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Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Announces First Quarter 2009 Results (PR Newswire)

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:00:00 Etc/GM

Asset Acceptance reported cash collections of $94.1 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 versus cash collections of $100.3 million in the same period of 2008. Total revenues were $57.0 million for the first quarter 2009, compared to total revenues of $64.4 million in the first quarter of 2008. Amortization of purchased receivables in the first quarter of 2009 was 39.7 percent of total cash collections versus 36.4 percent in the year ago period. For the 2009 first quarter, the Company reported a net impairment charge of $3.4 million, versus a net impairment charge of $0.4 million in the prior-year first quarter.

Net income for the quarter was $4.6 million, or $0.15 per fully diluted share, compared to net income of $6.8 million, or $0.22 per fully diluted share, for the first quarter of 2008. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, including purchased receivable amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), decreased 7.4 percent in the first quarter 2009 to $48.3 million when compared to the year-ago period. Please refer to the table on page 3, which reconciles net income according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") to Adjusted EBITDA.

Rion Needs, President and CEO, commented: "The collections environment continued to be difficult this quarter, but we saw some easing during March. We knew we would face strong headwinds as we entered 2009, and against this backdrop we achieved what we set out to do this quarter. We managed cash collections by continuing to balance our overall capacity and increasing the use of our network of outside collection channels. And we remained focused on achieving a high level of operational discipline as evidenced by our 50 percent cost-to-collect, matching last year's first quarter operating efficiency despite a much more difficult environment."

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company invested $22.1 million to purchase charged-off consumer debt portfolios with a face value of $747.8 million, representing a blended rate of 2.95 percent of face value. This compares to the prior-year first quarter, when the Company invested $22.0 million to purchase consumer debt portfolios with a face value of $542.8 million, representing a blended rate of 4.06 percent of face value. All purchase data is adjusted for buybacks.

Mark Redman, Senior Vice President and CFO of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. commented: "As we signaled last quarter, we carefully controlled our levels of purchasing in the first quarter and expect to do so again in the second quarter in order to free up capital to purchase at what we expect will be more advantageous pricing in the second half of 2009 and early 2010. This strategy allowed us to generate excess cash during the quarter, which we used to pay down our outstanding debt by approximately $19.5 million."

Needs concluded: "During the first quarter we prudently managed our business with an eye toward what we believe will be the inevitable rebound in industry conditions as the economy turns higher. Having said that, the pricing environment has continued to decline during the quarter and we were able to make investments at lower average pricing levels, which reflect a concurrent decline in liquidation rates. However, our more than 45 years of experience reminds us that collecting on receivables at this stage of delinquency is not a sprint, but more like a marathon. We believe that the actions we've taken will generate attractive returns over the long term."

Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited)

The Company provided the following table which reconciles GAAP net income, as reported, to Adjusted EBITDA. The Company indicated that the measure "Adjusted EBITDA" is the basis for its management bonus program and a similar computation is used in its credit agreement's financial covenants. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA, which is generally cash collections less operating expenses (other than non-cash operating expenses, such as depreciation and amortization) represents the Company's cash generation which can be used to purchase receivables, service debt, pay income taxes, return to shareholders and for other uses. Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income prepared on a GAAP basis. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA as computed by the Company may not be comparable to similar metrics used by others in the industry.

                                                     3 months ended March 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                        2009          2008
                                                        ----          ----
    Net income                                      $4,602,144    $6,777,824
    Add: interest income and expense (net), income
     taxes, depreciation                             6,344,980     8,520,369
    Add (subtract): (gain) loss on disposal of
     equipment and other assets                          1,404      (153,522)
    Add: impairment of assets                                -       445,651
    Add (subtract): other (income) expense             (71,777)      (17,983)
                                                      --------      --------
    Subtotal                                        10,876,751    15,572,339
    Change to balance of purchased receivables      37,410,073    36,689,362
    Non-cash revenue                                   (32,815)     (147,769)
                                                      --------     ---------
    Adjusted EBITDA                                $48,254,009   $52,113,932
                                                   ===========   ===========

    Cash collections                               $94,116,937  $100,264,281
    Other revenues, net                                251,519       472,937
    Operating expenses                             (47,001,669)  (50,102,324)
    Depreciation and amortization                      885,818     1,027,804
    Impairment of assets                                     -       445,651
    Loss (gain) on disposal of equipment                 1,404         5,583
                                                         -----         -----
    Adjusted EBITDA                                $48,254,009   $52,113,932
                                                   ===========   ===========

First Quarter 2009 Earnings Conference Call

Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. will host a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern today to discuss these results and current business trends. To listen to a live Web cast of the call, please go to the investor section of the Company's web site at www.AssetAcceptance.com. A replay of the Web cast will be available until April 30, 2010.

About Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.

For more than 45 years, Asset Acceptance has provided credit originators, such as credit card issuers including private label card issuers, consumer finance companies, utilities and others, an efficient alternative in recovering defaulted consumer debt. For more information, please visit www.AssetAcceptance.com.

Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements, including the Company's plans and expectations regarding its operating strategies, charged-off receivables and costs, which are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include reference to the Company's presentations and Web casts. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's views, expectations and beliefs at the time such statements were made with respect to such matters, as well as the Company's future plans, objectives, events, portfolio purchases and pricing, collections and financial results such as revenues, expenses, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, operating margins, financial position, expected results of operations and other financial items. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Risk Factors") that make the timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence of these matters difficult to predict. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "should," "could," "will," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risk Factors include, among others: ability to purchase charged-off consumer receivables at appropriate prices, ability to continue to acquire charged-off receivables in sufficient amounts to operate efficiently and profitably, employee turnover, ability to compete in the marketplace and acquiring charged-off receivables in industries that the Company has little or no experience. These Risk Factors also include, among others, the Risk Factors discussed under "Item 1A Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other SEC filings, in each case under a section titled "Risk Factors" or similar headings and those discussions regarding risk factors as well as the discussion of forward-looking statements in such sections are incorporated herein by reference. Other Risk Factors exist, and new Risk Factors emerge from time to time that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Furthermore, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements.


         Supplemental Financial Data
         ---------------------------
    (Unaudited, Dollars in Millions, except collections per account
     representative)          Q1 '09    Q4 '08    Q3 '08    Q2 '08    Q1 '08

    Total revenues            $57.0     $55.0     $58.4     $56.5     $64.4
    Cash collections          $94.1     $83.3     $90.8     $95.2    $100.3
    Operating expenses
     to cash collections       50.0%     55.2%     55.2%     52.2%     50.0%
    Traditional call
     center collections
     (Note 1)                 $41.0     $35.1     $38.4     $42.2     $47.5
    Legal collections         $38.7     $34.9     $38.1     $39.9     $38.2
    Other collections
     (Note 1)                 $14.4     $13.3     $14.3     $13.1     $14.6
    Amortization rate          39.7%     34.2%     36.0%     41.0%     36.4%
    Collections on fully
     amortized portfolios     $18.3     $17.7     $18.4     $20.3     $22.2
    Core amortization rate
     (Note 2)                  49.3%     43.4%     45.1%     52.1%     46.8%
    Investment in purchased
     receivables (Note 3)     $22.1     $32.1     $35.7     $64.9     $22.0
    Face value of purchased
     receivables (Note 3)    $747.8    $634.3    $720.6  $1,920.0    $542.8
    Average cost of
     purchased receivables
     (Note 3)                  2.95%     5.06%     4.96%     3.38%     4.06%
    Number of purchased
     receivable portfolios       31        23        42        52        47
    Collections per account
     representative FTE     $42,940   $34,994   $39,866   $45,538   $53,908
    Average account
     representative FTE's       955     1,003       966       939       901


    Note 1:  Amounts reclassified for purposes of comparability to current
             periods.
    Note 2:  Core amortization rate is amortization divided by collections
             on non-fully amortized portfolios.
    Note 3:  All purchase data is adjusted for buybacks.

