UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One) |
|
|
|
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
|
|
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009 | |
| |
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission file number 033-19694
FirstCity Financial Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
| 76-0243729 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
| Identification No.) |
|
|
|
6400 Imperial Drive, |
|
|
Waco, TX |
| 76712 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
| (Zip Code) |
(254) 761-2800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o |
| Accelerated filer o |
|
|
|
Non-accelerated filer o |
| Smaller reporting company x |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
The number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding at August 3, 2009 was 9,831,937.
| ||
|
|
|
1 | ||
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 | |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 37 | |
54 | ||
55 | ||
|
|
|
57 | ||
|
|
|
57 | ||
57 | ||
57 | ||
57 | ||
57 | ||
57 | ||
57 | ||
62 |
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Unaudited) |
| (See Note 2) |
| ||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 25,521 |
| $ | 19,103 |
|
Restricted cash |
| 1,115 |
| 1,217 |
| ||
Portfolio Assets: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Loan portfolios, net |
| 212,511 |
| 121,137 |
| ||
Real estate held for sale |
| 15,280 |
| 17,484 |
| ||
Real estate held for investment, net |
| 9,635 |
| 9,592 |
| ||
Total Portfolio Assets |
| 237,426 |
| 148,213 |
| ||
Loans receivable: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Loans receivable - affiliates |
| 29,746 |
| 27,080 |
| ||
Loans receivable - SBA held for sale |
| 3,492 |
| 4,901 |
| ||
Loans receivable - SBA held for investment, net |
| 16,203 |
| 14,405 |
| ||
Loans receivable - other |
| 11,698 |
| 13,533 |
| ||
Total loans receivable |
| 61,139 |
| 59,919 |
| ||
Investment security available for sale |
| 2,993 |
| 5,251 |
| ||
Equity investments |
| 70,214 |
| 72,987 |
| ||
Service fees receivable ($864 and $553 from affiliates, respectively) |
| 941 |
| 626 |
| ||
Servicing assets - SBA loans |
| 974 |
| 722 |
| ||
Other assets, net |
| 21,014 |
| 20,899 |
| ||
Total Assets |
| $ | 421,337 |
| $ | 328,937 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Notes payable to banks |
| $ | 295,975 |
| $ | 242,889 |
|
Note payable to affiliate |
| 8,658 |
| 8,658 |
| ||
Other liabilities |
| 17,585 |
| 11,515 |
| ||
Total Liabilities |
| 322,218 |
| 263,062 |
| ||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17) |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Equity: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Optional preferred stock (par value $.01 per share; 98,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding) |
| — |
| — |
| ||
Common stock (par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 11,331,937 shares issued; 9,831,937 shares outstanding) |
| 113 |
| 113 |
| ||
Treasury stock, at cost: 1,500,000 shares |
| (10,923 | ) | (10,923 | ) | ||
Paid in capital |
| 102,779 |
| 101,875 |
| ||
Accumulated deficit |
| (28,683 | ) | (37,073 | ) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| (1,145 | ) | (3,726 | ) | ||
FirstCity Stockholders’ Equity |
| 62,141 |
| 50,266 |
| ||
Noncontrolling interests |
| 36,978 |
| 15,609 |
| ||
Total Equity |
| 99,119 |
| 65,875 |
| ||
Total Liabilities and Equity |
| $ | 421,337 |
| $ | 328,937 |
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
1
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Servicing fees ($2,137 and $2,484 from affiliates for the three month periods, respectively, and $4,264 and $4,648 from affiliates for the six month periods, respectively) |
| $ | 2,403 |
| $ | 2,706 |
| $ | 4,795 |
| $ | 4,906 |
|
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| 14,077 |
| 5,622 |
| 23,120 |
| 10,557 |
| ||||
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale, net |
| 610 |
| 133 |
| 610 |
| 142 |
| ||||
Interest income from SBA loans |
| 295 |
| 366 |
| 641 |
| 842 |
| ||||
Interest income from loans receivable - affiliates |
| 939 |
| 483 |
| 1,862 |
| 633 |
| ||||
Interest income from loans receivable - other |
| 364 |
| 355 |
| 793 |
| 630 |
| ||||
Revenue from railroad operations |
| 705 |
| 859 |
| 1,452 |
| 1,664 |
| ||||
Other income |
| 1,268 |
| 965 |
| 3,069 |
| 1,619 |
| ||||
Total revenues |
| 20,661 |
| 11,489 |
| 36,342 |
| 20,993 |
| ||||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Interest and fees on notes payable to banks |
| 3,145 |
| 3,758 |
| 6,189 |
| 7,441 |
| ||||
Interest and fees on notes payable to affiliate |
| 444 |
| — |
| 877 |
| — |
| ||||
Salaries and benefits |
| 6,032 |
| 5,297 |
| 11,086 |
| 10,327 |
| ||||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 677 |
| 7,090 |
| 1,783 |
| 10,120 |
| ||||
Asset-level expenses |
| 1,417 |
| 1,427 |
| 2,654 |
| 2,988 |
| ||||
Occupancy, data processing and other |
| 2,182 |
| 3,303 |
| 5,588 |
| 5,758 |
| ||||
Total expenses |
| 13,897 |
| 20,875 |
| 28,177 |
| 36,634 |
| ||||
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries |
| 1,198 |
| 3,008 |
| 1,052 |
| 5,848 |
| ||||
Gain on step acquisition |
| 1,455 |
| — |
| 1,455 |
| — |
| ||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes |
| 9,417 |
| (6,378 | ) | 10,672 |
| (9,793 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense |
| (440 | ) | (98 | ) | (703 | ) | (289 | ) | ||||
Net earnings (loss) |
| 8,977 |
| (6,476 | ) | 9,969 |
| (10,082 | ) | ||||
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (See Note 2) |
| 1,231 |
| 53 |
| 1,579 |
| 31 |
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to FirstCity |
| $ | 7,746 |
| $ | (6,529 | ) | $ | 8,390 |
| $ | (10,113 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share |
| $ | 0.79 |
| $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | 0.85 |
| $ | (0.97 | ) |
Diluted earnings (loss) per share |
| $ | 0.76 |
| $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | 0.84 |
| $ | (0.97 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
2
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Dollars in thousands)
|
| FirstCity Stockholders |
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Retained |
| Accumulated |
| Non- |
|
|
| |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Earnings |
| Other |
| controlling |
|
|
| |||||||
|
| Common |
| Treasury |
| Paid in |
| (Accumulated |
| Comprehensive |
| Interests |
| Total |
| |||||||
|
| Stock |
| Stock |
| Capital |
| Deficit) |
| Income (Loss) |
| (See Note 2) |
| Equity |
| |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Balances, December 31, 2007 |
| $ | 113 |
| $ | (5,978 | ) | $ | 101,240 |
| $ | 9,602 |
| $ | 1,846 |
| $ | 3,209 |
| $ | 110,032 |
|
Repurchase of common stock |
| — |
| (3,245 | ) | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,245 | ) | |||||||
Stock option compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 422 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 422 |
| |||||||
Investment in majority-owned entities |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 475 |
| 475 |
| |||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (773 | ) | (773 | ) | |||||||
Other activity |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 10 |
| 10 |
| |||||||
Comprehensive loss: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (10,113 | ) | — |
| 31 |
| (10,082 | ) | |||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 305 |
| 114 |
| 419 |
| |||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (9,663 | ) | |||||||
Balances, June 30, 2008 |
| $ | 113 |
| $ | (9,223 | ) | $ | 101,662 |
| $ | (511 | ) | $ | 2,151 |
| $ | 3,066 |
| $ | 97,258 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Balances, December 31, 2008 |
| $ | 113 |
| $ | (10,923 | ) | $ | 101,875 |
| $ | (37,073 | ) | $ | (3,726 | ) | $ | 15,609 |
| $ | 65,875 |
|
Stock option compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| 130 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 130 |
| |||||||
Purchases of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| — |
| 774 |
| — |
| — |
| (3,591 | ) | (2,817 | ) | |||||||
Investments in majority-owned entities |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 25,410 |
| 25,410 |
| |||||||
Distributions to noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (2,245 | ) | (2,245 | ) | |||||||
Comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Net earnings |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 8,390 |
| — |
| 1,579 |
| 9,969 |
| |||||||
Change in net unrealized gain on securities available for sale |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 310 |
| — |
| 310 |
| |||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 2,271 |
| 216 |
| 2,487 |
| |||||||
Total comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 12,766 |
| |||||||
Balances, June 30, 2009 (unaudited) |
| $ | 113 |
| $ | (10,923 | ) | $ | 102,779 |
| $ | (28,683 | ) | $ | (1,145 | ) | $ | 36,978 |
| $ | 99,119 |
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
3
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||
|
| June 30, |
| ||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (See Note 2) |
| ||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net earnings (loss) |
| $ | 9,969 |
| $ | (10,082 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net principal advances on SBA loans held for sale |
| (11,437 | ) | (4,811 | ) | ||
Proceeds from the sale of SBA loans held for sale, net |
| 13,819 |
| 2,993 |
| ||
Purchases of Portfolio Assets |
| (134,966 | ) | (47,345 | ) | ||
Proceeds applied to principal on Portfolio Assets |
| 82,089 |
| 30,924 |
| ||
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| (23,120 | ) | (10,557 | ) | ||
Capitalized interest and costs on Portfolio Assets and loans receivable |
| (768 | ) | (982 | ) | ||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 1,783 |
| 10,120 |
| ||
Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses, net |
| (300 | ) | 198 |
| ||
Equity in net earnings of non-consolidated subsidiaries |
| (1,052 | ) | (5,848 | ) | ||
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale, net |
| (610 | ) | (142 | ) | ||
Gain on sale of railroad property |
| (920 | ) | — |
| ||
Gain on step acquisition |
| (1,455 | ) | — |
| ||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 1,991 |
| 1,834 |
| ||
Net premium amortization of loans receivable |
| (33 | ) | (199 | ) | ||
Stock option compensation expense |
| 130 |
| 422 |
| ||
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash |
| 102 |
| (681 | ) | ||
Decrease (increase) in service fees receivable |
| (336 | ) | 131 |
| ||
Increase in other assets |
| (965 | ) | (8,960 | ) | ||
Increase in other liabilities |
| 5,379 |
| 1,465 |
| ||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| (60,700 | ) | (41,520 | ) | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Purchases of property and equipment, net |
| (1,358 | ) | (1,220 | ) | ||
Proceeds from sale of railroad property |
| 1,350 |
| — |
| ||
Cash paid for business combination, net of cash acquired |
| (7,149 | ) | — |
| ||
Net principal advances on loans receivable |
| (1,611 | ) | (23,377 | ) | ||
Net principal collections (advances) on SBA loans held for investment |
| (2,020 | ) | 445 |
| ||
Net principal paydowns on investment security available for sale |
| 2,242 |
| — |
| ||
Contributions to non-consolidated subsidiaries |
| (1,222 | ) | (2,491 | ) | ||
Distributions from non-consolidated subsidiaries |
| 7,034 |
| 11,052 |
| ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (2,734 | ) | (15,591 | ) | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Borrowings under note payable to affiliate |
| — |
| 8,658 |
| ||
Borrowings under notes payable to banks |
| 137,604 |
| 93,807 |
| ||
Principal payments of notes payable to banks, net |
| (84,570 | ) | (51,773 | ) | ||
Payments of debt issuance costs and loan fees |
| (647 | ) | (921 | ) | ||
Contributions from noncontrolling interests |
| 22,270 |
| 475 |
| ||
Distributions to noncontrolling interests |
| (2,245 | ) | (773 | ) | ||
Repurchase of common stock |
| — |
| (3,245 | ) | ||
Cash paid for subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interests |
| (2,796 | ) | — |
| ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 69,616 |
| 46,228 |
| ||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
| 236 |
| 162 |
| ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
| 6,418 |
| (10,721 | ) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
| 19,103 |
| 23,037 |
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
| $ | 25,521 |
| $ | 12,316 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash paid during the period for: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest |
| $ | 4,852 |
| $ | 6,154 |
|
Income taxes, net of refunds received |
| 90 |
| 179 |
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
4
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
(1) Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
FirstCity Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (collectively, “FirstCity”, “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a financial services company with offices in the United States and Mexico, and a presence in Europe and South America. FirstCity engages in two major business segments – Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution and Special Situations Platform. The Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business has been the Company’s core business operation since commencing operations in 1986. In the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business, the Company acquires portfolios of performing and non-performing commercial and consumer loans and other assets (collectively, “Portfolio Assets” or “Portfolios”), generally at a discount to their legal principal balances or appraised values, and services and resolves such Portfolio Assets in an effort to maximize the present value of the ultimate cash recoveries. FirstCity acquires the Portfolio Assets for its own account or through investment entities formed with one or more other co-investors (each such entity, an “Acquisition Partnership”). The Company engages in its Special Situations Platform business through its majority ownership interest in FirstCity Denver Investment Corp. (“FirstCity Denver”) – which was formed in April 2007. Through its Special Situations Platform business, the Company provides investment capital to privately-held middle-market companies through flexible capital structuring arrangements to generate an attractive risk-adjusted return. These capital investments primarily take the form of senior and junior financing arrangements, but also include direct equity investments, common equity warrants, distressed debt transactions, and buyouts. Refer to Note 16 for additional information on the Company’s major business segments.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include the accounts of FirstCity and all other entities in which FirstCity has a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and financial reporting policies the Company follows conform, in all material respects, to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the financial services industry.
The consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. All such adjustments were of a normal and recurring nature. We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with the accounting policies described in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended (“2008 Form 10-K”), and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, included in our 2008 Form 10-K. Operating results for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year or any future period. Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements and disclosures for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.
We have performed a review of subsequent events through August 13, 2009, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, and concluded there were no events or transactions occurring during the period that required recognition or disclosure in our consolidated financial statements.
5
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”), which changed the presentation requirements for noncontrolling (minority) interests. Refer to Note 2 for more information. In addition to the changes prescribed by SFAS 160, certain other amounts in prior period financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These certain other reclassifications are not significant and have no impact on earnings, total assets or stockholders’ equity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near-term relate to the estimation of future collections on Portfolio Assets used in the calculation of income from Portfolio Assets; valuation of deferred tax assets and assumptions used in the calculation of income taxes; valuation of servicing assets, investment securities, loans receivable (including loans receivable held in securitization trusts), and real estate; guarantee obligations; indemnifications; and legal contingencies. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment. We adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets; volatile financial, real estate and foreign currency markets; and declines in business and consumer spending have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.
Portfolio Assets
The Company invests in performing and non-performing commercial and consumer loans, real estate and certain other assets (“Portfolio Assets” or “Portfolios”), and services and resolves such Portfolio Assets in an effort to maximize the present value of the ultimate cash recoveries. The Portfolio Assets are generally non-homogeneous assets, including loans of varying qualities that are secured by diverse collateral types and real estate. Some Portfolio Assets are loans for which resolution is tied primarily to the real estate securing the loan, while others may be collateralized business loans, the resolution of which may be based on the cash flows of the business or the underlying collateral.
On January 1, 2005, FirstCity adopted and began accounting for its acquisitions of loan portfolios with credit deterioration in accordance with the provisions of AICPA Statement of Position 03-3, Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer (“SOP 03-3”). SOP 03-3 addresses accounting differences between contractual cash flows and cash flows expected to be collected from an investor’s initial investment in acquired loans if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality. SOP 03-3 requires acquired loans with credit deterioration to be initially recorded at fair value and prohibits “carrying over” or the creation of valuation allowances in the initial accounting of acquired loans that are within the scope of SOP 03-3. Under SOP 03-3, the excess cash flows expected at acquisition over the loan portfolio’s purchase price is recorded as interest income over the life of the portfolio.
Loans Acquired Prior to 2005
For Portfolio Assets acquired before January 1, 2005, the Company initially recorded the purchased assets at cost, and acquisition-date purchase discounts and loan loss allowances of the underlying assets were included as components of the cost and carrying value of the Portfolio Assets, as applicable. Income recognition for loans acquired prior to 2005 is based on management’s initial designation of the purchased Portfolio Assets as non-performing or performing. Such designations were made on the acquisition date and do not subsequently change even though the actual performance of the Portfolio Assets may subsequently change.
Income on non-performing Portfolio Assets acquired prior to 2005 is recognized only to the extent that collections exceed a pro-rata portion of allocated cost from the pool. Cost allocation is based on a proration of actual collections divided by total estimated collections of the pool. Interest income is not recognized separately on non-performing Portfolio Assets. All collection proceeds, of whatever type, are included in the determination of income recognition for these Portfolio Assets. The Company accounts for these non-performing Portfolio Assets on a pool basis.
6
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Income on performing Portfolio Assets acquired prior to 2005 is recognized using the interest method, based on the Portfolio’s internal rate of return (“IRR”), and acquisition discounts for the Portfolios as a whole are accreted as an adjustment to yield over the estimated life of the respective Portfolios. Income on performing Portfolio Assets is accrued monthly based on each loan pool’s effective IRR. Significant increases in expected future cash flows may be recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. Any increase to the IRR then becomes the new benchmark for impairment testing. Cash flows greater than the interest accrual will reduce the carrying value of the pool. Likewise, cash flows that are less than the accrual will increase the carrying balance. The IRR is estimated based on the timing and amount of anticipated cash flows using the Company’s proprietary collection model. Gains are recognized on performing Portfolio Assets when sufficient funds are received to fully satisfy the obligation on loans included in the pool, either from collections received from the borrower or proceeds received from the sale of the loan. The gain recognized represents the difference between the proceeds received and the allocated carrying value of the individual loan in the pool. The Company accounts for these performing Portfolio Assets on a pool basis.
Loans With Credit Deterioration Acquired After 2004
A substantial portion of the Company’s loans acquired after 2004 have experienced deterioration of credit quality between origination and the Company’s acquisition of the accounts. The amounts paid for the loans reflect the Company’s determination that the loans have experienced deterioration in credit quality since origination and that it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the underlying loans. Commencing January 1, 2005, FirstCity adopted and began accounting for its acquisitions of loan portfolios with credit deterioration in accordance with the provisions of SOP 03-3.
At acquisition, the Company reviews the individual loans purchased to determine whether there is evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination and for which it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the loan’s contractual terms. If both conditions exist, the Company determines whether each such loan account is to be accounted for individually or whether such loan accounts will be assembled into static pools based on common risk characteristics (primarily loan type and collateral). As permitted by SOP 03-3, static pools of individual loan accounts may be established and accounted for as a single economic unit for the recognition of income, principal payments and loss provision. Once a static loan pool is established, individual accounts are generally not added to or removed from the pool (unless the Company sells, forecloses or writes-off the loan). At acquisition, FirstCity determines the excess of the scheduled contractual payments over all cash flows expected to be collected for the loan or loan pool as an amount that should not be accreted (“nonaccretable difference”). The excess of the cash flows from the loan or loan pool expected to be collected at acquisition over the initial investment (“accretable yield”) is generally accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loan or loan pool. The discount (i.e. the difference between the cost of each loan or static pool and the related aggregate contractual receivable balance) is not recorded because the Company does not expect to fully collect each contractual receivable balance for the loan or loan pool. As a result, loans and loan pools are generally recorded at cost (which approximates fair value) at the time of acquisition.
In accordance with SOP 03-3, the Company accounts for its investments in SOP 03-3 loans and loan pools using either the interest method or the non-accrual method (through application of the cost-recovery basis of accounting). Application of the interest method is dependent on management’s ability to develop a reasonable expectation as to both the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected. In the event the Company cannot develop or establish a reasonable expectation as to both the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected, SOP 03-3 permits the use of the cost-recovery method.
Under the interest method, an effective interest rate, or IRR, is applied to the cost basis of the loan or loan pool. SOP 03-3 requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of income or expense or on the balance sheet. SOP 03-3 requires the IRR that is estimated when the loan accounts are purchased to remain constant as the basis for subsequent impairment testing (performed at least quarterly) and income recognition. Significant increases in actual, or expected future cash flows, is used first to reverse any existing valuation allowance for that loan or loan pool; and any remaining increase may be recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over the remaining life of the loan or loan pool. Any increase to the IRR then becomes the new benchmark for impairment testing and income recognition. Under SOP 03-3, subsequent decreases in projected cash flows do not change the IRR, but are recognized as an impairment of the cost basis of the loan or loan pool (to maintain the then-current IRR), and are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations through provisions charged to operations, with a corresponding valuation allowance off-setting the loan or loan pool in the consolidated balance sheets. FirstCity establishes valuation allowances for loans and loan pools acquired with credit deterioration to reflect only those losses incurred after acquisition — that is, the cash flows expected at acquisition that are no longer expected to be collected. Income from loans and loan pools accounted for under the interest method is accrued based on the IRR of each loan or loan pool applied to their respective adjusted cost basis. Gross collections in excess of the interest accrual and impairments will reduce the carrying value of the loan or loan pool, while gross
7
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
collections less than the interest accrual will increase the carrying value. The IRR is estimated based on the timing and amount of anticipated cash flows using the Company’s proprietary collection models. A loan or loan pool can become fully amortized (zero-basis carrying balance on the balance sheet) while still generating cash collections. In this case, cash collections are recognized as income when received.
If the amount and timing of future cash collections on a loan or loan pool are not reasonably estimable, the Company accounts for such assets on the cost-recovery method. Under the cost-recovery method, no income is recognized until the Company has fully collected the cost of the loan or loan pool, or until such time the Company considers the timing and amount of collections to be reasonably estimable and begins to recognize income based on the interest method as described above. At least quarterly, the Company performs an evaluation to determine if the remaining amount that is probable of collection is less than the carrying value of the loan or loan pool, and if so, recognizes impairment through provisions charged to operations. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the carrying value of SOP 03-3 loans and loan pools accounted for under the cost-recovery method approximated $73.2 million and $20.7 million, respectively.
