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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

Commission file number 1-11011

THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 480-636-4800

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by the court.    Yes  x    No  ¨

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

As of November 9, 2004, approximately 122,041,000 shares of Common Stock ($0.01 par value) were outstanding.

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THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

See notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

See notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

See notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

See notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

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THE FINOVA GROUP INC.

NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

(Dollars in thousands in tables)

(Unaudited)

A. Nature of Operations

The accompanying financial statements and notes hereto should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Capitalized terms not defined herein are used as defined in the Form 10-K.

The following discussion relates to The FINOVA Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “FINOVA” or the “Company”), including FINOVA Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries (“FINOVA Capital”). FINOVA is a financial services holding company. Through its principal operating subsidiary, FINOVA Capital, the Company has provided a broad range of financing and capital markets products, primarily to mid-size businesses.

The Company’s business activities are limited to maximizing the value of its portfolio through the orderly collection of its assets. These activities include collection efforts pursuant to underlying contractual terms, negotiation of prepayments, sales of assets or collateral and may include efforts to retain certain customer relationships and restructure or terminate other relationships. The Company has sold portions of asset portfolios and will consider future sales of any asset if buyers can be found at acceptable prices; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in efforts to sell additional assets. Any funds generated in excess of cash reserves permitted by the Company’s debt agreements are used to reduce FINOVA’s obligations to its creditors. The Company is prohibited by the Indenture governing its Senior Notes (the “Indenture”) from engaging in any new lending activities, except to honor existing customer commitments and in certain instances, to restructure financing relationships to maximize value.

Because substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged to secure the obligations under the Intercompany Notes securing the Senior Notes, FINOVA’s ability to obtain additional or alternate financing is severely restricted. Accordingly, FINOVA intends to rely on internally generated cash flows from the liquidation of its assets as its only meaningful source of liquidity.

FINOVA’s business continues to be operated under a Management Services Agreement with Leucadia National Corporation that expires in 2011. Pursuant to that agreement, Leucadia has designated its employees to act as Chairman of the Board (Ian M. Cumming), President (Joseph S. Steinberg) and Chief Executive Officer (Thomas E. Mara).

Going Concern

As of September 30, 2004, the Company has a substantial negative net worth. While FINOVA continues to pay its obligations as they become due, the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon many factors, particularly the ability of its borrowers to repay their obligations to FINOVA and the Company’s ability to realize the value of its portfolio. Even if the Company is able to recover the book value of its assets, and there can be no assurance of the Company’s ability to do so, the Company would not be able to repay the Senior Notes in their entirety at maturity in November 2009. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company’s independent public accountants qualified their report on the Company’s 2003, 2002 and 2001 financial statements due to concerns regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

B. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires FINOVA to use estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Those estimates are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could materially impact the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements. Significant estimates include anticipated amounts

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and timing of future cash flows used in the calculation of the reserve for credit losses and measurement of impairment. Other estimates include selection of appropriate risk adjusted discount rates used in net present value calculations, determination of fair values of certain financial assets for which there is not an active market, residual assumptions for leasing transactions and the determination of appropriate valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimated.

For a listing of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see Note B “Significant Accounting Policies” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. See below for interim reporting policies and any new policies established during the year.

Impermissible Restricted Payments

The Indenture defines impermissible restricted payments as dividends or distributions to and/or repurchases of stock from common stockholders that, if made, would render the Company insolvent, would be a fraudulent conveyance or would not be permitted to be made under applicable law. Impermissible restricted payments are required to be retained by the Company until such time, if ever, that it is no longer restricted from making a distribution to its stockholders or until it is required to use the cash to satisfy its debt obligations.

The Indenture contemplates that as principal payments are made on the Senior Notes, FINOVA stockholders will receive a distribution equal to 5.263% of each principal prepayment. However, FINOVA believes those distributions would be impermissible restricted payments due to the Company’s significant negative net worth and its belief that the Senior Notes will not be fully repaid. The Company has segregated amounts identified as impermissible restricted payments in a separate cash account, which is reflected as “restricted cash – impermissible restricted payments” on the balance sheet. Due to the Indenture restrictions regarding the use of this cash, these amounts are not considered to be cash equivalents.

