UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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| For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 | Commission file number000-50552 | |
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware | | 80-0076779 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
28405 Van Dyke Avenue
Warren, Michigan 48093
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(586) 939-9600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
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Title of each class | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Common Stock, $0.01 par value | | The Nasdaq National Market |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 ofRegulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of thisForm 10-K or any amendment to thisForm 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined inRule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on February 15, 2006 (based on the February 15, 2006 closing sales price of $17.70 of the Registrant’s Common Stock, as reported on The Nasdaq National Market on such date) was $259,420,032.
Number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock at February 15, 2006:
37,205,115 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 16, 2006 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
Annual Report onForm 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Annual Report onForm 10-K
ThisForm 10-K and all other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are also accessible at no charge on the Company’s website atwww.assetacceptance.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the Commission.
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PART I
General
We have been purchasing and collecting defaulted or charged-off accounts receivable portfolios from consumer credit originators since the formation of our predecessor company in 1962. Charged-off receivables are the unpaid obligations of individuals to credit originators, such as credit card issuers, consumer finance companies, retail merchants, telecommunications and other utility providers as well as from resellers and other holders of consumer debt. Since these receivables are delinquent or past due, we are able to purchase them at a substantial discount to their face value. We purchase and collect charged-off consumer receivable portfolios for our own account as we believe this affords us the best opportunity to use long-term strategies to maximize our profits. We currently do not collect on a commission or contingent fee basis. Since January 1, 1990, we have purchased 863 consumer debt portfolios through December 31, 2005, with an original charged-off face value of $22.9 billion for an aggregate purchase price of $455.4 million, or 1.99% of face value, net of buybacks. On average, we have been able to collect more than three times the amount paid for a portfolio, as measured over a five-year period from the date of purchase.
When considering whether to purchase a portfolio, we conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the portfolio to appropriately price the debt and determine whether the portfolio will yield collections consistent with our goals. This analysis includes the use of our pricing and collection probability model and draws upon our extensive experience in the industry. We have developed experience across a wide range of asset types at various stages of delinquency, having made purchases across more than 20 different asset types from over 100 different debt sellers since 2000. We selectively deploy our capital in the primary, secondary and tertiary markets where typically between one and three collection agencies have already tried to collect the debt. We believe we are well positioned to acquire charged-off accounts receivable portfolios as a result of our being price competitive, long-standing history in the industry, relationships with debt sellers, consistency of performance and attention to post-sale service.
Unlike many third party collection agencies that typically attempt to collect the debt only for a period of three to six months, we generally take a long-term approach, in excess of five years, to the collection effort as we are the owners of the debt. We apply an approach that encourages cooperation with the debtors to make a lump sum settlement payment in full or to formulate a repayment plan. For those debtors who we believe are able to repay the debt but who are unwilling to do so, we will proceed with legal remedies to obtain our collections. In part, through our strategy of holding the debt for the long-term, we have established a methodology of converting debtors into paying customers. In addition, our approach allows us to invest in various collection management and analysis tools that may be too costly for traditional, more short-term oriented, collection agencies, as well as to pursue legal collection strategies as appropriate. In many cases, we continue to receive collections on individual portfolios beyond the tenth anniversary of its purchase.
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History and Reorganization
Initial Operations — Pre-January 2000
Lee Acceptance Company was formed in 1962 by Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. as a sole proprietorship for the purpose of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables. Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our President and Chief Executive Officer, joined Lee Acceptance Company in 1979. In 1982, Lee Acceptance Company was incorporated as Lee Acceptance Corp. The business of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables was subsequently conducted by Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley through several successor companies.
In 1994, in an effort to take advantage of tax planning opportunities available for S corporations, Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley formed Asset Acceptance Corp. for the purpose of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables and formed Consumer Credit Corp. for the purpose of financing sales of consumer product retailers located primarily in Michigan.
Subsequently, Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley formed Financial Credit Corp. in 1997 for the purpose of purchasing and collecting portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables of health clubs and CFC Financial Corp. in 1998 for the purpose of purchasing and collecting portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables of utility companies and small balance portfolios, both of which were affiliate corporations of Asset Acceptance Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp.
January 2000 — September 2002
In January 2000, Asset Acceptance Corp., Financial Credit Corp. and CFC Financial Corp. were joined as wholly-owned subsidiaries of AAC Holding Corp. for tax planning purposes. Set forth below is a diagram depicting our predecessor corporations in operation for the period of January 2000 through September 30, 2002, their dates of formation and their ownership:
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(1) | | Mr. Redman acquired his ownership interest in January 2002. |
September 2002 — Reorganization
In September 2002, Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley formed Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the purpose of consummating an equity recapitalization, with Consumer Credit Corp. and AAC Holding Corp. (which was renamed RBR Holding Corp. in October 2002), as the initial equity members of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. Effective September 30, 2002, AAC Investors, Inc. acquired a 60% equity interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC from RBR Holding Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp. which collectively retained a 40% equity interest. In connection with this recapitalization, RBR Holding Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp. received 39% and 1%, respectively, of the equity membership interests of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC
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and $45,550,000 and $250,000, respectively, in cash. The majority of the cash proceeds were subsequently distributed to the owners of RBR Holding Corp. and Consumer Credit Corp. At the time of this recapitalization, Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr, Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Mark A. Redman, our Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, beneficially owned 57%, 38% and 5%, respectively, of RBR Holding Corp. and 60%, 40% and 0%, respectively, of Consumer Credit Corp. Through this recapitalization, the businesses of Asset Acceptance Corp., Financial Credit Corp., CFC Financial Corp., Consumer Credit Corp. and the portfolio assets of Lee Acceptance Corp. were contributed to the subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. After September 30, 2002, the business of purchasing and collecting portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables previously conducted by AAC Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries and the business of financing sales of consumer product retailers previously conducted by Consumer Credit Corp. were effected through this newly formed company and its subsidiaries. Consumer Credit Corp. was merged into RBR Holding Corp. in January 2003.
Set forth below is a diagram depicting our successor entities in operation for the period from September 30, 2002, up to the effective date of the Reorganization (as defined below), their dates of formation and their ownership:
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(1) | | Consumer Credit Corp. contributed its ownership interest in Consumer Credit, LLC to Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC effective September 30, 2002, in exchange for 1.0% of the equity interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, plus $250,000. Effective January 2003, Consumer Credit Corp. merged with and into RBR Holding Corp., with RBR Holding Corp. as the surviving entity acquiring, by operation of law, Consumer Credit Corp.’s 1.0% equity interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. |
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(2) | | Asset Acceptance Corp. merged with and into Asset Acceptance, LLC effective September 30, 2002, with Asset Acceptance, LLC as the surviving entity. In addition, effective as of September 30, 2002, Asset Acceptance, LLC purchased the charged-off receivables owned by Lee Acceptance Corp. |
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(3) | | Financial Credit Corp. merged with and into Financial Credit, LLC effective September 30, 2002, with Financial Credit, LLC as the surviving entity. |
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(4) | | CFC Financial Corp. merged with and into CFC Financial, LLC effective September 30, 2002, with CFC Financial, LLC as the surviving entity. |
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(5) | | Med-Fi Acceptance, LLC, which changed its name to Rx Acquisitions, LLC on June 4, 2004, was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC on April 4, 2003 for the purpose of purchasing and collecting portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables in the healthcare industry. |
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Reorganization
On February 4, 2004, immediately prior to the commencement of our initial public offering, all of the shares of capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc., an affiliate of Quad-C Management, Inc., a private equity firm based in Charlottesville, Virginia, and RBR Holding Corp., which held 60% and 40%, respectively, of the equity membership interests in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for shares of common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The total number of shares issued to the stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp. in such exchange was 28,448,449 with 16,004,017 shares and 12,444,432 shares issued to the stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and the stockholders of RBR Holding Corp., respectively. As a result of this reorganization, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The foregoing is referred to herein as the “Reorganization”. Immediately prior to the Reorganization, all of the shares of AAC Investors, Inc. were held by AAC Quad-C Investors LLC, an affiliate of Terrence D. Daniels and Anthony R. Ignaczak, both of whom serve on our board of directors, and substantially all of the shares of RBR Holding Corp. were held by Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark A. Redman, our Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, and their affiliates.
Set forth below is a diagram depicting our successor entities as of the effective date of the Reorganization, their dates of formation and their ownership:
Upon the consummation of our February 2004 initial public offering, our then-current officers, directors and principal stockholders, together with their affiliates (including Messrs. Reitzel, Bradley and Redman and AAC Quad-C Investors LLC), beneficially owned approximately 75.8% of our issued and outstanding common stock.
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Current Structure; Subsidiary Merger
On December 31, 2004, Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC were merged with and into Asset Acceptance, LLC, with the result that, by operation of law, all assets of Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC were vested in Asset Acceptance, LLC and all obligations of Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC were assumed by Asset Acceptance, LLC. Subsequent to the merger, all ownership interests in Asset Acceptance, LLC continue to be owned by Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC.
Currently, Asset Acceptance, LLC purchases and holds portfolios in all asset types except for healthcare. Rx Acquisitions, LLC purchases and holds portfolios solely in healthcare.
Set forth below is a diagram depicting our current structure:
As used in this Annual Report, all references to us mean:
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| • | after the Reorganization, Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation (referred to in our financial statements as the “Company”); |
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| • | from October 1, 2002 to the Reorganization, AAC Investors, Inc., including its subsidiary, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (referred to collectively in our financial statements as the “Company”); and |
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| • | from January 1, 2000 through September 30, 2002, our predecessors, RBR Holding Corp., Consumer Credit Corp. and Lee Acceptance Corp. (referred to collectively in our financial statements as the “predecessor”). |
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Purchasing
Typically, we purchase our portfolios in response to a request to bid received viae-mail or telephone. In addition to these requests, we have developed a marketing and acquisitions team that contacts and cultivates relationships with known and prospective sellers of portfolios in our core markets and in new markets for different asset types. We have purchased portfolios from over 100 different debt sellers since 2000, including many of the largest consumer lenders in the United States. Although 10% or more of the money we spend on our purchases in a year may be paid to a single debt seller, historically, we have not purchased more than 10% from the same debt seller in consecutive years. In 2003, we purchased one portfolio for $17.3 million (adjusted for buybacks through 2005) that accounted for 5.9% and 6.3% of our revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively, which we believe will account for a declining percentage of our revenues in 2006 and beyond. While we have no policy limiting purchases from single debt sellers, we purchase from a diverse set of suppliers and our purchasing decisions are based upon constantly changing economic and competitive environments as opposed to long-term relationships with particular suppliers. During 2004, we entered into five forward flow contracts that commit us to purchase receivables for a fixed percentage of the face value of the receivables. Three of the five forward flow contracts were renewed during 2005 with only one of these forward flow contracts having terms beyond 2005 and this contract is expiring in February 2006. There were no new contracts entered into during 2005. These contracts commit a debt seller to sell a steady flow of charged-off receivables to us and commit us to purchase receivables for a fixed percentage of the face value. We have entered into such contracts in the past and may do so in the future depending on market conditions.
We purchase our portfolios through a variety of sources, including consumer credit originators, private brokers or agents and debt resellers. Debt resellers are debt purchasers that sell some or all of the debt they purchase. Generally, the portfolios are purchased either in competitive bids through a sealed bid or, in some cases, through an on-line process or through privately-negotiated transactions between the credit originator or other holders of consumer debt and us.
Each potential acquisition begins with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the portfolio. In the initial stages of the due diligence process, we typically review basic data on the portfolio’s accounts. This data typically includes the account number, the consumer’s name, address, social security number, phone numbers, outstanding balance, date of charge-off, last payment and account origination. We analyze this information based on quantitative and qualitative factors and summarize into a format based on certain key metrics, such as state of debtor’s last known residence, type of debt and age of the receivable. In addition, we typically provide the seller with a questionnaire designed to help us understand important qualitative factors relating to the portfolio.
As part of our due diligence evaluation, we run the portfolio through our pricing and collection probability model. This model uses certain characteristics of the portfolio, such as the type of product, age and level of delinquency and the locations of the debtors, to calculate an estimate of collectibility for the portfolio and to determine a base value for the purchase. Pricing adjustments are factored into the model reflecting issuer considerations, demographic attributes and other account criteria. In those circumstances where the type or pricing of the portfolio is unusual, we consult with management from our collection operations to help ascertain collectibility, potential collection strategies and our ability to integrate the new portfolio into our collection platform. Our analysis also compares the charged-off consumer receivables in the prospective portfolio with our collection history on portfolios with similar attributes.
Once we have compiled and analyzed available data, we factor in market conditions and determine an appropriate bid price or bid range. The recommended bid price or bid range, along with a summary of our due diligence, is submitted to our investment committee and, for purchases in excess of a certain corporate threshold, to our audit committee for review and approval. After appropriate approvals and acceptance of our offer by the seller of the portfolio, a purchase agreement is negotiated. Provisions are generally incorporated for bankrupt, disputed, fraudulent or deceased accounts and, typically, the credit originator either agrees to repurchase these accounts or replace them with acceptable replacement accounts within certain time frames, generally within 60 to 240 days. Upon execution of the agreement, the transaction is funded.
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The following chart categorizes our purchased receivable portfolios acquired during January 1, 1990 through December 31, 2005 into the major asset types, as of December 31, 2005.
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| | Face Value of
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Charged-off
| | | | | | No. of
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Asset Type | | Receivables(3) | | | % | | | Accounts | | | % | |
|
Visa®/MasterCard®/Discover® | | $ | 9,962,353,796 | | | | 43.5 | % | | | 4,304,317 | | | | 19.4 | % |
Private Label Credit Cards | | | 3,201,047,024 | | | | 14.0 | | | | 4,696,711 | | | | 21.2 | |
Telecommunications/Utility/Gas(1) | | | 2,005,893,955 | | | | 8.8 | | | | 4,730,842 | | | | 21.4 | |
Auto Deficiency | | | 1,388,803,405 | | | | 6.1 | | | | 248,808 | | | | 1.1 | |
Health Club | | | 1,378,135,889 | | | | 6.0 | | | | 1,410,417 | | | | 6.4 | |
Wireless Telecommunications | | | 727,678,691 | | | | 3.2 | | | | 1,711,900 | | | | 7.7 | |
Installment Loans | | | 651,081,701 | | | | 2.8 | | | | 209,392 | | | | 1.0 | |
Other(2) | | | 3,559,786,715 | | | | 15.6 | | | | 4,831,388 | | | | 21.8 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 22,874,781,176 | | | | 100.0 | % | | | 22,143,775 | | | | 100.0 | % |
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(1) | | This excludes the wireless telecommunication purchased receivable portfolios. |
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(2) | | “Other” includes charged-off receivables of several debt types, including student loan, mobile home deficiency and retail mail order. This includes the purchase of a single portfolio in June 2002 with a face value of $1.2 billion at a cost of $1.2 million (or 0.1% of face value) consisting of approximately 3.8 million accounts. |
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(3) | | Face value of charged-off receivables represents the cumulative amount of purchases net of buybacks. The amount is not adjusted for payments received, settlements or additional accrued interest on any accounts in such portfolios after the date we purchased the applicable portfolio. |
The age of a charged-off consumer receivables portfolio, or the time since an account has been charged-off, is an important factor in determining the value at which we will offer to purchase a receivables portfolio. Generally, there is an inverse relationship between the age of a portfolio and the price at which we will purchase the portfolio. This relationship is due to the fact that older receivables are typically more difficult to collect. The accounts receivable management industry places receivables into the following categories depending on the number of collection agencies that have previously attempted to collect on the receivables and age of the receivables:
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| • | Fresh accounts are typically 120 to 270 days past due, have been charged-off by the credit originator and are either being sold prior to any post charged-off collection activity or are placed with a third party collector for the first time. These accounts typically sell for the highest purchase price. |
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| • | Primary accounts are typically 270 to 360 days past due, have been previously placed with one third party collector and typically receive a lower purchase price. |
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| • | Secondary and tertiary accounts are typically more than 360 days past due, have been placed with two or three third party collectors and receive even lower purchase prices. |
We specialize in the primary, secondary and tertiary markets, but we will purchase accounts at any point in the delinquency cycle. We deploy our capital within these markets based upon the relative values of the available debt portfolios.
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The following chart categorizes our purchased receivable portfolios acquired during January 1, 1990 through December 31, 2005 into the major account types, as of December 31, 2005.
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| | Face Value of
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| | Charged-off
| | | | | | No. of
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Account Type | | Receivables(2) | | | % | | | Accounts | | | % | |
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Fresh | | $ | 1,075,702,836 | | | | 4.7 | % | | | 454,273 | | | | 2.1 | % |
Primary | | | 3,923,334,829 | | | | 17.1 | | | | 2,627,858 | | | | 11.9 | |
Secondary | | | 4,002,709,199 | | | | 17.5 | | | | 4,168,878 | | | | 18.8 | |
Tertiary(1) | | | 12,597,705,058 | | | | 55.1 | | | | 14,226,580 | | | | 64.2 | |
Other | | | 1,275,329,254 | | | | 5.6 | | | | 666,186 | | | | 3.0 | |
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Total | | $ | 22,874,781,176 | | | | 100.0 | % | | | 22,143,775 | | | | 100.0 | % |
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(1) | | This includes the purchase of a single portfolio in June 2002 with a face value of $1.2 billion at a cost of $1.2 million (or 0.1% of face value) and consisting of approximately 3.8 million accounts. |
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(2) | | Face value of charged-off receivables represents the cumulative amount of purchases net of buybacks. The amount is not adjusted for payments received, settlements or additional accrued interest on any accounts in such portfolios after the date we purchased the applicable portfolio. |
We also review the geographic distribution of accounts within a portfolio because collection laws differ from state to state. The following chart illustrates our purchased receivable portfolios acquired during January 1, 1990 through December 31, 2005 based on geographic location of debtor, as of December 31, 2005.
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| | Face Value of
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| | Charged-off
| | | | | | No. of
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Geographic Location | | Receivables(3) | | | % | | | Accounts | | | % | |
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Texas(1) | | $ | 3,181,150,467 | | | | 13.9 | % | | | 2,732,989 | | | | 12.3 | % |
California | | | 2,580,201,864 | | | | 11.3 | | | | 2,770,337 | | | | 12.5 | |
Florida(1) | | | 2,187,151,428 | | | | 9.6 | | | | 1,559,584 | | | | 7.1 | |
Michigan(1) | | | 1,775,195,162 | | | | 7.8 | | | | 2,235,160 | | | | 10.1 | |
New York | | | 1,371,925,233 | | | | 6.0 | | | | 1,169,626 | | | | 5.3 | |
Ohio(1) | | | 1,259,291,274 | | | | 5.5 | | | | 1,461,188 | | | | 6.6 | |
Illinois(1) | | | 1,056,668,900 | | | | 4.6 | | | | 1,357,510 | | | | 6.1 | |
Pennsylvania | | | 691,720,868 | | | | 3.0 | | | | 594,952 | | | | 2.7 | |
North Carolina | | | 664,125,017 | | | | 2.9 | | | | 527,259 | | | | 2.4 | |
Georgia | | | 581,323,535 | | | | 2.5 | | | | 514,555 | | | | 2.3 | |
Other(2) | | | 7,526,027,428 | | | | 32.9 | | | | 7,220,615 | | | | 32.6 | |
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Total | | $ | 22,874,781,176 | | | | 100.0 | % | | | 22,143,775 | | | | 100.0 | % |
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(1) | | Collection site located in this state. |
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(2) | | Each state included in “Other” represents under 2.0% individually of the face value of total charged-off consumer receivables. |
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(3) | | Face value of charged-off receivables represents the cumulative amount of purchases net of buybacks. The amount is not adjusted for payments received, settlements or additional accrued interest on any accounts in such portfolios after the date we purchased the applicable portfolio. |
Collection Operations
Our collection operations seek to maximize the recovery of our purchased charged-off receivables in a cost-effective manner. We have organized our collection platform into a number of specialized departments which include collection, legal collection and bankruptcy and probate recovery.
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Generally, our collection efforts begin in our collection department and, if warranted, move to our legal collection department. If the collection account involves a bankrupt debtor or a deceased debtor, our bankruptcy and probate recovery department will review and manage the account. If the collection account merits outsourcing to a third party collection agency, our agency forwarding department handles the matter. Finally, our information acquisition department utilizes a network of data providers to increase recovery rates and promote account representative efficiency in all of our departments.
Collection Department
Our collection department accounts for the majority of our collections. Once a portfolio is purchased, we perform a portfolio review in order to formulate and apply what we believe to be an effective collection strategy. This review includes a series of data preparation and information acquisition steps to provide the necessary information to begin collection efforts. Portfolio accounts are assigned, sorted and prioritized to account representative queues based on product type, account status, various internal and external collectibility predictors, account demographics, balance sizes and other attributes.
Although we prefer to collect the majority of our charged-off receivable portfolios through our internal collection operations, in some cases, we believe it can be more effective and cost-efficient to outsource collections. We will consider outsourcing collections involving states with unfavorable legal or regulatory climates for collections. In addition, we may also consider outsourcing relatively small balance accounts so that our account representatives can focus on relatively larger balance accounts. We have developed a network of third party collection agencies to service accounts when we believe the accounts would be better served by outsourcing to an outside collection agency.
We train our account representatives to be full service account representatives who handle substantially all collection activity related to their accounts, including manual and automated dialer outbound calling activity, inbound call management, skip tracing or debtor location efforts, referrals to pursue legal action and settlement and payment plan negotiation. In order to increase collections on accounts, non-paying accounts are periodically reassigned to new account representatives. Our performance based collection model is driven by a bonus program that allows account representatives to earn bonuses based on their personal collection goals. In addition, we monitor our account representatives for compliance with the federal and state debt collection laws.
When an initial telephone contact is made with a debtor, the account representative is trained to go through a series of questions in an effort to obtain accurate location and financial information on the debtor, the reason the debtor may have defaulted on the account, the debtor’s willingness to pay and other relevant information that may be helpful in securing satisfactory settlement or payment arrangements. Account representatives are encouraged to attempt to collect the balance in full in one lump sum payment prior to the end of the month. If full payment is not available, the account representative will attempt to negotiate a settlement on the balance in the highest amount within the shortest time frame. We maintain settlement guidelines that account representatives, supervisors and managers must follow in an effort to maximize recoveries. Exceptions are handled by management on an account by account basis. If the debtor is unable to pay the balance in full or settle within allowed guidelines, monthly installment plans are encouraged in order to have the debtor resume a regular payment habit. Our experience has shown that debtors are more likely to respond to this approach which can result in a payment plan or settlement in full in the future.
If an account representative is unable to establish contact with a debtor, we require the account representative to undertake skip tracing procedures to locate, initiate contact and collect from the debtor. Skip tracing efforts are performed at the account representative level and by third party information providers on a larger scale. Each account representative has access to internal and external information databases that interface with our collection system at the desktop level. In addition, we have several information providers from whom we acquire information that is either systematically or manually validated and used in our collection and location efforts. Using these methods, we periodically refresh and supply updated account information to our account representatives to increase contact with debtors.
If voluntary payments cannot be established with the debtor, we have trained our account representatives to identify opportunities to pursue legal action against those debtors with an ability, but not the willingness, to pay.
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Using our lawsuit guidelines, our account representatives recommend debtors for us to commence litigation in an effort to stimulate collections.
