UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

Commission file number 000-50448

Marlin Business Services Corp.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

300 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(888) 479-9111

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

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 þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrant was required to submit and post such files.)  Yes o     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

       (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of such shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was approximately $50,970,293 as of June 30, 2009. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and persons known to us who beneficially owns 5% or more of our outstanding common stock have been excluded from this computation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

The number of shares of Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 25, 2010 was 12,727,965 shares.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement related to the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the close of Registrant’s fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

MARLIN BUSINESS SERVICES CORP.

 

FORM 10-K

 

INDEX

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this document may include the words or phrases “can be,” “expects,” “plans,” “may,” “may affect,” “may depend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “if” and similar words and phrases that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties and the Company cautions that any forward-looking information provided by or on its behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. Statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: (a) our business strategy; (b) our projected operating results; (c) our ability to obtain external financing; (d) the effectiveness of our hedges; (e) our understanding of our competition; and (f) industry and market trends. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, including, without limitation:

 

 

Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made and the Company is not required to update forward-looking statements for subsequent or unanticipated events or circumstances.

 

As used herein, the terms “Company,” “Marlin,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Marlin Business Services Corp. and its subsidiaries.

 

 

Overview

 

We are a nationwide provider of equipment financing and working capital solutions primarily to small businesses. We finance over 100 categories of commercial equipment important to our end user customers, including copiers, certain commercial and industrial equipment, security systems, computers and telecommunications equipment. Our average lease transaction was approximately $11,300 at December 31, 2009, and we typically do not exceed $250,000 for any single lease transaction. This segment of the equipment leasing market is commonly known in the industry as the small-ticket segment. We access our end user customers through origination sources comprised of our existing network of over 9,700 independent commercial equipment dealers and, to a much lesser extent, through relationships with lease brokers and direct solicitation of our end user customers. We use a highly efficient telephonic direct sales model to market to our origination sources. Through these origination sources, we are able to deliver convenient and flexible equipment financing to our end user customers. Our typical financing transaction involves a non-cancelable, full-payout lease with payments sufficient to recover the purchase price of the underlying equipment plus an expected profit. As of December 31, 2009, we serviced approximately 87,000 active equipment leases having a total original equipment cost of $985.9 million for approximately 72,000 end user customers.

 

On March 20, 2007, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) approved the application of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Marlin Business Bank (“MBB”) to become an industrial bank chartered by the State of Utah. MBB commenced operations effective March 12, 2008. MBB provides diversification of the Company’s funding sources and, over time, may add other product offerings to better serve our customer base.

On December 31, 2008, MBB received approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”) to (i) convert from an industrial bank to a state-chartered commercial bank and (ii) become a member of the Federal Reserve System. In addition, on December 31, 2008, Marlin Business Services Corp. received approval to become a bank holding company upon conversion of MBB from an industrial bank to a commercial bank.

 

On January 13, 2009, MBB converted from an industrial bank to a commercial bank chartered and supervised by the State of Utah and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”). In connection with the conversion of MBB to a commercial bank, Marlin Business Services Corp. became a bank holding company on January 13, 2009. In connection with this approval, the Federal Reserve Board required the Company to identify any of its activities or investments that were impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “Bank Holding Company Act”). Such activities or investments must be terminated or conform to the Bank Holding Company Act within two years of the approval (unless additional time is granted by the Federal Reserve Board). (See Supervision and Regulation in this Item 1). The Company’s reinsurance activities conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AssuranceOne, Ltd., are impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act. However, such activities would be permissible if the Company was a financial holding company, and the Company intends to seek certification from the Federal Reserve Board to become a financial holding company within two years from its approval on January 13, 2009 to become a bank holding company.

 

The small-ticket equipment leasing market is highly fragmented. We estimate that there are more than 100,000 independent equipment dealers who sell the types of equipment we finance. We focus primarily on the segment of the market comprised of the small and mid-size independent equipment dealers. We believe this segment is underserved because: 1) the large commercial finance companies and large commercial banks typically concentrate their efforts on marketing their products and services directly to equipment manufacturers and larger distributors, rather than the independent equipment dealers; and 2) many smaller commercial finance companies and regional banking institutions have not developed the systems and infrastructure required to service adequately these equipment dealers on high volume, low-balance transactions. We focus on establishing our relationships with independent equipment dealers to meet their need for high-quality, convenient point-of-sale lease financing programs. We provide equipment dealers with the ability to offer our lease financing and related services to their customers as an integrated part of their selling process, allowing them to increase their sales and provide better customer service. We believe our personalized service approach appeals to the independent equipment dealer by providing each dealer with a single point of contact to access our flexible lease programs, obtain rapid credit decisions and receive prompt payment of the equipment cost. Our fully integrated account origination platform enables us to solicit, process and service a large number of low-balance financing transactions. From our inception in 1997 to December 31, 2009, we have processed approximately 653,000 lease applications and originated over 279,000 new leases.

 

Reorganization and Initial Public Offering

 

Marlin Leasing Corporation was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 16, 1997. On August 5, 2003, we incorporated Marlin Business Services Corp. in Pennsylvania. On November 11, 2003, we reorganized our operations into a holding company structure by merging Marlin Leasing Corporation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marlin Business Services Corp. As a result, all former shareholders of Marlin Leasing Corporation became shareholders of Marlin Business Services Corp. After the reorganization, Marlin Leasing Corporation remains in existence as our primary operating subsidiary.

 

In November 2003, 5,060,000 shares of our common stock were issued in connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”). Of these shares, a total of 3,581,255 shares were sold by the company and 1,478,745 shares were sold by selling shareholders. The initial public offering price was $14.00 per share resulting in net proceeds to us, after payment of underwriting discounts and commissions but before other offering costs, of approximately $46.6 million. We did not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the selling shareholders.

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe several characteristics may distinguish us from our competitors, including the following:

 

Multiple Sales Origination Channels.  We use multiple sales origination channels to penetrate effectively the highly diversified and fragmented small-ticket equipment leasing market. Our direct origination channels, which historically have accounted for approximately 74% of our originations, involve: 1) establishing relationships with independent equipment dealers; 2) securing endorsements from national equipment manufacturers and distributors to become the preferred lease financing source for the independent dealers who sell their equipment; and 3) soliciting our existing end user customer base for repeat business. Our indirect origination channels have historically accounted for approximately 26% of our originations and consist of our relationships with brokers and certain equipment dealers who refer transactions to us for a fee or sell leases to us that they originated. In 2008, we took steps to reduce the portion of our business that is derived from the indirect channels to focus our origination resources on the more profitable direct channels. During 2009, the Company discontinued substantially all origination activity from indirect origination channels. As a result, indirect business represented only 2% of 2009 originations, while direct business represented 98%.

 

Highly Effective Account Origination Platform.  Our telephonic direct marketing platform offers origination sources a high level of personalized service through our team of 38 sales account executives, each of whom acts as the single point of contact for his or her origination sources. Our business model is built on a real-time, fully integrated customer information database and a contact management and telephony application that facilitate our account solicitation and servicing functions.

 

Comprehensive Credit Process.  We seek to manage credit risk effectively at the origination source as well as at the transaction and portfolio levels. Our comprehensive credit process starts with the qualification and ongoing review of our origination sources. Once the origination source is approved, our credit process focuses on analyzing and underwriting the end user customer and the specific financing transaction, regardless of whether the transaction was originated through our direct or indirect origination channels.

 

Portfolio Diversification.  As of December 31, 2009, no single end user customer accounted for more than 0.08% of our portfolio and leases from our largest origination source accounted for only 2.7% of our portfolio. Our portfolio is also diversified nationwide with the largest state portfolios existing in California (12%), Florida (9%), and New York (9%).

 

Fully Integrated Information Management System.  Our business integrates information technology solutions to optimize the sales origination, credit, collection and account servicing functions. Throughout a transaction, we collect a significant amount of information on our origination sources and end user customers. The enterprise-wide integration of our systems enables data collected by one group, such as credit, to be used by other groups, such as sales or collections, to better perform their functions.

 

Sophisticated Collections Environment.  Our centralized collections department is structured to collect delinquent accounts, minimize credit losses and collect post charge-off recovery dollars. Our collection strategy employs a delinquency bucket segmentation approach, where certain collectors are assigned to accounts based on their delinquency status. The delinquency bucket segmentation approach allows us to assign our more experienced collectors to the late stage delinquent accounts. In addition, the collections department utilizes specialist collectors who focus on delinquent late fees, property taxes, bankrupt and large balance accounts.

 

Access to Multiple Funding Sources.  We have established and maintained diversified funding capacity through multiple facilities with several national credit providers. The opening of our wholly-owned subsidiary, MBB, provides an additional funding source, primarily through the issuance of FDIC-insured certificates of deposit raised nationally through various brokered deposit relationships and FDIC-insured retail deposits directly from other financial institutions. Our proven ability to access funding consistently at competitive rates through various economic cycles provides us with the liquidity necessary to manage our business. (See Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 7).

Experienced Management Team.  Our executive officers average more than 19 years of experience in providing financing solutions primarily to small businesses. As we have grown, our founders have expanded the management team with a group of successful, seasoned executives.

 

Disciplined Growth Strategy

 

Our primary objective is to enhance our current position as a provider of equipment financing and working capital solutions, primarily to small businesses, by pursuing a strategy focused on organic growth initiatives while actively managing credit risk. We have responded to recent economic conditions with more restrictive credit standards, while continuing to pursue strategies designed to increase the number of independent equipment dealers and other origination sources that generate and develop lease customers. We also target strategies to further penetrate our existing origination sources.

 

Personnel costs represent our most significant overhead expense and we actively manage our staffing levels to the requirements of our lease portfolio. As a financial services company, we have been navigating through the ongoing challenging economic environment. In response to this environment, on May 13, 2008, we reduced our staffing by approximately 14.7%. This action was part of an overall effort to reduce operating costs in light of our decision to moderate growth in fiscal 2008. Approximately 51 employees were affected as a result of the staff reduction. On May 13, 2008, we notified the affected employees. We incurred pretax costs in the three months ended June 30, 2008 of approximately $501,000 related to this action, almost all of which was related to severance costs. The total annualized pretax cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.6 million.

 

We continued to face a challenging economic environment in 2009. As a result, we proactively lowered expenses in the first quarter of 2009, including reducing our workforce by 17% and closing our two smallest satellite sales offices in Chicago and Utah. A total of approximately 49 employees company-wide were affected as a result of the staff reductions in the first quarter of 2009. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended March 31, 2009 of approximately $500,000 related to the staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.3 million.

