Item 1. Business.
GENERAL
American General Finance, Inc. will be referred to as “AGFI” or collectively with its subsidiaries, whether directly or indirectly owned, as the “Company” or “we”. AGFI was incorporated in Indiana in 1974 to become the parent holding company of American General Finance Corporation (AGFC). AGFC was incorporated in Indiana in 1927 as successor to a business started in 1920. Since August 29, 2001, AGFI has been an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG), a Delaware corporation. AIG is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in a broad range of insurance and insurance-related activities, financial services and asset management in the United States and abroad.
AGFI is a financial services holding company whose principal subsidiary is AGFC. AGFC is also an SEC registrant. AGFC is a financial services holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the consumer finance and credit insurance businesses. We conduct the credit insurance business to supplement our consumer finance business through Merit Life Insurance Co. (Merit) and Yosemite Insurance Company (Yosemite), which are both wholly owned subsidiaries of AGFC.
At December 31, 2006, the Company had 1,542 branch offices in 45 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and approximately 9,700 employees. Our executive offices are located in Evansville, Indiana.
Item 1. Continued
SEGMENTS
We have three business segments: branch, centralized real estate, and insurance. We define our segments by types of financial service products we offer, nature of our production processes, and methods we use to distribute our products and to provide our services, as well as our management reporting structure.
Revenues, pretax income, and assets for our three business segments and consolidated totals were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Branch:
Revenues
$ 1,920,702
$ 1,842,985
$ 1,785,721
Pretax income
478,190
438,850
494,773
Assets
12,968,819
11,816,829
11,305,399
Centralized real estate:
Revenues
$ 977,822
$ 960,076
$ 566,400
Pretax income
141,685
257,747
151,016
Assets
12,057,141
11,646,229
8,410,635
Insurance:
Revenues
$ 189,712
$ 190,021
$ 199,160
Pretax income
101,185
95,305
91,323
Assets
1,510,489
1,441,864
1,472,399
Consolidated:
Revenues
$ 2,932,967
$ 2,944,131
$ 2,459,162
Pretax income
638,621
820,317
693,671
Assets
27,771,412
25,801,527
22,235,772
See Note 23 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for reconciliations of segment totals to consolidated financial statement amounts.
Certain terms we use in the branch and centralized real estate business segments sections are defined below (other terms are defined in the Glossary in Item 6):
Average operating
net receivables
average of operating net finance receivables at the beginning and end of each month in the period
Operating charge-off
ratio
net charge-offs as a percentage of the average of operating net finance receivables at the beginning of each month in the period
Operating net
finance receivables
net finance receivables less deferred origination costs
Operating yield
finance charges less the amortization of deferred origination costs as a percentage of average operating net receivables
Item 1. Continued
Branch Business Segment
The branch business segment is the core of the Company’s operations. Through its 1,542 branch offices and its centralized support operations, the 7,000 employees of the branch business segment serviced 1.9 million real estate loans, non-real estate loans, and retail sales finance accounts totaling $13.3 billion at December 31, 2006.
Our branch customers encompass a wide range of borrowers. In the consumer finance industry, they are described as prime or near-prime at one extreme and non-prime or sub-prime at the other. Their incomes are generally near the national median but also vary, as do the customers’ debt-to-income ratios, employment and residency stability, and credit repayment histories. In general, branch customers require significant levels of servicing and, as a result, we charge them interest rates higher than our centralized real estate customers to compensate us for such services and related credit risks.
Structure and Responsibilities. Branch personnel originate real estate loans and non-real estate loans, purchase retail sales finance contracts from retail merchants, offer credit and non-credit insurance and ancillary products to the loan customers, and service these receivables. Branch managers establish retail merchant relationships, identify portfolio acquisition opportunities, maintain finance receivable credit quality, and are responsible for branch profitability. Branch managers also hire and train the branch staff and supervise their work. The Company coordinates branch staff training through centrally developed training programs to maintain quality customer service.
To ensure profitability and growth, we continuously review the performance of our individual branches and the markets they serve. During 2006, we opened 55 branch offices and closed 5 branch offices.
Products and Services. Real estate loans are secured by first or second mortgages on residential real estate, generally have maximum original terms of 360 months, and are usually considered non-conforming. These loans may be closed-end accounts or open-end home equity lines of credit and may be fixed-rate or adjustable-rate products. The home equity lines of credit generally have a predetermined period during which the borrower may take advances. After this draw period, all advances outstanding under the line of credit convert to a fixed-term repayment period, usually over an agreed upon period between 15 and 30 years. Some of our adjustable-rate real estate loans contain a fixed-rate for the first 24 or 36 months and then convert to an adjustable-rate for the remainder of the term. Our closed-end real estate loans do not contain any borrower payment options that allow the loan principal balance to increase through negative loan amortization.
Non-real estate loans are secured by consumer goods, automobiles, or other personal property or are unsecured and generally have maximum original terms of 60 months. We also offer unsecured lines of credit to customers that meet the criteria in our credit risk policies.
We purchase retail sales contracts and provide revolving retail sales financing services arising from the retail sale of consumer goods and services by retail merchants. We also purchase private label receivables originated by AIG Federal Savings Bank (AIG Bank), a non-subsidiary affiliate, under a participation agreement. Retail sales contracts are closed-end accounts that represent a single purchase transaction. Revolving retail and private label are open-end accounts that can be used for financing repeated purchases from the same merchant. Retail sales contracts are secured by the real property or personal property designated in the contract and generally have maximum original terms of 60 months. Revolving retail and private label are secured by the goods purchased and generally require minimum monthly payments based
Item 1. Continued
on outstanding balances. We refer to retail sales contracts, revolving retail, and private label collectively as “retail sales finance”.
We offer credit life, credit accident and health, credit related property and casualty, credit involuntary unemployment, and non-credit insurance and ancillary products to all eligible branch customers. Affiliated as well as non-affiliated insurance and/or financial services companies issue these products which we describe under “Insurance Business Segment”.
Customer Development. We solicit customers through a variety of channels including mail, E-commerce, telephone calls, and retail sales financing.
We solicit new prospects, as well as current and former customers, through a variety of mail offers. Our data warehouse is a central, proprietary source of information regarding current and former customers. We use this information to tailor offers to specific customer segments. In addition to internal data, we purchase prospect lists from major list vendors based on predetermined selection criteria. Mail solicitations include invitations to apply, guaranteed loan offers, and live checks which, if cashed by the customer, constitute non-real estate loans.
E-commerce provides another source of new customers. Our website includes a brief, user-friendly credit application that, upon completion, is automatically routed to the branch office nearest the consumer. We have established E-commerce relationships with a variety of search engines to bring prospects to our website. Our website also has a branch office locator feature so potential customers can readily find the branch office nearest to them and can contact branch personnel directly.
New customer relationships also begin through our alliances with approximately 28,000 retail merchants across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. After a customer utilizes the merchant’s retail sales financing option, we may purchase that retail sales finance obligation. We then contact the customer using various marketing methods to invite the customer to discuss his or her overall credit needs with our consumer lending specialists. Any resulting loan may pay off the customer’s retail sales finance obligation and consolidate his or her debts with other creditors, if permitted.
Our consumer lending specialists, who, where required, are licensed to offer insurance and ancillary products, explain our credit and non-credit insurance and ancillary products to the customer. The customer then determines whether to purchase any of these products.
Our growth strategy is to supplement our solicitation of customers through mail, E-commerce, and retail sales financing activities with portfolio acquisitions. These acquisitions include real estate loans, non-real estate loans, and retail sales finance receivables originated by other lenders whose customers meet our credit quality standards and profitability objectives. Our branch and field operations management also seek sources of potential portfolio acquisitions.
Account Servicing. Establishing and maintaining customer relationships is very important to us. Branch personnel contact our real estate loan, non-real estate loan, and retail sales finance customers through solicitation or collection phone calls to assess customers’ current financial situations to determine if they desire additional funds. Centralized support operations personnel contact our retail sales finance customers through solicitation or collection calls. Solicitation and collection efforts are opportunities to help our customers solve their temporary financial problems and to maintain our customer relationships.
Item 1. Continued
We do not modify the terms of existing accounts to eliminate delinquency, except in certain bankruptcy or catastrophic situations. However, we may renew a delinquent account if the customer has sufficient income and it does not appear that the cause of past delinquency will affect the customer’s ability to repay the new loan. We subject all renewals, whether the customer’s account is current or delinquent, to the same credit risk underwriting process as we would a new application for credit.
We may allow a deferment, which is a partial payment that extends the term of an account. The partial payment amount is usually the greater of one-half of a regular monthly payment or the amount necessary to bring the interest on the account current. We limit a customer to two deferments in a rolling twelve-month period unless we determine that an exception is warranted and consistent with our credit risk policies.
To accommodate a customer’s preferred monthly payment pattern, we may agree to a customer’s request to change a payment due date on an account. We will not change an account’s due date if the change will affect the thirty day plus delinquency status of the account at month end.
When two payments are past due on a real estate loan and it appears that foreclosure may be necessary, we inspect the property as part of assessing the costs, risks, and benefits associated with foreclosure. Generally, we begin foreclosure proceedings when the fourth monthly payment is past due. When foreclosure is completed and we have obtained title to the property, we obtain an unrelated party’s valuation of the property, which is either a full appraisal or a real estate broker’s or appraiser’s estimate of the property sale value without the benefit of a full interior and exterior appraisal and lacking sales comparisons. We reduce finance receivables by the amount of the real estate loan, establish a foreclosed real estate owned asset at lower of loan balance or 85% of the valuation, and charge off any loan amount in excess of that value to the allowance for finance receivable losses.
Branch and centralized support operations personnel charge-off non-real estate loans and retail sales finance obligations according to our policy. See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for our charge-off policy. If recovery efforts are feasible, we transfer charged-off accounts to our centralized charge-off recovery operation for ultimate disposition.
Item 1. Continued
Selected Financial Information. Amount, number, and average size of total operating net finance receivables originated, renewed, and net purchased by type for the branch business segment were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Originated, renewed, and net purchased
Amount (in thousands):
Real estate loans
$3,734,161
$3,948,018
$3,293,939
Non-real estate loans
3,642,399
3,372,473
3,114,732
Retail sales finance
2,217,845
1,820,690
1,660,553
Total
$9,594,405
$9,141,181
$8,069,224
Number:
Real estate loans
62,103
70,008
70,832
Non-real estate loans
845,397
820,514
814,338
Retail sales finance
855,328
757,335
748,075
Total
1,762,828
1,647,857
1,633,245
Average size (to nearest dollar):
Real estate loans
$60,129
$56,394
$46,504
Non-real estate loans
4,309
4,110
3,825
Retail sales finance
2,593
2,404
2,220
Amount, number, and average size of operating net finance receivables by type for the branch business segment were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Operating net finance receivables
Amount (in thousands):
Real estate loans
$ 7,949,352
$ 7,513,366
$ 7,300,950
Non-real estate loans
3,483,048
3,184,014
3,012,138
Retail sales finance
1,910,542
1,542,699
1,371,664
Total
$13,342,942
$12,240,079
$11,684,752
Number:
Real estate loans
164,138
168,621
177,962
Non-real estate loans
898,201
877,656
892,062
Retail sales finance
880,755
764,415
729,663
Total
1,943,094
1,810,692
1,799,687
Average size (to nearest dollar):
Real estate loans
$48,431
$44,558
$41,025
Non-real estate loans
3,878
3,628
3,377
Retail sales finance
2,169
2,018
1,880
Item 1. Continued
Selected financial data for the branch business segment were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
Operating yield:
Real estate loans
11.60%
11.75%
11.39%
Non-real estate loans
23.09
23.14
23.48
Retail sales finance
11.88
12.97
14.17
Total
14.60
14.86
14.79
Operating charge-off ratio:
Real estate loans
0.64%
0.69%
0.71%
Non-real estate loans
4.12
5.52
6.04
Retail sales finance
1.85
2.49
3.01
Total
1.70
2.15
2.33
Delinquency ratio:
Real estate loans
2.79%
2.88%
2.91%
Non-real estate loans
3.71
4.18
4.54
Retail sales finance
1.77
1.91
2.31
Total
2.89
3.11
3.29
See Note 23 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on the Company’s branch business segment.
Centralized Real Estate Business Segment
The centralized real estate business segment originates, purchases, and services real estate loans for customers that we obtain through distribution channels other than our branches. These real estate loans generally have higher credit quality than the real estate loans originated by our branch business segment and are thereby cost-effectively serviced centrally. Our centralized real estate customers are generally described as either prime or near-prime. Their incomes are generally above national medians but, because of debt-to-income ratios, income stability or verification, or level of disclosure, they have applied for a non-conforming mortgage. The distribution channels include mortgage brokers, correspondent relationships with mortgage lenders, and portfolio acquisitions from various types of mortgage lenders as well as direct lending to customers. Wilmington Finance, Inc. (WFI) and MorEquity, Inc. (MorEquity) are included in this segment. At December 31, 2006, the centralized real estate business segment had approximately 1,800 employees.
Item 1. Continued
Structure and Responsibilities. WFI and MorEquity originate non-conforming residential real estate loans using state licenses. Previously, these subsidiaries maintained agreements with AIG Bank whereby WFI and MorEquity provided services for AIG Bank’s origination and sale of such real estate loans. These mortgage origination subsidiaries and AIG Bank originated a combined $11.5 billion of real estate loans during 2006 and $16.4 billion of real estate loans during 2005. We ultimately retained $1.0 billion of these real estate loans during 2006 and $3.7 billion of these real estate loans during 2005 and sold the remainder in the secondary mortgage market to third party investors. For accounting purposes, we reported any real estate loans we purchased from AIG Bank that were originated using our mortgage origination subsidiaries’ services as originations rather than as portfolio acquisitions because the Company and AIG Bank share a common parent. In first quarter 2006, WFI and MorEquity terminated their services agreements with AIG Bank and began originating non-conforming residential real estate loans held for sale using their own state licenses.
Products and Services. Real estate loans are secured by first or second mortgages on residential real estate and are generally considered non-conforming. We offer a broad range of fixed and adjustable-rate loans that meet our customers’ needs. These loans generally have maximum original terms of 360 months but we also offer loans with maximum original terms of 480 months, some of which require a balloon payment at the end of 360 months. Some of our adjustable-rate real estate loans contain a fixed-rate for the first 24 or 36 months and then convert to an adjustable-rate for the remainder of the 360 months. Our closed-end real estate loans do not contain any borrower payment options that allow the loan principal balance to increase through negative loan amortization.
WFI originates non-conforming residential real estate loans, primarily through broker relationships (wholesale) and, to lesser extents, directly to consumers (retail) and through correspondent relationships, and sells these loans to investors with servicing released to the purchaser. At December 31, 2006, WFI had a national network of 19 wholesale, retail, and correspondent production and sales offices. During 2006, WFI originated real estate loans through relationships with approximately 7,000 brokers and sold them to approximately 20 investors. WFI’s investors include money center and regional banks, national finance companies, investment banks, and our affiliates.
MorEquity originates non-conforming residential real estate loans primarily through refinancing loans with existing customers, and to a lesser extent, through mail solicitations.
MorEquity serviced approximately 58,000 real estate loans totaling $10.9 billion at December 31, 2006, from a centralized location. These real estate loans were generated through:
·
portfolio acquisitions from third party lenders;
·
correspondent relationships;
·
our mortgage origination subsidiaries;
·
refinancing existing mortgages; or
·
advances on home equity lines of credit.