Legal Collection Department
In the event collection has not been obtained through our collection department and the opportunity for legal action is verified through our internal process, we pursue a legal judgment against the debtor. In addition to the accounts identified for legal action by our account representatives, we identify accounts to pursue legal action on a batch process based on predetermined criteria. Our legal collection department is comprised of an in-house legal department, including collection attorneys and non-attorney legal account representatives, and a legal forwarding department.
For accounts in states where we have a local presence, and in some cases, adjacent states, we prefer to pursue an in-house legal strategy as it provides us with a greater ability to manage the process. We currently have in-house capability in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. In each of these states, we have designed our legal policies and procedures to maintain compliance with state and federal laws while pursuing available legal opportunities. We will continue to pursue selective and opportunistic expansion in various geographic regions.
Our legal forwarding department is organized to address the legal recovery function for accounts principally located in states where we do not have a local or, in some cases, adjacent presence, or for accounts that we believe can be better served by a third party law firm. To that end, we have developed a nationwide network of independent law firms in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, who work for us on a contingent fee basis. The legal forwarding department actively manages and monitors this network.
Once a judgment is obtained, our legal department pursues voluntary and involuntary collection strategies to secure payment, including wage and bank account garnishments.
Bankruptcy and Probate Recovery Department
Our bankruptcy and probate recovery department handles bankruptcy and estate probate processing. This department files proofs of claims for recoveries on receivables which are included in consumer bankruptcies filed under Chapter 7 (resulting in liquidation and discharge of a debtor’s debts) and Chapter 13 (resulting in repayment plans based on the financial wherewithal of the debtor) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In addition, this department submits claims against estates involving deceased debtors having assets that may become available to us through a probate claim.
Competition
The consumer debt collection industry is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with a wide range of other purchasers of charged-off consumer receivables, third party collection agencies, other financial service companies and credit originators that manage their own consumer receivables. Some of these companies may have substantially greater personnel and financial resources and may experience lower account representative and employee turnover rates than we do. We believe that increasing amounts of capital have been invested in the debt collection industry, which could lead to further increases in prices for portfolios of charged-off accounts receivables, the enhanced ability of third parties to collect debt and the reduction in the number of portfolios of charged-off accounts receivables available for purchase. In addition, companies with greater financial resources may elect at a future date to enter the consumer debt collection business. Furthermore, current debt sellers may change strategies and cease selling debt portfolios in the future.
Competitive pressures affect the availability and pricing of receivable portfolios, as well as the availability and cost of qualified debt account representatives. In addition, some of our competitors may have entered into forward flow contracts under which consumer credit originators have agreed to transfer a steady flow of charged-off receivables to them in the future, which could restrict those credit originators from selling receivables to us.
We face bidding competition in our acquisition of charged-off consumer receivables. We believe successful bids generally are awarded based on a combination of price, service and relationships with the individual debt
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sellers. In addition, there continues to be a consolidation of issuers of credit cards, which have been a principal source of our receivable purchases. This consolidation has decreased the number of sellers in the market and, consequently, could over time, give the remaining sellers increasing market strength in the price and terms of the sale of charged-off credit card accounts.
Technology Platform
We believe that information technology is critical to our success. Our key systems have been purchased from outside vendors and, with our input, have been tailored to meet our particular business needs. We have a staff of over 50 full-time employees who monitor and maintain our information technology and communications structure. Additionally, we believe we have relationships with many of our key vendors that will allow any system failure to be remedied in an expeditious manner. Our centralized data center is in our Warren, Michigan headquarters and all offices are connected to this data center. This provides for one standard system in every one of our offices with all employees accessing the same database.
We license our collection software and complementary products from Ontario Systems LLC, a leading provider to the collection industry. This software has enabled us to:
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| • | automate the loading of accounts in order to begin collecting accounts soon after purchase; |
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| • | segment the accounts into dispositions for collection prioritization; |
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| • | access over 25 approved service partners including third party letter production and mailing vendors, credit reporting services and information service providers; |
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| • | interface with an automated dialer to increase the number of contacts with our debtors; |
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| • | connect to a document imaging system to allow our employees, with appropriate security clearance, to view scanned documents on accounts from their workstations while working on an account; |
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| • | limit an employee’s ability to work outside of company guidelines; |
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| • | query the entire database for any purpose which may be used for collection, reporting or other business matters; and |
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| • | establish parameters to comply with federal and state laws. |
Our collection software resides on a Hewlett-Packard® system that was most recently upgraded in December 2005. This platform currently handles over 20 million of our accounts and we believe it is scalable to handle our anticipated growth for the near future.
We maintain a Microsoft Windows® 2003 based network that supports our back office functions including time and attendance systems, payroll and MAS200® accounting software. We expect that our MAS200® accounting software will be transitioned to Navisiontm software during 2006.
In order to minimize the potential for a disaster or other interruption of data or telephone communications that are critical to our business, we have:
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| • | a diesel generator sufficient in size to power our entire Warren headquarters building which houses our primary server; |
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| • | aback-up server located in our Wixom, Michigan office sufficient in size to handle our database; |
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| • | an ability to have inbound phone calls rerouted to other offices; |
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| • | fire suppression systems in our primary andback-up data centers; |
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| • | redundant data paths to each of our call center offices; |
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| • | dailyback-up of all of our critical applications with the tapes transported offsite to a secure data storage facility by a third party service provider; and |
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| • | data replication in our primary server to preserve data in the event of a failure of a storage drive. |
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Regulation and Legal Compliance — Collection Activities
Federal and state statutes establish specific guidelines and procedures which debt account representatives must follow when collecting consumer accounts. It is our policy to comply with the provisions of all applicable federal laws and comparable state statutes in all of our recovery activities, even in circumstances in which we may not be specifically subject to these laws. As part of this policy, we monitor our account representatives and other activities for compliance with federal and state collection laws. Our failure to comply with these laws could lead to fines on us and on our account representatives and could have a material adverse effect on us in the event and to the extent that they apply to some or all of our recovery activities. Court rulings in various jurisdictions also impact our ability to collect.
Federal and state consumer protection, privacy and related laws and regulations extensively regulate the relationship between debt collectors and debtors. Significant federal laws and regulations applicable to our business as a debt collector include the following:
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| • | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). This act imposes obligations and restrictions on the practices of consumer debt collectors, including specific restrictions regarding communications with debtors, including the time, place and manner of the communications. This act also gives consumers certain rights, including the right to dispute the validity of their obligations. |
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| • | Fair Credit Reporting Act/ Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003. The Fair Credit Reporting Act and its amendment entitled the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (“FACT Act”) places requirements on credit information providers regarding verification of the accuracy of information provided to credit reporting agencies and requires such information providers to investigate consumer disputes concerning the accuracy of such information. The FACT Act also requires certain conduct in the cases of identity theft and direct disputes to the creditor. We provide information concerning our accounts to the three major credit-reporting agencies, and it is our practice to correctly report this information and to investigate credit-reporting disputes in a timely fashion. |
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| • | The Financial Privacy Rule. Promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, this rule requires that financial institutions, including collection agencies, develop policies to protect the privacy of consumers’ private financial information and provide notices to consumers advising them of their privacy policies. It also requires that if private personal information concerning a consumer is shared with another unrelated institution, the consumer must be given an opportunity to opt out of having such information shared. Since we do not share consumer information with non-related entities, except as required by law, or except as allowed in connection with our collection efforts, our consumers are not entitled to any opt-out rights under this act. Both this rule and the Safeguards Rule described below are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which has retained exclusive jurisdiction over its enforcement, and does not afford a private cause of action to consumers who may wish to pursue legal action against a financial institution for violations of this act. |
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| • | The Safeguards Rule. Also promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, this rule specifies that we must safeguard financial information of consumers and have a written security plan setting forth information technology safeguards and the ongoing monitoring of the storage and safeguarding of electronic information. |
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| • | Electronic Funds Transfer Act. This act regulates the use of the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) system to make electronic funds transfers. All ACH transactions must comply with the rules of the National Automated Check Clearing House Association (“NACHA”) and Uniform Commercial Code § 3-402. This act, the NACHA regulations and the Uniform Commercial Code give the consumer, among other things, certain privacy rights with respect to the transactions, the right to stop payments on a pre-approved fund transfer, and the right to receive certain documentation of the transaction. |
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| • | Telephone Consumer Protection Act. In the process of collecting accounts, we use automated dialers to place calls to consumers. This act and similar state laws place certain restrictions on telemarketers and users of automated dialing equipment who place telephone calls to consumers. |
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| • | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”). This act requires that healthcare institutions provide safeguards to protect the privacy of consumers’ healthcare information. As a debt buyer collecting on medical debt we are considered a business associate to the healthcare institutions and are required to abide by HIPAA. We have a dedicated subsidiary called Rx Acquisitions, LLC which directly holds and collects all of our healthcare receivables. |
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| • | U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In order to prevent any collection activity with bankrupt debtors by creditors and collection agencies, the U.S. Bankruptcy Code provides for an automatic stay, which prohibits certain contacts with consumers after the filing of bankruptcy petitions. |
Additionally, there are state statutes and regulations comparable to the above federal laws and other state-specific licensing requirements which affect our operations. State laws may also limit interest rates and fees, methods of collections, as well as the time frame in which judicial actions may be initiated to enforce the collection of consumer accounts.
Although, generally, we are not a credit originator, some laws, such as the following, which apply typically to credit originators, may occasionally affect our operations because our receivables were originated through credit transactions:
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| • | Truth in Lending Act; |
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| • | Fair Credit Billing Act; |
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| • | Equal Credit Opportunity Act; and |
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| • | Retail Installment Sales Act. |
Federal laws which regulate credit originators require, among other things, that credit card issuers disclose to consumers the interest rates, fees, grace periods and balance calculation methods associated with their credit card accounts. Consumers are entitled under current laws to have payments and credits applied to their accounts promptly, to receive prescribed notices, and to require billing errors to be resolved promptly. Some laws prohibit discriminatory practices in connection with the extension of credit. Federal statutes further provide that, in some cases, consumers cannot be held liable for, or their liability is limited with respect to, charges to the credit card account that were a result of an unauthorized use of the credit card. These laws, among others, may give consumers a legal cause of action against us, or may limit our ability to recover amounts due on an account, whether or not we committed any wrongful act or omission in connection with the account. If the credit originator fails to comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, it could create claims and rights for consumers that could reduce or eliminate their obligations to repay the account, and have a possible material adverse effect on us. Accordingly, when we acquire charged-off consumer receivables, we typically require credit originators to indemnify us against certain losses that may result from their failure to comply with applicable statutes, rules and regulations relating to the receivables before they are sold to us.
The U.S. Congress and several states have enacted legislation concerning identity theft. Some of these provisions place restrictions on our ability to report information concerning receivables, which may be subject to identity theft, to consumer credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection and privacy protection laws may be enacted that would impose additional requirements on the recovery on consumer credit card or installment accounts. Any new laws, rules or regulations that may be adopted, as well as changes to or interpretations of existing consumer protection and privacy protection laws, may adversely affect our ability to recover the receivables. In addition, our failure to comply with these requirements could adversely affect our ability to recover the receivables.
It is possible that some of the receivables were established as a result of identity theft or unauthorized use of a credit card. In such cases, we would not be able to recover the amount of the charged-off consumer receivables. As a purchaser of charged-off consumer receivables, we may acquire receivables subject to legitimate defenses on the part of the consumer. Most of our account purchase contracts allow us to return to the credit originators (within an agreed upon amount of time) certain charged-off consumer receivables that may not be collectible at the time of purchase, due to these and other circumstances. Upon return, the credit originators are required to replace the receivables with similar receivables or repurchase the receivables. These provisions limit, to some extent, our losses on such accounts.
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Internal Revenue Code Section 6050P and the related Treasury Regulations, in certain circumstances, require creditors to send outForm 1099-C information returns to those debtors whose debt, in an amount in excess of $600, has been deemed to have been forgiven for tax purposes, thereby alerting them to the amount of the forgiveness and the fact that such amount may be taxable income to them. Under these regulations, a debt is deemed to have been forgiven for tax purposes if (i) there has been no payment on the debt for 36 months and if there were no “bona fide collection activities” (as defined in the regulation) for the preceding 12 month period, (ii) the debt was settled for less than the full amount or (iii) other similar situations outlined in the regulations. U.S. Treasury RegulationSection 1.6050P-2 is effective beginning 2005 and applies to companies who acquire indebtedness. Our cost of compliance with these regulations is expected to be insignificant. In some instances, we may engage in additional monitoring activities of accounts and will send 1099-C information returns, which will increase our administrative costs. It may become more difficult to collect from those accounts receiving a 1099-C information return from the Company because debtors may perceive the 1099-C as notice of debt relief rather than as tax information. This mistaken perception may lead to increased litigation costs for us as we may need to overcome affirmative defenses and counterclaims based on this belief by certain debtors.
Penalties for failure to comply with these regulations are $50 per instance, with a maximum penalty of $250,000 per year, except where failure is due to intentional disregard, for which penalties are $100 per instance, with no maximum penalty. An additional penalty of $100 per information return, with no annual maximum, applies for a failure to provide the statement to the recipient.
Employees
As of December 31, 2005, we employed 1,980 total employees, including 1,888 persons on a full-time basis and 92 persons on a part-time basis. Our collection department includes 1,103 full-time and 19 part-time account representatives. Our legal collection department includes 78 full-time and five part-time legal account representatives (excluding our attorneys). None of our employees are represented by a union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our employee relations to be good.
Training
We provide a comprehensive training program for our new and existing employees. Our training includes several learning approaches, including lecture, classroom discussion and discovery, role-playing, computer-aided learning and CD-ROM modules. We also use oure-mail system and newsletters to address on-going training issues.
Each new account representative is required to complete an eight-week training program. The program is divided into two four-week modules. The initial four-week module has weekly learning objectives using various learning activities. The first week includes structured learning of our collection software and information technology tools, federal and state collection laws (with particular emphasis on the FDCPA and the FACT Act), telephone collection techniques and core company policies, procedures and practices. The second week continues the structured learning of the first week and is supplemented by supervised telephone collection calls. During weeks three and four, the new hire class is formed as a collection team, with a trainer as supervisor. Collection goals are established and collection calls are made and supervised. Instruction and guidance is shared with the new associate to improve productivity. Each day includes a debriefing of the day’s activities and challenges. Solutions are discussed. Role-playing is used to enhance collection and organization skills.
The second four-week training module transitions the collection team to the collection floor, where they are assigned a new collection goal and work under the direction of a collection supervisor. This team of new hires continues to receive closely monitored collection training. In addition to collection training, these team members also review key elements from the first session as well as instruction in new topics.
Each new legal account representative is required to complete a four-week training program. The first week of training is the same for legal account representatives as it is for account representatives. The second week of training focuses on legal processes and procedures and also includes supervised collection calls. Weeks three and four include closely supervised implementation of assigned duties.
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Furthermore, the account representatives are tested twice per year on their knowledge of the FDCPA and other applicable federal laws. Account representatives not achieving our minimum standards are required to complete an FDCPA review course and are then retested. In addition, annual supplemental instruction in the FDCPA and collection techniques is provided to our account representatives.
This Report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include, without limitation, statements about future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “estimate”, “potential” or “continue”, the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including those we discuss elsewhere in this report. In addition, we, or persons acting on our behalf, may from time to time publish or communicate other items that could also be construed to be forward-looking statements. Statements of this sort are or will be based on our estimates, assumptions and projections, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those specifically listed below that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. Factors that could affect our results and cause them to materially differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements include the following.
If we are not able to purchase charged-off consumer receivables at appropriate prices, the resulting decrease in our inventory of purchased portfolios of receivables could adversely affect our ability to generate revenue and our ability to continue our growth.
If we are unable to purchase charged-off consumer receivables from credit originators in sufficient face value amounts at appropriate prices, our business may be harmed. The availability of portfolios of consumer receivables at prices which generate an appropriate return on our investment depends on a number of factors, both within and outside of our control, including:
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| • | continued growth in the levels of consumer obligations; |
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| • | continued growth in the number of industries selling charged-off consumer receivable portfolios; |
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| • | continued sales of charged-off consumer receivable portfolios by credit originators; |
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| • | competitive factors affecting potential purchasers and credit originators of charged-off receivables, including the number of firms engaged in the collection business and the capitalization of those firms, that may cause an increase in the price we are willing to pay for portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables or cause us to overpay for portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables; |
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| • | our ability to purchase portfolios in industries in which we have little or no experience with the resulting risk of lower returns if we do not successfully purchase and collect these receivables; and |
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| • | continued growth in the levels of credit being extended by credit originators. |
Over the last 24 to 30 months, we have seen prices for many asset classes of charged-off accounts receivable portfolios increase and, accordingly, it has become more difficult to acquire portfolios of charged-off accounts receivable that meet our return thresholds. We believe that price increases have slowed during 2005, however we cannot give any assurances about future prices either overall or within account or asset types. We are determined to remain disciplined and purchase portfolios only when we believe we can achieve acceptable returns.
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In addition, we believe that issuers of credit cards are increasingly using off-shore options in connection with their collection of delinquent accounts in an effort to reduce costs. If these off-shore efforts are successful, these issuers may reduce the number of portfolios available for purchase and increase the purchase price for portfolios available for sale. Additionally, the success of these enhanced off-shore collection efforts may render the portfolios available for sale less collectible.
Because of the length of time involved in collecting charged-off consumer receivables on acquired portfolios and the volatility in the timing of our collections, we may not be able to identify trends and make changes in our purchasing strategies in a timely manner.
During 2004, we entered into five forward flow contracts that commit us to purchase receivables for a fixed percentage of the face value of the receivables. Three of the five forward flow contracts were renewed during 2005 with only one of these forward flow contracts having terms beyond 2005 and expiring in February 2006. There were no new contracts entered into during 2005. During 2005, we purchased portfolios under forward flow contracts with an aggregate purchase price of approximately $10.7 million, or approximately 11% of the total invested during the year. These contracts commit a debt seller to sell a steady flow of charged-off receivables to us and commit us to purchase receivables for a fixed percentage of the face value. Consequently, our results of operations would be negatively impacted if the fixed percentage is in excess of the appropriate market value. In the normal course of business, we have entered into such contracts in the past and may do so in the future depending on market conditions. To the extent our competition enters into forward-flow contracts, the pool of portfolios available for purchase is diminished.
Our ability to collect on our purchased receivables may suffer if the economy suffers a material and adverse downturn for a prolonged period.
Our success depends on our continued ability to collect on our purchased receivables. If the economy suffers a material and adverse downturn for a prolonged period which, in turn, increases the unemployment rate, we may not be able to collect during this period in a manner consistent with our past practice due to the inability of our customers to make payments to us. Any failure to collect would harm our results of operations.
We generally account for purchased receivable revenues using the interest method of accounting in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which requires making reasonable estimates of the timing and amount of future cash collections. If the timing and actual amount recovered by us is materially lower than our estimates, it would cause us to recognize impairments and negatively impact our earnings.
We generally utilize the interest method of accounting for our purchased receivables because we believe that the amounts and timing of cash collections for our purchased receivables can be reasonably estimated. This belief is predicated on our historical results and our knowledge of the industry. The interest method is prescribed by the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Statement of Position 03-3(“SOP 03-3”), “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer” as well as the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice Bulletin 6 (“PB 6”), “Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans”.
The provisions ofSOP 03-3 were adopted by us effective January 1, 2005 and apply to purchased receivables acquired after December 31, 2004. The provisions ofSOP 03-3 that relate to decreases in expected cash flows are applied prospectively to purchased receivables acquired before January 1, 2005. Other than the provisions relating to decreases in expected cash flow, purchased receivables acquired before January 1, 2005 will continue to be accounted for under PB 6, as amended by SOP 03-3.
Each static pool of receivables is modeled to determine its projected cash flows based on historical cash collections for pools with similar characteristics. An internal rate of return (“IRR”) is calculated for each static pool of receivables based on the projected cash flows. The IRR is applied to the remaining balance of each static pool of accounts to determine the revenue recognized. Each static pool is analyzed at least quarterly to assess the actual performance compared to the expected performance. To the extent there are differences in actual performance versus expected performance, the IRR is adjusted prospectively to reflect the revised estimate of cash flows over the remaining life of the static pool. Effective January 2005, if revised cash flow estimates are less than the original
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estimates, the IRR remains unchanged and an impairment is recognized. If cash flow estimates increase subsequent to recording an impairment, reversal of the previously recognized impairment is made prior to any increases to the IRR.
Application ofSOP 03-3 and PB 6 requires the use of reasonable estimates to calculate a projected IRR for each pool. These estimates are based on historical cash collections. If future cash collections are materially different in amount or timing than projected cash collections, earnings could be affected, either positively or negatively.
We are required to maintain compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley for the year ended December 31, 2005 and thereafter. If we are unable to maintain compliance with Section 404 or if the costs related to maintaining compliance are significant, our profitability and our stock price could be negatively affected.
We are required to maintain compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley (“Section 404”) for the year ended December 31, 2005 and thereafter. Section 404 requires that we update documentation, test our internal controls and certify that we are responsible for maintaining an adequate system of internal control procedures. This section also requires that our independent registered public accounting firm opine on those internal controls and management’s assessment of those controls. While we are committed to maintaining full and timely compliance with the requirements of Section 404, we believe that the out of pocket costs, the diversion of management’s attention from running theday-to-day operations and operational changes caused by the need to maintain compliance could be significant. The time and costs associated with maintaining compliance with Sarbanes Oxley could reduce our profitability. If we fail to maintain compliance with the requirements of Section 404, investors could lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial statements and our stock price could be negatively affected.
We may not be able to continue to acquire charged-off consumer receivables in sufficient amounts to operate efficiently and profitably.
To operate profitably, we must continually acquire and service a sufficient amount of charged-off consumer receivables to generate cash collections that exceed our expenses. Fixed costs, such as salaries and lease or other facility costs, constitute a significant portion of our overhead and, if we do not continue to acquire charged-off consumer receivable portfolios, we may have to reduce the number of our collection personnel. We would then have to rehire collection staff as we obtain additional charged-off consumer receivable portfolios. These practices could lead to:
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| • | low employee morale; |
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| • | fewer experienced employees; |
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| • | higher training costs; |
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| • | disruptions in our operations; |
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| • | loss of efficiency; and |
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| • | excess costs associated with unused space in our facilities. |
We may not be able to collect sufficient amounts on our charged-off consumer receivables, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
Our business consists of acquiring and collecting receivables that consumers have failed to pay and that the credit originator has deemed uncollectible and has charged-off. The credit originators or other debt sellers generally make numerous attempts to recover on their charged-off consumer receivables before we purchase such receivables, often using a combination of in-house recovery and third party collection efforts. Since there generally have been multiple efforts to collect on these portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables before we attempt to collect on them (three or more efforts on more than 50% of the face value of our portfolios), our attempts to collect on these portfolios may not be successful. Therefore, we may not collect a sufficient amount to cover our investment associated with purchasing the charged-off consumer receivable portfolios and the costs of running our business,
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which would adversely affect our results of operations. There can be no assurance that our ability to make collections in the future will be comparable to our success in making collections in the past.
We experience high turnover rates for our account representatives and we may not be able to hire and retain enough sufficiently trained account representatives to support our operations.
