10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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 September 30, 2005

 

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-32340

 


 

AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

MARYLAND   34-1981408

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

350 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90071-3459

(Address of Registrant’s principal executive offices including zip code)

 

(323) 210-5000

(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  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

At November 4, 2005, Registrant had 61,793,771 shares of common stock outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item No.


        Page No.

     PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1

   Financial Statements    1
    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2005 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2004 (Audited)

   1
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)

   2
    

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (Unaudited)

   3
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)

   4
     Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)    5

Item 2

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    14

Item 3

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    14

Item 4

  

Controls and Procedures

   51
     PART II—OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1

   Legal Proceedings    52

Item 2

   Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds    52

Item 3

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    52

Item 4

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    52

Item 5

   Other Information    52

Item 6

   Exhibits    52
     Signature Page    57


Table of Contents

Item 1.    Financial Statements

 

AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

 

    

September 30,

2005


   

December 31,

2004


 
     (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
ASSETS                 

Cash and cash equivalents:

                

Unrestricted

   $ 43,162     $ 31,641  

Restricted

     91,388       6,139  

Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market

     632,515       484,963  

Loans held for investment, net

     4,187,076       1,725,046  

Advances and other receivables, net

     34,404       22,740  

Residual interests, at estimated fair value

     —         39,082  

Deferred income taxes

     28,401       28,401  

Equipment and improvements, net

     9,567       8,840  

Prepaid expenses and other

     36,470       22,076  

Derivative financial instruments, at estimated fair value

     63,448       31,947  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 5,126,431     $ 2,400,875  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Financings on loans held for investment

   $ 4,137,790     $ 1,157,470  

Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

     596,440       809,213  

Borrowings

     —         7,680  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     74,841       63,242  

Accrued dividends

     —         3,780  

Income taxes payable

     612       1,864  
    


 


Total liabilities

     4,809,683       2,043,249  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies

                

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; 160,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 61,664,705 shares and 61,360,271 shares issued and outstanding

     617       614  

Additional paid-in capital

     655,328       655,437  

Retained deficit

     (339,197 )     (298,425 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     316,748       357,626  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 5,126,431     $ 2,400,875  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Interest income

   $ 100,991     $ 24,210     $ 229,586     $ 61,157  

Interest expense

     45,314       10,099       103,676       23,962  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income

     55,677       14,111       125,910       37,195  

Provision for losses on loans held for investment

     13,000       —         31,365       —    
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     42,677       14,111       94,545       37,195  
    


 


 


 


Noninterest income:

                                

Gain on sale of loans

     19,580       49,458       29,929       167,349  

Loan servicing

     1,720       2,251       4,124       5,902  
    


 


 


 


Total noninterest income

     21,300       51,709       34,053       173,251  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses and noninterest income

     63,977       65,820       128,598       210,446  
    


 


 


 


Noninterest expense:

                                

Personnel

     23,783       22,596       67,110       80,544  

Production

     9,258       8,560       26,635       27,899  

General and administrative

     10,312       11,519       36,140       33,686  
    


 


 


 


Total noninterest expense

     43,353       42,675       129,885       142,129  
    


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     20,624       23,145       (1,287 )     68,317  

Income tax provision (benefit)

     (661 )     (5,272 )     770       (4,970 )
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 21,285     $ 28,417     $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss) to common stockholders:

                                

Basic

   $ 21,285     $ 25,548     $ (2,057 )   $ 64,680  

Diluted

   $ 21,285     $ 28,939     $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  

Net income (loss) per common share:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.34     $ 3.55     $ (0.03 )   $ 9.03  

Diluted

   $ 0.34     $ 0.28     $ (0.03 )   $ 0.71  

Dividends per common share—declared

   $ 0.34     $ —       $ 0.61     $ —    

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

                                

Basic

     62,444       7,192       62,519       7,161  

Diluted

     62,533       103,656       62,519       103,374  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Common
Stock


   Additional
Paid-in
Capital


    Retained
Deficit


    Total

 

December 31, 2004

   $ 614    $ 655,437     $ (298,425 )   $ 357,626  

Net loss

     —        —         (2,057 )     (2,057 )

Conversions and cancellations of restricted stock units

     3      (1,320 )     —         (1,317 )

Stock-based compensation related to restricted stock awards

     —        1,239       —         1,239  

Equity issuance expenses

     —        (28 )     —         (28 )

Dividends on common stock

     —        —         (38,715 )     (38,715 )
    

  


 


 


September 30, 2005

   $ 617    $ 655,328     $ (339,197 )   $ 316,748  
    

  


 


 


 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income (loss)

   $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:

                

Provision for losses on loans held for investment

     31,365       —    

Depreciation and amortization

     2,463       3,031  

Stock-based compensation

     1,239       —    

Accretion of discount on residual interests

     —         (972 )

Deferred income taxes

     —         (11,700 )

Mark-to-market (gain) loss on derivative financial instruments

     (5,157 )     (213 )

Loans held for sale:

                

Originations and purchases

     (4,871,926 )     (5,710,109 )

Proceeds from sales

     4,724,374       5,464,888  
    


 


Net increase in loans held for sale

     (147,552 )     (245,221 )
    


 


Decrease (increase) in:

                

Advances and other receivables, net

     (11,664 )     2,898  

Residual interests

     39,082       10,956  

Prepaid expenses and other

     (14,394 )     (897 )

Derivative financial instruments

     (26,344 )     (11,340 )

Increase (decrease) in:

                

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     10,282       29,054  

Income taxes payable

     (1,252 )     2,233  
    


 


Net cash used in operating activities

     (123,989 )     (148,884 )
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Increase in loans held for investment

     (2,493,395 )     —    

Purchases of equipment and improvements

     (3,190 )     (2,727 )
    


 


Net cash used in investment activities

     (2,496,585 )     (2,727 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Reduction in borrowings

     (7,680 )     (12,193 )

Payment of common stock dividends

     (42,495 )     —    

Payment of preferred stock dividends

     —         (8,607 )

Financing on loans held for investment

     2,980,320       —    

Net proceeds from (reductions in) revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

     (212,773 )     182,044  

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

     —         231  

Payment of expenses related to equity issuance

     (28 )     —    
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,717,344       161,475  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     96,770       9,864  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     37,780       11,611  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 134,550     $ 21,475  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1.    General and Basis of Presentation

 

General.    Aames Investment Corporation (“Aames Investment”) is a mortgage real estate investment trust, or REIT, which manages a portfolio of high yielding, subprime residential mortgage loans. Its principal subsidiary, Aames Financial Corporation (“Aames Financial’), is a national mortgage banking company, started in 1954, which focuses primarily on originating, selling and servicing residential mortgage loans through both wholesale and retail channels under the name “Aames Home Loan.” Aames Investment, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively referred to as the “Company.”

 

Aames Investment is a Maryland corporation and was incorporated on February 24, 2004. On November 5, 2004, Aames Investment completed a $297.5 million initial public offering of 35.0 million common shares and a $39.5 million concurrent private placement of 5.0 million shares of common stock. Subsequently, on November 24, 2004, Aames Investment sold an additional 5.3 million shares of common stock in an over-allotment transaction. All of the common shares sold were priced at $8.50 per share, less certain discounts.

 

On November 9, 2004, Aames Investment completed its reorganization with Aames Financial Corporation, formerly Aames Investment’s parent company. The reorganization transaction was accounted for as a recapitalization-restructuring of entities under common control with no change in accounting basis. The common shares of Aames Financial and the Series B, C and D Convertible Preferred Stock were exchanged in connection with the reorganization.

 

At September 30, 2005, Specialty Finance Partners (“SFP”), a partnership controlled by Capital Z Financial Services Fund, II, L.P., a Bermuda partnership (together with SFP, “Capital Z”) and others affiliated with Capital Z together owned approximately 14.0 million shares, or approximately 23.0% of the Company’s common shares outstanding. Representatives of Capital Z currently have two seats on the Company’s seven member Board of Directors.

 

Aames Investment elected to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Aames Financial Corporation is the taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) of Aames Investment.

 

Aames Investment’s strategy is to use its equity capital and funds borrowed under revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to finance mortgage loan originations, and to use those financing sources together with on-balance sheet securitizations to finance its REIT portfolio of mortgage loans. Aames Investment will retain in its REIT portfolio a portion of these loans, largely hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans. Aames Investment will sell the remainder, including a majority of the fixed-rate mortgage loans originated, on a whole loan servicing-released basis to third parties.

 

The Company’s principal market is borrowers whose financing needs are not being met by traditional mortgage lenders for a variety of reasons, including the need for specialized loan products or credit histories that may limit such borrowers’ access to credit. Mortgage loans originated are extended on the basis of equity in the borrower’s property and the creditworthiness of the borrower.

 

Basis of Presentation.    The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles in the United States have been omitted.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company after eliminating all significant intercompany transactions and reflect all normal, recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of

 

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Table of Contents

AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

management, necessary to present a fair statement of the results of operations of the Company in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for the interim periods reported. The results of operations for the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full calendar year.

 

Note 2.    Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

At September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had $79.1 million and $7.0 million of overnight investments, respectively.

 

The Company services the mortgage loans in its portfolio of loans held for investment, subservices mortgage loans for others on a long-term basis and services mortgage loans on an interim basis, which consist of loans held for sale and loans subserviced for others. The Company also serviced the mortgage loans in certain of its off-balance sheet securitization trusts.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company called the seven remaining off-balance sheet trusts for which we serviced the loans, with the last five of these called on June 15, 2005. In its mortgage loan servicing capacity, the Company collected certain funds from borrowers and placed the funds in segregated trust accounts which totaled $29.4 million at December 31, 2004. These accounts and corresponding liabilities are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2004.

 

Note 3.    Loans Held for Sale

 

The following table summarizes the composition of the Company’s loans held for sale as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 

Loans held for sale:

                

Unpaid principal balance

   $ 636,414     $ 487,969  

Net deferred loan (fees) costs

     (1,160 )     1,228  

Valuation allowance

     (2,739 )     (4,234 )
    


 


Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market

   $ 632,515     $ 484,963  
    


 


 

The Company maintains a lower-of-cost-or-market (“LOCOM”) valuation allowance for certain loans held for sale that are severely delinquent, have suffered declines in market value, had credit deterioration, have significant collateral deficiencies or have other attributes that reduce their sale potential. Activity in the valuation allowance during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


 

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 3,493     $ 4,234  

LOCOM provision

     1,422       9,489  

Charge-offs

     (2,216 )     (11,074 )

Recoveries

     40       90  
    


 


Net charge-offs

     (2,176 )     (10,984 )
    


 


Balance, end of period

   $ 2,739     $ 2,739  
    


 


 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 4.    Loans Held for Investment, Net

 

The following table summarizes loans held for investment, net, at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 

Loans held for investment:

                

Securitized

   $ 4,173,048     $ 1,187,435  

Not yet securitized

     36,407       531,261  
    


 


       4,209,455       1,718,696  

Add: Net deferred loan costs

     10,910       8,250  

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (33,289 )     (1,900 )
    


 


Loans held for investment, net

   $ 4,187,076     $ 1,725,046  
    


 


 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses during the periods presented was as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


 

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 20,265     $ 1,900  

Provision

     13,000       31,365  

Charge-offs

     (8 )     (8 )

Recoveries

     32       32  
    


 


Net recoveries (charge-offs)

     24       24  
    


 


Balance, end of period

   $ 33,289     $ 33,289  
    


 


 

The above allowance activity does not include losses on certain early prepayment representation and warranty claims on loans transferred to loans held for sale and which are accounted for in the Company’s representation and warranty reserve.

 

Note 5.    Other Liabilities

 

Included in other liabilities is the Company’s representation and warranty reserve representing the estimated representation and warranty obligations on loans previously sold. Activity in the representation and warranty reserve during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


   Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


 

Balance, beginning of period

   $ 9,468    $ 13,137  

Provision (benefit) for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses

     2,374      (293 )

Charge-offs

     —        (1,002 )
    

  


Balance, end of period

   $ 11,842    $ 11,842  
    

  


 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 6.    Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

 

The following table sets forth information regarding basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

   2004

    2005

    2004

 

Basic net income (loss) per common share:

                               

Net income (loss)

   $ 21,285    $ 28,417     $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  

Less: Accrued dividends on Series B, C and D Convertible Preferred Stock

     —        (2,869 )     —         (8,607 )
    

  


 


 


Basic net income (loss) to common stockholders

   $ 21,285    $ 25,548     $ (2,057 )   $ 64,680  
    

  


 


 


Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     62,444      7,192       62,519       7,161  
    

  


 


 


Basic net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.34    $ 3.55     $ (0.03 )   $ 9.03  
    

  


 


 


Diluted net income (loss) per common share:

                               

Basic net income (loss) to common stockholders

   $ 21,285    $ 25,548     $ (2,057 )   $ 64,680  

Plus: Accrued dividends on Series B, C and D Convertible Preferred Stock

     —        2,869       —         8,607  

Plus: Interest on 5.5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures

     —        522       —         —    
    

  


 


 


Diluted net income (loss) to common stockholders

   $ 21,285    $ 28,939     $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  
    

  


 


 


Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     62,444      7,192       62,519       7,161  

Plus: Incremental shares from assumed conversions of:

                               

Series B, C and D Convertible Preferred Stock

     —        85,049       —         85,061  

5.5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures

     —        824       —         —    

Restricted Stock Awards

     89      —         —         —    

Plus: Incremental shares from assumed exercise of:

                               

Warrants

     —        3,410       —         3,546  

Common Stock Options

     —        7,181       —         7,606  
    

  


 


 


Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     62,533      103,656       62,519       103,374  
    

  


 


 


Diluted net income (loss) per common share

   $ 0.34    $ 0.28     $ (0.03 )   $ 0.71  
    

  


 


 


 

Note 7.    Pro Forma Stock-Based Compensation

 

Through June 30, 2004, the Company compensated employees through the issuance of common stock options in accordance with the Aames Financial Corporation Stock Option Plan dated February 10, 1999, as amended (the “1999 Plan”). The 1999 Plan provided for the issuance of options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to officers, key executives and consultants of the Company. The 1999 Plan was ultimately replaced by the 2004 Aames Investment Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (the “2004 EIP”) on November 5, 2004. Pursuant to the 2004 EIP, both restricted stock units and restricted stock awards were issued. Since November 5, 2004, there are no longer any stock options outstanding.

 

At September 30, 2005, none of the restricted stock awards had vested.

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, activity in restricted stock units and awards were as follows:

 

     Number

 

Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”):

      

Balance, December 31, 2004

   1,232,520  

Granted

   —    

Cancelled(1)

   (154,140 )

Converted

   (304,434 )
    

Balance, September 30, 2005

   773,946  
    

     Number

 

Restricted Stock Awards:

      

Balance, December 31, 2004

   800,000  

Granted

   389,160  

Expired

   (119,785 )

Converted

   —    
    

Balance, September 30, 2005

   1,069,375  
    


(1) Cancellations of RSUs represent RSUs that were returned to the Company to settle payroll tax obligations upon conversion of RSUs to common stock.

 

As permitted by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), the Company recognized compensation expense using the intrinsic value method specified in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. Had compensation been recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share data would have reflected the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


         2005    

       2004    

       2005    

       2004    

Net income:

                       

As reported

   N/A    $ 28,417    N/A    $ 73,287

Pro forma(1)

   N/A      28,164    N/A      71,853

Basic income to common stockholders:

                       

As reported

   N/A    $ 25,548    N/A    $ 64,680

Pro forma(1)

   N/A      25,295    N/A      63,246

Diluted income to common stockholders:

                       

As reported

   N/A    $ 28,939    N/A    $ 73,287

Pro forma(1)

   N/A      28,686    N/A      71,853

Basic income per common share:

                       

As reported

   N/A    $ 3.55    N/A    $ 9.03

Pro forma

   N/A      3.52    N/A      8.83

Diluted income per common share:

                       

As reported

   N/A    $ 0.28    N/A    $ 0.71

Pro forma

   N/A      0.28    N/A      0.70

(1) The pro forma stock-based compensation cost, net of tax effects, was $0.3 million and $1.4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, respectively.