At December 31, 2006, MorEquity had $1.8 billion of interest only real estate loans. Our underwriting criteria for interest only loans include no investment properties and borrower qualification on a fully amortizing payment basis. At December 31, 2006, MorEquity also had $125.9 million of real estate loans that amortize over 480 months, some of which require a balloon payment at the end of 360 months.
Item 1. Continued
Selected Financial Information. Selected financial data for the centralized real estate business segment’s real estate loans were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
Operating net finance receivables originated,
renewed, and net purchased:
Amount (in thousands)
$ 1,252,316
$ 4,946,088
$6,008,949
Number
5,753
22,609
29,700
Average size (to nearest dollar)
$ 217,681
$ 218,766
$ 202,322
Operating net finance receivables:
Amount (in thousands)
$10,925,864
$11,468,237
$8,391,565
Number
57,837
62,371
51,913
Average size (to nearest dollar)
$ 188,908
$ 183,871
$ 161,645
Operating yield
6.31%
6.15%
5.79%
Operating charge-off ratio
0.08%
0.11%
0.24%
Delinquency ratio
0.99%
0.61%
0.87%
Selected financial data for the centralized real estate business segment’s real estate loans held for sale were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Real estate loans held for sale
$1,121,579
$154,088
$ 11,784
Origination of real estate loans held for sale
9,038,680
667,498
124,398
Sales and principal collections of real estate
loans held for sale
8,071,189
522,812
135,825
See Note 23 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on the Company’s centralized real estate business segment.
Insurance Business Segment
The insurance business segment markets its products to all eligible branch customers. We invest cash generated from operations in investment securities, commercial mortgage loans, investment real estate, and policy loans and also use it to pay dividends. The 90 employees of the insurance business segment have numerous underwriting, compliance, and service responsibilities for the insurance companies and also provide services to the branch and centralized real estate business segments.
Structure and Responsibilities. Merit is a life and health insurance company domiciled in Indiana and licensed in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Merit writes or reinsures credit life, credit accident and health, and non-credit insurance.
Item 1. Continued
Yosemite is a property and casualty insurance company domiciled in Indiana and licensed in 47 states. Yosemite writes or reinsures credit-related property and casualty and credit involuntary unemployment insurance.
Products and Services. Our credit life insurance policies insure the life of the borrower in an amount typically equal to the unpaid balance of the finance receivable and provide for payment in full to the lender of the finance receivable in the event of the borrower’s death. Our credit accident and health insurance policies provide, to the lender, payment of the installments on the finance receivable coming due during a period of the borrower’s disability due to illness or injury. Our credit-related property and casualty insurance policies are written to protect the lender’s interest in property pledged as collateral for the finance receivable. Our credit involuntary unemployment insurance policies provide, to the lender, payment of the installments on the finance receivable coming due during a period of the borrower’s involuntary unemployment. The borrower’s purchase of credit life, credit accident and health, credit-related property and casualty, or credit involuntary unemployment insurance is voluntary with the exception of lender-placed property damage coverage for property pledged as collateral. In these instances, our branch or centralized real estate business segment personnel obtain property damage coverage through Yosemite either on a direct or reinsured basis under the terms of the lending agreement if the borrower does not provide evidence of coverage with another insurance carrier. Non-credit insurance policies are primarily traditional life level term policies. The purchase of this coverage is also voluntary.
The ancillary products we offer are home security and auto security membership plans and home warranty service contracts. These products are generally not considered to be insurance policies. Our insurance business segment has no risk of loss on these products. The unaffiliated companies providing these membership plans and service contracts are responsible for any required reimbursement to the customer on these products.
Customers usually either pay premiums for insurance products monthly with their finance receivable payment or finance the premiums and contract fees for ancillary products as part of the finance receivable, but they may pay the premiums and contract fees in cash to the insurer or financial services company. We do not offer single premium credit insurance products to our real estate loan customers.
Reinsurance. Merit and Yosemite enter into reinsurance agreements with other insurers, including affiliated companies, for reinsurance of various non-credit life, group annuity, credit life, credit accident and health, credit-related property and casualty, and credit involuntary unemployment insurance where our insurance subsidiaries reinsure the risk of loss. The reserves for this business fluctuate over time and in some instances are subject to recapture by the insurer. At December 31, 2006, reserves on the books of Merit and Yosemite for these reinsurance agreements totaled $81.4 million.
Item 1. Continued
Investments. We invest cash generated by our insurance business segment primarily in bonds. We invest in, but are not limited to, the following:
·
bonds;
·
commercial mortgage loans;
·
short-term investments;
·
limited partnerships;
·
preferred stock;
·
investment real estate;
·
policy loans; and
·
common stock.
AIG subsidiaries manage substantially all of our insurance business segment’s investments on our behalf.
Selected Financial Information. Selected financial data for the insurance business segment were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Life insurance in force:
Credit
$2,597,831
$2,694,741
$2,979,391
Non-credit
2,222,341
2,426,867
2,708,889
Total
$4,820,172
$5,121,608
$5,688,280
Investments:
Investment securities
$1,376,892
$1,334,081
$1,378,362
Commercial mortgage loans
87,021
61,684
39,661
Investment real estate
6,904
6,735
7,089
Policy loans
1,921
1,874
2,041
Total
$1,472,738
$1,404,374
$1,427,153
Premiums earned
$ 154,610
$ 160,082
$ 175,784
Premiums written
$ 153,808
$ 144,696
$ 164,619
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses
$ 59,871
$ 66,347
$ 76,681
See Note 23 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on the Company’s insurance business segment.
Item 1. Continued
CREDIT RISK MANAGEMENT
A risk in all consumer lending and retail sales financing transactions is the customer’s unwillingness or inability to repay obligations. Unwillingness to repay is usually evidenced in a consumer’s historical credit repayment record. An inability to repay usually results from lower income due to unemployment or underemployment, major medical expenses, or divorce. Occasionally, these events can be so economically severe that the customer files for bankruptcy. Because we evaluate credit applications with a view toward ability to repay, our customer’s inability to repay occurs after our initial credit evaluation and funding of an outstanding finance receivable.
In our branch business segment, we use credit risk scoring models at the time of credit application to assess our risk of the applicant’s unwillingness or inability to repay. We develop these models using numerous factors, including past customer credit repayment experience, and periodically revalidate them based on recent portfolio performance. We use different credit risk scoring models for different types of real estate loan, non-real estate loan, and retail sales finance products. We extend credit to those customers who fit our risk guidelines as determined by these models or, in some cases, manual underwriting. Price and size of the loan or retail sales finance transaction are in relation to the estimated credit risk we assume.
In our centralized real estate business segment, WFI and MorEquity originate real estate loans according to established underwriting criteria, and in first quarter 2006 and prior, AIG Bank originated real estate loans using WFI and MorEquity services according to its established underwriting criteria. Our correspondent lenders originate real estate loans according to underwriting criteria we establish for them. As part of our due diligence, we individually reviewed real estate loans we obtained through AIG Bank and also individually review real estate loans we obtain through our correspondent lenders. We perform due diligence investigations on all portfolio acquisitions.
See Note 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a discussion of derivative counterparty credit risk management.
Item 1. Continued
OPERATIONAL CONTROLS
We control and monitor our branch and centralized real estate business segments through a variety of methods including the following:
·
Our operational policies and procedures standardize various aspects of lending, collections, and business development processes.
·
Our branch finance receivable systems control amounts, rates, terms, and fees of our customers’ accounts; create loan documents specific to the state in which the branch operates; and control cash receipts and disbursements.
·
Our headquarters accounting personnel reconcile bank accounts, investigate discrepancies, and resolve differences.
·
Our credit risk management system reports are used by various personnel to compare branch lending and collection activities with predetermined parameters.
·
Our executive information system is available to headquarters and field operations management to review the status of activity through the close of business of the prior day.
·
Our branch field operations management structure is designed to control a large, decentralized organization with each succeeding level staffed with more experienced personnel.
·
Our field operations compensation plan aligns the operating activities and goals with corporate strategies by basing the incentive portion of field personnel compensation on profitability and credit quality.
·
Our internal audit department audits for operational policy and procedure and state law and regulation compliance. Internal audit reports directly to AIG to enhance independence.
CENTRALIZED SUPPORT
We continually seek to identify functions that could be more cost-effective if centralized, which reduces costs and frees our lending specialists to service our customers and market our products. Our centralized operational functions support the following:
·
mail and telephone solicitations;
·
payment processing;
·
real estate loan approvals;
·
real estate owned processing;
·
collateral protection insurance tracking;
·
retail sales finance approvals;
·
revolving retail and private label processing and collections;
·
merchant services; and
·
charge-off recovery operations.
Item 1. Continued
SOURCES OF FUNDS
We fund our branch and centralized real estate business segments through cash flows from operations, public and private capital markets borrowings, and capital contributions from our parent. Access to capital depends on internal and external factors including our ability to maintain strong operating performance and debt credit ratings and the condition of the capital markets. Our capital market funding sources include:
·
issuances of long-term debt in domestic and foreign markets;
·
short-term borrowings in the commercial paper market;
·
borrowings from banks under credit facilities; and
·
securitizations.
REGULATION
Branch and Centralized Real Estate
Various federal laws regulate our branch and centralized real estate business segments including:
·
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (prohibits discrimination against credit-worthy applicants);
·
the Fair Credit Reporting Act (governs the accuracy and use of credit bureau reports);
·
the Truth in Lending Act (governs disclosure of applicable charges and other finance receivable terms);
·
the Fair Housing Act (prohibits discrimination in housing lending);
·
the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (regulates certain loans secured by real estate);
·
the Federal Trade Commission Act; and
·
the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulations B, C, P, and Z.
In many states, federal law preempts state law restrictions on interest rates and points and fees for first lien residential mortgage loans. The federal Alternative Mortgage Transactions Parity Act preempts certain state law restrictions on variable rate loans in many states. We make residential mortgage loans under these and other federal laws. Federal laws also govern our practices and disclosures when dealing with consumer or customer information.
Various state laws also regulate our branch and centralized real estate segments. The degree and nature of such regulation vary from state to state. The laws under which we conduct a substantial amount of our business generally:
·
provide for state licensing of lenders;
·
impose maximum term, amount, interest rate, and other charge limitations;
·
regulate whether and under what circumstances we may offer insurance and other ancillary products in connection with a lending transaction; and
·
provide for consumer protection.
Item 1. Continued
The federal government is considering, and a number of states, counties, and cities have enacted or may be considering, laws or rules that restrict the credit terms or other aspects of residential mortgage loans that are typically described as “high cost mortgage loans”. These laws or regulations, if adopted, may limit or restrict the terms of covered loan transactions and may also impose specific statutory liabilities in cases of non-compliance. Additionally, some of these laws may restrict other business activities or business dealings of affiliates of the Company under certain conditions.
Insurance
State authorities regulate and supervise our insurance business segment. The extent of such regulation varies by product and by state, but relates primarily to the following:
·
licensing;
·
conduct of business, including marketing practices;
·
periodic examination of the affairs of insurers;
·
form and content of required financial reports;
·
standards of solvency;
·
limitations on dividend payments and other related party transactions;
·
types of products offered;
·
approval of policy forms and premium rates;
·
permissible investments;
·
deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders;
·
reserve requirements for unearned premiums, losses, and other purposes; and
·
claims processing.
The states in which we operate regulate credit insurance premium rates and premium refund calculations.
COMPETITION
Branch and Centralized Real Estate
The consumer finance industry is highly competitive due to the large number of companies offering financial products and services, the sophistication of those products, the capital market resources of some competitors, and the general acceptance and widespread usage of available credit. We compete with other consumer finance companies as well as other types of financial institutions that offer similar products and services.
Insurance
Our insurance business segment supplements our branch business segment. We believe that our insurance companies’ abilities to market insurance products through our distribution systems provide a competitive advantage.
Item 1A.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
We face a variety of risks that are inherent in our business. Accordingly, you should carefully consider the following discussion of risks in addition to the other information regarding our business provided in this report. These risks are subject to contingencies which may or may not occur, and we are not able to express a view on the likelihood of any such contingency occurring. New risks may emerge at any time, and we cannot predict those risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our business or financial performance.
Our Consolidated Results of Operations or Financial Condition May Be Materially Adversely Affected by Economic Conditions, Competition and Other Factors.
Our actual consolidated results of operations or financial condition may differ from the consolidated results of operations or financial condition that we anticipate. We believe that generally the factors that affect our consolidated results of operations or financial condition relate to: general economic conditions, such as shifts in interest rates, unemployment levels, and credit losses; the competitive environment in which we operate, including fluctuations in the demand for our products and services, the effectiveness of our distribution channels and developments regarding our competitors, including business combinations; our ability to access the capital markets, maintain our credit ratings, and successfully invest cash flows from our businesses; and natural or other events and catastrophes that affect our branches or other operating facilities. See Forward-Looking Statements in Item 7 for a more detailed list of factors which could cause our consolidated results of operations or financial condition to differ, possibly materially, from the consolidated results of operations or financial condition that we anticipate.
We Are a Party to Various Lawsuits and Proceedings Which, if Resolved in a Manner Adverse to Us, Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Consolidated Results of Operations or Financial Condition.
We are a party to various lawsuits and proceedings, including certain purported class action claims, arising in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these proceedings are pending in jurisdictions that permit damage awards disproportionate to the actual economic damages alleged to have been incurred. The continued occurrences of large damage awards in general in the United States, including, in some jurisdictions, large punitive damage awards that bear little or no relation to actual economic damages incurred by plaintiffs, create the potential for an unpredictable judgment in any given suit. A large judgment that is adverse to us could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition. See Legal Proceedings in Item 3 for more information regarding these legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Continued
We Are Subject to Extensive Regulation in the Jurisdictions in Which We Conduct Our Business.
Our branch and centralized real estate business segments are subject to various U.S. state and federal laws and regulations, and various U.S. state authorities regulate and supervise our insurance business segment. The laws under which a substantial amount of our branch and centralized real estate businesses are conducted generally: provide for state licensing of lenders; impose maximum terms, amounts, interest rates, and other charges regarding loans; regulate whether and under what circumstances insurance and other ancillary products may be offered in connection with a lending transaction; and provide for consumer protection. The extent of state regulation of our insurance business varies by product and by jurisdiction, but relates primarily to the following: licensing; conduct of business; periodic examination of the affairs of insurers; form and content of required financial reports; standards of solvency; limitations on dividend payments and other related party transactions; types of products offered; approval of policy forms and premium rates; permissible investments; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; reserve requirements for unearned premiums, losses, and other purposes; and claims processing. Changes in these laws or regulations could affect our ability to conduct business or the manner in which we conduct business and, accordingly, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial condition. See Regulation in Item 1 for a discussion of the regulation of our business segments.
Item 1B.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2.
Item 2. Properties.
We generally conduct branch office operations, branch office administration, other operations, and operational support in leased premises. Lease terms generally range from three to five years. WFI leases office facilities under leases that expire in 2015.
Our investment in real estate and tangible property is not significant in relation to our total assets due to the nature of our business. AGFC subsidiaries own two branch offices in Riverside and Barstow, California, two branch offices in Hato Rey and Isabela, Puerto Rico, and eight buildings in Evansville, Indiana. The Evansville buildings house our administrative offices, our centralized services and support operations, and one of our branch offices. Merit owns an office building in Houston, Texas, that it leases to third parties and affiliates and also owns a consumer finance branch office in Terre Haute, Indiana, that it leases to an AGFC subsidiary.