Our ability to collect on new and existing portfolios and to acquire new portfolios is substantially dependent on our ability to hire and retain qualified account representatives. The consumer accounts receivables management industry is labor intensive and, similar to other companies in our industry, we experience a high rate of employee turnover. For 2005, our annual turnover rate was 57.3% and our collection department employee turnover rate was 78.8%. Based on our experience, account representatives who have been with us for more than one year are generally more productive than account representatives who have been with us for less than one year. In 2005, our turnover rate for all associates employed by us for at least one year was 28.6% and 39.3% for account representatives only. We compete for qualified personnel with companies in our industry and in other industries. Our growth requires that we continually hire, train and, in particular, retain new account representatives. In addition, we believe the level of training we provide to our employees makes our employees attractive to other collection companies, which may attempt to recruit them. A higher turnover rate among our account representatives will increase our recruiting and training costs, may require us to increase employee compensation levels and will limit the number of experienced collection personnel available to service our charged-off consumer receivables. If this were to occur, we would not be able to service our charged-off consumer receivables effectively, which would reduce our ability to grow and operate profitably.
We face intense competition that could impair our ability to grow and achieve our goals.
The consumer debt collection industry is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with a wide range of other purchasers of charged-off consumer receivables, third party collection agencies, other financial service companies and credit originators and other owners of debt that manage their own charged-off consumer receivables. Some of these companies may have substantially greater personnel and financial resources and may experience lower account representative and employee turnover rates than we do. Furthermore, some of our competitors may obtain alternative sources of financing, the proceeds from which may be used to fund expansion and to increase their number of charged-off portfolio purchases. We believe that increasing amounts of capital are being invested in the debt collection industry, which could lead to increased prices for portfolios of charged-off accounts receivables, the enhanced ability of third parties to collect debt and the reduction in the number of portfolios of charged-off accounts receivables available for purchase. In addition, companies with greater financial resources than we have may elect at a future date to enter the consumer debt collection business. Competitive pressures affect the availability and pricing of receivable portfolios as well as the availability and cost of qualified debt account representatives. In addition, some of our competitors may have signed forward flow contracts under which consumer credit originators have agreed to transfer a steady flow of charged-off receivables to them in the future, which could restrict those credit originators from selling receivables to us.
We face bidding competition in our acquisition of charged-off consumer receivable portfolios. We believe successful bids generally are awarded based on a combination of price, service and relationships with the debt sellers. Some of our current competitors, and possible new competitors, may have more effective pricing and collection models, greater adaptability to changing market needs and more established relationships in our industry than we have. Moreover, our competitors may elect to pay prices for portfolios that we determine are not reasonable and, in that event, our volume of portfolio purchases may be diminished. There can be no assurance that our existing or potential sources will continue to sell their charged-off consumer receivables at recent levels or at all, or that we will continue to offer competitive bids for charged-off consumer receivable portfolios. In addition, there continues to be a consolidation of issuers of credit cards, which have been a principal source of our receivable purchases. This consolidation has decreased the number of sellers in the market and, consequently, could over time, give the remaining sellers increasing market strength in the price and terms of the sale of charged-off credit card accounts and could cause us to accept lower returns on our investment in that paper than we have historically achieved.
If we are unable to develop and expand our business or adapt to changing market needs as well as our current or future competitors, we may experience reduced access to portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables in
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sufficient face-value amounts at appropriate prices. As a result, we may experience reduced profitability which, in turn, may impair our ability to grow and achieve our goals.
Our performance may be adversely affected by Internal Revenue Code Section 6050P and the underlying Treasury Regulations and the costs related to compliance therewith.
Internal Revenue Code Section 6050P and the related Treasury Regulations, in certain circumstances, require creditors to send outForm 1099-C information returns to those debtors whose debt, in an amount in excess of $600, has been deemed to have been forgiven for tax purposes, thereby alerting them to the amount of the forgiveness and the fact that such amount may be taxable income to them. Under these regulations, a debt is deemed to have been forgiven for tax purposes if (i) there has been no payment on the debt for 36 months and if there were no “bona fide collection activities” (as defined in the regulation) for the preceding 12 month period, (ii) the debt was settled for less than the full amount or (iii) other similar situations outlined in the regulations. U.S. Treasury RegulationSection 1.6050P-2 became final in 2004 and is effective for 2005 and forward and indicates that the rules apply to companies who acquire indebtedness and, therefore, we will need to comply with the reporting requirements. In some instances, we may engage in additional monitoring activities of accounts and will send 1099-C information returns, which will increase our administrative costs. If we are required to send a 1099-C information return, it may become more difficult to collect from those accounts because debtors may perceive the 1099-C as notice of debt relief rather than as tax information. This mistaken perception may lead to increased litigation costs for us as we may need to overcome affirmative defenses and counterclaims based on this belief by certain debtors.
Penalties for failure to comply with these regulations are $50 per instance, with a maximum penalty of $250,000 per year, except where failure is due to intentional disregard, for which penalties are $100 per instance, with no maximum penalty. An additional penalty of $100 per information return, with no annual maximum, applies for a failure to provide the statement to the recipient.
Our growth strategy includes acquiring charged-off receivable portfolios in industries in which we have little or no experience. If we do not successfully acquire and collect on these portfolios, revenue growth may slow and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We intend to acquire portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables in industries in which we have limited experience, such as telecommunications and healthcare. Some of these industries may have specific regulatory restrictions with which we have no experience. We may not be successful in consummating any acquisitions of receivables in these industries and our limited experience in these industries may impair our ability to effectively and efficiently collect on these portfolios. Furthermore, we need to develop appropriate pricing models for these markets and there is no assurance that we will do so effectively. When pricing charged-off consumer receivables for industries in which we have limited experience, we attempt to adjust our models for expected or known differences from our traditional models. However, our pricing models are primarily based on historical data for industries in which we do have experience. This may cause us to overpay for these portfolios, and consequently, our profitability may suffer as a result of these portfolio acquisitions.
Our strategy may include the opening of new call centers in selected locations through the acquisition of assets of businesses and the training and integration of existing account representatives into our business. If we open new call centers and do not successfully acquire assets of businesses and train and integrate new account representatives into our business, our results of operations would be negatively affected.
In the past, we have opened new call centers in selected locations through the acquisition of assets of businesses and through the training and integration of the account representatives employed by these businesses. We have experienced higher collection recoveries in states in which we have a local or relatively close presence. Any future acquisitions we make, will be accompanied by the risks encountered in acquisitions of this type which include the difficulty and expense of training new account representatives and the loss of productivity due to the diversion of our management’s attention. If we open new call centers and do not successfully train and integrate new account representatives, it would adversely affect the growth of our business and negatively impact our operating results.
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Historical operating results and quarterly cash collections may not be indicative of future performance.
Our total revenues have grown at an average annual rate in excess of 42.1% for the four years 2002 through 2005 and 25.6% for the two years 2004 and 2005. We do not expect to achieve the same growth rates in future periods. Therefore, our future operating results may not reflect past performance.
In addition, our business depends on the ability to collect on our portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables. Collections within portfolios tend to be seasonally higher in the first and second quarters of the year, due to consumers’ receipt of tax refunds and other factors. Conversely, collections within portfolios tend to be lower in the third and fourth quarters of the year, due to consumers’ spending in connection with summer vacations, the holiday season and other factors. Our historical growth in purchased portfolios and in our resultant quarterly cash collections has helped to minimize the effect of seasonal cash collections. Operating expenses are seasonally higher during the first and second quarters of the year due to expenses necessary to process the increase in cash collections. However, revenue recognized is relatively level due to our application of the interest method for revenue recognition. In addition, our operating results may be affected to a lesser extent by the timing of purchases of portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables due to the initial costs associated with purchasing and integrating these receivables into our system. Consequently, income and margins may fluctuate quarter to quarter. If the pace of our growth slows, our quarterly cash collections and operating results may become increasingly subject to fluctuation.
Our collections may decrease if bankruptcy filings increase or if bankruptcy laws or other debt collection laws change.
During times of economic recession, the amount of charged-off consumer receivables generally increases, which contributes to an increase in the amount of personal bankruptcy filings. Under certain bankruptcy filings, a debtor’s assets are sold to repay creditors, but since the charged-off consumer receivables we are attempting to collect are generally unsecured or secured on a second or third priority basis, we often would not be able to collect on those receivables. Our collections may decline with an increase in bankruptcy filings or if the bankruptcy laws change in a manner adverse to our business, in which case, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (referred to as the “Act”) was enacted which made significant changes in the treatment of consumer filers for bankruptcy protection. The impact of this Act on the number of bankruptcy filings, on a prospective basis, and the collectibility of consumer debt is, as of now, undetermined.
Failure to effectively manage our growth could adversely affect our business and operating results.
We have expanded significantly over our history and we intend to continue to grow. However, any future growth will place additional demands on our resources and we cannot be sure that we will be able to manage our growth effectively. In order to successfully manage our growth, we may need to:
| | |
| • | expand and enhance our administrative infrastructure; |
|
| • | improve our management, regulatory compliance and financial and information systems and controls; |
|
| • | open new call centers in select locations through the acquisition of selected assets of businesses and the development of new sites; and |
|
| • | recruit, train, manage and retain our employees effectively. |
Continued growth could place a strain on our management, operations and financial resources. We cannot assure you that our infrastructure, facilities and personnel will be adequate to support our future operations or to effectively adapt to future growth. If we cannot manage our growth effectively, our results of operations may be adversely affected.
22
We are dependent on our management team for the adoption and implementation of our strategies and the loss of their services could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our future success depends on the continued ability to recruit, hire, retain and motivate highly skilled managerial personnel. The continued growth and success of our business is particularly dependent upon the continued services of our executive officers and other key personnel (particularly in purchasing and collections), including Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, our President and Chief Executive Officer and Mark A. Redman, our Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, each of whom has been integral to the development of our business. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to retain these individuals. Our performance also depends on our ability to retain and motivate other officers and key employees. The loss of the services of one or more of our executive officers or other key employees could disrupt our operations and seriously impair our ability to continue to acquire or collect on portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables and to manage and expand our business. We have employment agreements with each of Messrs. Bradley and Redman. However, these agreements do not and will not assure the continued services of these officers. We do not maintain key person life insurance policies for our executive officers or key personnel.
Our ability to recover on our charged-off consumer receivables may be limited under federal and state laws.
Federal and state consumer protection, privacy and related laws and regulations extensively regulate the relationship between debt collectors and debtors. Federal and state laws may limit our ability to recover on our charged-off consumer receivables regardless of any act or omission on our part. Some laws and regulations applicable to credit card issuers may preclude us from collecting on charged-off consumer receivables we purchase if the credit card issuer previously failed to comply with applicable law in generating or servicing those receivables. Additional consumer protection and privacy protection laws may be enacted that would impose additional or more stringent requirements on the enforcement of and collection on consumer receivables.
Any new laws, rules or regulations that may be adopted, as well as existing consumer protection and privacy protection laws, may adversely affect our ability to collect on our charged-off consumer receivable portfolios and may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, federal and state governmental bodies are considering, and may consider in the future, other legislative proposals that would regulate the collection of consumer receivables. Although we cannot predict if or how any future legislation would impact our business, our failure to comply with any current or future laws or regulations applicable to us could limit our ability to collect on our charged-off consumer receivable portfolios, which could reduce our profitability and harm our business.
In addition to the possibility of new laws being enacted, it is possible that regulators and litigants may attempt to extend debtors’ rights beyond the current interpretations placed on existing statutes. These attempts could cause us to (i) expend significant financial and human resources in either litigating these new interpretations or (ii) alter our existing methods of conducting business to comply with these interpretations, either of which could reduce our profitability and harm our business.
Our growth strategy may, to a limited extent, include the acquisition of portfolios in selected countries located outside of the United States. If we expand our operations outside of the United States, our international acquisitions could subject us to risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We may, to a limited extent, pursue the acquisition of portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables from credit originators or collection companies located outside the United States. If our operations expand internationally, we will be subject to the risks of conducting business outside the United States, including:
| | |
| • | a greater difficulty in managing collection operations globally; |
|
| • | compliance with multiple and potentially conflicting regulatory requirements; |
|
| • | fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; |
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| | |
| • | changes in a specific country’s or region’s political or economic conditions; and |
|
| • | changes in tax laws. |
There can be no assurance that the acquisition of portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables from locations outside of the United States will produce desired levels of net revenues or profitability, or that we will be able to comply with the requisite government regulations. In addition, compliance with these government regulations may also subject us to additional fees, costs and licenses. The expansion of our operations overseas could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our operations could suffer from telecommunications or technology downtime or from not responding to changes in technology.
Our success depends in large part on sophisticated telecommunications and computer systems. The temporary or permanent loss of our computer and telecommunications equipment and software systems, through casualty or operating malfunction (including outside influences such as computer viruses), could disrupt our operations. In the normal course of our business, we must record and process significant amounts of data quickly and accurately to access, maintain and expand the databases we use for our collection activities. Any failure of our information systems or software and their backup systems would interrupt our business operations and harm our business. In addition, we rely significantly on Ontario Systems LLC for the software used in operating our technology platform. Our business operations would be disrupted and our results of operations may be harmed if they were to cease operations or significantly reduce their support to us.
Our access to capital through our line of credit may be critical to our ability to continue to grow. If our line of credit is materially reduced or terminated and if we are unable to replace it on favorable terms, our revenue growth may slow and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We believe that our access to capital through our line of credit has been critical to our ability to grow. We currently maintain a $100.0 million line of credit that expires May 31, 2008. Our line of credit includes an accordion loan feature that allows us to request a $20.0 million increase in the credit facility, subject to our compliance with certain conditions and financial covenants. Our financial strength has increased our ability to make portfolio purchases and we believe it has also enhanced our credibility with sellers of debt who are interested in dealing with firms possessing the financial wherewithal to consummate a transaction. If our line of credit is materially reduced or terminated as a result of noncompliance with a covenant or other event of default and if we are unable to replace it on relatively favorable terms, our revenue growth may slow and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
| |
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
We do not have any unresolved staff comments.
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The following table provides information relating to our principal operations facilities as of February 15, 2006.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Approximate
| | | | | |
Location | | Square Footage | | | Lease Expiration Date | | Use |
|
Phoenix, Arizona | | | 71,550 | | | April 1, 2010 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
Plantation, Florida | | | 2,555 | | | January 31, 2008 | | Legal collections |
Riverview, Florida | | | 52,280 | | | April 30, 2009 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
Chicago, Illinois | | | 20,905 | | | November 20, 2012 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
White Marsh, Maryland | | | 22,800 | | | September 30, 2007 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
Warren, Michigan | | | 200,000 | | | November 30, 2014 | | Principal executive offices and call center, with collections and legal collections |
Wixom, Michigan | | | 48,000 | | | May 31, 2008 | | Call center, with collections |
Woodbury, New Jersey(1) | | | 288 | | | December 31, 2006 | | Legal collections |
Brooklyn Heights, Ohio(2) | | | 22,640 | | | October 31, 2011 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
Richmond, Virginia | | | 1,374 | | | July 31, 2008 | | Legal collections |
San Antonio, Texas | | | 27,265 | | | June 30, 2008 | | Call center, with collections and legal collections |
| | |
(1) | | Upon expiration of this lease on December 31, 2006, we anticipate extending the lease for one additional year. |
|
(2) | | In January 2006, we entered into an amendment, with respect to the lease, for the Brooklyn Heights, Ohio facility. The amendment will increase our square footage from 22,640 to 30,443 on or before November 1, 2006. In addition, the amendment extended the expiration of our lease agreement from September 30, 2006 to October 31, 2011. |
We believe that our existing facilities are sufficient to meet our current needs and that suitable additional or alternative space will be available on a commercially reasonable basis. Our $100.0 million line of credit is secured by a first priority lien on all of our assets.
| |
Item 3. | Legal Proceedings |
In the ordinary course of our business, we are involved in numerous legal proceedings. We regularly initiate collection lawsuits, using both our in-house attorneys and our network of third party law firms, against consumers and are occasionally countersued by them in such actions. Also, consumers occasionally initiate litigation against us, in which they allege that we have violated a federal or state law in the process of collecting on their account. It is not unusual for us to be named in a class action lawsuit relating to these allegations, with these lawsuits routinely settling for immaterial amounts. As of February 15, 2006, we are named in four class action lawsuits in which an underlying class has been certified. Additionally, as of February 15, 2006, we are named in eight class action lawsuits in which the underlying classes have not been certified. We do not believe that these ordinary course matters, individually or in the aggregate, are material to our business or financial condition. However, there can be no assurance that a class action lawsuit would not, if decided against us, have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition.
We are not a party to any material legal proceedings. However, we expect to continue to initiate collection lawsuits as a part of the ordinary course of our business (resulting occasionally in countersuits against us) and we may, from time to time, become a party to various other legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.
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| |
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders |
There were no matters submitted to a vote of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.’s security holders during the fourth quarter of 2005.
Supplemental Item. Executive Officers of the Company
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of February 15, 2006.
| | | | | | |
Name | | Age | | Position |
|
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. | | | 71 | | | Chairman; Director |
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV | | | 49 | | | President and Chief Executive Officer; Director |
Mark A. Redman | | | 44 | | | Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer |
Phillip L. Allen | | | 47 | | | Vice President-Operations |
Diane Kondrat | | | 47 | | | Vice President-Legal Collections |
Deborah Everly | | | 33 | | | Vice President-Marketing & Acquisitions |
Patrick Dangel | | | 45 | | | Vice President-Collections |
Rubert Chapman III | | | 40 | | | Vice President-Collections |
Michael T. Homant | | | 41 | | | Vice President-Information Technology |
Deanna Hatmaker | | | 41 | | | Vice President-Human Resources |
Thomas Good | | | 46 | | | General Counsel |
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr., Chairman; Director — Mr. Reitzel founded Lee Acceptance Company in 1962. He and Mr. Bradley co-founded Asset Acceptance Corp. in 1994 to continue the business of the successors to Lee Acceptance Company. Mr. Reitzel served as Chief Executive Officer of our company and its predecessor companies from 1962 to June 2003 when he became Chairman. Mr. Reitzel is thefather-in-law of Mr. Bradley, our Chief Executive Officer and a director. On February 14, 2006, Mr. Reitzel announced his retirement from his position as Chairman of the Board as well as from his position as director of the Company, which will be effective as of February 28, 2006.
Nathaniel F. Bradley, IV, President and Chief Executive Officer; Director — Mr. Bradley joined Lee Acceptance Company in 1979 and co-founded Asset Acceptance Corp. in 1994 with Mr. Reitzel. Mr. Bradley served as Vice President of our predecessor from 1982 to 1994 and was promoted to President of Asset Acceptance Corp. in 1994. He was named our Chief Executive Officer in June 2003. Mr. Bradley is theson-in-law of Mr. Reitzel, our Chairman and a director. On February 14, 2006, Mr. Bradley was elected by the Board of Directors to become our Chairman of the Board which will be effective as of March 1, 2006.
Mark A. Redman, Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer — Mr. Redman joined Asset Acceptance Corp. in January 1998 as Vice President-Finance, Secretary and Treasurer. Mr. Redman was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in May 2002. Prior to joining us, Mr. Redman worked in public accounting for 13 years, the last 11 years at BDO Seidman, LLP, Troy, Michigan, serving as a Partner in the firm from July 1996 to December 1997. Mr. Redman is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Phillip L. Allen, Vice President-Operations — Mr. Allen joined Asset Acceptance Corp. as Vice President-Operations in October 1996. Prior to joining us, Mr. Allen held a variety of positions in the consumer credit industry including with Household Finance and Household Retail Services from 1985 to 1991 and with Winkelman’s Stores from 1992 to 1996.
Diane Kondrat, Vice President-Legal Collections — Ms. Kondrat joined Lee Acceptance Corp., in November 1991. In 1993, Ms. Kondrat became Manager of our Legal Recovery Department and, in 1997, was named
26
Assistant Vice President. In 1998, she was promoted to her current position of Vice President-Legal Collections. Ms. Kondrat has been in the credit industry since 1976.
Deborah Everly, Vice President-Marketing & Acquisitions — Ms. Everly joined Asset Acceptance Corp. in May 1995. Ms. Everly was named our Director of Marketing & Acquisitions in 1996 and promoted to Assistant Vice President in 1997. In 1998 she was promoted again, this time to Vice President-Marketing & Acquisitions. Ms. Everly has been in the accounts receivable management industry since 1991.
Patrick Dangel, Vice President-Collections — Mr. Dangel joined Asset Acceptance Corp. in December 1998 as a Branch Manager of the former St. Clair Shores, Michigan office. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President-Collections in July 2002. In April 2005, he was promoted to his current position of Vice President-Collections. Prior to joining us, Mr. Dangel held varying positions of responsibility in the Credit and Collection area for Key Corp, including, as a Collection and Recovery Manager in their Credit Card Division. Mr. Dangel has been in the collection industry since 1983.
Rubert Chapman III, Vice President-Collections — Mr. Chapman joined our subsidiary, Asset Acceptance, LLC in October 2005 as Vice President-Collections. Prior to joining Asset Acceptance, LLC, Mr. Chapman was Vice President of Operations for OSI and Accelerated Bureau of Collections from 1990 through 2005.
Michael T. Homant, Vice President-Information Technology — Mr. Homant joined our subsidiary, Asset Acceptance, LLC, in June 2003 as Vice President-Information Technology. Mr. Homant previously served as the President (from 1999 to May 2003) and Chief Financial Officer (from 1997 to 1999) of Comprehensive Receivables Group, Inc. Prior to joining CRG, Mr. Homant spent six years in the information technology function of William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan.
Deanna Hatmaker, Vice President-Human Resources — Ms. Hatmaker joined our subsidiary, Asset Acceptance, LLC, in January 2006 as Vice President-Human Resources. Ms. Hatmaker previously served as the Director and Human Resources Officer in the Michigan Administrative Information Services (MAIS) business unit at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (from 2003 to 2005). Prior to joining MAIS at the University of Michigan, Ms. Hatmaker also served as Vice President-Human Resources and as a member of the senior management committee with H&R Block Financial Advisors (formerly OLDE Financial Corporation, Detroit, Michigan) from the late 1990’s to 2003. Ms. Hatmaker has been in the financial services industry for over 17 years.
Thomas Good, General Counsel — Mr. Good joined the Company in February 2004 as General Counsel. Mr. Good previously served as Operations Counsel for General Electric Capital Corporation from 2002 to 2003. Prior to joining General Electric Capital Corporation, Mr. Good was Assistant Chief Counsel for John Deere Credit in Johnston, Iowa from 1997 until 2002.
PART II
| |
Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “AACC”. Public trading of our common stock commenced on February 5, 2004. Prior to that time, there was no public trading market for our common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for our common stock, as reported by The Nasdaq National Market, for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
| | High | | | Low | | | High | | | Low | |
|
Fourth Quarter | | $ | 32.05 | | | $ | 18.03 | | | $ | 21.84 | | | $ | 16.95 | |
Third Quarter | | | 31.20 | | | | 23.12 | | | | 18.63 | | | | 15.19 | |
Second Quarter | | | 26.55 | | | | 18.11 | | | | 21.50 | | | | 13.13 | |
First Quarter | | | 23.60 | | | | 17.90 | | | | 19.12 | (1) | | | 16.10 | (1) |
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| | |
(1) | | The initial public offering price was $15.00 per share. |
On February 15, 2006, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq National Market was $17.70 per share. As of February 13, 2006, there were 7,475 record holders of our common stock.
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. has never paid any dividends on its common stock. We currently anticipate that we will retain any future earnings for the operation and development of our business. Accordingly, we do not currently intend to declare or pay dividends in the near term. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant.