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
         2005    

       2004    

        2005    

       2004    

 

Dividend yield

   N/A    0.00 %   N/A    0.00 %

Expected volatility

   N/A    103.00 %   N/A    103.00 %

Risk-free interest rate

   N/A    3.00 %   N/A    3.00 %

Expected life of option

   N/A    4.5 years     N/A    4.5 years  

 

In December of 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), an amendment of SFAS 123. This Statement requires companies to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of the award. SFAS 123R requires measurement of fair value of employee stock options using an option pricing model that takes into account the awarded options’ unique characteristics. SFAS 123R requires charging the recognized cost to expense over the period the employee provides services to earn the award, generally its vesting period. In April of 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) revised the required adoption date of SFAS 123R. As a result of this change, the Company is required to adopt SFAS 123R effective January 1, 2006. We do not expect that the adoption of SFAS 123R will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 8.    Income Taxes

 

Aames Investment elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal tax purposes. As a REIT, Aames Investment is not subject to federal income taxes at the parent company level to the extent that it distributes at least 90% of the REIT’s taxable income to its stockholders and complies with certain other requirements. Other requirements include meeting certain percentage requirements for assets and income that effectively serve to focus the REIT’s investments into mortgage loans secured by real estate, including mortgage-backed securities and other qualifying investments. Holdings of non-real estate and portfolio investments is limited, such that no more than 20% of the value of Aames Investment’s total assets may consist of securities of one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries, as discussed below. Aames Investment intends to distribute 100% of its REIT taxable income; therefore, no provision for income taxes has been made.

 

The taxable income of Aames Financial, the taxable REIT subsidiary, is subject to regular corporate income taxes. Taxes are provided on substantially all income and expense items included in earnings, regardless of the period in which such items are recognized for tax purposes. The Company uses an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, the Company generally considers all expected future events other than the enactment of changes in the tax law or rates.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $0.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively. The Company’s $0.7 million income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2005 differed from an expected federal income tax provision of $7.2 million calculated at the federal marginal tax rate of 35.0% due to the $8.6 million income tax benefit related to the non-taxability of the REIT earnings less the $1.5 million income tax provision resulting from the increase in the tax valuation allowance, partially offset by the $0.8 million state tax benefit. The Company’s $5.3 million

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2004 differed from an expected federal income tax provision of $8.1 million calculated at the federal marginal tax rate of 35.0% due to the $13.4 million decrease in the tax valuation allowance.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, the Company recorded an income tax provision (benefit) of $0.8 million and $(5.0) million, respectively. The Company’s $0.8 million income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 differed from an expected federal income tax benefit of $(0.5) million calculated at the federal marginal tax rate of 35.0% due to the $17.5 million income tax benefit related to the non-taxability of the REIT earnings less the $20.9 million income tax provision resulting from the increase in the tax valuation allowance, partially offset by the $2.1 million state tax benefit. The Company’s $(5.0) million income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 differed from an expected federal income tax provision of $23.9 million calculated at the federal marginal tax rate of 35.0% due to the $29.1 million decrease in the tax valuation allowance, partially offset by a $0.2 million state tax provision.

 

At September 30, 2005, the Company had recognized $28.4 million of net deferred tax assets based upon its determination that it is more likely than not that it will realize such assets in future periods.

 

The following table reconciles pretax accounting income of the parent company, Aames Investment, as determined for financial statement purposes, to estimated taxable income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months

Ended

September 30,

2005


   

Nine Months

Ended

September 30,
2005


Pre-tax accounting income

   $ 24,540     $ 49,932

Add (subtract):

              

Tax basis adjustments, net

     (2,108 )     9,330
    


 

Estimated taxable income

   $ 22,432     $ 59,262
    


 

 

The following table presents the Company’s quarterly dividends per common share declared during 2005:

 

Cash

  Dividend  


 

Quarter

Ended


 

Announcement

Date


 

Ex-Dividend

Date


 

Record

Date


 

Payable

Date


$    0.35

 

September 30, 2005

 

October 18, 2005

 

October 26, 2005

 

October 28, 2005

 

November 7, 2005

$    0.34

 

June 30, 2005

 

July 19, 2005

 

July 26, 2005

 

July 28, 2005

 

August 8, 2005

$    0.27

 

March 31, 2005

 

April 19, 2005

 

April 27, 2005

 

April 29, 2005

 

May 9, 2005

 

Note 9.    Reclassifications

 

Certain amounts related to September 30, 2004 have been reclassified to conform to the September 30, 2005 presentation.

 

Note 10.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

On April 27, 2004, Aames Financial received a civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, that, although not alleging any wrongdoing, sought documents and data relating to Aames Financial’s business and lending practices. The demand was issued pursuant to an April 8, 2004

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

resolution of the FTC authorizing non-public investigations of various unnamed subprime lenders and loan brokers to determine whether there have been violations of certain consumer protection laws. The Company has cooperated and intends to continue to cooperate fully with the FTC in this investigation. Because the investigation is at an early stage, the Company cannot predict the outcome of the investigation and its effect, if any, on the Company’s business.

 

On September 7, 2004, Aames Financial received a Civil Investigative Demand and Notice to Proceed from the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, that, although not alleging any wrongdoing, sought documents and data relating to its business and lending practices in Iowa. Aames Financial has cooperated and intends to cooperate fully with the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa in this investigation. Because the investigation is at an early stage, Aames Financial cannot predict the outcome of the investigation and its effect, if any, on its business in Iowa, which approximated 0.02% and 0.27% of total mortgage loan production during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

In the ordinary course of its business, the Company is subject to various claims made against it by borrowers, private investors and others arising from, among other things, losses that are claimed to have been incurred as a result of alleged breaches of fiduciary obligations, misrepresentations, errors and omissions of employees and officers of the Company, incomplete documentation and failures by the Company to comply with various laws, such as consumer protection laws, employment laws and other federal and state laws, and regulations applicable to its business. The Company believes that liability with respect to any of these currently asserted claims or legal actions is not likely to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations; however, any claims asserted or legal action in the future may result in expenses which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

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AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Note 11.    Parent Company Information

 

The following tables present the condensed balance sheet of Aames Investment Corporation (parent company only, prior to intercompany elimination entries) at September 30, 2005 and the related condensed statement of operations for the three and nine months then ended (in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2005


 

Balance Sheet

        
Assets         

Cash and cash equivalents:

        

Unrestricted

   $ 6,795  

Restricted

     91,388  

Loans held for investment, net:

        

Securitized

     4,173,048  

Not yet securitized

     36,407  

Net deferred loan origination costs

     10,910  

Deferred loan acquisition premium

     47,964  

Allowance for loan losses

     (33,289 )
    


Total loans held for investment, net

     4,235,040  
    


Investment in subsidiaries

     100,801  

Accrued interest and other

     52,587  

Derivative financial instruments, at estimated fair value

     63,448  
    


     $ 4,550,059  
    


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity         

Financings on loans held for investment

   $ 4,137,790  

Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

     22,992  

Other liabilities

     24,565  
    


       4,185,347  

Stockholders’ equity

     364,712  
    


     $ 4,550,059  
    


 

     Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2005


 

Statements of Operations

                

Net interest income

   $ 40,823     $ 88,779  

Provision for losses on loans held for investment

     (13,000 )     (31,365 )
    


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     27,823       57,414  

Noninterest expense

     (3,283 )     (7,482 )
    


 


Income before equity in undistributed net loss of subsidiary

     24,540       49,932  

Equity in undistributed net loss of subsidiary

     (317 )     (33,252 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 24,223     $ 16,680  
    


 


 

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Table of Contents

Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The following discussion includes Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. This section should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

 

Forward-looking Information

 

This report may contain forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may cause the company’s performance and results to vary include: (i) limited cash flow to fund operations and dependence on short-term financing facilities; (ii) changes in overall economic conditions and interest rates; (iii) increased delinquency rates in the portfolio; (iv) intense competition in the mortgage lending industry; (v) adverse changes in the securitization and whole loan market for mortgage loans; (vi) declines in real estate values; (vii) an inability to originate subprime hybrid/adjustable mortgage loans; (viii) obligations to repurchase mortgage loans and indemnify investors; (ix) concentration of operations in California, Florida, New York and Texas; the occurrence of natural disasters (including the adverse impact of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma); (x) extensive government regulation; and (xi) an inability to comply with the federal tax requirements applicable to REITs and effectively operate within limitations imposed on REITs by federal tax rules. For a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and information relating to the company, see the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other filings with the SEC made by the company. Aames Investment expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this report.

 

General

 

Aames Investment, a mortgage real estate investment trust, or REIT, was formed in February 2004 to build and manage a portfolio of high yielding subprime residential mortgage loans to offer its stockholders the opportunity for attractive dividend yields and earnings growth. In November 2004, we completed an initial public offering, and, concurrently with that offering, a reorganization with Aames Financial, formerly our parent company. As a result of the reorganization, Aames Financial became a wholly owned subsidiary of ours. Aames Financial is a national mortgage banking company, started in 1954, which focuses primarily on originating, selling and servicing residential mortgage loans through both wholesale and retail channels under the name “Aames Home Loan.” Our strategy is to use our equity capital and funds borrowed under revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to finance our mortgage loan originations, and to use those financing sources together with on-balance sheet securitizations to finance our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans. We retain in our REIT portfolio some of our mortgage loan originations, largely hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans or ARMs, which accounted for 76.6% of our loan production during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. We sell the remainder, including a majority of the fixed-rate mortgage loans that we originate, on a whole loan, servicing-released basis to third parties.

 

We elected to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Aames Financial is our taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS. As a REIT, we generally are not subject to U.S. federal income tax on the REIT income that we distribute to our stockholders. We distribute a majority of the earnings from our REIT portfolio to our stockholders, while growing our equity capital base by retaining a portion of Aames Financial’s earnings. The taxable income generated by Aames Financial is subject to regular corporate income tax.

 

On September 27, 2005, we filed a Form S-3 shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the purpose of selling our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities in one or more offerings up to an aggregate dollar amount of $500.0 million. We intend to use the proceeds from any sale of these securities for general corporate purposes, which includes continuing to build a

 

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Table of Contents

portfolio of self-originated mortgage loans, for general working capital purposes and to reduce short-term indebtedness. As part of the Form S-3 filing, we also registered 5.0 million shares of common stock to be issued in connection with our Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our goal is to maximize stockholder value and increase earnings by:

 

    Building a portfolio of high yielding subprime residential mortgage loans and leveraging our equity to increase the size of our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans and our returns while at the same time managing our financing costs and the increased risk of loss associated with our leverage;

 

    Continuing to improve our efficiency and loan quality and serving as a highly efficient originator. We intend to accomplish this by increasing the use of technology to streamline further our loan origination and underwriting processes. We intend to rigorously apply and continuously improve our underwriting criteria and processes in order to minimize defaults and losses and by collecting comprehensive performance data on our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans to refine our underwriting guidelines and risk-based pricing;

 

    Growing our loan originations by growing both our retail and wholesale channels, improving market penetration in our existing markets, and building the “Aames Home Loan” brand. In addition, we will continue to originate loan products that are less sensitive to increases in interest rates than rate-term refinance mortgage loans, such as purchase money mortgage loans and cash-out refinance loans, which we believe makes our originations less vulnerable to declines resulting from increases in interest rates;

 

    Selling a portion of Aames Financial’s mortgage loan production on a whole loan, servicing-released basis into the secondary markets so as to maximize its earnings. We will sell the loans we do not retain for our REIT portfolio to third parties to capture gain on sale income from these loans and grow our equity capital on a consolidated basis; and

 

    Servicing our loans to enhance the performance of our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans, and growing our servicing operation with our REIT portfolio which will lower our per loan servicing costs through economies of scale.

 

The strategies discussed above contain forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those discussed under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Factors”, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will be able to accomplish the above strategies.

 

Mortgage Portfolio Management

 

We invest in subprime one-to-four family, residential mortgage loans, operating as a long-term portfolio investor. We purchase loans originated by our subsidiary, Aames Financial, that we anticipate holding on our balance sheet in our REIT portfolio, largely hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans. Aames Financial retains the servicing rights to those loans.

 

To provide us with long-term financing for our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans, we securitize substantially all of those loans through on-balance sheet transactions structured as financings rather than sales for both tax and financial accounting purposes. Accordingly, these loans will remain on our consolidated balance sheet as an asset and reported as “Loans held for investment, net,” while the underlying bonds issued through the securitization will be reported as a liability, “Financings on loans held for investment.” Thus, we will record interest income generated by the mortgage loans and recognize interest expense on the related bonds over the life of the mortgage loan pool, rather than generate a gain or loss at the time of the securitization.

 

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Table of Contents

Managing Interest Rate Risk

 

The hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans in our REIT portfolio may have a fixed rate for two, three or five years prior to their first adjustment, while the related on-balance sheet securitization debt may have rates that adjust monthly. As a result, our net interest income and cash flow could be negatively impacted by changes in short-term interest rates. To counteract this possibility, we may hedge the aggregate risk of interest rate fluctuations with respect to our borrowing index. We generally intend to hedge only the risk related to changes in the benchmark interest rate used in the variable rate index, usually a London Interbank Offered Rate, known as LIBOR, or a U.S. Treasury rate.

 

To reduce these risks, we may enter into interest rate cap agreements whereby, in exchange for a fee, we would be reimbursed for interest paid in excess of a certain capped rate. With respect to interest rate cap agreements, any net payments under, or fluctuations in the fair value of, these cap agreements would be recorded in current income.

 

Derivative financial instruments contain credit risk to the extent that the institutional counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. We expect to minimize this risk by using multiple counterparties and limiting them to major financial institutions with good credit ratings. In addition, we regularly monitor the potential risk of loss with any one party resulting from this type of credit risk. Accordingly, we do not expect any material losses as a result of default by other parties.

 

REIT Compliance

 

We elected to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Aames Financial has continued its operations as our primary mortgage origination and servicing subsidiary. To meet some of the REIT qualification requirements, we conduct our loan sales, as well as other servicing and origination functions, through Aames Financial, our taxable REIT subsidiary. All loans are sourced, underwritten and processed by Aames Financial. We purchase from Aames Financial the loans that we anticipate holding on our balance sheet in our REIT portfolio, largely hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans, and Aames Financial sells the remainder of the loans it originates, including a majority of its fixed-rate mortgage loans, to third parties. We are required to purchase loans from Aames Financial at fair market value and Aames Financial is subject to corporate income tax on any taxable gain it recognizes on the sale.

 

U.S. federal income tax law requires that a REIT distribute annually to its stockholders at least 90% of its taxable income, excluding the retained earnings of any taxable REIT subsidiary it owns. If we distribute all of our taxable income to our stockholders, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax and will not record a provision for income taxes. We intend to make regular quarterly distributions of all or substantially all of our REIT taxable income to our common stockholders. Any taxable income generated by Aames Financial will be subject to regular corporate income tax and Aames Financial will continue to record a provision for income taxes. However, we anticipate that Aames Financial will have substantially lower effective tax rates due to historical net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Subject to annual limitations, these losses are available to offset future income. Aames Financial may retain any income it generates, net of any tax liability it incurs on that income, without affecting the REIT distribution requirements. If Aames Financial chooses to pay a dividend to us, the dividend could be included in the REIT distribution. Any distributions that Aames Financial makes in the future will be at the discretion of its board of directors and will depend on, among other things, its actual results of operations and liquidity levels.

 

Mortgage Originations

 

We purchase subprime, one-to-four family residential mortgage loans that Aames Financial originates. These loan originations are significant to our financial results because we hold a majority of the loans we originate in our on-balance sheet REIT portfolio of loans held for investment. The loans originated that are not retained in our REIT portfolio are sold to the secondary markets.

 

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Table of Contents

Our principal market is borrowers whose financing needs are not being met by traditional mortgage lenders for a variety of reasons, including the need for specialized loan products or credit histories that may limit such borrowers’ access to credit. These types of borrowers generally pay higher mortgage loan origination fees and interest rates than those charged by conventional lending sources. We believe that these borrowers continue to present an opportunity for the Company to earn a return commensurate with the risk assumed. Our residential mortgage loans, which include fixed and hybrid/adjustable rate loans, are generally used by borrowers to consolidate indebtedness, finance other consumer needs or purchase homes. We believe that while our loan origination volume is affected by general levels of interest rates, because a majority of our loan originations are cash-out refinancings and purchase money loans, our loan origination volume is generally less cyclical than conventional mortgage lending, which has a higher percentage of rate/term refinance loans.

