) 
         
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value MeasurementsQuantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value at December 31, 2013 Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range (Weighted Average)(1)
Loans and fees receivable, at fair value $20,378 Discounted cash flowsGross yield  21.5% $12,080
 Discounted cash flows Gross yield 23.7%
     Principal payment rate  3.0%  
   Principal payment rate 3.5%
     Expected credit loss rate  12.5%  
   Expected credit loss rate 14.6%
     Servicing rate  7.5%  
   Servicing rate 14.0%
     Discount rate  16.0%  
   Discount rate 15.9%
Loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value $133,595 Discounted cash flowsGross yield 11.2% to 24.8% (17.9%)  $88,132
 Discounted cash flows Gross yield 17.0% to 27.5% (23.4%)
     Principal payment rate 1.6% to 5.2% (2.3%)   
   Principal payment rate 1.7% to 3.2% (2.6%)
     Expected credit loss rate 11.0% to 23.4% (18.9%)   
   Expected credit loss rate 9.9% to 18.0% (14.9%)
     Servicing rate 5.1% to 10.7% (5.9%)   
   Servicing rate 9.4% to 11.8% (10.3%)
     Discount rate 16.0% to 16.2% (16.0%)   
   Discount rate 15.9% to 16.2% (16.0%)
 
(1) Our loans and fees receivable, at fair value consist of a single portfolio with one set of assumptions.  As such, no range is given.

Valuations and Techniques for Liabilities
 
Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the liability. The table below summarizes (in thousands) by fair value hierarchy the December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011 fair values and carrying amounts of (1) of our liabilities that are required to be carried at fair value in our consolidated financial statements and (2) for our liabilities not carried at fair value, but for which fair value disclosures are required:


F- 20


Liabilities – As of December 31, 2013 Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets (Level 1)
 Significant Other
Observable Inputs (Level 2)
 Significant
Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 Carrying Amount of Liabilities
Liabilities not carried at fair value        
CAR revolving credit facility $
 $
 $22,000
 $22,000
ACC amortizing debt facility $
 $
 $928
 $928
Amortizing debt facility $
 $
 $21,411
 $21,411
Revolving credit facility $
 $
 $4,000
 $4,000
U.K. credit card accounts revolving credit facility $
 $
 $8,245
 $8,245
5.875% convertible senior notes $
 $57,007
 $
 $95,484
Liabilities carried at fair value  
  
  
  
Interest rate swap underlying CAR facility $
 $97
 $
 $97
Economic sharing arrangement liability $
 $
 $354
 $354
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $
 $
 $94,523
 $94,523

  Quoted Prices in          
  Active Markets for  Significant Other  Significant    
  Identical Assets  Observable Inputs  Unobservable Inputs  Carrying Amount 
Liabilities - As of December 31, 2012 (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3)  of Liabilities 
Liabilities not carried at fair value            
CAR revolving credit facility $-  $-  $20,000  $20,000 
ACC amortizing debt facility $-  $-  $3,896  $3,896 
5.875% Convertible Senior Notes $-  $55,787  $-  $94,886 
Liabilities carried at fair value                
Interest rate swap underlying CAR facility $-  $175  $-  $175 
Economic sharing arrangement liability $-  $-  $815  $815 
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $-  $-  $140,127  $140,127 
                 
                 
  Quoted Prices in             
  Active Markets for  Significant Other  Significant     
  Identical Assets  Observable Inputs  Unobservable Inputs  Carrying Amount 
Liabilities - As of December 31, 2011 (Level 1)  (Level 2)  (Level 3)  of Liabilities 
Liabilities not carried at fair value                
CAR revolving credit facility $-  $-  $23,765  $23,765 
ACC amortizing debt facility $-  $-  $20,406  $20,406 
3.625% Convertible Senior Notes $-  $82,060  $-  $82,060 
5.875% Convertible Senior Notes $-  $55,089  $-  $94,340 
Liabilities carried at fair value                
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $-  $-  $241,755  $241,755 

Liabilities - As of December 31, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)  Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Carrying Amount of Liabilities
Liabilities not carried at fair value  
  
  
  
CAR revolving credit facility $
 $
 $20,000
 $20,000
ACC amortizing debt facility $
 $
 $3,896
 $3,896
Revolving credit facility $
 $
 $1,456
 $1,456
U.K. credit card accounts revolving credit facility $
 $
 $1,213
 $1,213
5.875% convertible senior notes $
 $55,787
 $
 $94,885
Liabilities carried at fair value  
  
  
  
Interest rate swap underlying CAR facility $
 $175
 $
 $175
Economic sharing arrangement liability $
 $
 $815
 $815
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $
 $
 $140,127
 $140,127
 

For our material notes payable, we assess the fair value of these liabilities based on our estimate of future cash flows generated from their underlying credit card receivables collateral, net of servicing compensation required under the note facilities, and to the extent that such cash flow estimates change from period to period, any such changes are considered to be attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk.  Gains and losses associated with fair value changes for our notes payable associated with structured financing liabilities that are carried at fair value are detailed on our fees and related income on earning assets table within Note 2, “Significant Accounting Policies and Consolidated Financial Statement Components.” See Note 10, “Notes Payable,” for further discussion on our notes payable.  For our 5.875%  and 3.625%  Convertible Senior Notes, we assess fair value based upon the most recent trade data available from third-party providers.  For our interest rate swap, into which we entered in March 2012, we assess fair value based on quotes for an identically termed swap arrangement at the end of each measurement period from a third-party provider.  The interest rate swap effectively fixes our interest rate to 4.75% from LIBOR plus 4.0% for $20.0 million of the underlying CAR facility.  Additionally, through an agreement with our now-divested Investments in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment, we are obligated to remit net cash flows associated with certain balance transfer card receivables that we retained subsequent to the sale of the entity.  We assess the fair value of this obligation based on the present value of future cash flows using a valuation model of expected cash flows related to these specific

F- 21


receivables. We do not disclose the fair value of our other debt as it is not practicable to do so.  Given that our other Credit Card and Other Investment segment debt was only recently issued under market terms and conditions, weWe have seen no data that would suggest that the fair value of thisour other Credit and Other Investment segment debt is materially different from its carrying amount. See Note 10, “Notes Payable,” for further discussion on our notes payable.

For our material Level 3 liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, the following table presents (in thousands) a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the yearstwelve months ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011.2012.

 Notes Payable Associated with 
 Structured Financings, at Fair Value Notes Payable Associated with
Structured Financings, at Fair Value
 2012  2011 2013 2012
Beginning balance, January 1 $241,755  $370,544 $140,127
 $241,755
Transfers in due to consolidation of equity-method investees  -   15,537 
 
Total (gains) losses—realized/unrealized:         
  
Net revaluations of notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value  30,150   90,524 19,423
 30,150
Repayments on outstanding notes payable, net  (134,724)  (235,268)(65,264) (134,724)
Impact of foreign currency translation  2,946   418 237
 2,946
Net transfers in and/or out of Level 3  -   - 
 
Ending balance, December 31 $140,127  $241,755 $94,523
 $140,127
 
The unrealized gains and losses for liabilities within the Level 3 category presented in the tables above include changes in fair value that are attributable to both observable and unobservable inputs. We provide below a brief description of the valuation techniques used for Level 3 liabilities.
 
Net Revaluation of Notes Payable Associated with Structured Financings, at Fair Value.We record the net revaluations of notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value, in the changes in fair value of notes payable associated with structured financings line item within the fees and related income on earning assets category of our consolidated statements of operations. The net revaluation of these notes is based on the present value of future cash flows utilized in repayment of the outstanding principal and interest under the facilities using a valuation model of expected cash flows net of the contractual service expenses within the facilities. We estimate the present value of these future cash flows using a valuation model consisting of internally developed estimates of assumptions third-party market participants would use in determining fair value, including:  estimates of net collected yield, principal payment rates and expected principal credit loss rates on the credit card receivables that secure the non-recourse notes payable; costs of funds; discount rates; and contractual servicing fees.
 