The following table contains information about our securities that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2005:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Number of Securities
| |
| | | | | | | | Remaining Available
| |
| | Number of
| | | | | | For Future Issuance
| |
| | Securities to be
| | | | | | Under Equity
| |
| | Issued upon
| | | | | | Compensation Plans
| |
| | Exercise of
| | | Weighted Average
| | | (Excluding
| |
| | Outstanding
| | | Exercise Price of
| | | Outstanding Options,
| |
| | Options, Warrants
| | | Outstanding Options,
| | | Warrants And
| |
Plan Category | | and Rights | | | Warrants and Rights | | | Rights) | |
|
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders | | | 251,009 | | | $ | 19.38 | | | | 3,448,991 | |
Equity compensation plans and agreements not approved by stockholders | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
In the three years preceding the filing of thisForm 10-K, we issued the following securities that were not registered under the Securities Act:
| | |
| • | On February 4, 2004, pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement entered into on October 24, 2003, all of the shares of capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., which held 60% and 40% ownership interests in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, respectively, were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for all of the shares of common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. A total of 28,448,449 shares were issued to the stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., with 16,004,017 shares and 12,444,432 shares issued to the stockholders of AAC Investors, Inc. and the stockholders of RBR Holding Corp., respectively. The issuance was effected pursuant to the registration exemption afforded by Regulation Dand/or Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. |
|
| • | The non-management directors of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. have the right to receive a quarterly fee in the amount of $5,000. In lieu of the cash fee, the non-management directors have the right to receive immediately vested options to purchase shares of the common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in an amount equal to three times the quarterly fee. In addition, each non-management director is entitled to receive 7,500 options as of the date of the annual stockholders meeting. This set of options vest 50% on the first anniversary of the granting of the option and 50% on the second anniversary of the granting of the options. The options issued on May 16, 2005 reflect the issuance of the annual options for the timeframe beginning on the later date of the Company’s IPO or the date of the director’s election to the board of directors and ending on May 16, 2004. |
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These options were issued in private placements in reliance on the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at the exercise price shown below. Pursuant to this program, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the following options have been issued to the non-management directors:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Option Expiration
| | Number of
| | | Exercise
| |
Director | | Option Grant Date | | Date | | Options | | | Price | |
|
Jennifer L. Adams | | April 20, 2005 | | April 20, 2015 | | | 755 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
| | May 16, 2005 | | May 16, 2015 | | | 1,562 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 7,500 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 640 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | August 17, 2005 | | August 17, 2015 | | | 543 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
| | November 17, 2005 | | November 17, 2015 | | | 758 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11,758 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Terrence D. Daniels | | April 20, 2005 | | April 20, 2015 | | | 755 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
| | May 16, 2005 | | May 16, 2015 | | | 2,187 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 7,500 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 640 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | August 17, 2005 | | August 17, 2015 | | | 543 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
| | November 17, 2005 | | November 17, 2015 | | | 758 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12,383 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Donald Haider | | April 20, 2005 | | April 20, 2015 | | | 755 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
| | May 16, 2005 | | May 16, 2015 | | | 1,562 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 7,500 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 640 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | August 17, 2005 | | August 17, 2015 | | | 543 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
| | November 17, 2005 | | November 17, 2015 | | | 758 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 11,758 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Anthony Ignaczak | | April 20, 2005 | | April 20, 2015 | | | 755 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
| | May 16, 2005 | | May 16, 2015 | | | 2,187 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 7,500 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 640 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | August 17, 2005 | | August 17, 2015 | | | 543 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
| | November 17, 2005 | | November 17, 2015 | | | 758 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12,383 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
H. Eugene Lockhart | | April 20, 2005 | | April 20, 2015 | | | 755 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
| | May 16, 2005 | | May 16, 2015 | | | 2,187 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 7,500 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 640 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
| | August 17, 2005 | | August 17, 2015 | | | 543 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
| | November 17, 2005 | | November 17, 2015 | | | 758 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 12,383 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
William I. Jacobs | | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 4,062 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
William F. Pickard | | May 17, 2005 | | May 17, 2015 | | | 4,062 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
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The following options were issued to eligible key employees under our 2004 stock incentive plan which will vest between one and four years. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one share of our common stock at the exercise price shown below. Pursuant to this plan, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, the following options have been issued to the eligible key employees.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Number of
| | | Exercise
| |
Employee | | Option Grant Date | | | Option Expiration Date | | | Options | | | Price | |
|
Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. | | | April 21, 2005 | | | | April 21, 2015 | | | | 15,000 | | | $ | 18.89 | |
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV | | | April 21, 2005 | | | | April 21, 2015 | | | | 15,000 | | | $ | 18.89 | |
Thomas Good | | | April 21, 2005 | | | | April 21, 2015 | | | | 25,000 | | | $ | 18.89 | |
Darren Bradshaw | | | July 29, 2005 | | | | July 29, 2015 | | | | 10,000 | | | $ | 27.34 | |
All of the foregoing securities are deemed restricted securities for the purposes of the Securities Act.
| |
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data |
The following selected consolidated financial data includes the results of operations of the following companies for the indicated periods:
| | |
| • | From January 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002, AAC Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries, Consumer Credit Corp. and Lee Acceptance Corp., with each of these corporations treated as an S corporation for income tax purposes (except for Lee Acceptance Corp. which was treated as a C corporation for income tax purposes). |
|
| • | From October 1, 2002 to the Reorganization effected on February 4, 2004, AAC Investors, Inc., including its subsidiary, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (referred to collectively in the following selected financial statements as the “successor”). |
|
| • | From February 5, 2004 through December 31, 2005, Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., including its wholly-owned subsidiaries, AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, with these companies also referred to collectively in our financial statements and in the following selected consolidated financial data as the “successor”. |
The following selected consolidated statement of income data for the year ended December 31, 2002, consists of the predecessor for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and the successor for the three months ended December 31, 2002, with this referred to as “combined”. The following income data of the predecessor for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and the related selected consolidated financial position data as of December 31, 2001 and the selected consolidated statement of income data of the successor for the three months ended December 31, 2002, and the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the related selected consolidated financial position data as of December 31, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. The data should be read in connection with the consolidated financial statements, related notes and other information included herein.
On February 4, 2004, all of the shares of the capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and AAC Holding Corp. (which changed its name to RBR Holding Corp. in October 2002), which held 60% and 40% ownership interests in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, respectively, as of that date, were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for all of the shares of the common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. As a result of this Reorganization, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The information included in the selected financial data gives effect to the Reorganization as of October 1, 2002. For more detailed information about our corporate history and the Reorganization, see “Item 1. Business — History and Reorganization”.
30
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Predecessor | | | Combined | | | Successor | |
| | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2001 | | | 2002(1) | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
| | (in thousands, except per share data) | |
|
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased receivable revenues | | $ | 61,412 | | | $ | 100,004 | | | $ | 159,628 | | | $ | 213,723 | | | $ | 252,196 | |
Gain (loss) on sale of purchased receivables | | | 250 | | | | 326 | | | | — | | | | 468 | | | | (26 | ) |
Finance contract revenues | | | 354 | | | | 411 | | | | 565 | | | | 562 | | | | 514 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | | 62,016 | | | | 100,741 | | | | 160,193 | | | | 214,753 | | | | 252,684 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | | | 20,485 | | | | 33,438 | | | | 51,296 | | | | 111,034 | (2) | | | 76,107 | |
Collections expense | | | 16,372 | | | | 26,051 | | | | 43,656 | | | | 56,949 | | | | 73,975 | |
Occupancy | | | 1,590 | | | | 3,064 | | | | 4,633 | | | | 6,109 | | | | 8,352 | |
Administrative | | | 1,511 | | | | 2,682 | | | | 3,259 | | | | 5,677 | | | | 8,582 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 923 | | | | 1,910 | | | | 2,572 | | | | 2,881 | | | | 3,339 | |
Loss on disposal of equipment | | | 12 | | | | 198 | | | | 4 | | | | 98 | | | | 32 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | | 40,893 | | | | 67,343 | | | | 105,420 | | | | 182,748 | | | | 170,387 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 21,123 | | | | 33,398 | | | | 54,773 | | | | 32,005 | | | | 82,297 | |
Other income (expense) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 54 | | | | 28 | | | | 4 | | | | 28 | | | | 1,143 | |
Interest expense | | | (2,283 | ) | | | (3,455 | ) | | | (7,199 | ) | | | (1,737 | ) | | | (567 | ) |
Other | | | 11 | | | | (423 | ) | | | 448 | | | | 84 | | | | 51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | | 18,905 | | | | 29,548 | | | | 48,026 | | | | 30,380 | | | | 82,924 | |
Income taxes(3) | | | — | | | | 1,624 | | | | 10,283 | | | | 29,634 | | | | 31,657 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 18,905 | | | $ | 27,924 | | | $ | 37,743 | | | $ | 746 | (4) | | $ | 51,267 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income per share basic | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1.33 | | | $ | 0.02 | | | $ | 1.38 | |
Net income per share diluted | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1.33 | | | $ | 0.02 | | | $ | 1.38 | |
Pro forma income taxes(5) | | $ | 6,745 | | | $ | 11,038 | | | $ | 17,914 | | | $ | 11,301 | | | $ | — | |
Pro forma net income(5) | | $ | 12,160 | | | $ | 18,510 | | | $ | 30,112 | | | $ | 19,079 | (6) | | $ | — | |
Pro forma net income per share basic(7) | | $ | 0.43 | | | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 1.06 | | | $ | 0.52 | (6) | | $ | — | |
Pro forma net income per share diluted(7) | | $ | 0.43 | | | $ | 0.65 | | | $ | 1.06 | | | $ | 0.52 | (6) | | $ | — | |
Weighted average shares basic | | | — | | | | — | | | | 28,448 | | | | 36,386 | | | | 37,225 | |
Weighted average shares diluted | | | — | | | | — | | | | 28,448 | | | | 36,394 | | | | 37,270 | |
Pro forma weighted average shares (basic and diluted)(7) | | | 28,448 | | | | 28,448 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Predecessor | | | Successor | |
| | As of December 31, | |
| | 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
|
FINANCIAL POSITION DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 1,576 | | | $ | 2,281 | | | $ | 5,499 | | | $ | 14,205 | | | $ | 50,519 | |
Purchased receivables | | | 81,726 | | | | 133,337 | | | | 183,720 | | | | 216,480 | | | | 248,991 | |
Total assets | | | 88,520 | | | | 151,277 | | | | 207,110 | | | | 252,506 | | | | 323,942 | |
Deferred tax liability, net | | | — | | | | 1,623 | | | | 11,906 | | | | 41,247 | | | | 58,584 | |
Total debt, including capital lease obligations | | | 39,015 | | | | 103,192 | | | | 112,729 | | | | 254 | | | | 187 | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 47,453 | | | | 41,644 | | | | 74,383 | | | | 197,180 | | | | 249,460 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Predecessor | | | Combined | | | Successor | |
| | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
| | (in thousands, except percentages) | |
|
OPERATING AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash collections for period | | $ | 71,068 | | | $ | 120,540 | | | $ | 197,819 | | | $ | 267,928 | | | $ | 319,910 | |
Operating expenses to cash collections | | | 57.5 | % | | | 55.9 | % | | | 53.3 | % | | | 68.2 | %(8) | | | 53.3 | % |
Acquisitions of purchased receivables at cost(9) | | $ | 43,132 | | | $ | 72,287 | | | $ | 87,311 | | | $ | 87,364 | | | $ | 102,262 | |
Acquisitions of purchased receivables at face value | | $ | 2,621,561 | | | $ | 5,087,732 | | | $ | 4,120,194 | | | $ | 4,362,812 | | | $ | 4,171,011 | |
Acquisitions of purchased receivables cost as a percentage of face value | | | 1.65 | % | | | 1.42 | % | | | 2.12 | % | | | 2.00 | % | | | 2.45 | % |
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| | |
(1) | | AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp. became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. through a reorganization that was effective February 4, 2004. As a result of the Reorganization, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The operations data for the year ended December 31, 2002 include our predecessor for the nine month period ended September 30, 2002 and our successor for the three month period ended December 31, 2002. |
|
(2) | | Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering, salaries and benefits would have been $65.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. See discussion in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Year Ended December 31, 2005 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003 — Operating Expenses.” |
|
(3) | | Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. included income tax expense on only 60% of pretax income until February 4, 2004, as RBR Holding Corp. (40% owner of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC) was taxed as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and therefore taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns. Prior to October 1, 2002, no income tax expense was incurred as our predecessor was taxed as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and therefore taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns. Income tax expense in 2004 includes a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million resulting from RBR Holding Corp. losing its S corporation tax status after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. during the first quarter of 2004. |
|
(4) | | Our net income for 2004 included the following one-time events: |
| | |
| • | The negative effect of a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million, or $0.53 per share, resulting from RBR Holding Corp. losing its S corporation status after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. during the first quarter of 2004. See discussion in note (3) above. |
|
| • | The negative effect of a $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge ($28.7 million net of taxes, or $0.79 per share) resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering during the first quarter of 2004. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Year Ended December 31, 2005 Compared to Year Ended 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003 — Operating Expenses”. |
|
| • | The positive effect related to our incurring income tax on only 60% of pretax income for the period January 1, 2004 through February 4, 2004, as RBR Holding Corp. (40% owner of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC) was taxed as an S corporation. Income taxes during the period February 5, 2004 through December 31, 2004 reflected income tax expense on 100% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The impact of the lower tax expense was approximately $0.9 million, or $0.03 per share. |
| | |
(5) | | For comparison purposes, we have presented pro forma net income, which is net income adjusted for pro forma income taxes assuming all entities had been a C corporation for all periods presented. |
|
(6) | | Includes the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge ($28.7 million net of taxes, or $0.79 per share) resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering. |
|
(7) | | Pro forma net income per share and pro forma weighted average shares assumed the Reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. |
|
(8) | | Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering, operating expenses decreased to 51.2% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004. See discussion in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Year Ended December 31, 2005 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003 — Operating Expenses.” |
|
(9) | | Amount of purchased receivables at cost refer to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less the purchase price refunded by a seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks) less the purchase price for accounts that were sold at the time of purchase to another debt purchaser. |
32
| |
Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed here. Factors that could cause or contribute to the differences include those discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report. The references in this Annual Report to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board are to the Federal Reserve Statistical Release, dated January 9, 2006 and the Federal Reserve Consumer Credit Historical Data website (www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/hist/) and the references to The Nilson Report (www.nilsonreport.com) are to The Nilson Report, issue 792, dated July 2003, and issue 835, dated June 2005.
Company Overview
We have been purchasing and collecting defaulted or charged-off accounts receivable portfolios from consumer credit originators since the formation of our predecessor company in 1962. Charged-off receivables are the unpaid obligations of individuals to credit originators, such as credit card issuers, consumer finance companies, retail merchants, telecommunications and utility providers. Since these receivables are delinquent or past due, we are able to purchase them at a substantial discount. We purchase and collect charged-off consumer receivable portfolios for our own account as we believe this affords us the best opportunity to use long-term strategies to maximize our profits. We currently do not collect on a commission or contingent fee basis.
The growth rate of cash collections for the three month and twelve month periods ending December 31, 2005 slowed to 11.9% and 19.4%, respectively from 26.6% and 35.4% for the three month and twelve month periods ending December 31, 2004, respectively. The primary factor contributing to the slowdown in collection growth is the pace of purchase growth at face value, which has been relatively flat for the years 2002 through 2005 due to our disciplined approach to purchasing charged-off receivables. Additional contributors toward slowing growth include high turnover among our account representative professionals and lower than expected results on some non-traditional purchases, specifically wireless telecommunications. High turnover has negatively impacted collections as there is a positive correlation between account representative experience and productivity. Wireless telecommunications purchases accounted for 13.2% of 2005 purchases at face value and are not performing up to initial expectations. We addressed turnover during the fourth quarter and have seen improvement over third quarter 2005 turnover rates.
As a result of the slower than expected collections on our purchased receivable portfolios, during the fourth quarter of 2005 we recorded net impairments of $15.3 million. The net impairment charge reduced revenue and the carrying value of the purchased receivables. The majority of the fourth quarter 2005 purchase impairments are attributable to 2005 purchases of wireless telecommunications debt. Utilizing the data collected and experience gained on these purchases, we have adjusted our purchasing models and have become increasingly thorough in our due diligence of non-traditional asset classes.
In an effort to stimulate collections during the year, we expanded our collection efforts and increased the amount spent for certain collection expenses, specifically letter expenses and legal expenses. These expenses increased due to an increase in the number of letter campaigns pursued during the second half of 2005 and an increase in the number of accounts for which legal action has been initiated. We expect to benefit in 2006 from the increased legal action initiated during the latter half of 2005.
During 2005, cash collections increased 19.4% to $319.9 million. Revenues for 2005 were $252.7 million, a 17.7% increase over the prior year. Net income was $51.3 million for 2005, compared to $0.7 million for 2004. Net income in 2004 included a $45.7 million compensation and related payroll charge ($28.7 million on an after tax basis) for the vesting of outstanding share appreciation rights and a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million.
During 2005, we invested $102.3 million (net of buybacks) in charged-off consumer receivable portfolios, with an aggregate face value of $4.2 billion, or 2.45% of face value. We have seen prices for charged-off accounts receivable portfolios increase over the past 24 to 30 months and believe prices to be relatively high at the current time. We believe that price increases have slowed during 2005, however we cannot give any assurances about future
33
prices either overall or within account or asset types. We are determined to remain disciplined and purchase portfolios only when we believe we can achieve acceptable returns.
We regularly utilize unaffiliated third parties, primarily attorneys and other collection agencies, to collect certain account balances on our behalf. The percent of gross collections from such third parties has increased from 21.8% for the year ended December 31, 2004 to 22.8% for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is primarily due to increased legal activity in states that we are not located, as well as a slight increase in the use of third party collection agencies.
On April 21, 2005, we completed a secondary public offering of 5,750,000 shares of our common stock at $18.89 per share. All of these shares were sold by selling stockholders, which include members of management and other holders, and none of the shares were sold by us. The selling stockholders received all of the net proceeds from the sale of the shares. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement between the Company and certain of the selling stockholders, the Company paid approximately $500,000 related to the secondary offering. In addition, the selling stockholders collectively, retain the right to request three additional registrations of specified shares, under the registration rights agreement, in which case we will be required to bear such offering expenses in the quarter in which any future offering occurs.
Industry Overview
The accounts receivable management industry is growing, driven by a number of industry trends, including:
| | |
| • | Increasing levels of consumer debt obligations — According to the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, the consumer credit industry increased from $133.7 billion of consumer debt obligations in 1970 to $2.2 trillion of consumer debt obligations in November 2005, a compound annual growth rate of 8.3%. The Nilson Report projects that this market will increase to $2.8 trillion by 2010. |
|
| • | Increasing charge-offs of the underlying receivables — According to The Nilson Report, net charge-offs of credit card debt have increased from $8.2 billion in 1990 to $48.2 billion in 2004, a compound annual growth rate of 13.5%. The Nilson Report is forecasting an increase in the net charge-offs of credit card debt to $86.7 billion in 2010. |
|
| • | Increasing types of credit originators accessing the debt sale market — According to The Nilson Report, the cost for all types of purchased debt sold has increased from $6.0 billion in 1993 to $77.2 billion in 2004, a compound annual growth rate of 26.1%. Sellers of charged-off portfolios have expanded to include healthcare, utility and telecommunications providers, commercial banks, consumer finance companies, retail merchants and mortgage and auto finance companies. |
Historically, credit originators have sought to limit credit losses either through using internal collection efforts with their own personnel or outsourcing collection activities to third party collectors. Credit originators that outsource the collection of charged-off receivables have typically remained committed to third party providers as a result of the perceived economic benefit of outsourcing and the resources required to establish the infrastructure required to support in-house collection efforts. The credit originator can pursue an outsourced solution by either selling its charged-off receivables for immediate cash proceeds or by placing charged-off receivables with a third party collector on a contingent fee basis while retaining ownership of the receivables.
In the event that a credit originator sells receivables to a debt purchaser such as us, the credit originator receives immediate cash proceeds and eliminates the costs and risks associated with internal recovery operations. The purchase price for these charged-off receivables are usually discounted 95% to 99% from their face values, depending on the amount the purchaser anticipates it can recover and the anticipated effort required to recover that amount. Credit originators, as well as other holders of consumer debt, utilize a variety of processes to sell receivables, including the following:
| | |
| • | competitive bids for specified portfolios through a sealed bid or, in some cases, an on-line process; |
|
| • | privately-negotiated transactions between the credit originator or other holder of consumer debt and a purchaser; and |
34
| | |
| • | forward flow contracts, which commit a debt seller to sell, and a purchaser to acquire, a steady flow of charged-off consumer receivables periodically over a specified period of time, usually no less than three months, for a fixed percentage of the face value of the receivables. |
We believe a debt purchaser’s ability to successfully collect payments on charged-off receivables, despite previous collection efforts by the credit originator or third party collection agencies, is driven by several factors, including the purchaser’s ability to:
| | |
| • | pursue collections over multi-year periods; |
|
| • | tailor repayment plans based on a consumer’s ability to pay; and |
|
| • | utilize experience and resources, including litigation. |
| |
| History and Reorganization |
Lee Acceptance Company was formed in 1962 by Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. as a sole proprietorship for the purpose of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables. Nathaniel F. Bradley IV joined Lee Acceptance Company in 1979. In 1982, Lee Acceptance Company was incorporated as Lee Acceptance Corp. The business of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables was subsequently conducted by Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley through several successor companies.
In 1994, Mr. Reitzel and Mr. Bradley formed Asset Acceptance Corp. for the purpose of purchasing and collecting charged-off consumer receivables and formed Consumer Credit Corp. for the purpose of financing sales of consumer product retailers located primarily in Michigan and Florida. Since 1994, we have effected the following transactions:
| | |
| • | On January 1, 2000, Asset Acceptance Corp. and certain of its affiliates were joined as wholly owned subsidiaries of AAC Holding Corp. for tax planning purposes. |
|
| • | On September 20, 2002, we formed Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, for the purpose of consummating an equity recapitalization. Effective September 30, 2002, AAC Investors, Inc. acquired a 60% equity interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. After September 30, 2002, the business of purchasing and collecting charged-off debt previously conducted by AAC Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries and the business of financing sales of consumer product retailers previously conducted by Consumer Credit Corp. were effected through this newly formed company and its subsidiaries. |
Immediately prior to our February 2004 initial public offering, all of the shares of capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and AAC Holding Corp. (which changed its name to RBR Holding Corp. in October 2002), which held 60% and 40%, respectively, of the equity membership interests in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., a newly formed Delaware corporation, in exchange for shares of common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., which is the class of common stock offered in our initial public offering. As a result of this Reorganization, which was effected for the purpose of establishing a Delaware corporation as the issuer in our initial public offering, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries became indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the newly formed Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. In addition, RBR Holding Corp., which structured as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, became taxable as a C corporation after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. For more detailed information about our corporate history and this Reorganization, see “Item 1. Business — History and Reorganization”.
For comparison purposes we have presented pro forma net income, which is net income adjusted for pro forma income taxes assuming the consolidated entity was a C corporation for all periods presented.