Item 3.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
On January 30, 2006, a federal court jury in the Eastern District of New York rendered a verdict in favor of HSA Residential Mortgage Services of Texas, Inc. (RMST), a subsidiary of AGFI, on its aiding and abetting fraud claim against State Bank of Long Island, and awarded RMST $43.9 million in damages. With prejudgment interest and attorney fees, the verdict would have resulted in a judgment in excess of $70 million. Subsequent to December 31, 2006, the parties agreed to settle this matter. This settlement is further reported in Note 26 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.
AGFI and certain of its subsidiaries are parties to various other lawsuits and proceedings, including certain purported class action claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. In addition, many of these proceedings are pending in jurisdictions that permit damage awards disproportionate to the actual economic damages alleged to have been incurred. Based upon information presently available, we believe that the total amounts, if any, that will ultimately be paid arising from these lawsuits and proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations or financial position. However, the continued occurrences of large damage awards in general in the United States, including, in some jurisdictions, large punitive damage awards that bear little or no relation to actual economic damages incurred by plaintiffs, create the potential for an unpredictable judgment in any given suit.
PART II
Item 5.
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
No trading market exists for AGFI’s common stock. AGFI is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AIG. AGFI paid the following cash dividends on its common stock:
Quarter Ended
(dollars in thousands)
March 31
$ 50,006
$ -
June 30
104,995
-
September 30
74,991
67,999
December 31
66,685
71,999
Total
$296,677
$139,998
See Management’s Discussion and Analysis in Item 7, and Note 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, regarding limitations on the ability of AGFI and its subsidiaries to pay dividends.
Item 6.
Item 6. Continued
Glossary
Allowance ratio
allowance for finance receivable losses as a percentage of net finance receivables
Average borrowings
average of debt for each day in the period
Average net
receivables
average of net finance receivables at the beginning and end of each month in the period
Charge-off coverage
allowance for finance receivable losses to net charge-offs
Charge-off ratio
net charge-offs as a percentage of the average of net finance receivables at the beginning of each month in the period
Conforming
a real estate loan that meets the purchase eligibility requirements of United States government-sponsored mortgage investment entities
Debt to equity ratio
total debt divided by total equity
Debt to tangible
equity ratio
total debt divided by tangible equity
Delinquency ratio
gross finance receivables 60 days or more past due (customer has not made 3 or more contractual payments) as a percentage of gross finance receivables
Interest expense rate
interest expense as a percentage of average borrowings
Interest spread
yield less interest expense rate
Operating expense
ratio
total operating expenses as a percentage of average net receivables
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges
see Exhibit 12 for calculation
Return on average
assets
net income as a percentage of the average of total assets at the beginning and end of each month in the period
Return on average
equity
net income as a percentage of the average of total equity at the beginning and end of each month in the period
Tangible equity
total equity less goodwill and accumulated other comprehensive income
Yield
finance charges as a percentage of average net receivables
Item 7.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
You should read Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 8. With this discussion and analysis, we intend to enhance the reader’s understanding of our consolidated financial statements in general and more specifically our liquidity and capital resources, our asset quality, and the results of our operations.
An index to our discussion and analysis follows:
Topic
Page
Forward-Looking Statements
Restatement
Overview
2007 Outlook
Basis of Reporting
Critical Accounting Estimates
Critical Accounting Policies
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Capital Resources
Liquidity
Finance Receivables
Real Estate Owned
Real Estate Loans Held for Sale
Investments
Asset/Liability Management
Net Income
Finance Charges
Mortgage Banking Revenues
Insurance Revenues
Investment Revenue
Net Service Fees from Affiliates
Other Revenues
Interest Expense
Operating Expenses
Provision for Finance Receivable Losses
Insurance Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Provision for Income Taxes
Regulation
Taxation
Item 7. Continued
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other publicly available documents may include, and the Company’s officers and representatives may from time to time make, statements which may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. These statements may address, among other things, our strategy for growth, product development, regulatory approvals, market position, financial results and reserves. Our actual results and financial condition may differ from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. The important factors, many of which are outside of our control, which could cause our actual results to differ, possibly materially, include, but are not limited to, the following:
·
changes in general economic conditions, including the interest rate environment in which we conduct business and the financial markets through which we access capital and invest cash flows from the insurance business segment;
·
changes in the competitive environment in which we operate, including the demand for our products, customer responsiveness to our distribution channels, and the formation of business combinations among our competitors;
·
the effectiveness of our credit risk scoring models in assessing the risk of customer unwillingness or inability to repay;
·
shifts in collateral values, contractual delinquencies, and credit losses;
·
levels of unemployment and personal bankruptcies;
·
our ability to access capital markets and maintain our credit rating position;
·
changes in laws, regulations, or regulator policies and practices that affect our ability to conduct business or the manner in which we conduct business, such as licensing requirements, pricing limitations or restrictions on the method of offering products;
·
the costs and effects of any litigation or governmental inquiries or investigations that are determined adversely to the Company;
·
changes in accounting standards or tax policies and practices and the application of such new policies and practices to the manner in which we conduct business;
·
our ability to integrate the operations of any acquisitions into our businesses;
·
changes in our ability to attract and retain employees or key executives to support our businesses;
·
natural or accidental events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, or floods affecting our customers and collateral and our branches or other operating facilities; and
·
war, acts of terrorism, riots, civil disruption, pandemics, or other events disrupting business or commerce.
We also direct readers to other risks and uncertainties discussed in Item 1A in this report and in other documents we file with the SEC. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any obligation) to update or alter any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that we may make from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 7. Continued
RESTATEMENT
As previously announced, on March 20, 2006, AGFI determined that it was necessary to restate our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information at and for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2005. The restatement related to the correction of errors in our accounting for four cross currency swaps designated as hedges of our foreign currency denominated debt. We included the restated financial information at and for each of the periods being restated in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. See Item 9A for further information on this restatement.
OVERVIEW AND OUTLOOK
Overview
Our branch and centralized real estate business segments borrow money at wholesale prices and lend money at retail prices. Our centralized real estate business segment also originates real estate loans for sale to third party investors. Our branch business segment offers credit and non-credit insurance and ancillary products to all eligible customers. Our insurance business segment writes and reinsures credit and non-credit insurance products for all eligible customers of our branch business segment and invests cash generated from operations in various investments.
During 2006, the U.S. Dollar weakened against foreign currencies, including the British Pound and the Euro. This weakening caused a negative variance arising from the translation adjustments of foreign currency denominated debt that was not fully offset by a positive variance in fair value adjustments of derivatives, principally our cross currency swaps used to economically hedge these exchange rate fluctuations. Activity in the U.S. housing market deteriorated significantly throughout 2006 and ended the year at a fairly low level compared to recent years. As a result, our real estate loans decreased $118.5 million during 2006. The slower U.S. housing market also caused significant decreases in our centralized real estate loan production, which resulted in a substantial reduction of revenue when compared to prior years. However, softening home prices (allowing customers to extract less equity when refinancing) and higher mortgage rates caused our customers to rely on non-real estate loans, which increased $305.7 million, or 10%. Our retail sales finance receivables also increased $361.4 million, or 23%, primarily due to increased marketing efforts and customer demand. The Federal Reserve stopped raising the short-term federal funds borrowing rate at mid-year, which slowed the increases in our interest expense rate. As the U.S. economy continued to expand during 2006, though at a slower pace, retail sales continued to increase, the unemployment rate remained low, and consumer confidence remained high. Our charge-off ratio improved to 0.95% in 2006 compared to 1.19% in 2005. Our delinquency ratio remained relatively low, although it increased to 2.06% at December 31, 2006, from 1.93% at December 31, 2005. As a result of our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina, we reduced our allowance for finance receivable losses by $35.2 million during 2006 to reflect our current loss exposure.
2007 Outlook
Most economists predict modest U.S. economic growth during 2007, with slight increases in unemployment and inflation. This situation should allow the Federal Reserve to remain neutral on interest rate movements. The U.S. housing market as a whole appears to be stabilizing at its current level in terms of unit sales and price changes, but some local markets where unit sales and price increases in recent years were unusually high could still be adversely affected. In this environment, we anticipate moderate finance receivable growth and moderate increases in delinquency and net charge-offs. The change in mix
Item 7. Continued
of our finance receivables resulting from lower real estate loan growth and higher non-real estate loan and retail sales finance growth should result in increases in yield and insurance revenue, but could also result in higher delinquency and net charge-offs.
On January 2, 2007, we completed our first international acquisition. We acquired Ocean Finance and Mortgages Limited, a U.K. mortgage broker. This acquisition will provide us an entry into the U.K. consumer financial services market.
BASIS OF REPORTING
We prepared our consolidated financial statements using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The statements include the accounts of AGFI and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. We eliminated all intercompany items. We made estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in our financial statements and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Ultimate results could differ from our estimates.
At December 31, 2006, 86% of our assets were net finance receivables less allowance for finance receivable losses. Finance charge revenue is a function of the amount of average net receivables and the yield on those average net receivables. GAAP requires that we recognize finance charges as revenue on the accrual basis using the interest method.
At December 31, 2006, 96% of our liabilities were debt issued primarily to support our net finance receivables and real estate loans held for sale. Interest expense is a function of the amount of average borrowings and the interest expense rate on those average borrowings. GAAP requires that we recognize interest on borrowings as expense on the accrual basis using the interest method. Interest expense includes the effect of our swap agreements that qualify as hedges under GAAP.
At December 31, 2006, 4% of our assets were real estate loans held for sale. Mortgage banking revenues include net gain on sale of real estate loans held for sale and interest income on real estate loans held for sale. GAAP requires that we recognize the difference between the sales price we receive when we sell a real estate loan held for sale and our investment in that loan as a gain or loss at the time of the sale. We also charge provisions for recourse obligations to net gain on sale of real estate loans held for sale to maintain the reserves for recourse obligations at required levels. GAAP also requires that we recognize interest as revenue on the accrual basis using the interest method during the period we hold a real estate loan held for sale.
Insurance revenues consist primarily of insurance premiums resulting from our branch customers purchasing various credit and non-credit insurance policies. Insurance premium revenue is a function of the premium amounts and policy terms. GAAP dictates the methods of insurance premium revenue recognition.
We invest cash generated by our insurance business segment primarily in investment securities, which were 5% of our assets at December 31, 2006, and to lesser extents in commercial mortgage loans, investment real estate, and policy loans, which we include in other assets. We report the resulting revenue in investment revenue. GAAP requires that we recognize interest on these investments as revenue on the accrual basis.
Item 7. Continued
Net service fees from affiliates include amounts we charged AIG Bank for services under our agreements for AIG Bank’s origination and sale of non-conforming residential real estate loans. We assumed financial responsibility for recourse exposure pertaining to these loans. We netted the provisions for the related recourse in net service fee revenue. Net service fees from affiliates also include amounts we charge AIG Bank for certain services under our agreement for AIG Bank’s origination of private label services. As required by GAAP, we recognize these fees as revenue when we provide the services.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
We consider our most critical accounting estimate to be the establishment of an adequate allowance for finance receivable losses. Our finance receivable portfolio consists of $24.3 billion of net finance receivables due from 2.0 million customer accounts. These accounts were originated or purchased and are serviced by our branch or centralized real estate business segments.
To manage our exposure to credit losses, we use credit risk scoring models for finance receivables that we originate through our branch business segment. In our centralized real estate business segment, WFI and MorEquity originate real estate loans according to established underwriting criteria and in first quarter 2006 and prior, AIG Bank originated real estate loans using WFI and MorEquity services according to its established underwriting criteria. Our correspondent lenders originate real estate loans according to underwriting criteria we establish for them. As part of our due diligence, we individually reviewed the real estate loans we obtained through AIG Bank and also individually review real estate loans we obtain through our correspondent lenders. We perform due diligence investigations on all portfolio acquisitions. We utilize standard collection procedures supplemented with data processing systems to aid branch, centralized support operations, and centralized real estate personnel in their finance receivable collection processes.
Despite our efforts to avoid losses on our finance receivables, personal circumstances and national, regional, and local economic situations affect our customers’ abilities to repay their obligations. Personal circumstances include lower income due to unemployment or underemployment, major medical expenses, and divorce. Occasionally, these events can be so economically severe that the customer files for bankruptcy.
Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee evaluates our finance receivable portfolio monthly. Within our three main finance receivable types are sub-portfolios, each consisting of a large number of relatively small, homogenous accounts. We evaluate these sub-portfolios for impairment as groups. None of our accounts are large enough to warrant individual evaluation for impairment. Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee considers numerous internal and external factors in estimating losses inherent in our finance receivable portfolio, including the following:
·
prior finance receivable loss and delinquency experience;
·
the composition of our finance receivable portfolio; and
·
current economic conditions, including the levels of unemployment and personal bankruptcies.
Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee uses our delinquency ratio, allowance ratio, charge-off ratio, and charge-off coverage to evaluate prior finance receivable loss and delinquency experience. Each ratio is useful, but each has its limitations.
Item 7. Continued
We use migration analysis as one of the tools to determine the appropriate amount of allowance for finance receivable losses. Migration analysis is a statistical technique that attempts to predict the future amount of losses for existing pools of finance receivables. This technique applies empirically measured historical movement of like finance receivables through various levels of repayment, delinquency, and loss categories to existing finance receivable pools. We calculate migration analysis using three different scenarios based on varying assumptions to evaluate a range of possible outcomes. We aggregate the results of our analysis for all segments of the Company’s portfolio to arrive at an estimate of inherent finance receivable losses for the finance receivables existing at the time of analysis. We adjust the amounts determined by migration analysis for management’s estimate of the effects of model imprecision, recent changes to underwriting criteria, portfolio seasoning, and current economic conditions, including the levels of unemployment and personal bankruptcies. This adjustment resulted in an increase to the amount determined by migration analysis of $57.5 million at December 31, 2006, compared to an increase of $37.1 million at December 31, 2005.
In third quarter 2005, we also increased our allowance for finance receivable losses by $56.8 million related to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Katrina on our net charge-offs inherent in our existing portfolio. As a result of our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina, we reduced our allowance for finance receivable losses by $35.2 million during 2006 to reflect our current loss exposure.
We maintain our allowance for finance receivable losses at our estimated “most likely” outcome of our migration analysis scenarios, as adjusted. If we had chosen to establish the allowance for finance receivable losses at the highest and lowest levels produced by the various adjusted migration analysis scenarios, our allowance for finance receivable losses at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and provision for finance receivable losses and net income for 2006 and 2005 would have changed as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Highest level:
Increase in allowance for finance receivable losses
$ 49.4
$ 42.2
Increase in provision for finance receivable losses
49.4
42.2
Decrease in net income
(32.1)
(27.4)
Lowest level:
Decrease in allowance for finance receivable losses
$(86.0)
$(90.5)
Decrease in provision for finance receivable losses
(86.0)
(90.5)
Increase in net income
55.9
58.8
The Credit Strategy and Policy Committee exercises its judgment, based on quantitative analyses, qualitative factors, and each committee member’s experience in the consumer finance industry, when determining the amount of the allowance for finance receivable losses. If the committee’s review concludes that an adjustment is necessary, we charge or credit this adjustment to expense through the provision for finance receivable losses. We consider this estimate to be a critical accounting estimate that affects the net income of the Company in total and the pretax operating income of our branch and centralized real estate business segments. We document the adequacy of the allowance for finance receivable losses, the analysis of the trends in credit quality, and the current economic conditions the Credit Strategy and Policy Committee considered to support its conclusions. See Provision for Finance Receivable Losses for further information on the allowance for finance receivable losses.