 

Mortgage Loan Sales to Third Parties and Off-Balance Sheet Securitizations

 

Aames Financial will sell whole loans not retained for the REIT portfolio to third parties on a servicing-released basis to capture gain on sale income from these loans and to grow our equity capital base on a consolidated basis. Aames Financial does not currently sell loans in off-balance sheet securitizations; however, Aames Financial may in the future sell a portion of its loans in off-balance sheet securitizations depending on market conditions at that time. Aames Financial generally sells these loans within 45 days of funding and services these loans during the period between origination and transfer of servicing to the buyer, which is generally within 90 days after the sale of the loan. Aames Financial generates income primarily from:

 

    gain on sale income, which includes the premiums received on the sale of the loan,

 

    net interest income earned on its loans held prior to sale,

 

    points and fees charged to borrowers, less any yield spread premiums paid to wholesale brokers during the loan origination process, and

 

    loan servicing income earned on its loans held prior to sale, loans retained in our REIT portfolio and loans owned by others.

 

Aames Financial uses the majority of the net proceeds of its loan sales to pay down its warehouse and repurchase facilities to increase capacity under these facilities for future funding of mortgage loans. Proceeds we receive from financings on loans held for investment are also used to pay down our warehouse and repurchase facilities.

 

Mortgage Loan Servicing

 

Aames Financial services residential mortgage loans held in its portfolio prior to sale, held in our REIT portfolio and, to a much lesser extent, for others. Loan servicing remains an integral part of our business operation. We believe that maintaining contact with our borrowers is critical in managing credit risk and in borrower retention. Subprime borrowers are more likely to default on their obligations than conventional borrowers. By servicing our loans, we strive to identify problems with borrowers early and take quick action to address these problems. Borrowers may be more motivated to refinance their mortgage loans either by improving their personal credit or due to a decrease in interest rates. By keeping in close touch with borrowers, we can provide them with information about our products to encourage them to refinance with us. Mortgage loan servicing provides fee income for Aames Financial in the form of normal customer service and processing fees.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Owning a Portfolio of Hybrid/Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans.    We have a portfolio of loans held for investment in addition to Aames Financial’s portfolio of loans held for sale. Accordingly, the presentation of interest income and expense on these two portfolios has been modified from that which Aames Financial shows in its historical consolidated financial statements. We differentiate our interest income and expense into two

 

17


Table of Contents

components: “Interest income—loans held for sale” and “Interest income—loans held for investment.” Interest expense is also differentiated between “Interest expense—loans held for sale” and “Interest expense—loans held for investment.” We also record a provision for loan losses on loans held for investment, which increases our allowance for loan losses, based on an estimate of probable and inherent losses in our portfolio of loans held for investment.

 

Our investment portfolio of loans is shown on our balance sheet as “Loans held for investment.” Prior to our REIT reorganization, all loans were shown as “Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market.” Because Aames Financial intends to sell a portion of its loans, we continue to show these loans as “Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market.” Bonds that we issue to finance our portfolio of loans held for investment are shown as “Financings on loans held for investment.” Warehouse financing of our loans held for sale and loans held for investment but not yet securitized are shown as “Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities.”

 

Upon implementing our REIT business plan, we employed two critical accounting policies, one of which is related to our financing strategy of using on-balance sheet securitizations and one of which is related to our REIT conversion. These policies are:

 

    Allowance for losses on mortgage loans held for investment; and

 

    Accounting for transfers and servicing of financial assets.

 

Allowance for Losses on Mortgage Loans Held for Investment.    For mortgage loans held for investment, we maintain an allowance for loan losses based on our estimate of losses inherent and probable as of the balance sheet date. We evaluate the adequacy of this allowance quarterly, giving consideration to factors such as the current performance of the loans, historical performance of similar loans, credit characteristics of the portfolio, the value of the underlying collateral and the general economic environment. In order to estimate an appropriate allowance for losses on loans held for investment, we estimate losses using “static pooling,” which stratifies the loans held for investment into separately identified vintage pools. Using historic experience and taking into consideration the factors above, we estimate an allowance for loan losses, which we believe is adequate for probable and inherent losses in the portfolio of mortgage loans held for investment. Provisions for losses are charged to our consolidated statement of operations. Charge-offs of mortgage loans held for investment are charged to the allowance. While we use available information to estimate losses on loans held for investment, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on changes in estimates resulting from economic and other conditions.

 

Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets.    We have a portfolio of loans held for investment generated through on-balance sheet securitizations and must comply with the provisions of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities” (“SFAS 140”) related to each securitization. SFAS 140 is an accounting pronouncement that sets forth the criteria applicable to determining whether a transfer of financial assets is to be treated as a sale or a secured financing under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. We intend for our on-balance sheet securitizations to be treated as secured financings and, accordingly, one of our critical accounting policies is compliance with the SFAS 140 requirements necessary to obtain secured financing treatment for our securitizations. In addition, our strategy of retaining mortgage loans in our securitization pools on our balance sheet reduced the number of loans we sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when we built our retained portfolio, which reduced the total gain on sale of loans during the period. Our strategy of maintaining our leverage in our portfolio and growing our portfolio over time will continue to reduce the number of loans sold to third parties compared to periods prior to our REIT conversion.

 

Gain on Sale of Loans Held for Sale.    Our current loan disposition strategy relies on whole loan sales. We sell our loans in whole loan sale transactions on a cash basis. In whole loan sale transactions, the buyer acquires all future rights (including mortgage servicing rights) to the loans, without recourse, except for standard representations and warranties. Gains and losses on whole loan sales are recognized when we surrender control

 

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over the loans (generally on the settlement date) based upon the difference between the proceeds received and the net carrying amount of the loans, less the provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses recorded on the settlement date to cover repurchases, if any, for loans that have a first or early payment default to the purchaser or otherwise breach representations and warranties.

 

Accounting for Off-Balance Sheet Securitizations.    During the three months ended September 30, 2005, we did not dispose of any of our mortgage loans in off-balance sheet securitization transactions. Previously, our retained residual interests related to off-balance sheet securitizations which closed prior to and during the year ended June 30, 2000. We called the seven remaining securitization trusts in which we retained residual interests during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, with the last five securitization trusts having been called on June 15, 2005. No adjustments to the carrying values of the retained residual interests were deemed necessary as a result of calling these securitization trusts. In addition, during the period of January 1, 2005 through June 15, 2005, the actual performance of our retained residual interests as compared to the key assumptions and estimates used to evaluate their carrying value (i.e., credit losses, rate of prepayment and discount rate) did not result in write-downs.

 

Performing mortgage loan collateral received in the call was placed into the portfolio of loans held for investment for inclusion in the securitization that closed during the three months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Accounting for Income Taxes.    We elected to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This means that generally we are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on the REIT income that we distribute to our stockholders.

 

Aames Financial’s taxable income is subject to regular corporate income tax. Taxes are provided on substantially all income and expense items included in the earnings of Aames Financial, regardless of the period in which such items are recognized for tax purposes. We use an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financing statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, we generally consider all expected future events other than the enactment of changes in the tax law or rates.

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized by Aames Financial to reflect the future tax consequences of net operating loss carry forwards and differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. We have established a valuation allowance to reflect management’s determination that it is not more likely than not that certain deferred tax assets will be realized. The realization of deferred tax assets is evaluated by management quarterly and changes in realizability are reflected in the provision for income taxes.

 

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Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our results of operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Interest income

   $ 100,991     $ 24,210     $ 229,586     $ 61,157  

Interest expense

     45,314       10,099       103,676       23,962  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income

     55,677       14,111       125,910       37,195  

Provision for losses on loans held for investment

     13,000       —         31,365       —    
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     42,677       14,111       94,545       37,195  
    


 


 


 


Noninterest income:

                                

Gain on sale of loans

     19,580       49,458       29,929       167,349  

Loan servicing

     1,720       2,251       4,124       5,902  
    


 


 


 


Total noninterest income

     21,300       51,709       34,053       173,251  
    


 


 


 


Net interest income after provision for loan losses and noninterest income

     63,977       65,820       128,598       210,446  
    


 


 


 


Noninterest expense:

                                

Personnel

     23,783       22,596       67,110       80,544  

Production

     9,258       8,560       26,635       27,899  

General and administrative

     10,312       11,519       36,140       33,686  
    


 


 


 


Total noninterest expense

     43,353       42,675       129,885       142,129  
    


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

     20,624       23,145       (1,287 )     68,317  

Income tax provision (benefit)

     (661 )     (5,272 )     770       (4,970 )
    


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 21,285     $ 28,417     $ (2,057 )   $ 73,287  
    


 


 


 


 

Interest Income and Interest Expense

 

Interest income.    Interest income includes interest earned on loans held for investment and loans held for sale. To a lesser extent, interest income also includes interest on short-term overnight investments, prepayment penalty fees earned on loans held for investment, interest income on in-the-money interest rate cap agreements, amortization of net deferred loan origination costs on mortgage loans held for investment and discount accretion income recognized on our residual interests.

 

Pursuant to FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 91, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases” (“SFAS 91”), net loan origination fees and costs related to mortgage loans originated and held for investment are deferred and amortized to interest income.

 

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The following table summarizes the components of interest income for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2005

    2004

   2005

    2004

Interest earned on:

                             

Loans held for investment

   $ 74,651     $ —      $ 175,516     $ —  

Loans held for sale

     10,601       24,145      25,221       59,999

Overnight investments

     812       —        1,553       —  

Income from derivative financial instruments

     8,244       —        15,502       —  

Prepayment penalty fees

     7,946       —        14,686       —  

Amortization of net deferred loan origination costs

     (1,345 )     —        (3,159 )     —  

Discount accretion on residual interests

     —         —        —         972

Other

     82       65      267       186
    


 

  


 

Total interest income

   $ 100,991     $ 24,210    $ 229,586     $ 61,157
    


 

  


 

 

In connection with our formation as a mortgage REIT in November of 2004, we began to build a portfolio of loans held for investment which, at September 30, 2005, was comprised of mortgage loans with an unpaid principal balance of $4.2 billion. We did not have a portfolio of loans held for investment at September 30, 2004.

 

Our interest income increased by $76.8 million, to $101.0 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005 over $24.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. The $76.8 million increase in interest income was due primarily to the $74.7 million of interest income earned on the portfolio of loans held for investment. To a lesser extent, the increase in interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2005 over the comparable three-month period a year ago was due to increases of $8.2 million, $7.9 million and $0.8 million of income from derivative financial instruments, prepayment penalty fees, and interest income earned on overnight investments, respectively. The $8.2 million of income from derivative financial instruments related to remittances to us from counterparties on in-the-money interest rate cap agreements used to hedge interest rate exposure on our REIT portfolio and related financings. The $7.9 million of prepayment penalty fees were earned on early loan pay-offs in our portfolio of mortgage loans held for investment, which was not in place during the three months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Partially offsetting the increase in interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2005 over the comparable three-month period a year ago was a decline of $13.5 million in interest income on loans held for sale and an increase of $1.3 million in amortization of net deferred loan origination costs. Interest income earned on loans held for sale declined due to our strategy of building a portfolio of loans held for investment, which resulted in our holding a lower average balance of loans held for sale during the three months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the average balance of loans held for sale outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2004. This was partially offset by higher weighted average coupon rates on loans held for sale during the September 2005 quarter when compared to such rates during the September 2004 quarter.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the amortization of net deferred loan origination costs was $1.3 million. There was no such amortization during the comparable three-month period in 2004 as we did not have a portfolio of loans held for investment at September 30, 2004.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our interest income increased by $168.4 million, to $229.6 million, over $61.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The $168.4 million increase in interest income was due primarily to the $175.5 million of interest income earned on the portfolio of loans held for investment. To a lesser extent, the increase in interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over the comparable nine-month period a year ago was due to increases of $15.5 million, $14.7 million and $1.6 million of income from derivative financial instruments, prepayment penalty fees and interest earned on overnight investments, respectively. The $15.5 million of income from derivative financial

 

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instruments related to remittances to us from counterparties on in-the-money interest rate cap agreements used to hedge interest rate exposure on our REIT portfolio and related financings. Prepayment penalty fees were earned on early loan pay-offs in our portfolio of mortgage loans held for investment, which was not in place during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Partially offsetting the increase in interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over the comparable nine-month period a year ago were declines of $34.8 million and $1.0 million in interest income on loans held for sale and discount accretion on our residual interests, as well as an increase of $3.2 million in amortization of net deferred loan origination costs. Interest income earned on loans held for sale declined due to our strategy of building a portfolio of loans held for investment, which resulted in our holding a lower average balance of loans held for sale during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the average balance of loans held of sale outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. This was partially offset by higher weighted average coupon rates on loans held for sale during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to such rates during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. We discontinued discount accretion on our residual interests during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 in light of our intention to call the remaining securitization trusts, which was consummated during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the amortization of net deferred loan origination costs was $3.2 million. There was no such amortization during the comparable nine-month period in 2004 as we did not have a portfolio of loans held for investment at September 30, 2004.

 

Interest expense.    Interest expense includes interest incurred on the balances outstanding of financings on loans held for investment and revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities and borrowings. Interest expense also includes fair value adjustments to derivative instruments used to hedge interest rate risk on our financings of mortgage loans held for investment, amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount on financings on mortgage loans held for investment and the amortization of commitment fees on revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities.

 

The following table summarizes the components of interest expense for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


       2005  

      2004  

   2005

    2004

Interest incurred on:

                             

Financings on loans held for investment

   $ 33,672     $ —      $ 68,308     $ —  

Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

     15,059       7,158      32,697       16,135

Borrowings

     —         1,016      —         3,140

Amortization of commitment fees, debt issuance costs and debt discount

     3,550       1,420      7,340       3,900

Mark to market adjustment on interest rate cap agreements designed to hedge interest rate risk on financings of loans held for investment

     (7,121 )     —        (5,157 )     —  

Bank charges and other

     154       505      488       787
    


 

  


 

Total interest expense

   $ 45,314     $ 10,099    $ 103,676     $ 23,962
    


 

  


 

 

Interest expense increased by $35.2 million, to $45.3 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005 over $10.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. The increase in interest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable three-month period a year ago was primarily due to increases of $33.7 million, $7.9 million and $2.1 million in interest expense on financings on loans held for investment, revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities, and amortization of commitment fees, debt issuance costs and debt discount, respectively. At September 30, 2005, the unpaid principal balance of

 

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financings on loans held for investment was $4.2 billion. We had no financings on loans held for investment at September 30, 2004. During the three months ended September 30, 2005, average borrowings and interest rates associated with our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities used to fund loans held for sale and loans held for investment not yet securitized were higher than such average balances and interest rates during the comparable three-month period a year ago. The increase in amortization of commitment fees, debt issuance costs and debt discount for the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to the debt issuance costs and debt discount recorded in connection with our 2005 financings on loans held for investment. We had no such financings during the three months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Partially offsetting the increase in interest expense was a $7.1 million credit to interest expense related to the positive mark to fair value during the three months ended September 30, 2005 of open interest rate cap agreements in place to hedge interest rate risk exposure on our financings of loans held for investment. Moreover, during the three months ended September 30, 2005, there were no amounts outstanding on non-revolving or non-financing obligations. Therefore, interest expense on borrowings declined by $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the same three-month period a year ago.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our interest expense increased by $79.7 million, to $103.7 million, over $24.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The increase in interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable nine-month period a year ago was primarily due to increases of $68.3 million, $16.6 million, and $3.4 million in interest expense on financing on loans held for investment, revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities, and amortization of commitment fees, debt issuance costs and debt discount, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we continued to fund the securitized portfolio of loans held for investment through financings which were not in place during the comparable nine-month period a year ago. Accordingly, interest expense on financings on loans held for investment increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over a year ago. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, average borrowings and interest rates associated with our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to fund our loans held for sale and loans held for investment not yet securitized were higher than such average balances and interest rates during the comparable nine-month period a year ago. The increase in amortization of commitment fees, debt issuance costs and debt discount for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to the debt issuance costs and debt discount recorded in connection with our 2005 financings on loans held for investment. We had no such financings during the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Partially offsetting the increase in interest expense was a $5.2 million credit to interest expense related to the positive mark to fair value during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 of open interest rate cap agreements in place to hedge interest rate risk exposure on our financings on loans held for investment. Moreover, during the March 2005 quarter, the Aames Financial residual financing facility was fully redeemed. Therefore, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, borrowings outstanding were at lower levels than during the comparable nine-month period a year ago. Consequently, interest expense on borrowings declined by $3.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Interest expense is expected to increase in future periods due to our business strategy of financing our loans held for investment through on-balance sheet securitizations and warehouse and repurchase facilities, our continued reliance on warehouse and repurchase facilities to fund mortgage loan production and expected continued upward pressure on the one-month LIBOR, the index used in our borrowing arrangements, in coming quarters.