 

During the second quarter of 2009, we announced a further workforce reduction of 24%, or 55 employees company-wide, including the closure of our Denver satellite office. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $700,000 related to these staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.9 million. Although we believe that our estimates are appropriate and reasonable based on available information, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Asset Originations

 

Overview of Origination Process.  We access our end user customers through our extensive network of independent equipment dealers and, to a much lesser extent, through the direct solicitation of our end user customers. We use a highly efficient telephonic direct sales model to market to our origination sources. Through these sources, we are able to deliver convenient and flexible equipment financing to our end user customers.

 

Our origination process begins with our database of thousands of origination source prospects located throughout the United States. We developed and continually update this database by purchasing marketing data from third parties, such as Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., by joining industry organizations and by attending equipment trade shows. The independent equipment dealers we target typically have had limited access to lease financing programs, as the traditional providers of this financing generally have concentrated their efforts on equipment manufacturers and larger distributors.

 

The prospects in our database are systematically distributed to our sales force for solicitation and further data collection. Sales account executives access prospect information and related marketing data through our contact management software. This contact management software enables the sales account executives to sort their origination sources and prospects by any data field captured, schedule calling campaigns, fax marketing materials, send e-mails, produce correspondence and documents, manage their time and calendar, track activity, recycle leads

and review management reports. We have also integrated predictive dialer technology into the contact management system, enabling our sales account executives to create efficient calling campaigns to any subset of the origination sources in the database.

 

Once a sales account executive converts a prospect into an active relationship, that sales account executive becomes the origination source’s single point of contact for all dealings with us. This approach, which is a cornerstone of our origination platform, offers our origination sources a personal relationship through which they can address all of their questions and needs, including matters relating to pricing, credit, documentation, training and marketing. This single point of contact approach distinguishes us from our competitors, many of whom require the origination sources to interface with several people in various departments, such as sales support, credit and customer service, for each application submitted. Since many of our origination sources have little or no prior experience in using lease financing as a sales tool, our personalized, single point of contact approach facilitates the leasing process for them. Other key aspects of our platform aimed at facilitating the lease financing process for the origination sources include:

 

 

Of our 181 total employees as of December 31, 2009, we employed 38 sales account executives, each of whom receives a base salary and earns commissions based on his or her lease and loan originations. We also employed 3 employees dedicated to marketing as of December 31, 2009.

 

Sales Origination Channels.  We currently use direct sales origination channels to penetrate effectively a multitude of origination sources in the highly diversified and fragmented small-ticket equipment leasing market. All sales account executives use our telephonic direct marketing sales model to solicit these origination sources and end user customers.

 

Direct Channels.  Our direct sales origination channels, which have historically accounted for approximately 74% of our originations, involve:

 

 

Indirect Channels.  Our indirect origination channels have historically accounted for approximately 26% of our originations and consist of our relationships with lease brokers and certain equipment dealers who refer end user customer transactions to us for a fee or sell us leases that they originated with an end user customer. We conduct our own independent credit analysis on each end user customer in an indirect lease transaction. We have written agreements with most of our indirect origination sources whereby they provide us with certain representations and warranties about the underlying lease transaction. The origination sources in our indirect channels generate leases that are similar to our direct channels.

 

In 2008, we took steps to reduce the portion of our business that is derived from the indirect channels to focus our origination resources on the more profitable direct channels. During 2009, the Company discontinued substantially all origination activity from indirect origination channels. As a result, indirect business represented only 2% of 2009 originations while direct business represented 98%.

 

Sales Recruiting, Training and Mentoring

 

Sales account executive candidates are screened for previous sales experience and communication skills, phone presence and teamwork orientation. Each new sales account executive undergoes a comprehensive training program shortly after he or she is hired. The training program covers the fundamentals of lease finance and introduces the sales account executive to our origination and credit policies and procedures. It also covers technical training on our databases and our information management tools and techniques. At the end of the program, the sales account executives are tested to ensure they meet our standards. In addition to our formal training program, sales account executives receive extensive on-the-job training and mentoring. All sales account executives sit in groups, providing newer sales account executives the opportunity to learn first-hand from their more senior peers. In addition, our sales managers frequently monitor and coach sales account executives during phone calls, providing the executives immediate feedback. Our sales account executives also receive continuing education and training, including periodic, detailed presentations on our contact management system, underwriting guidelines and sales enhancement techniques.

 

Product Offerings

 

Equipment Leases.  The types of lease products offered by each of our sales origination channels share common characteristics, and we generally underwrite our leases using the same criteria. We seek to reduce the financial risk associated with our lease transactions through the use of full pay-out leases. A full pay-out lease provides that the non-cancelable rental payments due during the initial lease term are sufficient to recover the purchase price of the underlying equipment plus an expected profit. The initial non-cancelable lease term is equal to or less than the equipment’s economic life. Initial terms generally range from 36 to 60 months. At December 31, 2009, the average original term of the leases in our portfolio was approximately 50 months, and we had personal guarantees on approximately 41% of our leases. The remaining terms and conditions of our leases are substantially similar, generally requiring end user customers to, among other things:

 

 

We charge late fees when appropriate throughout the term of the lease. Our standard lease contract provides that in the event of a default, we can require payment of the entire balance due under the lease through the initial term and can take action to seize and remove the equipment for subsequent sale, refinancing or other disposal at our discretion, subject to any limitations imposed by law.

At the time of application, end user customers select a purchase option that will allow them to purchase the equipment at the end of the contract term for either one dollar, the fair market value of the equipment or a specified percentage of the original equipment cost. We seek to realize our recorded residual in leased equipment at the end of the initial lease term by collecting the purchase option price from the end user customer, re-marketing the equipment in the secondary market or receiving additional rental payments pursuant to the contract’s automatic renewal provision.

 

Property Insurance on Leased Equipment.  Our lease agreements specifically require the end user customers to obtain all-risk property insurance in an amount equal to the replacement value of the equipment and to designate us as the loss payee on the policy. If the end user customer already has a commercial property policy for its business, it can satisfy its obligation under the lease by delivering a certificate of insurance that evidences us as a loss payee under that policy. At December 31, 2009, approximately 57% of our end user customers insured the equipment under their existing policies. For the others, we offer an insurance product through a master property insurance policy underwritten by a third-party national insurance company that is licensed to write insurance under our program in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This master policy names us as the beneficiary for all of the equipment insured under the policy and provides all-risk coverage for the replacement cost of the equipment.

 

In May 2000, we established AssuranceOne, Ltd., our Bermuda-based, wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary, to enter into a reinsurance contract with the issuer of the master property insurance policy. Under this contract, AssuranceOne reinsures 100% of the risk under the master policy, and the issuing insurer pays AssuranceOne the policy premiums, less a ceding fee based on annual net premiums written. The reinsurance contract expires in May 2012.

 

Portfolio Overview

 

At December 31, 2009, we had 87,458 active leases in our portfolio, representing aggregate minimum lease payments receivable of $495.0 million. With respect to our portfolio at December 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

Information Management

 

A critical element of our business operations is our ability to collect detailed information on our origination sources and end user customers at all stages of a financing transaction and to manage that information effectively so that it can be used across all aspects of our business. Our information management system integrates a number of technologies to optimize our sales origination, credit, collection and account servicing functions. Applications used across our business include:

 

 

 

Our information technology platform infrastructure is industry standard and fully scalable to support future growth. Our systems are backed up nightly and a full set of data tapes is sent to an off-site storage provider weekly. In addition, we have contracted with a third party for disaster recovery services.

 

Credit Underwriting

 

Credit underwriting is separately performed and managed apart from asset origination. Credit analysts are centralized in our New Jersey headquarters and at December 31, 2009 we had a total of 12 analysts, each with an average of more than 8 years of experience. Each credit analyst is measured monthly against a discrete set of performance variables, including decision turnaround time, approval and loss rates, and adherence to our underwriting policies and procedures.

 

Our typical financing transaction involves three parties: the origination source, the end user customer and us. The key elements of our comprehensive credit underwriting process include the pre-qualification and ongoing review of origination sources, the performance of due diligence procedures on each end user customer and the monitoring of overall portfolio trends and underwriting standards.

 

Pre-qualification and Ongoing Review of Origination Sources.  Each origination source must be pre-qualified before we will accept applications from it. The origination source must submit a source profile, which we use to review the origination source’s credit information and check references. Over time, our database has captured credit profiles on thousands of origination sources. We regularly track all applications and lease originations by source, assessing whether the origination source has a high application decline rate and analyzing the delinquency rates on the leases originated through that source. Any unusual situations that arise involving the origination source are noted in the source’s file. Each origination source is reviewed on a regular basis using portfolio performance statistics as well as any other information noted in the source’s file. We will place an origination source on watch status if its portfolio performance statistics are consistently below our expectations. If the origination source’s statistics do not improve in a timely manner, we often stop accepting applications from that origination source.

 

End User Customer Review.  Each end user customer’s application is reviewed using our rules-based set of underwriting guidelines that focus on commercial and consumer credit data. These underwriting guidelines have been developed and refined by our management team based on their experience in extending credit to small businesses. The guidelines are reviewed and revised as necessary by our Senior Credit Committee, which is comprised of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Lending Officer and Vice President of Collections. Our underwriting guidelines require a thorough credit investigation of the end user customer. The guidelines also include an analysis of the personal credit of the owner, who often guarantees the transaction, and verification of the corporate name and location. The credit analyst may also consider other factors in the credit decision process, including:

 

 

 

Transactions over $50,000 receive a higher level of scrutiny, often including a review of financial statements or tax returns and review of the business purpose of the equipment to the end user customer.

 

Within two hours of receipt of the application, the credit analyst is usually ready to render a credit decision on transactions less than $50,000. If there is insufficient information to render a credit decision, a request for more information will be made by the credit analyst. Credit approvals are typically valid for a 45-day period from the date of initial approval. In the event that the funding does not occur within the initial approval period, a re-approval may be issued after the credit analyst has reprocessed all the relevant credit information to determine that the creditworthiness of the applicant has not deteriorated.

 

In most instances after a lease is approved, a phone verification with the end user customer is performed by us, or in some instances by the origination source, prior to funding the transaction. The purpose of this call is to verify information on the credit application, review the terms and conditions of the lease contract, confirm the customer’s satisfaction with the equipment, and obtain additional billing information. We will delay paying the origination source for the equipment if the credit analyst uncovers any material issues during the phone verification.

 

Monitoring of Portfolio Trends and Underwriting Standards.  Credit personnel use our databases and our information management tools to monitor the characteristics and attributes of our overall portfolio. Reports are produced to analyze origination source performance, end user customer delinquencies, portfolio concentrations, trends, and other related indicators of portfolio performance. Any significant findings are presented to the Senior Credit Committee for review and action.