    The Company provided the following details regarding purchased
    receivable revenues:

                              Three months ended March 31, 2009
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                                      Amort-            Net
    Year of                           ization Monthly  Impair-  Zero Basis
    Purchase   Collections   Revenue  Rate(1) Yield(2)  ments  Collections
    --------   -----------   -------  ------- --------  -----  -----------
    2003 and
     prior     $17,233,931 $16,193,556  N/M%   N/M%   $(76,300) $14,133,389
    2004         6,876,528   3,323,676  51.7   5.46  2,017,600    1,032,336
    2005         7,438,156   3,777,544  49.2   4.38    257,000       42,505
    2006        16,272,598  11,240,280  30.9   5.73    796,000    1,997,549
    2007        21,118,819  11,223,873  46.9   3.74          -      958,309
    2008        24,144,876  10,422,230  56.8   2.68    455,000       89,472
    2009         1,032,029     558,520  45.9   3.43          -            -
                 ---------     -------                     ---          ---
    Totals     $94,116,937 $56,739,679  39.7   5.31 $3,449,300  $18,253,560
               =========== ===========              ==========  ===========


                              Three months ended March 31, 2008
               -----------------------------------------------------------
                                      Amort-             Net
    Year of                           ization Monthly  Impair-  Zero Basis
    Purchase   Collections   Revenue  Rate(1) Yield(2)  ments  Collections
    --------   -----------   -------  ------- --------  -----  -----------
    2002 and
     prior     $14,575,197 $14,187,683  N/M%   N/M%  $(550,000) $13,079,109
    2003        11,897,021  10,145,297  14.7  31.89   (481,050)   6,196,687
    2004         9,594,231   6,579,328  31.4   7.11  1,050,347      975,199
    2005        10,611,978   5,759,834  45.7   3.91     92,986       36,408
    2006        24,887,906  15,533,913  37.6   5.56     92,000    1,958,947
    2007        27,347,947  11,201,973  59.0   2.50    180,000            -
    2008         1,350,001     314,660  76.7   1.38          -            -
                 ---------     -------                     ---          ---
    Totals    $100,264,281 $63,722,688  36.4   6.20   $384,283  $22,246,350
               ============ ===========               ========  ===========

    (1)  "N/M" indicates that the calculated percentage for aggregated
         vintage years is not meaningful.

    (2) The monthly yield is a weighted-average yield determined by dividing
        purchased receivable revenues recognized in the period by the
        average of the beginning monthly carrying values of the purchased
        receivables for the period presented.


                            Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
                          Consolidated Statements of Income
                                      (Unaudited)

                                                Three months ended March 31,
                                                ----------------------------
                                                  2009               2008
                                                  ----               ----
     Revenues
     Purchased receivable revenues, net       $56,739,679        $63,722,688
     Gain on sale of purchased receivables              -            159,105
     Other revenues, net                          251,519            472,937
                                                  -------            -------
        Total revenues                         56,991,198         64,354,730
                                               ----------         ----------
     Expenses
     Salaries and benefits                     19,846,517         22,071,973
     Collections expense                       22,126,683         21,955,673
     Occupancy                                  1,810,861          1,927,488
     Administrative                             2,330,386          2,668,152
     Depreciation and amortization                885,818          1,027,804
     Impairment of assets                               -            445,651
     Loss on disposal of equipment and other
      assets                                        1,404              5,583
                                                    -----              -----
        Total operating expenses               47,001,669         50,102,324
                                               ----------         ----------
     Income from operations                     9,989,529         14,252,406
     Other income (expense)
     Interest income                                  961             23,251
     Interest expense                          (2,642,126)        (3,344,597)
     Other                                         71,777             17,983
                                                   ------             ------
     Income before income taxes                 7,420,141         10,949,043
     Income taxes                               2,817,997          4,171,219
                                                ---------          ---------
     Net income                                $4,602,144         $6,777,824
                                               ==========         ==========

     Weighted average number of shares:
        Basic                                  30,610,988         30,553,019
        Diluted                                30,624,101         30,565,690
     Earnings per common share outstanding:
        Basic                                       $0.15              $0.22
        Diluted                                     $0.15              $0.22

                              Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
                      Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
                                       (Unaudited)


                                                  March 31,     December 31,
                                                    2009           2008
                                                    -----          -----
                     ASSETS