35
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth selected statement of income data expressed as a percentage of total revenues and as a percentage of cash collections for the periods indicated.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Percent of Total Revenues | | | Percent of Cash Collections | |
| | Years Ended December 31, | | | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | | | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased receivable revenues | | | 99.8 | % | | | 99.5 | % | | | 99.6 | % | | | 78.8 | % | | | 79.7 | % | | | 80.7 | % |
Gain (loss) on sale of purchased receivables | | | (0.0 | ) | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.0 | | | | (0.0 | ) | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.0 | |
Finance contract revenues | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.2 | | | | 0.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | | 100.0 | | | | 100.0 | | | | 100.0 | | | | 79.0 | | | | 80.1 | | | | 81.0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | | | 30.1 | | | | 51.7 | (1) | | | 32.0 | | | | 23.8 | | | | 41.4 | (1) | | | 25.9 | |
Collections expense | | | 29.3 | | | | 26.5 | | | | 27.3 | | | | 23.1 | | | | 21.3 | | | | 22.1 | |
Occupancy | | | 3.3 | | | | 2.9 | | | | 2.9 | | | | 2.6 | | | | 2.3 | | | | 2.3 | |
Administrative | | | 3.4 | | | | 2.6 | | | | 2.0 | | | | 2.7 | | | | 2.1 | | | | 1.7 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1.3 | | | | 1.3 | | | | 1.6 | | | | 1.1 | | | | 1.1 | | | | 1.3 | |
Loss on disposal of equipment | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.1 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expense | | | 67.4 | | | | 85.1 | (1) | | | 65.8 | | | | 53.3 | | | | 68.2 | (1) | | | 53.3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 32.6 | | | | 14.9 | | | | 34.2 | | | | 25.7 | | | | 11.9 | | | | 27.7 | |
Other income (expense) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.4 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | |
Interest expense | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.8 | ) | | | (4.5 | ) | | | (0.2 | ) | | | (0.6 | ) | | | (3.6 | ) |
Other | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.3 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.0 | | | | 0.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | | 32.8 | | | | 14.1 | | | | 30.0 | | | | 25.9 | | | | 11.3 | | | | 24.3 | |
Income taxes | | | 12.5 | | | | 13.8 | | | | 6.4 | | | | 9.9 | | | | 11.0 | | | | 5.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | 20.3 | % | | | 0.3 | % | | | 23.6 | % | | | 16.0 | % | | | 0.3 | % | | | 19.1 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pro forma income taxes | | | | | | | 5.3 | % | | | 11.2 | % | | | | | | | 4.2 | % | | | 9.1 | % |
Pro forma net income | | | | | | | 8.8 | % | | | 18.8 | % | | | | | | | 7.1 | % | | | 15.2 | % |
| | |
(1) | | Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge, salaries and benefits were 30.4% and 24.4% of revenues and collections, respectively, and total operating expenses were 63.8% and 51.2% of revenue and collections, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004. See discussion in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Year Ended December 31, 2005 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2003 — Operating Expenses”. |
Year Ended December 31, 2005 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 2004
Revenue
Total revenues were $252.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $37.9 million, or 17.7%, over total revenues of $214.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Purchased receivable revenues were $252.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $38.5 million, or 18.0%, over the year ended December 31, 2004 amount of $213.7 million. The increase in revenue was due primarily to an increase in the average outstanding balance of purchased receivables. Cash collections on charged-off consumer receivables increased 19.4% to $319.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $267.9 million for the same period in
36
2004. Cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 include collections from fully amortized portfolios of $56.1 million and $31.2 million, respectively, of which 100% were reported as revenue.
Revenue reflects net impairments recognized during 2005 of $22.3 million. The net impairments were recognized under the provisions ofSOP 03-3, which require that an impairment be taken for decreases in expected cash flows for purchased receivables. Of the $22.3 million net impairment charges for 2005, $11.0 million are related to purchases made during 2005. The majority of the 2005 purchase impairments are attributable to portfolios purchased from one non-traditional asset class, specifically wireless telecommunications. During 2004, we accounted for our purchased receivable portfolios under the provisions of PB 6, which required lowering of prospective yields for decreases in expected cash flows and therefore no impairments were recognized.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, we acquired charged-off consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $4.2 billion at a cost of $102.3 million, or 2.45% of face value, net of buybacks. Included in these purchase totals were 35 portfolios with an aggregate face value of $297.6 million at a cost of $10.7 million, or 3.61% of face value, net of buybacks, which were acquired through four forward flow contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2004, we acquired charged-off consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value of $4.4 billion at a cost of $87.4 million, or 2.00% of face value (adjusted for buybacks through 2005). Included in these purchase totals were 30 portfolios with an aggregate face value of $277.9 million at a cost of $8.0 million, or 2.89% of face value, which were acquired through five forward contracts. From period to period, we may buy paper of varying age, types and cost. As a result, the costs of our purchases, as a percent of face value, may fluctuate from one period to the next. The increase in our cost as a percent of face value to 2.45% for 2005 from 2.00% in 2004, is primarily due to increased competition for accounts, resulting in higher purchase prices during 2005. Secondary and tertiary accounts made up 31.0% and 50.7%, respectively, of our purchases during 2005 compared to 29.1% and 47.5%, respectively, during 2004. The costs as a percent of face values for secondary and tertiary accounts were 3.80% and 2.13%, respectively, during 2005 compared to 2.59% and 1.53%, respectively, during 2004.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $170.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of $12.3 million, or 6.8%, compared to total operating expenses of $182.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Total operating expenses were 67.4% of total revenues and 53.3% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with 85.1% and 68.2%, respectively, for the same period in 2004. Operating expenses during 2004 include a $45.0 million compensation charge and a $0.7 million payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering.
We incurred a one-time compensation and related payroll tax charge of $45.7 million resulting from the vesting of the share appreciation rights that occurred upon our initial public offering in 2004. We are providing the total operating expense and salary and benefit expense information and related percentages of total revenue and cash collections excluding the one-time charge incurred because we believe doing so provides investors with a more direct comparison of results of operations between 2005 and 2004. In addition, we use the adjustments for purposes of our internal planning, review andperiod-to-period comparison process.
Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge in 2004, total operating expenses of $170.4 million during 2005 increased $33.3 million, or 24.3% from the $137.1 million in operating expenses for the same period in 2004. Operating expenses were 67.4% of total revenues and 53.3% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared with 63.8% and 51.2%, respectively, for the same period in 2004. The increase as a percent of total revenues and cash collections was primarily due to an increase in collection expenses partially offset by a reduction in salaries and benefits expenses.
Salaries and Benefits. Salary and benefit expenses were $76.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of $34.9 million, or 31.5%, compared to salary and benefit expenses of $111.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Salary and benefit expenses were 30.1% of total revenue and 23.8% of cash collections during 2005 compared with 51.7% and 41.4%, respectively, for the same period in 2004. Salary and benefit expenses decreased primarily due to the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering in 2004.
37
Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge in 2004, salary and benefit expenses of $76.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 increased $10.8 million, or 16.4% over the $65.3 million in salary and benefit expenses during 2004. The increase over the prior year was primarily due to an increase in total employees, which grew to 1,980 at December 31, 2005 from 1,732 at December 31, 2004, in response to the growth in the number of our portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables. Salary and benefits expenses, excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge, decreased to 30.1% of total revenues and 23.8% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2005 from 30.4% of total revenues and 24.4% of cash collections for the same period in 2004. The decrease in salary and benefits expenses, as adjusted, as a percent of total revenues and cash collections were primarily due to improved benefit costs and increased efficiencies in legal collections. The overall gains in collection efficiency from our legal and forwarding areas were partially offset by decreases in traditional call center collections efficiency. Traditional call center collections per full-time equivalent account representative decreased to $157,661 for the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to $168,708 for the same period in 2004. This decrease is primarily due to a decrease in productivity for account representatives with less than a year of experience. Average full-time equivalent account representatives increased to 1,050 for the fiscal year of 2005 from 908 during the same period in 2004.
Collections Expense. Collections expense increased to $74.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, reflecting an increase of $17.1 million, or 29.9%, over collections expense of $56.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to the increased number of accounts on which we were collecting. Collections expense increased to 23.1% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2005 from 21.3% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004. This increase was primarily due to increases in amounts spent for collection letters as well as increased legal collection expenses. The increase in the collection letters expense was primarily due to collection strategies that focused on stimulating payments through letter campaigns and an increase in the number of accounts owned and actively pursued. The increase in legal expense was due to an increase in the number of accounts for which legal action has been initiated.
Occupancy. Occupancy expense was $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $2.3 million, or 36.7%, over occupancy expense of $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to the relocation of our headquarters to a larger facility in Warren, Michigan in November 2004.
Administrative. Administrative expenses increased to $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, reflecting a $2.9 million, or 51.1%, increase. The increase in administrative expenses was principally due to costs related to the secondary offering, additional contract labor and consultants for the testing of internal controls for compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley, increased director fees and expenses and increased property tax assessments.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $0.4 million or 15.9% over depreciation and amortization expense of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was due to capital expenditures during 2005 and 2004, which were required to support the increased number of accounts serviced by us and the purchase of furniture and technology equipment in our new and expanded facilities.
Interest Income. Interest income was $1.1 million during 2005, reflecting an increase of $1.1 million compared to nominal interest income for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily due to interest received related to our increased cash position over the prior year in addition to higher interest rates during 2005 over the prior year.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, reflecting a decrease of $1.1 million, or 67.3%, compared to interest expense of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. During February 2004, we paid in full a related party debt of $40.0 million, which resulted in a reduction in interest expense of $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2005 from the same period in the prior year. Additionally, the decrease in interest expense was due to lower average borrowings on our line of credit, which decreased to $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $16.1 million for the same period in 2004. The reduction in our average borrowings was due to repayment of $37.7 million of debt from the proceeds of the
38
initial public offering and cash generated from operations. Interest expense included the amortization of capitalized bank fees of $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Income Taxes. Income taxes of $31.7 million reflects a federal tax rate of 35.1% and a state tax rate of 3.1% (net of federal tax benefit including utilization of state net operating losses) for the year ended December 31, 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the federal tax rate was 35.0% and the state tax rate was 2.2% (net of federal tax benefit). The 0.9% increase in the state rate was due to changing apportionment percentages among the various states, the decrease in the federal benefit of state tax expenses due to the utilization of state net operating losses, and other adjustments. Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 (excluding the deferred tax charge related to RBR Holding Corp.) reflected income tax expense on 60% of pretax income for the period January 1, 2004 through February 4, 2004, as RBR Holding Corp. (40% owner of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC) was taxed as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns. Income taxes during the period February 5, 2004 through December 31, 2004 reflected income tax expense on 100% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. as part of the Reorganization.
Year Ended December 31, 2004 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 2003
Revenue
Total revenues were $214.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $54.6 million, or 34.1%, over total revenues of $160.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Purchased receivable revenues were $213.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $54.1 million, or 33.9%, over the year ended December 31, 2003, amount of $159.6 million. The increase in revenue was due primarily to an increase in the average outstanding balance of purchased receivables. Cash collections on charged-off consumer receivables increased 35.4% to $267.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $197.8 million for the same period in 2003. Cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 include collections from fully amortized portfolios of $31.2 million and $11.5 million, respectively, of which 100% were reported as revenue.
During the year ended December 31, 2004, we acquired charged-off consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $4.4 billion at a cost of $87.4 million, or 2.00% of face value (adjusted for buybacks through 2005). Included in these purchase totals were 30 portfolios with an aggregate face value of $277.9 million at a cost of $8.0 million, or 2.89% of face value, which were acquired through five forward flow contracts. During the year ended December 31, 2003, we acquired charged-off consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value of $4.1 billion at a cost of $87.3 million, or 2.12% of face value (adjusted for buybacks through 2005).
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $182.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $77.3 million, or 73.4%, compared to total operating expenses of $105.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Total operating expenses were 85.1% of total revenues and 68.2% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with 65.8% and 53.3%, respectively, for the same period in 2003. Operating expenses include a $45.0 million compensation charge and a $0.7 million payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering. Excluding the $45.7 million combined compensation and related payroll tax charge, total operating expenses were $137.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $31.7 million, or 30.0%, over the prior year. Excluding the compensation and related payroll tax charge, operating expenses decreased to 63.8% of total revenues and 51.2% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004 from 65.8% of total revenues and 53.3% of cash collections for the same period in 2003. The improvement in operating expenses, as adjusted, as a percent of total revenue and cash collections was primarily due to strong collections, resulting from increased account representative efficiency, along with the application of successful collection strategies and a continued focus on expense reduction.
We incurred a one-time compensation and related payroll tax charge of $45.7 million resulting from the vesting of the share appreciation rights that occurred upon our initial public offering in 2004. We are providing the total operating expense and salary and benefit expense information and related percentages of total revenue and cash collections excluding the one-time charge incurred solely in connection with our initial public offering because
39
we believe doing so provides investors with a more direct comparison of results of operations between 2003 and 2004. In addition, we use the adjustments for purposes of our internal planning, review andperiod-to-period comparison process.
Salaries and Benefits. Salary and benefit expenses were $111.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $59.7 million, or 116.5%, compared to salary and benefit expenses of $51.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Salary and benefit expenses increased primarily due to the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon our initial public offering.
Excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge, salary and benefit expenses were $65.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $14.0 million, or 27.4%, compared to 2003. The increase over the prior year was primarily due to an increase in total employees, which grew to 1,732 at December 31, 2004 from 1,490 at December 31, 2003, in response to the growth in the number of our portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables. Salary and benefits expenses were 51.7% of total revenue and 41.4% of cash collection for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with 32.0% and 25.9%, respectively, for the same period in 2003. Salary and benefit expenses, excluding the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge, decreased to 30.4% of total revenues and 24.4% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004 from 32.0% of total revenue and 25.9% of cash collections for the same period in 2003. The decrease in salary and benefits expenses, as adjusted, as a percent of cash collections was primarily due to increased account representative efficiency and improved collection strategies. Traditional call center collections per full-time equivalent account representative increased to $168,708 for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared to $150,178 for the same period in 2003. Average headcount of full-time equivalent account representatives increased to 908 for the fiscal year of 2004 from 800 during the same period in 2003.
Collections Expense. Collections expense increased to $56.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, reflecting an increase of $13.2 million, or 30.4%, over $43.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was primarily attributable to the increased number of accounts on which we were collecting. Collections expense decreased to 21.3% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2004 from 22.1% of cash collections for the year ended December 31, 2003. This decrease was primarily due to decreases in amounts spent for collection letters, credit reports and legal expenses, as a percentage of cash collections, as we continue to improve and refine our collection strategies.
Occupancy. Occupancy expense was $6.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $1.5 million, or 31.9%, over occupancy expense of $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was primarily attributable to the relocation of our Florida office to Riverview, Florida in January 2004, the relocation of our Phoenix, Arizona office in November 2003, the addition of our Chicago, Illinois office in September 2003 and the relocation of our headquarters in Warren, Michigan in November 2004.
Administrative. Administrative expenses increased to $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, from $3.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, reflecting a $2.4 million, or 74.2%, increase. The increase in administrative expenses was principally a result of the increased number of accounts being processed, additional expenses related to being a public company and one-time expenses related to moving our headquarters during the fourth quarter of 2004.
Depreciation. Depreciation expense was $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $0.3 million or 12.0% over depreciation expense of $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was due to capital expenditures during 2004 and 2003, which were required to support the increased number of accounts serviced by us and the purchase of furniture and technology equipment in our new and expanded facilities.
Interest Income. Interest income was $28,191 during 2004, reflecting an increase of $24,657 compared to interest income of $3,534 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was primarily due to interest received related to our increased cash position over the prior year.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, reflecting a decrease of $5.5 million, or 75.9%, compared to interest expense of $7.2 million for the year ended December 31,
40
2003. During February 2004, we paid in full a related party debt of $40.0 million, which resulted in a reduction in interest expense of $3.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2004 from the same period in the prior year. Additionally, the decrease in interest expense was due to lower average borrowings on our line of credit, which decreased to $16.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $66.2 million for the same period in 2003. The reduction in our average borrowings was due to repayment of $37.7 million of debt from the proceeds of the initial public offering and cash generated from operations. Interest expense included the amortization of capitalized bank fees of $283,700 and $294,899 for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Income Taxes. Income taxes of $29.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 included a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million resulting from RBR Holding Corp.’s change in tax status from an S corporation to a C corporation after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. during the first quarter of 2004.
Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 (excluding the deferred tax charge related to RBR Holding Corp.) reflected income tax expense on 60% of pretax income for the period January 1, 2004 through February 4, 2004, as RBR Holding Corp. (40% owner of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC) was taxed as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns. Income taxes during the period February 5, 2004 through December 31, 2004 reflected income tax expense on 100% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. as part of the Reorganization. Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2003 of $10.3 million reflected income tax expense on 60% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. was taxed as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns.
41
Supplemental Performance Data
Portfolio Performance
The following table summarizes our historical portfolio purchase price and cash collections on an annual vintage basis since 1990 through December 31, 2005.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total Estimated
| |
| | | | | | | | Cash Collections
| | | Estimated
| | | Total
| | | Collections as a
| |
| | Number of
| | | Purchase
| | | Including Cash
| | | Remaining
| | | Estimated
| | | Percentage of
| |
Purchase Period | | Portfolios | | | Price(1) | | | Sales(2) | | | Collections | | | Collections | | | Purchase Price(2) | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
|
1990 | | | 9 | | | $ | 638 | | | $ | 3,133 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,133 | | | | 491 | % |
1991 | | | 12 | | | | 280 | | | | 1,482 | | | | — | | | | 1,482 | | | | 529 | |
1992 | | | 29 | | | | 309 | | | | 2,929 | | | | — | | | | 2,929 | | | | 948 | |
1993 | | | 30 | | | | 790 | | | | 7,884 | | | | — | | | | 7,884 | | | | 998 | |
1994 | | | 36 | | | | 1,427 | | | | 6,916 | | | | — | | | | 6,916 | | | | 485 | |
1995 | | | 53 | | | | 1,519 | | | | 7,873 | | | | — | | | | 7,873 | | | | 518 | |
1996 | | | 46 | | | | 3,844 | | | | 17,197 | | | | 306 | | | | 17,503 | | | | 455 | |
1997 | | | 45 | | | | 4,345 | | | | 28,198 | | | | 1,217 | | | | 29,415 | | | | 677 | |
1998 | | | 61 | | | | 16,411 | | | | 77,884 | | | | 6,705 | | | | 84,589 | | | | 515 | |
1999 | | | 51 | | | | 12,925 | | | | 55,927 | | | | 8,568 | | | | 64,495 | | | | 499 | |
2000 | | | 49 | | | | 20,595 | | | | 106,951 | | | | 25,807 | | | | 132,758 | | | | 645 | |
2001 | | | 62 | | | | 43,132 | | | | 205,575 | | | | 74,209 | | | | 279,784 | | | | 649 | |
2002 | | | 94 | | | | 72,287 | | | | 233,323 | | | | 152,917 | | | | 386,240 | | | | 534 | |
2003 | | | 76 | | | | 87,311 | | | | 225,031 | | | | 273,809 | | | | 498,840 | | | | 571 | |
2004 | | | 106 | | | | 87,364 | | | | 91,719 | | | | 267,044 | | | | 358,763 | | | | 411 | |
2005 | | | 104 | | | | 102,262 | | | | 23,459 | | | | 286,954 | | | | 310,413 | | | | 304 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 863 | | | $ | 455,439 | | | $ | 1,095,481 | | | $ | 1,097,536 | | | $ | 2,193,017 | | | | 482 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less the purchase price refunded by a seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks) less the purchase price for accounts that were sold at the time of purchase to another debt purchaser. |
(2) | | For purposes of this table, cash collections include selected cash sales, which were entered into subsequent to purchase. Cash sales, however, exclude the sales of portfolios, which occurred at the time of purchase. |
The following table summarizes the remaining unamortized balances of our purchased receivables portfolios by year of purchase as of December 31, 2005.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Unamortized
| | | Unamortized
| |
| | Unamortized
| | | | | | Balance as a
| | | Balance as a
| |
| | Balance as of
| | | Purchase
| | | Percentage of
| | | Percentage of
| |
Purchase Period | | December 31, 2005 | | | Price(1) | | | Purchase Price(2) | | | Total | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
|
2000 | | $ | 61 | | | $ | 20,595 | | | | 0.30 | % | | | 0.02 | % |
2001 | | | 5,210 | | | | 43,132 | | | | 12.08 | | | | 2.09 | |
2002 | | | 27,935 | | | | 72,287 | | | | 38.64 | | | | 11.23 | |
2003 | | | 52,322 | | | | 87,311 | | | | 59.93 | | | | 21.01 | |
2004 | | | 67,501 | | | | 87,364 | | | | 77.26 | | | | 27.11 | |
2005 | | | 95,962 | | | | 102,262 | | | | 93.84 | | | | 38.54 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 248,991 | | | $ | 412,951 | | | | 60.30 | % | | | 100.00 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less the purchase price refunded by a seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks) less the purchase price for accounts that were sold at the time of purchase to another debt purchaser. |
(2) | | For purposes of this table, cash collections include selected cash sales, which were entered into subsequent to purchase. Cash sales, however, exclude the sales of portfolios, which occurred at the time of purchase. |
42
Account Representative Productivity and Turnover
We measure traditional call center account representative productivity by two major categories, those with less than one year of experience and those with one or more years of experience. The following tables display our results.
Account Representatives by Experience
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Year Ended
| |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Number of account representatives: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
One year or more(1) | | | 510 | | | | 471 | | | | 322 | |
Less than one year(2) | | | 540 | | | | 437 | | | | 478 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 1,050 | | | | 908 | | | | 800 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | Based on number of average traditional call center Full Time Equivalent (“FTE”) account representatives with one or more years of service. |
|
(2) | | Based on number of average traditional call center FTE account representatives with less than one year of service, including new employees in training. |
Collection Averages by Experience
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Year Ended
| |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Collection averages: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
One year or more(1) | | $ | 199,734 | | | $ | 195,426 | | | $ | 171,506 | |
Less than one year(2) | | | 117,859 | | | | 139,891 | | | | 135,792 | |
Overall average | | | 157,661 | | | | 168,708 | | | | 150,178 | |
| | |
(1) | | Based on number of traditional call center FTE account representatives with one or more years of service. |
|
(2) | | Based on number of traditional call center FTE account representatives with less than one year of service, including new employees in training. |
We believe that account representative productivity is adversely impacted by increases in account representative turnover. Generally, collection averages increase for account representatives as they gain experience. The following table provides annualized account representative turnover data for traditional collections for 2005, 2004 and 2003:
Turnover by Experience
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Year Ended
| |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Account representatives turnover: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
One year or more(1) | | | 39.3 | % | | | 38.4 | % | | | 28.1 | % |
Less than one year(2) | | | 117.8 | | | | 103.3 | | | | 96.1 | |
Total turnover | | | 78.8 | | | | 69.0 | | | | 71.3 | |
| | |
(1) | | Based on number of traditional call center account representatives with one or more years of service. |
|
(2) | | Based on number of traditional call center account representatives with less than one year of service, including new employees in training. |
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Cash Collections
The following tables provide further detailed vintage collection analysis on an annual and a cumulative basis.