 

Noninterest Income

 

Gain on Sale of Loans.    Gain on sale of loans includes gain from whole loan sale transactions, realized loan origination fees and costs, provisions for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses, gains and losses on derivative instruments related to hedging interest rate risk on our inventory and pipeline of loans held

 

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for sale and miscellaneous costs related to loan sale activities. Gain on sale of loans is impacted by the timing and mix of loan originations and sales as, pursuant to SFAS 91, net loan origination fees and costs related to mortgage loans originated and held for sale are deferred and recognized as a charge to gain on sale of loans at the time the mortgage loans are sold.

 

The following table summarizes the components of gain on sale of loans for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
         2005    

        2004    

    2005

    2004

 

Gain on whole loan sales

   $ 21,838     $ 64,913     $ 33,481     $ 200,156  

Loan origination fees (costs), net

     1,558       (7,963 )     6,271       (8,374 )

Provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses

     (3,796 )     (7,627 )     (8,596 )     (24,147 )

Other

     (20 )     135       (1,227 )     (286 )
    


 


 


 


Total gain on sale of loans

   $ 19,580     $ 49,458     $ 29,929     $ 167,349  
    


 


 


 


 

Gain on sale of loans decreased by $29.9 million, or 60.4%, to $19.6 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $49.5 million during the comparable three-month period a year ago. The $29.9 million decrease was due primarily to a $43.1 million decrease in gain on sale from whole loan sale transactions, partially offset by a $9.5 million increase in net loan origination fees realized on loans sold and a $3.8 million decrease in the provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses.

 

The $43.1 million decrease in gain on sale was due primarily to our strategy of retaining the majority of our hybrid/adjustable rate loan production in our REIT portfolio, which resulted in a 53.4% decrease of $1.0 billion, to $915.5 million, in mortgage loan sales to third parties during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable three-month period a year ago. Gain on sale also declined due to lower gain on sale rates realized on whole loan sales during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to such rates during the comparable 2004 period due to the fact that increases in interest rates on the mortgage loans we originated and sold during the period did not keep pace with increases in interest rates generally in a rising interest rate environment. Due to a higher percentage of retail loans originated and sold during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the same period a year ago, realized net loan origination fees were $1.6 million during the September 2005 quarter compared to realized net loan origination costs of $8.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. Finally, during the three months ended September 30, 2005, we charged $3.8 million to gain on sale of loans for estimated contractual representation and warranty obligations on loans previously sold and for loans held for sale that are delinquent, have collateral deficiencies or have other attributes that affect their sale potential. This resulted in a $3.8 million decrease from the $7.6 million provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses during the three months ended September 30, 2004, which was due principally to fewer loans having been sold in whole loan sales during the three months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same three-month period a year ago.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, gain on sale of loans decreased by $137.4 million, or 82.1%, to $29.9 million, from $167.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The $137.4 million decrease was primarily due to a $166.7 million decrease in gain on sale from whole loan sale transactions, partially offset by a decrease of $15.6 million in the provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses and a $14.6 million increase in loan origination fees realized on loans sold.

 

The $137.4 million decrease in gain on sale was due primarily to our strategy of retaining the majority of our hybrid/adjustable rate loan production in our REIT portfolio, which resulted in a 70.0% decrease of $3.9 billion, to $1.6 billion, in mortgage loan sales to third parties during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable nine-month period a year ago. Gain on sale also declined due to lower gain on sale

 

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rates realized on whole loan sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to such rates during the comparable 2004 period due to the fact that increases in interest rates on the mortgage loans we originated and sold during the period did not keep pace with increases in interest rates generally in a rising interest rate environment. In addition, because we retained a majority of our hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loan production to build our REIT portfolio of loans held for investment during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, a majority of the loans we sold during the period were fixed-rate first lien and second lien loans which generally have lower gain rates than our hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loan products. Due to a higher percentage of retail loans originated and sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the same nine-month period a year ago, realized net loan origination fees were $6.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to realized net loan origination costs of $8.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Finally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we charged $8.6 million to gain on sale of loans for estimated contractual representation and warranty obligations on loans previously sold and for loans held for sale that were delinquent, have collateral deficiencies or have other attributes that affect their sale potential. This resulted in a $15.6 million decrease from the $24.1 million provision for representation, warranty and other miscellaneous losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2004, which was due primarily to fewer loans having been sold in whole loan sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same nine-month period a year ago.

 

At September 30, 2005, we did not have derivative financial instruments in place to hedge our inventory and pipeline of loans held for sale. At September 30, 2004, we had notional amounts of $700.0 million of interest rate cap agreements in place to hedge interest rate risk exposure to our inventory and pipeline of loans held for sale. Gain on sale of loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 included a $0.2 million credit related to the positive mark to fair value of the interest rate cap agreements in place at September 30, 2004 and a charge of $2.9 million related to hedge losses recorded on interest rate cap agreements that closed during the three months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Based on current market conditions in the secondary market, and the anticipated mix of the composition of loan sales in the fourth quarter, we believe that the gross gain on sale rates earned on whole loan sales during the fourth quarter of 2005 may be below the gross gain on sale rate reported for the third quarter of 2005.

 

Loan Servicing.    Loan servicing revenue consists of late charges and other fees we retain, and servicing and prepayment penalty fees earned on securitized pools, reduced by subservicing costs related to servicing advance arrangements. Loan servicing revenue decreased by $0.5 million and $1.8 million to $1.7 million and $4.1 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively, from $2.3 million and $5.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004. The decreases were primarily due to decreases of $1.0 million and $2.4 million in servicing and beneficiary demand fees, respectively, partially offset by increases of $0.5 million and $0.6 million in net late and prepayment penalty fees on loans in off-balance sheet securitizations, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, respectively.

 

Total Noninterest Expense

 

General.    Total noninterest expense increased by $0.7 million, to $43.4 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005, over $42.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. The increase in total noninterest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable period in 2004 was attributable to increases of $1.2 million and $0.7 million in personnel and production expense, respectively, partially offset by a $1.2 million decrease in general and administrative expense. Total noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 decreased by $12.2 million, to $129.9 million, from $142.1 million during the comparable nine-month period a year ago. The decrease in total noninterest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable nine-month period a year ago was attributable to decreases of $13.4 million and $1.3 million in personnel and production expense, respectively, partially offset by a $2.5 million increase in general and administrative expense.

 

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Personnel.    Personnel expense includes salaries, payroll taxes and medical and other employee benefits. Personnel expense also includes commissions that are generally related to our loan origination volume, as retail and broker account executives earn incentives on funded loans. Pursuant to SFAS 91, direct personnel costs incurred on mortgage loans originated but not yet sold are deferred to future periods and recognized as a charge to gain on sale at the time the mortgage loans are sold.

 

The following table summarizes the components of personnel expense for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

    2005

    2004

 

Compensation

   $ 44,348     $ 41,218     $ 118,192     $ 127,132  

Deferred loan origination costs

     (24,319 )     (21,780 )     (60,372 )     (55,873 )

Medical and other benefits

     2,028       2,729       6,756       7,991  

Other

     1,726       429       2,534       1,294  
    


 


 


 


Total personnel expense

   $ 23,783     $ 22,596     $ 67,110     $ 80,544  
    


 


 


 


 

Personnel expense increased by $1.2 million, to $23.8 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $22.6 million during the comparable three-month period a year ago. The $1.2 million increase was comprised of increases of $3.1 million and $1.3 million in compensation and other personnel expense, respectively, partially offset by a $2.5 million increase in deferred loan origination costs and a $0.7 million decrease in medical and other benefits. The $3.1 million increase in compensation resulted from a $3.6 million increase in commissions, bonuses and incentives, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in management bonus incentives and a $0.3 million decrease in salary expense due to reduction in headcount. The $3.6 million increase in commissions, bonuses and incentives during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable three-month period during 2004 was due primarily to the $35.3 million, or 1.9%, increase in total loan originations during the three months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same three-month period a year ago. Deferred personnel costs on mortgage loans originated but not yet sold increased by $2.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005 over the same period a year ago due primarily to the mix in the composition of loans originated and sold during the 2005 period when compared to those loans originated and sold during the 2004 period. The $0.7 million decrease in medical and other benefits during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable period a year ago was attributable to reduced staff levels.

 

The $13.4 million decrease in personnel expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the same nine-month period a year ago was comprised of decreases of $8.9 million and $1.2 million in compensation and medical and other benefits, respectively, as well as a $4.5 million increase in deferred loan origination costs, partially offset by a $1.2 million increase in other personnel expense. The $8.9 million decrease in compensation resulted from a $3.7 million decline in commissions, bonuses and incentives, a $3.8 million decrease in management bonus incentives, a $1.0 million decrease in salary expense, and a $0.4 million decrease in temporary help costs. The $3.7 million decrease in commissions, bonuses and incentives during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable nine-month period a year ago was due primarily to the $838.2 million, or 14.7%, decrease in total loan originations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same nine-month period a year ago. Deferred personnel costs on mortgage loans originated but not yet sold increased by $4.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over the same period a year ago due primarily to the mix in the composition of loans originated and sold during the 2005 period when compared to those originated and sold during the 2004 period. The $1.2 million decrease in medical and other benefit costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable period a year ago was attributable to a decrease in staff levels.

 

Production.    Production expense increased by $0.7 million, or 8.2%, to $9.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $8.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. The

 

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$0.7 million increase in production expense was due primarily to a $0.9 million increase in advertising costs, partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in appraisal costs.

 

Production expense, when expressed as a percentage of total loan origination volume, remained constant at 0.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2005 and September 30, 2004, primarily due to the increase in loan production expense remaining consistent with the increase in production volume during the three months ended September 30, 2005 and three months ended September 30, 2004.

 

Production expense decreased by $1.3 million, or 4.5%, to $26.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from $27.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The $1.3 million decrease in production expense was due primarily to a $1.3 million decrease in appraisal costs, a $0.5 million decrease in sales incentives, a $0.2 million decrease in credit investigation expenses, and a $0.3 million decrease in travel and entertainment expenses, partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in advertising costs. The decrease in production expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same nine-month period a year ago, was primarily due to the $838.2 million, or 14.7%, decrease in total loan originations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to the same nine-month period a year ago.

 

Production expense, when expressed as a percentage of total loan origination volume, increased to 0.6% from 0.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2004, primarily due to a larger decrease in loan production volume than in production expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

General and Administrative.    General and administrative expense decreased by $1.2 million, to $10.3 million, during the three months ended September 30, 2005 from $11.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2004. The $1.2 million decrease in general and administrative expense was due primarily to a $1.6 million monoline insurance settlement received in connection with the pool call, a $0.2 million decrease in depreciation expense and a $0.1 million decrease in corporate related insurance expenses, partially offset by increases of $0.5 million and $0.2 million in professional and legal expenses, respectively.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, our rent payments totaled $2.6 million and we received total sublease payments of $0.4 million.

 

General and administrative expense increased by $2.5 million, to $36.1 million, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from $33.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The $2.5 million increase in general and administrative expense was due primarily to increases of $3.6 million, $1.4 million and $0.3 million in legal, occupancy and professional expenses, respectively. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $0.6 million and $0.6 million in communication and depreciation expenses, respectively, together with a $1.6 million monoline insurance settlement received in connection with the pool call.

 

The $3.6 million increase in legal expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the same period in 2004 was primarily due to a $3.0 million mediated settlement on a litigation matter to which we agreed in the second quarter of 2005. Contributing to the $1.4 million increase in occupancy expense was $0.4 million for terminations of branch operating leases and a corporate office operating lease.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, our rent payments totaled $8.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively, and we received total sublease payments of $1.1 million.

 

Financial Condition

 

Loans Held for Sale.    Our portfolio of loans held for sale increased to $632.5 million at September 30, 2005 from $485.0 million at December 31, 2004 due primarily to total loan originations exceeding total loan sales and transfers of mortgage investment during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

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Loans Held for Investment, Net.    At September 30, 2005, our portfolio of loans held for investment, net was $4.2 billion, an increase of $2.5 billion over the $1.7 billion portfolio of loans held for investment at December 31, 2004. This increase was primarily due to our completion of $3.7 billion of on-balance sheet securitizations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. At September 30, 2005, the portfolio of loans held for investment was comprised of $4.2 billion and $36.4 million of loans securitized and loans not yet securitized, respectively. In comparison, at December 31, 2004, the $1.7 billion portfolio of loans held for investment was comprised of $1.2 billion and $0.5 billion of loans securitized and loans not yet securitized, respectively.

 

The portfolio of loans held for investment at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 of $4.2 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively, were net of a $33.3 million and $1.9 million allowance for loan losses, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we recorded a provision for loan losses of $31.4 million and net recoveries of $24,000. We expect net charge-offs on loan liquidations to increase in future periods once our on-balance sheet portfolio of mortgage loans reaches its target level, the loans in the on-balance sheet portfolio become more seasoned, and fewer new loans are added to the on-balance sheet portfolio.

 

Advances and Other Receivables.    Advances and other receivables are comprised of interest and servicing advances, servicing and miscellaneous fees, cash due from the off-balance sheet securitization trusts, accrued interest receivable and other miscellaneous receivables. The level of servicing advances, in any given period, depends upon portfolio delinquencies, the level of real estate owned and loans in the process of foreclosure, and the timing and remittance of cash collections on mortgage loans in the securitization trusts. We fund advances on a recurring basis not otherwise covered by our financing arrangements and recover those advances on a periodic basis.

 

Advances and other receivables increased by $11.7 million to $34.4 million at September 30, 2005 from $22.7 million at December 31, 2004. The increase was due primarily to increases of $20.9 million and $4.0 million in accrued interest and other receivables and principal and interest advances, respectively, partially offset by decreases of $12.3 million and $0.9 million in interest and servicing advances and cash due from securitization trusts, respectively.

 

The $20.9 million increase in accrued interest and other receivables at September 30, 2005 over the balance at December 31, 2004 is due primarily to a $16.3 million increase in accrued interest receivable relative to the increase in the balance of loans held for investment together with a $4.6 million increase in amounts due from counterparties. The $4.0 million increase in principal and interest advances is due to the advances made to bond holders in our on-balance sheet securitizations. The $12.3 million decrease in interest and servicing advances at September 30, 2005 from December 31, 2004 was primarily due to recoveries of prior advances as a result of the call of our seven remaining off-balance sheet securitization trusts for which we serviced the loans. The $0.9 million decline in cash due from securitization trusts at September 30, 2005 from December 31, 2004 is due to having no residual balances at September 30, 2005.

 

Residual Interests.    We did not have any residual interests at September 30, 2005 compared to $39.1 million at December 31, 2004. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we called the seven remaining off-balance sheet securitization trusts in which we retained residual interests. Also, during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we received $39.1 million of cash from the off-balance sheet securitization trusts, of which $22.5 million was received in connection with the call transactions.

 

Equipment and Improvements, Net.    Equipment and improvements, net, increased to $9.6 million at September 30, 2005 from $8.8 million at December 31, 2004 reflecting capitalization of new equipment and improvement acquisitions outpacing depreciation and amortization during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other.    Prepaid expenses and other increased to $36.5 million at September 30, 2005 from $22.1 million at December 31, 2004. The increase was due to increases of $16.8 million and $0.9 million in unamortized debt issuance costs and prepaid expenses, security deposits and other deferred charges,

 

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respectively, partially offset by decreases of $2.3 million and $0.9 million in licensing, permit and performance bond deposits and unamortized commitment fees, respectively.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments.    At September 30, 2005, we had notional amounts of $6.4 billion of interest rate cap agreements compared to $2.5 billion at December 31, 2004 in place to hedge rate risk exposure to our portfolio of mortgage loans held for investment and related financings. We carry our derivative financial instruments at estimated fair value which at September 30, 2005 was $63.4 million compared to $31.9 million at December 31, 2004. Included in interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, was a $5.2 million credit related to the positive mark to fair value of our interest rate cap agreements at September 30, 2005.

 

Financings on Loans Held for Investment.    Amounts outstanding under our financings on loans held for investment increased to $4.1 billion at September 30, 2005 from $1.2 billion at December 31, 2004 primarily resulting from the four on-balance sheet securitizations that closed during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, offset partially by principal reductions to the balance outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Borrowings.    At September 30, 2005, we had no borrowings outstanding compared to $7.7 million at December 31, 2004. The $7.7 million at December 31, 2004 was the balance outstanding under Aames Financial’s residual financing facility, which we fully repaid on March 15, 2005.