Consolidation of Interim Reporting

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of FINOVA and its subsidiaries, including FINOVA Capital and its subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The interim condensed consolidated financial information is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring items necessary to present fairly the financial position as of September 30, 2004 and the results of operations and cash flows presented herein have been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for the full year.

C. Total Financial Assets

Total financial assets represents the Company’s portfolio of investment activities, primarily consisting of secured financing to commercial and real estate enterprises principally under financing contracts (such as loans and other financing contracts, direct financing leases and leveraged leases). In addition to its financing contracts, the Company has other financial assets, including assets held for sale, owned assets (such as operating leases and assets held for the production of income) and investments (debt and equity securities and partnership interests). As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the carrying amount of total financial assets (before the reserve for credit losses) was $956.4 million and $1.8 billion, respectively.

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The following table details the composition and carrying amounts of FINOVA’s total financial assets at September 30, 2004:

Since FINOVA’s total financial assets are concentrated in several specialized industries, the Company is subject to both general economic risk and the additional risk of economic downturns within individual sectors of the economy. The Company has also completed multiple financial transactions with individual borrowers and their affiliates, resulting in a greater total exposure to those borrowers beyond the typical transaction size and increased concentration risk to economic events affecting the industries (primarily transportation) of such borrowers and their affiliates.

At September 30, 2004, the Company’s transportation portfolio consisted of the following aircraft:

At September 30, 2004, 54 aircraft with a carrying value of $178.7 million were operated by U.S. domiciled carriers and 68 aircraft with a carrying value of $127.9 million were operated by foreign carriers. Additionally, 27 aircraft with a carrying value of $30.7 million were off-lease, classified as assets held for the production of income and parked at various storage facilities in the United States and Europe, including 9 aircraft which have been identified for potential dismantling or sale as scrap.

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The following table details the composition of aircraft identified for potential dismantling or sale as scrap during the nine months ended September 30, 2004:

During 2004, the Company reassessed the likelihood of off-lease assets being re-leased, and identified 25 aircraft for potential dismantling or sale as scrap, rather than continue to incur significant storage, maintenance and other costs to potentially return to service. These 25 aircraft are in addition to 10 aircraft that were in the process of being dismantled at December 31, 2003. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had sold as scrap or completely dismantled 26 of these aircraft, resulting in 9 aircraft which have been identified for potential dismantling or sale as scrap. The Company may decide to dismantle or sell as scrap additional aircraft as it reassesses its portfolio, relative to demand within the aircraft industry and the used parts market.

The Company’s transportation portfolio also includes domestic railroad and other transportation equipment. The carrying value of this equipment was $15.1 million at September 30, 2004.

In addition to the concentrated exposures within the transportation portfolio, the Company has certain concentrations within its specialty real estate portfolio. The specialty real estate portfolio is concentrated within the following industries:

D. Reserve for Credit Losses

The following table presents the balances and changes to the reserve for credit losses:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded a $102.6 million reversal of provision for credit losses to reduce its reserve for credit losses. The reserve reduction was primarily due to proceeds received from prepayments and asset sales in excess of recorded carrying amounts (net of reserves), collections and recoveries of amounts previously written off. Partially offsetting this reserve reduction were new impairment reserves established on specific accounts.

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A summary of the reserve for credit losses by impaired and other assets is as follows:

At September 30, 2004, the total carrying amount of impaired loans and leases was $555.6 million, of which $233.9 million were revenue accruing. The Company has established impairment reserves of $121.7 million related to $304.3 million of impaired assets. At December 31, 2003, the total carrying amount of impaired loans and leases was $800.0 million, of which $220.7 million were revenue accruing. Impairment reserves at December 31, 2003 totaled $240.0 million related to $473.7 million of impaired assets.

Reserves on impaired assets decreased due to write-offs, an improvement in pay-off and collection experience on certain assets previously reserved and the Company’s application of cash received on nonaccruing assets, thus reducing the impairment reserves required on those assets. Partially offsetting these reductions were new impairment reserves established for assets reclassified to impaired status during 2004 and additional reserves recorded on existing impaired assets.

Other reserves related to estimated inherent losses on unimpaired assets decreased as a result of collections, asset sales, changes in historical loss experience and the migration of certain accounts to impaired assets.