Historical Collections(1)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase
| | Purchase
| | | Year Ended December 31, | |
Period | | Price(2) | | | 1994 | | | 1995 | | | 1996 | | | 1997 | | | 1998 | | | 1999 | | | 2000 | | | 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
|
Pre-1994 | | $ | 3,067 | | | $ | 2,540 | | | $ | 1,788 | | | $ | 1,285 | | | $ | 834 | | | $ | 649 | | | $ | 555 | | | $ | 437 | | | $ | 302 | | | $ | 324 | | | $ | 243 | | | $ | 245 | |
1994 | | $ | 1,427 | | | | 345 | | | | 1,763 | | | | 1,430 | | | | 1,005 | | | | 647 | | | | 457 | | | | 357 | | | | 258 | | | | 176 | | | | 188 | | | | 126 | | | | 130 | |
1995 | | | 1,519 | | | | — | | | | 388 | | | | 1,566 | | | | 1,659 | | | | 1,118 | | | | 786 | | | | 708 | | | | 472 | | | | 343 | | | | 278 | | | | 227 | | | | 212 | |
1996 | | | 3,844 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 827 | | | | 3,764 | | | | 3,085 | | | | 2,601 | | | | 2,098 | | | | 1,440 | | | | 1,041 | | | | 816 | | | | 687 | | | | 683 | |
1997 | | | 4,345 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,682 | | | | 4,919 | | | | 5,573 | | | | 5,017 | | | | 3,563 | | | | 2,681 | | | | 1,784 | | | | 1,526 | | | | 1,342 | |
1998 | | | 16,411 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 4,835 | | | | 15,220 | | | | 15,045 | | | | 12,962 | | | | 11,021 | | | | 7,987 | | | | 5,582 | | | | 4,653 | |
1999 | | | 12,925 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,761 | | | | 11,331 | | | | 10,862 | | | | 9,750 | | | | 8,278 | | | | 6,675 | | | | 5,022 | |
2000 | | | 20,595 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,895 | | | | 23,444 | | | | 22,559 | | | | 20,318 | | | | 17,196 | | | | 14,062 | |
2001 | | | 43,132 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,630 | | | | 50,327 | | | | 50,967 | | | | 45,713 | | | | 39,865 | |
2002 | | | 72,287 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 22,340 | | | | 70,813 | | | | 72,024 | | | | 67,649 | |
2003 | | | 87,311 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 36,067 | | | | 94,564 | | | | 94,234 | |
2004 | | | 87,364 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23,365 | | | | 68,354 | |
2005 | | | 102,262 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23,459 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 3,412 | | | $ | 4,691 | | | $ | 5,611 | | | $ | 9,395 | | | $ | 15,438 | | | $ | 29,047 | | | $ | 44,006 | | | $ | 71,068 | | | $ | 120,540 | | | $ | 197,820 | | | $ | 267,928 | | | $ | 319,910 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cumulative Collections(1)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase
| | Purchase
| | | Total Through December 31, | |
Period | | Price(2) | | | 1994 | | | 1995 | | | 1996 | | | 1997 | | | 1998 | | | 1999 | | | 2000 | | | 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
|
1994 | | $ | 1,427 | | | $ | 345 | | | $ | 2,108 | | | $ | 3,538 | | | $ | 4,543 | | | $ | 5,190 | | | $ | 5,647 | | | $ | 6,004 | | | $ | 6,262 | | | $ | 6,438 | | | $ | 6,626 | | | $ | 6,752 | | | $ | 6,882 | |
1995 | | | 1,519 | | | | — | | | | 388 | | | | 1,954 | | | | 3,613 | | | | 4,731 | | | | 5,517 | | | | 6,225 | | | | 6,697 | | | | 7,040 | | | | 7,318 | | | | 7,545 | | | | 7,757 | |
1996 | | | 3,844 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 827 | | | | 4,591 | | | | 7,676 | | | | 10,277 | | | | 12,375 | | | | 13,815 | | | | 14,856 | | | | 15,672 | | | | 16,359 | | | | 17,042 | |
1997 | | | 4,345 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,682 | | | | 6,601 | | | | 12,174 | | | | 17,191 | | | | 20,754 | | | | 23,435 | | | | 25,219 | | | | 26,745 | | | | 28,087 | |
1998 | | | 16,411 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 4,835 | | | | 20,055 | | | | 35,100 | | | | 48,062 | | | | 59,083 | | | | 67,070 | | | | 72,652 | | | | 77,305 | |
1999 | | | 12,925 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,761 | | | | 15,092 | | | | 25,954 | | | | 35,704 | | | | 43,982 | | | | 50,657 | | | | 55,679 | |
2000 | | | 20,595 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 8,895 | | | | 32,339 | | | | 54,898 | | | | 75,216 | | | | 92,412 | | | | 106,474 | |
2001 | | | 43,132 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 17,630 | | | | 67,957 | | | | 118,924 | | | | 164,637 | | | | 204,502 | |
2002 | | | 72,287 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 22,340 | | | | 93,153 | | | | 165,177 | | | | 232,825 | |
2003 | | | 87,311 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 36,067 | | | | 130,631 | | | | 224,866 | |
2004 | | | 87,364 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23,365 | | | | 91,719 | |
2005 | | | 102,262 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23,459 | |
Cumulative Collections as Percentage of Purchase Price(1)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase
| | Purchase
| | | Total Through December 31, | |
Period | | Price(2) | | | 1994 | | | 1995 | | | 1996 | | | 1997 | | | 1998 | | | 1999 | | | 2000 | | | 2001 | | | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
|
1994 | | $ | 1,427 | | | | 24 | % | | | 148 | % | | | 248 | % | | | 318 | % | | | 364 | % | | | 396 | % | | | 421 | % | | | 439 | % | | | 451 | % | | | 464 | % | | | 473 | % | | | 482 | % |
1995 | | | 1,519 | | | | — | | | | 26 | | | | 129 | | | | 238 | | | | 311 | | | | 363 | | | | 410 | | | | 441 | | | | 463 | | | | 482 | | | | 497 | | | | 511 | |
1996 | | | 3,844 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 22 | | | | 119 | | | | 200 | | | | 267 | | | | 322 | | | | 359 | | | | 386 | | | | 408 | | | | 426 | | | | 443 | |
1997 | | | 4,345 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 39 | | | | 152 | | | | 280 | | | | 396 | | | | 478 | | | | 539 | | | | 580 | | | | 616 | | | | 646 | |
1998 | | | 16,411 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 29 | | | | 122 | | | | 214 | | | | 293 | | | | 360 | | | | 409 | | | | 443 | | | | 471 | |
1999 | | | 12,925 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 29 | | | | 117 | | | | 201 | | | | 276 | | | | 340 | | | | 392 | | | | 431 | |
2000 | | | 20,595 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 43 | | | | 157 | | | | 267 | | | | 365 | | | | 449 | | | | 517 | |
2001 | | | 43,132 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 41 | | | | 158 | | | | 276 | | | | 382 | | | | 474 | |
2002 | | | 72,287 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 31 | | | | 129 | | | | 229 | | | | 322 | |
2003 | | | 87,311 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 41 | | | | 150 | | | | 258 | |
2004 | | | 87,364 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 27 | | | | 105 | |
2005 | | | 102,262 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 23 | |
| | |
(1) | | Does not include proceeds from sales of any receivables. |
|
(2) | | Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less the purchase price refunded by a seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks) less the purchase price for accounts that were sold at the time of purchase to another debt purchaser. |
44
Seasonality
Our business depends on our ability to collect on our purchased portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables. Collections within portfolios tend to be seasonally higher in the first and second quarters of the year due to consumers’ receipt of tax refunds and other factors. Conversely, collections within portfolios tend to be lower in the third and fourth quarters of the year due to consumers’ spending in connection with summer vacations, the holiday season and other factors. Our historical growth in purchased portfolios and in our resultant quarterly cash collections has helped to minimize the effect of seasonal cash collections. Operating expenses are seasonally higher during the first and second quarters of the year due to expenses necessary to process the increase in cash collections. However, revenue recognized is relatively level due to the application of the interest method for revenue recognition. In addition, our operating results may be affected to a lesser extent by the timing of purchases of charged-off consumer receivables due to the initial costs associated with purchasing and integrating these receivables into our system. Consequently, income and margins may fluctuate from quarter to quarter.
Below is a chart that illustrates our quarterly collections for years 2001 through 2005.
Cash Collections
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Quarter | | 2001 | | 2002 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2005 |
First | | $ | 15,592,577 | | | $ | 27,297,721 | | | $ | 44,017,730 | | | $ | 65,196,055 | | | $ | 80,397,640 | |
Second | | | 17,661,537 | | | | 30,475,078 | | | | 51,190,533 | | | | 67,566,031 | | | | 84,862,856 | |
Third | | | 17,766,800 | | | | 29,337,914 | | | | 48,622,829 | | | | 66,825,822 | | | | 78,159,364 | |
Fourth | | | 20,046,733 | | | | 33,429,419 | | | | 53,988,333 | | | | 68,339,797 | | | | 76,490,350 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total cash collections | | $ | 71,067,647 | | | $ | 120,540,132 | | | $ | 197,819,425 | | | $ | 267,927,705 | | | $ | 319,910,210 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Below is a table that illustrates the percentages by source of our total cash collections:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ending December 31, | |
| | 2002 | | | 2003 | | | 2004 | | | 2005 | |
|
Traditional collections | | | 66.57 | % | | | 60.67 | % | | | 57.20 | % | | | 51.77 | % |
Legal collections | | | 24.17 | | | | 28.52 | | | | 30.98 | | | | 35.85 | |
Other collections | | | 9.26 | | | | 10.81 | | | | 11.82 | | | | 12.38 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total cash collections | | | 100.00 | % | | | 100.00 | % | | | 100.00 | % | | | 100.00 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, our primary sources of cash have been from operations and bank borrowings. However, during the first quarter of 2004, we completed our initial public offering and used $77.7 million of the proceeds to reduce our
45
outstanding debt. We have traditionally used cash for acquisitions of purchased receivables, repayment of bank borrowings, purchasing property and equipment and working capital to support growth.
Borrowings
We maintain a $100.0 million line of credit secured by a first priority lien on all of our assets that expires in May 2008 and bears interest at prime or 25 basis points over prime depending upon our liquidity, as defined in the credit agreement. Alternately, at our discretion, we may borrow by entering into 30, 60 or90-day LIBOR contracts at rates between 150 to 250 basis points over the respective LIBOR rates, depending on our liquidity. Our line of credit includes an accordion loan feature that allows us to request a $20.0 million increase in the credit facility. The line of credit has certain covenants and restrictions that we must comply with, which, as of December 31, 2005, we believe we were in compliance with, including:
| | |
| • | funds borrowed can be used to purchase portfolios of charged-off receivables and for general corporate purposes; |
|
| • | leverage ratio (as defined in the line of credit agreement) cannot exceed 1.5 to 1.0; |
|
| • | debt to total capitalization ratio (as defined in the line of credit agreement) cannot exceed 1.25 to 1.0; and |
|
| • | tangible net worth must exceed $145.0 million plus 50% of net income after September 30, 2004, which required a balance of $176.9 million as of December 31, 2005. |
During February 2004, we used $37.7 million of the proceeds from our initial public offering to reduce the outstanding amount on our line of credit. There was no outstanding balance on our line of credit at December 31, 2005.
At December 31, 2003, we had a note payable outstanding to a related party totaling $39.6 million including principal and accrued interest. During February 2004, we used $40.0 million of the proceeds from our initial public offering to pay our related party debt in full.
Cash Flows
The majority of our purchases have been funded with internal cash flow. For the year ended December 31, 2005, we invested $100.2 million in purchased receivables, net of buybacks, while only borrowing $13.5 million against our line of credit, which was subsequently repaid and had no outstanding balance as of December 31, 2005. Our cash balance has increased from $14.2 million at December 31, 2004 to $50.5 million as of December 31, 2005.
Our operating activities provided cash of $90.7 million, $62.7 million and $47.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 were generated primarily from net income earned through cash collections. Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 was reduced by a $19.0 million cash payment of withholding taxes and employer taxes related to the share appreciation rights.
Investing activities used cash of $54.2 million, $36.4 million and $49.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash used for investing purposes was primarily due to acquisitions of purchased receivables, net of cash collections applied to principal.
Financing activities used cash of $0.2 million and $17.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Financing activities provided cash of $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Cash used by financing activities in 2005 was primarily due to repayments on capital lease obligations. Cash used by financing activities in 2004 was primarily due to repayments on our line of credit, net of borrowings, and the repayment of our related party notes payable offset by proceeds from our initial public offering. Cash provided by financing activities for the year 2003 was primarily due to borrowings on our line of credit and from related parties, net of repayments.
Cash paid for interest was $0.3 million, $1.5 million and $3.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash paid for interest consisted of $0.3 million for the line of credit for the year ended December 31, 2005. Cash paid for interest consisted of $1.1 million for the line of credit and $0.4 million paid for
46
the related party debt for the year ended December 31, 2004. Cash paid for interest consisted of $3.2 million for the line of credit for the year ended December 31, 2003.
We believe that cash generated from operations combined with borrowing available under our line of credit, should be sufficient to fund our operations for the next 12 months, although no assurance can be given in this regard. In the future, if we need additional capital for investment in purchased receivables, working capital or to grow our business or acquire other businesses, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or we may seek to increase the availability under our line of credit.
Future Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table summarizes our future contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2005:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ending December 31, | | | | |
| | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2008(3) | | | 2009 | | | 2010 | | | Thereafter | |
|
Capital lease obligations(1) | | $ | 129,173 | | | $ | 54,682 | | | $ | 9,514 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
Operating lease obligations | | | 6,114,629 | | | | 5,894,124 | | | | 4,959,037 | | | | 4,130,472 | | | | 3,363,355 | | | | 11,964,109 | |
Purchased receivables(2) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Line of credit(3) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Employment agreements(4) | | | 976,250 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 7,220,052 | | | $ | 5,948,806 | | | $ | 4,968,551 | | | $ | 4,130,472 | | | $ | 3,363,355 | | | $ | 11,964,109 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | In January 2006, we entered into an amendment with respect to the lease for the Brooklyn Heights, Ohio facility. The amendment will increase our square footage from 22,640 to 30,443 on or before November 1, 2006. In addition, the amendment extended the expiration of our lease agreement from September 30, 2006 to October 31, 2011 with an increase in the future minimum contractual obligation from $256,267 in 2006 to approximately $322,200, $395,700, $395,700, $395,800, 395,800 and $329,800 in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and thereafter, respectively. |
|
(2) | | During 2004, we entered into five forward flow contracts that commit us to purchase receivables for a fixed percentage of the face value of the receivables. Three of the five forward flow contracts were renewed during 2005 with only one of these forward flow contracts having terms beyond December 2005 and expiring in February 2006. The remainder of the one contract calls for monthly purchases of approximately $171,000, depending upon circumstances. There were no new contracts entered into during 2005. |
|
(3) | | To the extent that a balance is outstanding on our line of credit, it would be due in May 2008. There was no outstanding balance on our line of credit as of December 31, 2005. |
|
(4) | | On February 14, 2006, Mr. Reitzel announced his retirement from his position as Chairman of the Board and as director. Mr. Reitzel’s intentions of retirement, which will become effective on February 28, 2006 and will reduce the Company’s future contractual cash obligations by $335,417. |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We currently do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies
We utilize the interest method of accounting for our purchased receivables because we believe that the amounts and timing of cash collections for our purchased receivables can be reasonably estimated. This belief is predicated on our historical results and our knowledge of the industry. The interest method is prescribed by the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice Bulletin 6 (“PB 6”), “Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans” as well as the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Statement of Position 03-3(“SOP 03-3”), “Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.”
The provisions ofSOP 03-3 were adopted by us in January 2005 and apply to purchased receivables acquired after December 31, 2004. The provisions ofSOP 03-3 that relate to decreases in expected cash flows amend PB 6 for
47
consistent treatment and apply prospectively to receivables acquired before January 1, 2005. Purchased receivables acquired before January 1, 2005 will continue to be accounted for under PB 6, as amended, for provisions related to decreases in expected cash flows.
Each static pool of receivables is statistically modeled to determine its projected cash flows based on historical cash collections for pools with similar characteristics. An internal rate of return (“IRR”) is calculated for each static pool of receivables based on the projected cash flows. The IRR is applied to the remaining balance of each static pool of accounts to determine the revenue recognized. Each static pool is analyzed at least quarterly to assess the actual performance compared to the expected performance. To the extent there are differences in actual performance versus expected performance, the IRR is adjusted prospectively to reflect the revised estimate of cash flows over the remaining life of the static pool. Effective January 2005, underSOP 03-3, if the revised cash flow estimates are less than the original estimates, the IRR remains unchanged and an impairment is recognized. If cash flow estimates increase subsequent to recording an impairment, reversal of the previously recognized impairment is made prior to any increases to the IRR.
Application of the interest method of accounting requires the use of estimates to calculate a projected IRR for each pool. These estimates are based on historical cash collections. If future cash collections are materially different in amount or timing than projected cash collections, earnings could be affected, either positively or negatively. Higher collection amounts or cash collections that occur sooner than projected cash collections will have a favorable impact on reversal of impairments, yields and revenues. Lower collection amounts or cash collections that occur later than projected cash collections will have an unfavorable impact and result in an impairment being recorded.
New Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123(R) requires all stock-based compensation awards granted to employees be recognized in the consolidated financial statements at fair value, similar to that prescribed under SFAS No. 123 and is effective for first fiscal period beginning after June 15, 2005. We adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 effective January 2004 and therefore, adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
| |
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
Our exposure to market risk relates to the interest rate risk with our variable line of credit. The average borrowings on the variable line of credit were $0.2 million, $16.1 million and $66.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Assuming a 200 basis point increase in interest rates on our variable rate debt, interest expense would have increased approximately $3,000, $306,000 and $625,000 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The estimated increases in interest expense are based on the portion of our variable interest debt that is not offset by interest rate swap agreements and assumes no changes in the volume or composition of the debt. As of December 31, 2005, we did not have any borrowings against our variable line of credit. We currently do not have any swap or hedge agreements outstanding.
| |
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
The financial statements filed herewith are set forth on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements onpage F-1 of the separate financial section of this Annual Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
| |
Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
None.
| |
Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the
48
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant toRule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to cause material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.
| |
Item 9B. | Other Information |
None.
PART III
| |
Item 10. | Directors And Executive Officers Of The Registrant |
The other information required by Item 10 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held May 16, 2006 which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company has adopted a code of business conduct applicable to all directors, officers and employees, which complies with the definition of a “code of ethics” set forth in Section 406(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the requirement of a “code of ethics” prescribed by Rule 4350(n) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules. The code of business conduct is accessible at no charge on the Company’s website at www.assetacceptance.com.
| |
Item 11. | Executive Compensation |
The information required by Item 11 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.
| |
Item 12. | Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Stockholder Matters |
The information required by Item 12 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference. The Company also incorporates herein by reference the Equity Compensation Plan information contained in Item 5 of this Annual Report.
| |
Item 13. | Certain Relationships And Related Transactions |
The information required by Item 13 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.
| |
Item 14. | Principal Accounting Fees And Services |
The information required by Item 14 is included in the Proxy Statement for the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
| |
Item 15. | Exhibits and Consolidated Financial Statements |
(a) The financial statements filed herewith are set forth in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements onpage F-1 of the separate financial section of this Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Annual Report.
49
The following exhibits were previously filed unless otherwise indicated.
| | | | |
Exhibit
| | |
Number | | Description |
|
| 2 | .1 | | Asset Contribution and Securities Purchase Agreement among Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, AAC Holding Corp., Consumer Credit Corp., their respective shareholders and AAC Investors, Inc. dated September 30, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 2 | .2 | | Share Exchange Agreement dated October 24, 2003, among Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and the other parties thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 3 | .1 | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 3 | .2 | | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 4 | .1 | | Form of Common Stock Certificate. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .1 | | Credit Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC, Consumer Credit, LLC, Bank One, N.A., Standard Federal Bank, N.A., National City Bank of Michigan/ Illinois, Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan, Comerica Bank and Bank One, N.A., as Agent, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .2 | | CC Option Agreement dated September 30, 2002 between Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .3 | | Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and its stockholders. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .4 | | Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan effective as of September 30, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .5 | | Form of Share Appreciation Rights Agreement used in connection with grants under the Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC Year 2002 Share Appreciation Rights Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .6 | | Form of 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .7 | | Lease dated November 17, 2000 between Brooklyn Heights Business Park Limited and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located at 600 Safeguard Plaza, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .8 | | Industrial Gross Lease Agreement dated June 28, 2000 between Nottingham Village, Inc. and Asset Acceptance Corp, as successor to Alegis Group, L.P. and Sherman Financial Group, LLC, for the property located at 9940 Franklin Square Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .9 | | Lease dated February 15, 2002 between Alpha Drive Development Associates, L.L.C. and Asset Acceptance Corp. for the property located at 48325 Alpha Drive, Wixom, Michigan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (Registration No.333-109987)) |
| | | | |
50
| | | | |
Exhibit
| | |
Number | | Description |
|
| 10 | .10 | | Lease Agreement dated April 25, 2003 between Northpoint Atrium Limited Partnership and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the property located at 10500 Heritage Street, San Antonio, Texas. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .11 | | Lease Agreement dated July 25, 2003 between Orsett/ Piedmont Limited Liability Company and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the property located at 9801 South 51st Street, Phoenix, Arizona. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .12 | | Business Lease dated August 25, 2003 between First Industrial Development Services, Inc. and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the property located in Hilsborough County, Florida, as amended by First Amendment to Lease dated December 29, 2003. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .13 | | Lease Agreement dated October 31, 2003 by and between Van Dyke Office LLC and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the property located at 28405 Van Dyke Avenue, Warren, Michigan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (Registration No.333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .14 | | Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and the form of Amendment No. 1 thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .15 | | Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Nathaniel F. Bradley IV and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and the form of Amendment No. 1 thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .16 | | Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Mark A. Redman and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and the form of Amendment No. 1 thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .17 | | Employment Agreement dated September 30, 2002, between Heather K. Reitzel and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and the form of Amendment No. 1 thereto. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .18 | | Agreement between Ontario Systems Corporation and Lee Acceptance Corp. dated June 26, 1992, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-109987)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .19 | | Third Amendment To Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 by and among Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC, and Consumer Credit, LLC, and Med-Fi Acceptance, LLC, Bank One, NA, Standard Federal Bank, NA, National City Bank Of Michigan/ Illinois, Fifth Third Bank, Eastern Michigan, and Comerica Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .20 | | Guaranty Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 by Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .21 | | Guaranty Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 by Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .22 | | Guaranty Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 by RBR Holding Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .23 | | Guaranty Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2004 by AAC Investors, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Annual Report onForm 10-K originally filed on March 25, 2004) |
| | | | |
51
| | | | |
Exhibit
| | |
Number | | Description |
|
| 10 | .24 | | Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 previously filed with our Current Report onForm 8-K, originally filed on December 30, 2004) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .25 | | First Amendment to Lease Agreement and Second Amendment to Lease Agreement (for property located at 28405 Van Dyke Avenue, Warren, Michigan). (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-123178)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .26* | | Second Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2005, between Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .27* | | Second Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2005, between Nathaniel F. Bradley IV and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .28* | | Second Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2005, between Mark A. Redman and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .29* | | Second Amendment To Employment Agreement, dated December 23, 2005, between Heather K. Reitzel and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .30* | | Lease Agreement dated April 25, 2005 between 55 E. Jackson LLC and Asset Acceptance, LLC for the property located at 55 E. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 10 | .31* | | Second Amendment to Lease Agreement (for property located at 600 Safeguard Plaza, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio). |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 21 | .1 | | Subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 filed with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Registration Statement onForm S-1 (RegistrationNo. 333-123178)) |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 31 | .1* | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer dated February 24, 2006 relating to the Registrant’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 31 | .2* | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer dated February 24, 2006, relating to the Registrant’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| 32 | .1* | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Registrant, dated February 24, 2006, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, relating to the Registrant’s Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 |
52
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant certifies that it has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Warren, State of Michigan on February 24, 2006.