 

Revolving Warehouse and Repurchase Facilities.    Amounts outstanding under revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities decreased to $596.4 million at September 30, 2005 from $809.2 million at December 31, 2004 primarily as a result of decreased reliance on the facilities to fund loans held for sale and loans held for investment prior to their securitization. Proceeds from whole loan sales and securitizations are used first to reduce balances outstanding under our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities, and then used to satisfy corporate operating requirements.

 

MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

On September 12, 2005 and August 12, 2005, we completed securitizations of $1.2 billion and $180.1 million, respectively. These securitizations were structured as on-balance sheet securitizations for accounting purposes under SFAS 140. Prior to our reorganization, Aames Financial’s previous securitizations were structured as off-balance sheet securitizations for accounting purposes under SFAS 140. We did not complete any on-balance sheet or off-balance sheet securitizations during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. We expect net interest income from our REIT portfolio of mortgage loans to generate a substantial portion of our earnings.

 

We purchased most of Aames Financial’s mortgage loan originations to build our REIT portfolio. We have not established a limit on the amount of leverage we may incur, but generally we plan to leverage our stockholders’ equity 10 to 14 times. Once we have built our REIT portfolio to maintain it at its target range, we anticipate purchasing a smaller portion of Aames Financial’s originations to maintain our target leverage ratio. Aames Financial will then sell the remainder of its loan originations, including a portion of its hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans, to third parties in the secondary market.

 

A significant risk to our operations that relates to our REIT portfolio management is the risk that interest rates on our assets will not adjust at the same time or amount as the rates on our liabilities adjust. This is because the interest on the underlying hybrid/adjustable rate mortgage loans is based on fixed rates payable on the underlying loans for the first two or three years from origination, while the holders of the applicable securities are generally paid based on an adjustable one-month LIBOR-based yield. Moreover, even after the initial fixed period, our loans generally adjust every six months and are subject to periodic rate caps, whereas the bonds adjust monthly based primarily on LIBOR. Therefore, an increase in one-month LIBOR generally reduces the net interest income we receive from our securitized loan portfolio. We attempt to mitigate a portion of this net

 

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interest margin variability by purchasing derivative financial instruments referred to as interest rate cap agreements. In addition, the net interest income we receive from securitizations will be reduced if there are a significant amount of loan defaults or loan prepayments, especially on loans with interest rates that are high relative to the rest of the securitized mortgage loan pool.

 

We do not use formalized hedge accounting for our derivative financial instruments as set forth in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Instead, we are required to record the change in the value of the derivatives as a component of earnings even though they may reduce our interest risk. In times where short-term rates drop significantly, the value of our interest rate caps will decrease; in times where short-term rates increase, the value of the interest rate caps will increase. The interest rate caps are designed to exchange the cost of our variable rate liabilities to fixed rates for the first two years of its estimated duration, thereby better matching our interest-earning fixed rate assets.

 

INVESTMENT AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES

 

Our investment strategy is subject to change if and when our board of directors determines that a change is in our stockholders’ best interest. Neither stockholder approval nor notification is required prior to changing our investment strategy.

 

Mortgage Loans

 

In general, our strategy is to maintain a portfolio of mortgage loans primarily originated by Aames Financial. Our mortgage loans are generally underwritten in accordance with the categories and criteria described in our underwriting guidelines. For further information, please see “Business-Underwriting Standards” in our December 31, 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Mortgage-backed Securities

 

Our current REIT portfolio consists of mortgage loans originated by Aames Financial that collateralize mortgage-backed bonds, as well as mortgage loans originated by Aames Financial that will collateralize future mortgage-backed securitizations.

 

If we change our investment strategy, the new strategy may entail more risk than our current investment strategy. Alternative strategies that our board of directors may choose to put in place include:

 

    purposefully exposing the value of our holdings to changes in interest rates or changes in the difference between short- and long-term rates; or

 

    holding mortgage-backed securities with a credit rating lower than AAA or mortgage-backed securities collateralized by mortgage loans originated by and purchased from third parties.

 

Leverage Policy

 

We employ a leverage strategy by securitizing existing mortgages in transactions that we believe will be treated as borrowings for accounting and tax purposes. We generally intend to maintain a REIT portfolio that is approximately 10 to 14 times the amount of our consolidated equity capital.

 

Although our actual debt to equity ratio may vary from time to time depending on market conditions and other factors that our management and board of directors deem relevant, in general, our credit facilities limit our total debt-to-equity ratio to a level of 15.0 to 1.0. However, each of our credit facility lenders disregards nonrecourse financing, including the bonds underlying our on-balance sheet securitizations, in computing our adjusted leverage ratio which is limited to 5.5 to 1.0. We were in compliance with the ratios at September 30, 2005.

 

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Hedging Policy

 

To mitigate the adverse effects from interest increases on our mortgage loans held for sale or investment, we use several tools and risk management strategies to monitor and address interest rate risk. We believe that these tools allow us to monitor and evaluate our exposure to interest rates and to manage the risk profile of our mortgage loan portfolio in response to changes in market conditions. As part of our interest rate risk management process, we have used derivative financial instruments, such as interest rate cap agreements, interest rate swap agreements, Treasury futures and options on interest rates. We can also use other hedging instruments including mortgage derivative securities, when necessary. Hedging strategies also involve transaction and other costs. Because we use derivative financial instruments more than we did prior to the REIT reorganization, the aggregate costs to us of entering into contracts for these instruments is significantly higher than in the past.

 

The derivative financial instruments that we currently use are interest rate cap agreements. These derivative financial instruments have an active secondary market and are intended to provide supplemental income and cash flow to offset potential reduced interest income and cash flow in certain interest rate environments. It is not our policy to use derivatives to speculate on interest rates. We report our derivative financial instruments on our consolidated balance sheet at their fair value with any changes in fair value reported as either a charge or credit to the consolidated statement of operations.

 

Financing Policy

 

We may raise funds through additional equity offerings, debt financings, retention of cash flow, or a combination of these methods subject to Internal Revenue Code provisions regarding distribution requirements and taxability of undistributed REIT taxable income. If our board of directors decides to raise additional equity capital, it has the authority to issue additional common or preferred stock, in any manner and on terms it deems appropriate, up to the amount authorized in our articles of incorporation without stockholder approval.

 

Currently, our borrowings consist primarily of funds borrowed under revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities and financings on loans held for investment. Borrowings going forward may be in the form of bank borrowings, secured or unsecured, and publicly or privately placed debt instruments, purchase money obligations to the sellers of assets, long-term, tax-exempt bonds or other publicly or privately placed debt instruments, financing from banks, institutional investors or other lenders, and securitizations, including collateralized debt obligations, any of which may be unsecured or secured by mortgages or other interests in the assets. This indebtedness may entail recourse to all or any part of our assets or may be limited to the particular assets to which the indebtedness relates.

 

We enter into collateralized borrowings only with institutions that we believe are financially sound and that are rated investment grade by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization.

 

MORTGAGE ORIGINATIONS

 

As of September 30, 2005 Aames Financial originated loans in 47 states through its retail and wholesale channels. Its wholesale channel operated four regional wholesale operations centers and two satellite processing centers throughout the United States and originated loans through a nationwide network of approximately 3,100 independent mortgage brokers who submit mortgage loans to it. Its retail channel had a network of 83 retail branch offices directly serving borrowers throughout the United States. From time to time, depending on market conditions and attractiveness of terms, we may supplement our loan production by purchasing mortgage loans from secondary market sellers.

 

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The following table shows our total loan originations by retail and wholesale channels and purchased loans for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

    June 30, 2005

 
     $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

 

Retail

   $ 793,851    41.5 %   $ 615,082    32.8 %   $ 624,816    39.1 %

Wholesale

     1,119,445    58.5       1,262,930    67.2       920,506    57.7  

Purchased Loans(1)

     —      —         —      —         51,692    3.2  
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   $ 1,597,014    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

     Nine Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

 
     $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

 

Retail

   $ 1,935,225    39.7 %   $ 1,846,900    32.3 %

Wholesale

     2,885,009    59.2       3,863,209    67.7  

Purchased Loans(1)

     51,692    1.1       —      —    
    

  

 

  

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   $ 5,710,109    100.0 %
    

  

 

  


(1) Represents a portfolio of single-family mortgage loans purchased from a commercial bank.

 

A significant risk to our mortgage originations operations is liquidity risk—the risk that we will not have the financing facilities and cash available to fund and hold loans prior to their sale or securitization. We maintain committed borrowing facilities with large banking and investment institutions to reduce this risk.

 

Our Retail Channel

 

We generate loan applications for our retail loan office network principally through a direct response marketing program, which relies primarily on the use of direct mailings to homeowners, telemarketing and Internet generated leads and through referrals from our customers, real estate agents and others. We generate customer leads for the retail network based upon models that we have derived and commercially developed customer lists. Our direct mail invites prospective borrowers to call us to apply for a loan. We also generate leads through several commercially available Internet sites as well as through our own retail Internet web site “Aames.net”. We believe that our marketing efforts establish name recognition and serve to distinguish us from our competitors. We continually monitor the source of our applications to determine the most effective methods and manner of marketing. Whether generated through direct mail or the Internet, leads are generally followed up with telephone calls to potential customers. Our loan officers at the local retail loan office pre-qualify a potential customer and if the customer is interested, takes an application over the telephone or schedules an appointment with the customer at the retail loan office most conveniently located to the customer or in the customer’s home, depending on the customer’s needs.

 

The retail loan officer assists the applicant in completing the loan application, arranges for an appraisal, orders a credit report from an independent, nationally recognized credit reporting agency and performs various other tasks in connection with the completion of the loan package. The loan package is underwritten for loan approval on a centralized basis. If we approve the loan package, the loan is funded. Our loan officers are trained to structure loans that meet the applicant’s needs while satisfying our lending guidelines.

 

We continually monitor our retail operations in the markets in which we operate and evaluate existing and potential retail offices on the basis of selected demographic statistics, marketing analyses and other criteria that we have developed in order to further enhance our mortgage loan production capabilities. As previously disclosed, as part of this evaluation process, we have closed retail branches in markets where it was not financially feasible to continue to service the market area in this manner. However, we continue to service these areas through our wholesale channel and the Internet.

 

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Our Wholesale Channel

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we originated loans through our network of approximately 3,100 independent wholesale mortgage brokers throughout the United States, none of which accounted for more than 5.0% of total wholesale originations.

 

The broker’s role is to identify the applicant, assist in completing the loan application, gather necessary information and documents, submit the application requesting the interest rate and terms of the loan, and serve as our liaison with the borrower through the lending process. We review and underwrite the applications submitted by the broker in accordance with our underwriting guidelines and then approve or deny the application. If the loan is approved, we approve or counter the requested interest rate and other terms of the loan and, upon acceptance by the borrower and satisfaction of all conditions imposed by us, we fund the loan. Because brokers conduct their own marketing and employ their own personnel to complete loan applications and maintain contact with borrowers, originating loans through our wholesale network allows us to increase our loan volume without incurring the higher marketing and employee costs associated with retail originations.

 

Because mortgage brokers generally submit loan files to several prospective lenders simultaneously, competitive pricing, consistent underwriting, quick response times and personal service are critical to successfully producing loans through independent mortgage brokers. To meet these requirements, we strive to provide quick response time to the loan application (generally within 24 hours). In addition, the loans are processed and underwritten in regional offices, and loan consultants, loan processors and underwriters are available to answer questions, assist in the loan application process and facilitate ultimate funding of the loan.

 

We use telemarketing and the Internet to increase our wholesale loan production and further penetrate the subprime home equity wholesale market through our “Broker Direct” program. Through Broker Direct, we make outbound telemarketing calls to brokers that have been inactive for the past 90 days and brokers who are not currently doing business with us or are outside the geographic areas served by the loan officers. We also obtain leads through our wholesale Internet web site “AamesDirect.com.”

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, we closed one regional wholesale operations center in a market where it was not financially feasible to continue to service the market area. We now service that area through another wholesale operations center.

 

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The following table presents certain information about our mortgage loan production at or for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     September 30,

   

June 30,

2005


   
     2005

    2004

      2005

    2004

 

Retail Loan Production:

                                        

Total dollar amount (in thousands)

   $ 793,851     $ 615,082     $ 624,816     $ 1,935,225     $ 1,846,900  

Number of loans

     5,194       4,893       4,315       13,227       14,657  

Average loan amount

   $ 152,840     $ 125,706     $ 144,801     $ 146,309     $ 126,008  

Average initial LTV

     75.51 %     76.46 %     76.33 %     75.87 %     77.06 %

Weighted average interest rate(1)

     7.27 %     7.58 %     7.37 %     7.37 %     7.38 %

Retail branch offices at period end

     83       98       84       83       98  

Wholesale Loan Production:

                                        

Total dollar amount (in thousands)

   $ 1,119,445     $ 1,262,930     $ 920,506     $ 2,885,009     $ 3,863,209  

Number of loans

     7,809       8,722       6,747       20,584       26,299  

Average loan amount

   $ 143,353     $ 144,798     $ 136,432     $ 140,158     $ 146,896  

Average initial LTV

     81.80 %     81.17 %     81.90 %     81.67 %     81.49 %

Weighted average interest rate(1)

     7.51 %     7.57 %     7.78 %     7.62 %     7.35 %

Regional wholesale operations centers at period end

     4       5       4       4       5  

Purchased Loans:

                                        

Total dollar amount (in thousands)

   $ —       $ —       $ 51,692     $ 51,692     $ —    

Number of loans

     —         —         83       83       —    

Average loan amount

   $ —       $ —       $ 622,800     $ 622,800     $ —    

Average initial LTV

     0.00 %     0.00 %     53.29 %     53.29 %     0.00 %

Weighted average interest rate(1)

     0.00 %     0.00 %     5.57 %     5.57 %     0.00 %

Total Loan Production:

                                        

Total dollar amount (in thousands)

   $ 1,913,296     $ 1,878,012     $ 1,597,014     $ 4,871,926     $ 5,710,109  

Number of loans

     13,003       13,615       11,145       33,894       40,956  

Average loan amount

   $ 147,143     $ 137,937     $ 143,294     $ 143,740     $ 139,421  

Average initial LTV

     79.19 %     79.62 %     78.79 %     79.07 %     80.06 %

Weighted average interest rate(1)

     7.41 %     7.57 %     7.55 %     7.50 %     7.36 %

(1) Calculated with respect to the interest rate at the time we originated or purchased the mortgage loan.

 

Total Loan Production

 

Total loan production during the three months ended September 30, 2005 increased by $316.3 million, or 19.8%, to $1.9 billion over the $1.6 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and increased by $35.3 million, or 1.9%, from $1.9 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2004. Total loan production for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 decreased by $838.2 million, or 14.7%, to $4.9 billion from the $5.7 billion reported during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. As previously reported, many subprime lenders responded to increases in short-term interest rates by offering interest-only loans and negative amortization loans in an attempt to minimize increases in borrowers’ monthly payments. We have not made negative amortization loans and have not made interest-only loans a large part of our production, which has negatively impacted our loan production for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Despite these factors, our mortgage loan origination volume increased during the three months ended September 30, 2005 when compared to mortgage loan production volumes during the quarters ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2004. We expect the current interest rate environment to negatively impact our mortgage loan origination volume in the current quarter.

 

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Our total retail production was $793.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005, an increase of $169.0 million or 27.1%, over the three months ended June 30, 2005, and an increase of $178.8 million, or 29.1% over the three months ended September 30, 2004. During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the number of retail loans originated increased by 879, or 20.4%, from the three months ended June 30, 2005, and increased by 301, or 6.2%, over the three months ended September 30, 2004. Accompanying the increase in the number of loans originated during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2005 was an increase in the average retail loan amount of $8,039. The increase in the number of loans originated during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2004 was accompanied by an increase in the average retail loan amount of $27,134. The increase in the average loan amount of our retail production during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 over such amounts during the comparable three and nine-month periods a year ago was due to the retail channel’s strategy of closing branches in smaller markets with smaller average loan amounts and expanding branches and focusing its loan origination efforts in larger markets with larger average loan amounts.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, total retail production was $1.9 billion, an increase of $88.3 million, or 4.8%, over the $1.8 billion during the same nine-month period a year ago. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the number of retail loans originated decreased by 1,430, while the average dollar amount of retail loans originated increased by $20,301.