For material Level 3 liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs, the following table presents (in thousands) quantitative information about the valuation techniques and the inputs used in the fair value measurement for the yearperiod ended December 31, 2012:2013
Quantitative information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
  Fair Value at    
  December 31, 2012   Range
Fair value measurements (in thousands) Valuation TechniqueUnobservable Input(Weighted Average)
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $140,127 Discounted cash flowsGross yield11.2% to 24.8% (17.9%)
      Principal payment rate1.6% to 5.2% (2.3%)
      Expected credit loss rate11.0% to 23.4% (18.9%)
      Discount rate6.2% to 16.4% (15.8%)
:
F-24
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements Fair Value at December 31, 2013 (in Thousands) Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Range (Weighted Average)
Notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value $94,523
 Discounted cash flows Gross yield 17.0% to 27.5% (23.4%)
   
   Principal payment rate 1.7% to 3.2% (2.6%)
   
   Expected credit loss rate 9.9% to 18.0% (14.9%)
   
   Discount rate 15.9% to 20.6% (17.7%)



F- 22


Other Relevant Data
 
Other relevant data (in thousands) as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011 concerning our certain assets and liabilities we carry at fair value are as follows:

  
Loans and Fees
Receivable
  
Loans and Fees
Receivable Pledged as
Collateral under
Structured Financings
 
As of December 31, 2012 at Fair Value  at Fair Value 
Aggregate unpaid principal balance within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $26,154  $192,433 
Aggregate fair value of loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $20,378  $133,595 
Aggregate fair value of receivables carried at fair value that are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) $36  $957 
Aggregate excess of balance of unpaid principal receivables within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value and are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) over the fair value of such loans and fees receivable $1,643  $7,591 
  
Loans and Fees
Receivable
  
Loans and Fees
Receivable Pledged as
Collateral under
Structured Financings
 
As of December 31, 2011 at Fair Value  at Fair Value 
Aggregate unpaid principal balance within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $37,272  $367,227 
Aggregate fair value of loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $28,226  $238,763 
Aggregate fair value of receivables carried at fair value that are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) $66  $1,041 
Aggregate excess of balance of unpaid principal receivables within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value and are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) over the fair value of such loans and fees receivable $3,004  $28,359 

  Notes Payable  Notes Payable 
  Associated with  Associated with 
  Structured Financings,  Structured Financings, 
  at Fair Value as of  at Fair Value as of 
Notes Payable December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of notes payable $287,711  $420,936 
Aggregate fair value of notes payable $140,127  $241,755 
As of December 31, 2013 Loans and Fees
Receivable at
Fair Value
 Loans and Fees Receivable Pledged as Collateral under Structured Financings at Fair Value
Aggregate unpaid principal balance within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $16,620
 $109,945
Aggregate fair value of loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $12,080
 $88,132
Aggregate fair value of receivables carried at fair value that are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) $31
 $299
Aggregate excess of balance of unpaid principal receivables within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value and are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) over the fair value of such loans and fees receivable $728
 $4,555
 
F-25
As of December 31, 2012 Loans and Fees
Receivable at
Fair Value
 Loans and Fees
Receivable Pledged as Collateral under Structured Financings at Fair Value
Aggregate unpaid principal balance within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $26,154
 $192,433
Aggregate fair value of loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value $20,378
 $133,595
Aggregate fair value of receivables carried at fair value that are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) $36
 $957
Aggregate excess of balance of unpaid principal receivables within loans and fees receivable that are reported at fair value and are 90 days or more past due (which also coincides with finance charge and fee non-accrual policies) over the fair value of such loans and fees receivable $1,643
 $7,591


Notes Payable Notes Payable Associated with Structured Financings, at Fair Value as of December 31, 2013 Notes Payable Associated with Structured Financings, at Fair Value as of December 31, 2012
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of notes payable $219,619
 $287,711
Aggregate fair value of notes payable $94,523
 $140,127

8.
Property
 
Details (in thousands) of our property on our consolidated balance sheets are as follows: 


  As of December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Software $61,612  $60,685 
Furniture and fixtures  6,866   7,367 
Data processing and telephone equipment  38,604   40,911 
Leasehold improvements  28,047   28,597 
Total cost  135,129   137,560 
Less accumulated depreciation  (127,937)  (129,462)
Property, net $7,192  $8,098 
F- 23


  As of December 31,
  2013 2012
Software $64,383
 $61,612
Furniture and fixtures 7,147
 6,866
Data processing and telephone equipment 39,157
 38,604
Leasehold improvements 28,052
 28,047
Total cost 138,739
 135,129
Less accumulated depreciation (129,802) (127,937)
Property, net $8,937
 $7,192
 
As of December 31, 2012,2013, the weighted-average remaining depreciable life of our depreciable property was 7.95.8 years.

9.
Leases
 
We lease premises and certain equipment under cancelable and non-cancelable leases, some of which contain renewal options under various terms. Total rental expense for continuing operations associated with these operating leases was $3.9 million in 2013 and $5.0 million in both 2012 and 2011.2012. During the fourth quarter of 2006, we entered into a 15-year lease in Atlanta, Georgia for 411,125 square feet, 220,648 square feet of which we have subleased, 75,753 square feet of which we have surrendered to the landlord through our exercise of a termination option, and the remainder of which houses our corporate offices.  In connection with this lease, we received a $21.2 million construction allowance for the build-out of our new corporate offices. We are amortizing the construction allowance as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease. As of December 31, 2012,2013, the future minimum rental commitments (in thousands) for all non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms of more than one year (both gross and net of any sublease income) are as follows:
 
    Sublease    
 Gross  Income  Net 
2013 $10,116  $(5,208) $4,908 
 Gross 
Sublease
Income
 Net
2014  8,965   (5,331)  3,634  $8,631
 $(5,331) $3,300
2015  8,282   (5,290)  2,992  8,282
 (5,290) 2,992
2016  7,253   (5,442)  1,811  7,253
 (5,442) 1,811
2017  7,912   (5,597)  2,315  7,912
 (5,597) 2,315
2018 8,062
 (5,587) 2,475
Thereafter  36,832   (25,461)  11,371  28,771
 (19,851) 8,920
Total $79,360  $(52,329) $27,031  $68,911
 $(47,098) $21,813
 
In addition, we occasionally lease certain equipment under cancelable and non-cancelable leases, which are accounted for as capital leases in our consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2012,2013, we had no material non-cancelable capital leases with initial or remaining terms of more than one year.



10.Notes Payable
 
Notes Payable Associated with Structured Financings, at Fair Value
 
We present on our consolidated balance sheet certain non-recourse, asset-backed structured financing facilities that are secured by credit card receivables held within such trusts.  Given our decision to elect the fair value option for reporting the credit card receivables held within the trusts, accounting rules require that we report the underlying debt facilities at fair value as well. We are required to consolidate the assets (credit card receivables, which are presented as loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, at fair value, on our consolidated balance sheets) and debt (classified as notes payable associated with structured financings, at fair value, on our consolidated balance sheets) associated with these structured financings on our consolidated balance sheets because the transactions do not meet the criteria for de-recognition and because we are the primary beneficiary of the structured financing transactions.
Scheduled (in millions) in the table below are (1) the carrying amounts of structured financing notes secured by ourcertain credit card receivables and reported at fair value as of both December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011,, (2) the outstanding face amounts of structured financing notes secured by ourcertain credit card receivables and reported at fair value as of December 31, 2012,2013, and (3) the carrying amounts of the credit card receivables and restricted cash that provide the exclusive means of repayment for the notes (i.e., lenders have recourse only to the specific credit card receivables and restricted cash underlying each respective facility and cannot look to our general credit for repayment) as of December 31, 2012.2013 and December 31, 2012.