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| | |
| By: | /s/ NATHANIEL F. BRADLEY IV |
Nathaniel F. Bradley IV,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 24, 2006.
| | | | |
Signature | | Title |
|
/s/ NATHANIEL F. BRADLEY IV Nathaniel F. Bradley IV | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) |
| | |
/s/ MARK A. REDMAN Mark A. Redman | | Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) |
| | |
/s/ JENNIFER ADAMS Jennifer Adams | | Director |
| | |
/s/ TERRENCE D. DANIELS Terrence D. Daniels | | Director |
| | |
/s/ DONALD HAIDER Donald Haider | | Director |
| | |
/s/ ANTHONY R. IGNACZAK Anthony R. Ignaczak | | Director |
| | |
/s/ WILLIAM I. JACOBS William I. Jacobs | | Director |
| | |
/s/ H. EUGENE LOCKHART H. Eugene Lockhart | | Director |
| | |
/s/ WILLIAM F. PICKARD William F. Pickard | | Director |
| | |
/s/ RUFUS H. REITZEL, JR. Rufus H. Reitzel, Jr. | | Director |
53
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
Consolidated Financial Statements
| | | | |
| | Page |
|
| | | F-2 | |
| | | F-3 | |
| | | F-4 | |
| | | F-5 | |
| | | F-6 | |
| | | F-7 | |
| | | F-8 | |
| | | F-9 | |
F-1
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (the “Company”) management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Exchange ActRules 13a-15(f). The Company’s internal control system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the Company’s management assessed the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 based on the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”).
Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2005, based on the COSO criteria. Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. That report is included herein.
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
/s/ Nathaniel F. Bradley IV
President and Chief Executive Officer
February 24, 2006
/s/ Mark A. Redman
Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial Officer
February 24, 2006
F-2
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM — INTERNAL CONTROL
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 and our report dated February 24, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 24, 2006
F-3
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for investments in purchased receivables in accordance with the Statement of Position 03-3,Accounting for Certain Loans of Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Detroit, Michigan
February 24, 2006
F-4
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31,
| | | December 31,
| |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
ASSETS |
Cash | | $ | 50,518,934 | | | $ | 14,204,579 | |
Purchased receivables | | | 248,990,772 | | | | 216,479,676 | |
Finance contract receivables, net | | | 3,925,581 | | | | 688,497 | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 10,747,627 | | | | 11,165,103 | |
Goodwill | | | 6,339,574 | | | | 6,339,574 | |
Other assets | | | 3,419,367 | | | | 3,628,291 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 323,941,855 | | | $ | 252,505,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Deferred tax liability, net | | $ | 58,583,604 | | | $ | 41,246,766 | |
Accounts payable and other liabilities | | | 15,710,953 | | | | 13,824,600 | |
Capital lease obligations | | | 186,944 | | | | 254,185 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 74,481,501 | | | | 55,325,551 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding | | | — | | | | — | |
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding shares — 37,225,275 at December 31, 2005 and 2004 | | | 372,253 | | | | 372,253 | |
Additional paid in capital | | | 160,361,599 | | | | 159,348,233 | |
Retained earnings | | | 88,726,502 | | | | 37,459,683 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 249,460,354 | | | | 197,180,169 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 323,941,855 | | | $ | 252,505,720 | |
| | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
F-5
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchased receivable revenues | | $ | 252,195,740 | | | $ | 213,723,161 | | | $ | 159,628,308 | |
Gain (loss) on sale of purchased receivables | | | (25,982 | ) | | | 467,670 | | | | — | |
Finance contract revenues | | | 514,109 | | | | 562,299 | | | | 564,965 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | | 252,683,867 | | | | 214,753,130 | | | | 160,193,273 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | | | 76,107,311 | | | | 111,034,466 | | | | 51,295,872 | |
Collections expense | | | 73,974,369 | | | | 56,948,596 | | | | 43,655,871 | |
Occupancy | | | 8,352,320 | | | | 6,108,996 | | | | 4,632,958 | |
Administrative | | | 8,581,389 | | | | 5,677,445 | | | | 3,259,574 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 3,339,146 | | | | 2,880,857 | | | | 2,572,053 | |
Loss on disposal of equipment | | | 32,088 | | | | 97,652 | | | | 4,151 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total operating expenses | | | 170,386,623 | | | | 182,748,012 | | | | 105,420,479 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 82,297,244 | | | | 32,005,118 | | | | 54,772,794 | |
Other income (expense) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | | 1,142,888 | | | | 28,191 | | | | 3,534 | |
Interest expense | | | (567,377 | ) | | | (1,737,263 | ) | | | (7,198,914 | ) |
Other | | | 51,085 | | | | 83,762 | | | | 448,793 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | | | 82,923,840 | | | | 30,379,808 | | | | 48,026,207 | |
Income taxes | | | 31,657,021 | | | | 29,633,330 | | | | 10,283,362 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 51,266,819 | | | $ | 746,478 | | | $ | 37,742,845 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pro forma income taxes | | $ | — | | | $ | 11,301,289 | | | $ | 17,913,775 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pro forma net income | | $ | — | | | $ | 19,078,519 | | | $ | 30,112,432 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 37,225,275 | | | | 36,385,961 | | | | 28,448,449 | |
Diluted | | | 37,270,297 | | | | 36,393,705 | | | | 28,448,449 | |
Earnings per common share outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 1.38 | | | $ | 0.02 | | | $ | 1.33 | |
Diluted | | $ | 1.38 | | | $ | 0.02 | | | $ | 1.33 | |
Pro forma earnings per common share outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | — | | | $ | 0.52 | | | $ | 1.06 | |
Diluted | | $ | — | | | $ | 0.52 | | | $ | 1.06 | |
See accompanying notes.
F-6
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Additional
| | | | | | Total
| |
| | Number of
| | | Common
| | | Paid in
| | | Retained
| | | Stockholders’
| |
| | Shares | | | Stock | | | Capital | | | Earnings | | | Equity | |
|
Balance at December 31, 2002 | | | 28,448,449 | | | $ | 284,484 | | | $ | 36,385,000 | | | $ | 4,974,018 | | | $ | 41,643,502 | |
Distributions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (5,003,658 | ) | | | (5,003,658 | ) |
Net income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 37,742,845 | | | | 37,742,845 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2003 | | | 28,448,449 | | | | 284,484 | | | | 36,385,000 | | | | 37,713,205 | | | | 74,382,689 | |
Issuance of common stock | | | 7,000,000 | | | | 70,000 | | | | 96,007,000 | | | | — | | | | 96,077,000 | |
Contribution of assets | | | — | | | | — | | | | 50,406 | | | | — | | | | 50,406 | |
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plan | | | 1,776,826 | | | | 17,769 | | | | 26,634,629 | | | | — | | | | 26,652,398 | |
Grant of options under share-based compensation plan | | | — | | | | — | | | | 271,198 | | | | — | | | | 271,198 | |
Distributions | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (1,000,000 | ) | | | (1,000,000 | ) |
Net income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 746,478 | | | | 746,478 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2004 | | | 37,225,275 | | | | 372,253 | | | | 159,348,233 | | | | 37,459,683 | | | | 197,180,169 | |
Grant of options under share-based compensation plan | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,013,366 | | | | — | | | | 1,013,366 | |
Net income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 51,266,819 | | | | 51,266,819 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at December 31, 2005 | | | 37,225,275 | | | $ | 372,253 | | | $ | 160,361,599 | | | $ | 88,726,502 | | | $ | 249,460,354 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying notes.
F-7
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 51,266,819 | | | $ | 746,478 | | | $ | 37,742,845 | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 3,339,146 | | | | 2,880,857 | | | | 2,572,053 | |
Deferred income taxes | | | 17,336,838 | | | | 29,340,997 | | | | 10,282,450 | |
Share-based compensation expense | | | 1,013,366 | | | | 26,923,596 | | | | — | |
Net impairment of purchased receivables | | | 22,285,355 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Non-cash revenue | | | (6,745,221 | ) | | | (2,316,091 | ) | | | (5,290,857 | ) |
Loss on disposal of equipment | | | 32,088 | | | | 97,652 | | | | 4,151 | |
Charge-offs of finance contracts | | | 238,538 | | | | 182,970 | | | | 203,595 | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Decrease (increase) in other assets | | | 10,918 | | | | (931,525 | ) | | | (938,300 | ) |
Increase in accounts payable and other liabilities | | | 1,886,353 | | | | 5,731,758 | | | | 3,274,632 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 90,664,200 | | | | 62,656,692 | | | | 47,850,569 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment in purchased receivables, net of buybacks | | | (100,221,771 | ) | | | (86,980,198 | ) | | | (88,574,201 | ) |
Principal collected on purchased receivables | | | 52,170,541 | | | | 56,536,280 | | | | 43,481,973 | |
Investment in finance contracts | | | (4,093,425 | ) | | | (772,372 | ) | | | (817,910 | ) |
Principal collected on finance contracts | | | 617,803 | | | | 543,435 | | | | 532,951 | |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,956 | |
Purchase of property and equipment | | | (2,662,269 | ) | | | (5,753,169 | ) | | | (3,598,624 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | | (54,189,121 | ) | | | (36,426,024 | ) | | | (48,973,855 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings under line of credit | | | 13,500,000 | | | | 45,420,000 | | | | 65,150,000 | |
Repayment of line of credit | | | (13,500,000 | ) | | | (118,370,000 | ) | | | (59,400,000 | ) |
Borrowings — related party | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,677,919 | |
Repayment — related party | | | — | | | | (39,560,110 | ) | | | — | |
Repayment of capital lease obligations | | | (160,724 | ) | | | (142,221 | ) | | | (83,000 | ) |
Distributions paid | | | — | | | | (1,000,000 | ) | | | (5,003,658 | ) |
Additional assets contributed | | | — | | | | 50,406 | | | | — | |
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of costs | | | — | | | | 96,077,000 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | | | (160,724 | ) | | | (17,524,925 | ) | | | 4,341,261 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase in cash | | | 36,314,355 | | | | 8,705,743 | | | | 3,217,975 | |
Cash at beginning of period | | | 14,204,579 | | | | 5,498,836 | | | | 2,280,861 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash at end of period | | $ | 50,518,934 | | | $ | 14,204,579 | | | $ | 5,498,836 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | 344,267 | | | $ | 1,480,520 | | | $ | 3,174,887 | |
Cash paid for income taxes | | | 11,801,891 | | | | 1,858,720 | | | | — | |
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital lease obligations incurred | | | 93,483 | | | | 177,641 | | | | 191,881 | |
See accompanying notes.
F-8
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
| |
1. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Nature of Operations
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (referred to as the “Company”) is a major purchaser of defaulted or charged-off accounts receivable portfolios. These receivables are acquired from consumer credit originators, primarily credit card issuers, consumer finance companies, retail merchants and telecommunications and other utility providers as well as from resellers and other holders of consumer debt. As part of the collection process, the Company occasionally sells receivables from these portfolios to unaffiliated companies.
The Company also finances the sales of consumer product retailers located primarily in Michigan and Florida.
Reporting Entity
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. consisting of subsidiaries AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and Asset Acceptance Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries, Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC, Rx Acquisitions, LLC and Consumer Credit, LLC (collectively referred to as the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Effective December 31, 2004, Financial Credit, LLC and CFC Financial, LLC were merged into Asset Acceptance, LLC.
On February 4, 2004, a reorganization was completed in which all of the shares of capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp. were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Prior to this reorganization, AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp. held a 60% and 40% ownership interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings, LLC, respectively. The resulting consolidated entity includes Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and Asset Acceptance Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries, Asset Acceptance, LLC, Financial Credit, LLC, CFC Financial, LLC, Rx Acquisitions, LLC and Consumer Credit, LLC. On February 5, 2004, the Company commenced an initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock.
The Company has presented pro forma income taxes and pro forma net income assuming the consolidated entity had been a C corporation for all periods presented. Tax rates used for pro forma income taxes are equal to the rates that would have been in effect had the Company been required to report tax expense in such years.
Cash
The Company maintains cash balances with high quality financial institutions. Management periodically evaluates the creditworthiness of such institutions. Cash balances may be in excess of the amounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Purchased Receivables Portfolios and Revenue Recognition
Purchased receivables are receivables that have been charged-off as uncollectible by the originating organization and typically have been subject to previous collection efforts. The Company acquires the rights to the unrecovered balances owed by individual debtors through such purchases. The receivable portfolios are purchased at a substantial discount (usually discounted 95% to 99%) from their face values and are initially recorded at the Company’s cost to acquire the portfolio. Financing for the purchases is primarily provided by the Company’s cash generated from operations and the Company’s line of credit.
The Company accounts for its investment in purchased receivables using the guidance provided by the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Statement of Position 03-3(“SOP 03-3”), “Accounting for Certain Loans of Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer” and the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Practice Bulletin 6 (“PB 6”), “Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans”. The provisions ofSOP 03-3 were adopted by the Company effective January 2005 and apply to purchased receivables acquired after December 31,
F-9
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
2004. The provisions ofSOP 03-3 that relate to decreases in expected cash flows amend PB 6 for consistent treatment and apply prospectively to receivables acquired before January 1, 2005. The Company purchases pools of homogenous accounts receivable and records each pool at its acquisition cost. Pools purchased after 2004 may be aggregated into a single pool (“static pool”), within each quarter, based on common risk characteristics. Risk characteristics of purchased receivables are assumed to be similar since purchased receivables are usually in the late stages of the post charged-off collection cycle. The Company therefore aggregates most pools purchased within each quarter. Pools purchased before 2005 may not be aggregated with other pool purchases. Each static pool, either aggregated or not aggregated, retains its own identity and does not change. Each static pool is accounted for as a single unit for recognition of revenue, principal payments and impairments.
Collections on each static pool are allocated to revenue and principal reduction based on the estimated internal rate of return (“IRR”). The IRR is the rate of return that each static pool requires to amortize the cost or carrying value of the pool to zero over its estimated life. Each pool’s IRR is determined by estimating future cash flows, which are based on historical collection data for pools with similar characteristics. Based on historical cash collections, each pool is given an expected life of 60 months. The actual life of each pool may vary, but each pool generally amortizes between 50 and 60 months. Monthly cash flows greater than revenue recognized will reduce the carrying value of each static pool and monthly cash flows lower than revenue recognized will increase the carrying value of the static pool. Each pool is reviewed at least quarterly and compared to historical pools to determine whether each static pool is performing as expected. This comparison is used to determine future estimated cash flows. Through financial statement reporting periods ended December 31, 2004, to the extent there were differences in actual performance versus expected performance, the IRR was adjusted prospectively to reflect the revised estimate of cash flows over the remaining life of the static pool. Effective January 2005, underSOP 03-3, if the revised cash flow estimates are less than the original estimates, the IRR remains unchanged and an impairment is recognized. If cash flow estimates increase subsequent to recording an impairment, reversal of the previously recognized impairment is made prior to any increases to the IRR.
The cost recovery method prescribed by PB 6 andSOP 03-3 are used when collections on a particular portfolio cannot be reasonably predicted. Under the cost recovery method, no revenue is recognized until the Company has fully collected the cost of the portfolio. As of December 31, 2005, the Company had 19 unamortized pools on the cost recovery method with an aggregate carrying value of $3.8 million or about 1.5% of the total carrying value of all purchased receivables. The Company had 48 unamortized pools on the cost recovery method with an aggregate carrying value of $5.3 million, or about 2.4% of the total carrying value of all purchased receivables as of December 31, 2004.
The agreements to purchase receivables typically include general representations and warranties from the sellers covering account holder death, bankruptcy, fraud and settled or paid accounts prior to sale. The representation and warranty period permits the return of certain accounts from the Company back to the seller. The general time frame to return accounts is within 60 to 240 days. Returns are applied against the carrying value of the static pool.
Periodically the Company will sell, on a non-recourse basis, all or a portion of a pool to third parties. The Company does not have any significant continuing involvement with the sold pools subsequent to sale. Proceeds of these sales are generally compared to the carrying value of the accounts and a gain or loss is recognized on the difference between proceeds received and carrying value. The agreements to sell receivables typically include general representation and warranties. Any accounts returned to the Company under these representations and warranties, and during the negotiated time frame, are reported net of any gains on sale or if they exceed the total reported gains for the period as a “loss on sale of purchased receivables”.
F-10
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Changes in purchased receivables portfolios for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
Beginning balance | | $ | 216,479,676 | | | $ | 183,719,667 | |
Investment in purchased receivables, net of buybacks | | | 100,221,771 | | | | 86,980,198 | |
Cost of sale of purchased receivables, net of returns | | | 3,795 | | | | (15,645 | ) |
Cash collections | | | (319,910,210 | ) | | | (267,927,705 | ) |
Purchased receivable revenues | | | 252,195,740 | | | | 213,723,161 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ending balance | | $ | 248,990,772 | | | $ | 216,479,676 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accretable yield represents the amount of revenue the Company can expect over the remaining life of the existing portfolios. Nonaccretable yield represents the difference between the remaining expected cash flows and the total contractual obligation outstanding (face value) of the purchased receivables. Changes in accretable yield for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
Beginning balance | | $ | 792,755,605 | | | $ | 665,791,369 | |
Revenue recognized on purchased receivables | | | (252,195,740 | ) | | | (213,723,161 | ) |
Additions due to purchases during the period | | | 232,860,789 | | | | 228,704,533 | |
Reclassifications from nonaccretable yield | | | 75,124,804 | | | | 111,982,864 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ending balance | | $ | 848,545,458 | | | $ | 792,755,605 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash collections for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 include collections from pools that are fully amortized of which 100% of the collections were reported as revenue. Components of revenue from fully amortized pools are as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Revenue from fully amortized pools: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Pools that amortized before 60 months | | $ | 28,801,081 | | | $ | 17,050,322 | | | $ | 2,577,377 | |
Pools that are 60 months or older | | | 22,906,015 | | | | 11,264,181 | | | | 8,192,947 | |
Pools under full cost recovery | | | 4,384,993 | | | | 2,862,737 | | | | 771,694 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenue from fully amortized pools | | $ | 56,092,089 | | | $ | 31,177,240 | | | $ | 11,542,018 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-11
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recorded net impairments of $22.3 million related to its purchased receivables and set up an allowance for receivable losses. The net impairments charge reduced revenue and the allowance reduced the carrying value of the purchased receivables portfolios. No impairments were recognized during 2004 and 2003 as the Company was accounting for revenue under PB 6. Changes in the allowance for receivable losses for the year follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2005 | |
| | First
| | | Second
| | | Third
| | | Fourth
| | | | |
| | Quarter | | | Quarter | | | Quarter | | | Quarter | | | Total | |
|
Net impairments recorded: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Impairments | | $ | 700,000 | | | $ | 1,698,000 | | | $ | 5,112,000 | | | $ | 16,367,355 | | | $ | 23,877,355 | |
Reversal of impairments(1) | | | — | | | | — | | | | (516,000 | ) | | | (1,076,000 | ) | | | (1,592,000 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 700,000 | | | $ | 1,698,000 | | | $ | 4,596,000 | | | $ | 15,291,355 | | | $ | 22,285,355 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | | During 2005, impairment reversals of $813,000 relate to second quarter impairment charges and $779,000 impairment reversals relate to third quarter impairment charges. |
Finance Contract Receivables
Finance contract revenues are recognized based on the effective yield method. Unearned discounts on finance contract receivables were approximately $450,000 and $424,000 at December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. The fair value of finance contract receivables does not materially differ from their book value. An allowance for doubtful accounts is established for estimated losses on accounts based on historical losses. The allowance for doubtful accounts, which is netted against finance contract receivables on the consolidated statements of financial position, was approximately $135,000 and $106,000 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
Collections from Third Parties
The Company regularly utilizes unaffiliated third parties, primarily attorneys and other contingent collection agencies, to collect certain account balances on behalf of the Company in exchange for a percentage of balances collected by the third party. The Company records the gross proceeds received by the unaffiliated third parties as cash collections. The Company includes the reimbursement of certain legal and other costs as cash collections. The Company records the percentage of the gross collections paid to the third parties as a component of collection expense. The percent of gross cash collections from such third party relationships were 22.8%, 21.8% and 18.4% for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred. The Company records depreciation expense on a straight-line basis with lives ranging from three to ten years. Depreciation expense was $3,141,140, $2,638,623 and $2,336,817 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is subject to various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits. The Company recognizes liabilities for contingencies and commitments when a loss is probable and estimable. The Company recognizes expense for defense costs when incurred.
F-12
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Concentrations of Risk
The Company typically purchases portfolios in response to a request to bid received viae-mail or telephone. The Company has also developed a marketing and acquisitions team that contacts and cultivates relationships with known and prospective sellers of portfolios. The Company has purchased portfolios from over 100 different debt sellers since 2000, including many of the largest consumer credit grantors in the United States. Although the Company may invest 10% or more of its purchases in a year with a single debt seller, historically, the Company has not purchased more than 10% at cost from the same debt seller in consecutive years.
During 2005, 2004 and 2003, 13.6%, 12.9% and 20.6%, respectively, of purchased receivables at cost were from a single debt seller. The debt seller in 2005 and 2003 were the same entity. The Company has no policy limiting purchases from single debt sellers. The Company purchases from a diverse set of suppliers and its purchasing decisions are based upon constantly changing economic and competitive environments as opposed to long-term relationships with particular suppliers.
Interest Expense
Interest expense included interest on the Company’s line of credit, related party debt and amortization of capitalized bank fees.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Application of PB6 andSOP 03-3 requires the use of estimates to calculate a projected IRR for each pool. These estimates are based on historical cash collections. If future cash collections are materially different in amount or timing than projected cash collections, earnings could be affected, either positively or negatively. Higher collection amounts or cash collections that occur sooner than projected cash collections will have a favorable impact on yields and revenues. Lower collection amounts or cash collections that occur later than projected cash collections will have an unfavorable impact and result in an impairment, which would negatively impact the Company’s earnings.
Initial Public Offering
Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. commenced an initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock on February 5, 2004. Effective February 4, 2004, a reorganization was completed pursuant to which all of the shares of capital stock of AAC Investors, Inc. and RBR Holding Corp., which held a 60% and 40% interest in Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC, respectively, were contributed to Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. The resulting consolidated entity includes Asset Acceptance Capital Corp., AAC Investors, Inc., RBR Holding Corp. and Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Prior to this reorganization, Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. did not conduct any business and did not have any assets or liabilities, except as related to the IPO.
The Company received net proceeds of $96.1 million (net of expenses of $8.9 million) from the IPO of 7,000,000 shares of common stock which were used to eliminate the related party debt of $40.0 million, reduce the line of credit by $37.7 million and pay withholding taxes on behalf of the share appreciation rights holders in the amount of $18.4 million.
F-13
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Share Appreciation Rights Compensation Charge
The Company recognized a compensation charge (including related payroll taxes) of $45.7 million ($28.7 million net of income taxes) during the first quarter of 2004 resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon the Company’s IPO. The share appreciation rights plan, adopted by Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC during 2002, granted participants the right to share in the appreciation of the value of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC. The benefit earned was based on certain financial objectives and vested 100% upon completion of the IPO.
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2004 the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” prospectively to all employee awards granted, modified, or settled after January 1, 2004. Prior to January 1, 2004, the Company accounted for its share appreciation rights plan using the intrinsic-value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Adoption of the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow.