     Cash                                         $8,262,457     $6,042,859
     Purchased receivables, net                  346,048,993    361,808,502
     Income taxes receivable                       1,991,561      3,934,029
     Property and equipment, net                  12,217,904     12,526,817
     Goodwill                                     14,323,071     14,323,071
     Intangible assets                             2,400,975      2,453,117
     Other assets                                  6,529,066      7,082,721
                                                   ---------      ---------
     Total assets                               $391,774,027   $408,171,116
                                                ============   ============

          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

     Liabilities:
     Accounts payable                             $2,371,682     $3,388,320
     Accrued liabilities                          19,339,111     21,476,207
     Income taxes payable                          1,142,554        658,329
     Notes payable                               162,047,514    181,550,000
     Deferred tax liability, net                  64,936,256     64,470,002
                                                  ----------     ----------
     Total liabilities                           249,837,117    271,542,858
                                                 -----------    -----------

     Stockholders' equity:
       Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,
        10,000,000 shares authorized; no
        shares issued and outstanding                      -              -
       Common stock, $0.01 par value,
        100,000,000 shares authorized;
        issued shares - 33,169,552 at March
        31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 2005          331,696        331,696
     Additional paid in capital                  147,152,609    146,915,791
     Retained earnings                            39,790,458     35,188,314
     Accumulated other comprehensive loss,
      net of tax                                  (4,195,172)    (4,664,862)
     Common stock in treasury;  at cost,
       2,596,521 shares at March 31, 2009
      and December 31, 2008                      (41,142,681)   (41,142,681)
                                                ------------   ------------
     Total stockholders' equity                  141,936,910    136,628,258
                                                 -----------    -----------
     Total liabilities and stockholders'
      equity                                    $391,774,027   $408,171,116
                                               =============  =============

                          Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.
                       Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                    (Unaudited)

                                                Three months ended March 31,
                                                ----------------------------
                                                      2009          2008
                                                      ----          ----
     Cash flows from operating activities
     Net income                                   $4,602,144    $6,777,824
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to
      net cash provided by operating
      activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                 885,818     1,027,804
       Deferred income taxes                         470,561     1,510,293
       Share-based compensation and other
        non-cash compensation expense                236,818       246,433
       Net impairment of purchased receivables     3,449,300       384,283
       Non-cash revenue                              (32,815)     (147,769)
       Loss on disposal of equipment and other
        assets                                         1,404         5,583
      Gain on sale of purchased receivables                -      (159,105)
        Impairment of intangible assets                    -       445,651
       Changes in assets and liabilities:
        (Decrease) increase in accounts payable
         and other accrued liabilities            (2,688,351)    3,429,300
     Decrease in other assets                        553,655       536,083
        Increase in net income taxes               2,426,693     2,601,488
                                                   ---------     ---------
         Net cash provided by operating
          activities                               9,905,227    16,657,868
                                                   ---------    ----------

     Cash flows from investing activities
     Investment in purchased receivables,
      net of buy backs                           (21,617,749)  (20,472,028)
     Principal collected on purchased
      receivables                                 33,960,773    36,305,079
     Proceeds from the sale of purchased
      receivables                                          -       161,331
     Purchase of property and equipment             (526,377)   (2,419,214)
     Proceeds from sale of property and
      equipment                                          210             -
                                                         ---             -
       Net cash provided by investing
        activities                                11,816,857    13,575,168
                                                  ----------    ----------

     Cash flows from financing activities
     Borrowings under notes payable               15,500,000             -
     Repayment of notes payable                  (35,002,486)  (27,375,000)
     Payment of deferred financing costs                   -      (569,544)
     Repayment of capital lease obligations                -        (9,056)
                                                         ---       -------
       Net cash used in financing activities     (19,502,486)  (27,953,600)
                                                ------------  ------------
       Net increase in cash                        2,219,598     2,279,436
     Cash at beginning of period                   6,042,859    10,474,479
                                                   ---------    ----------
     Cash at end of period                        $8,262,457   $12,753,915
                                                  ==========   ===========

     Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
      information
     Cash paid for interest                       $2,772,175    $3,434,253
     Cash paid for income taxes                       27,490        73,390
     Non-cash investing and financing
      activities:
       (Increase) decrease in fair value of
        swap liability                              (465,383)    3,374,207
       Decrease (increase) in unrealized loss
        on interest rate swap                        469,690    (2,174,008)

source: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/090430/de08356.html?.v=1

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