XML 16 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11
Note C - Finance Receivables
3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2011
Financing Receivables [Text Block]
C – Finance Receivables

The Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles at its dealerships.  These installment sale contracts typically include interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 19% per annum, are collateralized by the vehicle sold and provide for payments over periods ranging from 12 to 36 months.  The Company’s finance receivables are defined as one segment and one class of loans, which is sub-prime consumer automobile contracts.  The level of risks inherent in our financing receivable are managed as one homogeneous pool.  The components of finance receivables are as follows:

(In thousands)
 
July 31, 2011
   
April 30, 2011
 
             
Gross contract amount
  $ 331,795     $ 317,956  
Less unearned finance charges
    (37,420 )     (35,478 )
Principal balance
    294,375       282,478  
Less allowance for credit losses
    (62,724 )     (60,173 )
                 
Finance receivables, net
  $ 231,651     $ 222,305  

Changes in the finance receivables, net for the three months ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
 
             
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 222,305     $ 205,423  
Finance receivable originations
    82,903       75,914  
Finance receivable collections
    (45,815 )     (43,556 )
Provision for credit losses
    (18,534 )     (16,138 )
Losses on claims for payment protection plan
    (1,336 )     (1,007 )
Inventory acquired in repossession and payment protection plan claims
    (7,872 )     (6,144 )
                 
     Balance at end of period
  $ 231,651     $ 214,492  

Changes in the finance receivables allowance for credit losses for the three months ended July 31, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
 
             
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 60,173     $ 55,628  
Provision for credit losses
    18,534       16,138  
Charge-offs, net of recovered collateral
    (15,983 )     (13,703 )
                 
     Balance at end of period
  $ 62,724     $ 58,063  

The factors which influenced management’s judgment in determining the amount of the additions to the allowance charged to provision for credit losses were:

The level of actual charge-offs, net of recovered collateral is the most important factor in determining the charges to the provision for credit losses. This is due to the fact that once a contract becomes delinquent the account is either made current by the customer, the vehicle is repossessed or the account is written off, if the collateral cannot be recovered.  Net charge-offs for the first three months of fiscal 2012 were higher than the prior year period, partially due to higher sales volumes.  Net charge-offs as a percentage of average finance receivables increased 0.5% to 5.6% for the first three months ended July 31, 2011 compared to 5.1% for the same period in the prior year.  Higher sales volumes also had the effect of higher additions to the allowance charged to the provision for the first three months of fiscal 2012.

Collections and delinquency levels have a significant effect on additions to the allowance and are reviewed frequently in determining the additions to the allowance charged to the provision. For the first three months of fiscal 2012, collections as a percentage of average finance receivables decreased to 15.9% compared to 16.3% for the same period of fiscal 2011.

Macro-economic factors as well as proper execution of operational policies and procedures can have an effect on additions charged to the provision. Higher unemployment levels, higher gasoline prices and higher prices for staple items can potentially have a significant effect. While overall macro-economic factors were still unfavorable during the first quarter of 2012, the Company is focused on continuing operational improvements within the collections area as well as market share gains and specific stimulus funds directly benefitting most the Company’s customers were positive as related to credit results.

Credit quality information for finance receivables is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)
July 31, 2011
 
April 30, 2011
 
July 31, 2010
 
                                     
 
Principal
   
Percent of
 
Principal
   
Percent of
 
Principal
   
Percent of
 
 
Balance
   
Portfolio
 
Balance
   
Portfolio
 
Balance
   
Portfolio
 
Current
  $ 245,280       83.32 %   $ 243,266       86.12 %   $ 231,648       84.99 %
 3 - 29 days past due
    37,230       12.65 %     30,975       10.97 %     31,136       11.42 %
30 - 60 days past due
    9,265       3.15 %     6,003       2.13 %     7,423       2.72 %
61 - 90 days past due
    2,239       0.76 %     2,036       0.72 %     2,074       0.76 %
    > 90 days past due
    361       0.12 %     198       0.07 %     274       0.10 %
          Total
  $ 294,375       100.00 %   $ 282,478       100.00 %   $ 272,555       100.00 %

Accounts one and two days past due are considered current for this analysis, due to the varying payment dates and variation in the day of the week at each period end.  Delinquencies may vary from period to period based on the average age of the portfolio, seasonality within the calendar year, the day of the week and overall economic factors.  The above categories are consistent with internal operational measures used by the Company to monitor credit results.

Substantially all of the Company’s automobile contracts involve contracts made to individuals with impaired or limited credit histories, or higher debt-to-income ratios than permitted by traditional lenders.  Contracts made with buyers who are restricted in their ability to obtain financing from traditional lenders generally entail a higher risk of delinquency, default and repossession, and higher losses than contracts made with buyers with better credit.  The Company monitors contract term length, down payment percentages, and collections for credit quality indicators.

   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
             
Collections as a percent of average Finance Receivables
    15.9 %     16.3 %
Average down-payment percentage
    7.3 %     7.2 %
Average originating contract term (in months)
    26.4       26.3  
Portfolio weighted average contract term, including modifications (in months)
    27.4       27.7