Earnings Per Share and Pro Forma Earnings Per Share
Earnings per share reflect net income divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, included 45,022 and 7,744 dilutive shares related to outstanding stock options. There were 12,715 and 33,850 outstanding options that were antidilutive at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Pro forma earnings per share reflects pro forma net income, adjusted for pro forma income taxes, divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Other intangible assets with finite lives arising from acquisitions are amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from five to seven years, using the straight-line method. As prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 142, goodwill is not amortized. Goodwill and other intangible assets are reviewed annually to assess recoverability or when impairment indicators are present. Impairment charges are recorded for intangible assets when the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value of that asset.
Intangible assets had a gross carrying amount of $1,207,500 at both December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The accumulated amortization on intangible assets was $867,522 and $669,516 at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively and are included with other assets in the consolidated statement of financial position. Amortization expense was $198,006, $242,234 and $235,235 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for intangible assets subject to amortization at December 31, 2005 is as follows:
| | | | |
Year | | Expense | |
|
2006 | | $ | 188,005 | |
2007 | | | 136,955 | |
2008 | | | 8,568 | |
2009 | | | 6,450 | |
Income Taxes and Deferred Tax Charge
The Company recognized a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million during the first quarter of 2004 related to deferred taxes of RBR Holding Corp. RBR Holding Corp. was previously structured as an S corporation under the
F-14
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Internal Revenue Code. The shareholders of RBR Holding Corp. included their respective shares of taxable income or loss in their individual tax returns and therefore no income tax expense was recognized on the financial statements of the Company. As a result of the reorganization completed on February 4, 2004, RBR Holding Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and could no longer be structured as an S corporation.
The provision for deferred income taxes results from temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts in the prior periods presented have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported net income.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
SFAS No. 123(R)
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment”, a revision of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 123(R) requires all stock-based compensation awards granted to employees be recognized in the consolidated financial statements at fair value, similar to that prescribed under SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123(R) is effective for the Company as of January 1, 2006. The Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 effective January 2004 and therefore, adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), using the modified prospective method, is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
| |
2. | Related-Party Transactions |
Beginning in December 2002, the Company paid a quarterly management fee in arrears to a related company. The management fee paid and expensed was $28,767 and $300,000 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and is included in administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income. The Company’s obligations to pay management fees terminated upon the consummation of the IPO.
On October 1, 2002, the Company borrowed $35.0 million from certain shareholders. Interest on this indebtedness was 10% per annum, compounded on June 30 and December 31 of each year. The Company recognized interest expense of $433,536 and $3,677,918 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company owed the related parties $39,560,110 as of December 31, 2003. These notes were paid in full during February 2004.
In October 2004, certain related parties became 50% owners of RNJ Holdings, LLC, which is the owner of an aircraft held for charter by Jet Management, Inc. These related parties periodically use the aircraft for travel. To the extent the aircraft is used for business travel on the Company’s behalf, the Company will reimburse Jet Management, Inc. for the use of the aircraft at a rate that is at least as favorable as the rate the Company could obtain elsewhere for a similar aircraft. During 2005 and 2004, the Company reimbursed Jet Management, Inc. $21,221 and $31,243, respectively, for use of the aircraft.
The Company maintains a $100.0 million line of credit secured by a first priority lien on all of the Company’s assets that expires in May 2008 and bears interest at prime or 25 basis points over prime depending upon the Company’s liquidity as defined in the credit agreement. Alternately, at the Company’s discretion, the Company may borrow by entering into 30, 60 or 90-day LIBOR contracts at rates between 150 to 250 basis points over the
F-15
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
respective LIBOR rates, depending on the Company’s liquidity. The Company’s line of credit includes an accordion loan feature that allows the Company to request a $20.0 million increase in the credit facility. Additionally, the Company pays an annual commitment fee of between 0.25% and 0.50% on the unused portion of the line of credit, depending on the Company’s liquidity. There was no outstanding balance at December 31, 2005 and 2004. For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the average borrowings under the line of credit were $0.2 million, $16.1 million and $66.2 million, respectively. Total interest expense related to the line of credit was $0.6 million, $1.3 million and $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The interest expense included the amortization of capitalized bank fees of $214,283, $283,700 and $294,899 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The line of credit facility has certain covenants and restrictions with which the Company must comply, including:
| | |
| • | funds borrowed can be used to purchase portfolios of charged-off receivables and for general corporate purposes, |
|
| • | leverage ratio (as defined in the line of credit agreement) cannot exceed 1.5 to 1.0, |
|
| • | debt to total capitalization ratio (as defined in the line of credit agreement) cannot exceed 1.25 to 1.0; and |
|
| • | tangible net worth must exceed $145.0 million plus 50% of net income after September 30, 2004 which required a balance of $176.9 million as of December 31, 2005. |
Management believes it is in compliance with all terms of its line of credit agreement as of December 31, 2005.
The Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements during 2002 for the notional amounts of $10.0 million, which expired in January 2004 and $20.0 million which expired in November 2003. The Company also entered into an interest rate swap agreement in 2001 which had a notional amount of $10.0 million and expired in October 2003. These interest rate swaps were intended to reduce the economic impact of volatility of variable interest rates pertaining to a portion of the Company’s bank line of credit. The swaps were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Under the terms of the swaps, the Company received a variable rate of interest and paid a fixed rate to the counter party on the notional amounts. The net interest payments are a component of interest expense on the consolidated statements of income. Changes in the interest rate environment from period to period directly impacted the fair value of the swaps and such changes in the fair value of the swaps were recognized through earnings in the period of the change. The Company recognized $19,234 and $411,862 of other income for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of the swaps.
| |
4. | Property and Equipment |
Property and equipment, having estimated useful lives ranging from three to ten years consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31,
| | | December 31,
| |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
Computers and software | | $ | 8,984,055 | | | $ | 7,562,797 | |
Furniture and fixtures | | | 9,158,973 | | | | 8,259,527 | |
Leasehold improvements | | | 2,017,496 | | | | 1,810,998 | |
Equipment under capital lease | | | 485,299 | | | | 483,421 | |
Automobiles | | | 136,525 | | | | 136,525 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total property and equipment, cost | | | 20,782,348 | | | | 18,253,268 | |
Less accumulated depreciation | | | (10,034,721 | ) | | | (7,088,165 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net property and equipment | | $ | 10,747,627 | | | $ | 11,165,103 | |
| | | | | | | | |
F-16
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The Company maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan with 401(k) features for substantially all employees. The employees may contribute a maximum of $14,000 to the plan. The Company has elected to contribute 3% of each eligible participant’s compensation to the plan for 2005, 2004 and 2003. The Company’s related expense was $1,163,154, $953,903 and $534,094 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The unpaid contribution was $1,148,610 and $872,007 as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The unpaid contribution is included in accounts payable and other liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position. The Company intends to contribute 3% of eligible compensation for 2006.
The Company is self-insured for health and prescription drug benefits. Amounts charged to expense for health and prescription drug benefits, related administration and stop-loss insurance premiums were $6,272,915, $5,842,672 and $4,855,557 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and was based on actual and estimated claims incurred. Accounts payable and other liabilities of the consolidated statements of financial position includes $1,181,000 and $1,066,000 for estimated health and drug benefits incurred but not paid for as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
| |
6. | Stock-Based Compensation |
Effective January 1, 2004, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” prospectively for all employee awards granted, modified, or settled after January 1, 2004. Adoption of the fair value recognition provisions SFAS No. 123 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow.
The Company adopted a stock incentive plan during February 2004 that authorizes the use of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants and units, performance share awards and annual incentive awards to eligible key employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The Company has reserved 3,700,000 shares of common stock for issuance in conjunction with all options and other stock-based awards to be granted under the plan. The purpose of the plan is (1) to promote the best interests of the Company and its stockholders by encouraging employees and other participants to acquire an ownership interest in the Company, thus identifying their interests with those of stockholders and (2) to enhance the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified employees, consultants and non-employee directors. No participant may be granted options during any one fiscal year to purchase more than 500,000 shares of common stock.
Stock Options
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had issued options to purchase 251,009 shares of its common stock under the plan. These options have been granted to key employees and directors of the Company. Options granted under the plan generally vest between one and four years from the grant date. However, when directors accept options in lieu of cash compensation, the options vest immediately. The fair value of the stock options are expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The related expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 includes $702,973 and $310,393 in administrative expense and salaries and benefits, respectively. The related expense for
F-17
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
the year ended December 31, 2004 includes $271,198 in administrative expenses. The following summarizes all stock option related transactions from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005.
| | | | | | | | |
| | Options
| | | Weighted-Average
| |
| | Outstanding | | | Exercise Price | |
|
January 1, 2004 | | | — | | | | — | |
Granted | | | 117,220 | | | $ | 17.01 | |
Cancelled | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2004 | | | 117,220 | | | $ | 17.01 | |
Granted | | | 133,789 | | | $ | 21.45 | |
Cancelled | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2005 | | | 251,009 | | | $ | 19.38 | |
| | | | | | | | |
The following options information is as of December 31, 2005:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fair Value
| | | | | | Weighted-Average
| | | | | | | | | Exercisable
| |
| | of Option
| | | Number
| | | Remaining
| | | Weighted-Average
| | | Number
| | | Weighted-Average
| |
Exercise Price | | Granted | | | Outstanding | | | Contractual Life | | | Exercise Price | | | Exercisable | | | Exercise Price | |
|
$15.00 | | $ | 4.84 | | | | 45,000 | | | | 8.09 | | | $ | 15.00 | | | | 22,500 | | | $ | 15.00 | |
$18.50 | | $ | 5.90 | | | | 30,000 | | | | 8.16 | | | $ | 18.50 | | | | 15,000 | | | $ | 18.50 | |
$19.48 | | $ | 6.57 | | | | 3,850 | | | | 8.38 | | | $ | 19.48 | | | | 3,850 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
$17.85 | | $ | 5.84 | | | | 4,200 | | | | 8.63 | | | $ | 17.85 | | | | 4,200 | | | $ | 17.85 | |
$17.97 | | $ | 8.48 | | | | 30,000 | | | | 8.84 | | | $ | 17.97 | | | | 15,000 | | | $ | 17.97 | |
$17.99 | | $ | 8.47 | | | | 4,170 | | | | 8.88 | | | $ | 17.99 | | | | 4,170 | | | $ | 17.99 | |
$19.87 | | $ | 8.97 | | | | 3,775 | | | | 9.30 | | | $ | 19.87 | | | | 3,775 | | | $ | 19.87 | |
$18.89 | | $ | 8.56 | | | | 30,000 | | | | 9.30 | | | $ | 18.89 | | | | — | | | $ | 18.89 | |
$18.89 | | $ | 8.56 | | | | 25,000 | | | | 9.30 | | | $ | 18.89 | | | | — | | | $ | 18.89 | |
$19.48 | | $ | 11.68 | | | | 9,685 | | | | 9.37 | | | $ | 19.48 | | | | 4,843 | | | $ | 19.48 | |
$23.42 | | $ | 10.56 | | | | 45,624 | | | | 9.38 | | | $ | 23.42 | | | | — | | | $ | 23.42 | |
$23.42 | | $ | 10.56 | | | | 3,200 | | | | 9.38 | | | $ | 23.42 | | | | 3,200 | | | $ | 23.42 | |
$27.34 | | $ | 12.45 | | | | 10,000 | | | | 9.58 | | | $ | 27.34 | | | | — | | | $ | 27.34 | |
$27.61 | | $ | 12.58 | | | | 2,715 | | | | 9.63 | | | $ | 27.61 | | | | 2,715 | | | $ | 27.61 | |
$19.80 | | $ | 9.10 | | | | 3,790 | | | | 9.88 | | | $ | 19.80 | | | | 3,790 | | | $ | 19.80 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | | | | | 251,009 | | | | 8.90 | | | $ | 19.38 | | | | 83,043 | | | $ | 18.11 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the value of the stock options when granted. This model was developed to estimate the fair value of traded options, which have different characteristics than employee stock options. In addition, changes to the subjective input assumptions can result in materially different fair market value estimates. The Black-Scholes model may not necessarily provide a reliable single
F-18
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
measure of the fair value of employee stock options. The fair value of each option was based on the following assumptions:
| | | | |
Options issue year: | | 2005 | | 2004 |
|
Weighted-average fair value of options granted | | $9.91 | | $6.26 |
Expected volatility | | 46.00% | | 30.00% |
Risk-free interest rate | | 3.82%-4.39% | | 2.98%-3.93% |
Expected dividend yield | | 0.00% | | 0.00% |
Expected life | | 5 Years | | 5 Years |
Share Appreciation Rights
In 2002, Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC adopted a share appreciation rights plan for certain key employees. The purpose of the plan was to further the long-term stability and financial success of the Company. Participants in the plan had the potential to share in the appreciation of the value of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC if certain financial objectives were met or upon partial or complete liquidation events, as defined in the plan. No expense had been recognized in the consolidated statements of income during 2003 as a result of this plan, as the value of such shares could not be reasonably estimated and the benefits were contingent upon achieving certain returns upon a liquidity event such as a sale of the Company or an initial public offering of common stock. The number of share appreciation rights granted during 2003 and 2002 were 140,037 and 1,106,055, respectively. Of the number granted, 45,454 were forfeited.
In connection with the consummation of the Company’s IPO in February 2004, the Company exercised its right to vest 100% of the share appreciation rights held by the participants in the plan which resulted in a payment of $18.4 million for the applicable withholding taxes due by the participants and the issuance of 1,776,826 unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock to the participants. As a result, the Company recognized a compensation charge including employer payroll taxes of $45.7 million ($28.7 million net of taxes) during the first quarter of 2004 related to the Company’s IPO.
| |
7. | Litigation Contingencies |
The Company is involved in certain legal matters that management considers incidental to its business. Management has evaluated pending and threatened litigation against the Company as of December 31, 2005 and does not believe exposure to be material.
Leases
The Company has several operating leases outstanding which are primarily for office space, and several capital leases outstanding which are primarily for office equipment. Total rent expense related to operating leases were $6,881,313, $4,833,546 and $3,647,054 for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
The following is an analysis of the leased property under capital leases by major classes:
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31,
| | | December 31,
| |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
Office equipment | | $ | 485,299 | | | $ | 483,421 | |
Less accumulated depreciation | | | (303,516 | ) | | | (225,578 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net leased property under capital leases | | $ | 181,783 | | | $ | 257,843 | |
| | | | | | | | |
F-19
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under operating and capital leases, together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments related to capital leases, as of December 31, 2005:
| | | | | | | | |
| | Operating
| | | Capital
| |
| | Leases | | | Leases | |
|
Years ending December 31: | | | | | | | | |
2006 | | $ | 6,114,629 | | | $ | 129,173 | |
2007 | | | 5,894,124 | | | | 54,682 | |
2008 | | | 4,959,037 | | | | 9,514 | |
2009 | | | 4,130,472 | | | | — | |
2010 | | | 3,363,355 | | | | — | |
2011 and thereafter | | | 11,964,109 | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total minimum lease payments | | $ | 36,425,726 | | | | 193,369 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Less amount representing interest | | | | | | | (6,425 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Present value of net minimum lease payments | | | | | | $ | 186,944 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Employment Agreements
The Company has four employment agreements with certain members of management. Such agreements call for the payment of base compensation and certain benefits. On February 2, 2004, the Company amended its employment agreements with Nathaniel F. Bradley IV, President and Chief Executive Officer and Mark A. Redman, Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer, to extend their employment agreements to December 31, 2006 and amended its employment agreement with Rufus H. Reitzel Jr. and Heather K. Reitzel to provide Mr. and Mrs. Reitzel with life-time health benefits. At December 31, 2005, estimated remaining compensation under these agreements is approximately $976,250. On February 14, 2006, Mr. Reitzel announced his retirement from his position as Chairman of the Board and as director; Mr. Reitzel’s retirement will become effective as of February 28, 2006, which will reduce the Company’s estimated remaining compensation by $335,417. The remaining three employment agreements will automatically renew on their respective expiration date unless the executive or the Company terminates the employment agreement in writing. The agreements also include confidentiality and non-compete provisions.
Registration Rights Agreement
In April 2005, the Company completed a secondary public offering of 5,750,000 shares of its common stock. All of these shares were sold by selling stockholders, which include members of management and other holders, and none of the shares were sold by the Company. The selling stockholders received all of the net proceeds from the sale of the shares. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement between the Company and certain of the selling stockholders, the Company paid approximately $500,000 related to the secondary offering. In addition, the selling stockholders collectively, retain the right to request three additional registrations of specified shares under the registration rights agreement, in which case the Company will be required to bear such offering expenses in the quarter in which any future offering occurs.
| |
9. | Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments |
The accompanying financial statements include estimated fair value information as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, as required by SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. Disclosure of the estimated fair values of financial instruments often requires the use of estimates. The Company uses the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of financial instruments.
F-20
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Purchased Receivables
The Company records purchased receivables at cost, which is discounted from the contractual receivable balance. The carrying value of receivables, which is based upon estimated future cash flows, approximated fair value at December 31, 2005 and 2004.
Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 included a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million resulting from RBR Holding Corp. relinquishing its S corporation tax status after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. in connection with the Company’s initial public offering during the first quarter of 2004.
Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 (excluding the deferred tax charge related to RBR Holding Corp.) reflected income tax expense on 60% of pretax income for the period January 1, 2004 through February 4, 2004, as RBR Holding Corp. (40% owner of Asset Acceptance Holdings LLC) was structured as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns. Income taxes subsequent to February 4, 2004 reflect income tax expense on 100% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. as part of the reorganization that occurred on February 4, 2004 related to the IPO. Income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2003 of $10.3 million reflected income tax expense on 60% of pretax income as RBR Holding Corp. was structured as an S corporation under the Internal Revenue Code and therefore taxable income was included on the shareholders’ individual tax returns.
Components of income tax expense are set forth below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Income taxes consist of: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal actual | | $ | 12,538,136 | | | $ | 160,000 | | | $ | — | |
State actual | | | 1,782,047 | | | | 132,333 | | | | 912 | |
Federal deferred — net | | | 16,557,716 | | | | 27,770,065 | | | | 9,663,687 | |
State deferred — net | | | 779,122 | | | | 1,570,932 | | | | 618,763 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 31,657,021 | | | $ | 29,633,330 | | | $ | 10,283,362 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tax expense differs from the application of statutory rates to pretax income. The reconciliation of income tax expense and the statutory rates is set forth below:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | |
|
Federal taxes at statutory rate | | $ | 29,027,349 | | | $ | 10,639,104 | | | $ | 16,925,262 | |
Other adjustments | | | 339,362 | | | | — | | | | — | |
S corporation benefit — federal | | | — | | | | (825,193 | ) | | | (7,261,575 | ) |
S corporation benefit — state | | | — | | | | (51,869 | ) | | | (477,189 | ) |
Deferred tax charge — federal | | | — | | | | 18,116,154 | | | | — | |
Deferred tax charge — state | | | — | | | | 1,190,490 | | | | — | |
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit | | | 2,290,310 | | | | 564,644 | | | | 1,096,864 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Effective income taxes | | $ | 31,657,021 | | | $ | 29,633,330 | | | $ | 10,283,362 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-21
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and the reported amounts in the financial statements. Net operating losses may be carried forward for 20 years and will begin to expire in 2022.
The tax effect of temporary differences that gave rise to the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following.
| | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, | |
| | 2005 | | | 2004 | |
|
Deferred tax asset: | | | | | | | | |
Accrued expenses | | $ | 1,393,107 | | | $ | 1,616,078 | |
Stock options | | | 480,427 | | | | 100,885 | |
Intangible assets | | | 200,032 | | | | 137,743 | |
Operating loss carryforward | | | 47,321 | | | | 13,291,135 | |
Alternative minimum tax credit | | | — | | | | 160,000 | |
Other | | | 101,103 | | | | 82,307 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 2,221,990 | | | | 15,388,148 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Deferred tax liability: | | | | | | | | |
Purchased receivables revenue recognition | | | 58,079,410 | | | | 54,102,880 | |
Property and equipment | | | 1,580,525 | | | | 1,764,710 | |
Transaction costs | | | 538,175 | | | | 357,379 | |
Special tax basis adjustment | | | 335,182 | | | | 184,425 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 150,804 | | | | 182,394 | |
Other | | | 121,498 | | | | 43,126 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 60,805,594 | | | | 56,634,914 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net deferred tax liability | | $ | 58,583,604 | | | $ | 41,246,766 | |
| | | | | | | | |
F-22
ASSET ACCEPTANCE CAPITAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
| |
11. | Selected Quarterly Operating Results (unaudited) |
The following tables set forth a summary of the Company’s consolidated results on a quarterly basis for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004. The information for each of these quarters is unaudited and, in the Company’s opinion, has been prepared on a basis consistent with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. This information includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments the Company considered necessary for a fair presentation of this information when read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. Results of operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year or any future periods.
Quarterly Financial Data
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter | |
| | First | | | Second | | | Third | | | Fourth | |
| | (in thousands except per share data) | |
|
2005 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 66,035 | | | $ | 68,803 | | | $ | 64,017 | | | $ | 53,830 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 41,812 | | | | 42,520 | | | | 42,225 | | | | 43,830 | |
Income from operations | | | 24,223 | | | | 26,283 | | | | 21,792 | | | | 10,000 | |
Net income | | | 15,145 | | | | 16,317 | | | | 13,707 | | | | 6,098 | |
Weighted average shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 37,225 | | | | 37,225 | | | | 37,225 | | | | 37,225 | |
Diluted | | | 37,245 | | | | 37,264 | | | | 37,306 | | | | 37,267 | |
Earnings per common share outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.41 | | | $ | 0.44 | | | $ | 0.37 | | | $ | 0.16 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.41 | | | $ | 0.44 | | | $ | 0.37 | | | $ | 0.16 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Quarter | |
| | First(1) | | | Second | | | Third | | | Fourth | |
| | (in thousands except per share data) | |
|
2004 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 49,748 | | | $ | 51,507 | | | $ | 55,999 | | | $ | 57,499 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 77,155 | | | | 32,774 | | | | 35,434 | | | | 37,385 | |
Income (loss) from operations | | | (27,407 | ) | | | 18,733 | | | | 20,565 | | | | 20,114 | |
Net income (loss)(2) | | | (36,159 | ) | | | 11,577 | | | | 12,761 | | | | 12,567 | |
Pro forma net income (loss)(3) | | | (17,821 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Weighted average shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 33,850 | | | | 37,225 | | | | 37,225 | | | | 37,225 | |
Diluted | | | 33,850 | | | | 37,235 | | | | 37,231 | | | | 37,237 | |
Earnings (loss) per common share outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | (1.07 | ) | | $ | 0.31 | | | $ | 0.34 | | | $ | 0.34 | |
Diluted | | $ | (1.07 | ) | | $ | 0.31 | | | $ | 0.34 | | | $ | 0.34 | |
Pro forma earnings (loss) per common share outstanding: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | (0.53 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Diluted | | $ | (0.53 | ) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | |
(1) | | Includes the $45.7 million compensation and related payroll tax charge resulting from the vesting of the outstanding share appreciation rights upon the Company’s initial public offering. |
|
(2) | | The first quarter of 2004 includes a deferred tax charge of $19.3 million. |
|
(3) | | For comparison purposes the Company has presented pro forma net income, which is net income adjusted for pro forma income taxes assuming all entities had been a C corporation for all periods presented. |
F-23