Item 7. Continued
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
We consider our most critical accounting policy to be for the allowance for finance receivable losses. Information regarding this critical accounting policy is disclosed in Critical Accounting Estimates. We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by SEC rules.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Capital Resources
Our capital varies primarily with the amount of net finance receivables and real estate loans held for sale. We base the mix of debt and equity primarily upon maintaining leverage that supports cost-effective funding.
Short-term debt increased in 2006 primarily to fund the growth in net originations of real estate loans held for sale. This growth resulted from the termination of the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank, who had previously funded real estate loans held for sale.
Reconciliations of equity to tangible equity were as follows:
December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Equity
$2,888.8
$2,779.0
Goodwill
(224.7)
(224.7)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(24.5)
(32.9)
Tangible equity
$2,639.6
$2,521.4
Item 7. Continued
We issue a combination of fixed-rate debt, principally long-term, and floating-rate debt, both long-term and short-term. AGFC obtains our fixed-rate funding by issuing public or private long-term debt with maturities ranging from three to ten years. AGFC and AGFI obtain most of our floating-rate funding by issuing and refinancing commercial paper and by issuing long-term, floating-rate debt. We issue commercial paper, with maturities ranging from 1 to 270 days, to banks, insurance companies, corporations, and other institutional investors. At December 31, 2006, short-term debt included $4.3 billion of commercial paper. AGFC also issues extendible commercial notes with initial maturities of up to 90 days, which AGFC may extend to 390 days. At December 31, 2006, short-term debt included $333.8 million of extendible commercial notes.
We maintain credit facilities to support the issuance of commercial paper and to provide an additional source of funds for operating requirements. At December 31, 2006, AGFC had committed credit facilities totaling $4.253 billion, including a $2.125 billion multi-year credit facility and a $2.125 billion 364-day credit facility. The 364-day facility allows for the conversion by the borrower of any outstanding loan at expiration into a one-year term loan. AGFI is an eligible borrower under the 364-day facility for up to $400.0 million. See Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for additional information on credit facilities.
Our larger committed credit facilities at December 31, 2006, expire as follows:
(dollars in millions)
Committed
Amount
July 2007
$2,125.0
July 2010
2,125.0
Total
$4,250.0
We expect to replace or extend these credit facilities on or prior to their expiration.
AGFI has historically paid dividends to (or received capital contributions from) its parent to manage our leverage of debt to tangible equity to a targeted amount. The targeted amount is 9.0 to 1. At December 31, 2005, this ratio was 8.77 to 1 due to the effect of no hedge accounting treatment on our four cross currency swaps designated as economic hedges of our foreign currency denominated debt. See Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on the correction of accounting error. AGFI’s ability to pay dividends depends on dividends or other funds it receives from its subsidiaries, primarily AGFC. Certain AGFI and AGFC financing agreements effectively limit the amount of dividends they may pay. Under the most restrictive provision contained in these agreements, $1.6 billion of AGFI’s retained earnings and $1.5 billion of AGFC’s retained earnings were free from restriction at December 31, 2006.
Liquidity
Our sources of funds include cash flows from operations, issuances of long-term debt in domestic and foreign markets, short-term borrowings in the commercial paper market, borrowings from banks under credit facilities, and securitizations. AGFI has also received capital contributions from its parent to support finance receivable growth and maintain targeted leverage.
Item 7. Continued
We believe that our overall sources of liquidity will continue to be sufficient to satisfy our operational requirements and financial obligations. The principal factors that could decrease our liquidity are customer non-payment and an inability to access capital markets. The principal factors that could increase our cash needs are significant increases in net originations and purchases of finance receivables. We intend to mitigate liquidity risk by continuing to operate the Company utilizing the following existing strategies:
·
maintaining a finance receivable portfolio comprised primarily of real estate loans, which generally represent a lower risk of customer non-payment;
·
monitoring finance receivables using our credit risk and asset/liability management systems;
·
maintaining an investment securities portfolio of predominantly investment grade, liquid securities; and
·
maintaining a capital structure appropriate to our asset base.
Principal sources and uses of cash were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Principal sources of cash:
Net issuances of debt
$1,454.4
$3,425.7
$4,445.3
Operations
-
621.6
787.4
Capital contributions
-
20.0
75.0
Total
$1,454.4
$4,067.3
$5,307.7
Principal uses of cash:
Net originations and purchases of
finance receivables
$ 773.5
$3,853.8
$5,128.8
Dividends paid
296.7
140.0
54.0
Operations
257.4
-
-
Total
$1,327.6
$3,993.8
$5,182.8
Net originations and purchases of finance receivables and net issuances of debt decreased in 2006 primarily due to decreases in our centralized real estate loan production caused by a less robust U.S. housing market in 2006 compared to the prior year. Net cash from operations decreased primarily due to an increase in net originations of real estate loans held for sale resulting from the termination of the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank which had the effect of decreasing service fees from AIG Bank and increasing real estate loans held for sale using our own state licenses.
Net originations and purchases of finance receivables and net issuances of debt decreased in 2005 primarily due to decreases in our centralized real estate loan production. Net cash from operations decreased in 2005 primarily due to an increase in net originations of real estate loans held for sale.
Net originations and purchases of finance receivables and net issuances of debt increased in 2004 primarily due to increases in our centralized real estate loan production.
Dividends paid, less capital contributions received, reflect net income retained by AGFI to maintain equity and total debt at our leverage target of 9.0 to 1 for debt to tangible equity.
Item 7. Continued
At December 31, 2006, material contractual obligations were as follows:
(dollars in millions)
Less than
1 year
From 1-3
years
From 4-5
years
Over 5
years
Total
Debt:
Long-term debt
$ 4,010.3
$ 4,790.0
$ 5,507.9
$ 4,881.1
$19,189.3
Short-term debt
4,722.3
-
-
-
4,722.3
Operating leases
63.7
85.5
31.0
18.0
198.2
Total
$ 8,796.3
$ 4,875.5
$ 5,538.9
$ 4,899.1
$24,109.8
We expect to refinance maturities of our debt in the capital markets. Any adverse changes in our operating performance or credit ratings could limit our access to capital markets to accomplish these refinancings.
AGFC anticipates issuing approximately $4 billion to $5 billion of long-term debt during 2007, including refinancings of $4.0 billion of maturing long-term debt. The actual amount of long-term debt issuances will depend on economic and market conditions, receivable growth, acquisition opportunities, and other available funding sources. We anticipate that our long-term debt issuances will occur in the public domestic and foreign capital markets.
In first quarter 2006, a consolidated special purpose subsidiary of AGFI purchased $512.3 million of real estate loans from a subsidiary of AGFC. The AGFI subsidiary securitized $492.8 million of these real estate loans and recorded $450.6 million of debt issued by the trust that purchased these real estate loans. We recorded the transaction as an “on-balance sheet” secured financing.
To further diversify its funding sources, AGFC began issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2004. We executed financial derivative transactions with a non-subsidiary affiliate to economically hedge exchange rate fluctuations.
Operating leases represent annual rental commitments for leased office space, automobiles, and data processing and related equipment.
Item 7. Continued
We believe that consistent execution of our business strategies should result in continued profitability, strong credit ratings, and investor confidence. These results should allow continued access to capital markets to issue our commercial paper and long-term debt. We have implemented programs and operating guidelines to ensure adequate liquidity, to mitigate the impact of any inability to access capital markets, and to provide contingent funding sources. These programs and guidelines include the following:
·
We manage commercial paper as a percentage of total debt. At December 31, 2006, that percentage was 18% compared to 15% at December 31, 2005.
·
We spread commercial paper maturities throughout upcoming weeks and months.
·
We limit the amount of commercial paper that any one investor may hold.
·
We maintain credit facilities to support the issuance of commercial paper and to provide an additional source of funds for operating requirements. At December 31, 2006, we had $4.253 billion of committed bank credit facilities.
·
At December 31, 2006, AGFC had the corporate authority to issue up to $13.4 billion of senior long-term debt securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 using AGFC’s effective shelf registration statements.
·
We have established AGFC as an issuer in foreign capital markets.
·
We have the ability to sell, on a whole loan basis, or securitize, a portion of our finance receivables.
·
We collect principal payments on our finance receivables, which totaled $8.1 billion in 2006, $8.3 billion in 2005, and $7.5 billion during 2004. We chose to reinvest most of these collections, plus additional amounts from borrowings, in new finance receivables during these periods, but these funds could be made available for other uses, if necessary.
·
We have the ability to sell a portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ investment securities and to dividend, subject to certain regulatory limits, cash from the securities sales.
Item 7. Continued
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
Finance Receivables
Amount, number, and average size of net finance receivables originated and renewed and purchased by type were as follows:
We had no sales of finance receivables in 2006, 2005, or 2004.
Item 7. Continued
Amount, number, and average size of total net finance receivables originated, renewed, and purchased by type were as follows:
Amount of purchased net finance receivables as a percentage of total net finance receivables originated, renewed, and purchased by type was as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Real estate loans
3%
15%
14%
Non-real estate loans
-
-
-
Retail sales finance
Total
1%
9%
9%
After several years of unusually high activity, the U.S. housing market returned to a more normal level in 2006. This less robust environment combined with higher interest rates on most long-term, fixed-rate real estate loans resulted in lower levels of originations and liquidations of real estate loans in 2006 than in 2005 and 2004. Our centralized real estate business segment produced $1.1 billion of our real estate loan originations during 2006, $3.7 billion during 2005, and $4.5 billion during 2004. This environment also resulted in fewer opportunities for real estate loan purchases in 2006 than in 2005 and 2004.
Item 7. Continued
Amount, number, and average size of net finance receivables by type were as follows:
The amount of first mortgage loans was 92% of our real estate loan net receivables at December 31, 2006, compared to 92% at December 31, 2005, and 89% at December 31, 2004.
The largest concentrations of net finance receivables were as follows:
Item 7. Continued
Geographic diversification of finance receivables reduces the concentration of credit risk associated with a recession in any one region. In addition, 98% of our finance receivables at December 31, 2006, were secured by real property or personal property. While finance receivables have some exposure to further economic uncertainty, we believe that the allowance for finance receivable losses is adequate to absorb losses inherent in our existing portfolio. See Analysis of Operating Results for further information on allowance ratio, delinquency ratio, and charge-off ratio and Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further information on how we estimate finance receivable losses.
Contractual maturities of net finance receivables by type at December 31, 2006, were as follows:
Real
Non-Real
Retail
(dollars in millions)
Estate Loans
Estate Loans
Sales Finance
Total
$ 303.5
$ 877.2
$ 433.2
$ 1,613.9
364.7
1,119.2
359.9
1,843.8
388.5
810.1
189.0
1,387.6
411.7
393.3
106.9
911.9
430.3
147.9
64.1
642.3
2012+
17,007.3
174.9
755.4
17,937.6
Total
$18,906.0
$3,522.6
$1,908.5
$24,337.1
Item 7. Continued
Company experience has shown that customers will renew, convert or pay in full a substantial portion of finance receivables prior to maturity. Contractual maturities are not a forecast of future cash collections. See Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for actual principal cash collections and such collections as a percentage of average net receivables by type for each of the last three years.
Real Estate Owned
Changes in the amount of real estate owned were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Balance at beginning of year
$ 47.7
$ 39.1
$ 51.3
Properties acquired
92.2
81.2
74.3
Properties sold or disposed of
(72.3)
(64.6)
(76.9)
Monthly writedowns
(9.9)
(8.0)
(9.6)
Balance at end of year
$ 57.7
$ 47.7
$ 39.1
Real estate owned as a percentage of
real estate loans
0.31%
0.25%
0.25%
Changes in the number of real estate owned properties were as follows:
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
Balance at beginning of year
Properties acquired
1,669
1,467
1,389
Properties sold or disposed of
(1,553)
(1,416)
(1,530)
Balance at end of year
1,014
Real Estate Loans Held for Sale
Real estate loans held for sale were as follows:
December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans held for sale
$1,121.6
$154.1
$ 11.8
Beginning in July 2003, our mortgage origination subsidiaries maintained agreements with AIG Bank whereby these subsidiaries provided services for AIG Bank’s origination and sale of non-conforming residential real estate loans held for sale. During 2004 and 2005, the majority of these subsidiaries’ services supported AIG Bank’s originations and sales. In first quarter 2006, these subsidiaries terminated their services agreements with AIG Bank and began originating non-conforming residential real estate loans held for sale to investors using their own state licenses. This change from externally provided services to internally generated originations and sales resulted in the increase in real estate loans held for sale.
Item 7. Continued
We fund these real estate loans held for sale primarily with short-term debt, which accounts for most of the increase in short-term debt in 2006. Additionally, the revenue produced by our mortgage origination subsidiaries’ services changed from net service fees from affiliates to net gain on sale of real estate loans held for sale and interest income on real estate loans held for sale, which we include in mortgage banking revenues.
Interest Rate Lock Commitments (IRLCs). We enter into IRLCs when we approve applicants for real estate loans held for sale. IRLCs related to the origination or acquisition of real estate loans that we intend to hold for sale are accounted for as derivatives. The IRLCs commit us to specific interest rates provided the potential borrowers close their loans within specific periods. We assign the IRLCs zero fair values on the commitment dates and recognize subsequent changes in fair values that result from changes in market interest rates. We adjust the total IRLC valuations for our estimate of loans that we will not ultimately fund. We base our estimate on Company experience and market conditions. We record IRLCs at fair value in derivative assets or liabilities. We record changes in the fair value in net gain or loss on sales of real estate loans held for sale.
We are exposed to price risk due to increases in real estate loan interest rates between the dates we issue IRLCs to applicants and the dates applicants exercise IRLCs and we fund the real estate loan commitments. The uncertainty of the percentage of applicants that will close their real estate loans within the commitment periods at the rates to which we are committed complicates our management of this risk. This percentage fluctuates and is influenced by several factors, the primary one being real estate loan interest rate increases. However, some applicants close real estate loans at the rates to which we committed even when real estate loan interest rates decrease.
Generally, we expect the probability of funding IRLCs to increase if real estate loan interest rates increase and to decrease if real estate loan interest rates decrease. However, applicants are also influenced by the cost, complexity, and time of the real estate loan approval and closing processes. We have developed estimates of the number of applicants that will not close their real estate loans (fallout) based on our IRLCs using our historical experience, which we periodically update. We based these estimates on real estate loan interest rate changes over the course of our commitments. We use these fallout estimates to attempt to predict the amount of IRLCs we may ultimately fund and to estimate the fair values of these IRLCs. At December 31, 2006, the notional amount of our IRLCs totaled $645.2 million (estimated fair value of $430,000 recorded in other liabilities), compared to $632.4 million at December 31, 2005 (estimated fair value of $34,000 recorded in other liabilities).
Forward Sale Commitments. We enter into forward sale commitments with investors. These commitments require us to sell specified amounts and types of real estate loans with specified interest rates over the commitment periods. We record forward sale commitments at fair value in derivative assets or liabilities. We record changes in the fair value in net gain or loss on sales of real estate loans held for sale.
We use forward sale commitments to hedge price risk associated with our IRLCs and our real estate loan warehouse. We expect the changes in fair values of these forward sale commitments to be opposite the changes in fair values of our IRLCs and real estate loans in the warehouse awaiting sale, thereby reducing earnings volatility. We consider numerous factors and strategies when we determine the portion of our IRLCs and real estate loans in the warehouse awaiting sale we want to hedge.