  Carrying Amounts at Fair Value as of 
  December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Amortizing securitization facility issued out of our upper-tier originated portfolio master trust (stated maturity of June 2013), outstanding face amount of $201.0 million bearing interest at a weighted average 3.5% interest rate, which is secured by credit card receivables and restricted cash aggregating $93.6 million in carrying amount $93.6  $154.1 
Amortizing term securitization facility (denominated and referenced in U.K. sterling and a stated maturity of April 2014) issued out of our U.K. Portfolio securitization trust, outstanding face amount of $86.6 million bearing interest at a weighted average 5.1% interest rate, which is secured by credit card receivables and restricted cash aggregating $47.3 million in carrying amount  46.5   81.6 
Amortizing term structured financing facility issued out of a trust underlying a portfolio acquisition by one of our former equity investees, the controlling interests in which we acquired in February 2011, such facility having been repaid in November 2012  -   6.1 
Total structured financing notes reported at fair value that are secured by credit card receivables and to which we are subordinated $140.1  $241.8 
 Carrying Amounts at Fair Value as of
 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Amortizing securitization facility issued out of our upper-tier originated portfolio master trust (stated maturity of December 2014), outstanding face amount of $148.8 million bearing interest at a weighted average 4.2% interest rate (3.5% as of December 31, 2012), which is secured by credit card receivables and restricted cash aggregating $58.4 million ($93.6 million as of December 31, 2012) in carrying amount$58.3
 $93.6
Amortizing term securitization facility (denominated and referenced in U.K. sterling and a stated maturity of April 2014) issued out of our Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio securitization trust, outstanding face amount of $70.8 million bearing interest at a weighted average 5.6% interest rate (5.1% as of December 31, 2012), which is secured by credit card receivables and restricted cash aggregating $36.8 million ($47.3 million as of December 31, 2012) in carrying amount36.2
 46.5
Total structured financing notes reported at fair value that are secured by credit card receivables and to which we are subordinated$94.5
 $140.1
 
Contractual payment allocations within these credit cards receivable structured financings provide for a priority distribution of cash flows to us to service the credit card receivables, a distribution of cash flows to pay interest and principal due on the notes, and a distribution of all excess cash flows (if any) to us. Each of the structured financing facilities in the above table is amortizing down along with collections of the underlying receivables and there are no provisions within the debt agreements that allow for acceleration or bullet repayment of the facilities prior to their scheduled expiration dates. Accordingly, we believe that, for all intents and purposes, there is no practical risk of material equity loss associated with lender seizure of assets under the facilities. Nevertheless, theThe aggregate carrying amount of the credit card receivables and restricted cash that provide security for the $140.1$94.5 million in fair value of structured financing notes in the above table is $140.9$95.2 million, which means that our maximum aggregate exposure to pre-tax equity loss associated with the above structured financing arrangements is $0.8 million.$0.7 million.
 
Beyond our role as servicer of the underlying assets within the credit cards receivable structured financings, we have provided no other financial or other support to the structures, and we have no explicit or implicit arrangements that could require us to provide financial support to the structures.


F- 25


Notes Payable, Associated with Structured Financings, at Face Value
 
Beyond the credit card receivables structured financings held at fair value mentioned above, we have entered into certain other non-recourse, asset-backed structured financing transactions within our businesses. We consolidate onto our consolidated balance sheets both the assets (e.g., Auto Finance segment receivables, which are presented as loans and fees receivable pledged as collateral under structured financings, net, on our consolidated balance sheets, Auto Finance segment restricted cash, and other equipment as of December 31, 2012) and debt (classified withinOther notes payable associated with structured financings, at face value, on our consolidated balance sheets) associated with these structured financings because the transactions do not meet the criteria for de-recognition and because we are the primary beneficiary of the structured financing transactions. The principal amount of the structured financing notes outstanding as of both December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 that are secured by the financial and 2011 andoperating assets of either the December 31, 2012 carrying amountsborrower, another of our subsidiaries or both, include the following, scheduled (in millions); except as otherwise noted, the assets that provide the exclusive means of repayment for the notes (i.e., lenders have recourse onlyour holding company (Atlanticus Holdings Corporation) are subject to the specific assets underlying each respective facility and cannot look to our general credit for repayment) arecreditor claims under these scheduled (in millions) as follows:facilities:

  As of 
  December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring November 6, 2016) at a minimum fixed rate of 15% at December 31, 2012 that is secured by our ACC Auto Finance segment receivables and restricted cash with an aggregate carrying amount of $9.7 million (1) $3.9  $20.4 
Amortizing debt facility, the repayment of which occurred during the three months ended September 2012 (2)  -   2.6 
Vendor-financed software and equipment purchases (expiring September 2014) at an implied rate of 15%, that are secured by certain equipment  0.2   - 
Investment in Previously Charged-Off Receivables segment’s asset-backed financing, the repayment of which occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2012  -   0.2 
Total asset-backed structured financing notes outstanding $4.1  $23.2 
 As of
 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Revolving credit facilities at a weighted average rate equal to 4.7% (4.8% at December 31, 2012) secured by the financial and operating assets of CAR and another of our borrowing subsidiaries with a combined aggregate carrying amount of $83.5 million ($50.8 million at December 31, 2012)   
Revolving credit facility (expiring October 4, 2014) (1) (2)$22.0
 $20.0
Revolving credit facility (expiring May 17, 2014) (2)4.0
 
Amortizing facilities at a weighted average rate equal to 8.8% at December 31, 2013 secured by certain receivables and restricted cash with a combined aggregate carrying amount of $16.5 million   
Amortizing debt facility (expiring December 15, 2014) (3) (4)3.3
 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring April 20, 2015) (3) (4)5.8
 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring July 15, 2015) (3) (4)8.3
 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring September 11, 2014) (3)3.5
 
Amortizing debt facility (expiring April 1, 2016) (3)0.5
 
Other facilities   
Amortizing debt facility (expiring November 6, 2016) that is secured by our ACC Auto Finance segment receivables and restricted cash with an aggregate carrying amount of $2.5 million ($9.7 million as of December 31, 2012) (5)0.9
 3.9
Revolving credit facility which was repaid in April 2013
 1.4
Revolving credit facility associated with our credit card accounts in the U.K. that can be drawn to the extent of outstanding eligible principal receivables up to £5.0 million, expiring December 1, 2016 with an annual rate equal to the lender’s cost of funds plus 7.0% (9.1% as of December 31, 2013 and 10.3% as of December 31, 2012) secured by certain receivables and restricted cash with a combined aggregate carrying amount of $9.6 million ($2.6 million as of December 31, 2012)8.2
 1.2
Vendor-financed software and equipment purchases (expiring September 2014) at an implied rate of 15.0%, that are secured by certain equipment0.2
 0.2
Total notes payable outstanding$56.7
 $26.7
 
(1)  
(1)Loan is subject to certain affirmative covenants, including a coverage ratio, a leverage ratio and a collateral performance test, the failure of which could result in required early repayment of all or a portion of the outstanding balance by our CAR Auto Finance operations. The assets of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation are not subject to creditor claims arising due to asset performance-related covenants under this loan.
(2)Loans are from the same lender and are cross-collateralized; thus, combined security interests are subject to claims upon the default of either lending arrangement.
(3)Loans are subject to certain affirmative covenants tied to default rates and other performance metrics the failure of which could result in required early repayment of the remaining unamortized balances of the notes.
(4)Loans are from the same lender and are cross-collateralized; thus, combined security interests are subject to claims upon the default of either lending arrangement.
(5)
The terms of this lending agreement providedprovide for the application of all excess cash flows from the underlying auto finance receivables portfolio (above and beyond interest costs and contractual servicing compensation to our outsourced third-party servicer) to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the debt, and the outstanding principal balance was repaid in the fourth quarter of 2012.  Now that we have repaid the principal portion of the note, the lending agreement requires that we remit 37.5% of future cash flows (net of contractual servicing compensation) generated on the auto finance receivables portfolio to the note holders as additional compensation for the use of their capital. Based on current estimates of this additional compensation, we currently are accruing interest expense on this liability at a 25.6% effective interest rate; and the amount disclosed in the above table represents our accrued interest expense liability under this lending agreement.

F- 26


compensation) generated on the auto finance receivables portfolio to the note holders as additional compensation for the use of their capital. Based on current estimates of this additional compensation, we currently are accruing interest expense on this liability at a 25.4% effective interest rate based on current expectations of future collections, and the amount disclosed in the above table represents our accrued interest expense liability under this lending agreement. The assets of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation are not subject to creditor claims arising under this loan.

