1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Description of Business

We were formed in California on March 8, 1991. We specialize in purchasing and servicing retail automobile installment sale contracts (“automobile contracts” or “finance receivables”) originated by licensed motor vehicle dealers located throughout the United States (“dealers”) in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger vans. Through our purchases, we provide indirect financing to dealer customers for borrowers with limited credit histories or past credit problems (“sub-prime customers”). We serve as an alternative source of financing for dealers, allowing sales to customers who otherwise might not be able to obtain financing. In addition to purchasing installment purchase contracts directly from dealers, we have also (i) acquired installment purchase contracts in four merger and acquisition transactions, (ii) purchased immaterial amounts of vehicle purchase money loans from non-affiliated lenders, and (iii) lent money directly to consumers for an immaterial amount of loans secured by vehicles. In this report, we refer to all of such contracts and loans as "automobile contracts."

Basis of Presentation

Our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, with the instructions to Form 10-Q and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and include all adjustments that are, in management’s opinion, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature. Results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for the full year.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from these Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reported periods. Specifically, a number of estimates were made in connection with determining an appropriate allowance for finance credit losses, determining appropriate reserves for contingent liabilities, valuing finance receivables measured at fair value and the related debt, valuing residual interest in securitizations, accreting net acquisition fees, amortizing deferred costs, valuing stock options and warrants issued, and recording deferred tax assets and reserves for uncertain tax positions. These are material estimates that could be susceptible to changes in the near term and, accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Other Income

The following table presents the primary components of Other Income for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2015 and 2014:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2015		2014
	(In thousands)
Direct mail revenues	$	2,137	$	1,852
Convenience fee revenue		950		810
Recoveries on previously charged-off contracts		192		35
Sales tax refunds		150		102
Other		53		(162	)
Other income for the period	$	3,482	$	2,637

Stock-based Compensation

We recognize compensation costs in the financial statements for all share-based payments based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 “Stock Compensation”.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we recorded stock-based compensation costs in the amount of $1,096,000 and $771,000, respectively. As of March 31, 2015, unrecognized stock-based compensation costs to be recognized over future periods equaled $12.8 million. This amount will be recognized as expense over a weighted-average period of 2.8 years.

The following represents stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015:

						Weighted
	Number of			Weighted		Average
	Shares			Average		Remaining
	(in thousands)			Exercise Price		Contractual Term
Options outstanding at the beginning of period		10,828		$	4.05	6.01 years
Granted		–			–	N/A
Exercised		(209	)		1.34	N/A
Forfeited		–			–	N/A
Options outstanding at the end of period		10,619		$	4.11	5.83 years
Options exercisable at the end of period		5,932		$	2.83	4.88 years

At March 31, 2015, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $32.0 million and $25.1 million, respectively. There were 209,000 options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to 574,000 for the comparable period in 2014. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $1.2 million and $4.4 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. There were 2.1 million shares available for future stock option grants under existing plans as of March 31, 2015.

Purchases of Company Stock

We did not re-purchase any shares of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2015. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, we re-purchased 64,430 shares of our common stock, at an average price of $7.97. All purchases were related to net exercises of outstanding options and warrants. In transactions during the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, the holder of options and warrants to purchase 365,000 shares of our common stock paid the aggregate $513,400 exercise price by surrender to us of 64,430 of such 365,000 shares. There were no open market purchases of our common stock.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03 (ASU 2015-03), Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in the financial statements to present such costs as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of debt issuance costs will be reported as interest expense. This standard is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. ASU 2015-03 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Reclassifications

Some items in the prior year financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on prior year net income or total shareholders’ equity.

Financial Covenants

Certain of our securitization transactions, our warehouse credit facilities and our residual interest financing contain various financial covenants requiring minimum financial ratios and results. Such covenants include maintaining minimum levels of liquidity and net worth and not exceeding maximum leverage levels. As of March 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all such covenants. In addition, certain securitization and non-securitization related debt agreements contain cross-default provisions that would allow certain creditors to declare a default if a default occurred under a different facility.

Provision for Contingent Liabilities

We are routinely involved in various legal proceedings resulting from our consumer finance activities and practices, both continuing and discontinued. Our legal counsel has advised us on such matters where, based on information available at the time of this report, there is an indication that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably determined.

We have recorded a liability as of March 31, 2015, which represents our best estimate of probable incurred losses for legal contingencies. The amount of losses that may ultimately be incurred cannot be estimated with certainty.