Accounts classified as nonaccruing were $324.8 million or 34.0% of total financial assets (before reserves) at September 30, 2004 as compared to $593.3 million or 32.9% at December 31, 2003. The decline in nonaccruing assets was attributed to collections and asset sales of $162.2 million and write-offs and net valuation markdowns of $55.1 million, partially offset by the migration of certain previously accruing accounts to nonaccruing status. Also contributing to the decline was the return of certain assets to accruing status following demonstration of sustained performance and the classification of newly repossessed aircraft as assets held for the production of income, which are excluded from nonaccruing assets. During 2004, the Company returned multiple accounts to accruing status. Certain of these accounts were previously restructured and the Company was monitoring the accounts for demonstration of sustained performance under the restructured terms before they would be returned to accruing status.

An analysis of nonaccruing assets included in total financial assets is as follows:

E. Debt

A summary of the Company’s total debt outstanding is as follows:

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During the first quarter of 2004, FINOVA fully repaid its loan from Berkadia. The Berkadia Loan was scheduled to mature in 2006, but was repaid earlier due to sooner-than-expected collections from FINOVA’s liquidating portfolio.

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company made a $326.4 million partial principal prepayment on the Senior Notes, which reduced the outstanding principal to $2.4 billion. FINOVA announced two additional partial prepayments each in the amount of $118.7 million. The first payment was made in October, while the second payment is scheduled for November 15, 2004. Following these prepayments, cumulative principal prepayments through November 15, 2004 will total $801.3 million or 27% of the $3.0 billion principal amount outstanding as of December 31, 2003.

In accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Company is required to use any excess cash, as defined in the Indenture, to make semi-annual interest and principal payments on the Senior Notes. Additionally, the Indenture permits voluntary prepayments at the Company’s option. The Company believes principal prepayments may not continue at the same pace. The Company’s asset pool continues to decline and generally contains less desirable assets than previously collected or sold.

The Company does not believe that it has sufficient assets to fully repay the Senior Notes, and the Indenture prohibits the Company from engaging in new business. Therefore, FINOVA intends to rely on the liquidation of its remaining assets as its only meaningful source of liquidity. Following repayment of the Berkadia Loan in February 2004, the Senior Notes have a first priority security interest in substantially all of FINOVA’s assets.

At September 30, 2004, the Senior Notes are reflected on the Company’s balance sheet net of a remaining $593.6 million unamortized fresh-start discount. The book value of the Senior Notes is scheduled to increase over time through the partial amortization of the discount as interest expense. Discount amortization was accelerated following the principal prepayments, which occurred earlier than originally anticipated when fresh-start guidelines were applied upon emergence. Discount amortization is expected to be further adjusted as principal prepayments are made.

Stockholders should not expect any payments or distributions from FINOVA. The Indenture contemplates that as principal payments are made on the Senior Notes, FINOVA stockholders will receive a distribution equal to 5.263% (i.e. 5%/95% as noted below) of each principal prepayment. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the remaining available cash after establishment of cash reserves as defined in the Indenture will be used to make prepayments of principal on the Senior Notes and five percent (5%) is identified for distributions to and/or repurchases of stock from common stockholders. However, the Indenture prohibits FINOVA from making distributions to and/or repurchases from stockholders if the payments would render the Company insolvent, would be a fraudulent conveyance or would not be permitted to be made under applicable law. Any such distribution and/or repurchase would be considered an impermissible restricted payment under the Indenture. Given the Company’s significant negative net worth and its belief that the Senior Notes will not be fully repaid, FINOVA is required to retain impermissible restricted payments until such time, if ever, that it is no longer restricted from making a distribution to its stockholders or until it is required to use the cash to satisfy its debt obligations. In conjunction with the prepayments of Senior Notes noted above, the Company will have retained a total of $42.2 million by November 15, 2004. Retained amounts are being segregated and reflected as restricted cash on the balance sheet.

F. Pension Plan

The Company sponsors a trusteed, noncontributory pension plan that covers substantially all of its employees. Benefits are based primarily on final average salary and years of service. The Company’s funding policy for the pension plan is to make at least the minimum annual contribution required by applicable regulations.

During the second quarter of 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the termination of the pension plan effective December 31, 2004. No pension benefits will accrue beyond December 31, 2004 and participant benefits under the plan shall be fully vested and not forfeitable as of that date. The Board also approved discretionary contributions, which are expected to be sufficient to fully fund and enable the plan to pay all of its obligations to each participant.

