1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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) lent money directly to consumers for loans secured by vehicles, (ii) purchased immaterial amounts of vehicle purchase money loans from non-affiliated lenders, and (iii) acquired installment purchase contracts in four merger and acquisition transactions. 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, 2019 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, 2018.

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.

Finance Receivables Measured at Fair Value

Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the fair value method of accounting for finance receivables acquired on or after that date. For each finance receivable acquired after 2017, we consider the price paid on the purchase date as the fair value for such receivable.  We estimate the cash to be received in the future with respect to such receivables, based on our experience with similar receivables acquired in the past.  We then compute the internal rate of return that results in the present value of those estimated cash receipts being equal to the purchase date fair value. Thereafter, we recognize interest income on such receivables on a level yield basis using that internal rate of return as the applicable interest rate. Cash received with respect to such receivables is applied first against such interest income, and then to reduce the carrying value of the receivables.

We re-evaluate the fair value of such receivables at the close of each measurement period. If the reevaluation were to yield a value materially different from the carrying value, an adjustment would be required. 

Anticipated credit losses are included in our estimation of cash to be received with respect to receivables.  Because such credit losses are included in our computation of the appropriate level yield, we do not thereafter make periodic provision for credit losses, as our best estimate of the lifetime aggregate of credit losses is included in that initial computation. Also because we include anticipated credit losses in our computation of the level yield, the computed level yield is materially lower than the average contractual rate applicable to the receivables. Because our initial carrying value is fixed as the price we pay for the receivable, rather than as the contractual principal balance, we do not record acquisition fees as an amortizing asset related to the receivables, nor do we capitalize costs of acquiring the receivables. Rather we recognize the costs of acquisition as expenses in the period incurred.

Other Income

The following table presents the primary components of Other Income for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
		2019		2018
		(In thousands)
Direct mail revenues	$	1,336	$	1,797
Convenience fee revenue		700		450
Recoveries on previously charged-off contracts		57		118
Sales tax refunds		227		234
Other		65		58
Other income for the period	$	2,385	$	2,657

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The majority of the Company’s revenues come from interest income which is outside the scope of ASC 606. The Company’s services that fall within the scope of ASC 606 are presented within Other Income and are recognized as revenue as the Company satisfies its obligation to the customer. Services within the scope of ASC 606 include revenue associated with direct mail and other related products and services that we offer to our dealers.

Leases

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted guidance Accounting Standards Update (“ASU 2016-02”) Topic 842, “Leases” using the modified retrospective transition method. Prior comparable periods are presented accordance with previous guidance under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 840, “Leases.” The Company also elected the package of practical expedients, which allows the Company to not reassess if expired or existing contracts contain leases, to not reassess lease classifications for any expired or existing leases and to not reassess existing leases initial direct costs.

We determine if a contract contains a lease at contract inception. Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of lease payments, we use the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Right-of-use assets are included in other assets and lease liabilities are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2019.

The Company has operating leases for corporate offices, equipment, software and hardware. The Company has entered into operating leases for the majority of its real estate locations, primarily office space. These leases are generally for periods of three to seven years with various renewal options. The depreciable life of leased assets is limited by the expected lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and the related lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The following table presents the supplemental balance sheet information related to leases:

	Three Months Ended,
	March 31, 2019
	(In thousands)
Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets	$	23,555
Less: Accumulated amortization right-of-use assets		(1,686	)
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	$	21,869
Operating lease liabilities	$	23,327

Finance Leases
Property and equipment, at cost	$	–
Less: Accumulated depreciation		–
Property and equipment, net	$	–
Finance lease liabilities	$	–

Weighted Average Discount Rate
Operating lease	5.0%

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:
(In thousands)
Year Ending December 31,
2019 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2019)	5,699
2020	7,500
2021	7,391
2022	6,125
2023	1,389
Thereafter	689
Total undiscounted lease payments	28,793
Less amounts representing interest	(5,466	)
Lease Liability	23,327

The following table presents the leases expense included in Occupancy, General and administrative on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2019		2018
	(In thousands)
Operating lease cost	$	1,889	$	1,710
Finance lease cost		–		–
Total lease cost	$	1,889	$	1,710

The following table presents the supplemental cash flow information related to leases:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2019
	(In thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	1,886
Operating cash flows from finance leases		–
Financing cash flows from finance leases		–

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, 2019 and 2018, we recorded stock-based compensation costs in the amount of $638,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2019, unrecognized stock-based compensation costs to be recognized over future periods equaled $3.0 million. This amount will be recognized as expense over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years.

The following represents stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2019:

						Weighted
	Number of			Weighted		Average
	Shares			Average		Remaining
	(in thousands)			Exercise Price		Contractual Term
Options outstanding at the beginning of period		14,421		$	4.57	N/A
Granted		–			–	N/A
Exercised		(78	)		1.23	N/A
Forfeited		–			–	N/A
Options outstanding at the end of period		14,343		$	4.58	3.67 years
Options exercisable at the end of period		10,594		$	4.78	3.19 years

At March 31, 2019, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $6.2 million and $6.2 million, respectively. There were 78,000 options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to 307,850 for the comparable period in 2018. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $227,000 and $849,000 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. There were 2,873,000 shares available for future stock option grants under existing plans as of March 31, 2019.

Purchases of Company Stock

The table below describes the purchase of our common stock for the three-month ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2019				March 31, 2018
	Shares		Avg. Price		Shares		Avg. Price
Open market purchases		335,546	$	3.95		231,181	$	3.86
Shares redeemed upon net exercise of stock options		5,500		4.20		33,599		4.37
Other purchases		24,500		4.20		90,000		4.13
Total stock purchases		365,546	$	3.97		354,780	$	3.97

Reclassifications

Some items in the prior year financial statements were reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on net income or 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, 2019, we were in compliance with all such covenants. In addition, certain of our debt agreements other than our term securitizations contain cross-default provisions. Such cross-default provisions would allow the respective creditors to declare a default if an event of default occurred with respect to other indebtedness of ours, but only if such other event of default were to be accompanied by acceleration of such other indebtedness.

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 record at each measurement date, most recently as of March 31, 2019, our best estimate of probable incurred losses for legal contingencies. The amount of losses that may ultimately be incurred cannot be estimated with certainty.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which modifies lease accounting for lessees to increase transparency and comparability by recording lease assets and liabilities for operating leases and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. We have adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method. The lease liability and right-of-use asset, net balance as of March 31, 2019, respectively, was $23.3 million and $21.9 million. This entry to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets had no material impact to its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.