Real Estate
Real estate Portfolio Assets consist of real estate properties purchased from a variety of sellers or acquired through loan foreclosure. Rental income, net of expenses, is generally recognized when received. The Company accounts for its real estate properties on an individual-asset basis as opposed to a pool basis. The following is a description of the classifications and related accounting policies for the Company’s various classes of real estate Portfolio Assets:
Classification and Impairment Evaluation
Real estate held for sale primarily includes real estate acquired through loan foreclosure. The Company classifies a property as held for sale if (1) management commits to a plan to sell the property; (2) the Company actively markets the property in its current condition for a price that is reasonable in comparison to its fair value; and (3) management considers the sale of such property within one year of the balance sheet date to be probable. Real estate held for sale is stated at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated disposition costs. Real estate is not depreciated while it is classified as held for sale. Impairment losses are recorded if a property’s fair value less estimated disposition costs is less than its carrying amount, and charged to operations in the period the impairment is identified.
Real estate held for investment generally includes acquired properties and is carried at cost less depreciation and amortization, as applicable. The Company classifies a property as held for investment if the property is still under development and/or management does not expect the property to be sold within one year of the balance sheet date. The Company periodically reviews its property held for investment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of property held for investment is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the property. If the property is considered impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the property exceeds the fair value of the property. Fair value is determined by discounted cash flows or market comparisons.
Cost Capitalization and Allocation
Real estate properties acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are initially recorded at the lower of cost (i.e. the underlying loan’s carrying value) or estimated fair value less disposition costs at the date of foreclosure — establishing a new cost basis. The amount, if any, by which the carrying value of the underlying loan exceeds the property’s fair value less estimated disposition costs at the foreclosure date is charged as a loss against operations. Expenditures for repairs, maintenance, and other holding costs are charged to operations as incurred.
Real estate properties acquired through a purchase transaction are initially recorded at the cost of the acquisition. The cost of acquired property includes the purchase price of the property, legal fees, and certain other acquisition costs. Subsequent to acquisition, the Company capitalizes capital improvements and expenditures related to significant betterments and replacements, including costs related to the development and improvement of the property for its intended use. Expenditures for repairs, maintenance, and other holding costs are charged to operations as incurred.
8
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
(2) Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
Business Combinations and Noncontrolling Interests
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R establishes principle requirements for how the acquirer of a business recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. SFAS 141R also provides guidance for recognizing and measuring the goodwill acquired in the business combination, recognizing assets acquired and liabilities assumed arising from contingencies, and determining what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial impact of the business combination. We adopted SFAS 141R effective January 1, 2009 and it applies to all business combinations prospectively from that date. The impact of SFAS 141R on our consolidated financial statements will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisitions that the Company consummates in the future.
In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FSP FAS 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies (“FSP FAS 141R-1”). This FSP amends the accounting in SFAS 141R for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. FSP FAS 141R-1 requires that pre-acquisition contingencies be recognized at fair value, if fair value can be reasonably determined. If fair value cannot be reasonably determined, FSP FAS 141R-1 requires measurement based on the best estimate in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. FSP FAS 141R-1 is effective as of January 1, 2009 in connection with the adoption of SFAS 141R.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 160, which defines noncontrolling interest as the portion of equity in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent. SFAS 160 requires the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent (previously referred to as minority interest) to be clearly presented in the consolidated balance sheet within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. The amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to any noncontrolling interest must be clearly presented on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. Changes in the parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest (greater than 50 percent ownership) are to be accounted for as equity transactions with no remeasurement to fair value. Upon a loss of control, any gain or loss on the interest sold will be recognized in earnings. Additionally, any ownership interest retained will be re-measured at fair value on the date control is lost, with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. SFAS 160 also requires companies to report a consolidated net income (loss) measure that includes the amount attributable to such noncontrolling interests. We adopted SFAS 160 effective January 1, 2009, and it applies to noncontrolling interests prospectively from that date. However, the presentation and disclosure requirements of SFAS 160 were applied retrospectively for all periods presented. As a result of this adoption, we reclassified noncontrolling interests in the amount of $15.6 million from total liabilities to equity in the December 31, 2008 consolidated balance sheet; and net distributions to noncontrolling interests of $0.3 million from operating activities to financing activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008.
Fair Value
In 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a market-based framework or hierarchy for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is applicable whenever another accounting pronouncement requires or permits assets and liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 does not expand or require any new fair value measures, however the application of SFAS 157 may change current practice. We adopted SFAS 157 for financial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2008 and for non-financial assets and liabilities effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 13 for additional information.
In April 2009, the FASB issued three FASB Staff Positions (“FSPs”) in order to provide additional application guidance and enhance disclosures regarding fair value measurements and impairments of securities.
· FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (“FSP FAS 157-4”). FSP FAS 157-4 relates to determining fair values when there is no active market or where the price inputs being used represent distressed sales. It reaffirms the need to use judgment to ascertain if a formerly active market has become inactive and in determining fair values when markets have become inactive.
9
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
· FSP FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments. This FSP is intended to bring consistency to the timing of impairment recognition, and provide improved disclosures about the credit and noncredit components of impaired debt securities that are not expected to be sold. The measure of impairment in comprehensive income remains fair value. The FSP also requires increased and more-timely disclosures regarding expected cash flows, credit losses, and an aging of securities with unrealized losses.
· FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments. This FSP relates to fair value disclosures for financial instruments that are not currently reflected on the balance sheet at fair value. Prior to issuing this FSP, fair values for these assets and liabilities were only disclosed once a year. The FSP now requires these disclosures on a quarterly basis, providing qualitative and quantitative information about fair value estimates for all those financial instruments not measured on the balance sheet at fair value.
We adopted the FSPs effective April 1, 2009. The adoption of the provisions of the FSPs did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 13 for additional information.
Other
Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS 161”), an amendment to SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS 161 applies to all entities and requires enhanced disclosures about derivative instruments and hedged items that are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and related interpretations. The Company applied the requirements of SFAS 161 on a prospective basis. Accordingly, disclosures related to interim periods prior to the date of adoption have not been presented. Since SFAS 161 relates to disclosures only, it had no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. See Note 18 for additional information.
Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted EITF Issue No. 08-6, Equity-Method Investment Accounting (“EITF 08-6”). EITF 08-6 addresses a number of matters associated with the impact that SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 might have on the accounting for equity-method investments. EITF 08-6 clarifies the following: (1) the cost basis of a new equity-method investment should be determined using a cost-accumulation mode, which would continue the practice of including transaction costs in the cost of investment and would exclude the value of contingent consideration; and (2) equity-method investments should continue to be subject to other-than-temporary impairment analysis pursuant to APB Opinion No. 18. EITF 08-6 also provides guidance on gain recognition when a portion of the investor’s ownership is sold, how changes in classification from equity-method to cost-method should be treated, and certain other issues. The adoption of EITF 08-6 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events (“SFAS 165”). SFAS 165 establishes the general standards of accounting for and disclosure of subsequent events. In addition, it requires disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. This new accounting standard was adopted for our financial statements for the quarterly period ending June 30, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 1 for additional information.
(3) Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 (“SFAS 166”). SFAS 166 amends SFAS 140 by including the following: the elimination of the qualifying special-purpose entity (QSPE) concept; a new participating interest definition that must be met for transfers of portions of financial assets to be eligible for sale accounting; clarifications and changes to the de-recognition criteria for a transfer to be accounted for as a sale; and a change to the amount of recognized gain or loss on a transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale when beneficial interests are received by the transferor. Additionally, the standard requires extensive new disclosures regarding an entity’s involvement in a transfer of financial assets. Finally, existing QSPEs (prior to the effective date of SFAS 166) must be evaluated for consolidation by reporting entities in accordance with the applicable consolidation guidance upon the elimination of this concept. SFAS 166 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS 166 in the first quarter of 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS 166.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46R (“SFAS 167”). SFAS 167 replaces the quantitative-based risks and rewards calculation for determining which enterprise, if any, has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity with a qualitative approach focused on identifying which enterprise has both the power to direct the activities of
10
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
the variable interest entity that most significantly impacts the entity’s economic performance and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could be significant to the entity. In addition, SFAS 167 requires reconsideration of whether an entity is a variable interest entity when any changes in facts and circumstances occur such that the holders of the equity investment at risk, as a group, lose the power from voting rights or similar rights of those investments to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. It also requires ongoing assessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and additional disclosures about an enterprise’s involvement in variable interest entities. SFAS 167 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS 167 in the first quarter of 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS 167.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“SFAS 168”). SFAS 168 establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification) as the single source of authoritative, nongovernmental U.S. GAAP. The Codification does not change U.S. GAAP. All existing accounting standard documents will be superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the Codification will be considered non-authoritative. SFAS 168 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. Accordingly, the Company will adopt the provisions of SFAS 168 and revise its financial statement disclosures in compliance with the new codification numbering system in the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption of the provisions of SFAS 168 to have any impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
(4) Business Acquisitions
The following is a summary of acquisitions completed by the Company during the six-month period ended June 30, 2009 that were accounted for as a purchase business combination pursuant to SFAS 141R or noncontrolling interest purchases pursuant to SFAS 160:
French Acquisition Partnerships
In May 2009, the Company, through a majority-owned subsidiary (UBN, SA), acquired additional ownership interests (ranging from 55.0% to 95.0%) in sixteen French Acquisition Partnerships for $7.8 million in cash. As a result of the transaction, the Company acquired a majority ownership interest (i.e. controlling financial interest) in each of the sixteen French entities — resulting in the entities becoming consolidated subsidiaries of the Company. Prior to this transaction, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, owned a direct equity-method investment in nine of the French entities (the aggregate carrying value of the Company’s equity-method investments in these nine French entities approximated $0.5 million at the time of the transaction). In addition, prior to this transaction, the Company, through an equity-method investee, owned an indirect equity-method investment in all of the French entities.
The transaction was accounted for as a business combination under SFAS 141R, and accordingly, the French entities’ assets (primarily loans that Company management considers to be SOP 03-3 loans) and liabilities and the noncontrolling interests were measured at fair value on the acquisition date and included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Portfolio Assets was measured using a discounted cash flow model, employing a 20% market discount rate, based on the projected future cash flows of the underlying loan portfolios. In management’s opinion, the market discount rate used in the cash flow model reflects the rate of return a market participant would consider for this type of loan investment. The amounts attributable to the French entities that were included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet on the acquisition date are as follows (in thousands):
Cash |
| $ | 766 |
|
Portfolio Assets |
| 12,912 |
| |
Other liabilities |
| 766 |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Noncontrolling interests (component of FirstCity’s equity) |
| 3,080 |
|
In addition, pursuant to provisions under SFAS 141R, the Company’s previously-held direct equity-method investments in nine of the French entities were remeasured to fair value at the acquisition date. The fair value of the Company’s previously-held equity interests exceeded the aggregate carrying value of $0.5 million by approximately $1.5 million. As such, under SFAS 141R, the Company recognized a $1.5 million gain attributable to the remeasurement of its previously-held equity interests on the acquisition date (presented as “Gain on step acquisition” on the face of the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the six-month period ended June 30, 2009).
11
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Acquisitions of Noncontrolling Interests
In May 2009, the Company purchased noncontrolling interests in two majority-owned subsidiaries (UBN, SA and WAMCO 80) already included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company paid $2.8 million in cash for the purchased noncontrolling interests. On the respective acquisition dates, the Company’s carrying values of the purchased noncontrolling interests approximated $3.6 million. Under SFAS 160, the Company accounted for the purchased noncontrolling interests as equity transactions, and recognized the $0.8 million difference between the purchase prices and the carrying values of the noncontrolling interests acquired as an increase to the Company’s consolidated paid-in capital.
(5) Portfolio Assets
Portfolio Assets are summarized as follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Loan Portfolios |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Loans Acquired Prior to 2005 |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Non-performing Portfolio Assets |
| $ | 3,049 |
| $ | 3,410 |
|
Performing Portfolio Assets |
| 487 |
| 833 |
| ||
Loans Acquired After 2004 |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Loans acquired with credit deterioration |
| 211,759 |
| 125,108 |
| ||
Loans acquired with no credit deterioration |
| 2,132 |
| 2,757 |
| ||
Other (1) |
| 64,166 |
| 65,394 |
| ||
Outstanding balance |
| 281,593 |
| 197,502 |
| ||
Allowance for loan losses (1) |
| (69,082 | ) | (76,365 | ) | ||
Carrying amount of loans, net of allowance |
| 212,511 |
| 121,137 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Real estate held for sale |
| 15,280 |
| 17,484 |
| ||
Real estate held for investment, net (2) |
| 9,635 |
| 9,592 |
| ||
Portfolio Assets, net |
| $ | 237,426 |
| $ | 148,213 |
|
(1) Includes loans and related allowance acquired in a step acquisition of a former equity-method investee in September 2008.
(2) Includes lease-related intangible balances (net) of approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.
Certain Portfolio Assets are pledged to secure a $100.0 million revolving loan facility between FH Partners LLC, an indirect wholly-owned affiliate of FirstCity, and Bank of Scotland. See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K for a description of this revolving credit agreement. In addition, certain Portfolio Assets are pledged to secure notes payable of certain consolidated affiliates of FirstCity that are generally non-recourse to FirstCity or any affiliate other than the acquiring entity that incurred the debt.
12
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Income from Portfolio Assets is summarized as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Loan Portfolios |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Loans Acquired Prior to 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Non-performing Portfolio Assets |
| $ | 50 |
| $ | 75 |
| $ | 91 |
| $ | 255 |
|
Performing Portfolio Assets |
| 152 |
| 37 |
| 258 |
| 143 |
| ||||
Loans Acquired After 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Loans acquired with credit deterioration |
| 13,530 |
| 4,913 |
| 22,253 |
| 8,466 |
| ||||
Loans acquired with no credit deterioration |
| 94 |
| 97 |
| 173 |
| 209 |
| ||||
Real Estate Portfolios |
| 170 |
| 447 |
| (10 | ) | 1,376 |
| ||||
Other |
| 81 |
| 53 |
| 355 |
| 108 |
| ||||
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| $ | 14,077 |
| $ | 5,622 |
| $ | 23,120 |
| $ | 10,557 |
|
The Company recorded a provision for loan and impairment losses on Portfolio Assets of approximately $0.7 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2009 — which is comprised of a $0.4 million impairment charge on real estate portfolios and a $0.3 million provision for loan losses, net of recoveries. For the six month period ended June 30, 2008, the Company recorded a provision for loan and impairment losses on Portfolio Assets of $9.9 million — which is comprised of a $1.0 million impairment charge on real estate portfolios and an $8.9 million provision for loan losses.
The changes in the allowance for loan losses on Portfolio Assets are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | (71,922 | ) | $ | (4,273 | ) | $ | (76,365 | ) | $ | (1,723 | ) |
Provisions |
| 581 |
| (6,287 | ) | (660 | ) | (9,154 | ) | ||||
Recoveries |
| 70 |
| 107 |
| 382 |
| 262 |
| ||||
Charge-offs |
| 6,220 |
| — |
| 7,647 |
| 162 |
| ||||
Translation adjustments |
| (4,031 | ) | (1 | ) | (86 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | (69,082 | ) | $ | (10,454 | ) | $ | (69,082 | ) | $ | (10,454 | ) |
Accretable yield represents the amount of income the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing loans acquired after 2004 with evidence of credit deterioration based on estimated future cash flows. Reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimates of future cash flows. Reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield primarily results from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows. Changes in accretable yield for loans acquired after 2004 with evidence of credit deterioration are as follows:
13
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 56,640 |
| $ | 31,318 |
| $ | 58,114 |
| $ | 35,951 |
|
Additions |
| 12,146 |
| 16,898 |
| 23,077 |
| 20,213 |
| ||||
Accretion |
| (5,562 | ) | (3,476 | ) | (10,460 | ) | (6,734 | ) | ||||
Reclassification from (to) nonaccretable difference |
| (1,022 | ) | 11,394 |
| 1,459 |
| 7,556 |
| ||||
Disposals |
| (11,033 | ) | (1,257 | ) | (19,477 | ) | (2,451 | ) | ||||
Translation adjustments |
| 1,767 |
| 307 |
| 223 |
| 649 |
| ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 52,936 |
| $ | 55,184 |
| $ | 52,936 |
| $ | 55,184 |
|
For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008, the Company adjusted the accretable yield schedules on certain loans to reflect the residual excess of the expected future cash flows over their carrying values. The tabular presentation above for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2008 includes a $10.2 million increase to “Reclassification from (to) nonaccretable difference”. The adjustment to the underlying accretable yield schedule did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Loans acquired during each period for which it was probable at acquisition that all contractually required payments would not be collected are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Face value at acquisition |
| $ | 112,058 |
| $ | 64,903 |
| $ | 252,830 |
| $ | 74,755 |
|
Cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition, net of adjustments |
| 83,306 |
| 53,150 |
| 164,428 |
| 63,285 |
| ||||
Basis in acquired loans at acquisition (1) |
| 64,497 |
| 36,252 |
| 134,688 |
| 43,072 |
| ||||
(1) Includes $28.3 million and $30.7 million of loans accounted for under the cost-recovery accounting method under SOP 03-3 upon acquisition for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009.
14
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
(6) Loans Receivable
The following is a composition of the Company’s loans receivable by loan type and region:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Commercial and industrial: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Affiliates |
| $ | 15,366 |
| $ | 12,794 |
|
SBA |
| 19,807 |
| 19,340 |
| ||
Other |
| 3,667 |
| 3,313 |
| ||
Real estate: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Other |
| 9,579 |
| 10,801 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Foreign - commercial and industrial: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Affiliates |
| 14,380 |
| 14,286 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total loans |
| 62,799 |
| 60,534 |
| ||
Less: allowance for loan losses |
| (1,660 | ) | (615 | ) | ||
Total loans, net |
| $ | 61,139 |
| $ | 59,919 |
|
Loans receivable — affiliates
Loans receivable — affiliates, which are designated by management as held for investment, are summarized as follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Outstanding balance |
| $ | 28,244 |
| $ | 25,747 |
|
Capitalized interest |
| 1,502 |
| 1,333 |
| ||
Carrying amount of loans, net |
| $ | 29,746 |
| $ | 27,080 |
|
The summary of activity in loans receivable — affiliates is as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 27,827 |
| $ | 5,403 |
| $ | 27,080 |
| $ | 5,447 |
|
Advances |
| 2,852 |
| 13,500 |
| 5,152 |
| 13,500 |
| ||||
Payments received |
| (1,333 | ) | (46 | ) | (2,610 | ) | (514 | ) | ||||
Capitalized interest |
| 88 |
| 95 |
| 169 |
| 191 |
| ||||
Foreign exchange gains (losses) |
| 312 |
| 28 |
| (45 | ) | 356 |
| ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 29,746 |
| $ | 18,980 |
| $ | 29,746 |
| $ | 18,980 |
|
Loans receivable — affiliates represent advances to Acquisition Partnerships and other affiliated entities to acquire portfolios of performing and non-performing commercial and consumer loans and other assets; and senior debt financing arrangements with equity-method investees to provide capital for business expansion and operations. The loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances adjusted for unaccreted discounts, unamortized net loan fees, and the allowance for loan losses. Interest is accrued when earned and, if applicable, capitalized as part of loan principal in accordance with the contractual terms of the loans. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis at the applicable interest rate on the principal amount outstanding. Loan origination fees and direct costs are generally amortized as level-yield adjustments over the respective loan terms. Unamortized net fees or costs are recognized upon early repayment of the loans. Loans receivable — affiliates are generally secured by the underlying collateral that was acquired with the loan proceeds. Advances to affiliates to acquire loan portfolios are secured by the underlying collateral of the individual notes
15
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
within the portfolios, which is generally real estate; whereas advances to affiliates for business expansion and working capital purposes are generally secured by business assets (i.e. accounts, inventory and equipment).
Management evaluates the need for impairment based upon the performance of the loans and various other factors. Impairment is evaluated by analyzing expected future cash flows and evaluating values of the underlying loan collateral. For advances secured by loan portfolios, management analyzes the expected cash flows within each pool to determine that the cash flows are sufficient to repay these notes. For loans secured by business assets, management analyzes the expected future cash flows from the borrowing entity (discounted for the loan’s risk-adjusted rate), and the values of the underlying collateral, to determine whether the Company expects to ultimately collect all contractual principal and interest. The results of management’s evaluations indicated that projected cash flows and underlying collateral are sufficient to repay the loans and no allowances for impairment are necessary. The Company recorded no provisions for impairment on loans receivable — affiliates for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
Loans receivable — SBA held for sale
Loans receivable — SBA held for sale are summarized as follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Outstanding balance |
| $ | 3,449 |
| $ | 4,840 |
|
Capitalized costs |
| 43 |
| 61 |
| ||
Carrying amount of loans, net |
| $ | 3,492 |
| $ | 4,901 |
|
Changes in loans receivable — SBA held for sale are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 9,720 |
| $ | 1,055 |
| $ | 4,901 |
| $ | 133 |
|
Originations and advances of loans |
| 6,787 |
| 3,752 |
| 11,600 |
| 4,842 |
| ||||
Payments received |
| (88 | ) | (29 | ) | (163 | ) | (31 | ) | ||||
Capitalized costs |
| (99 | ) | 7 |
| (18 | ) | 26 |
| ||||
Loans sold, net |
| (12,828 | ) | (2,566 | ) | (12,828 | ) | (2,751 | ) | ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 3,492 |
| $ | 2,219 |
| $ | 3,492 |
| $ | 2,219 |
|
Loans receivable — SBA held for sale represent U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans acquired by the Company in February 2007 and SBA loan originations and advances made since such time. SBA loans held for sale represent the portions of the loans that are guaranteed by the SBA, and are reflected at the lower of aggregate cost or estimated fair value. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income. The carrying value of SBA loans held for sale is net of premiums as well as deferred origination fees and costs. Premiums and net origination fees and costs are deferred and included in the basis of the loans in calculating gains and losses upon sale. SBA loans are generally secured by the borrowing entities’ assets such as accounts, property and equipment, and other assets. The Company generally sells the guaranteed portion of each loan to a third party and retains the servicing rights. The difference between the proceeds received and the allocated carrying value of the loans sold are recognized as net gains on sales of loans. The non-guaranteed portion is generally held in the portfolio and classified as held for investment. The Company recorded no write-downs of SBA loans held for sale below their cost for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008.