Cash Flows

The Company has no minimum funding requirement for its pension plan in 2004; however, the Company continues to evaluate the current funded status of the plan, its investment strategy and the pending termination of the plan noted above. The Company made a $3.0 million discretionary contribution during July 2004 to improve the funded status of the plan. The Company anticipates making further discretionary contributions in 2004 or 2005.

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Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

G. Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities

As of September 30, 2004, FINOVA had a liability for termination benefits of $3.7 million for 36 individuals at various levels within the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company paid termination benefits of $3.8 million and recorded a net charge of $4.1 million for employees notified of their pending termination.

As of September 30, 2004, the remaining liability for contract termination costs related to office leases totaled $2.8 million. The decrease since December 31, 2003 was due to the payment of scheduled lease rentals (net of sublease income) and termination costs.

H. Income Taxes

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, income tax expense related to pre-tax book income was entirely offset by a decrease in valuation allowances, which were previously established due to the Company’s concern regarding its ability to utilize deferred tax assets generated from losses in prior periods. The Company may not be able to utilize all the deferred tax assets due to uncertainty about the amount of future earnings, a variety of loss or other tax attribute carryover limitations in the various jurisdictions in which the Company files tax returns and uncertainty regarding the timing of the reversal of deferred tax liabilities. As of September 30, 2004, the Company had federal net operating losses of $996.1 million available for carryforward.

I. Litigation and Claims

Legal Proceedings

FINOVA is party either as plaintiff or defendant to various actions, proceedings and pending claims, including legal actions, some of which involve claims for compensatory, punitive or other damages in significant amounts. Litigation often results from FINOVA’s attempts to enforce its lending agreements against borrowers and other parties to those transactions. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties. It is possible that some of the legal actions, proceedings or claims could be decided against FINOVA. Other than the matters described below, FINOVA believes that any resulting liability from its legal proceedings should not materially affect FINOVA’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The following matters could have a material adverse impact on FINOVA’s financial position, results of operations or cash flow.

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If any legal proceedings result in a significant adverse judgment against the Company, which is not anticipated, it is unlikely that FINOVA would be able to satisfy that liability due to its financial condition. As previously noted, due to the Company’s financial condition, it does not expect that it can satisfy all its secured debt obligations at maturity. Attempts to collect on those judgments could lead to future reorganization proceedings of either a voluntary or involuntary nature.

Litigation Related to Loans to The Thaxton Group Inc. and Related Companies

Between October 17, 2003, and January 13, 2004, FINOVA Capital Corporation was served with and named as a defendant (with other parties) in five lawsuits that relate to its loan to The Thaxton Group Inc. and several related entities (collectively the “Thaxton Entities”). Under its loan agreement, FINOVA has a senior secured loan to the Thaxton Entities of approximately $108 million at September 30, 2004. The Thaxton Entities were declared in default under their loan agreement with FINOVA after they advised FINOVA that they would have to restate earnings for the first two fiscal quarters of 2003, and had suspended payments on their subordinated notes. As a result of the default, FINOVA exercised its rights under the loan agreement, and accelerated the indebtedness. The Thaxton Entities then filed a petition for bankruptcy protection under chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on October 17, 2003, listing assets of approximately $206 million and debts of $242 million.

The first lawsuit, a complaint captioned Earle B. Gregory, et al, v. FINOVA Capital Corporation, James T. Garrett, et al., (the “Gregory action”) was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, South Carolina, case no. 2003-CP-29-967, and was served on FINOVA on October 17, 2003. An amended complaint was served on November 5, 2003, prior to the deadline for FINOVA to answer, plead, or otherwise respond to the original complaint. The Gregory action was properly removed to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina on November 17, 2003, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 1452. The plaintiffs filed a motion to remand the case to state court, but the U.S. District Court denied this motion in an order dated December 18, 2003.