 

Our internal credit surveillance team is responsible for ensuring that the credit department adheres to all underwriting guidelines. The audits produced by this department are designed to monitor our origination sources, appropriateness of exceptions to credit policy and documentation quality. Management reports are regularly generated by this department detailing the results of these surveillance activities.

 

Account Servicing

 

We service all of the leases we originate. Account servicing involves a variety of functions performed by numerous work groups, including:

 

 

Our integrated lease processing and accounting systems automate many of the functions associated with servicing high volumes of small-ticket leasing transactions.

Collection Process

 

Our centralized collections department is structured to collect delinquent accounts, minimize credit losses and collect post-default recovery dollars. Our collection strategy employs a delinquency bucket segmentation approach, where certain collectors are assigned to accounts based on their delinquency status. The collectors are individually accountable for their results and a significant portion of their compensation is based on the delinquency performance of their accounts. The delinquency bucket segmentation approach allows us to assign our more experienced collectors to the later stage delinquent accounts.

 

Our collection activities begin with phone contact when a payment becomes ten days past due and continue throughout the delinquency period. We utilize a predictive dialer that automates outbound telephone dialing. The dialer is primarily used to focus on and reduce the number of accounts that are between ten and 30 days delinquent. A series of collection notices are sent once an account reaches the 30-, 60-, 75- and 90-day delinquency stages. Collectors input notes directly into our servicing system, enabling the collectors to monitor the status of problem accounts and promptly take any necessary actions. In addition, late charges are assessed when a leasing customer fails to remit payment on a lease by its due date. If the lease continues to be delinquent, we may exercise our remedies under the terms of the contract, including acceleration of the entire lease balance, litigation and/or repossession.

 

In addition, the collections department employs specialist collectors who focus on delinquent late fees, property taxes, bankrupt and large balance accounts.

 

After an account becomes 120 days or more past due, it is generally charged-off and referred to our internal recovery group, consisting of a team of paralegals and collectors. The group utilizes several resources in an attempt to maximize recoveries on charged-off accounts, including: 1) initiating litigation against the end user customer and any personal guarantor using our internal legal staff; 2) referring the account to an outside law firm or collection agency; and/or 3) repossessing and remarketing the equipment through third parties.

 

At the end of the initial lease term, a customer may return the equipment, continue leasing the equipment, or purchase the equipment for the amount set forth in the purchase option granted to the customer. The end of term department maintains a team of employees who seek to realize our recorded residual in the leased equipment at the end of the lease term.

 

Supervision and Regulation

 

Although most states do not directly regulate the commercial equipment lease financing business, certain states require lenders and finance companies to be licensed, impose limitations on interest rates and other charges, mandate disclosure of certain contract terms and constrain collection practices and remedies. Under certain circumstances, we also may be required to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. These acts require, among other things, that we provide notice to credit applicants of their right to receive a written statement of reasons for declined credit applications. The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) of 1991 and similar state statutes or rules that govern telemarketing practices are generally not applicable to our business-to-business calling platform; however, we are subject to the sections of the TCPA that regulate business-to-business facsimiles. The Fair and Accurate Transactions Act (“FACT ACT”) requires financial institutions to establish a written program to implement “Red Flag Guidelines”, which is intended to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft. The FACT ACT also provides guidance regarding reasonable policies and procedures that a user of consumer credit reports must employ when a consumer reporting agency sends the user a notice of address discrepancy.

 

Our insurance operations are subject to various types of governmental regulation. We are required to maintain insurance producer licenses in states where we sell our insurance product. Our wholly-owned insurance company subsidiary, AssuranceOne Ltd., is a Class 1 Bermuda insurance company and, as such, is subject to the Insurance Act 1978 of Bermuda, as amended, and related regulations.

 

Banking Regulation.  On January 13, 2009, in connection with the conversion of MBB from an industrial bank to a commercial bank, we became a bank holding company by order of the Federal Reserve Board and will be subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act. In connection with this approval, the Federal Reserve

Board required the Company to identify any of its activities or investments that were impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act. Such activities or investments must be terminated or conform to the Bank Holding Company Act within two years of the approval (unless additional time is granted by the Federal Reserve Board). The Company also agreed not to make additional investments in, or increase the types of impermissible products or services offered during this timeframe without the approval of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company’s reinsurance activities conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AssuranceOne, Ltd., are impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act. However, such activities would be permissible if the Company was a financial holding company, and the Company intends to seek certification from the Federal Reserve Board to become a financial holding company within two years from its approval on January 13, 2009 to become a bank holding company. The Bank Holding Company Act requires prior approval of an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a bank or of ownership or control of voting shares of any bank if the share acquisition would give us more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank or bank holding company.

 

MBB is also subject to comprehensive federal and state regulations dealing with a wide variety of subjects, including reserve requirements, loan limitations, restrictions as to interest rates on loans and deposits, restrictions as to dividend payments, requirements governing the establishment of branches, and numerous other aspects of its operations. These regulations generally have been adopted to protect depositors and creditors rather than shareholders. All of our subsidiaries may be subject to examination by the Federal Reserve Board even if not otherwise regulated by the Federal Reserve Board, subject to certain conditions in the case of “functionally regulated subsidiaries,” such as broker/dealers and registered investment advisers.

 

Regulations governing MBB restrict extensions of credit by such institution to Marlin and, with some exceptions, to other Marlin affiliates. For these purposes, extensions of credit include loans and advances to and guarantees and letters of credit on behalf of Marlin and such affiliates. These regulations also restrict investments by MBB in the stock or other securities of Marlin and the covered affiliates, as well as the acceptance of such stock or other securities as collateral for loans to any borrower, whether or not related to Marlin.

 

Additional Activities.  Bank holding companies and their banking and non-banking subsidiaries have traditionally been limited to the business of banking and activities which are closely related thereto. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLB Act”) expanded the provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act by including a section that permits a bank holding company to become a financial holding company and permits them to engage in a full range of financial activities. A financial holding company is permitted to engage in a wide variety of activities deemed to be “financial in nature” and includes lending, exchanging, transferring, investing for others, or safeguarding money or securities, providing financial, investment or economic advisory services and underwriting, dealing in, or making a market in securities. It is our intention in the future to seek certification from the Federal Reserve Board to become a financial holding company.

 

Capital Adequacy.  Under the risk-based capital requirements applicable to them, bank holding companies must maintain a ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets (including the asset equivalent of certain off-balance sheet activities such as acceptances and letters of credit) of not less than 8% (10% in order to be considered “well-capitalized”). At least 4% out of the total capital (6% to be well-capitalized) must be composed of common stock, related surplus, retained earnings, qualifying perpetual preferred stock and minority interests in the equity accounts of certain consolidated subsidiaries, after deducting goodwill and certain other intangibles (“Tier 1 Capital”). The remainder of total capital (“Tier 2 Capital”) may consist of certain perpetual debt securities, mandatory convertible debt securities, hybrid capital instruments and limited amounts of subordinated debt, qualifying preferred stock, allowance for loan and lease losses, allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures, and unrealized gains on equity securities.

 

The Federal Reserve Board has also established minimum leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines mandate a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets less certain amounts (“leverage amounts”) equal to 3% for bank holding companies meeting certain criteria (including those having the highest regulatory rating). All other banking organizations are generally required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 3% plus an additional cushion of at least 100 basis points and in some cases more. The Federal Reserve Board’s guidelines also provide that bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions are expected to maintain capital positions substantially above the minimum

supervisory levels without significant reliance on intangible assets. Furthermore, the guidelines indicate that the Federal Reserve Board will continue to consider a “tangible tier 1 leverage ratio” (i.e., after deducting all intangibles) in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities. MBB is subject to similar capital standards promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board.

 

The federal bank regulatory agencies’ risk-based capital guidelines for years have been based upon the 1988 capital accord (“Basel I”) of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, a committee of central bankers and bank supervisors from the major industrialized countries. This body develops broad policy guidelines for use by each country’s supervisors in determining the supervisory policies they apply. In 2004, it proposed a new capital adequacy framework (“Basel II”) for large, internationally active banking organizations to replace Basel I. Basel II was designed to produce a more risk-sensitive result than its predecessor. However, certain portions of Basel II entail complexities and costs that were expected to preclude their practical application to the majority of U.S. banking organizations that lack the economies of scale needed to absorb the associated expenses.

 

Effective April 1, 2008, the U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted Basel II for application to certain banking organizations in the United States. The new capital adequacy framework apply to organizations that (i) have consolidated assets of at least $250 billion, or (ii) have consolidated total on-balance sheet foreign exposures of at least $10 billion, or (iii) are eligible to, and elect to, opt-in to the new framework even though not required to do so under clause (i) or (ii) above, or (iv) as a general matter, are subsidiaries of a bank or bank holding company that uses the new rule. During a two-year phase in period, organizations required or electing to apply Basel II will report their capital adequacy calculations separately under both Basel I and Basel II on a “parallel run” basis.

 

Given the high thresholds noted above, Marlin is not required to apply Basel II and does not expect to apply it in the foreseeable future. Related modifications to regulatory practice in late 2009 to address issues related to the financial crisis of 2008 also did not require a change in MBB’s regulatory capital calculations. The U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies issued a separate proposal in December 2006 that would modify the existing Basel I framework applicable to the vast majority of U.S. banking organizations not required or electing to use the new Basel II program. The goal of this separate proposal would be to provide a more risk-sensitive capital regime for those organizations and to address concerns that the new Basel II framework would otherwise present significant competitive advantages for the largest participants in the U.S. banking industry.

 

Prompt Corrective Action.  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) requires the federal regulators to take prompt corrective action against any undercapitalized institution. FDICIA establishes five capital categories: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized. Well-capitalized institutions significantly exceed the required minimum level for each relevant capital measure. Adequately capitalized institutions include depository institutions that meet but do not significantly exceed the required minimum level for each relevant capital measure. Undercapitalized institutions consist of those that fail to meet the required minimum level for one or more relevant capital measures. Significantly undercapitalized characterizes depository institutions with capital levels significantly below the minimum requirements for any relevant capital measure. Critically undercapitalized refers to depository institutions with minimal capital and at serious risk for government seizure.

 

Under certain circumstances, a well-capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized institution may be treated as if the institution were in the next lower capital category. A depository institution is generally prohibited from making capital distributions, including paying dividends, or paying management fees to a holding company if the institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. Institutions that are adequately capitalized but not well-capitalized cannot accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits except with a waiver from the FDIC and are subject to restrictions on the interest rates that can be paid on such deposits. Undercapitalized institutions may not accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits.