(2)  In connection
In May 2013, the revolving credit facility associated with our CAR operations was amended and expanded to allow for borrowings against certain receivables associated with our point-of-sale finance operations under the existing $40.0 million facility borrowing limits. The terms remained unchanged with our sale of JRAS’s operations in February 2011, we received a $2.4 million note secured by JRAS’s assets, we retained receivables with a December 31, 2012 carrying amount of $0.5 million that were originated while JRAS was under our ownership, we pledged those receivables as security for a then $9.4 million non-recourse loan to us, and we contracted with JRAS to service those receivables on our behalf.  This non-recourse loan was repaid in August of 2012 and the remaining receivables are now serviced by our CAR subsidiary.
Similar to our credit cards receivable structured financings, the structured financing facilities secured by the assets scheduled above (with the exception of the vendor-financed software and equipment lending arrangements) generally providematurity date for a priority distribution of cash flows to us (or alternative loan servicers) to service any underlying pledged receivables, a distribution of cash flows to pay interest and principal due onborrowings under the notes, and a distribution of all excess cash flows to us, other than the additional compensation referred to in footnote (1) to the above table. The receivables-backed structured financing facilitiespoint-of-sale finance portion, which was set as May 17, 2014 as indicated in the above table are amortizing down along with collections of the underlying receivables and there are no provisions within the debt agreements that represent any risks of acceleration or bullet repayment of the facilities prior to the facility expiration dates. Accordingly, we believe that, for all intents and purposes, there is no practical risk of material equity loss associated with lender seizure of assets under the facilities. Nevertheless, the aggregate carrying amount of the receivables that provide security for the $4.1 million of structured financing notes in the above table at December 31, 2012 was $9.7 million, which means that our maximum aggregate exposure to pre-tax equity loss associated with the above structured financing arrangements was $5.6 million on that date.above.
Beyond our role as servicer of the underlying assets within the above-scheduled structured financings, we have provided no other financial or other support to the structures, and we have no explicit or implicit arrangements that could require us to provide financial support to the structures.
The scheduled maturities and repayments of our notes payable in the above table are $0.1 million in 2013 and $0.1 million in 2014.  Because the ACC auto finance debt facility payouts are based on actual collections, there are no scheduled maturities or repayments.
Notes Payable, at Face Value

Other notes payable outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 that are secured by the financial and operating assets of either the borrower, another of our subsidiaries or both, include the following, scheduled (in millions):
  As of 
  December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Revolving credit facility (expiring October 4, 2014) at a an annual rate equal to 4.75% that is secured by the financial and operating assets of CAR with an aggregate carrying amount of $50.8 million (1) $20.0  $23.8 
Revolving credit facility associated with our merchant credit product that can be drawn to the extent of outstanding eligible principal receivables up to $2.0 million, expiring October 10, 2013 with an annual rate equal to the lender’s cost of funds plus 6.0% (6.8% as of December 31, 2012)  1.5   - 
Revolving credit facility associated with our test accounts in the U.K. that can be drawn to the extent of outstanding eligible principal receivables up to £5.0 million, expiring December 1, 2016 with an annual rate equal to the lender’s cost of funds plus 7.0% (10.3% as of December 31, 2012)  1.2   - 
Total notes payable outstanding $22.7  $23.8 
(1)  Loan is subject to certain affirmative covenants, including a coverage ratio, a leverage ratio and a collateral performance test, the failure of which could result in required early repayment of all or a portion of the outstanding balance.
In March 2012, we entered into an interest rate swap related to $20.0the $20.0 million of the $20.0 million amount drawn on the CAR facility discussed in the table above.  The interest rate swap effectively fixes our interest rate to 4.75% from LIBOR plus 4.0%.  We include the fair value of the interest rate swap and changes in its fair value in our consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, respectively.  See Note 7, “Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities,” for more information regarding this interest rate swap.

As of December 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all outstanding debt covenants.
11.
Convertible Senior Notes
 
3.625% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2025
In May 2005, we issued $250.0$250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% convertible senior notes due 2025 to qualified institutional buyers(“3.625% convertible senior notes”), and in a private placement, andNovember 2005, we subsequently registered the notes for resale with the SEC. For the year ended December 31, 2011, we repurchased $62.0issued $300.0 million in face aggregate principal amount of these5.875% convertible senior notes in open market transactions. The purchase price for thesedue 2035 (“5.875% convertible senior notes”). These notes totaled $59.3 million (including accrued interest) and resulted in an aggregate gain of $0.3 million (net of repurchases since the notes’ applicable share of deferred costs, which were written off in connection with the purchases).issuance dates) are reflected within convertible senior notes on our consolidated balance sheets.  In May 2012, holders of substantially all of the holders of our 3.625% convertible senior notes exercised a then-existing put right, under which we repaid $83.5$83.5 million in face amount of such notes outstanding at par.  As of December 31, 2012, $450,000 of these notes remained outstanding.
No such put rights exist under our 5.875% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2035
In November 2005, we issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2035 to qualified institutional buyers in a private placement, and we subsequently registered the notes for resalenotes.  The following summarizes (in thousands) components of our consolidated balance sheets associated with the SEC. These notes are reflected within our convertible senior notes balance on our consolidated balance sheets. In 2011 we repurchased $1.0 million in face amount of these notes in open market transactions. The purchase price for these notes totaled $0.4 million (including accrued interest) and resulted in an aggregate gain of $0.3 million (net of the notes’ applicable share of deferred costs, which were written off in connection with the purchases).  We did not repurchase in the open market any of our convertible senior notes during the year ended December 31, 2012.
notes:
F-29
 As of
 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
Face amount of 3.625% convertible senior notes$450
 $450
Face amount of 5.875% convertible senior notes139,467
 139,467
Discount(43,983) (44,582)
Net carrying value$95,934
 $95,335
Carrying amount of equity component included in additional paid-in capital$108,714
 $108,714
Excess of instruments’ if-converted values over face principal amounts$
 $



During certain periods and subject to certain conditions, the remaining $139.5 million of outstanding 5.875% notes as of December 31, 20122013 (as referenced in the table below)above) will be convertible by holders into cash and, if applicable, shares of our common stock at an adjusted effective conversion rate of 40.63 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, subject to further adjustment; the conversion rate is based on an adjusted conversion price of $24.61 per share of common stock. Upon conversion of the notes, we will deliver to holders of the notes cash of up to $1,000 per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of notes and, at our option, either cash or shares of our common stock in respect of the remainder of the conversion obligation, if any. The maximum number of shares of common sharesstock that any note holder may receive upon conversion is fixed at 40.63 shares per $1,000 aggregate principal amount of notes, and we have a sufficient number of authorized shares of our common stock to satisfy both this conversion obligation and the conversion obligation under the 3.625% convertible senior notes should they arise. Beginning with the six-month period commencing on January 30, 2009, we could pay contingent interest on the notes during a six-month period if the average trading price of the notes is above a specified level. Thus far we have not paid any contingent interest on these notes.  In addition, holders of the notes may require us to repurchase the notes upon certain specified events.
 
In conjunction with the offering of the 5.875% convertible senior notes, due 2035 offering, we entered into a thirty-year share lending agreement with Bear, Stearns International Limited (“BSIL”) and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc, as agent for BSIL, pursuant to which

F- 27


we lent BSIL 5,677,950 shares of our common stock that we exclude from all earnings per share computations and for which we received a fee upon consummation of the agreement of $0.001 per loaned share. The obligations of Bear Stearns were assumed by JP Morgan in 2008.  JP Morgan (as the guarantor of the obligation) is required to return the loaned shares to us at the end of the thirty-year term of the share lending agreement or earlier upon the occurrence of specified events.  Such events include the bankruptcy of JP Morgan, its failure to make payments when due, its failure to post collateral when required or return loaned shares when due, notice of its inability to perform obligations, or its untrue representations.   If an event of default occurs, then the borrower (JP Morgan) may settle the obligation in cash.  Further, in the event that JP Morgan’s credit rating drops below A/A2, it would be required to post collateral for the market value of the lent shares ($5.65.9 million based on the 1,672,656 of shares remaining outstanding under the share lending arrangement as of December 31, 2012)2013).  JP Morgan has agreed to use the loaned shares for the purpose of directly or indirectly facilitating the hedging of our convertible senior notes by the holders thereof or for such other purpose as reasonably determined by us.  We deem it highly remote that any event of default will occur and therefore cash settlement, while an option, is an unlikely scenario.
 
We analogize the share lending agreement to a prepaid forward contract, which we have evaluated under applicable accounting guidance. We determined that the instrument was not a derivative in its entirety and that the embedded derivative would not require separate accounting. The net effect on shareholders’ equity of the shares lent pursuant to the share lending agreement, which includes our requirement to lend the shares and the counterparties’ requirement to return the shares, is the fee received upon our lending of the shares.
 