The second Thaxton-related complaint, captioned Tom Moore, Anna Nunnery, et al., v. FINOVA Capital Corporation, Moore & Van Allen PLLC, and Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP, case No. 8:03-372413 (“Moore”), was filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina on November 25, 2003, and was served on FINOVA on December 2, 2003. The third complaint, captioned Sam Jones Wood and Kathy Annette Wood, et al., v. FINOVA Capital Corporation, Moore & Van Allen PLLC, and Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP, (“Wood”) was filed in the Superior Court for Gwinnett County, Georgia, case no. 03-A13343-B, and was served on FINOVA on December 9, 2003. FINOVA properly removed the Wood action to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (Atlanta Division) on January 5, 2004. The fourth complaint, captioned Grant Hall and Ruth Ann Hall, et al., v. FINOVA Capital Corporation, Moore & Van Allen PLLC, and Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP, case no. 03CVS20572, (“Hall”) was filed in the Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, Superior Court, and was also served on FINOVA on December 9, 2003. FINOVA properly removed the Hall action to the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Charlotte Division) on January 5, 2004. The fifth complaint, captioned Charles Shope, et al., v. FINOVA Capital Corporation, Moore & Van Allen PLLC, and Cherry, Bekaert & Holland LLP, case No. C 204022 (“Shope”), was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and was served on FINOVA on January 13, 2004.

Each of the five Thaxton-related lawsuits are styled as class actions, purportedly brought on behalf of certain defined classes of people who had purchased subordinated notes from the Thaxton Entities. The complaints by the subordinated noteholders allege claims of fraud, securities fraud, and various other civil conspiracy and business torts in the sale of the subordinated notes. Each of the complaints seeks an unspecified amount of damages, among other remedies. In addition to FINOVA, the complaints each name as co-defendants Thaxton’s accountants and attorneys, and in the Gregory case, several officers of the Thaxton Entities.

Upon motion by FINOVA to the United States Judicial Panel for MultiDistrict Litigation (Docket 1612), all five Thaxton-related actions were transferred on June 18, 2004 to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina for coordinated pre-trial proceedings (the “MDL Litigation”).

There are approximately 6,800 holders of the subordinated notes issued in several states, with a total subordinated indebtedness of approximately $122 million. The unsecured creditors’ committee has also filed an action in the Thaxton bankruptcy against FINOVA, seeking to set aside FINOVA’s liens and payments collected due to alleged securities fraud, violations of banking regulations, preference payments and similar claims. The Company believes all the claims against FINOVA are without merit. FINOVA intends to vigorously defend the claims asserted against it in the MDL Litigation and by the creditors committee, and to protect its senior secured position in the bankruptcy proceedings for the Thaxton Entities.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” included herein. Capitalized terms not defined herein are used as defined in the Form 10-K. The following discussion relates to The FINOVA Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively “FINOVA” or the “Company”), including its principal operating subsidiary, FINOVA Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries (“FINOVA Capital”).

OVERVIEW

Restrictions on Business Activities. The Company’s business activities are limited to maximizing the value of its portfolio through the orderly collection of its assets. These activities include collection efforts pursuant to underlying contractual terms, negotiation of prepayments, sales of assets or collateral and may include efforts to retain certain customer relationships and restructure or terminate other relationships. The Company has sold substantial portions of asset portfolios and will consider future sales of any asset if buyers can be found at acceptable prices; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in efforts to sell additional assets. Any funds generated in excess of cash reserves permitted by the Company’s debt agreements are used to reduce FINOVA’s obligations to its creditors. The Company is prohibited by the Indenture governing its Senior Notes (the “Indenture”) from engaging in any new lending activities, except to honor existing customer commitments and in certain instances, to restructure financing relationships to maximize value.

Liquidity. Because substantially all of the Company’s assets are pledged to secure the obligations under the Intercompany Notes securing the Senior Notes, FINOVA’s ability to obtain additional or alternate financing is severely restricted. Berkadia has no obligation to lend additional sums to or to further invest in the Company. Accordingly, FINOVA intends to rely on internally generated cash flows from the liquidation of its assets as its only meaningful source of liquidity.

Collection/Liquidation of Assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, internally generated net cash flows from the portfolio totaled $824.2 million. These net cash flows together with existing cash on hand at year end were used to fund operations and service the Company’s debt obligations.

Total financial assets, net of the reserve for credit losses, declined to $811.1 million at September 30, 2004, down from $1.5 billion at December 31, 2003. The asset decline was primarily attributable to the sale and prepayment of the Company’s resort portfolio, scheduled collections, and additional asset sales and prepayments spread across the other asset portfolios.