 

The federal bank regulatory agencies are permitted or, in certain cases, required to take certain actions with respect to institutions falling within one of the three undercapitalized categories. Depending on the level of an institution’s capital, the agency’s corrective powers include, among other things:

 

 

 

A banking institution that is undercapitalized is required to submit a capital restoration plan, and such a plan will not be accepted unless, among other things, the banking institution’s holding company guarantees the plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy. At December 31, 2009, MBB’s Tier 1 leverage ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and total risk-based capital ratio were 15.55%, 16.07% and 17.12%, respectively, compared to requirements for well-capitalized status of 5%, 6% and 10%, respectively.

 

Pursuant to the Order issued by the FDIC on March 20, 2007 (the “Order”), MBB was required to have beginning paid-in capital funds of not less than $12.0 million and must keep its total risk-based capital ratio above 15%. MBB’s equity balance at December 31, 2009 was $16.1 million, which qualifies for “well capitalized” status.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance.  Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005, the FDIC adopted a new risk-based premium system for FDIC deposit insurance, providing for quarterly assessments of FDIC insured institutions based on their respective rankings in one of four risk categories depending upon their examination ratings and capital ratios. Beginning in 2007, well-capitalized institutions with certain “CAMELS” ratings (under the Uniform Financial Institutions Examination System adopted by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council) were grouped in Risk Category I and were assessed for deposit insurance premiums at an annual rate, with the assessment rate for the particular institution to be determined according to a formula based on a weighted average of the institution’s individual CAMELS component ratings plus either a set of financial ratios or the average ratings of its long-term debt. Institutions in Risk Categories II, III and IV are assessed premiums at progressively higher rates. MBB is designated a Risk Category I institution for purposes of the risk-based assessment for FDIC deposit insurance.

 

On November 21, 2008, following a determination by the Secretary of the Treasury that systemic risk existed in the nation’s financial sector, the FDIC Board of Directors adopted a new program to strengthen confidence and encourage liquidity in the banking system by guaranteeing newly issued senior unsecured debt of banks, thrifts, and certain holding companies, and by providing full coverage of noninterest-bearing deposit transaction accounts, regardless of dollar amount (the “Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program” (“TLGP”)). MBB has not participated in either facet of the TLGP.

 

After the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the “EESA”), the FDIC also increased deposit insurance for all deposit accounts up to $250,000 per account as of October 3, 2008 and ending December 31, 2009. In May 2009, a law was signed extending the temporary increase through December 31, 2013. Legislation has been introduced that will make this increase permanent. On December 16, 2008, the FDIC Board of Directors determined deposit insurance assessment rates for the first quarter of 2009. Effective April 1, 2009, the FDIC changed the way its assessment system differentiates for risk, making corresponding changes to assessment rates beginning with the second quarter of 2009, and make certain technical and other changes to these rules. The increase in deposit insurance described above, as well as the recent increase and anticipated additional increase in the number of bank failures, is expected to result in an increase in deposit insurance assessments for all banks. The FDIC is required by law to return the insurance reserve ratio to a 1.15 percent ratio no later than the end of 2013. Recent failures caused that ratio to fall to 0.76 percent as of September 30, 2008.

 

On November 12, 2009, the Board of Directors of the FDIC voted to require insured institutions to prepay slightly over three years of estimated insurance assessments. The pre-payment allows the FDIC to strengthen the cash position of the Deposit Insurance Fund immediately without immediately impacting earnings of the industry. Payment of the prepaid assessment, along with the payment of MBB’s regular third quarter assessment, was paid when due on December 30, 2009.

Source of Strength Doctrine.  Under Federal Reserve Board policy and regulation, a bank holding company must serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to each of its subsidiary banks and is expected to stand prepared to commit resources to support each of them. Consistent with this policy, the Federal Reserve Board has stated that, as a matter of prudent banking, a bank holding company should generally not maintain a given rate of cash dividends unless its net income available to common shareholders has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears to be consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition.

 

USA Patriot Act of 2001.  A major focus of governmental policy applicable to financial institutions in recent years has been the effort to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”) was enacted to strengthen the ability of the U.S. law enforcement and intelligence communities to achieve this goal. The Patriot Act requires financial institutions, including our banking subsidiary, to assist in the prevention, detection and prosecution of money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The Patriot Act established standards to be followed by institutions in verifying client identification when accounts are opened and provides rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement organizations in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering.

 

Privacy.  Title V of the GLB Act is intended to increase the level of privacy protection afforded to customers of financial institutions, including customers of the securities and insurance affiliates of such institutions, partly in recognition of the increased cross-marketing opportunities created by the GLB Act’s elimination of many of the boundaries previously separating various segments of the financial services industry. Among other things, these provisions require institutions to have in place administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information, to protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such records, and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to a customer.

 

EESA.  Turmoil in the nation’s financial sector during 2008 resulted in the passage of the EESA and the adoption of several programs by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as well as several actions by the Federal Reserve Board. One such program under the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) was action by Treasury to make significant investments in U.S. financial institutions through the Capital Purchase Program. Our application to provide us with the flexibility to participate in the TARP was approved. However, based upon subsequent evaluation, we declined to participate.

 

The Federal Reserve has also developed an Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Fund Liquidity Facility (“AMLF”) and the Commercial Paper Funding Facility (“CPFF”). The AMLF provides loans to depository institutions to purchase asset-backed commercial paper from money market mutual funds. The CPFF provides a liquidity backstop to U.S. issuers of commercial paper. These facilities are presently authorized through February 1, 2010. We did not participate in either AMLF or CPFF.

 

TALF program.  In 2009, the Federal Reserve also created the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (“TALF”) program, the intent of which was to make credit available to consumers and businesses on more favorable terms by facilitating the issuance of asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and improving the market conditions for ABS more generally. The TALF program provided ABS investors with financing to support their purchases of certain AAA-rated securities. On February 12, 2010, we issued $80.7 million of term ABS securities through our special purpose subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Receivables XII LLC, and the senior tranche of the offering was rated AAA, thereby making it eligible under the TALF program.

 

Future Legislation.  From time to time, legislation will be introduced in Congress and state legislatures with respect to the regulation of financial institutions. The financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 has resulted in U.S. government and regulatory agencies placing increased focus and scrutiny on the financial services industry. The U.S. government has intervened on an unprecedented scale by temporarily enhancing the liquidity support available to financial institutions, establishing a commercial paper funding facility, temporarily guaranteeing money market funds and certain types of debt issuances and increasing insurance on bank deposits, among other things.

 

These programs have subjected financial institutions to additional restrictions, oversight and costs. In addition, new proposals for legislation continue to be introduced in Congress that could further substantially increase

regulation of the financial services industry, impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within the industry to conduct business consistent with historical practices, including in the areas of compensation, interest rates and financial product offerings and disclosures, among other things. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. We cannot determine the ultimate effect that potential legislation, if enacted, or any regulations issued to implement it, would have on us.

 

National Monetary Policy.  In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, the earnings and growth of MBB are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. An important function of the Federal Reserve Board is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve Board to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, adjustments of the discount rate, and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments, and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

 

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our future business, earnings, and growth cannot be predicted.

 

Dividends.  The Federal Reserve Board has issued policy statements which provide that, as a general matter, insured banks and bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. Additionally, pursuant to its FDIC Order, MBB is not permitted to pay dividends during the first three years of operations without the prior written approval of the FDIC and the State of Utah.

 

Transfers of Funds and Transactions with Affiliates.  Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and applicable regulations impose restrictions on MBB that limit the transfer of funds by MBB to Marlin and certain of its affiliates, in the form of loans, extensions of credit, investments or purchases of assets. These transfers by MBB to Marlin or any other single affiliate are limited in amount to 10% of MBB’s capital and surplus, and transfers to all affiliates are limited in the aggregate to 20% of MBB’s capital and surplus. These loans and extensions of credit are also subject to various collateral requirements. Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and applicable regulations also require generally that MBB’s transactions with its affiliates be on terms no less favorable to MBB than comparable transactions with unrelated third parties. MBB completed de novo purchases totaling approximately $48.0 million of eligible leases and loans from Marlin Leasing Corporation during the second quarter of 2008, which completed the anticipated de novo transactions allowed by the Order.

 

Restrictions on Ownership.  Subject to certain exceptions, the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the FDIC has been notified 60 days prior to such acquisition and has not objected to the transaction. Under a rebuttable presumption in the Change in Bank Control Act, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, such as the Company, would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute acquisition of control of the bank holding company. The regulations provide a procedure for challenging this rebuttable control presumption.

 

We believe that we currently are in compliance with all material statutes and regulations that are applicable to our business.

 

Competition

 

We compete with a variety of equipment financing sources that are available to small businesses, including:

 

 

Our principal competitors in the highly fragmented and competitive small-ticket equipment leasing market are smaller finance companies and local and regional banks. Other providers of equipment lease financing include Key Corp, De Lage Landen Financial, GE Commercial Equipment Finance and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Many of these companies are substantially larger than we are and have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. While these larger competitors provide lease financing to the marketplace, many of them are not our primary competitors given that our average transaction size is relatively small and that our marketing focus is on independent equipment dealers and their end user customers. Nevertheless, there can be no assurances that these providers of equipment lease financing will not increase their focus on our market and begin to compete more directly with us.

 

Some of our competitors have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. A lower cost of funds could enable a competitor to offer leases with yields that are less than the yields we use to price our leases, which might force us to lower our yields or lose lease origination volume. In addition, certain of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could enable them to establish more origination sources and end user customer relationships and increase their market share. We compete on the quality of service we provide to our origination sources and end user customers. We have and will continue to encounter significant competition.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2009, we employed 181 people. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced any work stoppages.

 

Available Information

 

We are a Pennsylvania corporation with our principal executive offices located at 300 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054. Our telephone number is (888) 479-9111 and our Web site address is www.marlincorp.com.  We make available free of charge through the Investor Relations section of our Web site our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. We include our Web site address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our Web site.

 

 

Set forth below and elsewhere in this report and in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission are risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report and other periodic statements we make.

 

If we cannot obtain external financing, we may be unable to fund our operations.  Our business requires a substantial amount of cash to operate. Our cash requirements will increase if our lease originations increase. We historically have obtained a substantial amount of the cash required for operations through a variety of external financing sources, such as borrowings under a revolving bank facility, along with financing of leases through commercial paper (“CP”) conduit warehouse facilities, a long-term loan facility and term note securitizations. A failure to renew and increase the funding availability under our existing facilities or to add new funding facilities could affect our ability to fund and originate new leases. An inability to complete term note securitizations or similar funding facilities would also negatively impact our ability to originate and service new leases.