Accounting for Convertible Senior Notes
 
Because our convertible senior notes are Instrument C convertible notes, the accounting for the issuance of the notes includes (1) allocation of the issuance proceeds between the notes and additional paid-in capital, (2) establishment of a discount to the face amount of the notes equal to the portion of the issuance proceeds that are allocable to additional paid-in capital, (3) creation of a deferred tax liability related to the discount on the notes, and (4) an allocation of issuance costs between the portion of such costs considered to be associated with the notes and the portion of such costs considered to be associated with the equity component of the notes’ issuances (i.e., additional paid-in capital).  We are amortizing the discount to the remaining face amount of the notes into interest expense over the expected life of the notes, which results in a corresponding release of associated deferred tax liability (and which ended May 2012 for our 3.625% convertible senior notes).  Amortization for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and 2011 totaled $2.4$0.6 million and $6.4$2.4 million, respectively. Actual incurred interest (based on the contractual interest rates within the two convertible senior notes series) totaled $9.5$8.2 million and $12.5$9.5 million for the years ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011,2012, respectively.  We will amortize the discount remaining at December 31, 20122013 into interest expense over the expected term of the 5.875% convertible senior notes (currently expected to be October 2035). The weighted average effective interest rate for the 3.625% and 5.875% convertible senior notes was 9.2% for all periods presented.
 
The following summarizes (in thousands) components of our consolidated balance sheets associated with our convertible senior notes after giving effect to the accounting treatment described above:

  As of 
  December 31, 2012  December 31, 2011 
Face amount of 3.625% convertible senior notes due 2025 $450  $83,943 
Face amount of 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2035  139,467   139,467 
Discount  (44,582)  (47,010)
Net carrying value $95,335  $176,400 
Carrying amount of equity component included in additional paid-in capital $108,714  $108,714 
Excess of instruments’ if-converted values over face principal amounts $-  $- 

12.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
General
 
In the normal course of business through the origination of unsecured credit card receivables, we incur off-balance-sheet risks. These risks include commitments of £578,000 ($935,000)£2.2 million ($3.7 million) at December 31, 20122013 to purchase receivables associated with cardholders who have the right to borrow in excess of their current balances up to the maximum credit limit on their credit card accounts. We have never experienced a situation in which all of our customers have exercised their entire available line of credit at any given point in time, nor do we anticipate this will ever occur in the future.  Moreover, there would be a concurrent increase in assets should there be any exercise of these lines of credit.  We also have the effective right to reduce or cancel these available lines of credit at any time, which our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment did with respect to substantially all of its outstanding cardholder accounts.time.  At December 31, 2012,2013, our remaining available lines of credit associated with credit cards related solely to creditthose cards issued under programs in the U.K.
 
Additionally our CAR operations provide floor-plan financing for a pre-qualified network of independent automotive dealers and automotive finance companies in the buy-here, pay-here used car business.  The financings allow dealers and finance companies to borrow in excess of their current balances up to the maximum pre-approved credit limit allowed in order to finance ongoing inventory needs.  These loans are secured by the underlying auto inventory and, in certain cases where we have other lending products outstanding with the dealer, are also secured by the collateral under those lending arrangements as well, including any outstanding dealer reserves. As of December 31, 2012, these2013, CAR had unfunded outstanding floor-plan financing commitments totaled $4.2 million.totaling $7.6 million.  Each draw against unused commitments is reviewed for conformity to pre-established guidelines.
 
CredigisticsUnder our point-of-sale finance products, we give consumers the ability to borrow up to the maximum credit limit assigned to each individual’s account.  Our unfunded commitments under these products aggregated $61.0 million at

F- 28


December 31, 2013. We have never experienced a situation in which all of our customers have exercised their entire available line of credit at any given point in time, nor do we anticipate this will ever occur in the future.  Moreover, there would be a concurrent increase in assets should there be any exercise of these lines of credit.  We also have the effective right to reduce or cancel these available lines of credit at any time.
Atlanticus Services Corporation’s (formerly CompuCredit Corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary) of Atlanticus Holdings Corporation) third-party originating financial institution relationships require security (collateral) related to their issuance of credit cards and cardholder purchases thereunder, and notwithstanding the closure of all credit card accounts the receivables of which Credigistics Corporation previously purchased, these institutions hold a remaining $0.2$0.5 million of remains pledged collateral as of December 31, 2012.to support various ongoing contractual obligations.  In addition, in connection with our U.K.Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio acquisition, CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation guarantees certain obligations of its subsidiaries and its third-party originating financial institution to one of the European payment systems ($($0.2 million as of December 31, 2012)2013). Those obligations include, among other things, compliance with one of the European payment system’s operating regulations and by-laws. CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation also guarantees certain performance obligations of its servicer affiliate to the indenture trustee and the trust created under the structured financing relating to our U.K.Non-U.S. Acquired Portfolio.

Under agreements with third-party originating and other financial institutions, we have agreed to (1) indemnify the financial institutions for certain liabilities associated with the financial institutions’ card issuance and certain other lending activities on our behalf—such indemnification obligations generally being limited to instances in which we either (a) have been afforded the opportunity to defend against any potentially indemnifiable claims or (b) have reached agreement with the financial institutions regarding settlement of potentially indemnifiable claims, and (2) certain contingent liabilities (capped at $4.4 million) that could arise for us upon the non-performance by third parties under their financial obligations.claims. As of December 31, 2012,2013, we have assessed the likelihood of any potential payments related to the aforementioned contingencies as remote. We will accrue liabilities related to these contingencies in any future period if and in which we assess the likelihood of an estimable payment as probable. In October 2013, we were released from certain contingent liabilities which resulted in the release of $4.4 million of cash previously held in escrow and previously included on our consolidated balance sheet as a deposit within our prepaid expenses and other assets category.
 
Total System Services, Inc. provides certain services to CredigisticsAtlanticus Services Corporation as a system of record provider under an agreement that extends through May 2015. Were CredigisticsIf Atlanticus Services Corporation were to terminate its U.S. relationship with Total System Services, Inc. prior to the contractual termination period, it would incur significant penalties ($11.1($7.2 million as of December 31, 2012)2013).

We also are subject to certain minimum payments under cancelable and non-cancelable lease arrangements.  For further information regarding these commitments See Note 9, “Leases.”

Litigation
 
We are involved in various legal proceedings that are incidental to the conduct of our business. The most significantbusiness, none of these is described below.which are material to us.
 
CompuCredit Corporation and five of our other subsidiaries are the named defendants in a purported class action lawsuit entitled Knox, et al., vs. First Southern Cash Advance, et al., No. 5 CV 0445, filed in the Superior Court of New Hanover County, North Carolina, on February 8, 2005. The plaintiffs allege that in conducting a so-called “payday lending” business, certain subsidiaries within our Retail Micro-Loans segment (the operations of which were sold in October 2011, subject to our retention of liability for this litigation) violated various laws governing consumer finance, lending, check cashing, trade practices and loan brokering. The plaintiffs further allege that CompuCredit Corporation was the alter ego of the subsidiaries and is liable for their actions. The plaintiffs are seeking damages of up to $75,000 per class member, and attorney’s fees. These claims are similar to those that have been asserted against several other market participants in transactions involving small-balance, short-term loans made to consumers in North Carolina.  On January 23, 2012, among other orders, the trial court denied the defendants’ motion to compel arbitration, and granted the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. We are vigorously defending this lawsuit.
13.
13.
Income Taxes
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the effects of tax losses, credits, and the future income tax effects of temporary differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
 
As shown with respect to our continuing operations, the current and deferred portions (in thousands) of federal and state income tax benefit or expense as the case may be are as follows:
 

  
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
  
2012
  
2011
 
Federal income tax benefit:      
Current tax benefit $743  $767 
Deferred tax benefit  15,420   989 
Total federal income tax benefit  16,163   1,756 
Foreign income tax benefit (expense):        
Current tax expense  (30)  (5)
Deferred tax benefit  -   2 
Total foreign income tax expense  (30)  (3)
State and other income tax expense:        
Current tax expense  (4)  (111)
Deferred tax expense  (520)  (648)
Total state and other income tax expense  (524)  (759)
Total income tax benefit $15,609  $994 
F- 29


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2013 2012
Federal income tax benefit:    
Current tax benefit (expense) $(52) $743
Deferred tax benefit 3,270
 15,420
Total federal income tax benefit 3,218
 16,163
Foreign income tax benefit (expense):  
  
Current tax expense (42) (30)
Deferred tax benefit 892
 
Total foreign income tax benefit (expense) 850
 (30)
State and other income tax benefit:  
  
Current tax benefit (expense) 7
 (4)
Deferred tax benefit (expense) 1,039
 (520)
Total state and other income tax benefit (expense) 1,046
 (524)
Total income tax benefit $5,114
 $15,609
 