The decline in net financial assets was partially offset by $104.2 million of non-cash activity, primarily the reversal of reserve for credit losses. Reserve reversals are down from the prior year, but the Company continues to experience better than previously anticipated realization on the portfolio. The majority of the reversal activity has been driven by prepayments, asset sales and collections in excess of recorded carrying amounts (net of reserves); however during the third quarter, a portion of the reversal was also attributable to valuation improvements in our transportation portfolio. In the second quarter, the aircraft-financing market began showing some signs of improvement. This positive trend continued throughout the third quarter, resulting in reserve reversals related to certain financing assets.

The non-cash reversal of reserve for credit losses and cash gains realized from asset sales were the primary drivers in the Company’s $84.1 million net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

Partial Prepayment of Senior Notes. During the third quarter of 2004, the Company made a $326.4 million partial principal prepayment on the Senior Notes, which reduced the outstanding principal to $2.4 billion. FINOVA announced two additional partial prepayments each in the amount of $118.7 million. The first payment was made in October, while the second payment is scheduled for November 15, 2004. Following these prepayments, cumulative principal prepayments through November 15, 2004 will total $801.3 million or 27% of the $3.0 billion principal amount outstanding as of December 31, 2003.

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A summary of prepayment activity on the Senior Notes is as follows:

In accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Company is required to use any excess cash, as defined in the Indenture, to make semi-annual interest and principal payments on the Senior Notes. Additionally, the Indenture permits voluntary prepayments at the Company’s option. The Company believes principal prepayments may not continue at the same pace. The Company’s asset pool continues to decline and generally contains less desirable assets than previously collected or sold.

The Company does not believe that it has sufficient assets to fully repay the Senior Notes, and the Indenture prohibits the Company from engaging in new business. Therefore, FINOVA intends to rely on the liquidation of its remaining assets as its only meaningful source of liquidity. Following repayment of the Berkadia Loan in February 2004, the Senior Notes have a first priority security interest in substantially all of FINOVA’s assets.

No Stockholder Payments Anticipated. Stockholders should not expect any payments or distributions from FINOVA. The Indenture contemplates that as principal payments are made on the Senior Notes, FINOVA stockholders will receive a distribution equal to 5.263% (i.e. 5%/95% as noted below) of each principal prepayment. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the remaining available cash after establishment of cash reserves as defined in the Indenture will be used to make prepayments of principal on the Senior Notes and five percent (5%) is identified for distributions to and/or repurchases of stock from common stockholders. However, the Indenture prohibits FINOVA from making distributions to and/or repurchases from stockholders if the payments would render the Company insolvent, would be a fraudulent conveyance or would not be permitted to be made under applicable law. Any such distribution and/or repurchase would be considered an impermissible restricted payment under the Indenture. Given the Company’s significant negative net worth and its belief that the Senior Notes will not be fully repaid, FINOVA is required to retain impermissible restricted payments until such time, if ever, that it is no longer restricted from making a distribution to its stockholders or until it is required to use the cash to satisfy its debt obligations. In conjunction with the prepayments of Senior Notes noted above, the Company will have retained a total of $42.2 million by November 15, 2004. Retained amounts are being segregated and reflected as restricted cash on the balance sheet.

HIGH INVESTMENT RISK OF SECURITIES. As previously stated, FINOVA believes that it will be unable to fully repay its Senior Notes and that it is unlikely that it will be able to make any distributions to its stockholders. Consequently, investing in the Senior Notes and common stock involves a high level of risk.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires FINOVA to use estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could materially impact the amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements. The Company believes the following to be among the most critical judgment areas in the application of its accounting policies.

Carrying Amounts, Impairment and Use of Estimates

Several of the Company’s accounting policies pertain to the ongoing determination of impairment reserves on financing assets and the carrying amount valuation of other financial assets. Determination of impairment reserves and carrying amounts rely, to a great extent, on the estimation and timing of future cash flows. FINOVA’s cash flow estimates assume that its asset portfolios are collected in an orderly fashion over time. These cash flows do not represent estimated recoverable amounts if FINOVA were to liquidate its asset portfolios over a short period of time. Management believes that a short-term asset liquidation could have a material negative impact on the Company’s ability to recover recorded amounts.