 

Our ability to complete CP conduit transactions and term note securitizations, as well as our ability to obtain renewals of lenders’ commitments and new funding facilities, is affected by a number of factors, including:

 

 

We are and will continue to be dependent upon the availability of credit from these external financing sources to continue to originate leases and to satisfy our other working capital needs. We may be unable to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms, or at all, as a result of prevailing interest rates or other factors at the time, including the presence of covenants or other restrictions under existing financing arrangements. If any or all of our funding sources become unavailable on acceptable terms or at all, we may not have access to the financing necessary to conduct our business, which would limit our ability to fund our operations. Other than our long-term loan facility which matures on October 9, 2012, we do not have long-term commitments from any of our current funding sources. As a result, we may be unable to continue to access these or other funding sources. (See Liquidity and Capital Resources in Item 7). In the event we seek to obtain equity financing, our shareholders may experience dilution as a result of the issuance of additional equity securities. This dilution may be significant depending upon the amount of equity securities that we issue and the prices at which we issue such securities.

 

Our financing sources impose covenants, restrictions and default provisions on us, which could lead to termination of our financing facilities, acceleration of amounts outstanding under our financing facilities and our removal as servicer.  The legal agreements relating to our CP conduit warehouse facility, our long-term loan facility and our term note securitizations contain numerous covenants, restrictions and default provisions relating to, among other things, maximum lease delinquency and default levels, a minimum net worth requirement, an interest coverage test and a maximum debt to equity ratio. In addition, a change in the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer is an event of default under the long-term loan facility and CP conduit warehouse facility, unless we hire a replacement acceptable to our lenders within 120 days.

 

A merger or consolidation with another company in which we are not the surviving entity, likewise, is an event of default under our financing facilities. The Company’s long-term loan facility contains an acceleration clause allowing the creditor to accelerate the scheduled maturities of the obligation under certain conditions that may not be objectively determinable (for example, “if a material adverse change occurs”). Further, our long-term loan facility and CP conduit warehouse facility contain cross default provisions whereby certain defaults under one facility would also be an event of default under the other facilities. An event of default under the CP conduit warehouse facility or the long-term loan facility could result in termination of further funds being made available. An event of default under any of our facilities could result in an acceleration of amounts outstanding under the facilities, foreclosure on all or a portion of the leases financed by the facilities and/or our removal as a servicer of the leases financed by the facility. This would reduce our revenues from servicing and, by delaying any cash payment allowed to us under the financing facilities until the lenders have been paid in full, reduce our liquidity and cash flow.

 

If we inaccurately assess the creditworthiness of our end user customers, we may experience a higher number of lease defaults, which may restrict our ability to obtain additional financing and reduce our earnings.  We specialize in leasing equipment to small businesses. Small businesses may be more vulnerable than large businesses to economic downturns, typically depend upon the management talents and efforts of one person or a small group of persons and often need substantial additional capital to expand or compete. Small business leases, therefore, may entail a greater risk of delinquencies and defaults than leases entered into with larger, more creditworthy leasing customers. In addition, there is typically only limited publicly available financial and other information about small businesses and they often do not have audited financial statements. Accordingly, in making credit decisions, our underwriting guidelines rely upon the accuracy of information about these small businesses obtained from the small business owner and/or third-party sources, such as credit reporting agencies. If the information we obtain from small business owners and/or third- party sources is incorrect, our ability to make appropriate credit decisions will be impaired. If we inaccurately assess the creditworthiness of our end user customers, we may experience a higher number of lease defaults and related decreases in our earnings.

 

Defaulted leases and certain delinquent leases also do not qualify as collateral against which initial advances may be made under our funding facilities, and we cannot include them in our term note securitizations. An increase in delinquencies or lease defaults could reduce the funding available to us under our facilities and could adversely affect our earnings, possibly materially. In addition, increasing rates of delinquencies or charge-offs could result in adverse changes in the structure of our future financing facilities, including increased interest rates payable to investors and the imposition of more burdensome covenants and credit enhancement requirements. Any of these occurrences may cause us to experience reduced earnings.

Deteriorated economic or business conditions may lead to greater than anticipated lease defaults and credit losses, which could limit our ability to obtain additional financing and reduce our operating income.  The capital and credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than twelve months at unprecedented levels. In many cases, these markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices of, and credit availability to, certain companies without regard to those companies’ underlying financial strength. Concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the U.S. mortgage market and a declining U.S. real estate market have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the capital and credit markets. These factors, combined with declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have precipitated an economic slowdown and national recession. These events and the continuing market upheavals, may have an adverse effect on us. In the event of extreme and prolonged market events, such as the global credit crisis, we could incur significant losses. Even in the absence of a market downturn, we are exposed to substantial risk of loss due to market volatility.

 

Our operating income may be reduced by various economic factors and business conditions, including the level of economic activity in the markets in which we operate. Delinquencies and credit losses generally increase during economic slowdowns or recessions. Because we extend credit primarily to small businesses, many of our customers may be particularly susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to make scheduled lease payments during these periods. Therefore, to the extent that economic activity or business conditions deteriorate, our delinquencies and credit losses may increase. Unfavorable economic conditions may also make it more difficult for us to maintain both our new lease origination volume and the credit quality of new leases at levels previously attained. Unfavorable economic conditions could also increase our funding costs or operating cost structure, limit our access to the securitization and other capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. Any of these events could reduce our operating income.

 

If losses from leases exceed our allowance for credit losses, our operating income will be reduced or eliminated.  In connection with our financing of leases, we record an allowance for credit losses to provide for estimated losses. Our allowance for credit losses is based on, among other things, past collection experience, industry data, lease delinquency data and our assessment of prospective collection risks. Determining the appropriate level of the allowance is an inherently uncertain process and therefore our determination of this allowance may prove to be inadequate to cover losses in connection with our portfolio of leases. Factors that could lead to the inadequacy of our allowance may include our inability to manage collections effectively, unanticipated adverse changes in the economy or discrete events adversely affecting specific leasing customers, industries or geographic areas. Losses in excess of our allowance for credit losses would cause us to increase our provision for credit losses, reducing or eliminating our operating income.

 

If we are unable to effectively execute our business strategy, we may suffer material operating losses.  Our financial position, liquidity, and results of operations depend on management’s ability to execute our business strategy and navigate through the ongoing challenging economic environment. Key factors involved in the execution of this strategy include achieving the desired volume of leases of suitable yield and credit quality, effectively managing those leases and obtaining appropriate funding. Accomplishing such a result on a cost-effective basis is largely a function of our marketing capabilities, our management of the leasing process, our credit underwriting guidelines, our ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient servicing to our end user customers, our ability to execute effective credit risk management and collection techniques, our access to financing sources on acceptable terms and our ability to attract and retain high quality employees in all areas of our business. Failure to manage effectively these and other factors related to our business strategy and our overall operations may cause us to suffer material operating losses.

 

If we cannot effectively compete within the equipment leasing industry, we may be unable to increase our revenues or maintain our current levels of operations.  The business of small-ticket equipment leasing is highly fragmented and competitive. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. A lower cost of funds could enable a competitor to offer leases with yields that are lower than those we use to price our leases, potentially forcing us to decrease our yields or lose origination volume. In addition, certain of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to establish more origination source and end user customer relationships

and increase their market share. There are few barriers to entry with respect to our business and, therefore, new competitors could enter the business of small-ticket equipment leasing at any time. The companies that typically provide financing for large-ticket or middle-market transactions could begin competing with us on small-ticket equipment leases. If this occurs, or we are unable to compete effectively with our competitors, we may be unable to sustain our operations at their current levels or generate revenue growth.

 

If we cannot maintain our relationships with origination sources, our ability to generate lease transactions and related revenues may be significantly impeded.  We have formed relationships with thousands of origination sources, comprised primarily of independent equipment dealers. We rely on these relationships to generate lease applications and originations. Most of these relationships are not formalized in written agreements and those that are formalized by written agreements are typically terminable at will. Our typical relationship does not commit the origination source to provide a minimum number of lease transactions to us nor does it require the origination source to direct all of its lease transactions to us. The decision by a significant number of our origination sources to refer their leasing transactions to another company could impede our ability to generate lease transactions and related revenues.

 

If interest rates change significantly, we may be subject to higher interest costs on future term note securitizations and we may be unable to hedge our variable-rate borrowings effectively, which may cause us to suffer material losses.  Because our strategy is to fund our leases through bank deposits, a long-term loan facility and term note securitizations, our margins could be reduced by an increase in interest rates. Each of our leases is structured so that the sum of all scheduled lease payments will equal the cost of the equipment to us, less the residual, plus a return on the amount of our investment. This return is known as the yield. The yield on our leases is fixed because the scheduled payments are fixed at the time of lease origination. When we originate or acquire leases, we base our pricing in part on the spread we expect to achieve between the yield on each lease and the effective interest rate we expect to pay when we finance the lease. To the extent that a lease is financed with variable-rate funding, increases in interest rates during the term of a lease could narrow or eliminate the spread, or result in a negative spread. A negative spread is an interest cost greater than the yield on the lease. Certain of our funding facilities have variable rates based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), prime rate or commercial paper interest rates. As a result, because our assets have a fixed interest rate, increases in LIBOR, prime rate or commercial paper interest rates would negatively impact our earnings. If interest rates increase faster than we are able to adjust the pricing under our new leases, our net interest margin would be reduced. As required under our financing facility agreement, we enter into interest-rate cap agreements to hedge against the risk of interest rate increases in our CP conduit warehouse facility. If our hedging strategies are imperfectly implemented or if a counterparty defaults on a hedging agreement, we could suffer losses relating to our hedging activities. In addition, with respect to our fixed-rate borrowings, such as our term note securitizations, increases in interest rates could have the effect of increasing our borrowing costs on future term note transactions.

 

Further increase in the FDIC deposit insurance premium may have a significant financial impact on us.  The FDIC insures deposits at FDIC insured financial institutions up to certain limits. The FDIC charges insured financial institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. Recent difficult economic conditions have increased actual bank failures and expectations for future bank failures. In the event of a bank failure, the FDIC takes control of a failed bank and ensures payment of deposits up to insured limits (which have recently been increased) using the resources of the Deposit Insurance Fund. The FDIC is required by law to maintain adequate funding of the Deposit Insurance Fund, and the FDIC may increase premium assessments to maintain such funding.

 

On February 27, 2009, the FDIC determined that it would assess higher rates for institutions that relied significantly on secured liabilities or on brokered deposits but, for well-managed and well-capitalized banks, only when accompanied by rapid asset growth. On May 22, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a 5 basis-point special assessment on each insured depository institution’s assets minus Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2009. On November 12, 2009, the FDIC adopted a final rule imposing a 13-quarter prepayment of FDIC premiums due on December 30, 2009. Although we paid the prepayment when due on December 30, 2009, the FDIC may further increase our premiums or impose additional assessments or prepayment requirements on us in the future.

 

Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings

and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. An important function of the Federal Reserve Board is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve Board to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

 

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.