Item 7. Continued
At December 31, 2006, the notional amount of our forward sale commitments which extend to February 28, 2007, totaled $975.0 million (estimated fair value of $4.1 million recorded in other assets), compared to $725.0 million of forward sale commitments which extended to February 28, 2006 (estimated fair value of $0.8 million recorded in other liabilities) at December 31, 2005.
Investments
Insurance investments by type were as follows:
Investment securities are the majority of our insurance business segment’s investment portfolio. Our investment strategy is to optimize aftertax returns on invested assets, subject to the constraints of liquidity, diversification, and regulation.
Asset/Liability Management
To reduce the risk associated with unfavorable changes in interest rates not offset by favorable changes in yield of our finance receivables, we monitor the anticipated cash flows of our assets and liabilities, principally our finance receivables and debt. Although finance receivable lives may change in response to market interest rate changes, for the quarter ending December 31, 2006, our finance receivables had the following average lives:
Average Life
In Years
Real estate loans
4.3
Non-real estate loans
1.6
Retail sales finance
0.9
Total
2.9
The weighted-average life until maturity for our long-term debt was 3.6 years at December 31, 2006.
We fund finance receivables with a combination of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt and equity. We base the mix of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt, in part, on the nature of the finance receivables being supported. Our real estate loans held for sale are funded primarily with floating-rate debt.
Item 7. Continued
We issue fixed-rate, long-term debt as the primary source of fixed-rate debt. AGFC also alters the nature of certain floating-rate funding by using swap agreements to create synthetic fixed-rate, long-term debt, to limit our exposure to market interest rate increases. Additionally, AGFC has swapped fixed-rate, long-term debt to floating-rate, long-term debt. Including the impact of interest rate swap agreements that effectively fix floating-rate debt or float fixed-rate debt, our floating-rate debt represented 39% of our borrowings at December 31, 2006, compared to 40% at December 31, 2005. Approximately $1.1 billion of our floating-rate debt at December 31, 2006 was attributed to funding real estate loans held for sale. Adjustable-rate net finance receivables represented 6% of our net finance receivables at December 31, 2006, compared to 11% at December 31, 2005.
ANALYSIS OF OPERATING RESULTS
Net Income
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Net income
$ 414.9
$527.3
$478.1
Amount change
$(112.4)
$ 49.2
$112.0
Percent change
(21)%
10%
31%
Return on average assets
1.54%
2.15%
2.46%
Return on average equity
14.48%
19.99%
23.01%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
1.53x
1.91x
2.06x
During 2006, the U.S. Dollar weakened against foreign currencies, including the British Pound and the Euro. This weakening caused a negative variance arising from the translation adjustments of foreign currency denominated debt that was not fully offset by a positive variance in fair value adjustments of derivatives, principally our cross currency swaps used to economically hedge these exchange rate fluctuations. Activity in the U.S. housing market deteriorated significantly throughout 2006 and ended the year at a fairly low level compared to recent years. This caused significant decreases in our centralized real estate loan production, which resulted in a substantial reduction of revenue when compared to prior years. The Federal Reserve stopped raising the short-term federal funds borrowing rate at mid-year, which slowed the increases in our interest expense rate. Our charge-offs were lower in 2006, primarily due to the continuing improvement in the U.S. economy. As a result of our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina, we reduced our allowance for finance receivable losses by $35.2 million during 2006 to reflect our current loss exposure.
Although the Federal Reserve increased short-term federal bank borrowing rates by 200 basis points in 2005 following the 125 basis points increase in the second half of 2004, long-term interest rates, including interest rates on most long-term, fixed-rate real estate loans, did not increase significantly during 2005. The relatively low interest rate environment contributed to the continued high level of mortgage refinancing activity during 2005. The interest rate environment along with continued growth in our branch network and centralized real estate operations caused real estate loan average net receivables to increase to 80% of total average net receivables in 2005 compared to 76% in 2004. The low interest rate environment and growth in our real estate loans as a proportion of total finance receivables contributed to a decrease in our yield in 2005. New borrowings to fund our finance receivable growth at higher interest rates and higher short-term interest expense rate increased our total interest expense rate in 2005, which reduced our interest spread. We increased the allowance for finance receivable losses by
Item 7. Continued
$66.8 million during 2005, primarily due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Katrina on our net charge-offs inherent in our existing portfolio. Expansion of our centralized real estate operations and continued growth of our branch network contributed to an increase in operating expenses, but overall our operating expense ratio improved 69 basis points from 2004.
The historically low interest rate environment during the first half of 2004 contributed to further reductions in both our yield and interest expense rate during 2004. This low interest rate environment and the expanding production capacity of our centralized real estate services resulted in a significant increase in real estate loan production during 2004. Real estate loan average net receivables increased to 76% of total average net receivables in 2004 compared to 71% in 2003. As our centralized real estate business segment used its production capacity to originate real estate loans for AIG Bank rather than for itself, most of its revenue during 2004 was from fees charged to AIG Bank for these services rather than net gains on sales of real estate loans held for sale and interest income on real estate loans held for sale. In addition to rising interest rates, the improving economy in 2004 contributed to significant improvements in our charge-off ratio and delinquency ratio, which allowed us to decrease our allowance for finance receivable losses. Expansion of our centralized real estate production capacity caused increases in our operating expenses but, overall, operating expenses were well controlled in 2004. Net income and the related ratios for 2004 also included reductions in the provision for income taxes resulting from favorable settlements of income tax audit issues totaling $38.7 million.
See Note 23 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for information on the results of the Company’s business segments.
Our statements of income line items as percentages of each year’s average net receivables were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Revenues
Finance charges
10.39%
10.32%
11.20%
Mortgage banking
0.91
0.05
0.12
Insurance
0.64
0.72
1.00
Investment
0.37
0.36
0.52
Net service fees from affiliates
0.24
1.40
1.08
Other
(0.39)
0.26
0.01
Total revenues
12.16
13.11
13.93
Expenses
Interest expense
4.87
3.94
3.60
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
2.32
2.41
2.82
Other operating expenses
1.26
1.33
1.62
Provision for finance receivable losses
0.81
1.48
1.53
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses
0.25
0.30
0.43
Total expenses
9.51
9.46
10.00
Income before provision for income taxes
2.65
3.65
3.93
Provision for income taxes
0.93
1.30
1.22
Net income
1.72%
2.35%
2.71%
Item 7. Continued
Factors that affected the Company’s operating results were as follows:
Finance Charges
Finance charges by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans
$ 1,617.1
$ 1,498.3
$ 1,163.3
Non-real estate loans
697.4
644.5
628.0
Retail sales finance
190.8
174.5
185.9
Total
$ 2,505.3
$ 2,317.3
$ 1,977.2
Amount change
$ 188.0
$ 340.1
$ 203.9
Percent change
8%
17%
11%
Average net receivables
$24,119.0
$22,451.7
$17,658.9
Yield
10.39%
10.32%
11.20%
Finance charges increased due to the following:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Increase in average net receivables
$163.0
$ 487.5
$ 381.2
Increase (decrease) in yield
25.0
(141.9)
(181.8)
(Decrease) increase in number of days
-
(5.5)
4.5
Total
$188.0
$ 340.1
$ 203.9
Average net receivables by type were as follows:
Item 7. Continued
Changes in average net receivables by type were as follows:
After several years of unusually high activity, the U.S. housing market returned to a more normal level in 2006. This less robust environment combined with higher interest rates on most long-term, fixed-rate real estate loans resulted in lower levels of originations and liquidations of real estate loans in 2006 than in 2005 and 2004. Our centralized real estate business segment produced $1.1 billion of our real estate loan originations during 2006, $3.7 billion during 2005, and $4.5 billion during 2004. This environment also resulted in fewer opportunities for real estate loan purchases in 2006 than in 2005 and 2004. This environment also resulted in an increase in non-real estate loan average net receivables as customers preferred to take out non-real estate loans rather than refinance their real estate loans at higher rates while extracting smaller amounts of equity. Retail sales finance average net receivables increased due to increased marketing efforts to add new retail merchants with which we do business.
Yield by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Real estate loans
8.45%
8.35%
8.68%
Non-real estate loans
20.98
20.78
21.18
Retail sales finance
11.47
12.46
14.33
Total
10.39
10.32
11.20
Changes in yield in basis points (bp) by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Real estate loans
10 bp
(33) bp
(99) bp
Non-real estate loans
(40)
(6)
Retail sales finance
(99)
(187)
(13)
Total
(88)
(126)
Real estate loan yield increased due to a higher proportion of higher yielding branch business segment real estate loans and a lower proportion of lower yielding centralized real estate business segment real estate loans. Non-real estate loan yield increased as we originated new loans at higher rates based on market conditions. Retail sales finance yield decreased in 2006 as competitive market conditions continue to result in a change in the mix to longer term promotional products.
Item 7. Continued
Yield decreased in 2005 primarily due to the low interest rate environment and the larger proportion of finance receivables that were real estate loans. In addition, competitive market conditions resulted in a change in the retail sales finance portfolio mix to longer term promotional products.
Mortgage Banking Revenues
Mortgage banking revenues were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Net gain on sales of real estate loans held for sale
$142.8
$ 6.7
$ 19.6
Interest income on real estate loans held for sale
75.6
5.1
0.9
Total
$218.4
$11.8
$ 20.5
Amount change
$206.6
$(8.7)
$(79.5)
Percent change
N/M
(42)%
(80)%
Mortgage banking revenues increased in 2006 reflecting the termination of the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank and the resulting increase in originations of real estate loans held for sale. In first quarter 2006, we terminated the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank (subsequently resulting in lower net service fees from affiliates) and began originating real estate loans held for sale using our own state licenses.
Mortgage banking revenues decreased in 2005 due to an unfavorable variance in net gain on sales of real estate loans held for sale, partially offset by higher interest income on real estate loans held for sale. The lower net gain on sales of real estate loans held for sale reflected lower market interest rate margins and a $3.2 million market value provision related to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Katrina inherent in our existing portfolio charged to revenue in third quarter 2005.
Insurance Revenues
Insurance revenues were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Earned premiums
$154.6
$160.1
$175.8
Commissions
0.9
0.9
1.0
Total
$155.5
$161.0
$176.8
Amount change
$ (5.5)
$ (15.8)
$ (4.8)
Percent change
(3)%
(9)%
(3)%
Item 7. Continued
Premiums earned by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Credit insurance:
Life
$ 30.1
$ 31.3
$ 33.5
Accident and health
35.9
39.0
42.9
Property and casualty
21.9
21.1
21.4
Involuntary unemployment
15.0
15.1
14.1
Non-credit insurance:
Life
23.9
24.7
30.6
Accident and health
10.6
9.4
8.6
Premiums assumed under reinsurance agreements
17.2
19.5
24.7
Total
$154.6
$160.1
$175.8
Premiums written by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Credit insurance:
Life
$ 30.8
$ 28.5
$ 30.0
Accident and health
36.0
32.5
38.5
Property and casualty
20.7
19.0
19.7
Involuntary unemployment
16.0
14.4
16.9
Non-credit insurance:
Life
23.9
24.7
30.6
Accident and health
10.6
9.3
8.6
Premiums assumed under reinsurance agreements
15.8
16.3
20.3
Total
$153.8
$144.7
$164.6
Earned premiums decreased in 2006 primarily due to lower premiums written in 2005. However, earned premiums in future periods will be favorably impacted by the increases in premiums written and the number of non-real estate loan customers in 2006. Non-real estate loan customers have historically purchased the majority of our insurance products.
Earned premiums decreased in 2005 primarily due to declining credit and non-credit premium volume. We continued to experience decreases in the number of non-real estate loan customers due to the low mortgage interest rate environment.
Investment Revenue
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Investment revenue
$89.5
$ 81.9
$92.0
Amount change
$ 7.6
$(10.1)
$ 9.8
Percent change
9%
(11)%
12%
Item 7. Continued
Investment revenue was affected by the following:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Average invested assets
$1,438.9
$1,420.2
$1,361.4
Investment portfolio yield
6.19%
6.38%
6.54%
Net realized losses on investments
$ (1.8)
$ (8.7)
$ -
Generally, we invest cash generated by our insurance operations in various investments, primarily investment securities.
Net Service Fees from Affiliates
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Net service fees from affiliates
$ 57.4
$313.9
$191.4
Amount change
$(256.5)
$122.5
$143.1
Percent change
(82)%
64%
296%
Net service fees from affiliates decreased in 2006 reflecting the decrease in AIG Bank’s origination and sale of real estate loans held for sale using our mortgage origination services caused by the termination of the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank and a less robust U.S. housing market in 2006 compared to the prior year. In first quarter 2006, we terminated the mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank and began originating real estate loans held for sale using our own state licenses.
The increase in net service fees from affiliates in 2005 reflected the increase in AIG Bank’s origination of real estate loans using our mortgage origination services.
Other Revenues
Other revenues were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Fair value adjustments of derivatives and translation
adjustments of foreign currency denominated debt
$ (95.3)
$51.5
$ -
Writedowns on real estate owned
(9.9)
(8.0)
(9.6)
Net recovery on sales of real estate owned
2.2
4.2
2.5
Other
9.9
10.5
8.4
Total
$ (93.1)
$58.2
$ 1.3
Amount change
$(151.3)
$56.9
$(3.4)
Percent change
(260)%
N/M
(73)%
Item 7. Continued
Other revenues decreased in 2006 primarily due to a negative variance arising from the translation adjustments of foreign currency denominated debt that was not fully offset by a positive variance in fair value adjustments of derivatives, principally our cross currency swaps used to economically hedge these exchange rate fluctuations. This was primarily due to the weakening of the U.S. Dollar against foreign currencies, including the British Pound and the Euro.
Other revenues increased in 2005 primarily due to a positive variance arising from the translation adjustments of foreign currency denominated debt, partially offset by a negative variance in fair value adjustments of derivatives, principally our cross currency swaps. The increase in other revenues for 2005 also reflected a favorable variance in other revenues related to real estate owned.
Interest Expense
The impact of using the swap agreements that qualify as hedges under GAAP is included in interest expense and the related borrowing statistics below. Interest expense by type was as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Long-term debt
$ 910.9
$ 731.6
$ 531.7
Short-term debt
264.3
153.4
104.6
Total
$ 1,175.2
$ 885.0
$ 636.3
Amount change
$ 290.2
$ 248.7
$ 89.6
Percent change
33%
39%
16%
Average borrowings
$23,185.0
$20,830.4
$16,300.9
Interest expense rate
5.07%
4.25%
3.90%
Interest expense increased due to the following:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Increase (decrease) in interest expense rate
$190.1
$ 72.0
$ (29.5)
Increase in average borrowings
100.1
176.7
119.1
Total
$290.2
$248.7
$ 89.6
Average borrowings by type were as follows:
Item 7. Continued
Changes in average borrowings by type were as follows:
AGFC issued $3.2 billion of long-term debt in 2006, compared to $5.4 billion in 2005 and $5.7 billion in 2004. We used the proceeds of these long-term debt issuances to support finance receivable growth and to refinance maturing debt. In first quarter 2006, a consolidated special purpose subsidiary of AGFI purchased $512.3 million of real estate loans from a subsidiary of AGFC. The AGFI subsidiary securitized $492.8 million of these real estate loans and recorded $450.6 million of debt issued by the trust that purchased these real estate loans. We recorded the transaction as an “on-balance sheet” secured financing.
Short-term debt average borrowings increased in 2006 primarily to fund the growth in real estate loans held for sale.