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FINOVA’s process of determining impairment reserves and carrying amounts includes a periodic assessment of its portfolios on a transaction by transaction basis. Cash flow estimates are based on current information and numerous assumptions concerning future general economic conditions, specific market segments, the financial condition of the Company’s customers and FINOVA’s collateral. In addition, assumptions are sometimes necessary concerning the customer’s ability to obtain full refinancing of balloon obligations or residuals at maturity. As a result, the Company’s cash flow estimates assume FINOVA incurs refinancing discounts for certain transactions.

Changes in facts and assumptions have resulted in, and may in the future result in, significant positive or negative changes to estimated cash flows and therefore, impairment reserves and carrying amounts.

Impairment of financing assets (subsequent to implementation of fresh-start reporting) is recorded through the Company’s reserve for credit losses, and accounting rules permit the reserve for credit losses to be increased or decreased as facts and assumptions change. However, certain financing assets were previously marked down for impairments that existed at the time fresh-start reporting was implemented. These marked down values became the Company’s cost basis in those assets, and accounting rules do not permit the carrying value of these assets to be increased above that fresh-start cost basis if subsequent facts and assumptions result in a projected increase in value. Recoveries of amounts in excess of the fresh-start cost basis are recorded through operations when collected.

Impairment of other financial assets is marked down directly against the asset’s carrying amount. Accounting rules permit further markdown if changes in facts and assumptions result in additional impairment; however, most of these assets (except certain investments and assets held for sale, which may be marked up for subsequent events) may not be marked up if subsequent facts and assumptions result in a projected increase in value. Recoveries of previous markdowns are recorded through operations when collected.

Because of these accounting restrictions, FINOVA is not permitted to fully reflect some anticipated improvements in the portfolio until they are actually realized.

The carrying amounts and reserve for credit losses recorded on FINOVA’s financial statements reflect the Company’s expectation of collecting less than the full contractual amounts owed by some of its customers and recovering less than its original investment in certain owned assets. The Company continues to pursue collection of full contractual amounts and original investments, where appropriate, in an effort to maximize the value of its asset portfolios.

FINOVA has a number of aircraft that are off-lease and anticipates that additional aircraft will be returned to the Company as leases expire or operators are unable or unwilling to continue making payments. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” FINOVA has recorded impairment losses on owned aircraft by calculating the present value of estimated cash flows. For many of these aircraft, scrap value was assumed, but for certain aircraft, the Company elected (or anticipates electing upon return of the aircraft) to park and maintain the aircraft under the assumption that they will be re-leased or sold in the future despite limited demand for certain of these aircraft today. While the current market makes it difficult to quantify, the Company believes that the recorded values determined under this methodology may significantly exceed the values that the Company would realize if it was required to liquidate those aircraft today; however, actual amounts recovered from these aircraft may differ from recorded amounts and will be significantly impacted by the used aircraft market in the future, which is difficult to predict.

The process of determining appropriate carrying amounts for these aircraft is particularly difficult and subjective, as it requires the Company to estimate future demand, lease rates and scrap values for assets for which there is limited demand. The Company re-assesses its estimates and assumptions each quarter. In particular, the Company assesses market activity and the likelihood that certain aircraft types, which are forecast to go back on lease in the future, will in fact be re-leased.

Reserve for Credit Losses. The reserve for credit losses represents FINOVA’s estimate of losses inherent in the portfolio and includes reserves on impaired assets and on assets that are not impaired. Impairment reserves are created if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated recovery, which is measured by estimating the present value of expected future cash flows (discounted at contractual rates), market value, or the fair value of collateral. These methodologies include the use of significant estimates and assumptions regarding future customer performance (which are inherently dependent upon assumptions about

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general economic conditions and those affecting the customer’s business), amount and timing of future cash flows and collateral value. Reserves on assets that are not impaired are based upon assumptions including general economic conditions, overall portfolio performance, including loss experience, delinquencies and other inherent portfolio characteristics. Actual results have in the past and could in the future, differ from these estimates, resulting in an increase or reversal of reserves. As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the reserve for credit losses totaled $145.4 million and $274.8 million, respectively.