16
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Loans receivable — SBA held for investment, net
Loans receivable — SBA held for investment are summarized as follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Outstanding balance |
| $ | 17,482 |
| $ | 15,509 |
|
Allowance for loan losses |
| (112 | ) | (34 | ) | ||
Discounts, net |
| (1,260 | ) | (1,120 | ) | ||
Capitalized costs |
| 93 |
| 50 |
| ||
Carrying amount of loans, net |
| $ | 16,203 |
| $ | 14,405 |
|
Changes in loans receivable — SBA held for investment are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 15,673 |
| $ | 12,988 |
| $ | 14,405 |
| $ | 14,234 |
|
Originations and advances of loans |
| 1,163 |
| 1,241 |
| 2,767 |
| 1,604 |
| ||||
Payments received |
| (405 | ) | (457 | ) | (793 | ) | (2,071 | ) | ||||
Capitalized costs |
| 17 |
| 20 |
| 43 |
| 27 |
| ||||
Provision for SBA loan losses, net |
| (63 | ) | (110 | ) | (78 | ) | (82 | ) | ||||
Discount accretion, net |
| (182 | ) | 10 |
| (141 | ) | 145 |
| ||||
Charge-offs |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| (165 | ) | ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 16,203 |
| $ | 13,692 |
| $ | 16,203 |
| $ | 13,692 |
|
Loans receivable — SBA held for investment represent SBA loans acquired by the Company in February 2007 and SBA loan originations and advances made since such time. SBA loans held for investment are reported at their outstanding principal balances adjusted for unearned discounts, net deferred loan origination costs and the allowance for loan losses. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis at the applicable interest rate on the principal amount outstanding. Loan origination fees and direct costs as well as premiums and discounts are generally amortized as level yield adjustments over the respective loan terms. Unamortized net fees or costs are recognized upon early repayment of the loans. SBA loans held for investment are generally secured by the borrowing entities’ assets such as accounts, property and equipment, and other assets. Management evaluates the need for impairment based upon the performance of the loans and other portfolio characteristics, such as industry concentrations and loan collateral, which also impacts management’s estimates of the impairment. Impairment is evaluated by analyzing the expected future cash flows from the borrowing entity (discounted for the loans’ risk-adjusted rates), and the values of the underlying collateral, to determine whether the Company expects to ultimately collect all contractual principal and interest. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is reviewed by management on a regular basis and adjustments, if necessary, are reflected in operations during the periods in which they become known. Considerations in this evaluation include past and current loss experience, risks inherent in the current portfolio, and evaluation of commercial and real estate collateral as well as current economic conditions.
17
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS �� (continued)
Changes in the allowance for loan losses related to loans receivable — SBA held for investment are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | (49 | ) | $ | (123 | ) | $ | (34 | ) | $ | (151 | ) |
Provisions |
| (76 | ) | (110 | ) | (97 | ) | (234 | ) | ||||
Recoveries |
| 13 |
| — |
| 19 |
| 2 |
| ||||
Charge-offs |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 150 |
| ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | (112 | ) | $ | (233 | ) | $ | (112 | ) | $ | (233 | ) |
Loans receivable — other
Loans receivable — other, which are designated by management as held for investment, are summarized as follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Outstanding balance |
| $ | 13,008 |
| $ | 13,929 |
|
Allowance for loan losses |
| (1,548 | ) | (581 | ) | ||
Discounts, net |
| (11 | ) | (20 | ) | ||
Capitalized interest and costs |
| 249 |
| 205 |
| ||
Carrying amount of loans, net |
| $ | 11,698 |
| $ | 13,533 |
|
Changes in loans receivable — other are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 13,411 |
| $ | 5,965 |
| $ | 13,533 |
| $ | 5,995 |
|
Advances |
| 1,381 |
| 10,480 |
| 3,368 |
| 10,472 |
| ||||
Payments received |
| (2,170 | ) | (58 | ) | (4,299 | ) | (81 | ) | ||||
Capitalized interest and costs |
| 26 |
| 84 |
| 44 |
| 93 |
| ||||
Provision for loan impairment |
| (967 | ) | — |
| (967 | ) | — |
| ||||
Discount accretion, net |
| 2 |
| 18 |
| 9 |
| 24 |
| ||||
Foreign exchange gains (losses) |
| 15 |
| 3 |
| 10 |
| (11 | ) | ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 11,698 |
| $ | 16,492 |
| $ | 11,698 |
| $ | 16,492 |
|
Loans receivable — other include loans made to non-affiliated entities and are secured by the borrowing entities’ assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, and various other assets. The loans are reported at their outstanding principal balances adjusted for unearned discounts, loan origination fees, and the allowance for loan losses. Interest is accrued when earned in accordance with the contractual terms of the loans. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis at the applicable interest rate on the principal amount outstanding. Loan origination fees and direct costs are generally amortized as level-yield adjustments over the respective loan terms. Unamortized net fees or costs are recognized upon early repayment of the loans. Management evaluates the need for impairment based upon the performance of the loans and various other factors. Impairment is evaluated by analyzing the expected future cash flows from the borrowing entity (discounted for the loans’ risk-adjusted rates), and the values of the underlying collateral, to determine whether the Company expects to ultimately collect all contractual principal and interest. The Company recorded impairment provisions on loans receivable — other of approximately $1.0 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2009. The Company recorded no provisions for impairment for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008.
18
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
(7) Equity Investments
The Company has investments in Acquisition Partnerships, and investments in servicing and operating entities, that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. The condensed combined financial position and results of operations of the Acquisition Partnerships (which include the domestic and foreign Acquisition Partnerships and their general partners), and the servicing and operating entities are summarized as follows:
Condensed Combined Balance Sheets
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Assets |
| $ | 286,666 |
| $ | 297,805 |
|
Liabilities |
| $ | 96,755 |
| $ | 92,654 |
|
Net equity |
| 189,911 |
| 205,151 |
| ||
|
| $ | 286,666 |
| $ | 297,805 |
|
Servicing and operating entities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Assets |
| $ | 136,196 |
| $ | 126,136 |
|
Liabilities |
| $ | 86,316 |
| $ | 77,182 |
|
Net equity |
| 49,880 |
| 48,954 |
| ||
|
| $ | 136,196 |
| $ | 126,136 |
|
Total: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Assets |
| $ | 422,862 |
| $ | 423,941 |
|
Liabilities |
| $ | 183,071 |
| $ | 169,836 |
|
Net equity |
| 239,791 |
| 254,105 |
| ||
|
| $ | 422,862 |
| $ | 423,941 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Equity investment in Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 42,839 |
| $ | 46,084 |
|
Equity investment in servicing and operating entities |
| 27,375 |
| 26,903 |
| ||
|
| $ | 70,214 |
| $ | 72,987 |
|
19
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Condensed Combined Summary of Operations
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Acquisition Partnerships: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| $ | 10,799 |
| $ | 26,781 |
| $ | 21,275 |
| $ | 51,072 |
|
Other income |
| 293 |
| 765 |
| 227 |
| 1,094 |
| ||||
Revenues |
| 11,092 |
| 27,546 |
| 21,502 |
| 52,166 |
| ||||
Interest expense |
| 1,252 |
| 5,337 |
| 2,626 |
| 7,213 |
| ||||
Service fees |
| 2,727 |
| 8,214 |
| 5,933 |
| 13,162 |
| ||||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 4,286 |
| 3,388 |
| 5,892 |
| 8,746 |
| ||||
Asset-level expenses |
| 1,809 |
| 3,587 |
| 3,690 |
| 5,481 |
| ||||
Other operating costs |
| 1,460 |
| 2,015 |
| 2,183 |
| 5,937 |
| ||||
Foreign currency gains |
| (13,897 | ) | (5,435 | ) | (2,752 | ) | (8,380 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) and other taxes |
| (110 | ) | 705 |
| (164 | ) | 1,737 |
| ||||
Expenses |
| (2,473 | ) | 17,811 |
| 17,408 |
| 33,896 |
| ||||
Equity in earnings of investments |
| — |
| 859 |
| — |
| 1,636 |
| ||||
Net earnings |
| $ | 13,565 |
| $ | 10,594 |
| $ | 4,094 |
| $ | 19,906 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Servicing and operating entities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| $ | 6,065 |
| $ | 9,825 |
| $ | 12,334 |
| $ | 18,636 |
|
Servicing fees |
| 5,539 |
| 9,420 |
| 10,506 |
| 16,731 |
| ||||
Other income, net |
| 4,539 |
| 2,636 |
| 14,031 |
| 4,663 |
| ||||
Total revenues |
| 16,143 |
| 21,881 |
| 36,871 |
| 40,030 |
| ||||
Expenses |
| 18,601 |
| 18,974 |
| 37,584 |
| 33,591 |
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) |
| $ | (2,458 | ) | $ | 2,907 |
| $ | (713 | ) | $ | 6,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Equity in earnings of Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 2,133 |
| $ | 3,017 |
| $ | 1,242 |
| $ | 5,338 |
|
Equity in earnings (loss) of servicing and operating entities |
| (935 | ) | (9 | ) | (190 | ) | 510 |
| ||||
|
| $ | 1,198 |
| $ | 3,008 |
| $ | 1,052 |
| $ | 5,848 |
|
Portfolio Assets held by certain Acquisition Partnerships are pledged to secure notes payable that are generally non-recourse to FirstCity or any affiliate other than the partnership entity that incurred the debt.
The combined assets and equity of the underlying Acquisition Partnerships and the servicing and operating entities, and the Company’s equity investments in those entities, are summarized by geographic region below.
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Assets: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 53,104 |
| $ | 62,249 |
|
Operating entities |
| 21,354 |
| 19,787 |
| ||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 145,677 |
| 142,340 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 13,999 |
| 14,122 |
| ||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 87,885 |
| 93,216 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 100,843 |
| 92,227 |
| ||
|
| $ | 422,862 |
| $ | 423,941 |
|
20
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Equity: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 26,580 |
| $ | 29,614 |
|
Operating entities |
| 2,317 |
| 3,710 |
| ||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 122,974 |
| 128,416 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 1,466 |
| 1,970 |
| ||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 40,357 |
| 47,121 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 46,097 |
| 43,274 |
| ||
|
| $ | 239,791 |
| $ | 254,105 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Equity investment in Acquisition Partnerships, and Servicing and Operating entities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 12,097 |
| $ | 14,542 |
|
Operating entities |
| 929 |
| 953 |
| ||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 18,215 |
| 18,657 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 2,913 |
| 2,876 |
| ||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 12,527 |
| 12,885 |
| ||
Servicing entities |
| 23,533 |
| 23,074 |
| ||
|
| $ | 70,214 |
| $ | 72,987 |
|
21
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Revenues and earnings (losses) of the underlying Acquisition Partnerships and the servicing and operating entities, and the Company’s share of equity in earnings (losses) of those entities, are summarized by geographic region below.
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 2,966 |
| $ | 3,232 |
| $ | 4,606 |
| $ | 6,347 |
|
Operating entities |
| 4,192 |
| 2,164 |
| 13,193 |
| 2,164 |
| ||||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 2,912 |
| 12,495 |
| 5,437 |
| 23,726 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| 3,036 |
| 5,223 |
| 5,324 |
| 10,449 |
| ||||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 5,214 |
| 11,819 |
| 11,459 |
| 22,093 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| 8,915 |
| 14,494 |
| 18,354 |
| 27,417 |
| ||||
|
| $ | 27,235 |
| $ | 49,427 |
| $ | 58,373 |
| $ | 92,196 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net earnings (loss): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 1,310 |
| $ | (310 | ) | $ | 1,414 |
| $ | 243 |
|
Operating entities |
| (1,961 | ) | (900 | ) | 18 |
| (900 | ) | ||||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 11,344 |
| 3,007 |
| (1,029 | ) | 5,990 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| (409 | ) | (484 | ) | (935 | ) | (69 | ) | ||||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 911 |
| 7,897 |
| 3,709 |
| 13,673 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| (88 | ) | 4,291 |
| 204 |
| 7,408 |
| ||||
|
| $ | 11,107 |
| $ | 13,501 |
| $ | 3,381 |
| $ | 26,345 |
|
Equity in earnings (loss) of Acquisition Partnerships, and Servicing and Operating entities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Domestic: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| $ | 515 |
| $ | (112 | ) | $ | 516 |
| $ | 154 |
|
Operating entities |
| (642 | ) | (356 | ) | 197 |
| (356 | ) | ||||
Latin America: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 1,391 |
| 735 |
| (253 | ) | 1,104 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| (204 | ) | (147 | ) | (467 | ) | 56 |
| ||||
Europe: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Acquisition Partnerships |
| 227 |
| 2,394 |
| 979 |
| 4,080 |
| ||||
Servicing entities |
| (89 | ) | 494 |
| 80 |
| 810 |
| ||||
|
| $ | 1,198 |
| $ | 3,008 |
| $ | 1,052 |
| $ | 5,848 |
|
At June 30, 2009, the Company had $29.1 million in Euro-denominated debt that was designated as a hedge to partially off-set the Company’s business exposure to foreign currency exchange risk attributable to our net equity investments in Europe. Refer to Note 18 for additional information.
(8) Servicing Assets — SBA Loans
In accordance with SFAS 156, servicing rights purchased or resulting from the sale of loans are initially recognized at fair value at the date of acquisition or transfer. Subsequent to the date of purchase or sale, the Company elected to measure the carrying value of the servicing assets by using the amortization method — which amortizes the servicing assets in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income, and evaluates servicing assets for impairment based on fair value at each reporting date. The Company evaluates the possible impairment of servicing assets based on the difference between the carrying amount and current fair value of the servicing assets. Impairment is charged to servicing fees in the period recognized.
22
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Changes in the Company’s amortized servicing assets are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | 739 |
| $ | 839 |
| $ | 785 |
| $ | 885 |
|
Servicing Assets capitalized |
| 312 |
| 52 |
| 312 |
| 54 |
| ||||
Servicing Assets amortized |
| (50 | ) | (50 | ) | (96 | ) | (98 | ) | ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | 1,001 |
| $ | 841 |
| $ | 1,001 |
| $ | 841 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Reserve for impairment of servicing assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Beginning Balance |
| $ | (44 | ) | $ | (110 | ) | $ | (63 | ) | $ | (42 | ) |
Impairments |
| (16 | ) | (1 | ) | (16 | ) | (69 | ) | ||||
Recoveries |
| 33 |
| 19 |
| 52 |
| 19 |
| ||||
Charge-offs |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ||||
Ending Balance |
| $ | (27 | ) | $ | (92 | ) | $ | (27 | ) | $ | (92 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Ending Balance (net of reserve) |
| $ | 974 |
| $ | 749 |
| $ | 974 |
| $ | 749 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Fair value of amortized servicing assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 695 |
| $ | 729 |
| $ | 722 |
| $ | 843 |
|
Ending balance |
| $ | 974 |
| $ | 749 |
| $ | 974 |
| $ | 749 |
|
The Company relies primarily on a discounted cash flow model to estimate the fair value of its servicing assets. The model calculates estimated fair value of the servicing assets using predominant risk characteristics of servicing assets such as discount rate, prepayment speed, weighted average life of the loans sold and the interest rate. The estimated fair value of servicing assets was determined using discount rates ranging from 5.4% to 11.2%, prepayment speeds of 14.0% to 15.0% (depending on certain characteristics of the related loans), and weighted average lives of the underlying assets ranging from 52 to 280 months and a combined weighted average life of 186 months. In the event future prepayments are significant or impairments are incurred, and future expected cash flows are inadequate to cover the unamortized servicing assets, additional amortization or impairment charges would be recognized.
(9) Income Taxes
The Company has substantial net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes (“NOLs”), which can be used to off-set the tax liability associated with the Company’s pre-tax earnings until the earlier of the expiration or utilization of such NOLs. The Company accounts for the benefit of the NOLs and other income tax items under the asset and liability method in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. SFAS 109 requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically by the Company based on the SFAS 109 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In the assessment, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other factors, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, excess of appreciated asset value over the tax basis of net assets, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Company’s experience with utilizing available operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, and tax planning strategies. In making such assessments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company established a full valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets due to the lack of sufficient objective evidence regarding the realization of these assets in the foreseeable future.
23
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)
Pursuant to the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”), the Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The difference between the benefit recognized for a position in accordance with this FIN 48 model and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit (“UTB”). The gross amount of UTBs on uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2009 totaled $336,000, which if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective income tax rate.
Over the next twelve months, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations related to certain UTBs, the Company anticipates that it is reasonably possible that the amount of UTBs could be reduced by approximately $50,000, which would impact the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company records interest and penalties related to income tax uncertainties in the provision for income taxes. At June 30, 2009, interest and penalties of $92,000 are included in “Other liabilities” as income taxes payable.
In a letter dated March 26, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service notified FirstCity of the completion of its examination on the Company’s 2004 federal income tax return. The examination results were that no changes were made to FirstCity’s original tax return as filed. FirstCity currently files tax returns in approximately 35 states and is currently being examined in three states for the year 2004. Tax year 1994 and subsequent years are open to federal examination, and tax year 2004 and subsequent years are open to state examination.
(10) Earnings (Loss) per Common Share
Basic net earnings (loss) per common share calculations are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of common share equivalents is included in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share only when the effect of their inclusion would be dilutive. The calculations of basic and dilutive earnings (loss) per share were determined as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) |
| $ | 8,977 |
| $ | (6,476 | ) | 9,969 |
| (10,082 | ) | ||
Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest |
| 1,231 |
| 53 |
| 1,579 |
| 31 |
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to FirstCity |
| $ | 7,746 |
| $ | (6,529 | ) | $ | 8,390 |
| $ | (10,113 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock (in thousands) |
| 9,832 |
| 10,357 |
| 9,832 |
| 10,471 |
| ||||
Dilutive effect of: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Warrants |
| 181 |
| — |
| 99 |
| — |
| ||||
Employee stock options |
| 122 |
| — |
| 52 |
| — |
| ||||
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock and common stock equivalents |
| 10,135 |
| 10,357 |
| 9,983 |
| 10,471 |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Basic |
| $ | 0.79 |
| $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | 0.85 |
| $ | (0.97 | ) |
Diluted |
| $ | 0.76 |
| $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | 0.84 |
| $ | (0.97 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Dilutive shares excluded from above (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Warrants |
| — |
| 231 |
| — |
| 265 |
| ||||
Employee stock options |
| — |
| 174 |
| — |
| 210 |
|
24
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
(11) Stock-Based Compensation
The impact on the results of operations of recording stock-based compensation for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Amount of compensation cost recognized in expenses |
| $ | 25 |
| $ | 197 |
| $ | 130 |
| $ | 422 |
|
Tax benefit recognized in income |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
|
Amount capitalized as part of an asset |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
|
A summary of stock option activity as of June 30, 2009 and changes during the period then ended is presented below:
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted |
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| Average |
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
| Weighted |
| Remaining |
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
| Average |
| Contractual |
| Aggregate |
| ||
|
|
|
| Exercise |
| Term |
| Intrinsic |
| ||
|
| Shares |
| Price |
| (Years) |
| Value |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (in thousands) |
| ||
Outstanding at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
January 1, 2009 |
| 811,150 |
| $ | 6.24 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Granted |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Exercised |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Expired |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Forfeited |
| (2,500 | ) | 9.85 |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Outstanding at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
June 30, 2009 |
| 808,650 |
| $ | 6.23 |
| 4.02 |
| $ | 619 |
|
Exercisable at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
June 30, 2009 |
| 718,112 |
| $ | 5.73 |
| 3.53 |
| $ | 619 |
|
There were no stock options exercised during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. As of June 30, 2009, there was approximately $438,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the stock option plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 years.
A summary of the status and changes of FirstCity’s non-vested shares as of June 30, 2009, and changes during the six months ended June 30, 2009 is presented below:
|
|
|
| Weighted- |
| |
|
|
|
| Average |
| |
|
|
|
| Grant-Date |
| |
|
| Shares |
| Fair Value |
| |
Non-vested at January 1, 2009 |
| 107,913 |
| $ | 7.06 |
|
Granted |
| — |
| $ | — |
|
Vested |
| (15,500 | ) | $ | 1.58 |
|
Forfeited |
| (1,875 | ) | $ | 9.85 |
|
Non-vested at June 30, 2009 |
| 90,538 |
| $ | 7.36 |
|
25
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
(12) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised of the following as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments |
| $ | (1,495 | ) | $ | (3,766 | ) |
Net unrealized gains on securities available for sale (1) |
| 350 |
| 40 |
| ||
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss |
| $ | (1,145 | ) | $ | (3,726 | ) |
(1) Includes $326,000 at June 30, 2009 attributable to FirstCity’s proportionate share of net unrealized gains recorded by an investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.
(13) Fair Value
Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of an asset or liability is the price that would be received to sell that asset or paid to transfer that liability in an orderly transaction occurring in the principal market (or most advantageous market in the absence of a principal market) for such asset or liability. In estimating fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that are consistent with the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach. Such valuation techniques are consistently applied. Inputs to valuation techniques include the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. SFAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
· Level 1 — Valuations are based upon quoted prices (unadjusted) in active exchange markets involving identical assets and liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
· Level 2 — Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices and valuations for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-based valuation techniques with significant assumptions and inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
· Level 3 — Valuations are derived from model-based techniques that use inputs and significant assumptions that are supported by little or no observable market data. Valuation techniques include the use of pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar methodologies.
