-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Qvn+Du55e01toisYVh7f9SJKG6WX0aRPJEMFrUXc17slQLQLBD4aSNQn2JjcP34o AgugY6BlrflLvp3sA6yeXQ== 0000950117-02-001641.txt : 20020715 0000950117-02-001641.hdr.sgml : 20020715 20020715153335 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950117-02-001641 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DEFA14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020715 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001035744 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798] IRS NUMBER: 330741174 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DEFA14A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13485 FILM NUMBER: 02702926 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 445 MARINE VIEW AVE SUITE 230 STREET 2: STE 260 CITY: DEL MAR STATE: CA ZIP: 92014 BUSINESS PHONE: 6193505008 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 445 MARINE VIEW AVE SUITE 230 CITY: DEL MAR STATE: CA ZIP: 92014 DEFA14A 1 a33004.txt AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST Schedule 14A Information Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [X] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12 AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST, INC. ................................................................... (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: ............................................................ (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: ....................................................... (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): ....................................................... (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: ....................................................... (5) Total fee paid: ....................................................... [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: ....................................................... (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ....................................................... (3) Filing Party: ....................................................... (4) Date Filed: ....................................................... [American Residential Investment Trust Logo] [Letterhead] TIME IS SHORT. VOTE THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY! July 15, 2002 Dear Fellow Stockholder: With only a few days left until our Annual Meeting on July 19, 2002, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for giving your attention to the numerous mailings you have received during the course of this contested election. HOWEVER, WE MUST ALSO REMIND YOU OF THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR VOTE FOR THE FIVE AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Since one of the proposals requires the affirmative support of two-thirds of our outstanding shares, we want to stress that every share counts and that a non-vote will have the same effect as a vote against the de-REIT proposals. REMEMBER, EVERY VOTE COUNTS -- NO MATTER HOW FEW OR HOW MANY SHARES YOU MAY OWN, PLEASE VOTE THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD IN FAVOR OF OUR MORTGAGE BANKING STRATEGY TODAY. ISS, A LEADING PROVIDER OF PROXY VOTING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SERVICES, HAS RECOMMENDED A VOTE FOR OUR DE-REIT PROPOSALS Institutional Shareholder Services ('ISS'), a leading provider of proxy voting and corporate governance services, has recommended that its clients vote FOR the de-REIT proposals on the WHITE proxy card. In rendering its recommendation in support of the de-REIT proposals, ISS cited the following factors: We note that the company has already taken significant steps to transition away from a REIT business model to a mortgage banking one . . . . In addition, we note that the company's board has apparently explored strategic alternatives on two occasions over the past two years. The board explicitly considered options including continuation of the company's REIT strategy and liquidation, and concluded that pursuit of a mortgage origination strategy offers the best prospects for growing shareholder value . . . . The declining margins associated with mortgage loan portfolio investments and the reality of the fact that much larger institutions compete with the company in that space make the board's conclusions on their face justifiable. In the absence of any compelling argument to the contrary, we conclude that shareholders would be best served voting for the de-REIT proposals, and thereby allowing the company to proceed with the mortgage banking strategy approved by the board. We note as well that management is not without experience in the mortgage banking industry . . . . And the company's mortgage banking subsidiary appears to hold promise . . . . Based on the foregoing, we conclude that management's mortgage banking strategy has been well thought-out and approved by a majority independent board . . . . We recommend a vote FOR Items 2 and 3, which relate to the termination of the company's status as a REIT. In its analysis of the Annual Meeting agenda, ISS also recommended a vote against the two Patterson Group proposals. NOW IS THE TIME TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT BY VOTING FOR OUR MORTGAGE BANKING STRATEGY As we have stated in our previous communications, your Board carefully examined other strategic options, including continuation of our REIT status and liquidation of our assets and, after consulting with an outside advisor on two separate occasions, we concluded that the best strategy to build value for ALL of our stockholders is to pursue the Mortgage Banking business. While we seriously considered our strategic alternatives over a two-year period, the Patterson Group seems to have given little constructive thought into increasing stockholder value or becoming familiar with the Mortgage Banking business. The ISS report states the Patterson Group 'has declined to dispute the board's evaluation of the mortgage banking opportunity, acknowledging that they cannot speak to the value of the mortgage origination business.' WE FIND IT TROUBLING THAT THE PATTERSON GROUP CAN LAUNCH A PROXY CONTEST IN OPPOSITION TO OUR CAREFULLY CONSIDERED STRATEGIC PLAN WHEN IT APPEARS THAT THEY DISMISSED THE MORTGAGE BANKING BUSINESS BEFORE EVEN EXPLORING IT! YOUR MANAGEMENT HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS THE GOAL OF BUILDING A STRONG MORTGAGE BANKING BUSINESS -- HELP US FULLY IMPLEMENT THIS STRATEGY BY VOTING FOR THE DE-REIT PROPOSALS AND RETURNING THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY A leading provider of proxy voting and corporate governance services has recommended a vote for the de-REIT proposals. Our three largest stockholders have also indicated that they are going to support the de-REIT proposals. NOW WE NEED YOU, OUR STOCKHOLDERS, TO SUPPORT US IN OUR QUEST TO REPOSITION YOUR COMPANY INTO A MARKET THAT, WE BELIEVE, OFFERS THE MOST PROMISE FOR BUILDING VALUE IN YOUR INVESTMENT. Included with this letter for your review is a press release recently issued by the Company regarding its expected results for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. Please read it carefully. WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO DISCARD THE GREEN PROXY CARD FURNISHED BY THE PATTERSON GROUP AND TO RETURN THE ENCLOSED WHITE PROXY CARD TO ENSURE THE APPROVAL OF OUR MORTGAGE BANKING STRATEGY. Your Board thanks you for your continued patience, attention and support during this contest and pledges to work to move American Residential to benefit all stockholders. If you have any questions or require assistance in voting, please call our proxy solicitor at (888) 410-7852. On Behalf of Your Board of Directors Sincerely, /s/ John M. Robbins John M. Robbins Chairman and Chief Executive Officer SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT Except for historical information contained herein, the information contained in this letter includes forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties, as is more fully described in the document enclosed herewith. [American Residential Investment Trust Logo] [Letterhead] AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST, INC. ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR SECOND QUARTER AND YEAR 2002 San Diego, CA, July 15, 2002 -- American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. Estimates $2.5 million of net income for the second quarter. Funds $584 million in home loans and continues expansion of regional center network through taxable subsidiary, American Mortgage Network. Reports $661 million pipeline of home loans in process at June 30. Reiterates expectation to breakeven by the fourth quarter of 2002 and achieve monthly closed loan volumes of $500 million by year end. American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. (NYSE: INV) today announced that the Company's net income is expected to be approximately $2.5 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. Income for the quarter included net revenue from legal settlements of approximately $10.3 million. The Company's second quarter income also includes an estimated net loss of approximately $8.0 million for American Mortgage Network (AmNet), substantially due to the recognition of mark to market losses on derivative instruments of approximately $8.6 million. AmNet's second quarter results reflected these mark to market losses resulting directly from significant bond market volatility in the past several weeks. The bond market volatility is largely the result of investor uncertainty stemming from recent unfavorable corporate earnings announcements. This same market volatility has also caused a significant increase in the value of AmNet's unsold loan inventory. However, under current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), AmNet is required to mark its derivative instruments to market at quarter end, yet cannot recognize associated offsetting gains on loan sale commitments until cash settlement has occurred. A significant portion of offsetting gains from loan sales will be realized in the third quarter of this year. The Company reiterated that it expects to be operationally breakeven by the fourth quarter of 2002. AmNet, the Company's taxable REIT subsidiary, funded $584 million of mortgage loans in the second quarter of 2002. For the first quarter of 2002, AmNet funded $369 million in home loans. AmNet's pipeline of home loans in process was $661 million at June 30, 2002, representing a 178% increase over the $238 million pipeline balance at March 31, 2002. Closed loan volumes are expected be $500 million per month by the end of 2002. AmNet continued to expand its origination network for mortgage brokers with the opening of a regional center in Shelton (New Haven), Connecticut. AmNet has also hired senior regional managers and staff in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado for new offices scheduled to begin operations in August. AmNet is now approved to do business in 34 states either by license or exemption. John M. Robbins, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, said, 'We have hit key milestones while transitioning from a real estate investment trust to a mortgage origination company serving the residential mortgage broker community. We continue to demonstrate successful execution of our strategy by substantially achieving our internal projections for the growth in origination volumes, expansion of the regional center network and the addition of highly trained mortgage banking professionals.' AmNet utilizes various derivative instruments, including futures and options on Treasury bonds to protect, or hedge, against potential value degradation in loans that AmNet has funded or loans in the pipeline AmNet expects to fund. AmNet currently accounts for these hedges as 'free standing' and as such recorded the change in fair value of these instruments in the second quarter as hedge valuation losses. AmNet had significant offsetting economic value in loans funded as of June 30th, but under GAAP will not recognize the value until gains on the sale of these loans are booked in the third quarter. As an alternative to 'free standing', or mark-to-market accounting, Hedge Accounting can be elected which effectively nets hedge gains or losses with offsetting gains or losses in loans that have been funded or are expected to fund. Hedge Accounting therefore helps eliminate some timing differences on the recognition of related gains and losses. AmNet anticipates implementing Hedge Accounting in the third quarter of this year. American Residential Investment Trust's Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Friday, July 19th at the San Diego Marriott La Jolla, 4240 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, 10:00am Pacific Daylight Time. ABOUT AMERICAN MORTGAGE NETWORK Headquartered in San Diego, California, American Mortgage Network is a taxable REIT subsidiary of American Residential Investment Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust (REIT). AmNet originates loans for the national mortgage broker community through its network of regional centers and over the Internet. AmNet has regional centers in Ontario, California; Sacramento, California; San Diego, California; New Haven, Connecticut; Atlanta, Georgia; and Portland, Oregon as well as satellite offices in Mission Viejo, California; Tampa, Florida; and Kirkland, Washington. For more information, please visit www.amnetmortgage.com. ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT TRUST American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that has traditionally invested in subprime residential mortgage assets. For more information, please visit www.amerreit.com. Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding estimated second quarter net income, an expected second quarter mark-to-market loss, recognition of offsetting gains, the Company's expectation of breaking even by the fourth quarter, expected closed loan volumes by year end, the scheduled beginning of operations in two branches and an anticipated change in accounting methodology. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: final review of second quarter results by the Company's external auditors; uncertainty as to the percentage of the pipeline that will result in mortgage loan fundings; the Company's future ability to qualify for Hedge Accounting treatment; general economic conditions; the availability of suitable mortgage assets; the availability of financing for the origination of mortgage loans; the impact of leverage; the Company's liquidity position and other risk factors outlined in American Residential Investment Trust's SEC reports. INVESTOR AND ANALYST MEDIA RELATIONS RELATIONS CONTACTS CONTACT Judith Berry Corinne Forti Chief Financial Officer and President Executive Vice President Forti Communications Inc. American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. (805) 498-0113 (858) 909-1230 forticomm@aol.com jberry@amnetmortgage.com Clay Strittmatter Senior Vice President, Finance American Residential Investment Trust, Inc. (858) 909-1340 cstrittmatter@amnetmortgage.com
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