 

The departure of any of our key management personnel or our inability to hire suitable replacements for our management may result in defaults under our financing facilities, which could restrict our ability to access funding and operate our business effectively.  Our future success depends to a significant extent on the continued service of our senior management team. A change in the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operating Officer is an event of default under our long-term loan facility and CP conduit warehouse facility, unless we hire a replacement acceptable to our lenders within 120 days.

 

The termination or interruption of, or a decrease in volume under, our property insurance program would cause us to experience lower revenues and may result in a significant reduction in our net income.  Our end user customers are required to obtain all-risk property insurance for the replacement value of the leased equipment. The end user customer has the option of either delivering a certificate of insurance listing us as loss payee under a commercial property policy issued by a third-party insurer or satisfying their insurance obligation through our insurance program. Under our program, the end user customer purchases coverage under a master property insurance policy written by a national third-party insurer (our “primary insurer”) with whom our captive insurance subsidiary, AssuranceOne, Ltd., has entered into a 100% reinsurance arrangement. Termination or interruption of our program could occur for a variety of reasons, including: 1) adverse changes in laws or regulations affecting our primary insurer or AssuranceOne, Ltd.; 2) a change in the financial condition or financial strength ratings of our primary insurer or AssuranceOne, Ltd.; 3) negative developments in the loss reserves or future loss experience of AssuranceOne, Ltd., which render it uneconomical for us to continue the program; 4) termination or expiration of the reinsurance agreement with our primary insurer, coupled with an inability by us to identify quickly and negotiate an acceptable arrangement with a replacement carrier; 5) competitive factors in the property insurance market; or 6) failure of the Company to become a financial holding company within two years of its approval as a bank holding company, thereby requiring the Company to terminate its insurance operations given they are impermissible activities under the Bank Holding Company Act. If there is a termination or interruption of this program or if fewer end user customers elected to satisfy their insurance obligations through our program, we would experience lower revenues and our net income may be reduced.

 

Regulatory and legal uncertainties could result in significant financial losses and may require us to alter our business strategy and operations.  Laws or regulations may be adopted with respect to our equipment leases, the equipment leasing, telemarketing and collection processes or the banking industry. Any new legislation or regulation, or changes in the interpretation of existing laws, that affect the equipment leasing industry or the banking industry could increase our costs of compliance or require us to alter our business strategy.

 

We, like other finance companies, face the risk of litigation, including class action litigation, and regulatory investigations and actions in connection with our business activities. These matters may be difficult to assess or quantify, and their magnitude may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. A substantial legal liability or a significant regulatory action against us could cause us to suffer significant costs and expenses, and could require us to alter our business strategy and the manner in which we operate our business.

 

Government regulation significantly affects our business.  The banking industry is heavily regulated, and such regulations are intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the federal deposit insurance funds, not shareholders. As of January 13, 2009, as a bank holding company, we are subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board and subject to the Bank Holding Company Act. Our bank subsidiary, MBB, is also subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board and is subject to regulation by the State of Utah. These regulations affect lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy, and growth. The financial crisis of 2008

and 2009 has resulted in U.S. government and regulatory agencies placing increased focus and scrutiny on the financial services industry. The U.S. government has intervened on an unprecedented scale by temporarily enhancing the liquidity support available to financial institutions, establishing a commercial paper funding facility, temporarily guaranteeing money market funds and certain types of debt issuances and increasing insurance on bank deposits, among other things.

 

These programs have subjected financial institutions to additional restrictions, oversight and costs. In addition, new proposals for legislation continue to be introduced in Congress that could further substantially increase regulation of the financial services industry, impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within the industry to conduct business consistent with historical practices, including in the areas of compensation, interest rates and financial product offerings and disclosures, among other things. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. Such proposed changes in laws, regulations, and regulatory practices affecting the banking industry may limit the manner in which we may conduct our business. Such changes may adversely affect us, including our ability to make loans and leases, and may also result in the imposition of additional costs on us.

 

Failure to realize the projected value of residual interests in equipment we finance would reduce the residual value of equipment recorded as assets on our balance sheet and may reduce our operating income.  We estimate the residual value of the equipment which is recorded as an asset on our balance sheet. Realization of residual values depends on numerous factors including: the general market conditions at the time of expiration of the lease; the cost of comparable new equipment; the obsolescence of the leased equipment; any unusual or excessive wear and tear on or damage to the equipment; the effect of any additional or amended government regulations; and the foreclosure by a secured party of our interest in a defaulted lease. Our failure to realize our recorded residual values would reduce the residual value of equipment recorded as assets on our balance sheet and may reduce our operating income.

 

If we experience significant telecommunications or technology downtime, our operations would be disrupted and our ability to generate operating income could be negatively impacted.  Our business depends in large part on our telecommunications and information management systems. The temporary or permanent loss of our computer systems, telecommunications equipment or software systems, through casualty or operating malfunction, could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our ability to service our customers and lead to significant declines in our operating income.

 

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly.  Our operating results may differ from quarter to quarter, and these differences may be significant. Factors that may cause these differences include: changes in the volume of lease applications, approvals and originations; changes in interest rates; the timing of term note securitizations; the availability and cost of capital and funding; the degree of competition we face; the levels of charge-offs we incur; general economic conditions and other factors. In addition, by discontinuing hedge accounting effective July 1, 2008, any subsequent changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, including those that had previously been accounted for under hedge accounting, is recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. This change creates volatility in our results of operations, as the market value of our derivatives may change over time, and this volatility may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. These changes in value are based on the values of the derivative contracts as of the dates reported in a volatile market that changes daily, and will not necessarily reflect the value at settlement. The results of any one quarter may not indicate what our performance may be in the future.

 

Our common stock price is volatile.  The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially depending on many factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose part or all of your investment in our shares of common stock. Those factors that could cause fluctuations include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

 

It is possible that in some future quarter our operating results may be below the expectations of financial market analysts and investors and, as a result of these and other factors, the price of our common stock may decline.

 

Future sales of our common stock by a certain large shareholder could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.  A substantial number of shares of our common stock could be sold into the public market pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-128329) that became effective on December 19, 2005. As of February 1, 2010, this large shareholder owned 2,309,934 shares of our common stock. The sale of all or a portion of these shares into the public market, or the perception that such a sale could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

Anti-takeover provisions and our right to issue preferred stock could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.  We are a Pennsylvania corporation. Anti-takeover provisions of Pennsylvania law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if such change in control would be beneficial to our shareholders. Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and our bylaws contain certain other provisions that would make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, including a provision that our board of directors may issue preferred stock without shareholder approval.

 

 

None.

 

 

At December 31, 2009, we operated from four leased facilities including our executive office facility, a Philadelphia office facility, one branch office and the headquarters of MBB. Our Mount Laurel, New Jersey executive offices are housed in a leased facility of approximately 50,000 square feet under a lease that expires in May 2013. We also lease 3,524 square feet of office space in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we perform our lease recording and acceptance functions. Our Philadelphia lease expires in July 2013. In addition, we have a regional office in Johns Creek, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta). Our Georgia office is 5,822 square feet and the lease expires in July 2013. The headquarters of MBB in Salt Lake City is 5,764 square feet and the lease expires in October 2010. We believe our leased facilities are adequate for our current needs and sufficient to support our current operations and anticipated future requirements.

 

 

We are party to various legal proceedings, which include claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, these actions will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

Marlin Business Services Corp. completed its initial public offering of common stock and became a publicly traded company on November 12, 2003. The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MRLN.” The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have not paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock. The payment of cash dividends, if any, will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, cash flow and long-range plans and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

The Federal Reserve Board has issued policy statements which provide that, as a general matter, insured banks and bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of current operating earnings. For state-chartered banks which are members of the Federal Reserve System, the approval of the Federal Reserve Board is required for the payment of dividends by the bank subsidiary in any calendar year if the total of all dividends declared by the bank in that calendar year, including the proposed dividend, exceeds the current year’s net income combined with the retained net income for the two preceding calendar years. “Retained net income” for any period means the net income for that period less any common or preferred stock dividends declared in that period. Moreover, no dividends may be paid by such bank in excess of its undivided profits account.

 

Number of Record Holders

 

There were 285 holders of record of our common stock at February 25, 2010. We believe that the number of beneficial owners is greater than the number of record holders because a large portion of our common stock is held of record through brokerage firms in “street name.”

 

Information on Stock Repurchases

 

On November 2, 2007, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan. Under this program, Marlin is authorized to repurchase up to $15 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. This authority may be exercised from time to time and in such amounts as market conditions warrant. Any shares purchased under this plan are returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The repurchases may be made on the open market, in block trades or otherwise. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The stock repurchases are funded using the Company’s working capital.

 

There were no shares of common stock repurchased by the Company pursuant to its stock repurchase plan during the fourth quarter of 2009. As of December 31, 2009, the maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the stock repurchase plan is $10.7 million.

 

In addition to the stock repurchase plan disclosed above, pursuant to the Company’s 2003 Equity Compensation Plan (as amended, the “2003 Plan”), participants in the 2003 Plan may have shares withheld to cover income

taxes. There were no such shares repurchased to cover participants’ income tax withholding pursuant to the 2003 Plan during the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

At the October 28, 2009 annual stockholders’ meeting, the shareholders voted to approve an amendment to the 2003 Plan to allow a one-time stock option exchange program for the Company’s employees, to commence within six months following the annual meeting. If implemented, the exchange program would allow us to cancel certain underwater stock options currently held by our employees in exchange for the grant of a lesser amount of stock options with lower exercise prices and a new vesting schedule and term. Each replacement option will have an exercise price per share equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, and will have a new seven-year term.

 

Exchange ratios will be designed to result in a fair value, for accounting purposes, of the replacement options that will be approximately equal to the fair value of the eligible options that are surrendered in the exchange (based on valuation assumptions made when the offer to exchange commences). Therefore, we do not expect to recognize significant incremental compensation expense as a result of the exchange program.

 

Sale of Unregistered Securities

 

On February 12, 2010, we issued $80.7 million of term asset-backed debt securities through our special purpose subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Receivables XII LLC, with the senior tranche of the offering being eligible under the TALF program established by the Federal Reserve. This issuance was done in reliance on the exemption from registration provide by Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., served as the initial purchaser and placement agent for the issuance, and the aggregate initial purchaser’s discounts and commissions paid were approximately $532,000.

 

On October 24, 2007, we issued $440.5 million of asset-backed debt securities through our special purpose subsidiary, Marlin Leasing Receivables XI LLC. The issuance was done in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. served as the initial purchaser and placement agent for the issuance, and the aggregate initial purchaser’s discounts and commissions paid was approximately $1.3 million.