The level of fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is most-significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
Asset Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
At June 30, 2009, the only financial or non-financial item that the Company measures at fair value on a recurring basis was its investment security available for sale (represents a beneficial interest attributable to loans sold through a securitization transaction that the Company purchased in 2008). The Company measures fair value for this investment security using a discounted cash flow model based on assumptions and inputs that are corroborated by little or no observable market data (Level 3 measurement). The Company uses this measurement technique because pricing information and market-participant assumptions for purchased beneficial interests in similar securitization transactions are not readily accessible and frequently released to the public. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the carrying value of this investment security (at fair value) approximated $3.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively. The table below summarizes the changes to this Level 3 asset measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2009:
26
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
|
| Three Months |
| Six Months |
| ||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| June 30, 2009 |
| June 30, 2009 |
| ||
Balance, beginning of period |
| $ | 4,279 |
| $ | 5,251 |
|
Total net gains (losses) for the period included in: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net income (loss) |
| — |
| — |
| ||
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
| (9 | ) | (16 | ) | ||
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net |
| (1,277 | ) | (2,242 | ) | ||
Net transfers into Level 3 |
| — |
| — |
| ||
Balance, end of period |
| $ | 42,987 |
| $ | 42,987 |
|
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company may be required, from time to time, to measure certain financial and non-financial assets at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These adjustments to fair value generally result from write-downs of financial and non-financial assets as a result of impairment or application of lower-of-cost or fair value accounting. For assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and carried at fair value on the balance sheet at June 30, 2009, the following table provides the valuation levels used to determine the fair value of the financial assets:
|
| Carrying Value at June 30, 2009 |
| ||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| Total |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| ||||
Portfolio Assets - loans (1) |
| $ | 1,925 |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | 1,925 |
|
Real estate held for sale (2) |
| 7,534 |
| — |
| 7,534 |
| — |
| ||||
|
| Carrying Value at December 31, 2008 (3) |
| ||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| Total |
| Level 1 |
| Level 2 |
| Level 3 |
| ||||
Portfolio Assets - loans (1) |
| $ | 5,677 |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
| $ | 5,677 |
|
SBA loans held for investment (1) |
| 140 |
| — |
| — |
| 140 |
| ||||
Servicing assets - SBA loans |
| 534 |
| — |
| — |
| 534 |
| ||||
(1) Represents the carrying value of impaired loans that were measured for impairment using the estimated fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent loans. The carrying value of loans fully charged-off is zero.
(2) Represents the carrying value and related losses of foreclosed real estate properties that were measured at fair value upon their initial recognition as real estate held for sale or subsequent impairment.
(3) Pursuant to the Company’s adoption of FSP FAS 157-2 in 2008, the Company did not apply the provisions of SFAS 157 to non-recurring fair value measurements of non-financial Portfolio Assets (i.e. real estate held for sale) upon recognition of impairment charges on such assets during 2008. In accordance with FSP FAS 157-2, the Company applied the provisions of SFAS 157 to fair value measurements of non-financial Portfolio Assets effective January 1, 2009.
The fair values of “Portfolio Assets — loans” and “SBA loans held for investment,” as measured on a non-recurring basis, are based on collateral valuations using observable and unobservable inputs, adjusted for various considerations such as market conditions, economic and competitive environment, and other assets with similar characteristics (i.e. type, location, etc.) that, in management’s opinion, reflect elements a market participant would consider. The Company classifies its fair value measurement techniques for these assets as Level 3 inputs for the following reasons: (1) distressed asset transactions generally occur in inactive markets for which observable market prices are not readily available (i.e. price quotations vary substantially over time and among market-makers, and pricing information is generally not released to the public); and (2) the Company’s valuation techniques that are most-significant to the fair value measurements are principally derived from assumptions and inputs that are corroborated by little or no observable market data.
The fair value of “Servicing assets — SBA loans,” as measured on a non-recurring basis, is based on the Company’s discounted cash flow model. This model estimates fair value of the servicing assets using predominant risk characteristics of servicing assets such as discount rate, prepayment speed, and weighted average lives and interest rates of the underlying loans. The Company classifies its fair value measurement techniques for servicing assets as Level 3 inputs since the Company’s valuation techniques that are most-significant to the fair value measurements are principally derived from assumptions and inputs that are corroborated by little or no observable market data.
27
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
The fair value of “Real estate held for sale,” as measured on a non-recurring basis, is generally based on collateral valuations using observable inputs.
Under SFAS 157, we attempt to base our fair values on the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It is our policy to maximize the use of observable inputs, when reasonably available and without undue cost, and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when developing fair value measurements in accordance with the fair value hierarchy in SFAS 157. Fair value measurements for assets where there exists limited or no observable market data and, therefore, are based principally on our own estimates and assumptions, are often calculated based on collateral valuations adjusted for the economic and competitive environment, the characteristics of the asset, and other such factors. Additionally, there may be inherent weaknesses in any valuation technique, and changes in the underlying assumptions used, including discount rates and estimates of future cash flows, that could significantly affect the results of current or future values.
Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value in their Entirety on a Recurring Basis
In addition to the methods and assumptions we use to measure the fair value of financial instruments as discussed in the section above, we used the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of our financial instruments that are not recorded at fair value in their entirety on a recurring basis on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The fair value estimates were based on pertinent information that was available to management as of the respective dates. The fair value estimates have not been revalued for purposes of these financial statements since those dates and, therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented. Furthermore, because active markets do not exist for a significant portion of the Company’s financial instruments, management uses present value techniques and other valuation models to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments. These valuation methods require considerable judgment, and the resulting estimates of fair value can be significantly affected by the assumptions made and methods used. Accordingly, the estimates provided herein do not necessarily indicate amounts which could be realized in a current exchange. The Company believes the imprecision of an estimate could be significant.
Cash and Cash Equivalents: The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximated fair value at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Loans Receivable Held-for-Sale: Loans held-for-sale (primarily SBA loans held-for-sale) are carried on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of loans held-for-sale is generally based on what secondary markets are currently offering for loans with similar characteristics. The carrying amount of loans held-for-sale approximated fair value at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
Portfolio Assets — Loans and Loans Receivable: Estimated fair values of Portfolio Assets — loans and fixed-rate loans receivable are generally determined using a discounted cash flow model, adjusted by an amount for estimated losses, that employs market discount rates and other adjustments that would be expected to be made by a market participant. The estimated fair value for variable-rate loans that re-price frequently is based on carrying values adjusted for estimated credit losses and other adjustments that would be expected to be made by a market participant. The estimated fair value for impaired loans is generally based on collateral valuations using observable and unobservable inputs, adjusted for various considerations that would be expected to be made by a market participant; or discounted cash flow models that employ market discount rates and other adjustments that would be expected to be made by a market participant. Management estimates and assumptions regarding credit risk, cash flows and discount rates are judgmentally determined using available market and specific borrower information. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the carrying amounts of Portfolio Assets — loans and loans receivable (including accrued interest) approximated $273.0 million and $178.0 million, respectively, and the estimated fair values approximated $377.0 million and $238.4 million, respectively.
Servicing Assets: The Company relies primarily on a combination of a discounted cash flow model of future net servicing income and analysis of current market data to estimate the fair value of its servicing assets. The key assumptions used to calculate estimated fair value of the servicing assets include prepayment speeds; discount rate; and weighted average lives and interest rates of the underlying loans. The fair value estimate excludes the value of the servicing rights for loans sold in which the servicing rights have not been capitalized. At June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the carrying amount of servicing assets approximated fair value.
Notes Payable: Management believes the interest rates and terms on its debt obligations approximate the rates and terms currently offered by other lenders for similar debt instruments of comparable terms. As such, management believes that the carrying amount of notes payable approximates fair value at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
28
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
(14) Variable Interest Entities
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into various types of on- and off-balance sheet transactions with entities that involve variable interests. Variable interests are generally defined as contractual, ownership or other economic interests in an entity that change with fluctuations in the entity’s net asset value. If certain characteristics are present in these transactions, the entity is subject to a variable interests consolidation analysis, and consolidation is based on variable interests, and not solely on ownership of the entity’s outstanding voting stock. If an entity is determined to be a variable interest entity (“VIE”), we determine if our variable interest causes us to be considered the primary beneficiary. We are the primary beneficiary and are required to consolidate the entity if we absorb a majority of expected losses or receive a majority of residual returns (if the losses or returns occur), or both. In making the determination as to whether we are the primary beneficiary, we evaluate the design of the entity, including the risks that cause variability, the purpose for which the entity was created, and the variability that the entity was designed to create and pass along to its interest holders. When the primary beneficiary cannot be identified through qualitative analysis, we use internal cash flow models to compute and allocate expected losses or residual returns to each variable interest holder. The allocation of expected cash flows is based upon the relative contractual rights and preferences of each interest holder in the VIE’s capital structure.
In order to determine if we are considered to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we first perform a qualitative analysis, which requires certain subjective decisions regarding our assessments, including, but not limited to, the design of the entity, the variability that the entity was designed to create and pass along to its interest holders, the rights of the parties, and the purpose of the arrangement. If we cannot conclude after qualitative analysis whether we are the primary beneficiary, we perform a quantitative analysis. Quantifying the variability of a VIE’s assets is complex and subjective, requiring analysis of a significant number of possible future outcomes as well as probability of each outcome occurring. The result of each possible outcome is allocated to the parties holding interests in the VIE and, based on the allocation, a calculation is performed to determine which party, if any, is the primary beneficiary.
The following provides a summary for which the Company has entered into significant transactions with different types of VIEs:
Acquisition Partnership VIEs — The Company is involved with certain Acquisition Partnerships that were formed with one or more investors to invest in Portfolio Assets. These Acquisition Partnership VIEs are typically financed through debt and/or equity provided by the investors (including FirstCity). The investors and third-party creditors generally have recourse only to the extent of the assets held by these VIEs. The Acquisition Partnerships included in this disclosure are VIEs because generally they do not have sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support, or the investors do not have the ability to make significant decisions about the Acquisition Partnership’s activities. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the Acquisition Partnership VIEs as the majority of the variable interests are expected to accrue to the other investors. The Company does not generally provide financial support to any Acquisition Partnership VIE beyond that which is contractually required.
Operating Entity VIEs — The Company has significant variable interests with certain operating entities. FirstCity provided financing in the form of debt and/or equity to help finance the activities of the Operating Entity VIEs. The voting interests of the Operating Entity VIEs are either wholly-owned or majority-owned by non-affiliated investors. The investors and creditors, including FirstCity, generally have recourse only to the extent of the assets held by these VIEs. The Operating Entities included in this disclosure are VIEs because generally they do not have sufficient equity to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support. The Company is not the primary beneficiary of the Operating Entity VIEs as the majority of the variable interests are expected to accrue to other non-affiliated investors. The Company does not generally provide financial support to any Operating Entity VIE beyond that which is contractually required.
The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the maximum loss exposure as of June 30, 2009 related to the Company’s variable interests in non-consolidated VIEs. The Company does not have any consolidated VIEs for which it holds a minority voting interest in the entity.
29
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
|
| Assets on FirstCity’s |
| FirstCity’s |
| |||||
|
| Balance Sheet |
| Maximum |
| |||||
|
| Loans |
| Equity |
| Exposure |
| |||
Type of VIE |
| Receivable |
| Investment |
| to Loss (1) |
| |||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||
Acquisition Partnership VIEs |
| $ | 2,139 |
| $ | 20,292 |
| $ | 24,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Operating Entity VIEs |
| 18,703 |
| 325 |
| 19,028 |
| |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Net assets acquired |
| $ | 20,842 |
| $ | 20,617 |
| $ | 43,038 |
|
(1) Includes maximum exposure to loss attributable to FirstCity’s debt guarantees provided for certain Acquisition Partnership VIEs.
(15) Other Related Party Transactions
The Company has contracted with the Acquisition Partnerships and related parties as a third party loan servicer. Servicing fees and due diligence fees (included in other income) derived from such affiliates totaled $2.1 million and $2.5 million for the three month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $4.3 million and $4.6 million for the six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
FirstCity Servicing Corporation (“FCSC”), an indirect wholly-owned affiliate of the Company, and MCS et Associates (“MCS”), in which FCSC is an 11.89% shareholder as of December 31, 2008, are parties to Consulting, License and Confidentiality Agreements dated June 30, 1999 pursuant to which FCSC provides consultation services and personnel to be employed by MCS to assist in developing and managing due diligence and servicing systems. Pursuant to those agreements, MCS provides the supplied personnel with compensation, tax equalization payments, housing allowances, transportation allowance, and tax preparation. MCS also pays consulting fees to FCSC and reimburses FCSC for travel, hotel, airfare, and meal expenses incurred related to the provision of the services. FirstCity recorded fees from MCS included in other income of $101,000 and $127,000 during the three month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $199,000 and $240,000 during the six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
(16) Segment Reporting
The Company is engaged in two major business segments — Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution and Special Situations Platform.
In the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business, the Company acquires and resolves portfolios of performing and non-performing loans and other assets (collectively, “Portfolio Assets” or “Portfolios”), which are generally acquired at a discount to their legal principal balance or appraised value. Purchases may be in the form of pools of assets or single assets. The Portfolio Assets are generally aggregated, including loans of varying qualities that are secured or unsecured by diverse collateral types and real estate. Some Portfolio Assets are loans for which resolution is linked primarily to the real estate securing the loan, while others may be collateralized business loans for which resolution may be based either on real estate, business assets or other collateral cash flow. Portfolio Assets are acquired on behalf of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries, and on behalf of domestic and foreign partnerships and other entities (“Acquisition Partnerships”) in which a partially-owned affiliate of the Company is the general partner and the Company and other investors are limited partners. The Company services, manages and ultimately resolves or otherwise disposes of substantially all Portfolio Assets acquired by the Company, its Acquisition Partnerships, or other related entities. The Company services such assets until they are collected or sold.
The Company engages in its Special Situations Platform business through its majority ownership interest in FirstCity Denver — which was formed in April 2007. Through its Special Situations Platform business, the Company provides investment capital to privately-held middle-market companies through flexible capital structuring arrangements. The nature of the capital investments primarily take the form of senior and junior financing arrangements, but also include direct equity investments, common equity warrants, distressed debt transactions, and leveraged buyouts. FirstCity Denver’s primary investment objective is to generate both
30
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments, and to generally structure the investments to be repaid or exited in twelve to thirty-six months.
Operating segment revenues and profitability, and a reconciliation to net earnings (loss) before deduction of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total revenues |
| $ | 18,969 |
| $ | 10,017 |
| $ | 32,266 |
| $ | 18,250 |
|
Operating contribution (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | 11,138 |
| $ | (5,007 | ) | $ | 12,054 |
| $ | (7,072 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Special Situations Platform: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total revenues |
| $ | 1,575 |
| $ | 1,427 |
| $ | 3,913 |
| $ | 2,516 |
|
Operating contribution (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | (1,132 | ) | $ | 186 |
| $ | 205 |
| $ | 451 |
|
Total operating income (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | 10,006 |
| $ | (4,821 | ) | $ | 12,259 |
| $ | (6,621 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Corporate Overhead: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Salaries and benefits, occupancy, professional and other income and expenses, net |
| 2,157 |
| 1,821 |
| 3,779 |
| 3,491 |
| ||||
Income taxes |
| 103 |
| (113 | ) | 90 |
| 1 |
| ||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to FirstCity |
| $ | 7,746 |
| $ | (6,529 | ) | $ | 8,390 |
| $ | (10,113 | ) |
Revenues and equity in earnings of investments from the Special Situations Platform segment are all attributable to domestic operations. Revenues and equity in earnings of investments from the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution segment are attributable to domestic and foreign operations as follows:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Domestic |
| $ | 15,785 |
| $ | 6,177 |
| $ | 25,518 |
| $ | 11,807 |
|
Latin America |
| 4,355 |
| 3,853 |
| 5,274 |
| 6,888 |
| ||||
Europe |
| 661 |
| 3,340 |
| 2,313 |
| 5,735 |
| ||||
Other |
| 8 |
| 11 |
| 16 |
| 24 |
| ||||
Total |
| $ | 20,809 |
| $ | 13,381 |
| $ | 33,121 |
| $ | 24,454 |
|
31
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
Total assets for each of the segments and a reconciliation to total assets follows:
|
| June 30, |
| December 31, |
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 25,521 |
| $ | 19,103 |
|
Restricted cash |
| 1,115 |
| 1,217 |
| ||
Portfolio acquisition and resolution assets: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Domestic |
| 236,465 |
| 167,211 |
| ||
Latin America |
| 42,463 |
| 42,426 |
| ||
Europe |
| 63,802 |
| 48,612 |
| ||
Other |
| — |
| 228 |
| ||
Special situations platform assets |
| 40,483 |
| 37,786 |
| ||
Other non-earning assets, net |
| 11,488 |
| 12,354 |
| ||
Total assets |
| $ | 421,337 |
| $ | 328,937 |
|
(17) Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Proceedings
The following information supplements and amends our discussion set forth under Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in our 2008 Form 10-K.
On June 4, 2009, the Company received notice of the issuance of an opinion by the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas in FCLT Loans Asset Corp. and Timothy J. Blair, class representative v. FirstCity Financial Corporation in which the Court of Appeals denied the joint motion of the parties to the suit to abate the appeal, reversed the judgment in favor of FirstCity and remanded the case to the trial court. The Court held that JPMorgan, as successor trustee, is the legal owner of the demutualized proceeds interpled by Prudential Financial, Inc., and that the trustee’s participation is necessary to determine the appropriate disbursement of the demutualization proceeds. On June 19, 2009, FirstCity filed a motion for rehearing in the First District Court of Appeals on the basis that the Court of Appeals could not reverse the decision of the trial court on basis of error that was not assigned, presented, preserved, or briefed by the parties on appeal.
The Interpleader Suit was originally filed by Prudential to determine the ownership of stock and dividends that became available as a result of the demutualization of Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”). On March 21, 2006, the trial court entered an order granting FirstCity’s motion for partial summary judgment and rendered judgment in favor of FirstCity as to the ownership of the demutualization proceeds. On November 25, 2008, the parties to the suit reached a preliminary agreement to settle the lawsuit involving the disputed ownership of approximately $18.6 million of proceeds from the demutualization of Prudential Insurance Company. A court-ordered mediation was held on November 18, 2008 and following the unsuccessful mediation the mediator submitted his proposal to the three claimants. The mediator’s proposal accepted by the claimants on November 25, 2008 provided for each of the parties to receive 25% of the demutualization proceeds (approximately $4,650,000 each) upon approval of the settlement by the trial court, and for the remaining 25% ($4,650,000) to be held pending the determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeals. The settlement was subject to the approval by the Court of Appeals of the motion to abate the appeal to allow the trial court to consider approval of the settlement involving the class of former employees, which motion was denied by the Court of Appeals in its opinion.
