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Note C - Finance Receivables, Net
3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements  
Financing Receivables [Text Block]
C – Finance Receivables, Net
 
The Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles at its dealerships. These installment sale contracts, which carry an interest rate of
15%
or
16.5%
per annum (based on the Company’s contract interest rate as of the contract origination date), are collateralized by the vehicle sold and typically provide for payments over periods ranging from
18
to
42
months. The weighted average interest rate for the portfolio was approximately
16.0%
at
July 31, 2017.
The Company’s finance receivables are defined as
one
segment and
one
class of loans in sub-prime consumer automobile contracts. The level of risks inherent in the Company’s financing receivables is managed as
one
homogeneous pool.
 
The components of finance receivables are as follows:
 
(In thousands)   July 31, 2017   April 30, 2017
         
Gross contract amount   $
565,630
    $
545,916
 
Less unearned finance charges    
(81,911
)    
(79,062
)
Principal balance    
483,719
     
466,854
 
Less allowance for credit losses    
(113,733
)    
(109,693
)
                 
Finance receivables, net   $
369,986
    $
357,161
 
 
 
Changes in the finance receivables, net are as follows:
 
    Three Months Ended
July 31,
(In thousands)   2017   2016
         
Balance at beginning of period   $
357,161
    $
334,793
 
Finance receivable originations    
118,953
     
120,848
 
Finance receivable collections    
(58,934
)    
(58,036
)
Provision for credit losses    
(34,160
)    
(33,381
)
Losses on claims for payment protection plan    
(3,938
)    
(3,107
)
Inventory acquired in repossession and payment protection plan claims    
(9,096
)    
(8,569
)
                 
Balance at end of period   $
369,986
    $
352,548
 
 
 
Changes in the finance receivables allowance for credit losses are as follows:
 
    Three Months Ended
July 31,
(In thousands)   2017   2016
     
Balance at beginning of period   $
109,693
    $
102,485
 
Provision for credit losses    
34,160
     
33,381
 
Charge-offs, net of recovered collateral    
(30,120
)    
(27,844
)
                 
Balance at end of period   $
113,733
    $
108,022
 
 
The factors which influenced management’s judgment in determining the amount of the current period provision for credit losses are described below.
 
The level of charge-offs, net of recovered collateral, is the most important factor in determining 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 as a percentage of average finance receivables increased to
6.4%
for the
three
months ended
July 31, 2017
compared to
6.2%
for the same period in the prior year. This increase in net charge-offs is primarily due to an increase in the severity of the losses, with the frequency of losses remaining flat compared to the same period in the prior year.
 
Collections and delinquency levels can have a significant effect on additions to the allowance and are reviewed frequently. Collections as a percentage of average finance receivables were
12.4%
for the
three
months ended
July 31, 2017
compared to
13.0%
for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in collections as a percentage of average finance receivables resulted primarily from the longer average term, higher levels of contract modifications, a lower level of early pay-offs and the increase in the contract interest rate, partially offset by a slightly higher age of receivables. Delinquencies greater than
30
days were
4.6%
for
July 31, 2017
and
4.4%
at
July 31, 2016.
 
Macro-economic factors, the competitive environment on the funding side, and more importantly, proper execution of operational policies and procedures have a significant effect on additions to the allowance charged to the provision. Higher unemployment levels, higher gasoline prices and higher prices for staple items can potentially have a significant effect. The Company continues to focus on operational improvements within the collections area.
 
Credit quality information for finance receivables is as follows:
 
(Dollars in thousands)   July 31, 2017   April 30, 2017   July 31, 2016
                         
    Principal
Balance
  Percent of 
Portfolio
  Principal
Balance
  Percent of 
Portfolio
  Principal
Balance
  Percent of 
Portfolio
Current   $
390,879
     
80.81
%   $
397,341
     
85.12
%   $
381,685
     
82.88
%
 3 - 29 days past due    
70,406
     
14.55
%    
52,869
     
11.32
%    
58,740
     
12.75
%
30 - 60 days past due    
17,328
     
3.58
%    
11,658
     
2.50
%    
14,749
     
3.20
%
61 - 90 days past due    
3,078
     
0.64
%    
3,516
     
0.75
%    
3,728
     
0.81
%
> 90 days past due    
2,028
     
0.42
%    
1,470
     
0.31
%    
1,668
     
0.36
%
Total   $
483,719
     
100.00
%   $
466,854
     
100.00
%   $
460,570
     
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. The
first
quarter of fiscal
2018
ended on a Monday compared to a Sunday period end for
first
quarter of fiscal
2017,
which is believed to contribute to the decrease in current receivables at quarter end compared to the prior year
first
quarter.
 
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; such contracts generally entail a higher risk of delinquency, default, repossession, and losses than contracts made with buyers with better credit. The Company monitors contract term length, down payment percentages, and collections as credit quality indicators.
 
    Three Months Ended
July 31,
    2017   2016
         
Principal collected as a percent of average finance receivables    
12.4
%    
13.0
%
Average down-payment percentage    
6.2
%    
6.0
%
Average originating contract term
(in months
)
   
29.8
     
29.3
 
 
    July 31, 2017   July 31, 2016
Portfolio weighted average contract term, including modifications
(in months
)
   
32.6
     
31.7
 
 
The decrease in collections as a percentage of average finance receivables resulted primarily from the longer average term, higher levels of contract modifications, a lower level of early pay-offs, and the increase in the contract interest rate, partially offset by a slightly higher average age of receivables. The increases in contract term are primarily related to efforts to keep payments affordable, for competitive reasons and to continue to work with our customers when they experience financial difficulties. In order to remain competitive, term lengths
may
continue to increase.