Interest expense rate by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Long-term debt
5.05%
4.41%
4.28%
Short-term debt
5.14
3.58
2.68
Total
5.07
4.25
3.90
Changes in interest expense rate in basis points by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Long-term debt
64 bp
13 bp
(33) bp
Short-term debt
(2)
Total
(18)
Short-term market interest rates have risen significantly since mid-2004. Our actual future interest expense rates will depend on general interest rate levels and market credit spreads, which are influenced by our credit ratings and the market perception of credit risk for the Company and possibly our affiliates, including our ultimate parent, AIG.
Item 7. Continued
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Salaries and benefits
$560.5
$540.5
$498.3
Other operating expenses
303.3
300.1
284.0
Total
$863.8
$840.6
$782.3
Amount change
$ 23.2
$ 58.3
$ 96.0
Percent change
3%
7%
14%
Operating expense ratio
3.58%
3.74%
4.43%
Operating expenses increased in 2006 primarily due to higher salaries and benefits expenses reflecting growth in our branch business segment, partially offset by a decrease in commissions resulting from lower centralized real estate loan production.
Operating expenses increased in 2005 primarily due to growth in our centralized real estate business segment and, to a lesser extent, in our branch business segment, including higher salaries and benefits. The Company’s operating expenses that were directly related to our centralized real estate business segment totaled $256.7 million in 2005. The increase in salaries and benefits in 2005 represented approximately 700 centralized real estate employees hired during 2005. The increase in operating expenses in 2005 also reflected higher credit, collections, and losses expenses.
The decrease in the operating expense ratio for 2006 and 2005 reflected higher average net receivables and continued emphasis on controlling operating expenses. The decrease in the operating expense ratio for 2005 was partially offset by growth in our centralized real estate business segment.
Provision for Finance Receivable Losses
At or for the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Provision for finance receivable losses
$ 195.4
$331.9
$270.2
Amount change
$(136.5)
$ 61.7
$(43.6)
Percent change
(41)%
23%
(14)%
Net charge-offs
$ 229.6
$265.1
$280.2
Charge-off ratio
0.95%
1.19%
1.60%
Charge-off coverage
2.13x
1.97x
1.63x
60 day+ delinquency
$ 511.1
$467.6
$474.2
Delinquency ratio
2.06%
1.93%
2.31%
Allowance for finance receivable losses
$ 488.7
$522.8
$456.0
Allowance ratio
2.01%
2.20%
2.26%
Item 7. Continued
Provision for finance receivable losses decreased in 2006 primarily due to a favorable variance in amounts provided for allowance for finance receivable losses when compared to 2005. In third quarter 2005, we added $56.8 million to our allowance for finance receivable losses in anticipation of additional finance receivable charge-offs resulting from Hurricane Katrina. As a result of our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina, we reduced our allowance for finance receivable losses by $35.2 million during 2006 to reflect our current loss exposure.
Charge-offs, recoveries, net charge-offs, and charge-off ratio by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans:
Charge-offs
$ 72.4
$ 68.7
$ 71.3
Recoveries
(9.2)
(6.4)
(5.9)
Net charge-offs
$ 63.2
$ 62.3
$ 65.4
Charge-off ratio
.33%
.35%
.50%
Non-real estate loans:
Charge-offs
$171.0
$200.8
$206.5
Recoveries
(35.5)
(32.4)
(30.2)
Net charge-offs
$135.5
$168.4
$176.3
Charge-off ratio
4.09%
5.44%
5.95%
Retail sales finance:
Charge-offs
$ 42.2
$ 45.6
$ 49.4
Recoveries
(11.3)
(11.2)
(10.9)
Net charge-offs
$ 30.9
$ 34.4
$ 38.5
Charge-off ratio
1.88%
2.46%
2.97%
Total:
Charge-offs
$285.6
$315.1
$327.2
Recoveries
(56.0)
(50.0)
(47.0)
Net charge-offs
$229.6
$265.1
$280.2
Charge-off ratio
.95%
1.19%
1.60%
Changes in net charge-offs by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans
$ 0.9
$ (3.1)
$ 0.9
Non-real estate loans
(32.9)
(7.9)
(24.7)
Retail sales finance
(3.5)
(4.1)
(6.8)
Total
$(35.5)
$(15.1)
$(30.6)
The improvement in net charge-offs in 2006 was primarily due to positive economic fundamentals during 2006. Real estate loan net charge-offs increased slightly in 2006 primarily due to the maturation of the real estate loan portfolio. Net charge-offs in 2006 benefited from $5.5 million of non-recurring recoveries recorded in first quarter 2006. The improvement in net charge-offs in 2005 was primarily due to the improving economy.
Item 7. Continued
Changes in charge-off ratios in basis points by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
Real estate loans
(2) bp
(15) bp
(15) bp
Non-real estate loans
(135)
(51)
(102)
Retail sales finance
(58)
(51)
(47)
Total
(24)
(41)
(59)
The improvement in the charge-off ratio in 2006 was primarily due to positive economic fundamentals during 2006. Net charge-offs in 2006 benefited from $5.5 million of non-recurring recoveries recorded in first quarter 2006.
The improvement in the charge-off ratio in 2005 was primarily due to the improving economy and a higher proportion of average net receivables that were real estate loans.
Delinquency based on contract terms in effect and delinquency ratio by type were as follows:
December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans:
Delinquency
$331.4
$287.4
$286.6
Delinquency ratio
1.76%
1.52%
1.83%
Non-real estate loans:
Delinquency
$142.8
$147.8
$152.6
Delinquency ratio
3.71%
4.18%
4.54%
Retail sales finance:
Delinquency
$ 36.9
$ 32.4
$ 35.0
Delinquency ratio
1.77%
1.91%
2.32%
Total:
Delinquency
$511.1
$467.6
$474.2
Delinquency ratio
2.06%
1.93%
2.31%
Changes in delinquency from the prior year end by type were as follows:
December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Real estate loans
$44.0
$ 0.8
$(20.1)
Non-real estate loans
(5.0)
(4.8)
(14.8)
Retail sales finance
4.5
(2.6)
(6.3)
Total
$43.5
$(6.6)
$(41.2)
Item 7. Continued
The increase in real estate loan delinquency at December 31, 2006, when compared to December 31, 2005, was primarily due to the maturation of the real estate loan portfolio. Retail sales finance delinquency at December 31, 2006, increased when compared to December 31, 2005, reflecting growth in retail sales finance receivables.
Delinquency at December 31, 2005, when compared to December 31, 2004, was favorably impacted by the improving economy. Real estate loan delinquency at December 31, 2005, remained near the same when compared to December 31, 2004, due to real estate loan growth of $3.3 billion in 2005.
Changes in delinquency ratio from the prior year end in basis points by type were as follows:
December 31,
Real estate loans
24 bp
(31) bp
(96) bp
Non-real estate loans
(47)
(36)
(62)
Retail sales finance
(14)
(41)
(47)
Total
(38)
(97)
The increase in the real estate loan delinquency ratio at December 31, 2006 when compared to December 31, 2005, reflected the maturation of the real estate loan portfolio.
The improvement in the delinquency ratio at December 31, 2005 when compared to December 31, 2004, reflected the improving economy and a higher proportion of net finance receivables that were real estate loans.
Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee evaluates our finance receivable portfolio monthly to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for finance receivable losses. We believe the amount of the allowance for finance receivable losses is the most significant estimate we make. In our opinion, the allowance is adequate to absorb losses inherent in our existing portfolio. The decrease in the allowance for finance receivable losses at December 31, 2006, when compared to December 31, 2005, was due to decreases to the allowance for finance receivable losses through the provision for finance receivable losses reflecting our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina and positive economic fundamentals during 2006. In third quarter 2005, we added $56.8 million to our allowance for finance receivable losses in anticipation of additional finance receivable charge-offs resulting from Hurricane Katrina. As a result of our quarterly evaluations of our loss exposure relating to Hurricane Katrina, we reduced our allowance for finance receivable losses by $35.2 million during 2006 to reflect our current loss exposure.
The decrease in the allowance ratio at December 31, 2006, when compared to December 31, 2005, was primarily due to decreases to the allowance for finance receivable losses reflecting the Hurricane Katrina adjustments and positive economic fundamentals during 2006. The decrease in the allowance ratio at December 31, 2005, when compared to December 31, 2004, reflected the improving economy and a higher proportion of net finance receivables that were real estate loans, partially offset by the addition to the allowance for finance receivable losses in September 2005 reflecting the anticipated additional finance receivable charge-offs inherent in our existing portfolio due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
Charge-off coverage, which compares the allowance for finance receivable losses to net charge-offs, improved in 2006 and 2005 due to lower net charge-offs. The improvement in charge-off coverage for 2005 also reflected a higher allowance for finance receivable losses.
Item 7. Continued
Insurance Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Claims incurred
$63.0
$ 72.9
$80.7
Change in benefit reserves
(3.1)
(6.6)
(4.0)
Total
$59.9
$ 66.3
$76.7
Amount change
$(6.4)
$(10.4)
$ 8.9
Percent change
(10)%
(13)%
13%
Losses incurred by type were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Credit insurance:
Life
$15.6
$16.8
$19.7
Accident and health
13.8
16.3
19.2
Property and casualty
5.9
6.6
14.7
Involuntary unemployment
1.9
1.9
2.1
Non-credit insurance:
Life
4.6
2.9
7.7
Accident and health
6.5
6.4
5.3
Losses incurred under reinsurance agreements
11.6
15.4
8.0
Total
$59.9
$66.3
$76.7
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses decreased in 2006 and 2005 primarily due to lower credit and non-credit insurance claims incurred, reflecting the decline in the number of credit and non-credit insurance policies in force.
Provision for Income Taxes
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions)
Provision for income taxes
$223.8
$293.0
$215.6
Amount change
$(69.2)
$ 77.4
$ 6.3
Percent change
(24)%
36%
3%
Pretax income
$638.6
$820.3
$693.7
Effective income tax rate
35.04%
35.72%
31.08%
Provision for income taxes decreased in 2006 due to lower pretax income and a lower effective income tax rate. Our effective income tax rate declined in 2006 primarily due to the lower pretax income of a subsidiary operating in states with higher than average tax rates.
Item 7. Continued
Provision for income taxes increased in 2005 due to higher pretax income and a higher effective income tax rate. During fourth quarter 2004, we reduced the provision for income taxes by $38.7 million resulting from a favorable settlement of income tax audit issues. This decreased the effective income tax rate for 2004.
REGULATION AND OTHER
Regulation
We discussed regulation of the branch, centralized real estate, and insurance business segments in Item 1.
Taxation
We monitor federal and state tax legislation and respond with appropriate tax planning.
Item 7A.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
The fair values of certain of our assets and liabilities are sensitive to changes in market interest rates. The impact of changes in interest rates would be reduced by the fact that increases (decreases) in fair values of assets would be partially offset by corresponding changes in fair values of liabilities. In aggregate, the estimated impact of an immediate and sustained 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates on the fair values of our interest rate-sensitive financial instruments would not be material to our financial position.
The estimated increases (decreases) in fair values of interest rate-sensitive financial instruments were as follows:
We derived the changes in fair values by modeling estimated cash flows of certain of our assets and liabilities. The assumptions we used adjusted cash flows to reflect changes in prepayments and calls, but did not consider loan originations, debt issuances, or new investment purchases.
Readers should exercise care in drawing conclusions based on the above analysis. While these changes in fair values provide a measure of interest rate sensitivity, they do not represent our expectations about the impact of interest rate changes on our financial results. This analysis is also based on our exposure at a particular point in time and incorporates numerous assumptions and estimates. It also assumes an immediate change in interest rates, without regard to the impact of certain business decisions or initiatives that we would likely undertake to mitigate or eliminate some or all of the adverse effects of the modeled scenarios.
Item 8.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
An index to our financial statements and supplementary data follows:
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY
The Company’s management is responsible for the integrity and fair presentation of our consolidated financial statements and all other financial information presented in this report. We prepared our consolidated financial statements using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). We made estimates and assumptions that affect amounts recorded in the financial statements and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities.
The Company’s management is responsible for designing and maintaining an effective system of internal control over financial reporting. We designed this system to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded from loss or unauthorized use, that transactions are recorded in accordance with GAAP under management’s direction and that financial records are reliable to prepare financial statements. We support the internal control structure with careful selection, training and development of qualified personnel. The Company’s employees are subject to AIG’s Code of Conduct designed to assure that all employees perform their duties with honesty and integrity. Also, AIG’s Director, Executive Officer, and Senior Financial Officer Code of Business Conduct and Ethics covers such directors and officers of AIG and its subsidiaries, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Accounting Officer. We do not allow loans to executive officers. The aforementioned system includes a documented organizational structure and policies and procedures that we communicate throughout the Company. Our internal auditors report directly to the Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit of AIG to strengthen independence. They continually monitor the operation of our internal controls and report their findings to the Company’s management, AIG’s management, and AIG’s internal audit department. We take prompt action to correct control deficiencies and improve the system.
All internal control structures and procedures for financial reporting, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Even internal controls and procedures determined to be effective may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Changes in conditions or the complexity of compliance with policies and procedures creates a risk that the effectiveness of our internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting may vary over time.
The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, evaluates the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of each quarter and the changes in internal control over financial reporting for the quarter using the framework and criteria established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on an evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2006, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures have functioned effectively and that the consolidated financial statements fairly present our consolidated financial position and the results of our operations for the periods presented. A material weakness existed as of December 31, 2005 and was remediated in the first quarter of 2006, prior to the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. As of December 31, 2005, we did not maintain effective controls over the accounting for derivatives. Specifically, our controls were not effective in ensuring the proper designation and documentation of our cross currency swaps, the first of which we entered into in June 2004. As a result of this material weakness, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer determined that it was necessary to restate our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information at and for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2005. We included the restated financial information at and for each of the periods being restated in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We evaluated the effect of correcting the errors related to our original accounting on our previously reported unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for each quarter in 2004 and on our annual audited consolidated financial statements at and for the year ended December 31, 2004 using qualitative and quantitative factors and determined that the effect was immaterial. We concluded that the cumulative effect of the correction for the year 2004 should be accounted for in the fourth quarter of 2005. There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management has also concluded that the Company’s consolidated financial statements contained in this report fairly present our consolidated financial position and the results of our operations for the periods presented.