Indemnification Obligation Commitments
On September 21, 2004, FirstCity, FirstCity Consumer Corporation (“Consumer Corp.”), FirstCity Funding LP (“Funding LP”) and FirstCity Funding GP (“Funding GP”) entered into the a Securities Purchase Agreement to sell a 31% beneficial ownership interest in Drive and its general partner, Drive GP LLC, to IFA-GP, IFA-LP and MG-LP (the “2004 Securities Purchase Agreement”). In the 2004 Securities Purchase Agreement, FirstCity, Consumer Corp., Funding LP and Funding GP made various representations and warranties concerning (i) their respective organizations, (ii) their power and authority to enter into the 2004 Securities Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, (iii) the ownership of the limited partnership interests in Drive by Funding LP, (iv) the ownership of membership interests in Drive-GP by Consumer Corp., and (iv) the capital structure of Funding LP. FirstCity, Consumer Corp., Funding LP and Funding GP also agreed to indemnify BoS(USA), IFA-GP, IFA-LP and MG-LP from damages resulting from a breach of any representation or warranty contained in the 2004 Securities Purchase Agreement or otherwise made by
32
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
FirstCity, Consumer Corp. or Funding LP in connection with the transaction. The indemnity obligations under the 2004 Securities Purchase Agreement survive for a maximum period of five (5) years from November 1, 2004. Neither FirstCity, Consumer Corp., Funding LP, nor Funding GP is required to make any payments as a result of the indemnity provided under the 2004 Securities Purchase Agreement until the aggregate amount payable exceeds $250,000, and then only for the amount in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate; however certain representations and warranties are not subject to this $250,000 threshold. At this time, management does not believe that this potential obligation will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
On August 8, 2006, an Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement was entered into by and among Bidmex Holding, LLC (“Buyer”), as buyer, and Strategic Mexican Investment Partners, L.P. (“SMIP”), an affiliate of the Company and Cargill Financial Services International, Inc. (“CFSI”), (collectively, the “Sellers”), as seller, and eleven U.S. limited liability companies (“LLCs”) which invested in Mexican portfolio acquisition entities (“SRLs”) and the AIG entities as additional parties. In the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Sellers and the LLCs made various representations and warranties concerning (i) the existence and ownership of the LLCs and the related SRLs, (ii) the assets and liabilities of the LLCs, (iii) taxes related to periods prior to August 8, 2006, and (iv) the operations of the LLCs and SRLs. The Sellers agreed to indemnify the Buyer and AIG Entities from damages resulting from a breach of any representation or warranty contained in the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement on a several and not joint basis according to their respective ownership percentages in each LLC as to any matter related to a particular LLC, or on the basis of 80% to CFSI and 20% to SMIP as to any matter that could not be identified to a particular LLC. The indemnity obligation under the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement survives for a period of the statute of limitations for matters related to taxes, existence and authority, capitalization and good standing of the LLCs and SRLs and for a period of two years from August 8, 2006, the closing date with respect to all other representations and warranties. The Sellers are not required to make any payments as a result of the indemnity provisions of the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement until the aggregate amount payable under that agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement exceeds $250,000; however, claims related to taxes and fraud are not subject to this $250,000 threshold. The Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement limits the liability of the Sellers for indemnifiable losses under the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement to the Aggregate Purchase Price (without duplication of amounts recovered pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement). At this time, management does not believe that this potential obligation will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Also on August 8, 2006, Bidmex Holding, LLC entered into an Agreement for the Onerous Transfer of Loans and Litigious Rights (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) between and among Residencial Oeste, S. de R.L. de C.V., as seller (the “Asset Seller”), an affiliate of CFSI and SMIP, Residencial Oeste 2, S. de R.L. de C.V., as purchaser (the “Asset Purchaser”), and CFSI, SMIP, and Bidmex Acquisition, LLC, the parent of the Asset Purchaser, as additional parties. The Asset Purchase Agreement provides for the sale of the loan portfolio owned by the Seller to the Purchaser for a purchase price of $10.1 million on the closing date, which purchase price is part of the Aggregate Purchase Price. In the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Asset Seller and the Sellers made various representations and warranties concerning (i) the existence and ownership of the Seller, (ii) the ownership of the loan portfolio, (iii) taxes related to periods arising prior to the closing date, and (iv) the existence of the loans comprising the loan portfolio and other matters related to the loan portfolio. The Asset Seller agreed to indemnify the Asset Purchaser from damages resulting from a breach of any representation or warranty. The indemnity obligation under the Asset Purchase Agreement survives for a period of the statute of limitations for matters related to existence and ownership of the Seller, ownership of the loans, and taxes for periods prior to August 8, 2006, and for a period of two years from August 8, 2006, with respect to all other representations and warranties. The Seller is not required to make any payments as a result of the indemnity provisions of the Asset Purchase Agreement until the aggregate amount payable under that Agreement exceeds $25,000; however, claims related to taxes and fraud are not subject to this $25,000 threshold. The Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement limits the liability of the Sellers for indemnifiable losses under the Asset Purchase Agreement to the Aggregate Purchase Price. At this time, management does not believe that this potential obligation will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Subordinated Equity Investment
During the period from December 1998 to March 2005, FirstCity Mexico, Inc. and Strategic Mexican Investment Partners, L.P. (“SMIP”), each affiliates of FirstCity and Cargill Financial Services International, Inc. (“CFSI”) and, in some instances, other investors, acquired 12 residential and commercial non-performing loan portfolios from financial institutions in Mexico (the “Mexican Portfolios”). Each portfolio was acquired by a Mexican limited liability company (each a “Mexican SRL”) that was owned by a Delaware limited liability company formed by each investor group. On August 8, 2006, SMIP and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., American General Life Insurance Company and American General Life and Accident Insurance Company, affiliates of AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp. (collectively the “AIG Entities”) formed Bidmex Holding, LLP
33
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
for the purpose of acquiring the Mexican Portfolios by purchasing the interests of Cargill and SMIP in eleven of the Mexican limited liability companies (the “LLCs”) and purchasing the loan portfolio of one of the Mexican limited liability companies (the “Purchased Portfolio”) for an aggregate purchase price of U.S. $119.3 million as of that date (the “Aggregate Purchase Price”). SMIP acquired 15% of the membership interests in Bidmex Holding, LLC. A 9% interest acquired by SMIP is of equivalent standing to membership interests held by the AIG affiliates representing 85% of the membership interests. The remaining 6% membership interest acquired by SMIP is subordinate to the other owners of interests in Bidmex Holding, LLC, who will receive the return of and a return on their contribution equivalent to an 9% internal rate of return with respect to their interests prior to SMIP receiving the return of and a return on its capital contribution equivalent to a 9% internal rate of return with respect to its 6% interest.
Commitments to Repurchase Loans
In connection with the Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, Recuperación de Carteras Mexicanas, S. de R.L. de C.V., as optionor (“RCM”), an affiliate of SMIP and CFSI, granted a put option to Bidmex Holding LLC, as optionee, pursuant to the terms of a Put Option Agreement dated August 8, 2006 by and among RCM, Bidmex Holding LLC, Bidmex 6 LLC (the parent entity of RCM), CFSI and SMIP. RCM granted a put option to Bidmex Holding LLC related to the purchase of any loan of Solución de Activos Residenciales, S. de R.L. de C.V. or Solución de Activos Comerciales, S. de R.L. de C.V., each a Mexican SRL, pursuant to certain terms and conditions. Pursuant to the put option agreement, Bidmex Holding LLC delivered a notice to exercise the put option on March 31, 2008 for qualifying loans with a purchase price of approximately $635,000. In January 2009, RCM, Bidmex Holding LLC, Bidmex 6 LLC, CFSI and SMIP entered into an agreement to terminate the put option agreement. Under terms of the termination agreement, Residencial Oeste, S. de R.L. de C.V., an affiliate of SMIP and CFSI, purchased certain loans for approximately 1.4 million Mexican pesos (approximately $99,000) from Bidmex Holding LLC in settlement of the put option claims and termination of the put option agreement.
Financial Security Assurance Inc. (“FSA”), in its capacity as certificate insurer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, relating to the FirstCity Capital Home Equity Loan Trust 1998-2 (the “Trust”), dated as of November 1, 1998 by and among FC Capital Corp., in its capacities as seller and master servicer, and The Bank of New York, in its capacity as trustee, made demand on FC Capital Corp. to repurchase certain loans that were subject to repurchase due to fraud of third parties in connection with the origination of the loans. FC Capital Corp. agreed to provide a letter of credit in the amount of the repurchase price for the loans in lieu of being required to purchase the loans from the Trust. FirstCity has obtained and delivered to FSA, for the benefit of FC Capital Corp., an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of $0.5 million from the Bank of Scotland. Pursuant to the agreement with FSA, FC Capital Corp. has the option to purchase the loans for $0.5 million prior to a call under the letter of credit. In July 2009, FirstCity funded this $0.5 million letter of credit pursuant to a demand made by FSA as a result of the line of credit issuer failing to maintain the long-term ratings as required under the agreement. In the opinion of management, this transaction will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or liquidity.
Letters of Credit and Other Guarantees
Fondo de Inversion Privado NPL Fund One (“PIF1”), an equity-method investment of FirstCity, has a credit facility with Banco Santander Chile, S.A. with an unpaid principal balance of $10.75 million at June 30, 2009. PIF1 uses the credit facility to finance the purchases of loan portfolios. Pursuant to terms of the credit facility, FirstCity was required to provide a stand-by letter of credit from Bank of Scotland that would satisfy the current loan balance upon demand. At June 30, 2009, FirstCity had a letter of credit in the amount of $10.75 million from Bank of Scotland under the terms of FirstCity’s revolving acquisition facility with Bank of Scotland, with Banco Santander Chile, S.A. as the letter of credit beneficiary. In the event that a demand is made under the $10.75 million letter of credit, FirstCity would be required to reimburse Bank of Scotland by making payment to Bank of Scotland for all amounts disbursed or to be disbursed by Bank of Scotland under the letter of credit.
On November 29, 2006, FirstCity Mexico SA de CV, a Mexican affiliate of FirstCity, entered into a loan agreement with Banco Santander, S.A. that allows loans to be made in Mexican pesos. At June 30, 2009, the Company had 142,240,000 in Mexican peso-denominated debt, which was equivalent to U.S. $10.8 million. The proceeds were used to pay down the acquisition facility with the Bank of Scotland. Pursuant to the terms of the credit facility, FirstCity Mexico SA de CV was required to provide a stand-by letter of credit from Bank of Scotland that would satisfy the loan balance upon demand. At June 30, 2009, FirstCity had a letter of credit in the amount of $12.6 million from Bank of Scotland under the terms of FirstCity’s revolving acquisition facility with Bank of Scotland. In the event that a demand is made under the $12.6 million letter of credit, FirstCity is required to reimburse Bank of Scotland by making payment to Bank of Scotland for all amounts disbursed or to be disbursed by Bank of Scotland under the letter of credit.
34
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
American Business Lending, Inc. (“ABL”), a majority-owned subsidiary of FirstCity, has a $25.0 million revolving loan facility with Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC (“WFF”), as amended in February 2009, for the purpose of financing and acquiring SBA loans. The obligations under this facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of ABL. At June 30, 2009, the balance of this facility was $13.7 million. In connection with this arrangement, FirstCity provides WFF with an unconditional guaranty on ABL’s obligations under the loan facility up to a maximum of $5.0 million plus enforcement cost.
FirstCity Commercial Corp. (“FirstCity Commercial”), a wholly-owned affiliate of FirstCity, provides guarantees to various financial institutions for financing associated investments and operations of certain Acquisition Partnerships. The underlying financing arrangements of these Acquisitions Partnerships have various maturities ranging from July 2009 to May 2011, and are secured primarily by certain real estate properties held by the Acquisition Partnerships. At June 30, 2009, FirstCity Commercial’s maximum commitments under these guaranty arrangements totaled $2.2 million, and the total unpaid debt obligations of these Acquisition Partnerships attributed to FirstCity Commercial’s underlying guaranty approximated $1.8 million.
Environmental Matters
The Company generally retains environmental consultants to conduct or update environmental assessments in connection with the Company’s foreclosed and acquired real estate properties. These environmental assessments have not revealed environmental conditions that the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on its business, assets, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity, and the Company is not otherwise aware of environmental conditions with respect to properties that the Company believes would have such a material adverse effect. However, from time to time, environmental conditions at the Company’s properties have required and may in the future require environmental testing and/or regulatory filings, as well as remedial action. Liabilities for future remediation costs are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Other than for assessments, the timing and magnitude of these accruals generally are based on the completion of investigations or other studies or a commitment to a formal plan of action.
Limited-Life Subsidiaries
SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“SFAS 150”), establishes standards on how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. Certain provisions of SFAS 150 would have required us to classify non-controlling interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries as liabilities adjusted to their settlement values in our consolidated financial statements. However, the FASB indefinitely deferred application of the measurement and recognition provisions, but not the disclosure requirements, of SFAS 150 with respect to these non-controlling interests. At June 30, 2009, the estimated settlement value of the Company’s non-controlling interests in consolidated limited-life subsidiaries was $4.3 million. The Company’s carrying value of the non-controlling interests recognized on the consolidated balance sheet related to these limited-life subsidiaries approximated $2.7 million at June 30, 2009.
(18) Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management
We use debt as a non-derivative financial instrument to partially off-set the Company’s business exposure to foreign currency exchange risk attributable to our net investments in Europe. Our focus is to manage the economic risks associated with our European subsidiaries, which are the foreign currency exchange risks that will ultimately be realized when we exchange one currency for another. To help protect the Company’s net investment in certain of its European subsidiary operations from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we denominate a portion of our debt in the same functional currency used by the European subsidiaries. At June 30, 2009, the Company carried $29.1 million in Euro-denominated debt and designated the debt as a non-derivative hedge of its net investment in certain European subsidiaries. The Company designated the hedging relationship such that changes in the net investments being hedged are expected to be naturally off-set by corresponding changes in the value of the Euro-denominated debt. We consider our investments in European subsidiaries to be denominated in a relatively stable currency and of a long-term nature.
The effective portion of the net foreign investment hedge is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as part of the cumulative translation adjustment. Any ineffective portion of the net foreign investment hedge is recognized in earnings as other income (expense) during the period of change. Effectiveness of the hedging relationship is measured and designated at the beginning of each month by comparing the outstanding balance of the Euro-denominated debt to the carrying value of the designated net equity investments.
35
FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (continued)
At June 30, 2009, the carrying value and line item caption of the Company’s non-derivative instrument was reported on the consolidated balance sheet as follows (in thousands):
Non-Derivative Instrument |
|
|
|
|
| |
in Net Investment |
| Balance Sheet |
| Carrying |
| |
Hedging Relationship |
| Location |
| Value |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Euro-denominated debt |
| Notes payable to banks |
| $ | 29,055 |
|
The effect of the non-derivative instrument qualifying and designated as a hedging instrument in net foreign investment hedges on the consolidated financial statements for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 was as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Amount of Gain (Loss) |
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Recognized in Income |
| ||||||
|
| Amount of Gain (Loss) |
|
|
| (Ineffective Portion and |
| ||||||||
|
| Recognized in AOCL |
| Location of Gain (Loss) |
| Amount Excluded from |
| ||||||||
Non-Derivative Instrument |
| (Effective Portion) |
| Reclassified from |
| Effectiveness Testing) |
| ||||||||
in Net Investment |
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| AOCL into Income |
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||
Hedging Relationship |
| June 30, 2009 |
| June 30, 2009 |
| (Effective Portion) |
| June 30, 2009 |
| June 30, 2009 |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Euro-denominated debt |
| $ | (1,753 | ) | $ | 259 |
| Other income (expense) |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
|
36
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Overview
FirstCity Financial is a financial services company that engages in two major business segments — Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution and Special Situations Platform. In the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business, the Company acquires portfolios of performing and non-performing loans and other assets (collectively, “Portfolio Assets” or “Portfolios”), generally at a discount to their legal principal balances or appraised values, and services and resolves such Portfolio Assets in an effort to maximize the present value of the ultimate cash recoveries. Through its Special Situations Platform business, the Company provides investment capital to privately-held middle-market companies through flexible capital structuring arrangements to generate an attractive risk-adjusted return. These capital investments primarily take the form of senior and junior financing arrangements, but also include direct equity investments, common equity warrants, distressed debt transactions, and leveraged buyouts.
The Company recorded net earnings of $7.7 million for the second quarter of 2009, an increase of $14.2 million from the $6.5 million net loss reported for the second quarter of 2008. The diluted net income per common share was $0.76 in the second quarter of 2009, compared to the diluted net loss per common share of $0.63 for the same period in 2008. Revenue streams generated by the Company’s earnings assets and servicing platform positively impacted earnings in the second quarter of 2009 — as revenues in the second quarter of 2009 increased to $20.7 million compared to $11.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. The Company’s earnings in the second quarter of 2009 include $14.1 million of income and gains from Portfolio Assets; $1.6 million of interest income from loans receivable; $2.4 million of fee income attributable to our loan servicing platform, $0.7 million of revenue and gains attributable to our majority-owned railroad operations; and a $1.5 million step acquisition gain attributable to additional equity purchased in certain of our European Acquisition Partnerships. The increase in earnings in the second quarter of 2009 from the comparable prior quarter were also positively impacted by a $6.4 million decrease in net impairment provisions, and a $2.0 million increase in foreign currency transaction gains. The impact of net impairment provisions and foreign currency transaction gains to our earnings in the second quarter of 2009 are further explained below. In addition, see Results of Operations below for a detailed review of the Company’s operations for the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008.
In the second quarter of 2009, the Company was involved in acquiring $67.1 million of domestic Portfolio Asset investments with a face value of approximately $117.8 million — of which FirstCity’s investment share was $48.6 million. In addition to its Portfolio Asset acquisitions in the second quarter of 2009, FirstCity invested $7.9 million in the form of SBA loan originations and advances; and $3.2 million in the form of debt and equity investments under its Special Situations Platform (“FirstCity Denver”). FirstCity also invested $11.2 million in direct equity investments in the second quarter of 2009 (attributable primarily to European entity acquisitions). At June 30, 2009, FirstCity’s earning assets (Portfolio Assets, equity investments, loans receivable and entity-level earning assets) totaled $383.2 million. FirstCity’s global distribution of earning assets (at carrying value) at June 30, 2009 included $276.9 million in the United States; $63.8 million in Europe; and $42.5 million in Latin America.
Net Impairment Provisions
The Company recorded $2.0 million of net impairment provisions in the second quarter of 2009 — comprised of $0.7 million of net provisions recorded to our consolidated loans and portfolios, and $1.3 million as our share of net impairment provisions recorded to loans and portfolios held in our unconsolidated Acquisition Partnerships. The global distribution of the $2.0 million of net impairment provisions recorded by the Company in the second quarter of 2009 includes $2.9 million in the United States, $0.2 million in Latin America, and $1.1 million in net recoveries in Europe. The impairment provisions in the second quarter of 2009 were attributed primarily to declines in values of loan collateral and real estate assets in our domestic loans and portfolios. The impairment provisions were identified in connection with management’s quarterly evaluation of the collectability of the Company’s Portfolio Assets and loans receivable. The process for evaluating and measuring impairment is critical to our financial results, as it requires subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the impact of matters that are uncertain. This process also requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. It remains unclear what impact the illiquid markets, real estate value declines and the overall economic slowdown will ultimately have on our financial results. Therefore, we cannot provide assurance that, in any particular period, we will not incur additional impairment provisions in the future.
Foreign Currency Transaction Gains
The combined impact of foreign currency transactions from the Company’s consolidated and non-consolidated foreign operations resulted in a $2.2 million foreign currency exchange gain in the second quarter of 2009 (compared to a combined impact of $0.2 million in foreign currency transaction gains in the second quarter of 2008). The global distribution of the Company’s combined
37
foreign currency exchange gain in the second quarter of 2009 was comprised of $0.4 million from European operations and $1.8 million from Latin American operations. It remains unclear what impact the general global economic conditions will have on our financial holdings and investments from our European and Latin American operations. As such, we cannot provide assurance that, in any particular period, we will not incur foreign currency transaction losses in the future.
Management’s Outlook
In spite of the substantial losses reported in the financial services sector over the past two years and downward pressure on economic growth due to a decline in general economic conditions, management remains positive on the outlook of the Company. Management believes that current market conditions should not hinder FirstCity’s ability to expand its business, and that asset acquisition opportunities at attractive margins are available. As mentioned above, FirstCity was involved in acquiring $67.1 million of portfolio investments with a face value of approximately $117.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 — of which FirstCity’s investment share was $48.6 million, and the Company invested an additional $22.3 million in the form of loan and direct equity investments. In addition, subsequent to June 30, 2009, the Company was involved in acquiring $36.4 million of Portfolio Assets with a face value of approximately $52.1 million — of which FirstCity’s investment share was $18.3 million. The Company also funded an additional $3.0 million in SBA loan originations and other investments subsequent to June 30, 2009.
In addition, notwithstanding tightened credit standards and restrained lending in the marketplace, management believes that the volatility and disruptions in the financial markets will not impact FirstCity’s ability to finance its operations. FirstCity presently has (1) $350.0 million of credit facility commitments available to (i) finance the senior debt and equity portions of portfolio and asset purchases; (ii) finance equity investments in new ventures; and (iii) provide for the issuance of letters of credit working capital loans; and (2) a $25.0 million credit facility commitment to finance SBA loan originations and advances.
As a result of significant period-to-period fluctuations in our revenues and earnings, period-to-period comparisons of the results of our operations may not be meaningful. The Company’s financial results are impacted by many factors including, but not limited to, general economic conditions; fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; fluctuations in the underlying values of real estate and other assets; the timing and ability to collect and liquidate assets; increased competition from other market players in the industries in which we operate; and the availability, prices and terms for loan portfolios and other investments in all of the Company’s businesses. The Company’s business and results of operations are also impacted by the availability of financing with terms acceptable to the Company, and our access to capital markets. Such factors, individually or combined with other factors, may result in significant fluctuations in our reported operations and in the trading price of our common stock.
Components of the results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, are detailed below (dollars in thousands except per share data):
|
| Three Months Ended |
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||||||
|
| June 30, |
| June 30, |
| ||||||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution |
| $ | 11,138 |
| $ | (5,007 | ) | $ | 12,054 |
| $ | (7,072 | ) |
Special Situations Platform |
| (1,132 | ) | 186 |
| 205 |
| 451 |
| ||||
Operating contribution (loss) |
| 10,006 |
| (4,821 | ) | 12,259 |
| (6,621 | ) | ||||
Corporate overhead |
| (2,260 | ) | (1,708 | ) | (3,869 | ) | (3,492 | ) | ||||
Net earnings (loss) attributable to FirstCity |
| $ | 7,746 |
| $ | (6,529 | ) | $ | 8,390 |
| $ | (10,113 | ) |
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share |
| $ | 0.76 |
| $ | (0.63 | ) | $ | 0.84 |
| $ | (0.97 | ) |
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis is based on the segment reporting information presented in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements (including the Notes thereto) included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
38
Second Quarter 2009 Compared to Second Quarter 2008
The Company reported net earnings of $7.7 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to net losses of $6.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. Diluted net earnings to common stockholders were $0.76 per common share in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.63 of diluted net losses per common share in the second quarter of 2008.
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution
The operating contribution from the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution segment resulted in an $11.1 million operating gain in the second quarter of 2009 compared to a $5.0 million operating loss for the same period in 2008. FirstCity was involved in acquiring $67.1 million of Portfolio Assets in the second quarter of 2009 with an approximate face value of $117.8 million, compared to its involvement in acquiring $36.7 million of Portfolio Assets in the second quarter of 2008 with an approximate face value of $92.1 million. In the second quarter of 2009, FirstCity’s investment share in the Portfolio Asset acquisitions was $48.6 million — with $48.0 million acquired through consolidated Portfolios. In the second quarter of 2008, the Company’s investment share in the Portfolio Asset acquisitions was $33.4 million — all acquired through consolidated Portfolios.
FirstCity invested an additional $7.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 in the form of SBA loan originations and advances, compared to $5.0 million for the same period in 2008. FirstCity also invested $11.2 million in direct equity investments in the second quarter of 2009 (attributable primarily to European entity acquisitions).