 

Our total wholesale production increased by $198.9 million, or 21.6%, to $1.1 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2005 compared to $920.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2005, but decreased by $143.5 million, or 11.4%, from the three months ended September 30, 2004. During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the number of wholesale loans increased by 1,062, or 15.7%, from the three months ended June 30, 2005, but declined by 913, or 10.5%, from the three months ended September 30, 2004. As previously reported, increases in short-term interest rates have caused an increase in the demand for negative amortization, interest-only loans, and other loan products which minimize increases in borrowers’ monthly payments. Moreover, increases in mortgage loan rates generally did not keep pace with increases in short-term interest rates during the past year. We have not made negative amortization loans and have limited our production of interest-only products, which has negatively impacted our wholesale loan production for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. In addition, although increases in interest rates on our wholesale mortgage loan production generally did not keep pace with increases in short-term interest rates during the past year, our wholesale pricing was at times higher than several other subprime lenders, which negatively affected our wholesale loan production for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Increases in wholesale pricing by other subprime lenders during the quarter ended September 30, 2005 contributed to the increase in wholesale production during the quarter ended September 30, 2005 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the average dollar amount of our wholesale loan originated increased by $6,921 from the three months ended June 30, 2005 and decreased by $1,445 from the three months ended September 30, 2004. The decline in the average loan size in wholesale from the three months ended September 30, 2004 is due to the increased geographic diversity of our wholesale production, as a smaller percentage of our wholesale production was originated in California, which has higher average loan balances, and a larger percentage of our production was originated in Florida, which has lower average loan balances. The increase in the average loan size in wholesale from the three months ended June 30, 2005 is due to a combination of increased property values across the country and continued geographic diversity of our wholesale production, with a larger percentage of our production originated in certain states in the northeast, which have higher average loan balances.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our wholesale loan production decreased by $978.2 million, or 25.3%, to $2.9 billion from $3.9 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the number of wholesale loans decreased by 5,715, or 21.7%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the average dollar amount of wholesale loans originated decreased by $6,738, or 4.6%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

 

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Table of Contents

During the three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we did not purchase loans as part of our loan production efforts. As previously reported, during the three months ended June 30, 2005, we purchased a $51.7 million pool of mortgage loans collateralized by single-family residences from a California based community bank.

 

The following tables summarize certain information about our mortgage loan production by purpose and property type for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

    June 30, 2005

 
     Loans
Funded


   % of
Total


    Loans
Funded


   % of
Total


    Loans
Funded


   % of
Total


 

Purpose:

                                       

Cash-out refinance

   $ 1,100,577    57.5 %   $ 1,085,506    57.8 %   $ 900,379    56.4 %

Purchase money

     742,363    38.8       717,421    38.2       645,301    40.4  

Rate/term refinance

     70,356    3.7       75,085    4.0       51,334    3.2  
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   $ 1,597,014    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

Property type:

                                       

Single-family residence

   $ 1,649,844    86.2 %   $ 1,645,825    87.7 %   $ 1,399,906    87.7 %

Multi-family residence

     149,188    7.8       122,449    6.5       114,499    7.2  

Condominium

     114,264    6.0       109,738    5.8       82,609    5.1  
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   $ 1,597,014    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

 
    

Loans

Funded


  

% of

Total


   

Loans

Funded


  

% of

Total


 

Purpose:

                          

Cash-out refinance

   $ 2,800,324    57.5 %   $ 3,404,042    59.6 %

Purchase money

     1,907,292    39.1       2,037,357    35.7  

Rate/term refinance

     164,310    3.4       268,710    4.7  
    

  

 

  

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   $ 5,710,109    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

Property type:

                          

Single-family residence

   $ 4,244,676    87.1 %   $ 4,988,004    87.4 %

Multi-family residence

     358,086    7.4       396,104    6.9  

Condominium

     269,164    5.5       326,001    5.7  
    

  

 

  

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   $ 5,710,109    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

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Table of Contents

The following tables show our loan originations by geographic region for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

    June 30, 2005

 

State of Mortgage

Property


  

Loans

Funded


  

% of

Total


   

Loans

Funded


  

% of

Total


   

Loans

Funded


  

% of

Total


 

California

   $ 390,278    20.4 %   $ 585,137    31.2 %   $ 439,308    27.6 %

Florida

     493,682    25.8       364,979    19.4       372,851    23.3  

New York

     147,913    7.7       130,896    7.0       94,357    5.9  

Texas

     146,327    7.6       132,929    7.1       136,411    8.5  

Other Western States (AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)

     161,850    8.5       174,705    9.3       128,581    8.1  

Midwestern States (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI)

     100,603    5.3       166,340    8.9       101,325    6.3  

Other Northeastern States (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI)

     291,243    15.2       194,421    10.3       177,435    11.1  

Other Southeastern States (AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, OK, TN, VA, WV)

     181,400    9.5       128,605    6.8       146,746    9.2  
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   $ 1,597,014    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

 

State of Mortgage

Property


   Loans
Funded


   % of
Total


    Loans
Funded


   % of
Total


 

California

   $ 1,202,507    24.7 %   $ 1,870,031    32.8 %

Florida

     1,163,383    23.9       1,098,910    19.2  

New York

     335,829    6.9       425,455    7.5  

Texas

     394,131    8.1       375,585    6.6  

Other Western States (AZ, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)

     429,722    8.8       564,749    9.9  

Midwestern States (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI)

     297,154    6.1       497,756    8.7  

Other Northeastern States (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI)

     614,531    12.6       521,515    9.1  

Other Southeastern States (AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, OK, TN, VA, WV)

     434,669    8.9       356,108    6.2  
    

  

 

  

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   $ 5,710,109    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

We expect the recent hurricanes in the Southeastern United States to negatively impact our loan production in Florida and in the other Southeastern States during the fourth quarter.

 

The following tables summarize certain information by interest rate about our mortgage loan production for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

    June 30, 2005

 
     $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

 

Hybrid:

                                       

Traditional

   $ 1,172,707    61.3 %   $ 1,345,569    71.6 %   $ 1,014,617    63.5 %

Interest Only

     257,551    13.5       89,667    4.8       190,110    11.9  
    

  

 

  

 

  

       1,430,258    74.8       1,435,236    76.4       1,204,727    75.4  

Fixed Rate

     483,038    25.2       442,776    23.6       392,287    24.6  
    

  

 

  

 

  

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   $ 1,597,014    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

  

 

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Table of Contents
     Nine Months Ended

 
     September 30, 2005

    September 30, 2004

 
     $

   % of Total

    $

   % of Total

 

Hybrid:

                          

Traditional

   $ 3,134,843    64.4 %   $ 4,129,909    72.3 %

Interest Only

     596,469    12.2       182,977    3.2  
    

  

 

  

       3,731,312    76.6       4,312,886    75.5  

Fixed Rate

     1,140,614    23.4       1,397,223    24.5  
    

  

 

  

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   $ 5,710,109    100.0 %
    

  

 

  

 

LOAN PRODUCTION BY BORROWER RISK CLASSIFICATION

 

The following tables set forth our loan production under Super Aim guidelines for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

 

Credit

Grade


   Aggregate
Dollar Amount
of Loans


   % of
Total


    Average
Credit Score


   Weighted
Average
Interest
Rate(1)


    Weighted
Average
Loan-to-Value
Ratio


 

A+

   $ 1,525,577    79.8 %   635    7.3 %   80.17 %

A

     180,348    9.4     590    7.5     77.75  

A-

     80,338    4.2     569    7.9     74.60  

B

     82,306    4.3     559    8.3     74.31  

C

     34,595    1.8     549    8.9     69.77  

C-

     10,132    0.5     545    10.3     65.29  
    

  

 
  

 

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   622    7.4 %   79.19 %
    

  

 
  

 

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

 

Credit

Grade


  

Aggregate

Dollar Amount

of Loans


  

% of

Total


   

Average

Credit Score


  

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

A+

   $ 1,375,831    73.2 %   624    7.42 %   80.88 %

A

     221,723    11.8     588    7.53     78.55  

A-

     95,002    5.1     560    8.02     76.96  

B

     113,807    6.1     562    8.18     75.55  

C

     56,948    3.0     549    8.78     70.05  

C-

     14,701    0.8     542    9.93     63.68  
    

  

 
  

 

     $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   610    7.57 %   79.62 %
    

  

 
  

 

 

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Table of Contents
LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005  

Credit

Grade


  

Aggregate

Dollar Amount

of Loans


  

% of

Total


   

Average

Credit Score


  

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

A+

   $ 3,780,042    77.6 %   631    7.37 %   80.39 %

A

     520,734    10.7     602    7.37     75.25  

A-

     195,320    4.0     565    7.98     75.25  

B

     241,713    5.0     559    8.41     75.15  

C

     107,572    2.2     551    8.99     70.19  

C-

     26,545    0.5     544    10.43     65.01  
    

  

 
  

 

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   619    7.50 %   79.07 %
    

  

 
  

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004  

Credit

Grade


  

Aggregate

Dollar Amount

of Loans


  

% of

Total


   

Average

Credit Score


  

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

A+

   $ 4,186,491    73.3 %   625    7.20 %   81.16 %

A

     693,561    12.1     589    7.33     79.38  

A-

     295,469    5.2     562    7.76     77.42  

B

     346,616    6.1     561    8.07     75.99  

C

     152,306    2.7     551    8.75     70.46  

C-

     35,498    0.6     542    9.85     66.30  

D

     168    NM     503    6.65     71.00  
    

  

 
  

 

     $ 5,710,109    100.0 %   611    7.36 %   80.06 %
    

  

 
  

 


(1) Calculated with respect to the interest rate at the time the mortgage loan was originated or purchased.

NM = Not Meaningful

 

The following tables present certain information about our loan production by credit score range for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005

 

Credit Score

Range


  

Current

Loan

Balance


  

% of

Total


   

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

Above 700

   $ 161,561    8.4 %   6.77 %   79.49 %

661-700

     292,398    15.3     6.85     80.31  

621-660

     526,841    27.5     7.14     80.75  

581-620

     513,908    26.9     7.53     79.40  

541-580

     239,379    12.5     7.97     77.47  

540 and below

     173,056    9.1     8.59     74.02  

Not available

     6,153    0.3     7.89     79.87  
    

  

 

 

     $ 1,913,296    100.0 %   7.41 %   79.19 %
    

  

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004  

Credit Score

Range


  

Current

Loan

Balance


  

% of

Total


   

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

Above 700

   $ 110,203    5.8 %   7.13 %   79.04 %

661-700

     224,587    12.0     7.19     80.81  

621-660

     497,353    26.4     7.36     80.85  

581-620

     454,478    24.2     7.41     80.41  

541-580

     352,412    18.8     7.86     79.78  

540 and below

     237,646    12.7     8.46     74.49  

Not available

     1,333    0.1     8.32     77.69  
    

  

 

 

     $ 1,878,012    100.0 %   7.57 %   79.62 %
    

  

 

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2005  

Credit Score

Range


  

Current

Loan

Balance


  

% of

Total


   

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

Above 700

   $ 390,117    8.0 %   6.76 %   76.93 %

661-700

     687,114    14.1     6.93     79.74  

621-660

     1,324,075    27.2     7.25     80.70  

581-620

     1,271,992    26.1     7.54     79.89  

541-580

     696,570    14.3     8.05     78.53  

540 and below

     491,886    10.1     8.67     74.09  

Not available

     10,172    0.2     7.96     78.21  
    

  

 

 

     $ 4,871,926    100.0 %   7.50 %   79.07 %
    

  

 

 

LOAN ORIGINATIONS DURING THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004  

Credit Score

Range


  

Current

Loan

Balance


  

% of

Total


   

Weighted

Average

Interest

Rate(1)


   

Weighted

Average

Loan-to-Value

Ratio


 

Above 700

   $ 369,653    6.5 %   6.79 %   79.05 %

661-700

     711,020    12.4     6.94     81.05  

621-660

     1,455,391    25.5     7.14     81.08  

581-620

     1,354,399    23.7     7.23     80.87  

541-580

     1,088,461    19.1     7.68     80.53  

540 and below

     723,410    12.7     8.24     75.30  

Not available

     7,775    0.1     7.64     81.07  
    

  

 

 

     $ 5,710,109    100.0 %   7.36 %   80.06 %
    

  

 

 


(1) Calculated with respect to the interest rate at the time the mortgage loan was originated or purchased.

 

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Table of Contents

Quality Control

 

Our quality control program is intended to monitor and improve the overall quality of loan production generated by our retail channel and wholesale channel and identify and communicate to management existing or potential underwriting and loan packaging problems or areas of concern. The quality control file review examines compliance with our underwriting guidelines and federal and state regulations. This is accomplished by focusing on:

 

    the accuracy of all credit and legal information;

 

    a collateral analysis which may include a desk review of the original appraisal;

 

    employment and/or income verification; and

 

    legal document review to ensure that the necessary documents are in place.

 

MORTGAGE LOAN SALES TO THIRD PARTIES

 

Aames Financial uses the net proceeds of its whole loan sales to third parties in order to pay down its revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to increase capacity under these facilities for future funding of mortgage loans. Proceeds we receive from financings on loans held for investment are also used to pay down our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our whole loan sales to third parties for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

Whole loan sales

   $ 915,457    $ 1,964,934    $ 1,646,809    $ 5,498,007
    

  

  

  

 

Our whole loan sales to third parties during the three months ended September 30, 2005 decreased by $1.0 billion, or 53.4%, to $915.5 million from $2.0 billion during the comparable three-month period a year ago. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, whole loan sales to third parties decreased by $3.9 billion, or 70.0%, to $1.6 billion from $5.5 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The decline in loan sales into the secondary markets during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable three and nine month periods during 2004 was due to our retaining a significant portion of our loan production to build a REIT portfolio of loans held for investment.

 

Changes in the secondary mortgage markets, the current interest rate environment and the current economic climate could affect our current strategy of selling loans to third parties in whole loan sales and our loan disposition strategies going forward could include off-balance sheet securitizations as well as whole loan sales for cash.

 

MORTGAGE LOAN SERVICING

 

We currently have in place a subprime mortgage loan servicing team with over 95 servicing employees at September 30, 2005 and a scalable servicing platform. Aames Financial’s servicing platform has received a SQ3 rating from Moody’s and a RPS3-rating from Fitch. We have a servicing portfolio, including loans held for investment and loans held for sale, of approximately $5.7 billion at September 30, 2005. We believe that with our current servicing management and systems, our servicing platform is capable of servicing a portfolio of approximately $7.5 billion.

 

In addition to our REIT portfolio, our servicing portfolio consists of loans serviced on an interim basis, including loans held for sale and loans sold to others and subserviced on an interim basis, and to a lesser extent mortgage loans sold to others and subserviced on a long-term basis. Servicing includes collecting and remitting

 

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Table of Contents

loan payments, accounting for principal and interest, contacting delinquent borrowers, managing borrower defaults and liquidating foreclosed properties. We do not retain servicing on loans we sell to third parties in whole loan sales for cash.

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our servicing portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


    September 30,
2004


 

Mortgage loans serviced:

                        

Loans held for investment

   $ 4,158,876     $ 1,718,696     $ —    

Loans serviced on an interim basis

     1,343,638       771,830       2,608,203  

Loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis

     100,645       129,016       144,214  

Loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts

     —         224,345       204,298  
    


 


 


Total serviced in-house

     5,603,159       2,843,887       2,956,715  

Loans held for investment subserviced by others

     50,673       —         —    

Loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts subserviced by others

     —         —         48,587  
    


 


 


Total servicing portfolio

   $ 5,653,832     $ 2,843,887     $ 3,005,302  
    


 


 


Percentage serviced in-house

     99.1 %     100.0 %     98.4 %
    


 


 


 

Our total loan servicing portfolio at September 30, 2005 increased by $2.8 billion, or 98.8%, to $5.7 billion over $2.8 billion at December 31, 2004 due primarily to increases of $2.4 billion, $571.8 million and $50.7 million in servicing of loans held for investment, loans serviced on an interim basis, and loans held for investment subserviced by others, respectively. Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in loans serviced in off-balance sheet securitization trusts and loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis of $224.3 million and $28.4 million, respectively. The $571.8 million increase in loans serviced on an interim basis reflects the increase in the transfer of sold loans to new servicers by whole loan buyers, and to a lesser extent, the increase in loans held for sale at September 30, 2005 from December 31, 2004. The $50.7 million increase in loans held for investment subserviced for others resulted from the purchase and subsequent on-balance sheet securitization of loans collateralized by single-family residences from a California based community bank. Our portfolio of mortgage loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts serviced in-house declined, due primarily to our call of seven remaining off-balance sheet securitization trusts which caused the portfolio of mortgage loans in securitization trusts to decline by $202.1 million and, to a lesser extent, to portfolio run-off. The decline in loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis was due to loan portfolio run-off. The servicing of these loans resulted from our sale of loans from older off-balance sheet securitization trusts called during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 for which we agreed to continue service on a long-term basis.