American General Finance, Inc.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholder and Board of Directors
of American General Finance, Inc.:
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American General Finance, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule appearing under Item 15(d) presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 23, 2007
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
Net finance receivables (Notes 2 and 5):
Real estate loans
$18,906,033
$19,024,577
Non-real estate loans
3,522,594
3,216,942
Retail sales finance
1,908,434
1,546,995
Net finance receivables
24,337,061
23,788,514
Allowance for finance receivable losses (Note 6)
(488,700)
(522,831)
Net finance receivables, less allowance for finance
receivable losses
23,848,361
23,265,683
Real estate loans held for sale (Note 7)
1,121,579
154,088
Investment securities (Note 8)
1,376,892
1,334,081
Cash and cash equivalents
235,149
192,531
Other assets (Note 9)
1,189,431
855,144
Total assets
$27,771,412
$25,801,527
Liabilities and Shareholder’s Equity
Long-term debt (Notes 10 and 13)
$19,189,292
$18,314,837
Short-term debt (Notes 11 and 13)
4,722,265
3,809,412
Insurance claims and policyholder liabilities (Note 14)
391,517
398,051
Other liabilities (Note 15)
567,712
480,594
Accrued taxes
11,820
19,614
Total liabilities
24,882,606
23,022,508
Shareholder’s equity:
Common stock (Note 16)
1,000
1,000
Additional paid-in capital
1,016,305
1,016,305
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 17)
24,460
32,858
Retained earnings (Note 18)
1,847,041
1,728,856
Total shareholder’s equity
2,888,806
2,779,019
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity
$27,771,412
$25,801,527
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Finance charges
$2,505,312
$2,317,298
$1,977,202
Mortgage banking
218,409
11,792
20,493
Insurance
155,496
161,033
176,840
Investment
89,482
81,872
91,980
Net service fees from affiliates
57,384
313,936
191,373
Other
(93,116)
58,200
1,274
Total revenues
2,932,967
2,944,131
2,459,162
Expenses
Interest expense
1,175,210
884,971
636,304
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits
560,472
540,517
498,295
Other operating expenses
303,357
300,101
284,053
Provision for finance receivable losses
195,436
331,878
270,158
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses
59,871
66,347
76,681
Total expenses
2,294,346
2,123,814
1,765,491
Income before provision for income taxes
638,621
820,317
693,671
Provision for Income Taxes (Note 19)
223,759
292,987
215,617
Net Income
$ 414,862
$ 527,330
$ 478,054
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Common Stock
Balance at beginning of year
$ 1,000
$ 1,000
$ 1,000
Balance at end of year
1,000
1,000
1,000
Additional Paid-in Capital
Balance at beginning of year
1,016,305
996,305
920,276
Capital contributions from parent and other
-
20,000
76,029
Balance at end of year
1,016,305
1,016,305
996,305
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at beginning of year
32,858
37,413
(14,947)
Change in net unrealized (losses) gains:
Investment securities
(5,730)
(19,785)
2,876
Swap agreements
(1,166)
16,601
49,484
Retirement plan liabilities adjustment
(1,131)
(1,371)
-
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(8,027)
(4,555)
52,360
Adjustment to initially apply SFAS 158, net of tax
(371)
-
-
Balance at end of year
24,460
32,858
37,413
Retained Earnings
Balance at beginning of year
1,728,856
1,341,524
917,468
Net income
414,862
527,330
478,054
Common stock dividends
(296,677)
(139,998)
(53,998)
Balance at end of year
1,847,041
1,728,856
1,341,524
Total Shareholder’s Equity
$2,888,806
$2,779,019
$2,376,242
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income
$ 414,862
$ 527,330
$ 478,054
Reconciling adjustments:
Provision for finance receivable losses
195,436
331,878
270,158
Depreciation and amortization
149,737
160,516
178,392
Deferral of finance receivable origination costs
(82,032)
(88,783)
(84,651)
Deferred income tax benefit
(12,315)
(14,991)
(73,047)
Origination of real estate loans held for sale
(9,038,680)
(667,498)
(124,398)
Sales and principal collections of real estate
loans held for sale
8,213,965
529,520
155,432
Net gain on sales of real estate loans held for sale
(142,776)
(6,708)
(19,607)
Change in other assets and other liabilities
69,635
(61,056)
73,048
Change in insurance claims and policyholder liabilities
(6,534)
(24,906)
(15,405)
Change in taxes receivable and payable
(887)
(43,230)
(31,017)
Other, net
(17,813)
(20,456)
(19,539)
Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities
(257,402)
621,616
787,420
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Finance receivables originated or purchased
(8,869,058)
(12,195,717)
(12,581,889)
Principal collections on finance receivables
8,095,568
8,341,891
7,453,077
Investment securities purchased
(174,377)
(353,219)
(582,957)
Investment securities called and sold
113,640
307,425
500,474
Investment securities matured
7,225
48,847
15,356
Change in premiums on finance receivables
purchased and deferred charges
(986)
(20,376)
(27,297)
Other, net
(29,727)
(24,245)
(15,376)
Net cash used for investing activities
(857,715)
(3,895,394)
(5,238,612)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
3,607,036
5,507,351
5,791,112
Repayment of long-term debt
(3,065,477)
(1,591,981)
(2,177,763)
Change in short-term debt
912,853
(489,673)
831,989
Capital contributions from parent
-
20,000
75,000
Dividends paid
(296,677)
(139,998)
(53,998)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,157,735
3,305,699
4,466,340
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
42,618
31,921
15,148
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
192,531
160,610
145,462
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$ 235,149
$ 192,531
$ 160,610
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Net income
$414,862
$527,330
$478,054
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Net unrealized (losses) gains on:
Investment securities
(10,656)
(39,132)
4,406
Swap agreements
(5,900)
22,728
23,341
Retirement plan liabilities adjustment
(2,144)
(2,247)
-
Income tax effect:
Net unrealized losses (gains) on:
Investment securities
3,730
13,696
(1,543)
Swap agreements
2,064
(7,954)
(8,170)
Retirement plan liabilities adjustment
-
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax, before
reclassification adjustments
(12,047)
(12,033)
18,034
Reclassification adjustments included in net income:
Realized losses on:
Investment securities
1,840
8,694
Swap agreements
4,107
2,811
52,789
Retirement plan liabilities adjustment
-
-
Income tax effect:
Realized losses on:
Investment securities
(644)
(3,043)
(6)
Swap agreements
(1,437)
(984)
(18,476)
Retirement plan liabilities adjustment
(97)
-
-
Reclassification adjustments included in net income,
net of tax
4,020
7,478
34,326
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax
(8,027)
(4,555)
52,360
Comprehensive income
$406,835
$522,775
$530,414
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
American General Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2006
Note 1. Nature of Operations
American General Finance, Inc. will be referred to as “AGFI” or collectively with its subsidiaries, whether directly or indirectly owned, as the “Company” or “we”. Since August 29, 2001, AGFI has been an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). AIG is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in a broad range of insurance and insurance-related activities, financial services and asset management in the United States and abroad.
AGFI is a financial services holding company whose principal subsidiary is American General Finance Corporation (AGFC). AGFC is also a financial services holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the consumer finance and credit insurance businesses. At December 31, 2006, the Company had 1,542 branch offices in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and approximately 9,700 employees.
We have three business segments: branch, centralized real estate, and insurance. We define our segments by types of financial service products we offer, nature of our production processes, and methods we use to distribute our products and to provide our services, as well as our management reporting structure.
In our branch business segment, we:
·
originate real estate loans secured by first or second mortgages on residential real estate, which may be closed-end accounts or open-end home equity lines of credit and are generally considered non-conforming;
·
originate secured and unsecured non-real estate loans;
·
purchase retail sales contracts and provide revolving retail sales financing services arising from the retail sale of consumer goods and services by retail merchants; and
·
purchase private label receivables originated by AIG Federal Savings Bank (AIG Bank), a non-subsidiary affiliate, under a participation agreement.
To supplement our lending and retail sales financing activities, we purchase portfolios of real estate loans, non-real estate loans, and retail sales finance receivables originated by other lenders. We also offer credit and non-credit insurance and ancillary products to all eligible branch customers.
In our centralized real estate business segment, we:
·
originate real estate loans for sale to investors with servicing released to the purchaser;
·
originate real estate loans for transfer to the centralized real estate servicing center; and
·
service a portfolio of real estate loans generated through:
·
portfolio acquisitions from third party lenders;
·
correspondent relationships;
·
our mortgage origination subsidiaries;
·
refinancing existing mortgages; or
·
advances on home equity lines of credit.
Previously, we provided services for AIG Bank’s origination and sale of non-conforming residential real estate loans. In first quarter 2006, Wilmington Finance, Inc. and MorEquity, Inc., which are subsidiaries of AGFC, terminated their mortgage services agreements with AIG Bank and began originating non-conforming residential real estate loans under their own state licenses.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
We fund our branch and centralized real estate business segments through cash flows from operations, public and private capital markets borrowings, and capital contributions from our parent. Access to capital depends on internal and external factors including our ability to maintain strong operating performance and debt credit ratings and the condition of the capital markets. Our capital market funding sources include:
·
issuances of long-term debt in domestic and foreign markets;
·
short-term borrowings in the commercial paper market;
·
borrowings from banks under credit facilities; and
·
securitizations.
In our insurance business segment, we write and reinsure credit life, credit accident and health, credit-related property and casualty, credit involuntary unemployment, and non-credit insurance covering our customers and the property pledged as collateral through products that the branch business segment offers to its customers. We also monitor our finance receivables to ensure that the collateral is adequately protected. See Note 23 for further information on the Company’s business segments.
At December 31, 2006, the Company had $24.3 billion of net finance receivables due from 2.0 million customer accounts and $4.8 billion of credit and non-credit life insurance in force covering approximately 747,000 customer accounts.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
We prepared our consolidated financial statements using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The statements include the accounts of AGFI and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. We eliminated all material intercompany accounts and transactions. We made estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in our financial statements and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Ultimate results could differ from our estimates. To conform to the 2006 presentation, we reclassified certain items in prior periods.
BRANCH AND CENTRALIZED REAL ESTATE BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Finance Receivables
We classify finance receivables as held for investment due to our ability and intent to hold them until customer payoff. We carry finance receivables at amortized cost which includes accrued finance charges on interest bearing finance receivables, unamortized deferred origination costs, and unamortized net premiums and discounts on purchased finance receivables. They are net of unamortized finance charges on precomputed receivables and unamortized points and fees.
Although a significant portion of insurance claims and policyholder liabilities originate from the finance receivables, our policy is to report them as liabilities and not net them against finance receivables. Finance receivables relate to the financing activities of our branch and centralized real estate business segments. Insurance claims and policyholder liabilities relate to the underwriting activities of our insurance business segment.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
We determine delinquency on finance receivables contractually. In our branch business segment we advance the due date on a customer’s account when the customer makes a partial payment of 90% or more of the scheduled contractual payment. We do not advance the due date on a customer’s account further if the customer makes an additional partial payment of 90% or more of the scheduled contractual payment and has not yet paid the deficiency amount from a prior partial payment. We do not advance the customer’s due date on our centralized real estate business segment accounts until we receive full contractual payment.
Finance Receivable Revenue Recognition
We recognize finance charges as revenue on the accrual basis using the interest method. We amortize premiums or accrete discounts on purchased finance receivables as a revenue adjustment using the interest method. We defer the costs to originate certain finance receivables and the revenue from nonrefundable points and fees on loans and amortize them to revenue using the interest method.
In our branch business segment, we stop accruing finance charges when the fourth contractual payment becomes past due for real estate loans, non-real estate loans, and retail sales contracts and when the sixth contractual payment becomes past due for revolving retail and private label. In our centralized real estate business segment, we stop accruing finance charges when the third contractual payment becomes past due for real estate loans. We reverse amounts previously accrued upon suspension.
Allowance for Finance Receivable Losses
We establish the allowance for finance receivable losses through the provision for finance receivable losses charged to expense. We believe the amount of the allowance for finance receivable losses is the most significant estimate we make. Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee evaluates our finance receivable portfolio monthly. Within our three main finance receivable types are sub-portfolios, each consisting of a large number of relatively small, homogenous accounts. We evaluate these sub-portfolios for impairment as groups. None of our accounts are large enough to warrant individual evaluation for impairment. Our Credit Strategy and Policy Committee considers numerous internal and external factors in estimating losses inherent in our finance receivable portfolio, including the following:
·
prior finance receivable loss and delinquency experience;
·
the composition of our finance receivable portfolio; and
·
current economic conditions including the levels of unemployment and personal bankruptcies.
We charge off each month to the allowance for finance receivable losses non-real estate loans on which payments received in the prior six months have totaled less than 5% of the original loan amount and retail sales finance that are six installments past due. Generally, we start foreclosure proceedings on real estate loans when four monthly installments are past due. When foreclosure is completed and we have obtained title to the property, we obtain an unrelated party’s valuation of the property, which is either a full appraisal or a real estate broker’s or appraiser’s estimate of the property sale value without the benefit of a full interior and exterior appraisal and lacking sales comparisons. We reduce finance receivables by the amount of the real estate loan, establish a real estate owned asset valued at lower of loan balance or 85% of the valuation, and charge off any loan amount in excess of that value to the allowance for finance receivable losses. We occasionally extend the charge-off period for individual accounts when, in our
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
opinion, such treatment is warranted and consistent with our credit risk policies. We increase the allowance for finance receivable losses for recoveries on accounts previously charged off.
We may renew a delinquent account if the customer has sufficient income and it does not appear that the cause of past delinquency will affect the customer’s ability to repay the new loan. We subject all renewals, whether the customer’s account is current or delinquent, to the same credit risk underwriting process as we would a new application for credit.
We may allow a deferment, which is a partial payment that extends the term of an account. The partial payment amount is usually the greater of one-half of a regular monthly payment or the amount necessary to bring the interest on the account current. We limit a customer to two deferments in a rolling twelve-month period unless we determine that an exception is warranted and consistent with our credit risk policies.
Real Estate Loans Held for Sale
We carry real estate loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market at lower of cost or market value, which we determine in the aggregate. We determine market value by reference to current investor yield requirements or outstanding forward sale commitments, if any. We recognize net unrealized losses through a valuation allowance by charges to income.
We defer real estate loan origination fees and direct costs to originate real estate loans and include them in real estate loans held for sale.
We sell real estate loans held for sale to investors with servicing released to the purchaser. We record the sales price we receive less our carrying value of a real estate loan held for sale in mortgage banking revenues. We also charge a provision for sales recourse to mortgage banking revenues to maintain the reserve for sales recourse at the required level.
We accrue interest income due from the borrower on real estate loans held for sale from the date of funding until the date of sale to the investor. Upon sale, we collect from the investor any accrued interest income not paid by the borrower. We stop accruing interest income on real estate loans held for sale when the third payment becomes past due and reverse amounts previously accrued upon suspension.
Real Estate Owned
We acquire real estate owned through foreclosure on real estate loans. We record real estate owned in other assets, initially at lower of loan balance or 85% of the unrelated party’s valuation, which approximates the fair value less the estimated cost to sell. If we do not sell a property within one year of acquisition, we reduce the carrying value by five percent of the initial value each month beginning in the thirteenth month. We continue the writedown until the property is sold or the carrying value is reduced to ten percent of the initial value. We charge these writedowns to other revenues. We record the sale price we receive for a property less the carrying value and any amounts refunded to the customer as a recovery or loss in other revenues. We do not profit from foreclosures in accordance with the American Financial Services Association’s Voluntary Standards for Consumer Mortgage Lending. We only attempt to recover our investment in the property, including expenses incurred.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of broker relationships, customer relationships, investor relationships, trade names, and employment agreements. We include intangible assets in other assets, net of accumulated amortization. We amortize intangible assets over their related lives and test the remaining balances for impairment in the first quarter of each year and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the intangible asset may be impaired. If the required impairment testing suggests an intangible asset is impaired, we reduce its carrying amount to estimated fair value.
Net Service Fees from Affiliates
Net service fees from affiliates include amounts we charged AIG Bank for services under our agreements for AIG Bank’s origination and sale of non-conforming residential real estate loans. Our mortgage origination subsidiaries assumed financial responsibility for recourse exposure pertaining to these loans. We netted the provisions for recourse from service fees in net service fee revenue. Net service fees from affiliates also include amounts we charge AIG Bank for certain services under our agreement for AIG Bank’s origination of private label. We recognize these service fees as revenue when we provide the services.