Computed considering results for only our continuing operations before income taxes, ourwe experienced effective income tax benefit rate was 35.9%rates of 22.5% and 35.6% for the yearyears ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, versus our effective income tax benefit rate of 48.5% for the year ended December 31, 2011.respectively.  We have experienced no material changes in effective tax rates associated with differences in filing jurisdictions, and the variations in our effective tax rates between the periods principally bear the effects of (1) changes in valuation allowances against income statement-oriented federal, foreign and state deferred tax assets (2) variations in the level of our pre-tax income among the different reporting periods relative to the level of our permanent differences within such periods and (3)(2) the effects on financial reporting results of intra-period tax allocations associated with our discontinued operations in 2012 as required under GAAP.
Income tax benefits in 20122013 and 20112012 differed from amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax benefit rate to pretax income or loss from consolidatedcontinuing operations principally as a result of the impact of changes in valuation allowances on certain federal and state deferred tax assets, foreign tax expense, and unfavorable permanent differences, including the effects of accruals for uncertain tax positions. The following table reconciles our effective tax expensebenefit rates for 20122013 and 20112012 to the federal statutory rate:
 
  
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
  
2012
  
2011
 
Statutory tax benefit rate
  35.0%  35.0%
Increase (decrease) in statutory tax benefit rate resulting from:        
Changes in valuation allowances  6.4   106.9 
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions  1.7   35.8 
Foreign income taxes  0.1   (14.5)
Permanent and other differences   (9.1  (2.4
State and other income taxes, net  1.8   (112.3)
Effective tax benefit rate
  35.9%  48.5%
  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2013 2012
Statutory tax benefit rate 35.0 % 35.0 %
(Decrease) increase in statutory tax benefit rate resulting from:  
  
Changes in valuation allowances (9.7)% 6.4 %
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions (0.6)% 1.7 %
Foreign income taxes (1.6)% 0.1 %
Permanent and other differences (0.5)% (9.1)%
State and other income taxes, net (0.1)% 1.5 %
Effective tax benefit rate 22.5 % 35.6 %
 
As of December 31, 20122013 and December 31, 2011,2012, the significant components (in thousands) of our deferred tax assets and liabilities were:
 

  
As of December 31,
 
  
2012
  
2011
 
Deferred tax assets:      
Software development costs/fixed assets
 $4,421  $6,133 
Equity in income of equity-method investees
     3,961 
Goodwill and intangible assets
  7,724   8,246 
Deferred costs
  424   627 
Provision for loan loss
  5,576   5,085 
Equity-based compensation
  3,051   3,223 
Charitable contributions
  961   2,712 
Other
  3,479   4,271 
Accruals for state taxes and interest associated with unrecognized tax benefits  5,260   5,550 
Federal net operating loss carry-forward
  107,703   130,534 
Federal credit carry-forward
  1,073   1,073 
Foreign net operating loss carry-forward
  818   1,725 
State tax benefits
  35,744   37,644 
   176,234   210,784 
Valuation allowances
  (56,030)  (70,999)
   120,204   139,785 
Deferred tax liabilities:        
Prepaid expenses
  (286)  (369)
Equity in income of equity-method investees  (4,055)   
Mark-to-market
  (1,266)  (3,075)
Credit card fair value election differences
  (24,537)  (33,993)
Interest on debentures
  (15,135)  (26,511)
Convertible senior notes
  (16,320)  (16,653)
Cancellation of indebtedness income
  (65,843)  (66,082)
   (127,442)  (146,683)
Net deferred tax liability
 $(7,238) $(6,898)
F- 30


  As of December 31,
  2013 2012
Deferred tax assets:    
Software development costs/fixed assets $3,304
 $4,421
Goodwill and intangible assets 6,702
 7,724
Deferred costs 
 424
Provision for loan loss 12,442
 5,576
Equity-based compensation 125
 3,051
Charitable contributions 
 961
Other 2,098
 3,479
Accruals for state taxes and interest associated with unrecognized tax benefits 5,329
 5,260
Federal net operating loss carry-forward 121,524
 107,703
Federal credit carry-forward 1,073
 1,073
Foreign net operating loss carry-forward 706
 818
State tax benefits 36,354
 35,744
  189,657
 176,234
Valuation allowances (52,601) (56,030)
  137,056
 120,204
Deferred tax liabilities:  
  
Prepaid expenses (296) (286)
Equity in income of equity-method investees (4,796) (4,055)
Mark-to-market (342) (1,266)
Credit card fair value election differences (32,476) (24,537)
Deferred costs (332) 
Interest on debentures (18,772) (15,135)
Convertible senior notes (16,091) (16,320)
Cancellation of indebtedness income (65,949) (65,843)
  (139,054) (127,442)
Net deferred tax liability $(1,998) $(7,238)
 
The amounts reported for both 20122013 and 20112012 have been adjusted to account for the reclassification of unrecognized tax benefits as required by applicable accounting literature.
       We have recorded a deferred tax asset of $107.7 million reflecting the benefit of loss carryforwards, which expire in varying amounts between 2028 and 2030.  Realization of this deferred tax asset is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of the loss carryforwards, and we have provided a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

Certain of our deferred tax assets relate to federal, foreign and state net operating losses as noted in the above table, and we have no other net operating losses or credit carry-forwards other than those noted herein. Our $56.0$52.6 million of deferred tax asset valuation allowances are primarily the result of uncertainties regarding the future realization of recorded tax benefits, principally net operating losses and credits from operations in the U.S. (both federal and state) and foreign jurisdictions (including U.S. territories), and it is more likely than not that these recorded tax benefits will not be utilized to reduce future federal, foreign and state tax liabilities in these jurisdictions.
 
We conduct business globally, and as a result, one or more of our subsidiaries files federal, state and/or foreign income tax returns. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world, including such major jurisdictions as the U.S., the U.K., and the Netherlands.various U.S. territories. With a few exceptions, we are no longer subject to federal, state, local, or foreign income tax examinations for years prior to 2009.2010. Currently, we are under audit by various jurisdictions for various years, including by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2007 and 2008 tax years. Although the audits have not been concluded, we do not expect any changes to our reported tax positions in those years that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. Moreover, if any material payments are ultimately determined to be owed as a result of ongoing audits (e.g., through settlement or litigation with taxing authorities), we do not anticipate having to make such payments, if any, for several more years.
 
We recognize potential accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.  We recognized $1.9 million and $2.1$3.1 million in potential interest and penalties associated with these uncertain tax positions during the yearsyear ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.2013, compared to $1.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2012.  To the extent such interest and

F- 31


penalties are not assessed as a result of a resolution of thean underlying tax position, amounts accrued are reduced and reflected as a reduction of income tax expense. We recognized $1.0 million of such reductions in each of the years ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011.2012.
 
Reconciliation (in thousands) of unrecognized tax benefits from the beginning to the end of 20122013 and 20112012 is as follows:
 
  
2012
  
2011
 
Balance at January 1,
 $(54,146) $(54,011)
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years  2,753   2,890 
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years  (124)  0 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year  (1,237)  (879)
Interest and penalties accrued
  (1,889)  (2,146)
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for lapses of applicable statute of limitations      
Balance at December 31,
 $(54,643) $(54,146)
  2013 2012
Balance at January 1, $(54,643) $(54,146)
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior years 2,943
 2,753
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years (1) (124)
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year (11) (1,237)
Interest and penalties accrued (3,063) (1,889)
Balance at December 31, $(54,775) $(54,643)
 
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate totaled $17.2$17.4 million and $16.8$17.2 million at December 31, 20122013 and 2011,2012, respectively.
 
Absent the effects of potential agreements to extend statutes of limitations periods (as we recently did with respect to our 2007 and 2008 federal income tax returns), the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will significantly change as a result of the lapse of applicable limitations periods in the next 12 months. However, it is not reasonably possible to determine which (if any) limitations periods will lapse in the next 12 months due to the effect of existing and new tax audits and tax agency determinations.  Moreover, the net amount of such change cannot be reasonably estimated because our operations over the next 12 months may cause other changes to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits. Due to the complexity of the tax rules underlying our uncertain tax position liabilities, and the unclear timing of tax audits, tax agency determinations, and other events (such as the outcomes of tax controversies involving related issues with unrelated taxpayers), we cannot establish reasonably reliable estimates for the periods in which the cash settlement of our uncertain tax position liabilities will occur.