 

Our total servicing portfolio at September 30, 2005 increased by $2.6 billion over the $3.0 billion servicing portfolio at September 30, 2004. The increase is attributable primarily to our current strategy of building a portfolio of loans held for investment, partially offset by a decline in loans serviced on an interim basis, which was attributable to a decline in loans held for sale and interim servicing for others at September 30, 2005 compared to September 30, 2004.

 

We receive servicing fees and prepayment penalty fees for income on our REIT portfolio of loans held for investment. We receive a servicing fee for loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis. In addition, as servicer we generally receive all late fees and assumption charges paid by borrowers on loans that we service directly, as well as other miscellaneous fees for performing various loan servicing functions.

 

Our agreements with the securitization trusts typically require us, in our role as servicer, to advance principal and interest on delinquent loans to the holders of the senior bond interests in the related securitization trusts. The agreements also requires us to make certain servicing advances (e.g., for property taxes or hazard insurance) unless we determine that those advances would not be recoverable.

 

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Collections, Delinquencies and Foreclosures

 

We send borrowers a monthly billing statement approximately 10 days prior to the monthly payment due date. Although borrowers generally make loan payments within 10 to 15 days after the due date (the “grace period”), if a borrower fails to pay the monthly payment within this grace period, we begin collection efforts by notifying the borrower of the delinquency. In the case of borrowers with certain credit characteristics or with a poor payment history with us, collection efforts begin immediately after the due date. We continue to make contact with the borrower to determine the cause of the delinquency and to obtain a commitment to cure the delinquency at the earliest possible time.

 

As a general matter, if efforts to obtain payment have not been successful, a pre-foreclosure notice will be sent to the borrower immediately after the due date of the next subsequently scheduled installment (five days after the initial due date for loans with certain credit characteristics), providing 30 days’ notice of impending foreclosure action. During the 30-day notice period, collection efforts continue and we evaluate various legal options and remedies to protect the value of the loan, including arranging for extended repayment terms, accepting a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, entering into a short sale (a sale for less than the outstanding principal amount) or commencing foreclosure proceedings. If no substantial progress has been made in collecting delinquent payments from the borrower, foreclosure proceedings will begin. Generally, we will begin foreclosure proceedings when a loan is 80 to 100 days delinquent, depending upon credit considerations, borrower bankruptcy status and state regulations.

 

We monitor our servicing and collection practices to insure they comply with applicable laws and regulations and meet industry standards.

 

Subprime mortgage loans generally have higher delinquency rates than those prevailing in the mortgage industry. As a subprime mortgage lender, we have historically experienced delinquency rates that are higher than those prevailing in the mortgage industry due to the origination of lower credit grade mortgage loans. Set forth below are our delinquency rates compared to delinquency rates for subprime mortgage loans (seasonally adjusted) and all mortgage loans (seasonally adjusted) according to the National Delinquency Survey of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America as of the dates indicated. Delinquent loans are loans for which more than one payment is due.

 

     September 30,

   

June 30,

2005


   

December 31,

2004


 
         2005    

        2004    

     

Aames Investment

   3.6 %   2.6 %   2.7 %   2.5 %

Subprime Mortgage Loans

   NYA     10.4 %   10.3 %   9.9 %

All Mortgage Loans

   NYA     4.4 %   4.3 %   4.2 %

NYA = Not yet announced

 

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The following table sets forth delinquency information relating to our servicing portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

     September 30,
2005


    December 31,
2004


    September 30,
2004


 

Percentage of dollar amount of delinquent loans serviced (period end)(1)(2):

                  

One month

   1.5 %   0.3 %   0.4 %

Two months

   0.6 %   0.2 %   0.2 %

Three or more months:

                  

Not foreclosed(3)

   1.4 %   1.8 %   1.8 %

Foreclosed(4)

   0.1 %   0.2 %   0.2 %
    

 

 

     3.6 %   2.5 %   2.6 %
    

 

 

Percentage of dollar amount of delinquent loans in:

                  

Loans held for investments serviced:

                  

In-house

   4.4 %   0.2 %   N/A  

By others

   0.0 %   0.0 %   N/A  

Loans serviced on an interim basis

   1.0 %   1.5 %   0.5 %

Loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis

   7.2 %   4.8 %   4.3 %

Loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts serviced:

                  

In-house

   N/A     22.5 %   18.6 %

By others

   N/A     N/A     39.0 %

(1) Delinquent loans are loans for which more than one payment is due.
(2) The delinquency and foreclosure percentages are calculated on the basis of the total dollar amount of mortgage loans serviced by us including loans serviced on an interim basis.
(3) Represents loans which are in foreclosure but as to which foreclosure proceedings have not concluded.
(4) Represents properties acquired following a foreclosure sale and still serviced by us at period end.
N/A Not applicable.

 

Delinquent loans, by principal balance of the total servicing portfolio, increased to $205.8 million at September 30, 2005 from $71.0 million at December 31, 2004 and $76.8 million at September 30, 2004. The delinquency rate at September 30, 2005 was 3.6% compared to 2.5% at December 31, 2004 and 2.6% at September 30, 2004. The delinquency rate at September 30, 2005 increased from the delinquency rate at December 31, 2004, primarily due to an increase in delinquencies in our on-balance sheet REIT portfolio of mortgage loans. We expect our delinquency rate to increase in future periods as the loans in our REIT portfolio become more seasoned, and fewer new loans are added to the REIT portfolio. Moreover, we expect our delinquency rate in the Southeastern United States to increase during the quarter due to the recent hurricanes in the Southeastern United States. At October 31, 2005, loans in areas of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama impacted by the hurricanes represented 3.73% of the total servicing portfolio.

 

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The following table summarizes the unpaid principal balance of delinquent loans as of the dates indicated in the total servicing portfolio (in thousands):

 

    

September 30,

2005


  

December 31,

2004


  

September 30,

2004


Loans held for investment serviced:

                    

In-house

   $ 184,582    $ 2,856    $ —  

By others

     —        —        —  

Loans serviced on an interim basis

     13,968      11,459      13,741

Loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis

     7,275      6,229      6,209

Loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts serviced:

                    

In-house

     —        50,408      37,922

By others

     —        —        18,931
    

  

  

Total delinquent loans

   $ 205,825    $ 70,952    $ 76,803
    

  

  

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, net losses on loan liquidations decreased to $7.4 million from $11.7 million during the comparable nine-month period during 2004. A majority of the foreclosures handled occurred in connection with delinquent mortgage loans in former off-balance sheet securitization trusts serviced by us. Of the $7.4 million of net losses on loan liquidations during the nine months ended September 30, 2005, $4.6 million and $2.9 million related to mortgage loans held for sale and mortgage loans in the off-balance sheet securitization trusts, respectively. We expect net losses on loan liquidations to increase in future periods once our on-balance sheet REIT portfolio of mortgage becomes more seasoned and fewer new loans are added to the REIT portfolio. Moreover, we expect net losses on loan liquidations in the Southeastern United States to increase in future periods due to the recent hurricanes in the Southeastern United States. At October 31, 2005, loans in areas of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama impacted by the hurricanes represented 3.73% of the total servicing portfolio.

 

The following table sets forth foreclosure and loss information relating to our servicing portfolio as of or for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

 

    

At or During the

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Percentage of dollar amount of loans foreclosed during the period to loans serviced (period end)(1)(2)

     0.2 %     0.3 %

Number of loans foreclosed during the period

     105       147  

Principal amount of loans foreclosed during the period

   $ 9,199     $ 8,787  

Number of loans liquidated during the period

     193       318  

Net losses on liquidations during the period from(3):

                

Loans held for investment serviced:

                

In-house

   $ (24 )   $ —    

By others

     —         —    

Loans serviced on an interim basis

     4,553       2,268  

Loans subserviced for others on a long-term basis

     19       —    

Loans in off-balance sheet securitization trusts serviced:

                

In-house

     2,850       6,352  

By others

     —         3,124  
    


 


     $ 7,398     $ 11,744  
    


 


Percentage of annualized losses to servicing portfolio(1)(2)

     0.2 %     0.5 %

Servicing portfolio at period end

   $ 5,654,000     $ 3,005,000  

 

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(1) The delinquency and foreclosure percentages are calculated on the basis of the total dollar amount of mortgage loans serviced by us.
(2) The percentages were calculated to reflect the dollar volume of loans foreclosed or annualized losses, as the case may be, to the average dollar amount of mortgage loans serviced by us and any subservicer during the related periods indicated.
(3) Represents losses, net of gains, on properties sold through foreclosure or other default management activities during the periods indicated.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our operations require access to short-term and long-term sources of cash.

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are expected to be:

 

    fundings under revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities;

 

    fundings from financings on loans held for investment;

 

    our current equity capital;

 

    the proceeds from the sale of mortgage loans; and

 

    the proceeds from the issuance of additional debt and equity securities.

 

Our primary operating cash requirements include:

 

    the funding of mortgage loan originations and purchases prior to their securitization and sale;

 

    interest and principal payments on financings on loans held for investment;

 

    interest and principal payments and liquidity requirements under our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities, and other borrowings;

 

    dividend payments on our common stock;

 

    advances in connection with our servicing portfolio;

 

    overcollateralization requirements in connection with on-balance sheet securitizations;

 

    fees, expenses and hedging costs, if any, incurred in connection with the securitization and sale of loans; and

 

    ongoing administrative, operating, and tax expenses.

 

Revolving Warehouse and Repurchase Facilities.    We borrow substantial sums of cash on a regular basis to originate mortgage loans and to hold loans in our REIT portfolio prior to securitization. Therefore, we rely on revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to finance the origination and holding of mortgage loans prior to securitization or sale. At September 30, 2005, we had total revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities in the amount of $2.8 billion, of which $2.7 billion and $0.1 billion were committed and uncommitted, respectively. At September 30, 2005, amounts outstanding under our facilities were $596.4 million, leaving us with $2.1 billion of available committed borrowing capacity under the facilities. Of the $2.8 billion of revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities available at September 30, 2005, $500.0 million, $700.0 million, $300.0 million, $500.0 million, $300.0 million and $500.0 million are scheduled to mature on January 17, 2006, February 4, 2006, March 24, 2006, August 4, 2006, September 29, 2006 and November 21, 2005, respectively. While no assurance can be made, we expect to renew our warehouse facilities on the same or similar terms at or prior to their maturity.

 

Certain of the revolving warehouse and repurchase facility lenders advance less than 100% of the principal balance of the mortgage loans originated, requiring the use of our working capital to fund the remaining portion. The revolving warehouse and repurchase facility agreements contain provisions requiring us to meet certain

 

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periodic financial covenants, including, among other things, minimum liquidity, stockholders’ equity, leverage, and net income levels. The facility agreements also contain customary representations and warranties.

 

Fundings from Financings on Loans Held for Investment.    Our ability to generate fundings from financings on loans held for investment is necessary to generate cash proceeds to pay down our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities, which fund loans held for investment prior to their on-balance sheet securitization. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our financings on loans held for investment increased by $3.0 billion, to $4.1 billion at September 30, 2005, primarily resulting from four on-balance sheet securitizations that closed during the period.

 

Proceeds from the Sale of Mortgage Loans.    Our ability to sell loans we originate in the secondary market through off-balance sheet securitizations and whole loan sales is necessary to generate cash proceeds to pay down our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities and fund mortgage loan originations. Our ability to sell loans in the secondary market on acceptable terms is essential for the continuation of our loan origination operations.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, we sold $1.6 billion and $5.5 billion of mortgage loans in whole loan sales for cash to the secondary market. The $3.9 billion decline in whole loan sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 from the comparable nine-month period a year ago is due to our retention of a significant portion of our mortgage loan production to build our REIT portfolio of loans held for investment.

 

Other sources of cash previously used to fund our operations included the monetization of overcollateralization in our portfolio of mortgage loans in securitization trusts and the monetization of residual interests and servicing advances.

 

Monetization of Overcollateralization in Our Portfolio of Mortgage Loans in Off-Balance Sheet Securitization Trusts.    As previously reported, on June 15, 2005 we called the collateral in our remaining off-balance sheet securitization trusts for which we serviced the mortgage loan collateral. We received a majority of the overcollateralization balance from the called trusts in a combination of mortgage loans in the trust and in cash.

 

Monetization of Residual Interests and Servicing Advances.    As previously reported, on June 30, 2003, we borrowed $74.1 million through Aames Financial’s residual financing facility, of which $49.2 million was secured by all of our residual interests. We pledged certain of our existing servicing advances to collateralize $24.9 million of Aames Financial’s residual financing facility. On March 15, 2005, the Financing Facility was fully repaid and the previously secured positions in our residual interests and servicing advances were released by the lender.

 

Cash Flow.    The following summarizes our material cash flow activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

 

Our principal operating activities which effect our net cash provided by or used in such activities in any period are (i) the increase or decrease in loan production, which causes an increase in the use of cash and a decrease in the use of cash, respectively; and, (ii) the increase or decrease in the level of loan sales and securitizations, which causes an increase or decrease in cash provided, respectively.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our net cash used in operating activities was $124.0 million, a decrease of $24.9 million, from the $148.9 million of net cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The decrease in net cash used in operating activities was due primarily to an $838.2 million decrease in cash used in the origination of mortgage loans held for sale, partially offset by a $740.5 million decrease in cash provided by the sale of mortgage loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2004. To a lesser extent, the decrease in net cash used in operating activities was attributable to a $75.3 million decline in net income and a $2.5 million change in other operating items.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our net cash used in investing activities increased $2.5 billion over such cash used during the comparable nine month period during 2004 and was attributable to our

 

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strategy of building a REIT portfolio of loans held for investment. As we monitor our REIT portfolio of loans held for investment, we will continue to use cash in that investing activity, however, as our REIT portfolio of loans held for investment is stabilized at a level we deem appropriate, cash used in this investing activity will decline.

 

The primary activities affecting our cash flows from financing activities are increases and decreases in the level of financings of loans held for investment and in the level of borrowings under our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities. In addition, financing activities also include capital related cash flows. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, our net cash provided by financing activities was $2.7 billion, an increase of $2.6 billion, over the $161.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The increase in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily attributable to a $3.0 billion increase in financing on loans held for investment, partially offset by $394.8 million in redemptions of revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities and $42.5 million of cash used for common stock dividend payments during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 over the same period a year ago.

 

As a financial institution, our lending and borrowing functions are integral parts of our business. When evaluating sources and uses of cash, we consider cash used to increase our assets and borrowings used to finance those assets, separately from our operating cash flows. Our most significant use of cash is for the acquisition of loans held for sale, which is funded primarily through borrowings under our revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, originations of loans held for sale, net of sales of such loans, are required to be included in our consolidated statements of cash flows as a component of cash flows from operating activities. However, borrowings used to fund such loans, or repayment of such borrowings, are required to be included in the consolidated statements of cash flows as a component of cash flows from financing activities. The amount of net originations of loans held for sale included as a component of cash flows from operating activities was $147.6 million and $245.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Excluding the origination and sale activity of loans held for sale, our operating activities provided $23.6 million and $96.3 million of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

 

At September 30, 2005, we had net operating liquidity of approximately $100.7 million, which consisted of approximately $43.2 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, $17.3 million of available retained bond financing, and approximately $40.2 million of cash that could be immediately raised through the pledging of unencumbered and eligible loans held for sale as collateral pursuant to committed revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities. We currently believe that our net operating liquidity level is sufficient to satisfy our operating requirements.