INSURANCE BUSINESS SEGMENT
Revenue Recognition
We recognize credit insurance premiums on closed-end real estate loans and revolving finance receivables as revenue when billed monthly. We defer credit insurance premiums collected in advance in unearned premium reserves which we include in insurance claims and policyholder liabilities. We recognize unearned premiums on credit life insurance as revenue using the sum-of-the-digits or actuarial methods, except in the case of level-term contracts, for which we recognize unearned premiums as revenue using the straight-line method over the terms of the policies. We recognize unearned premiums on credit accident and health insurance as revenue using an average of the sum-of-the-digits and the straight-line methods. We recognize unearned premiums on credit-related property and casualty and credit involuntary unemployment insurance as revenue using the straight-line method over the terms of the policies. We recognize non-credit life insurance premiums as revenue when collected but not before their due dates. We recognize commissions on ancillary products as other revenue when received.
Policy Reserves
Policy reserves for credit life, credit accident and health, credit-related property and casualty, and credit involuntary unemployment insurance equal related unearned premiums. We base claim reserves on Company experience. We estimate reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses for credit-related property and casualty insurance based upon claims reported plus estimates of incurred but not reported claims. We accrue liabilities for future life insurance policy benefits associated with non-credit life contracts when we recognize premium revenue and base the amounts on assumptions as to investment yields, mortality, and surrenders. We base annuity reserves on assumptions as to investment yields and mortality. We base insurance reserves assumed under reinsurance agreements where we assume the risk of loss on various tabular and unearned premium methods.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
Acquisition Costs
We defer insurance policy acquisition costs, primarily commissions, reinsurance fees, and premium taxes. We include them in other assets and charge them to expense over the terms of the related policies, whether directly written or reinsured.
INVESTMENT SECURITIES
Valuation
We currently classify all investment securities as available-for-sale and record substantially all of them at fair value. We adjust related balance sheet accounts to reflect the current fair value of investment securities and record the adjustment, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholder’s equity. If the fair value of an investment security classified as available-for-sale declines below its cost and we consider the decline to be other than temporary, we recognize a realized loss, net of tax, and reverse the unrealized loss. We record accrued investment securities revenue receivable in other assets. To determine investment securities impairment, we consider the issuers’ credit quality to estimate if full principal balance recovery is possible and review our ability and intent to hold the securities for the time necessary to recover the full principal balance.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize interest on interest bearing fixed maturity investment securities as revenue on the accrual basis. We amortize any premiums or accrete any discounts as a revenue adjustment using the interest method. We stop accruing interest revenue when the collection of interest becomes uncertain. We record dividends as revenue on ex-dividend dates. We recognize income on mortgage-backed securities as revenue using a constant effective yield based on estimated prepayments of the underlying mortgages. If actual prepayments differ from estimated prepayments, we calculate a new effective yield and adjust the net investment in the security accordingly. We record the adjustment, along with all investment securities revenue, in investment revenues. We recognize the pretax operating income from our interests in limited partnerships as revenue quarterly. We account for these interests using either the cost or equity method.
Realized Gains and Losses on Investment Securities
We specifically identify realized gains and losses on investment securities and include them in investment revenues.
OTHER
Other Invested Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, investment real estate, and insurance policy loans are part of our insurance business segment’s investment portfolio and we include them in other assets at amortized cost. We recognize interest on commercial mortgage loans and insurance policy loans as revenue on the accrual basis using the interest method. We stop accruing revenue when collection of interest becomes uncertain. We recognize pretax operating income from the operation of our investment real estate as revenue
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
monthly. We include other invested asset revenue in investment revenues. We record accrued other invested asset revenue receivable in other assets.
Cash Equivalents
We consider all short-term investments having maturity dates within three months of their original issuance dates to be cash equivalents.
Goodwill
We do not amortize goodwill. During the first quarter of each year, we test goodwill recorded in the branch, centralized real estate, and insurance business segments for impairment. We test for impairment between these annual reviews if long-term adverse changes develop in the underlying business segments. Impairment is the condition that exists when the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. We assess the fair value of the underlying business using a projected ten-year earnings stream, discounted using the Treasury “risk free” rate. The “risk free” rate is the yield on ten-year U.S. Treasury Bills as of December 31 of the prior year. If the required impairment testing suggests that goodwill is impaired, we reduce goodwill to an amount that results in the carrying value of the underlying business approximating fair value.
Income Taxes
We recognize income taxes using the asset and liability method. We establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, using the tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse.
We provide a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is likely that we will not realize some portion of the deferred tax asset. We include an increase or decrease in a valuation allowance resulting from a change in the realizability of the related deferred tax asset in income.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We recognize all derivatives on our consolidated balance sheet at their fair value. We include derivatives in asset positions in other assets and those in liability positions in other liabilities. We record net unrealized gains and losses on derivatives in cash flows from operating activities on our consolidated statement of cash flows.
We designate each derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows that we will receive or pay in connection with a recognized asset or liability (a “cash flow” hedge), as a hedge of the fair value of a recognized asset or liability (a “fair value” hedge), or as a derivative that does not qualify as either a cash flow or fair value hedge.
We record changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that we designate and qualifies as a cash flow hedge, in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows of the hedged transaction. We record changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that we designate and qualifies as a fair value hedge, along with changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk, in current
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
period earnings in other revenues. We record changes in the fair value of a derivative that does not qualify as either a cash flow or fair value hedge in current period earnings in other revenues.
We formally document all relationships between derivative hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as our risk-management objectives and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions and our method to assess ineffectiveness. We link all derivatives that we designate as cash flow or fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. For certain types of hedge relationships meeting specific criteria, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133 allows a “shortcut” method, which provides for an assumption of zero ineffectiveness. Under this method, the periodic assessment of effectiveness is not required. The Company’s use of this method is limited to interest rate swaps that hedge certain borrowings.
We discontinue hedge accounting prospectively when:
·
the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows or fair value of a hedged item;
·
we sell, terminate, or exercise the derivative and/or the hedged item or they expire; or
·
we change our objectives or strategies and designating the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate.
For discontinued asset and liability fair value hedges, we begin amortizing the cumulative basis adjustment on the hedged item into earnings over the remaining life of the hedged item using the level yield method. For cash flow hedges that are discontinued for reasons other than the forecasted transaction will not occur, we begin reclassifying the accumulated other comprehensive income adjustment to earnings when earnings are affected by the hedged item. There were no discontinuance of qualified hedge relationships during 2006.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
We estimate the fair values disclosed in Note 25 using discounted cash flows when market prices or values from independent pricing services are not available. The assumptions we use, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows, significantly affect the valuation techniques employed. In certain cases, we cannot verify the estimated fair values by comparison to independent markets or realize the estimated fair values in immediate settlement of the instruments.
Note 3. Correction of Accounting Error
We restated our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information at and for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2005. The restatement related to the correction of errors in our accounting for four cross currency swaps designated as hedges of our foreign currency denominated debt. We included the restated financial information at and for each of the periods being restated in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. See Item 9A
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified by the SEC’s rules and forms. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluates the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of each quarter using the framework and criteria established in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on an evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2006, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective and that the consolidated financial statements fairly present our consolidated financial position and the results of our operations for the periods presented.
(b)
Identification of Prior Year Material Weakness in Internal Control
A material weakness existed as of December 31, 2005 and was remediated in the first quarter of 2006, prior to the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. As of December 31, 2005, we did not maintain effective controls over the accounting for derivatives. Specifically, our controls were not effective in ensuring the proper designation and documentation of our cross currency swaps, the first of which we entered into in June 2004. As a result of this material weakness, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer determined that it was necessary to restate our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and other financial information at and for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2005. We included the restated financial information at and for each of the periods being restated in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. We evaluated the effect of correcting the errors related to our original accounting on our previously reported unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for each quarter in 2004 and on our annual audited consolidated financial statements at and for the year ended December 31, 2004 using qualitative and quantitative factors and determined that the effect was immaterial. We concluded that the cumulative effect of the correction for the year 2004 should be accounted for in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Item 9A. Continued
(c)
Remediation of Material Weakness
In the first quarter of 2006, management took the following actions to remediate this weakness:
·
Management established enhanced procedures to be performed by accounting personnel over documentation, evaluation, and classification of new hedge relationships.
·
Management and accounting personnel involved in derivative transactions will perform quarterly reviews of the derivative portfolio to ensure that acceptable methods for measuring hedge effectiveness are utilized.
·
Management will review the effect of new interpretations and accounting changes with respect to the application of hedge accounting on existing significant hedging relationships quarterly.
·
All hedge accounting policies, strategies, and transactions will be approved by the Chief Financial Officer after consultation with financial management at AIG.
(d)
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART III
Item 14.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
One of AIG’s Audit Committee’s duties is to oversee our independent accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. AGFI does not have its own Audit Committee. AIG’s Audit Committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures regarding audit and non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for AIG and its consolidated subsidiaries, including AGFI, and pre-approved 100% of AGFI’s audit-related fees in 2006 and 2005.
Independent accountant fees charged to AGFI and the related services were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Audit fees
$1,090
$1,115
Audit-related fees
Total
$1,300
$1,300
Audit fees in 2006 and 2005 were primarily for the audit of AGFI’s and AGFC’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly review procedures in relation to AGFI’s and AGFC’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, statutory audits of insurance subsidiaries of AGFC, and audits of other subsidiaries of AGFC. AGFC is a separate SEC registrant and its fees are part of the total AGFI fee, representing 99% of the total audit fees for AGFI. Audit-related fees were primarily for issuances of comfort letters. There were no tax fees or other fees in 2006 or 2005.
PART IV
Item 15.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
(1) and (2) The following consolidated financial statements of American General Finance, Inc. and subsidiaries are included in Item 8:
Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2006 and 2005
Consolidated Statements of Income, years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity, years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, years ended December 31, 2006, 2005, and 2004
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Schedule I--Condensed Financial Information of Registrant is included in Item 15(d).
All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are inapplicable.
(3)
Exhibits:
Exhibits are listed in the Exhibit Index beginning on page 112 herein.
(b)
Exhibits
The exhibits required to be included in this portion of Item 15 are submitted as a separate section of this report.
Item 15(d).
Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
American General Finance, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 303
$ 53
Investment in subsidiaries
3,303,661
3,197,473
Notes receivable from subsidiaries
305,606
296,446
Other assets
84,576
54,660
Total assets
$3,694,146
$3,548,632
Liabilities and Shareholder’s Equity
Long-term debt, 5.82% - 5.89%, due 2009 - 2010
$ 165,000
$ 165,000
Short-term debt
637,487
600,536
Other liabilities
2,853
4,077
Total liabilities
805,340
769,613
Shareholder’s equity:
Common stock
1,000
1,000
Additional paid-in capital
1,016,305
1,016,305
Other equity
24,460
32,858
Retained earnings
1,847,041
1,728,856
Total shareholder’s equity
2,888,806
2,779,019
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity
$3,694,146
$3,548,632
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
Schedule I, Continued
American General Finance, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Dividends received from subsidiaries
$331,189
$123,807
$ 15,827
Interest and other
22,353
19,978
19,053
Total revenues
353,542
143,785
34,880
Expenses
Interest expense
57,855
34,655
20,604
Operating expenses
1,564
Total expenses
57,872
34,659
22,168
Income before income taxes and equity in
undistributed net income of subsidiaries
295,670
109,126
12,712
Credit for Income Taxes
(12,497)
(10,966)
(1,090)
Income before equity in undistributed net
income of subsidiaries
308,167
120,092
13,802
Equity in Undistributed Net Income of
Subsidiaries
106,695
407,238
464,252
Net Income
$414,862
$527,330
$478,054
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
Schedule I, Continued
American General Finance, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income
$ 414,862
$ 527,330
$ 478,054
Reconciling adjustments:
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries
(106,695)
(407,238)
(464,252)
Change in other assets and other liabilities
(31,737)
1,420
3,236
Other, net
(7,294)
(8,530)
5,868
Net cash provided by operating activities
269,136
112,982
22,906
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital contributions to subsidiaries
-
(55,000)
(156,200)
Change in notes receivable from subsidiaries
(9,160)
2,002
(33,594)
Other, net
-
(190)
(186)
Net cash used for investing activities
(9,160)
(53,188)
(189,980)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
-
65,000
100,000
Change in short-term debt
36,951
(5,086)
46,302
Capital contributions from parent
-
20,000
75,000
Dividends paid
(296,677)
(140,000)
(53,998)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities
(259,726)
(60,086)
167,304
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(292)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$ 303
$ 53
$ 345
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
Schedule I, Continued
American General Finance, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
December 31, 2006
Note 1. Accounting Policies
AGFI records its investments in subsidiaries at cost plus the equity in undistributed (overdistributed) net income of subsidiaries since the date of the acquisition. You should read the condensed financial statements of the registrant in conjunction with AGFI’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 2. Long-term Debt
Long-term debt maturities for the five years after December 31, 2006, were as follows: 2009, $100.0 million and 2010, $65.0 million.
Note 3. Short-term Debt
Components of short-term debt were as follows:
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial paper
$289,652
$257,398
Notes payable to subsidiaries
287,835
283,138
Notes payable to banks
60,000
60,000
Total
$637,487
$600,536
Note 4. Subsidiary Lease Guarantee
AGFI guarantees the lease payments for the headquarters office of Wilmington Finance, Inc. (WFI). The lease expires in 2015. AGFI would be required to pay $19.0 million for the potential future lease payments, if WFI defaulted on its lease obligation.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 23, 2007.
AMERICAN GENERAL FINANCE, INC.
By:
/s/
Donald R. Breivogel, Jr.
Donald R. Breivogel, Jr.
(Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
and Director)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on February 23, 2007.
/s/
Frederick W. Geissinger
/s/
William N. Dooley
Frederick W. Geissinger
William N. Dooley
(Chairman, President, Chief Executive
(Director)
Officer, and Director - Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/
Jerry L. Gilpin
Jerry L. Gilpin
/s/
Donald R. Breivogel, Jr.
(Director)
Donald R. Breivogel, Jr.
(Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
and Director - Principal Financial Officer)
/s/
Stephen H. Loewenkamp
Stephen H. Loewenkamp
(Director)
/s/
George W. Schmidt
George W. Schmidt
(Vice President, Controller, and Assistant
/s/
George D. Roach
Secretary - Principal Accounting Officer)
George D. Roach
(Director)
/s/
Stephen L. Blake
Stephen L. Blake
(Director)
/s/
Robert A. Cole
Robert A. Cole
(Director)
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
No annual report to security-holders or proxy material has been sent to security-holders.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
(3)
a.
Restated Articles of Incorporation of American General Finance, Inc. (formerly Credithrift Financial, Inc.) dated May 27, 1988 and amendments thereto dated September 7, 1988 and March 20, 1989. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)a. filed as a part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1988 (File No. 2-82985).
b.
By-laws of American General Finance, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3)b. filed as a part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992 (File No. 2-82985).
(4)
a.
The following instruments are filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K, which requires with certain exceptions that all instruments be filed which define the rights of holders of the Company’s long-term debt and of our consolidated subsidiaries. In the aggregate, the outstanding issuances of debt at December 31, 2006 under the following Indenture exceeds 10% of the Company’s total assets on a consolidated basis:
Indenture dated as of May 1, 1999 from American General Finance Corporation to Citibank, N.A. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (4)a.(1) filed as a part of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 (File No. 2-82985).
b.
In accordance with Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, certain other instruments defining the rights of holders of the Company’s long-term debt and of our consolidated subsidiaries have not been filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K because the total amount of securities authorized and outstanding under each instrument does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Company on a consolidated basis. We hereby agree to furnish a copy of each instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
(12)
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
(23)
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Accounting Firm
(31.1)
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications of the President and Chief Executive Officer of American General Finance, Inc.
(31.2)
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications of the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American General Finance, Inc.
(32)
Section 1350 Certifications