Owned Assets. Assets held for the production of income and operating leases are carried at amortized cost with impairment adjustments, if any, recorded as permanent markdowns through operations. An owned asset is considered impaired if anticipated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset. Once the asset has been deemed impaired, accounting rules allow for several acceptable methods for measuring the amount of impairment. FINOVA’s typical method of measuring impairment is based on the comparison of the carrying amount of those assets to the present value of estimated future cash flows, using risk adjusted discount rates. These estimates include assumptions regarding lessee performance, the amount and timing of future cash flows, selection of risk adjusted discount rates for net present value calculations and residual value assumptions for leases. If future portfolio assessments indicate additional impairment, additional markdowns may be necessary. Recoveries of previous markdowns are recorded through operations when collected. As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, owned assets totaled $96.8 million and $127.9 million, or 10.1% and 7.1% of total financial assets (before reserves), respectively.

Assets Held for Sale. Assets held for sale are comprised of assets previously classified as financing transactions and other financial assets that management does not have the intent and/or the expected ability to hold to maturity. These assets are revalued quarterly and are carried at the lower of cost or market less anticipated selling expenses, with adjustment to estimated market value, if any, recorded as a gain or loss on financial assets. Market value is often determined by the estimation of anticipated future cash flows discounted at risk adjusted market rates to determine net present value. Valuation of assets held for sale includes estimates regarding market conditions and ultimate sales prices. Actual sales prices could differ from estimates, impacting results from operations. As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, assets held for sale totaled $116.8 million and $138.2 million, or 12.2% and 7.7% of total financial assets (before reserves), respectively.

Nonaccruing Assets. Accounts are generally classified as nonaccruing and recognition of income is suspended when a customer becomes 90 days past due on the payment of principal or interest, or earlier, if in the opinion of management, full recovery of contractual income and principal becomes doubtful. The decision to classify accounts as nonaccruing on the basis of criteria other than delinquency, is based on certain assumptions and estimates including current and future general economic conditions, industry specific economic conditions, customer financial performance, the ability of customers to obtain full refinancing of balloons or residuals due to FINOVA at maturity and FINOVA’s ability or willingness to provide such refinancing. In certain instances, accounts may be returned to accruing status if sustained contractual performance is demonstrated. Changes in borrower performance, assumptions or estimates could result in a material change in nonaccruing account classification and income recognition. As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, $324.8 million and $593.3 million, or 34.0% and 32.9% of total financial assets (before reserves), were classified as nonaccruing, respectively.

Fresh-Start Reporting. Upon emergence from chapter 11, the Company adopted fresh-start reporting, which resulted in material adjustments to the carrying amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The $863.7 million adjustment to assets was based on the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at appropriate risk adjusted interest rates selected at that time. Of this amount, $365.4 million was originally scheduled to amortize into income over the life of the underlying transactions, while $80.7 million remained unamortized as of September 30, 2004. If the underlying transactions are subsequently classified as nonaccruing, amortization ceases. As of September 30, 2004, accretion had been suspended on $42.0 million of the amortizable balance. The Senior Notes were initially recorded at $2.48 billion, reflecting their estimated fair value based upon their trading price shortly after they were issued. The $771.3 million original discount ($593.6 million as of September 30, 2004) to the Senior Notes is being partially amortized as additional interest expense over the term of the notes. Discount amortization is adjusted as principal payments are made. The amortization will continue to increase the recorded amount of the debt to the principal amount expected to be repaid at the time of emergence (approximately $2.8 billion). In the event that any Senior Notes are repurchased and extinguished, the unamortized fresh-start adjustment related to those notes is written off and reflected as part of the gain or loss recognized from extinguishment of the debt.

The adjustments relating to the adoption of fresh-start reporting were based on estimates of anticipated future cash flows, risk adjusted discount rates and the market value of the Company’s debt securities shortly after emergence, but prior to September 11, 2001. Changes to estimated cash flows could further impact the reserve for credit losses or cause additional write downs of assets. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States do not permit additional fair value adjustments to the Senior Notes after the initial fresh-start reporting date, including those that would have resulted from the impact of September 11.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As a result of the application of fresh-start reporting guidelines upon emergence from bankruptcy and the Company’s continued asset liquidation and shrinking operations, the consolidated financial statements are not necessarily comparable from period to period. Trends during any given period may not be indicative of future trends; however, the following discussion of results may provide useful information regarding the current status of the Company.