14.
Net (Loss) Income (Loss) Attributable to Controlling Interests Per Common Share
 
We compute net (loss) income (loss) attributable to controlling interests per common share by dividing (loss) income (loss) attributable to controlling interests by the weighted-average common shares (including participating securities) outstanding during the period, as discussed below.  Diluted computations applicable in financial reporting periods in which we report income reflect the potential dilution to the basic income per common share computations that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised, were converted into common stock or were to result in the issuance of common stock that would share in our income or losses.income.  In performing our net (loss) income (loss) attributable to controlling interests per common share computations, we apply accounting rules that require us to include all unvested stock awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, in the number of shares outstanding in our basic and diluted calculations.  Common stock and unvested share-based payment awards earn dividends equally, and we have included all outstanding restricted stock awards in our basic and diluted calculations for current and prior periods.



The following table sets forth the computations of net (loss) income (loss) per common share (in thousands, except per share data):
 For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
 2013 2012
Numerator:   
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests$(17,741) $(27,903)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests
 52,354
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests$(17,741) $24,451
Denominator: 
  
Basic (including unvested share-based payment awards) (1)13,774
 19,271
Effect of dilutive stock compensation arrangements (2)
 43
Diluted (including unvested share-based payment awards) (1)13,774
 19,314
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic$(1.29) $(1.45)
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted$(1.29) $(1.45)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic$
 $2.72
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted$
 $2.71
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic$(1.29) $1.27
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted$(1.29) $1.26

  For the Year Ended December 31, 
  2012  2011 
Numerator:      
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests $(27,903) $(970)
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests $52,354  $134,987 
Net income attributable to controlling interests $24,451  $134,017 
Denominator:        
Basic (including unvested share-based payment awards) (1)  19,271   25,735 
Effect of dilutive stock compensation arrangements (2)  43   86 
Diluted (including unvested share-based payment awards) (1)  19,314   25,821 
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $(1.45) $(0.04)
Loss on continuing operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $(1.45) $(0.04)
         
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $2.72  $5.25 
Income from discontinued operations attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $2.71  $5.23 
Net income attributable to controlling interests per common share—basic $1.27  $5.21 
Net income attributable to controlling interests per common share—diluted $1.26  $5.19 
(1)  
(1)
Shares related to unvested share-based payment awards we included in our basic and diluted share counts are 136,174 and 194,841272,479 for the yearsyear endedDecember 31, 2013, compared to 136,174 shares for the year endedDecember 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively..
(2)The effect of dilutive options is shown only for informational purposes where we are in a net loss position.  In such situations, the effect of including outstanding options and restricted stock would be anti-dilutive, and they are thus excluded from all loss period calculations.

As their effects were anti-dilutive, we excluded all of our stock options from our net (loss) income (loss) per share computations for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.. There were no options outstanding as of December 31, 2013.
 
For the years ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011,2012, there were no shares potentially issuable and thus includible in the diluted net loss(loss) income attributable to controlling interests per common share calculationcalculations under our 3.625% convertible senior notes due 2025 issued in May 2005 and 5.875% convertible senior notes due 2035 issued in November 2005.notes. However, in future reporting periods during which our closing stock price is above the respective $20.22$20.22 and $24.61$24.61 conversion prices for the May 20053.625% convertible senior notes and November 20055.875% convertible senior notes, and depending on the closing stock price at conversion, the maximum potential dilution under the conversion provisions of the May 2005 and November 2005 convertible seniorsuch notes is 22,246 and 5.7 million shares, respectively, which could be included in diluted share counts in net income per common share calculations. See Note 11, “Convertible Senior Notes,” for a further discussion of these convertible securities.

15.    Stock-Based Compensation
 
15.Stock-Based Compensation
We currently have two stock-based compensation plans, including anthe Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and athe 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”).
 

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The 2008 Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and incentive awards. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued under this plan and to which awards may relate is 2,000,000 shares, and 953,518510,346 shares remained available for grant under this plan as of December 31, 2012.2013.  Exercises and vestings under our stock-based employee compensation plans resulted in no income tax-related benefits or charges to additional paid-in capital during the years ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011.2012.
 
Stock Options
 
Our 2008 Plan and its predecessor plans provideprovides that we may grant options on or shares of our common stock (and other types of equity awards) to members of our Board of Directors, employees, consultants and advisors. The exercise price per share of the options may be less than, equal to, or greater than the market price on the date the option is granted. The option period may not exceed 10 years from the date of grant.  The vesting requirements for options granted by us range from immediate to 5 years.  During the years ended As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, we expensed stock option-related compensation costs of $0 and $0.5 million, respectively. We recognize stock option-related compensation expense for any awards with graded vesting on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. Information related to options outstanding is as follows:2013

  For the Year Ended December 31, 2012 
     Weighted-  Weighted-  Aggregate 
  Number of  Average  Average of Remaining  Intrinsic 
  Shares  Exercise Price  Contractual Life  Value 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011  570,000  $39.24       
Issued/Cancelled/Forfeited  (70,000)  -       
Outstanding at December 31, 2012  500,000  $40.99   0.4  $- 
Exercisable at December 31, 2012  500,000  $40.99   0.4  $- 
                 
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 
      Weighted-  Weighted-  Aggregate 
  Number of  Average  Average of Remaining  Intrinsic 
  Shares  Exercise Price  Contractual Life  Value 
Outstanding at December 31, 2010  570,000  $39.24         
Issued/Cancelled/Forfeited  -   -         
Outstanding at December 31, 2011  570,000  $39.24   1.2  $- 
Exercisable at December 31, 2011  570,000  $39.24   1.2  $- 
As of December 31, 2012,, we had no unamortized deferred compensation costs associated with non-vested stock options and all outstanding options are exercisable. There were no stock option exercises during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.  No options were granted in the years ended December 31, 2012 or 2011.under this plan.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards
 
During the yearstwelve months ended December 31, 20122013 and 2011,2012, we granted 150,000441,572 and 44,000150,000 shares of aggregate restricted stock and restricted stock units, respectively, with aggregate grant date fair values of $0.6$1.5 million and $0.3$0.6 million, respectively. When we grant restricted shares,stock, we defer the grant date value of the restricted sharesstock and amortize that value (net of the grant date values of these shares (netvalue of anticipated forfeitures) as compensation expense with an offsetting entry to the additional paid-in capital component of our consolidated shareholders’ equity. Our issued restricted sharesstock generally vestvests over a range of twenty-four12 to sixty60 months and are beingis amortized to salaries and benefits expense ratably over applicable vesting periods. As of December 31, 2012,2013, our unamortized deferred compensation costs associated with non-vested restricted stock awards were $0.4$1.3 million with a weighted-average remaining amortization period of 2.4 years.1.7 years.


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16.
Employee Benefit Plans

We maintain a defined contribution retirement plan (“401(k) plan”) for our U.S. employees that provides for a matching contribution by us. All full time U.S. employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. Our U.K. credit card subsidiary offers eligible employees membership in a Group Personal Pension Plan which is set up with Friends Provident. This plan is a defined contribution plan in which all permanent employees who have completed three months of continuous service are eligible to join the plan. Company matching contributions are available to U.K. employees who contribute a minimum of 3% of their salaries under our Group Personal Pension Plan and to U.S. employees who participate in our 401(k) plan. We made matching contributions under our U.S. and U.K. plans of $0.3 million$271,000 and $0.3 million$300,000 in 20122013 and 2011,2012, respectively.
 
Also, all employees, excluding executive officers, are eligible to participate in the ESPP to which we referred above. Under the ESPP, employees can elect to have up to 10% of their annual wages withheld to purchase our common stock up to a fair market value of $10,000. The amounts deducted and accumulated by each participant are used to purchase shares of common stock at the end of each one-month offering period. The price of stock purchased under the ESPP is approximately 85% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the last day of the offering period. Employees contributed $0.02 million$26,754 to purchase 8,391 shares of common stock in 2013 and $22,389 to purchase 6,133 shares of common stock in 2012 and $0.03 million to purchase 10,383 shares of common stock in 2011 under the ESPP. The ESPP covers up to 150,000 shares of common stock. Our charge to expense associated with the ESPP was $6,000 and $4,500 in 2013 and $6,000 in 2012, and 2011, respectively.