The following is a summary of the results of operations for the Company’s Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business segment for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| ||||
|
| June 30, |
| ||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Servicing fees |
| $ | 2,403 |
| $ | 2,706 |
|
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| 14,077 |
| 5,622 |
| ||
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale, net |
| 610 |
| 133 |
| ||
Interest income from SBA loans |
| 295 |
| 366 |
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable - affiliates |
| 553 |
| 147 |
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable - other |
| 207 |
| 123 |
| ||
Other income |
| 824 |
| 920 |
| ||
Total revenues |
| 18,969 |
| 10,017 |
| ||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest and fees on notes payable |
| 3,438 |
| 3,707 |
| ||
Salaries and benefits |
| 3,952 |
| 3,829 |
| ||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| (290 | ) | 7,090 |
| ||
Asset-level expenses |
| 1,244 |
| 1,424 |
| ||
Occupancy, data processing and other |
| 908 |
| 2,064 |
| ||
Total expenses |
| 9,252 |
| 18,114 |
| ||
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries |
| 1,840 |
| 3,364 |
| ||
Gain on step acquisition |
| 1,455 |
| — |
| ||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| (1,611 | ) | (67 | ) | ||
Operating contribution (loss) before direct taxes |
| $ | 11,401 |
| $ | (4,800 | ) |
Operating contribution (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | 11,138 |
| $ | (5,007 | ) |
Servicing fee revenues. Servicing fee revenues decreased slightly to $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $2.7 million in the second quarter of 2008. Servicing fees from domestic Acquisition Partnerships totaled $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.3 million for the same period in 2008, while servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships totaled $1.7 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $2.3 million for the same period in 2008. The decline in servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships for the second quarter of 2009 in comparison to the same period in 2008 is attributable primarily to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations during the respective periods that the fees were recorded. Servicing fees from
39
domestic Acquisition Partnerships are generally based on a percentage of the collections received from the portfolios held by these non-consolidated partnerships; whereas servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships are generally based on the cost of servicing plus a profit margin.
Income from Portfolio Assets. Income from Portfolio Assets increased to $14.1 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $5.6 million in the second quarter of 2008. FirstCity’s average investment in consolidated Portfolio Assets increased significantly to $205.6 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $121.7 million for the second quarter of 2008 (a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio investments over the past year were acquired through consolidated subsidiaries). The significant increase in income from Portfolio Assets is attributed primarily to an increase in collections to $51.7 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $11.4 million for the same period in 2008; $8.3 million of gains recorded on loan settlements in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $2.0 million of settlement gains recorded for the same period in 2008; and increased income accretion recorded by the Company as a result of its rising investment level in Portfolio Assets. Refer to Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a summary of income from Portfolio Assets.
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale. The Company recorded a $0.6 million gain on the sales of SBA loans in the second quarter of 2009 with a $13.2 million net basis in the loans sold, compared to $0.1 million of gains recorded in the second quarter of 2008 with a $2.6 million net basis in the loans sold. Gains on SBA loan sales reflect the Company’s participation in the SBA guaranteed loan program. Under the SBA 7(a) program, the SBA guarantees up to 90 percent of the principal on a qualifying loan. The Company generally sells the guaranteed portions of originated loans into the secondary market and retains the unguaranteed portion for investment. The increased activity in the second quarter of 2009 is attributable to the return of investor demand for SBA loans as a result of certain federal government programs and initiatives that were implemented over the past six months.
Interest income from SBA loans. Interest income from SBA loans decreased slightly to $0.3 million during the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.4 million during the second quarter of 2008. Even though FirstCity’s average investment in SBA loans increased to $22.2 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $15.5 million for the second quarter of 2008, the decline in interest income is attributable to a steady decline in market interest rates since the second quarter of 2008 (the Company’s SBA loans are priced at variable interest rates).
Interest income from loans receivable — affiliates. Interest income from loans receivable — affiliates increased to $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2008. The increased income is attributed to FirstCity’s average investment level in loans receivable — affiliates rising to $14.2 million for the second quarter of 2009 compared to $5.4 million for the second quarter of 2008.
Interest income from loans receivable — other. Interest income from loans receivable — other slightly increased by $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008. The increase is attributed to the Company’s increased investment level in loans to non-affiliated entities. FirstCity’s average investment in loans receivable — other was $7.0 million and $5.3 million for the second quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Other income. Other income for the second quarter of 2009 remained constant in comparison to the second quarter of 2008.
Expenses. Operating expenses approximated $9.3 million and $18.1 million in the second quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following is a discussion of the major components of operating expenses.
Interest expense and fees on notes payable totaled $3.4 million and $3.7 million in the second quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. FirstCity’s average outstanding debt increased to $291.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $192.0 million in the second quarter of 2008 as a result of its increased investment activity. However, the Company’s average cost of borrowings decreased to 4.7% in the second quarter of 2009 compared to 7.7% in 2008 due to a decline in market interest rates over the past twelve months.
Salaries and benefits totaled $4.0 million and $3.8 million in the second quarters of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The total number of personnel within the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution segment was 209 and 204 at June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Net recoveries for loan and impairment losses totaled $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $7.1 million in net provisions for loan and impairment losses for the same period in 2008. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded net impairment provisions of $1.7 million to consolidated domestic loan portfolios, which was off-set by $2.0 million of net recoveries from consolidated European loan portfolios. The significant provisions recorded in the second quarter of 2008 derived from the then-developing adverse effects of the global economic crisis. The need for impairment provisions and recoveries are identified in
40
connection with management’s regular evaluation of the collectibility of the Company’s Portfolio Assets and loans receivable. The process for evaluating and measuring impairment and recoveries is critical to our financial results, as it requires subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the impact of matters that are uncertain; and requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.
Asset-level expenses, which generally represent costs incurred by FirstCity to support foreclosed properties and to protect its security interests in loan collateral, decreased to $1.2 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease is attributed primarily to a decline in the Company’s holdings of foreclosed properties in 2009 compared to 2008. The Company’s investment in foreclosed properties decreased by $4.8 million over the past twelve months to $15.3 million at June 30, 2009.
Occupancy, data processing and other expenses decreased to $0.9 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2008. The decrease is attributed primarily to $0.9 million of foreign currency exchange gains from our foreign consolidated investments in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.4 million of foreign currency exchange losses for the same period in 2008 — a $1.3 million favorable impact.
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased to $1.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2008. Equity in earnings of Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $3.0 million for the same period in 2008, and equity in earnings of servicing entities decreased to a $0.3 million loss in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.3 million of net earnings in the second quarter of 2008. The following is a discussion of equity in earnings from FirstCity’s Acquisition Partnerships by geographic region. Refer to Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 on this Form 10-Q for a summary of revenues, earnings and equity in earnings of FirstCity’s equity investments by region.
· Domestic — Total revenues reported by domestic Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $3.0 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $3.2 million for the same period in 2008. However, total net earnings reported by domestic partnerships increased to $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to a $0.3 million loss in the second quarter of 2008. The decrease in total partnership revenues was attributed primarily to a decrease in portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $50.5 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $73.8 million for the same period in 2008, off-set partially by a significant increase in collections to $9.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2008. The increase in total net earnings was attributable to the increased collections discussed above, and a decline in total provisions reported by the domestic partnerships to $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $2.3 million for the same period in 2008. The collective activity described above translated to an increase in FirstCity’s share of net earnings in domestic Acquisition Partnerships to $0.5 million in earnings for the second quarter of 2009 over $0.1 million in losses for the same period in 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in domestic Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $13.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $21.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of domestic partnership revenues experienced a decrease as discussed above (although the revenue decrease was off-set by a significant increase in collections as discussed above). Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio acquisitions over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in domestic partnerships revenues.
· Latin America — Total revenues reported by Latin American Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $2.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $12.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. However, Latin American partnerships reported total net income of $11.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $3.0 million of earnings for the same period in 2008. The decrease in total partnership revenues was attributed primarily to a decrease in collections to $5.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $28.8 million in the second quarter of 2008 (which corresponds to a decrease in the Latin American partnership portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $142.5 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $214.1 million for the same period in 2008). The increase in total earnings reported by the Latin American partnerships was attributed primarily to foreign currency transaction gains of $13.9 million recorded in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $5.4 million of currency transaction gains in the second quarter of 2008 — an $8.5 million positive impact. The collective activity described above translated to an increase in FirstCity’s share of net earnings in Latin American Acquisition Partnerships to $1.4 million in earnings for the second quarter of 2009 from $0.7 million in earnings for the same period in 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in Latin American Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $17.5 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $23.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of Latin American partnership revenues
41
experienced a decrease as discussed above. Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio acquisitions over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in Latin American partnerships revenues.
· Europe — Total revenues reported by European Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $5.2 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $11.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. In addition, total net earnings reported by European partnerships decreased to $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $7.9 million the same period in 2008. The decrease in total partnership revenues and earnings was attributed primarily to a decrease in collections to $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $20.4 million for the same period in 2008 (which corresponds to a decrease in the European partnership portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $83.5 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $124.9 million for the same period in 2008). The decrease in total partnership revenues and earnings was also attributable to an increase in total provisions reported by the European partnerships to $2.7 million of net impairment provisions in the second quarter of 2009 from $0.5 million of net recoveries in the second quarter of 2008. The collective activity described above translated to a decrease in FirstCity’s share of European partnership earnings to $0.2 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $2.4 million for the second quarter of 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in European Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $12.8 million in the second quarter of 2009 from $31.2 million in the second quarter of 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of European partnership revenues experienced a decrease as discussed above. Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio acquisitions over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in European partnerships revenues.
Gain on step acquisition. In the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a $1.5 million gain attributable to a step acquisition transaction in which the Company acquired a controlling financial interest in certain French Acquisition Partnerships. The Company owned a noncontrolling equity interest in these entities prior to the transaction. Pursuant to new business combination accounting standards (SFAS 141R), the Company’s previously-held noncontrolling interests in the French entities were remeasured to fair value on the acquisition date (May 2009) — which resulted in the Company’s recognition of the $1.5 million gain. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on this transaction.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased to $1.6 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $0.1 million for the same period in 2008. The increase is attributed primarily to a rise in the Company’s level of co-investments in portfolio purchases with other investors through consolidated subsidiaries over the past twelve months. The Company’s carrying value of noncontrolling interests on its consolidated balance sheet, which represents the equity in consolidated subsidiaries not attributable to FirstCity, increased to $37.0 million at June 30, 2009 from $3.1 million at June 30, 2008.
Special Situations Platform Business Segment
The operating contribution from the Special Situations Platform business segment (“FirstCity Denver”) resulted in a $1.1 million operating loss in the second quarter of 2009 compared to a $0.2 million operating gain for the same period in 2008. In the second quarter of 2009, FirstCity Denver provided $3.2 million of investment capital to privately-held middle-market companies in the form of debt and direct equity investments. Since its inception in April 2007, FirstCity Denver has been involved in middle-market transactions with total investment values approximating $57.4 million, and has provided $37.0 million of investment capital in connection with these investments.
42
The following is a summary of the results of operations for the Company’s Special Situations Platform business segment for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
|
| Three Months Ended |
| ||||
|
| June 30, |
| ||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Special Situations Platform: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable |
| $ | 544 |
| $ | 568 |
|
Revenue from railroad operations |
| 705 |
| 859 |
| ||
Other income |
| 326 |
| — |
| ||
Total revenues |
| 1,575 |
| 1,427 |
| ||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest and fees on notes payable |
| 136 |
| 51 |
| ||
Salaries and benefits |
| 514 |
| 403 |
| ||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 967 |
| — |
| ||
Other |
| 754 |
| 441 |
| ||
Total expenses |
| 2,371 |
| 895 |
| ||
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries |
| (642 | ) | (356 | ) | ||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| 380 |
| 14 |
| ||
Operating contribution (loss) before taxes |
| $ | (1,058 | ) | $ | 190 |
|
Operating contribution (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | (1,132 | ) | $ | 186 |
|
Interest income from loans receivable. Interest income from loans receivable in the second quarter of 2009 remained constant in comparison to the same period in 2008. FirstCity Denver’s average investment in loans receivable increased to $20.8 million for the second quarter of 2009 from $15.9 million for the second quarter of 2008.
Revenue from railroad operations. Revenue from railroad operations in the second quarter of 2009 remained relatively constant in comparison to the same period in 2008.
Expenses. Total expenses approximated $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2009 compared to $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2008. The increase is attributable primarily to a $1.0 million impairment provision recorded to a middle-market company debt investment in the second quarter of 2009. The impairment provision was identified in connection with management’s regular evaluation of the collectibility of FirstCity Denver’s debt investments. The process for evaluating and measuring impairment is critical to our financial results, as it requires subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the impact of matters that are uncertain; and requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in net losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries totaled $0.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 and $0.4 million in losses in the second quarter of 2008 — which in each period is comprised primarily of FirstCity Denver’s equity earnings in its equity-method investment in a coal mine operation. The coal mine operation reported a loss in the second quarter of 2008 due to the operation’s start-up status at the time (the coal mine commenced operations in April 2008). For the second quarter of 2009, the Company’s equity in earnings attributable to the coal mine’s operations approximated $0.5 million; however, the Company’s share of net earnings in the coal mine was off-set by its share ($1.1 million) of a one-time charge incurred by the coal mine company in the second quarter of 2009 to relinquish its future reclamation liability.
First Six Months of 2009 Compared to First Six Months of 2008
The Company reported net earnings of $8.4 million in the first six months 2009 compared to a net loss of $10.1 million in the first six months of 2008. Diluted net earnings to common stockholders were $0.84 per common share in the first six months of 2009 compared to $0.97 of diluted net losses per common share in the first six months of 2008.
43
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution
The operating contribution from the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution segment resulted in a $12.1 million operating gain in the first six months of 2009 compared to a $7.1 million operating loss in the first six months of 2008. FirstCity was involved in acquiring $137.3 million of Portfolio Assets in the first six months of 2009 with an approximate face value of $258.5 million, compared to its involvement in acquiring $56.6 million of Portfolio Assets in first six months 2008 with an approximate face value of $638.1 million. In the first six months of 2009, FirstCity’s investment share in the Portfolio Asset acquisitions was $113.5 million — primarily acquired through consolidated Portfolios. In the first six months of 2008, the Company’s investment share in the Portfolio Asset acquisitions was $41.9 million — comprised of $40.1 million acquired through consolidated Portfolios and $1.8 million through Acquisition Partnerships.
FirstCity invested an additional $14.4 million in the first six months of 2009 in the form of SBA loan originations and advances. The Company invested an additional $16.9 million in the form of SBA loan originations and advances and other debt financing arrangements in the first six months 2008. FirstCity also invested $11.2 million in direct equity investments in the first six months of 2009 (attributable primarily to European entity acquisitions).
The following is a summary of the results of operations for the Company’s Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business segment for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
|
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||
|
| June 30, |
| ||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Servicing fees |
| $ | 4,795 |
| $ | 4,906 |
|
Income from Portfolio Assets |
| 23,120 |
| 10,557 |
| ||
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale, net |
| 610 |
| 142 |
| ||
Interest income from SBA loans |
| 641 |
| 842 |
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable - affiliates |
| 1,089 |
| 297 |
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable - other |
| 414 |
| 136 |
| ||
Other income |
| 1,597 |
| 1,370 |
| ||
Total revenues |
| 32,266 |
| 18,250 |
| ||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest and fees on notes payable |
| 6,762 |
| 7,383 |
| ||
Salaries and benefits |
| 7,521 |
| 7,388 |
| ||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 816 |
| 10,120 |
| ||
Asset-level expenses |
| 2,350 |
| 2,980 |
| ||
Occupancy, data processing and other |
| 3,167 |
| 3,336 |
| ||
Total expenses |
| 20,616 |
| 31,207 |
| ||
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries |
| 855 |
| 6,204 |
| ||
Gain on step acquisition |
| 1,455 |
| — |
| ||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| (1,528 | ) | (38 | ) | ||
Operating contribution (loss) before direct taxes |
| $ | 12,432 |
| $ | (6,791 | ) |
Operating contribution (loss), net of direct taxes |
| $ | 12,054 |
| $ | (7,072 | ) |
Servicing fee revenues. Servicing fee revenues in the first six months of 2009 remained constant in comparison to the first six months of 2008. Servicing fees from domestic Acquisition Partnerships totaled $1.2 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $0.7 million in the first six months of 2008, while servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships totaled $3.5 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $4.1 million in the first six months of 2008. The decline in servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships for the first six months of 2009 in comparison to the same period in 2008 is attributable primarily to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations during the respective periods that the fees were recorded. Servicing fees from domestic Acquisition Partnerships are generally based on a percentage of the collections received from the portfolios held by these non-consolidated partnerships; whereas servicing fees from Latin American Acquisition Partnerships are generally based on the cost of servicing plus a profit margin.
44
Income from Portfolio Assets. Income from Portfolio Assets increased to $23.1 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $10.6 million in the first six months of 2008. FirstCity’s average investment in consolidated Portfolio Assets increased significantly to $181.2 million for the first six months of 2009 from $120.5 million for the first six months of 2008 (a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio investments over the past year were acquired through consolidated subsidiaries). The significant increase in income from Portfolio Assets is attributed primarily to an increase in collections to $82.2 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $30.9 million in the first six months of 2008; $12.0 million of gains recorded on loan settlements in the first six months of 2009 compared to $3.4 million of settlement gains recorded in the first six months of 2008; and increased income accretion recorded by the Company as a result of its rising investment level in Portfolio Assets. Refer to Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a summary of income from Portfolio Assets.
Gain on sale of SBA loans held for sale. The Company recorded a $0.6 million gain on the sales of SBA loans in the first six months of 2009 with a $13.2 million basis in the loans sold, compared to a $0.1 million gain recorded in the first six months of 2008 with a $2.8 million basis in the loans sold. Gains on SBA loan sales reflect the Company’s participation in the SBA guaranteed loan program. Under the SBA 7(a) program, the SBA guarantees up to 90 percent of the principal of a qualifying loan. The Company generally sells the guaranteed portions of originated loans into the secondary market and retains the unguaranteed portion for investment. The increased activity in second quarter of 2009 is attributable to the return of investor demand for SBA loans as a result of certain federal government programs and initiatives that were implemented over the past six months.
Interest income from SBA loans. Interest income from SBA loans decreased slightly to $0.6 million during the first six months of 2009 compared to $0.8 million during the first six months of 2008. Even though FirstCity’s average investment in SBA loans increased to $22.0 million for the first six months of 2009 from $14.9 million for the first six months of 2008, the decline in interest income is attributable to a steady decline in market interest rates since the second quarter of 2008 (the Company’s SBA loans are priced at variable interest rates).
Interest income from loans receivable — affiliates. Interest income from loans receivable — affiliates increased to $1.1 million in first six months 2009 compared to $0.3 million in first six months 2008. The increased income is attributed to FirstCity’s average investment level in loans receivable — affiliates rising to $14.1 million for the first six months of 2009 from $5.4 million for the first six months of 2008.
Interest income from loans receivable — other. Interest income from loans receivable — other increased by $0.3 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to the first six months of 2008. The increase is attributed to the Company’s increased investment level in loans to non-affiliated entities. FirstCity’s average investment in loans receivable — other was $7.2 million and $3.2 million for the first six months of 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Other income. Other income for the first six months of 2009 increased by $0.2 million in comparison to the first six months of 2008 primarily due to $0.4 million of interest income earned on the Company’s investment security in 2009 (purchased in October 2008).
Expenses. Operating expenses approximated $20.6 million and $31.2 million in the first six months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The following is a discussion of the major components of operating expenses.
Interest expense and fees on notes payable totaled $6.8 million and $7.4 million in the first six months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. FirstCity’s average outstanding debt increased to $274.3 million for the first six months of 2009 from $183.1 million for the first six months of 2008 as a result of its increased investment activity. However, the Company’s average cost of borrowings decreased to 4.9% in the first six months of 2009 compared to 8.1% in 2008 due to a decline in market interest rates over the past eighteen months.
Salaries and benefits remained constant at $7.5 million and $7.4 million in the first six months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The total number of personnel within the Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution segment was 209 and 204 at June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Net provisions for loan and impairment losses totaled $0.8 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $10.1 million in the first six months of 2008. In 2009, the Company recorded net impairment provisions of $2.9 million to consolidated domestic loan portfolios; off-set partially by $2.1 million of net recoveries from consolidated European loan portfolios. The significant provisions recorded in the first six months of 2008 derived from the then-developing adverse effects of the global economic crisis. The need for
45
impairment provisions and recoveries are identified in connection with management’s regular evaluation of the collectibility of the Company’s Portfolio Assets and loans receivable. The process for evaluating and measuring impairment and recoveries is critical to our financial results, as it requires subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the impact of matters that are uncertain. This process requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.
Asset-level expenses, which generally represent costs incurred by FirstCity to support foreclosed properties and to protect its security interests in loan collateral, decreased to $2.4 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $3.0 million in the first six months of 2008. The decrease is attributed primarily to a decline in the Company’s holdings of foreclosure properties in 2009 compared to 2008. The Company’s investment in foreclosed properties decreased by $4.8 million over the past twelve months to $15.3 million at June 30, 2009.
Occupancy, data processing and other expenses for the first six months of 2009 remained constant at $3.2 million in comparison to $3.3 million for the first six months of 2008.
Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased to $0.9 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $6.2 million in the first six months of 2008. Equity in earnings of Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $1.2 million in 2009 from $5.3 million in 2008, and equity in earnings of servicing entities decreased to a $0.4 million loss in 2009 compared to $0.9 million of earnings in 2008. The following is a discussion of equity in earnings from FirstCity’s Acquisition Partnerships by geographic region. Refer to Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 on this Form 10-Q for a summary of revenues, earnings and equity in earnings of FirstCity’s equity investments by region.
· Domestic — Total revenues reported by domestic Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $4.6 million in the first six months of 2009 from $6.3 million in 2008. However, total net earnings reported by domestic partnerships increased to $1.4 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $0.2 million in 2008. The decrease in total partnership revenues was attributed primarily to a decrease in collections to $14.4 million in the first six months of 2009 from $17.6 million in the first six months of 2008 (which corresponds to a decrease in domestic partnership portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $50.5 million at June 30, 2009 from $73.8 million at June 30, 2008). The increase in total net earnings was attributed primarily to a decline in total provisions to $0.9 million for the first six months of 2009 from $2.9 million in 2008. The collective activity described above translated to an increase in FirstCity’s share of net earnings in domestic Acquisition Partnerships to $0.5 million in earnings for the first six months of 2009 from $0.2 million in 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in domestic Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $14.4 million in the first six months of 2009 from $22.9 million in 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of domestic partnership revenues experienced a decrease as discussed above. Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio investments over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in domestic partnerships revenues.