Shareholder Return Performance Graph

 

The following graph compares the dollar change in the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s common stock against the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL Specialty Lender Index for the period commencing on December 31, 2004 and ending on December 31, 2009. The graph shows the cumulative investment return to shareholders based on the assumption that a $100 investment was made on December 31, 2004 in each of the following: the Company’s common stock, the Russell 2000 Index and the SNL Specialty Lender Index. We computed returns assuming the reinvestment of all dividends. The shareholder return shown on the following graph is not indicative of future performance.

 

Total Return Performance

 

 

 

The following selected financial data as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2009 has been derived from the consolidated financial statements. The selected financial data should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements in this document may include the words or phrases “can be,” “expects,” “plans,” “may,” “may affect,” “may depend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “if” and similar words and phrases that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties and the Company cautions that any forward-looking information provided by or on its behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. Statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: (a) our business strategy; (b) our projected operating results; (c) our ability to obtain external financing; (d) the effectiveness of our hedges; (e) our understanding of our competition; and (f) industry and market trends. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, including, without limitation:

 

 

Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date made and the Company is not required to update forward-looking statements for subsequent or unanticipated events or circumstances.

 

Overview

 

We are a nationwide provider of equipment financing and working capital solutions primarily to small businesses. We finance over 100 categories of commercial equipment important to our end user customers, including copiers, certain commercial and industrial equipment, security systems, computers, and telecommunications equipment. We access our end user customers through origination sources comprised of our existing network of independent equipment dealers and, to a much lesser extent, through relationships with lease brokers and through direct solicitation of our end user customers. Our leases are fixed-rate transactions with terms generally ranging from 36 to 60 months. At December 31, 2009, our lease portfolio consisted of approximately 87,000 active equipment leases with an average original term of 50 months, and an average original transaction size of approximately $11,300.

 

Since our founding in 1997, we have grown to $565.8 million in total assets at December 31, 2009. Our assets are substantially comprised of our net investment in leases and loans which totaled $448.6 million at December 31, 2009.

 

Personnel costs represent our most significant overhead expense and we actively manage our staffing levels to the requirements of our lease portfolio. As a financial services company, we were impacted by the challenging economic environment in 2008 and 2009. In response to this, on May 13, 2008, we reduced our staffing by approximately 14.7%. This action was part of an overall effort to reduce operating costs in light of our decision to moderate growth in fiscal 2008. Approximately 51 employees were affected as a result of the staff reduction. On May 13, 2008, we notified the affected employees. We incurred pretax costs in the three months ended June 30, 2008 of approximately $501,000 related to this action, almost all of which was related to severance costs. The total annualized pretax cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.6 million.

 

We continued to be impacted by the challenging economic conditions in 2009. As a result, we proactively lowered expenses in the first quarter of 2009, including reducing our workforce by 17% and closing our two

smallest satellite sales offices in Chicago and Utah. A total of 49 employees company-wide were affected as a result of the staff reductions in the first quarter of 2009. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended March 31, 2009 of approximately $500,000 related to the staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.3 million.

 

During the second quarter of 2009, we announced a further workforce reduction of 24%, or 55 employees company-wide, including the closure of our Denver satellite office. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $700,000 related to these staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.9 million. Although we believe that our estimates are appropriate and reasonable based on available information, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Our revenue consists of interest and fees from our leases and loans and, to a lesser extent, income from our property insurance program and other fee income. Our expenses consist of interest expense and operating expenses, which include salaries and benefits and other general and administrative expense. As a credit lender, our earnings are also significantly impacted by credit losses. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our net credit losses were 5.42% of our average total finance receivables. We establish reserves for credit losses which require us to estimate inherent losses in our portfolio.

 

Our leases are classified under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as direct financing leases, and we recognize interest income over the term of the lease. Direct financing leases transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership to the equipment lessee. Our net investment in direct finance leases is included in our consolidated financial statements in “net investment in leases and loans.” Net investment in direct financing leases consists of the sum of total minimum lease payments receivable and the estimated residual value of leased equipment, less unearned lease income. Unearned lease income consists of the excess of the total future minimum lease payments receivable plus the estimated residual value expected to be realized at the end of the lease term plus deferred net initial direct costs and fees less the cost of the related equipment. Approximately 71% of our lease portfolio at December 31, 2009 amortizes over the term to a $1 residual value. For the remainder of the portfolio, we must estimate end of term residual values for the leased assets. Failure to correctly estimate residual values could result in losses being realized on the disposition of the equipment at the end of the lease term.

 

Since our founding, we have funded our business through a combination of variable-rate borrowings and fixed-rate asset securitization transactions, as well as through the issuance from time to time of subordinated debt and equity. Our variable-rate borrowing currently consists of a long-term loan facility and a commercial paper (“CP”) conduit warehouse facility which is being amortized. There is no available borrowing capacity in the facility. We have traditionally issued fixed-rate term debt through the asset-backed securitization market. Historically, leases have been funded through variable-rate borrowings until they were refinanced through the term note securitization at fixed rates. All of our term note securitizations have been accounted for as on-balance sheet transactions and, therefore, we have not recognized gains or losses from these transactions. As of December 31 2009, $226.7 million, or 73.8%, of our $307.0 million in total borrowings were fixed-rate term note securitizations.

 

In addition, since its opening on March 12, 2008, MBB provides diversification of the Company’s funding sources through the issuance of FDIC-insured certificates of deposit raised nationally primarily through various brokered deposit relationships and FDIC-insured retail deposits directly from other financial institutions. As of December 31, 2009, total deposits were $80.3 million.

 

Since we initially finance our fixed-rate leases with variable-rate financing, our earnings are exposed to interest-rate risk should interest rates rise before we complete our fixed-rate term note securitizations. We generally benefit in times of falling and low interest rates. We are also dependent upon obtaining future financing to refinance our warehouse line of credit in order to grow our lease portfolio. We have historically completed a fixed-rate term note securitization approximately once a year. Due to the impact on interest rates from unfavorable market conditions and the available capacity in our warehouse facilities at the time, the Company elected not to complete fixed-rate term note securitizations in 2008 or 2009. Failure to obtain such financing, or other alternate financing, represents a restriction on our growth and future financial performance.

On February 12, 2010, we completed an $80.7 million TALF eligible term asset-backed securitization. This transaction was Marlin’s tenth term note securitization and the fifth to earn a AAA rating. As with all of the Company’s prior term note securitizations, this financing provides the Company with fixed-cost borrowing and will be recorded in long-term borrowings in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. A portion of the proceeds of the new securitization was used to repay the full amount outstanding under the CP conduit warehouse facility.

 

We use derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to the effects of changes in market interest rates and to fulfill certain covenants in our borrowing arrangements. All derivatives are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value as either assets or liabilities. Accounting for the changes in fair value of derivatives depends on whether the derivative has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). While the Company may continue to use derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to changing interest rates, effective July 1, 2008, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting.

 

On March 20, 2007, the FDIC approved the application of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Marlin Business Bank (“MBB”), to become an industrial bank chartered by the State of Utah. MBB commenced operations effective March 12, 2008. MBB provides diversification of the Company’s funding sources and, over time, may add other product offerings to better serve our customer base.

 

On December 31, 2008, MBB received approval from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (“FRB”) to (i) convert from an industrial bank to a state-chartered commercial bank and (ii) become a member of the Federal Reserve System. In addition, on December 31, 2008, Marlin Business Services Corp. received approval to become a bank holding company upon conversion of MBB from an industrial bank to a commercial bank.

 

On January 13, 2009, MBB converted from an industrial bank to a commercial bank chartered and supervised by the State of Utah and the Federal Reserve Board. In connection with the conversion of MBB to a commercial bank, Marlin Business Services Corp. became a bank holding company on January 13, 2009. In connection with this approval, the Federal Reserve Board required the Company to identify any of its activities or investments that were impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act. Such activities or investments must be terminated or conform to the Bank Holding Company Act within two years of the approval (unless additional time is granted by the Federal Reserve Board). (See Supervision and Regulation in Item 1). The Company’s reinsurance activities conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AssuranceOne, Ltd., are impermissible under the Bank Holding Company Act. However, such activities would be permissible if the Company was a financial holding company, and the Company intends to seek certification from the Federal Reserve Board to become a financial holding company within two years from its approval on January 13, 2009 to become a bank holding company. The Bank Holding Company Act requires prior approval of an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a bank or of ownership or control of voting shares of any bank if the share acquisition would give us more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank or bank holding company.

 

Reorganization and Initial Public Offering

 

Marlin Leasing Corporation was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 16, 1997. On August 5, 2003, we incorporated Marlin Business Services Corp. in Pennsylvania. On November 11, 2003, we reorganized our operations into a holding company structure by merging Marlin Leasing Corporation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marlin Business Services Corp. As a result, all former shareholders of Marlin Leasing Corporation became shareholders of Marlin Business Services Corp. After the reorganization, Marlin Leasing Corporation remains in existence as our primary operating subsidiary.

 

In November 2003, 5,060,000 shares of our common stock were issued in connection with our IPO. Of these shares, a total of 3,581,255 shares were sold by the company and 1,478,745 shares were sold by selling shareholders. The initial public offering price was $14.00 per share resulting in net proceeds to us, after payment of underwriting discounts and commissions but before other offering costs, of approximately $46.6 million. We did not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the selling shareholders.

On January 13, 2009, in connection with the conversion of MBB to a commercial bank, Marlin Business Services Corp. became a bank holding company and thus became subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board as of that date.

 

Stock Repurchase Plan

 

On November 2, 2007, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan. Under this program, Marlin is authorized to repurchase up to $15 million of its outstanding shares of common stock. This authority may be exercised from time to time and in such amounts as market conditions warrant. Any shares purchased under this plan are returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares of common stock. The repurchases may be made on the open market, in block trades or otherwise. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. The stock repurchases are funded using the Company’s working capital.

 

Marlin purchased 88,894 shares of its common stock for $347,000 during the year ended December 31, 2009. At December 31, 2009, Marlin had $10.7 million remaining in its stock repurchase plan authorized by the Board.

 

In addition to the repurchases described above, pursuant to the Company’s 2003 Equity Compensation Plan (as amended, the “2003 Plan”), participants in the 2003 Plan may have shares withheld to cover income taxes. There were 13,720 such shares repurchased to cover participants’ income tax withholding pursuant to the 2003 Plan during the year ended December 31, 2009, at an average cost of $3.89. There were 2,444 such shares repurchased pursuant to the 2003 Plan during the year ended December 31, 2008, at an average cost of $6.78.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including credit losses, residuals, initial direct costs and fees, other fees, performance assumptions for stock-based compensation awards, the probability of forecasted transactions, the fair value of financial instruments and the realization of deferred tax assets. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties. Our consolidated financial statements are based on the selection and application of critical accounting policies, the most significant of which are described below.