17.
Related Party Transactions
 
In our September 2012 tender offer, we purchased for $10 per share the following shares of common stock from ourthe following executive officers, members of our Board of Directors, and a 10-percent shareholder:
  
Number of Shares
  
Total Price
 
Executive Officers
      
David G. Hanna, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board  2,344,323  $23,443,230 
Richard R. House, Jr., President and Director  100,240  $1,002,400 
Richard W. Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board  212,023  $2,120,230 
J.Paul Whitehead, III, Chief Financial Officer  49,949  $499,490 
Board Members
        
Deal W. Hudson  18,700  $187,000 
Mack F. Mattingly  20,726  $207,260 
Thomas G. Rosencrants  16,172  $161,720 
10% Shareholder
        
Frank J. Hanna, III  2,344,324  $23,443,240 
  Number of Shares Total Price
Executive Officers    
David G. Hanna, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board 2,344,323
 $23,443,230
Richard R. House, Jr., President and Director (1) 100,240
 $1,002,400
Jeffrey A. Howard, President and Director (1) 17,647
 $176,470
Richard W. Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board 212,023
 $2,120,230
J.Paul Whitehead, III, Chief Financial Officer (2) 49,949
 $499,490
Board Members  
  
Deal W. Hudson 18,700
 $187,000
Mack F. Mattingly 20,726
 $207,260
Thomas G. Rosencrants 16,172
 $161,720
10% Shareholder  
  
Frank J. Hanna, III 2,344,324
 $23,443,240

(1) Mr. House resigned as President and Director on February 21, 2014 (effective March 31, 2014). Mr. Howard was appointed President and Director on February 21, 2014 (effective April 1, 2014).
(2) Mr. Whitehead resigned as Chief Financial Officer on November 18, 2013 (effective December 31, 2013).
 
Additionally, as partThe purchases from the individuals listed above were on the same terms that were available to all of our April 2011 tender offer, we purchased for $8 per share the following shares from our executive officers and then-members of our Board of Directors:shareholders.

  
Number of Shares
  
Total Price
 
Executive Officers
      
David G. Hanna, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board  3,656,028  $29,248,224 
Richard R. House, Jr., President and Director  202,610  $1,620,880 
Richard W. Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board  330,654  $2,645,232 
J.Paul Whitehead, III, Chief Financial Officer  23,984  $191,872 
Board Members
        
Frank J. Hanna, III  3,656,028  $29,248,224 
Deal W. Hudson  19,231  $153,848 
Mack F. Mattingly  20,974  $167,792 
Thomas G. Rosencrants  13,871  $110,968 
Gregory J. Corona  29,574  $236,592 
Under a shareholders’ agreement into which we entered with David G. Hanna, Frank J. Hanna, III, Richard R. House, Jr., Richard W. Gilbert and certain trusts that were Hanna affiliates, following our initial public offering (1) if one or more of the shareholders accepts a bona fide offer from a third party to purchase more than 50% of the outstanding common stock, each of the other shareholders that areis a party to the agreement may elect to sell theirhis shares to the purchaser on the same terms and conditions, and (2) if shareholders that are a party to the agreement owning more than 50% of the common stock propose to transfer all of their shares to a third party, then such transferring shareholders may require the other shareholders that are a party to the agreement to sell all of the shares owned by them to the proposed transferee on the same terms and conditions.
 
DuringDuring 2012, we loaned $155,000 to yBuy, Inc. (“yBuy”); the loan bore interest at 5% and was secured by yBuy’s assets.  At the time of the loan, David G. Hanna was a director of yBuy and an entity controlled by David G. Hanna and members of David G. Hanna’s immediate family was a shareholder of yBuy.  In November 2012, Mr. Hanna resigned from the

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Board of yBuy and the affiliated entity disposed of its stock in yBuy for a negligible amount.  In November 2012, we entered into an agreement with yBuy to purchase certain of yBuy’s assets for consideration equal to the outstanding balance of our loan to yBuy.  The assets purchased from yBuy included the rights to a domain name and other immaterial intangible assets.  Following the receipt of these assets, there is no outstanding balance on our loan to yBuy.  While the loan was outstanding, yBuy did not pay us any principal or interest.

In June 2008, Mr. Rosencrants and two family members as joint tenants with right of survivorship purchased $200,000 principal amount of our 3.625% convertible senior notes from unrelated third parties at prevailing market prices. In January 2009, two of Mr. Rosencrants’ immediate family members purchased $200,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.625% convertible senior notes from unrelated third parties at prevailing market prices. The 3.625% convertible senior notes bear interest at a rate of 3.625% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears. we repurchased all of these notes from the Rosencrants family in May 2012 at the full face value of such notes. This repurchase was pursuant to a put option that was available to all holders of the 3.625% convertible senior notes and was on the same terms as those available to all note holders. From January 1, 2011 through the repurchase date, we paid the Rosencrants family an aggregate of $21,750 of interest and $400,000 of principal on these notes.
 
In June 2007 we entered into a sublease for 1,000 square feet of excess office space at our Atlanta headquarters office location, towith HBR Capital, Ltd. ("HBR"), a corporationcompany co-owned by David G. Hanna and Frank J. Hanna, III. The sublease rate of $24.30$24.79 per square foot is the same as the rate that we pay on the prime lease. This sublease expires in May of 2022.

In June, 2007, a partnership formed by Richard W. Gilbert (our Chief Operating Officer and then-Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors), Richard R. House, Jr. (our President and a member of our Board of Directors), J. Paul Whitehead III (our Chief Financial Officer), Krishnakumar Srinivasan (then-President of our Credit Cards and Other Investments segment), and other individual investors (including an unrelated third-party individual investor), acquired £4.7 million ($9.2 million) of class “B” notes originally issued to another investor out of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust. This acquisition priceJanuary 2013, HBR began leasing four employees from us.  HBR reimburses us for the full cost of the notes wasemployees, based on the same price at whichamount of time devoted to HBR.  In the original investor had sold $60 million of notes to another unrelated third party. Due to various partnership member terminations in 2009 and 2010, only Richard W. Gilbert, Richard R. House, Jr. and one other individual investor remained as partners in the partnership at twelve months ended December 31, 2010. In March 2011,2013, we invested in a 50.0%-owned joint venture that purchased the outstanding notes issued outreceived $181,030 of our U.K. Portfolio structured financing trust including those owned by this partnership; no consideration was paid for the notes.reimbursed costs from HBR associated with these leased employees.

In December 2006, we established a contractual relationship with Urban Trust Bank, a federally chartered savings bank (“Urban Trust”), pursuant to which we purchase credit card receivables underlying specified Urban Trust credit card accounts. Under this arrangement, in general, Urban Trust was entitled to receive 5% of all payments received from cardholders and was obligated to pay 5% of all net costs incurred by us in connection with managing the program, including the costs of purchasing, marketing, servicing and collecting the receivables. In April 2009, however, we amended our contractual relationship with Urban Trust such that, in exchange for a payment by us of $300,000, Urban Trust would sell back its ownership interest in the economics underlying cards issued through Urban Trust Bank. The purchase of this interest resulted in a net gain of $1.1 million which we recorded in our second quarter 2009 results of operations.  Frank J. Hanna, Jr., who is the father of David. G. Hanna and Frank J. Hanna, III, owns a substantial noncontrolling interest in Urban Trust and serves on its Board of Directors. In December 2006, we deposited $0.3 million with Urban Trust to cover purchases by Urban Trust cardholders.  As of December 31, 2011, we had no remaining deposit and had terminated our agreement with Urban Trust.


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on February 25, 2013.March 28, 2014.
 

 Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
  
By:/s/ David G. Hanna
 
David G. Hanna
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
   
Signature
Title
Date
   

/s/   DAVID G. HANNA
David G. Hanna
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)February 25, 2013March 28, 2014
   

/s/   J. PWAULILLIAM R. McCAMEY        WHITEHEAD, III
J. Paul Whitehead, III
William R. McCamey
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)February 25, 2013March 28, 2014
   

/s/   RMICHARDITCHELL C. SAUNDERS        R. HOUSE, JR.
Richard R. House, Jr.
Mitchell C. Saunders
DirectorChief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)February 25, 2013March 28, 2014
   
/s/    DREALICHARD W. R. HUDSON      OUSE, J
R.
Deal W. Hudson
Richard R. House, Jr.
DirectorFebruary 25, 2013March 28, 2014
   
/s/    MDACKEAL W. HUDSON        F. MATTINGLY     
Mack F. Mattingly
Deal W. Hudson
DirectorFebruary 25, 2013March 28, 2014
   
/s/    MACK F. MATTINGLY
Mack F. Mattingly
DirectorMarch 28, 2014
/s/    THOMAS G. ROSENCRANTS
Thomas G. Rosencrants
DirectorFebruary 25, 2013March 28, 2014