· Latin America — Total revenues reported by Latin American Acquisition Partnerships significantly decreased to $5.4 million in the first six months of 2009 from $23.7 million in the first six months of 2008. In addition, Latin American partnerships reported a total net loss of $1.0 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $6.0 million of total net earnings in the first six months of 2008. The decrease in total revenues and earnings reported by Latin American partnerships was attributed primarily to the following: (1) foreign currency transaction gains of $2.8 million recorded in the first six months of 2009 compared to $8.4 million of foreign currency transaction gains in 2008 — a $5.6 million negative impact; and (2) decrease in collections to $11.9 million in the first six months of 2009 from $40.5 million in 2008 (which corresponds to a decrease in the Latin American partnership portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $142.5 million at June 30, 2009 from $214.1 million at June 30, 2008). The negative impact of these factors to total net earnings by Latin American partnerships was partially off-set by the following: (1) decrease in net impairment provisions to $1.4 million in the first six months of 2009 compared from $5.3 million in the first six months of 2008; (2) $4.8 million decrease in service fees expense in the first six months of 2009 in comparison to the same period in 2008; (3) $5.5 million decrease in property protection costs and other operating expenses in the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008; and (4) $2.7 million decrease in interest expense in the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. The collective activity described above translated to a decrease in FirstCity’s share of net earnings in Latin American partnerships to a $0.3 million loss for the first six months of 2009 from $1.1 million of net earnings for the same period in 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in Latin American Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $17.8 million for the first six months of 2009 from $23.3 million for 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of Latin American partnership revenues experienced a
46
decrease as discussed above. Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio acquisitions over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in Latin American partnerships revenues.
· Europe — Total revenues reported by European Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $11.5 million in the first six months of 2009 from $22.1 million in the first six months of 2008. In addition, total net earnings reported by European partnerships decreased to $3.7 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $13.7 million in the first six months of 2008. The decrease in total partnership revenues and earnings was attributed primarily to the following: (1) decrease in collections to $15.4 million in the first six months of 2009 from $33.1 million in 2008 (which corresponds to a decrease in the European partnership portfolio asset holdings (i.e. earning assets) to $83.5 million at June 30, 2009 from $124.9 million at June 30, 2008); and (2) increase in total provisions reported by the European partnerships to $3.6 million of net impairment provisions in the first six months of 2009 from $0.5 million in 2008. The collective activity described above translated to a decrease in FirstCity’s share of European partnership earnings to $1.0 million for the first six months of 2009 from $4.1 million for 2008.
FirstCity’s average investment in European Acquisition Partnerships decreased to $13.0 million for the first six months of 2009 from $30.8 million for 2008. As a result, FirstCity’s share of European partnership revenues experienced a decrease as discussed above. Since a majority of FirstCity’s portfolio acquisitions over the past two years were acquired through consolidated Portfolios instead of equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships, the Company expects income from consolidated Portfolios to off-set the decline in European partnerships revenues.
Gain on step acquisition. In the first six months of 2009, the Company recorded a $1.5 million gain attributable to a step acquisition transaction in which the Company acquired a controlling financial interest in certain French Acquisition Partnerships. The Company owned a noncontrolling equity interest in these entities prior to the transaction. Pursuant to new business combination accounting standards (SFAS 141R), the Company’s previously-held noncontrolling interests in the French entities were remeasured to fair value on the acquisition date (May 2009) — which resulted in the Company’s recognition of the $1.5 million gain. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on this transaction.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests increased to $1.5 million for the first six months of 2009 from $38,000 for the same period in 2008. The increase is attributed primarily to a rise in the Company’s level of co-investments in portfolio purchases with other investors through consolidated subsidiaries over the past twelve months. The Company’s carrying value of noncontrolling interests on its consolidated balance sheet, which represents the equity in consolidated subsidiaries not attributable to FirstCity, increased to $37.0 million at June 30, 2009 from $3.1 million at June 30, 2008.
Special Situations Platform Business Segment
The operating contribution from the Special Situations Platform business segment (“FirstCity Denver”) totaled $0.2 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $0.5 million in 2008. In the first six months of 2009, FirstCity Denver provided $5.6 million of investment capital to privately-held middle-market companies in the form of debt investments and direct equity investments. Since its inception in April 2007, FirstCity Denver has been involved in middle-market transactions with total investment values approximating $57.4 million, and has provided $37.0 million of investment capital in connection with these investments.
47
The following is a summary of the results of operations for the Company’s Special Situations Platform business segment for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
|
| Six Months Ended |
| ||||
|
| June 30, |
| ||||
|
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
Special Situations Platform: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest income from loans receivable |
| $ | 1,152 |
| $ | 830 |
|
Revenue from railroad operations |
| 1,452 |
| 1,664 |
| ||
Other income |
| 1,309 |
| 22 |
| ||
Total revenues |
| 3,913 |
| 2,516 |
| ||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Interest and fees on notes payable |
| 286 |
| 58 |
| ||
Salaries and benefits |
| 950 |
| 805 |
| ||
Provision for loan and impairment losses |
| 967 |
| — |
| ||
Other |
| 1,416 |
| 846 |
| ||
Total expenses |
| 3,619 |
| 1,709 |
| ||
Equity in net earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries |
| 197 |
| (356 | ) | ||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| (51 | ) | 7 |
| ||
Operating contribution before taxes |
| $ | 440 |
| $ | 458 |
|
Operating contribution, net of direct taxes |
| $ | 205 |
| $ | 451 |
|
Interest income from loans receivable. Interest income from loans receivable increased to $1.2 million in the first six months of 2009 from $0.8 million in the first six months of 2008. The increased income is attributable to an increase in FirstCity Denver’s average investment in loans receivable to $19.7 million for the first six months of 2009 from $11.5 million for 2008. The increased investment level is attributable primarily to middle-market company debt investments funded by FirstCity Denver over the past twelve months.
Revenue from railroad operations. Revenue from railroad operations of $1.5 million for the first six months of 2009 remained relatively constant in comparison to $1.7 million for the first six months of 2008.
Other income. Other income for the first six months of 2009 increased by $1.3 million in comparison to 2008 primarily due to a $0.9 million gain recognized by FirstCity Denver’s majority-owned railroad operation in the first six months of 2009 in connection with a property sale.
Expenses. Total expenses approximated $3.6 million in the first six months of 2009 compared to $1.7 million in 2008. The increase is attributable primarily to a $1.0 million impairment provision recorded to a middle-market company debt investment in 2009. The impairment provision was identified in connection with management’s regular evaluation of the collectibility of the FirstCity Denver’s loan investments. The process for evaluating and measuring impairment is critical to our financial results, as it requires subjective and complex judgments due to the need to make estimates about the impact of matters that are uncertain; and requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available. The increase in total expenses is also attributable to $0.6 million of additional operating expenses incurred in the first six months of 2009 in connection with FirstCity’s investment in a retail/office building it acquired in June 2008.
Equity in net earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries increased to $0.2 million in the first six months of 2009 from $0.4 of losses in 2008 — which is comprised primarily of FirstCity Denver’s equity earnings in its equity-method investment in a coal mine operation. The coal mine operation reported a loss for the first six months of 2008 due to the operation’s start-up status at the time (the coal mine commenced operations in April 2008). For the first six months of 2009, the Company’s equity in earnings attributable to the coal mine’s operations approximated $1.3 million; however, the Company’s share of net earnings in the coal mine was off-set by its share ($1.1 million) of a one-time charge incurred by the coal mine company in 2009 to relinquish its future reclamation liability.
48
Financial Condition
Significant changes in FirstCity’s financial condition during the first six months of 2009 resulted from the following:
Consolidated assets of $421.3 million at June 30, 2009 were $92.4 million higher than consolidated assets at December 31, 2008. The increase in consolidated assets is attributed primarily to a $90.4 million net increase in Portfolio Assets and loan investments related to FirstCity’s investment activities during the first six months of the year.
Consolidated liabilities of $322.2 million as of June 30, 2009 were $59.2 million higher than consolidated liabilities at December 31, 2008. Total notes payable increased by $53.1 million primarily to finance the Company’s investment activities during the first six months of 2009. In addition, the Company’s operating liabilities increased by $1.8 million since December 31, 2008 in connection with its business acquisitions that closed in May 2009.
FirstCity’s reported amount of noncontrolling interests (included as a component of equity) increased by $21.4 million since December 31, 2008 in connection with its co-investments in portfolio purchases with other investors through consolidated entities during the first six months of 2009, and its step acquisition of certain French Acquisition Partnerships in May 2009 (refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on this transaction).
Portfolio Asset Acquisitions — Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution Business Segment
Aggregate Portfolio Asset acquisitions by the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and the last five full fiscal years are as follows (in thousands):
|
| Purchase |
| FirstCity |
| ||
|
| Price |
| Investment |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
First six months of 2009 |
| $ | 137,323 |
| $ | 113,466 |
|
Total 2008 |
| 89,314 |
| 72,307 |
| ||
Total 2007 |
| 214,333 |
| 126,714 |
| ||
Total 2006 |
| 296,990 |
| 144,048 |
| ||
Total 2005 |
| 146,581 |
| 71,405 |
| ||
Total 2004 |
| 174,139 |
| 59,762 |
| ||
Subsequent to June 30, 2009, the Company was involved in acquiring $36.4 million of Portfolio Assets with a face value of approximately $52.1 million — of which FirstCity’s investment share was $18.3 million. FirstCity also funded $1.7 million of additional loan investments subsequent to June 30, 2009.
Revenues with respect to the Company’s Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business segment consist primarily of (i) servicing fees from Acquisition Partnerships for the performance of servicing activities related to the assets held in the Acquisition Partnerships; (ii) interest income from Portfolio Assets and loans receivable; and (iii) gains on the disposition and settlement of Portfolio Assets and other assets. The Company also records equity in earnings of non-consolidated Acquisition Partnerships and servicing entities accounted for under the equity-method of accounting.
Due to uncertainties related primarily to estimating the timing and/or amount of collections on SOP 03-3 loans as a result of the current economic environment, the Company’s level of SOP 03-3 loans and loan pools accounted for under the cost-recovery method (i.e. non-accrual method) of accounting increased to $73.2 million at June 30, 2009 from $20.7 million at December 31, 2008. Under SOP 03-3, the interest method (i.e. accrual method) of accounting is not appropriate if management does not have the ability to develop a reasonable expectation of both the timing and amount of future cash flows to be collected (refer to Note 1 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 on this Form 10-Q for a summary description of the Company’s SOP 03-3 accounting policy). Since December 31, 2008, the Company acquired $30.7 million of SOP 03-3 loans and loan pools that were accounted for under the cost-recovery accounting method at acquisition. In addition, in May 2009, the Company acquired $12.9 million of SOP 03-3 loan pools in connection with a step acquisition of certain French Acquisition Partnerships, and such loans were accounted for under the cost-recovery accounting method at acquisition (refer to Note 4 of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 on this Form 10-Q for additional information on this transaction). Under the cost-recovery accounting model, collections are applied first against the carrying value of the asset, and income is recognized when any additional collections are received after the asset’s carrying amount has been reduced to zero.
49
Middle-Market Company Capital Investments – Special Situations Platform Business Segment
Investments by FirstCity Denver since its inception in April 2007 are summarized below:
|
| Total |
| FirstCity Denver’s Investment |
| ||||||||
|
| Investment |
| Debt |
| Equity |
| Total |
| ||||
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||
First six months of 2009 |
| $ | 6,310 |
| $ | 5,177 |
| $ | 387 |
| $ | 5,564 |
|
Total 2008 |
| 28,750 |
| 16,650 |
| 3,256 |
| 19,906 |
| ||||
Total 2007 |
| 22,314 |
| 5,630 |
| 5,900 |
| 11,530 |
| ||||
Subsequent to June 30, 2009, FirstCity Denver provided an additional $1.3 million of investment capital in connection with middle-market transactions.
Revenues with respect to the Company’s Special Situations Platform business segment consist primarily of (i) interest and fee income from loan investments; (ii) revenues from majority-owned operating entities; and (iii) equity in earnings of non-consolidated investments accounted for under the equity-method of accounting.
Provision for Income Taxes
The Company has substantial NOLs which can be used to off-set the tax liability associated with the Company’s pre-tax earnings until the earlier of the expiration or utilization of such NOLs. The Company accounts for the benefit of the NOLs and other income tax items under the asset and liability method in accordance with SFAS 109. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. SFAS 109 requires a reduction of the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically by the Company based on the SFAS 109 more-likely-than-not realization threshold criterion. In the assessment, appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other factors, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, excess of appreciated asset value over the tax basis of net assets, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Company’s experience with utilizing available operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, and tax planning strategies. In making such assessments, significant weight is given to evidence that can be objectively verified. At June 30, 2009, the Company carried a full valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets due to the lack of sufficient objective evidence regarding the realization of these assets in the foreseeable future.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
The Company requires liquidity to fund its operations, Portfolio Asset acquisitions, investments in and advances to entities formed to acquire Portfolios (“Acquisition Partnerships”), capital investments in privately-held middle-market companies, other investments, repayments of bank borrowings and other debt, and working capital to support our growth. Historically, our primary sources of liquidity have been funds generated from operations (primarily loan collections and service fees), equity distributions from the Acquisition Partnerships and other subsidiaries, interest and principal payments on subordinated intercompany debt, dividends from the Company’s subsidiaries, borrowings from credit facilities with external lenders, and other special-purpose short-term borrowings.
Cash generated from our operations and investments is dependent primarily upon our ability to collect on our consolidated Portfolio Assets (and Portfolio Assets in our Acquisition Partnerships) and loan investments. Many factors, including general economic conditions, are essential to our ability to generate cash flows. Fluctuations in our collections, investment income, credit availability, and adverse changes in other factors, could have a negative impact on our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to support our business. Despite recent credit market conditions, we have continued to have access to liquidity in both our Portfolio Asset Acquisition and Resolution business segment and Special Situations Platform business segment through our credit facility commitments with our external lenders.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Our operating activities used cash of $60.7 million and $41.5 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, net cash used in operations was attributable primarily to Portfolio Asset purchases of $52.9 million (net of principal collections); and non-cash deductions of $23.1 million for income accretion on Portfolio Assets, $1.1 million for equity earnings from equity-method investments, and $1.5 million for a step acquisition gain – off-set partially by $10.0 million of net earnings, a $5.4 million increase in other liabilities, and $3.8 million of non-cash add-backs related to depreciation, amortization, and provisions for loan and impairment losses. Net cash used for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 was attributable primarily to a net loss of $10.1 million; Portfolio Assets purchases of $16.4 million (net of principal collections); $1.8 million of net principal advances on SBA loans held for sale; $9.0 million increase in other assets; and non-cash deductions of $10.6 million for income accretion on Portfolio Assets and $5.8 million for equity earnings from equity-method investments – off-set partially by a $1.5 million increase in other liabilities and $12.0 million of non-cash add-backs related to depreciation, amortization, and provisions for loan and impairment losses. The remaining changes in the periods were due primarily to net changes in other accounts related to our operating activities.
Our investing activities used cash of $2.7 million and $15.6 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, net cash used in investing activities was attributable primarily to $7.1 million paid for business combinations; $1.4 million of property and equipment purchases; $1.2 million of equity investment contributions; and $3.6 million of net advances and originations for loan investments – off-set partially by $7.0 million of distributions from equity-method investments, $2.2 million payments on an investment security available for sale, and $1.4 million of proceeds from a property sale. Net cash used in investing activities for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 was attributable primarily to $22.9 million of net advances and originations for loan investments and $1.2 million of property and equipment purchases – off-set partially by $11.1 million of distributions from equity-method investments. The remaining changes in the periods were due primarily to net changes in other accounts related to our investing activities.
Our financing activities provided cash of $69.6 million and $46.2 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, net cash provided by financing activities was attributable to $52.4 million of net borrowings to finance our Portfolio Asset acquisitions and other investments and $22.3 million of contributions from noncontrolling interests primarily to invest in Portfolio Assets through consolidated subsidiaries – off-set partially $2.2 million of cash distributions to noncontrolling interests and $2.8 million of cash paid to acquire additional equity in noncontrolling interests. Net cash provided by financing activities for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 was attributable primarily to $49.8 million of net borrowings to finance our Portfolio Asset acquisitions and other investments – off-set partially by $3.2 million of common stock repurchases. The remaining changes in the periods were due primarily to net changes in other accounts related to our financing activities.
Cash paid for interest expense approximated $4.9 million and $6.2 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Substantially all of our interest expense was paid on our credit facilities and other borrowings. FirstCity’s average outstanding debt increased to $285.3 million for the first six months of 2009 from $186.3 million for the first six months of 2008, while the average cost of borrowings decreased to 4.95% in 2009 compared to 7.99% in 2008. The increase in the Company’s debt level since June 30, 2008 is a result of increased net borrowings to finance the Company’s growth and investment transactions.
Credit Facilities
The following is a summary of FirstCity’s primary external lending facilities that it uses to provide liquidity for equity and loan investments, Portfolio Asset acquisitions, Acquisition Partnership investments, capital investments, and working capital:
$225.0 Million Revolving Loan Facility — Bank of Scotland plc
FirstCity has a $225.0 million revolving acquisition facility with Bank of Scotland plc (“Bank of Scotland”) that matures in November 2010. The revolving loan facility is used to finance the senior debt and equity portion of portfolio and asset purchases made by FirstCity and to provide for the issuance of letters of credit and working capital loans. The obligations of FirstCity under this
50
facility are guaranteed by substantially all of the wholly-owned subsidiaries of FirstCity and are secured by security interests in substantially all of the assets of FirstCity and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The primary terms and key covenants of this loan facility are described in our 2008 Form 10-K. On March 30, 2009, FirstCity and Bank of Scotland entered into an amendment to the $225.0 million revolving loan facility to amend the definitions of “indebtedness” and “tangible net worth” such that in the determination of “tangible net worth” and the computation of the ratio of “indebtedness to tangible net worth” for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2008 and thereafter, “tangible net worth” and “indebtedness” would be adjusted by deducting non-controlling interests (i.e. minority interests) in subsidiaries from liabilities and adding non-controlling interests in subsidiaries to equity as provided under GAAP (pursuant to SFAS 160). At June 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or other requirements set forth in the credit agreement or other agreements with Bank of Scotland.
FirstCity has $29.1 million in Euro-denominated debt on the $225.0 million revolving loan facility that was designated as a hedge to partially off-set the Company’s business exposure to foreign currency exchange risk attributable to our net equity investments in Europe. Refer to Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
$100.0 Million Revolving Loan Facility — Bank of Scotland
FH Partners LLC (“FH Partners”), an indirect wholly-owned affiliate of FirstCity, has a $100.0 million revolving loan facility with Bank of Scotland that provides financing for Portfolio and asset purchases by FH Partners. This revolving loan facility matures in November 2010, and is secured by all assets of FH Partners and a guaranty by FirstCity and certain of its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The primary terms and key covenants of this loan facility are described in our 2008 Form 10-K. On March 30, 2009, FH Partners and Bank of Scotland entered into an amendment to the $100.0 million revolving loan facility to amend the definitions of “indebtedness” and “tangible net worth” such that in the determination of “tangible net worth” and the computation of the ratio of “indebtedness to tangible net worth” for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2008 and thereafter, “tangible net worth” and “indebtedness” would be adjusted by deducting non-controlling interests (i.e. minority interests) in subsidiaries from liabilities and adding non-controlling interests in subsidiaries to equity as provided under GAAP (pursuant to SFAS 160). At June 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or other requirements set forth in the credit agreement or other agreements with Bank of Scotland.
$25.0 Million Subordinated Credit Agreement — BoS(USA), Inc.
FirstCity has a $25.0 million subordinated credit agreement with BoS(USA), Inc. (“BoS(USA)”), a subsidiary of Bank of Scotland, which may be used to finance equity investments in new ventures, equity investments made in connection with portfolio and asset purchases and loans made by FirstCity and its subsidiaries to acquisition entities, provide for the issuance of letters of credit, and for working capital loans. This credit facility matures in November 2010 and is guaranteed by substantially all of FirstCity’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of the assets of FirstCity and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The primary terms and key covenants of this loan facility are described in our 2008 Form 10-K. On March 30, 2009, FirstCity and BoS(USA) entered into an amendment to the $25.0 million subordinated credit agreement to amend the definitions of “indebtedness” and “tangible net worth” such that in the determination of “tangible net worth” and the computation of the ratio of “indebtedness to tangible net worth” for the fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2008 and thereafter, “tangible net worth” and “indebtedness” would be adjusted by deducting non-controlling interests (i.e. minority interests) in subsidiaries from liabilities and adding non-controlling interests in subsidiaries to equity as provided under GAAP (pursuant to SFAS 160). At June 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all covenants or other requirements set forth in the credit agreement or other agreements with BoS(USA).
BoS(USA) has a warrant to purchase 425,000 shares of the Company’s voting common stock at $2.3125 per share. BoS(USA) is entitled to additional warrants in connection with this existing warrant for 425,000 shares under certain specific situations to retain its ability to own approximately 4.86% of the Company’s voting common stock. The warrant expires on August 31, 2010, if it is not exercised prior to that date.
Banco Santander, S.A.
FirstCity Mexico SA de CV, a Mexican affiliate of FirstCity, has a term note with Banco Santander, S.A. with an unpaid principal balance of 142,240,000 Mexican pesos at June 30, 2009, which was equivalent to $10.8 million U.S. dollars on that date. The loan proceeds are used to pay down the acquisition facility with the Bank of Scotland. Pursuant to the terms of the credit facility, FirstCity
51
Mexico SA de CV was required to provide a stand-by letter of credit from Bank of Scotland that would satisfy the loan balance upon demand. At June 30, 2009, FirstCity had a letter of credit in the amount of $12.6 million from Bank of Scotland under the terms of FirstCity’s revolving acquisition facility with Bank of Scotland. In the event that a demand is made under the $12.6 million letter of credit, FirstCity would be required to reimburse Bank of Scotland by making payment to Bank of Scotland for all amounts disbursed or to be disbursed by Bank of Scotland under the letter of credit.
Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC
At June 30, 2009, ABL had a $25.0 million revolving loan facility with WFF for the purpose of financing and acquiring SBA loans. This credit facility matures in January 2010 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of ABL. In addition, FirstCity provides WFF with an unconditional guaranty for all of ABL’s obligations up to a maximum of $5.0 million plus enforcement costs.
The primary terms and key covenants of this loan facility are described in our 2008 Form 10-K. In February 2009, ABL and WFF entered into an agreement to amend the revolving credit facility by making the following changes to the primary terms and key covenants of the existing loan facility as follows: (i) reduced the maximum outstanding amount of the credit line from $40.0 million to $25.0 million, (ii) provided for the guaranty by FirstCity of all indebtedness under the loan facility up to a maximum of $5.0 million plus enforcement cost; (iii) revised the interest rates applicable to base rate loans; (iv) extended the maturity date to January 31, 2010; (v) reduced the minimum tangible net worth requirement for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2009, and for each quarter thereafter to $5.5 million, plus 100% of the positive amounts of ABL’s net income for each fiscal quarter after March 31, 2009; (vi) revised the facility fee of one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) per annum to be charged for non-use of the available maximum credit line to be calculated using $25.0 million as the amount of the maximum credit line on or after February 1, 2009; and (vii) revised the borrowing base for originating loans to be changed to an amount equal to 70% of the net eligible non-guaranteed loans originated by ABL that are borrower originated mixed collateral loans. At June 30, 2009, ABL was in compliance with all covenants or other requirements set forth in the credit agreement or other agreements with WFF.
Excluding the term acquisition facilities of the Company’s Acquisition Partnerships and other unconsolidated subsidiaries, as of June 30, 2009, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had credit facilities providing for borrowings in an aggregate principal amount of $416 million and outstanding borrowings of $305 million.
The following table summarizes the material terms of the credit facilities of FirstCity and its consolidated subsidiaries as of July 31, 2009, and the outstanding borrowings under such facilities as of June 30, 2009.
52
Credit Facilities
|
| Funded and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| Unfunded |
| Outstanding |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| Commitment |
| Borrowings |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| Amount as of |
| as of |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| July 31, |
| June 30, |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| 2009 |
| 2009 |
| Interest Rate |
| Other Terms and Conditions |
| ||
|
| (Dollars in millions) |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Bank of Scotland $225 million revolving loan facility (1) |
| $ | 225 |
| $ | 162 |
| LIBOR + 2.0% - 2.50% |
| Secured by security interests in assets of FirstCity and wholly-owned subsidiaries, matures November 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Bank of Scotland $100 million revolving loan facility |
| 100 |
| 78 |
| LIBOR + 2.0% |
| Secured by assets of FH Partners and guaranteed by FirstCity, matures November 2010 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
BoS(USA) $25 million subordinated credit agreement |
| 25 |
| 11 |
| LIBOR + 5.0% |
| Secured by security interests in assets of FirstCity and wholly-owned subsidiaries, matures November 2010 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
American Bank term loan |
| 1 |
| 1 |
| 5.0% fixed |
| Secured by assets of FC Washington and guaranteed by FirstCity, matures May 2011 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Participation payable |
| 1 |
| 1 |
| 10.38% imputed rate |
| Participation agreement on 33% of net cash flows received on a portfolio |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Banco Santander term loan denominated in Mexican pesos |
| 11 |
| 11 |
| Rate based on 28 day Mexican index rate (TIIE) plus 2.0% |
| Secured by Bank of Scotland letter of credit, matures November 2009, commitment amount 142.2 million MXN |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. $25 million revolving loan facility |
| 25 |
| 14 |
| Greater of (1) LIBOR+ margin or 3.625%, or (2) greater of 7.5% or (i) Wells Fargo prime + 2.625% or (ii) LIBOR + 2.625% |
| Secured by assets of ABL and guaranteed by FirstCity, matures January 2010 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Bank of America term loan |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| LIBOR + 2.25% |
| Secured by assets of consolidated railroad subsidiaries, matures March 2011 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Bank of America revolving loan facility |
| 1 |
| — |
| Option of Base Rate (greater of prime or federal funds rate + 0.5%) plus margin, or LIBOR plus margin |
| Secured by assets of consolidated railroad subsidiaries, matures March 2011 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust term loan |
| 8 |
| 8 |
| 6.07% fixed |
| Secured by assets of Oregon Short Line Building, matures April 2016 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
B.E.S.V. term loan |
| 7 |
| 7 |
| one month Eurobor + 3.5% |
| Secured by UBN, SA’s beneficial interests in certain entities, matures May 2011 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Notes payable to banks |
| 407 |
| 296 |
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
MCS Trust SA de CV term loan (affiliate note payable) |
| 9 |
| 9 |
| 20.0% fixed |
| Secured by assets of FC Acquisitions, SRL de CV, matures June 2020 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total |
| $ | 416 |
| $ | 305 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) The Bank of Scotland facility allows loans to be made in Euros up to a maximum amount in Euros that is equivalent to $50.0 million. At June 30, 2009, the Company had approximately $29.1 million outstanding under the Euro-denominated portion of this facility.
53
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, we may make other written and oral communications from time to time that contain such statements. All statements regarding our expected financial position, strategies and growth prospects, anticipated events or trends, and general economic conditions that we expect to exist in the future, are forward-looking statements. The words, “anticipates,” “believes,” “feels,” “expects,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “strives,” “plans,” “intends,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “position,” “target,” “mission,” “assume,” “achievable,” “potential,” “strategy,” “goal,” “aspiration,” “outcome,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “trend,” “objective” and variations of such words and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “can,” “may” or similar expressions, as they relate to our business, operations and management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements and are not historical facts.
You are cautioned that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time. As such, our forward-looking statements could be wrong in light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions. For a discussion on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2008 Form 10-K.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statement is made, and we have no obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, assumptions or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. The Company’s operations are materially impacted by net gains on sales of loans and net interest margins. The level of gains from loan sales the Company achieves is dependent on demand for the products originated. Net interest margins are dependent on the Company’s ability to maintain the spread or interest differential between the interest it charges the customer for loans and the interest the Company is charged for the financing of those loans. The following describes each component of interest bearing assets held by the Company and how each could be affected by changes in interest rates.
The Company invests in Portfolio Assets both directly through consolidated subsidiaries and indirectly through equity investments in Acquisition Partnerships. Portfolio Assets consist of investments in pools of non-homogenous assets that predominantly consist of loan and real estate assets. Earnings from these assets are based on the estimated future cash flows from such assets and recorded when those cash flows occur. The underlying loans within these pools bear both fixed and variable rates. Due to the non-performing nature and history of these loans, changes in prevailing benchmark rates (such as the prime rate or LIBOR) generally have a nominal effect on the ultimate future cash flow to be realized from the Portfolio Assets.
Loans receivable consist primarily of loans made to affiliated entities (including Acquisition Partnerships) and non-affiliated entities, and generally bear interest at fixed rates. The repayment of the loans is generally dependent upon future cash flows of the borrowers, future cash flows of the underlying collateral, and distributions from affiliated entities. Since these loans are predominantly fixed-rate financial instruments, changes in market interest rates would not have a significant impact on the collectibility of these loans.
SBA loans receivable were $19.7 million at June 30, 2009, of which $3.5 million were related to the guaranteed portion of these loans. The guaranteed portion is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and is generally sold into the secondary market. Virtually all of the SBA loans have variable interest rates. Assuming that the balance sheet were to remain constant and no actions were taken to modify the existing interest rate sensitivity, a hypothetical immediate change in interest rates would have a minimal effect on interest income from SBA loans for the second quarter of 2009. Although management believes that this measure is indicative of our sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for potential changes in credit quality, size and composition of the assets on the balance sheet, and other business developments that could affect a net increase (decrease) in assets. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that actual results would not differ materially from the potential outcome simulated by this estimate.
54
FirstCity had $304.6 million in debt outstanding at June 30, 2009. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk primarily through its variable rate debt, which totaled $287.9 million or 94.5% of the Company’s total debt. A 50 basis point change in interest rates would increase or decrease FirstCity’s annual interest expense by approximately $1.4 million.
Foreign Currency Risk
The Company currently has loans and equity investments in Europe and Latin America (i.e. Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile). The Company’s investments in these regions are primarily in the form of equity and represent a significant portion of the Company’s total equity investments. As previously discussed, the revolving acquisition facility with Bank of Scotland for $225.0 million provides that the Company may borrow up to a maximum amount in Euros that is equivalent to U.S. $50 million. At June 30, 2009, the Company had U.S. $29.1 million in Euro-denominated debt for the purpose of hedging a portion of the net equity investments in Europe. In November 2006, the Company acquired a term note with Banco Santander, S.A. At June 30, 2009, the Company had 142,240,000 in Mexican peso-denominated debt, which was equivalent to U.S. $10.8 million. Management of the Company feels that these loan agreements will help reduce the risk of adverse effects of currency changes on these investments.
A sharp change in the foreign currencies related to the investments in Europe, Latin America and Canada relative to the U.S. dollar could materially adversely affect the financial position and results of operations of the Company. A 5% and 10% incremental depreciation of these currencies would result in an estimated decline in the valuation of the Company’s foreign investments and are indicated in the following table. These amounts are estimates; consequently, these amounts are not necessarily indicative of the actual effect of such changes with respect to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
|
|
|
| One U.S. |
| Estimated decline in |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
| 5% |
| 10% |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Europe |
| EUR |
| 0.71 |
| $ | 2,045 |
| $ | 3,915 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Mexico |
| MXN |
| 13.20 |
| $ | 1,905 |
| $ | 3,679 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Chile |
| CLP |
| 539.98 |
| $ | 164 |
| $ | 312 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Brazil |
| BRL |
| 1.95 |
| $ | 21 |
| $ | 41 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Argentina |
| ARS |
| 3.80 |
| $ | 31 |
| $ | 60 |
|
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms relating to FirstCity, including our consolidated subsidiaries, and was accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
55
Changes in Internal Controls
In connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, there was no change identified in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
56
OTHER INFORMATION
The following information and discussion supplements and amends the discussion under Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” in our 2008 Form 10-K.
On June 4, 2009, the Company received notice of the issuance of an opinion by the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas in FCLT Loans Asset Corp. and Timothy J. Blair, class representative v. FirstCity Financial Corporation in which the Court of Appeals denied the joint motion of the parties to the suit to abate the appeal, reversed the judgment in favor of FirstCity and remanded the case to the trial court. The Court held that JPMorgan, as successor trustee, is the legal owner of the demutualized proceeds interpled by Prudential Financial, Inc., and that the trustee’s participation is necessary to determine the appropriate disbursement of the demutualization proceeds. On June 19, 2009, FirstCirty filed a motion for rehearing in the First District Court of Appeals on the basis that the Court of Appeals could not reverse the decision of the trial court on basis of error that was not assigned, presented, preserved, or briefed by the parties on appeal.
The Interpleader Suit was originally filed by Prudential to determine the ownership of stock and dividends that became available as a result of the demutualization of Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”). On March 21, 2006, the trial court entered an order granting FirstCity’s motion for partial summary judgment and rendered judgment in favor of FirstCity as to the ownership of the demutualization proceeds. On November 25, 2008, the parties to the suit reached a preliminary agreement to settle the lawsuit involving the disputed ownership of approximately $18.6 million of proceeds from the demutualization of Prudential Insurance Company. A court-ordered mediation was held on November 18, 2008 and following the unsuccessful mediation the mediator submitted his proposal to the three claimants. The mediator’s proposal accepted by the claimants on November 25, 2008 provided for each of the parties to receive 25% of the demutualization proceeds (approximately $4,650,000 each) upon approval of the settlement by the trial court, and for the remaining 25% ($4,650,000) to be held pending the determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeals. The settlement was subject to the approval by the Court of Appeals of the motion to abate the appeal to allow the trial court to consider approval of the settlement involving the class of former employees, which motion was denied by the Court of Appeals in its opinion.
There have been no material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed under Item 1A in our 2008 Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
None.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved a bonus to Joe Greak, an executive officer of the Company, in the amount of $100,000 payable upon receipt of a settlement payment from any settlement of the Prudential Litigation. The recommendation of the Compensation Committee was approved by the Board of Directors of FirstCity.
Exhibit |
|
| Description of Exhibit |
2.1 |
| — | Joint Plan of Reorganization by First City Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., Official Committee of Equity Security Holders and J-Hawk Corporation, with the Participation of Cargill Financial Services Corporation, Under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, Case No. 392-39474-HCA-11 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 1995 filed with the Commission on July 18, 1995) |
57
2.2 |
| — | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 3, 1995, by and between First City Bancorporation of Texas, Inc. and J-Hawk Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 1995 filed with the Commission on July 18, 1995) |
|
|
|
|
3.1 |
| — | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 3, 1995 filed with the Commission on July 18, 1995) |
|
|
|
|
3.2 |
| — | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 30, 2005 filed with the Commission on December 30, 2005) |
|
|
|
|
10.1 |
| — | Contribution and Assumption Agreement by and between Funding LP and Drive dated as of August 18, 2000. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.42 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated August 25, 2000, filed with the Commission on September 11, 2000) |
|
|
|
|
10.2 |
| — | Separation Agreement and Release, dated March 31, 2004, by and between G. Stephen Fillip, FirstCity Servicing Corporation and FirstCity Financial Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated May 14, 2004) |
|
|
|
|
10.3 |
| — | Consultant Agreement, dated April 1, 2004, by and between FirstCity Servicing Corporation and G. Stephen Fillip (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated May 14, 2004) |
|
|
|
|
10.4 |
| — | Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of September 21, 2004 by and among FirstCity Financial Corporation and certain affiliates of FirstCity and IFA Drive GP Holdings LLC, IFA Drive LP Holdings LLC, Drive Management LP and certain affiliates of those persons. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 27, 2004) |
|
|
|
|
10.5 |
| — | Revolving Credit Agreement, dated November 12, 2004, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 15, 2004) |
|
|
|
|
10.6 |
| — | 1995 Stock Option and Award Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A of the Company’s Schedule 14A, Definitive Proxy Statement, dated March 27, 1996) |
|
|
|
|
10.7 |
| — | 1996 Stock Option and Award Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit C of the Company’s Schedule 14A, Definitive Proxy Statement, dated March 27, 1996) |
|
|
|
|
10.8 |
| — | 2004 Stock Option and Award Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Schedule 14A, Definitive Proxy Statement, dated October 21, 2003) |
|
|
|
|
10.9 |
| — | Revolving Credit Agreement, dated August 26, 2005, among FH Partners, L.P., as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 1, 2005) |
|
|
|
|
10.10 |
| — | Guaranty Agreement, dated August 26, 2005, executed by FirstCity Financial Corporation, FirstCity Commercial Corporation, FirstCity Europe Corporation, FirstCity Holdings Corporation, FirstCity International Corporation, FirstCity Mexico, Inc., and FirstCity Servicing Corporation for the benefit of Bank of Scotland, as agent, and lenders (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 1, 2005) |
|
|
|
|
10.11 |
| — | Sixth Amendment to Right Of First Refusal Agreement And Due Diligence Reimbursement Agreement dated effective as of February 1, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated February 6, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.12 |
| — | Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June 30, 2006, by and among FirstCity Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries, FirstCity Business Lending Corporation and American Business Lending, Inc.; and AMRESCO SBA Holdings, Inc. and NCS I, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 7, 2006) |
58
10.13 |
| — | 2006 Stock Option and Award Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A of the Company’s Schedule 14A, Definitive Proxy Statement, dated June 26, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.14 |
| — | Interest Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated August 8, 2006, by and among Bidmex Holding, LLC, and Strategic Mexican Investment Partners, L.P. and Cargill Financial Services International, Inc. and certain other parties (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 9, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.15 |
| — | Put Option Agreement dated August 8, 2006, by and among Bidmex Holding, LLC, Recuperacion de Carteras Mexicanas, S. de R.L. de C.V., Bidmex 6, LLC, Strategic Mexican Investment Partners 2, L.P. and Cargill Financial Services International, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 9, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.16 |
| — | Guarantee dated August 8, 2006, executed by FirstCity Financial Corporation for the benefit of Bidmex Holding, LLC, Residencial Oeste 2 S. de R.L. de C.V., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburg, P.A., American General Life Insurance Company, and American General Life and Accident Insurance Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 9, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.17 |
| — | Amendment No. 4 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2006, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 7, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.18 |
| — | Management Employment Contract dated November 30, 2006, between FirstCity Business Lending Corporation, American Business Lending, Inc., and Charles P. Bell, Jr. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 7, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.20 |
| — | Amendment No. 5 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2006, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 20, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.21 |
| — | Loan Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2006 by and between American Business Lending, Inc., as Borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 28, 2006) |
|
|
|
|
10.22 |
| — | Amendment No. 1 to Loan Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2007, by and between American Business Lending, Inc., as Borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Form 10-K dated July 24, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.23 |
| — | Amendment No. 9 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 29, 2007, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated August 10, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.24 |
| — | Amendment No. 1 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated June 29, 2007, among FH Partners, L.P., as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated August 10, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.25 |
| — | Amendment No. 2 to Loan Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2007, by and between American Business Lending, Inc., as Borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated August 3, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.26 |
| — | Amendment No. 10 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 22, 2007, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.27 |
| — | Amendment No. 3 and Consent to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated August 22, 2007, among FH Partners, L.L.C., as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.28 |
| — | Subordinated Delayed Draw Credit Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2007, among FirstCity Financial Corporation, as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and BoS(USA), Inc., as agent (incorporated |
59
|
|
| herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 10, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.29 |
| — | Letter agreement between FirstCity Financial Corporation and Bank of Scotland extending time period for closing of subordinate credit facility to be provided by BoS (USA,) Inc. to October 2, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 10, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.30 |
| — | Letter agreement between FirstCity Financial Corporation and BoS(USA), Inc. extending time period for closing of subordinate credit facility to be provided by BoS(USA), Inc. to October 31, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 5, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.31 |
| — | Letter agreement between FirstCity Financial Corporation and Bank of Scotland extending time period for closing of subordinate credit facility to be provided by BoS(USA), Inc. to October 31, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 5, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.32 |
| — | Letter agreement between FirstCity Financial Corporation and BoS(USA), Inc. extending time period for closing of subordinate credit facility to be provided by BoS(USA), Inc. to November 16, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 8, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.33 |
| — | Letter agreement between FirstCity Financial Corporation and Bank of Scotland which amended the Revolving Credit Agreement to extend time period for closing of subordinate credit facility to be provided by BoS(USA), Inc. to November 16, 2007 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 8, 2007) |
|
|
|
|
10.34 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 25 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2008, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.35 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 12 to Subordinated Delayed Draw Credit Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2008, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and BoS(USA), Inc., as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.36 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 6 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2008, among FH Partners, LLC, as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.37 |
| — | Conditional Waiver Agreement Regarding Event of Default dated effective September 30, 2008, between American Business Lending, Inc., an affiliate of FirstCity, as borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.40 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 10, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.38 |
| — | Conditional Waiver Under Loan Agreement dated November 10, 2008, between American Business Lending, Inc., an affiliate of FirstCity, as borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated November 10, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.39 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 27 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2008, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 15, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.40 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 14 to Subordinated Delayed Draw Credit Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2008, among FirstCity Financial Corporation as Borrower and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and BoS(USA), Inc., as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 15, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.41 |
| — | Amendment and Consent No. 7 to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2008, among FH Partners, LLC, as Borrower, and the Lenders named therein, as Lenders, and Bank of Scotland, as Agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 15, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.42 |
| — | Mediator’s Proposal, dated November 20, 2008, among Michael S. Wilk, as mediator appointed by the Court of Appeals for the First District for the State of Texas, and agreed to by the FCLT Loans Asset Corporation, FirstCity |
60
|
|
| Financial Corporation, Timothy J. Blair, Class Representative of former employees of FirstCity Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., successor trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 15, 2008) |
|
|
|
|
10.43 |
| — | Conditional Waiver Agreement Regarding Event of Default, dated and effective as of December 31, 2008, between American Business Lending, Inc., an affiliate of FirstCity, as borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., as lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated February 4, 2009) |
|
|
|
|
10.44 |
| — | Amendment No. 3 to Loan Agreement, dated February 18, 2009, by and between American Business Lending, Inc., as Borrower, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as Lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.44 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated May 12, 2009) |
|
|
|
|
10.45 |
| — | Amended and Restated General Continuing Limited Guaranty, dated February 18, 2009, by FirstCity Financial Corporation, as Guarantor, and Wells Fargo Foothill, LLC, as Lender (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.45 of the Company’s Form 10-Q dated May 12, 2009) |
|
|
|
|
10.46 |
| — | Separation Agreement, Release and Amendment to Award Agreements dated June 4, 2009, by and between Richard J. Vander Woude, FirstCity Servicing Corporation and FirstCity Financial Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 5, 2009) |
|
|
|
|
10.47 |
| — | Retainer Agreement, dated June 4, 2009, by and between Richard J. Vander Woude, FirstCity Servicing Corporation and FirstCity Financial Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 5, 2009) |
|
|
|
|
31.1* |
| — | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
31.2* |
| — | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
32.1* |
| — | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|
|
|
|
32.2* |
| — | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
* Filed herewith.
61
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |
Dated: August 13, 2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ JAMES T. SARTAIN |
|
| James T. Sartain |
|
| President and Chief Executive |
|
| Officer and Director |
|
| (Duly authorized officer and |
|
| Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ J. BRYAN BAKER |
|
| J. Bryan Baker |
|
| Senior Vice President and Chief |
|
| Financial Officer |
|
| (Duly authorized officer and |
|
| Principal Financial Officer) |
62