 

If our access to warehouse lines, working capital or the securitization or whole loan markets is restricted, we may have to seek additional equity. There can be no assurance that sufficient sources of liquidity will be available to us at any given time or that favorable terms will be available. If we are unable to maintain sufficient liquidity, we would be restricted in the amount of loans that we will be able to produce and sell which would negatively impact profitability and jeopardize our ability to continue to operate as a going concern.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our material contractual obligations as of September 30, 2005 (in millions):

 

     Total

   Less Than
1 year


  

1-3

Years


   3-5
Years


   More Than
5 years


Financing on loans held for investment

   $ 4,154.5    $ 1,589.0    $ 1,852.4    $ 446.9    $ 266.2

Revolving warehouse and repurchase agreements

     596.4      596.4      —        —        —  

Operating leases, net

     47.2      10.9      24.2      9.6      2.5

Purchase and other obligations

     0.2      0.2      —        —        —  
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 4,798.3    $ 2,196.5    $ 1,876.6    $ 456.5    $ 268.7
    

  

  

  

  

 

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Our revolving warehouse and repurchase agreements contain terms which require us to meet periodic financial covenants and other contractual obligations as on-going conditions to borrow under the warehouse and repurchase agreements. If we are unable to comply with the financial covenants or the other contractual obligations going forward, or if we are unable to obtain subsequent amendments or waivers, if required, the lenders can declare default events. If we do not cure the default events, the lenders are entitled to liquidate the residential mortgage loans which collateralize borrowings under the revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities to recover funds advanced.

 

Risk Management

 

At September 30, 2005, we had notional amounts of $6.4 billion of interest rate cap agreements in place to hedge interest rate risk exposure to our portfolio of mortgage loans held for investment and related financings. Interest expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 includes credits of $7.1 million and a $5.2 million, respectively, related to the positive mark to fair value of these interest rate cap agreements at September 30, 2005. Also included in interest income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $8.2 million and $15.5 million, respectively, of income related to remittances to us from counterparties on in-the-money interest rate cap agreements. At September 30, 2004, we had notional amounts of $700.0 million of interest rate cap agreements in place to hedge interest rate risk exposure to our inventory and pipeline of loans held for sale. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, gain on sale of loans included a $0.2 million credit related to the positive mark to fair value of interest rate cap agreements.

 

We continually monitor the interest rate environment and our hedging strategies. However, there can be no assurance that our earnings would not be adversely affected during any period of unexpected changes in interest rates or prepayment rates, including charges to earnings on future derivative contracts into which we may enter.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity

 

Sale of Loans—Securitizations and Whole Loan Sales—Interest Rate Risk.    A significant variable in the determination of gain on sale in a securitization is the spread between the weighted average coupon on the securitized loans and the pass-through interest rate. In the interim period between loan origination and securitization of such loans, we are exposed to interest rate risk. The majority of loans are securitized or sold within 90 days of origination. However, a small portion of the loans are held for sale or securitization for as long as 12 months (or longer, in very limited circumstances) prior to securitization or sale. If interest rates rise during the period that the mortgage loans are held, the spread between the weighted average interest rate on the loans to be securitized and the pass-through interest rates on the securities to be sold (the latter having increased as a result of market rate movements) would narrow. In an off-balance sheet securitization, this would result in a reduction of our related gain on sale. We are also exposed to rising interest rates for loans originated or purchased which are held pending sale in the whole loan market. From time to time, we mitigate exposure to rising interest rates through the use of interest rate cap agreements, forward interest rate swap agreements or other hedging activities. These hedging activities help mitigate the risk of absolute movements in interest rates.

 

Rate Sensitive Assets

 

Residual Interests.    We had no residual interests at September 30, 2005 and $39.1 million at December 31, 2004. These instruments were recorded at estimated fair value at December 31, 2004. We valued these assets based on the present value of future revenue streams, net of expenses, using various assumptions. The weighted average discount rate used to calculate the present value of the residual interests was 13.7% at December 31, 2004. The weighted average life of the mortgage loans used for valuation at December 31, 2004 was 2.0 years.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments.    Our financial instruments recorded at contractual amounts that approximate market or fair value primarily consist of loans held for sale, advances and other receivables, and revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities. As these amounts are short-term in nature and/or generally bear

 

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market rates of interest, the carrying amounts of these instruments are reasonable estimates of their fair values. The carrying amount of our warehouse borrowings approximates fair value when valued using available quoted market prices.

 

Interest Rate Risk.    We are exposed to on-balance sheet interest rate risk related to our loans held for investment and loans held for sale.

 

Warehousing Exposure.    We utilize revolving warehouse and repurchase financing facilities to facilitate the holding of mortgage loans prior to sale and securitization. At September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, we had total revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities available in the amount of $2.8 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively. At September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, amounts committed under such facilities were $2.7 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively. The total amount outstanding related to these facilities was $596.4 million and $809.2 million at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Drawings available to us under the committed portions of the facilities were $2.1 billion and $1.7 billion at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities are typically for a term of one year or less and are designated to fund mortgages originated within specified underwriting guidelines. The majority of the assets remain in the facilities for a period of up to 90 days at which point they are securitized or sold to institutional investors. As these amounts are short-term in nature and/or generally bear market rates of interest, the contractual amounts of these instruments are reasonable estimates of their fair values.

 

The following tables illustrate the timing of the maturities of our interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities as of the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

    Maturity Range

    Total

September 30, 2005


 

Zero to

6 Months


  6 Months
to 1 Year


 

1-2

Years


 

3-4

Years


 

5-6

Years


  Thereafter

   

Interest rate sensitive assets:

                                           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 134,550   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —       $ 134,550

Loans held for sale, net

    632,515     —       —       —       —       —         632,515

Loans held for investment, net

    816,903     788,624     1,296,362     926,515     157,585     201,087       4,187,076

Interest rate cap agreements

    63,448     —       —       —       —       —         63,448
   

 

 

 

 

 


 

Total interest rate sensitive assets

  $ 1,647,416   $ 788,624   $ 1,296,362   $ 926,515   $ 157,585   $ 201,087     $ 5,017,589
   

 

 

 

 

 


 

Interest rate sensitive liabilities:

                                           

Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

  $ 596,440   $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —       $ 596,440

Financings on loans held for investment

    809,550     779,450     1,278,356     864,539     156,339     266,232       4,154,466
   

 

 

 

 

 


 

Total interest rate sensitive liabilities

  $ 1,405,990   $ 779,450   $ 1,278,356   $ 864,539   $ 156,339   $ 266,232     $ 4,750,906
   

 

 

 

 

 


 

Excess of interest rate sensitive assets over interest rate sensitive liabilities

  $ 241,426   $ 9,174   $ 18,006   $ 61,976   $ 1,246   $ (65,145 )   $ 266,683

Cumulative net interest rate sensitivity gap

  $ 241,426   $ 250,600   $ 268,606   $ 330,582   $ 331,828   $ 266,683     $ 266,683

 

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    Maturity Range

  Total

December 31, 2004


 

Zero to

6 Months


   

6 Months

to 1 Year


   

1-2

Years


 

3-4

Years


 

5-6

Years


  Thereafter

 

Interest rate sensitive assets:

                                             

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 37,780     $ —       $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 37,780

Loans held for sale, net

    484,963       —         —       —       —       —       484,963

Loans held for investment, net

    150,567       223,516       608,267     341,716     138,475     262,505     1,725,046

Interest rate cap agreements

    31,947       —         —       —       —       —       31,947
   


 


 

 

 

 

 

Total interest rate sensitive assets

  $ 705,257     $ 223,516     $ 608,267   $ 341,716   $ 138,475   $ 262,505   $ 2,279,736
   


 


 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate sensitive liabilities:

                                             

Financing facility

  $ 7,680     $ —       $ —     $ —     $ —     $ —     $ 7,680

Revolving warehouse and repurchase facilities

    809,213       —         —       —       —       —       809,213

Financings on loans held for investment

    104,942       155,785       423,947     225,845     78,897     170,320     1,159,736
   


 


 

 

 

 

 

Total interest rate sensitive liabilities

  $ 921,835     $ 155,785     $ 423,947   $ 225,845   $ 78,897   $ 170,320   $ 1,976,629
   


 


 

 

 

 

 

Excess of interest rate sensitive assets over interest rate sensitive liabilities

  $ (216,578 )   $ 67,731     $ 184,320   $ 115,871   $ 59,578   $ 92,185   $ 303,107

Cumulative net interest rate sensitivity gap

  $ (216,578 )   $ (148,847 )   $ 35,473   $ 151,344   $ 210,922   $ 303,107   $ 303,107

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures.    At the end of the period covered by this report on Form 10-Q, Aames Investment carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its Disclosure Committee and management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Aames Investment’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 15d-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Aames Investment’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to Aames Investment (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in reports it files with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Subsequent to the date of that evaluation, there have been no significant changes in Aames Investment’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

 

In April 2004, we received a civil investigative demand from the Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, that, although not alleging any wrongdoing, sought documents and data relating to our business and lending practices. The demand was issued pursuant to an April 8, 2004 resolution of the FTC authorizing non-public investigations of various unnamed subprime lenders and loan brokers to determine whether there have been violations of certain consumer protection laws. We cooperated and intend to continue to cooperate fully with the FTC in this investigation. Because the investigation is at an early stage, we cannot predict the outcome of the investigation and its effect, if any, on our business.

 

In September 2004, we received a Civil Investigative Demand and Notice to Proceed from the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, that, although not alleging any wrongdoing, sought documents and data relating to our business and lending practices in Iowa. We have cooperated and intend to continue to cooperate fully with the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa in this investigation. Because the investigation is at an early stage, we cannot predict the outcome of the investigation and its effect, if any on our business in Iowa, which approximated 0.02% of total mortgage loan production during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are defendants in or parties to a variety of legal actions. Certain of such actions involve claims relating to the Company’s loan origination and collection efforts, alleged violations of employment laws, unfair trade practices, and other federal and state laws. In our opinion, the resolution of any of these pending incidental matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

Item 2.    Changes in 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

 

Item 5.    Other Information—None

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


2.1   Form of Agreement and Plan of Merger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement on Form S-11 (333-113890) filed with the SEC on September 7, 2004 (“Amendment No. 3 to S-11”)).
3.1   Articles of Amendment and Restatement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Aames Investment Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (the “2004 10-K”)).
3.2   Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to the registration statement on Form S-11 (333-113890) filed with the SEC on July 22, 2004 (“Amendment No. 2 to S-11”)).
4.1   Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 3 to S-11).
10.1   Amended and Restated Aames Investment Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the 2004 10-K).
10.2   Registration Rights and Governance Agreement dated November 1, 2004 among Specialty Finance Partners, Capital Z Management LLC and Aames Investment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the 2004 10-K).
10.3   Employment Agreement dated November 3, 2004 among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Financial Corporation and A. Jay Meyerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the 2004 10-K).*
10.4   Form of Aames Investment Corporation Indemnification Agreement with directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the 2004 10-K).*
10.5(a)   Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of August 5, 2004 among Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation, and Aames Funding Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Amendment No. 8 to the registration statement on Form S-11 (333-113890) filed with the SEC on October 27, 2004).
10.5(b)   Amendment No. 1 dated March 18, 2005 to Master Repurchase Agreement dated August 5, 2004 among Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation, and Aames Funding Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(b) to the 2004 10-K).
10.5(c)   Amendment No. 2 to Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of June 20, 2005 by and among Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Aames Funding Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(c) to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the “June 2005 10-Q”)).
10.5(d)   Extension Letter to the Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of July 29, 2005 by and among Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Aames Funding Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5(d) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.5(e)   Amendment No. 3 to the Master Repurchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2005 by and among Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Aames Funding Corporation
10.6   Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 1, 2004 by and among Aames Investment Corporation, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc., Aames Financial Corporation, Aames TRS, Inc. and Aames Newco, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 10 to the registration statement on Form S-11 333-113890 filed with the SEC on October 29, 2004).

 

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10.7   Registration Rights Agreement dated November 1, 2004 by and between Aames Investment Corporation, Inc. and Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the 2004 10-K).
10.8(a)   Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(a) to the Aames Investment Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 (the “September 2004 10-Q”)).
10.8(b)   Amendment No. 1 dated as of October 28, 2004 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(b) to the September 2004 10-Q).
10.8(c)   Amendment No. 3 dated as of January 7, 2005 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(c) to the 2004 10-K).
10.8(d)   Amendment No. 4 dated as of March 14, 2005 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(d) to the 2004 10-K).
10.8(e)   Amendment No. 5 dated as of June 30, 2005 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8(e) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.8(f)   Amendment No. 6 dated as of October 10, 2005 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004.
10.8(g)   Amendment No. 7 dated as of November 2, 2005 2005 to the Master Loan and Security Agreement among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Morgan Stanley Bank dated October 21, 2004.
10.9(a)   Amended and Restated Master Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 28, 2005 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.9(b)   Amendment Number One dated as of September 30, 2005 to the Amended and Restated Master Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 28, 2005 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp.
10.9(c)   Amendment Number Two dated as of November 3, 2005 to the Amended and Restated Master Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 28, 2005 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation and Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp.
10.10(a)   Warehouse Loan and Security Agreement dated as of February 10, 2000 as Amended and Restated to and including February 4, 2005 among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the 2004 10-K).
10.10(b)   Amendment Number One dated May 25, 2005 to the Warehouse and Loan Security Agreement among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10(b) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.10(c)   Amendment Number Two dated June 20, 2005 to the Warehouse and Loan Security Agreement among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 (c) to the June 2005 10-Q).

 

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10.10(d)   Amendment Number Three dated July 29, 2005 to the Warehouse and Loan Security Agreement among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc.
10.10(e)   Amendment Number Four dated August 15, 2005 to the Warehouse and Loan Security Agreement among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc.
10.10(f)   Amendment Number Five dated October 31, 2005 to the Warehouse and Loan Security Agreement among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Greenwich Capital Financial Products, Inc.
10.11(a)   Master Repurchase Agreement Governing Purchases and Sales of Mortgage Loans dated as of January 18, 2005 among Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB, Aames Capital Corporation and Aames Investment Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the 2004 10-K).
10.11(b)   First Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement Governing Purchases and Sales of Mortgage Loans dated as of June 20, 2005 among Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB, Aames Capital Corporation and Aames Investment Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11(b) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.11(c)   Second Amendment dated October 28, 2005 to Master Repurchase Agreement Governing Purchases and Sales of Mortgage Loans among Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB, Aames Capital Corporation and Aames Investment Corporation.
10.12(a)   Revolving Credit and Security Agreement dated as of July 1, 2003 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Countrywide Warehouse Lending (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35(a) to the Aames Financial Corporation Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2003).
10.12(b)   Amendment No. 3 to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement dated as of November 4, 2004 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Countrywide Warehouse Lending (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(b) to the 2004 10-K).
10.12(c)   Commitment Letter for the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement dated March 25, 2005 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation, Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Financial Corporation and Countrywide Warehouse Lending (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(c) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.12(d)   Amendment No. 1 to the Countrywide Commitment Letter dated as of June 28, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(d) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.12(e)   Amendment No. 4 to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement dated as of March 25, 2005 among Aames Capital Corporation, Aames Funding Corporation and Countrywide Warehouse Lending (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12(e) to the Aames Investment Corporation Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005).
10.12(f)   Amendment No. 2 to the Countrywide Commitment Letter dated as of November 4, 2005.
10.13   Office Lease dated as of September 15, 1998, between Colonnade Wilshire Corp. and Aames Financial Corporation for the premises located at 3731 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Aames Financial Corporation Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1999).
10.14(a)   Office Building Lease dated as of August 7, 1996 between Aames Financial Corporation and California Plaza IIA, LLC for the premises located at 350 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17(a) to the Aames Financial Corporation Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1997 (the “Aames Financial 1997 10-K”)).

 

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10.14(b)   First Amendment to Office Building Lease dated as of August 15, 1997 between Aames Financial Corporation and California Plaza IIA, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17(b) to the Aames Financial 1997 10-K).
10.14(c)   Second Amendment to Office Building Lease dated as of July 29, 2005 by and between EOP-TWO California Plaza, LLC and Aames Financial Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14(c) to the June 2005 10-Q).
10.15   Office Building Lease dated as of September 13, 2002 between Aames Financial Corporation and Jamboree LLC for the premises located at 3347 and 3351 Michelson Drive, Irvine, California (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Aames Financial Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002).
10.16   Director Compensation Plan Summary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Aames Investment Corporation Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 23, 2005 filed with the SEC on March 31, 2005).*
10.17   2005 Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan Summary (incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 10.17 to the 2004 10-K).*
10.18   Employment Agreement dated July 18, 2005 among Aames Investment Corporation, Aames Financial Corporation and John A. Vella (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the June 2005 10-Q).*
10.19   Aames Financial Corporation Executive Severance Plan, amended and released dated as of August 4, 2005.*
31.1   Certification of A. Jay Meyerson pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2   Certification of Jon D. Van Deuren pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 

* Indicates a management contract or compensatory arrangement.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

     AAMES INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Dated: November 14, 2005

   By:   

/s/    JON D. VAN DEUREN


         

Jon D. Van Deuren

Executive Vice President—Finance and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

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