 

Income recognition.  Interest income is recognized under the effective interest method. The effective interest method of income recognition applies a constant rate of interest equal to the internal rate of return on the lease. When a lease or loan is 90 days or more delinquent, the contract is classified as being on non-accrual and we do not recognize interest income on that contract until it is less than 90 days delinquent.

 

Fee income consists of fees for delinquent lease and loan payments, cash collected on early termination of leases and net residual income. Net residual income includes income from lease renewals and gains and losses on the realization of residual values of leased equipment disposed at the end of term.

 

At the end of the original lease term, lessees may choose to purchase the equipment, renew the lease or return the equipment to the Company. The Company receives income from lease renewals when the lessee elects to retain the equipment longer than the original term of the lease. This income, net of appropriate periodic reductions in the estimated residual values of the related equipment, is included in fee income as net residual income.

 

When the lessee elects to return the equipment at lease termination, the equipment is transferred to other assets at the lower of its basis or fair market value. The Company generally sells returned equipment to an independent third party, rather than leasing the equipment a second time. The Company does not maintain equipment in other assets for longer than 120 days. Any loss recognized on transferring the equipment to other assets, and any gain or loss realized on the sale or disposal of equipment to the lessee or to others is included in fee income as net residual

income. Management performs periodic reviews of the estimated residual values and any impairment, if other than temporary, is recognized in the current period.

 

Fee income from delinquent lease payments is recognized on an accrual basis based on anticipated collection rates. At a minimum of every quarter, an analysis of anticipated collection rates is performed based on updates to collection experience. Adjustments in assumptions are made as needed based on this analysis. Other fees are recognized when received.

 

Insurance income is recognized on an accrual basis as earned over the term of the lease. Payments that are 120 days or more past due are charged against income. Ceding commissions, losses and loss adjustment expenses are recorded in the period incurred and netted against insurance income.

 

Initial direct costs and fees.  We defer initial direct costs incurred and fees received to originate our leases and loans in accordance with the Receivables Topic and the Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs Subtopic of the FASB ASC. The initial direct costs and fees we defer are part of the net investment in leases and loans and are amortized to interest income using the effective interest method. We defer third-party commission costs as well as certain internal costs directly related to the origination activity. Costs subject to deferral include evaluating the prospective customer’s financial condition, evaluating and recording guarantees and other security arrangements, negotiating terms, preparing and processing documents and closing the transaction. Estimates of costs subject to deferral are updated periodically, and no less frequently than each year. The fees we defer are documentation fees collected at inception. The realization of the deferred initial direct costs, net of fees deferred, is predicated on the net future cash flows generated by our lease and loan portfolios.

 

Lease residual values.  A direct financing lease is recorded at the aggregate future minimum lease payments plus the estimated residual values less unearned income. Residual values reflect the estimated amounts to be received at lease termination from lease extensions, sales or other dispositions of leased equipment. These estimates are based on industry data and on our experience. Management performs periodic reviews of the estimated residual values and any impairment, if other than temporary, is recognized in the current period.

 

Allowance for credit losses.  In accordance with the Contingencies Topic of the FASB ASC, we maintain an allowance for credit losses at an amount sufficient to absorb losses inherent in our existing lease and loan portfolios as of the reporting dates based on our projection of probable net credit losses. We evaluate our portfolios on a pooled basis, due to their composition of small balance, homogenous accounts with similar general credit risk characteristics, diversified among a large cross section of variables including industry, geography, equipment type, obligor and vendor. To project probable net credit losses, we perform a migration analysis of delinquent and current accounts based on historic loss experience. A migration analysis is a technique used to estimate the likelihood that an account will progress through the various delinquency stages and ultimately charge off. In addition to the migration analysis, we also consider other factors including recent trends in delinquencies and charge-offs; accounts filing for bankruptcy; account modifications; recovered amounts; forecasting uncertainties; the composition of our lease and loan portfolios; economic conditions; and seasonality. The various factors used in the analysis are reviewed on a periodic basis. We then establish an allowance for credit losses for the projected probable net credit losses based on this analysis. A provision is charged against earnings to maintain the allowance for credit losses at the appropriate level. Our policy is to charge-off against the allowance the estimated unrecoverable portion of accounts once they reach 121 days delinquent.

 

Our projections of probable net credit losses are inherently uncertain, and as a result we cannot predict with certainty the amount of such losses. Changes in economic conditions, the risk characteristics and composition of the portfolios, bankruptcy laws, and other factors could impact our actual and projected net credit losses and the related allowance for credit losses. To the degree we add new leases and loans to our portfolios, or to the degree credit quality is worse than expected, we record expense to increase the allowance for credit losses for the estimated net losses inherent in our portfolios. Actual losses may vary from current estimates.

 

Securitizations.  From inception to December 31, 2009, we have completed nine term note securitizations of which six have been repaid. In connection with each transaction, we established a bankruptcy remote special-purpose subsidiary and issued term debt to institutional investors. Under the Transfers and Servicing Topic of the FASB ASC, our securitizations do not qualify for sales accounting treatment due to certain call provisions that we

maintain as well as the fact that the special purpose entities used in connection with the securitizations also hold the residual assets. Accordingly, assets and related debt of the special purpose entities are included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our leases and restricted interest-earning deposits with banks are assigned as collateral for these borrowings and there is no further recourse to our general credit. Collateral in excess of these borrowings represents our maximum loss exposure.

 

Derivatives.  The Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC requires recognition of all derivatives at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for subsequent changes in the fair value of these derivatives depends on whether each has been designated and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment pursuant to the accounting standard.

 

Prior to July 1, 2008, the Company entered into derivative contracts which were accounted for as cash flow hedges under hedge accounting as prescribed by U.S. GAAP. Under hedge accounting, the effective portion of the gain or loss on a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge was reported net of tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, until the pricing of the related term securitization. The derivative gain or loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income was then reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the related borrowings.

 

While the Company may continue to use derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to changing interest rates, effective July 1, 2008, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting. By discontinuing hedge accounting effective July 1, 2008, any subsequent changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, including those that had previously been accounted for under hedge accounting, is recognized immediately in loss on derivatives. This change creates volatility in our results of operations, as the fair value of our derivative financial instruments changes over time, and this volatility may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

 

For the forecasted transactions that are probable of occurring, the derivative gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income as of June 30, 2008 will be reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the terms of the related forecasted borrowings, consistent with hedge accounting treatment. In the event that the related forecasted borrowing is no longer probable of occurring, the related gain or loss in accumulated other comprehensive income is recognized in earnings immediately.

 

The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC establishes a framework for measuring fair value under U.S. GAAP and requires certain disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability at the measurement date (exit price). Because the Company’s derivatives are not listed on an exchange, the Company values these instruments using a valuation model with pricing inputs that are observable in the market or that can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.

 

Stock-based Compensation.  We issue both restricted shares and stock options to certain employees and directors as part of our overall compensation strategy. The Compensation — Stock Compensation Topic of the FASB ASC establishes fair value as the measurement objective in accounting for share-based payment arrangements and requires all entities to apply a fair-value-based measurement method in accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees, except for equity instruments held by employee share ownership plans.

 

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the awards ultimately expected to vest. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period. We use the Black-Scholes valuation model to measure the fair value of our stock options utilizing various assumptions with respect to expected holding period, risk-free interest rates, stock price volatility, and dividend yield. The assumptions are based on subjective future expectations combined with management judgment.

 

The Company uses judgment in estimating the amount of awards that are expected to be forfeited, with subsequent revisions to the assumptions if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. In addition, for performance-based awards the Company estimates the degree to which the performance conditions will be met to estimate the number of shares expected to vest and the related compensation expense. Compensation expense is adjusted in the period such performance estimates change.

Income taxes.  The Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC requires the use of the asset and liability method under which deferred taxes are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, given the provisions of the enacted tax laws. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities and projected future taxable income in making this assessment. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences.

 

Significant management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any necessary valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets. The process involves summarizing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items, for example, leases for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our management must then assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income or tax carry-back availability and, to the extent our management believes recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established. To the extent that we establish a valuation allowance in a period, an expense must be recorded within the tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

At December 31, 2009, there have been no material changes to the liability for uncertain tax positions and there are no significant unrecognized tax benefits. The periods subject to general examination for the Company’s federal return include the 2006 tax year to the present. The Company files state income tax returns in various states which may have different statutes of limitations. Generally, state income tax returns for years 2005 through the present are subject to examination.

 

The Company records penalties and accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Such adjustments have historically been minimal and immaterial to our financial results.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008

 

Net income (loss).  Net income of $1.0 million, or $0.08 per share, was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2009. This net income includes an after-tax loss on derivatives of approximately $1.2 million. The net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.44 per share for the year ended December 31, 2008 includes an after-tax loss on derivatives of approximately $9.7 million.

 

Excluding the after-tax losses on derivatives of $1.2 million and $9.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, adjusted net income for the year ended December 31, 2009 would have been $2.2 million, or $0.18 diluted earnings per share, compared to $4.5 million, or $0.36 diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2008. The exclusion of the losses on derivatives removes the volatility resulting from derivatives activities subsequent to discontinuing hedge accounting in July 2008.

 

Excluding the after-tax losses on derivatives identified above, returns on average assets were 0.32% for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 0.53% for the year ended December 31, 2008. On the same basis, returns on average equity were 1.51% for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2.98% for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Also included in the results for the year ended December 31, 2009 were after-tax charges of approximately $724,000 representing severance costs related to workforce reductions, compared to after-tax severance costs of approximately $300,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

The provision for credit losses decreased $4.3 million, or 13.7%, to $27.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $31.5 million for the same period in 2008, primarily due to a reduced portfolio size and improved delinquencies. During the year ended December 31, 2009, net interest and fee income decreased

$14.5 million, primarily due to a 22.0% decrease in average total finance receivables. The decrease in income was partially mitigated by reductions in other expenses, which decreased $7.1 million, or 18.1%, for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, we generated 9,763 new finance receivables at a cost of $88.9 million compared to 24,869 new finance receivables at a cost of $256.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The reduction in volume was primarily due to a combination of our decision to lower approval rates in response to economic conditions and the limited availability of funding during the first half of 2009. Overall, our average net investment in total finance receivables for the year ended December 31, 2009 decreased 22.0% to $558.3 million at December 31, 2009 from $715.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Average balances and net interest margin.  The following table summarizes the Company’s average balances, interest income, interest expense, and average yields and rates on major categories of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

 

 

 

The following table presents the components of the changes in net interest income by volume and rate.

 

 

 

 

Net interest and fee margin.  The following table summarizes the Company’s net interest and fee income as a percentage of average total finance receivables for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

 

 

 

Net interest and fee income decreased $14.5 million, or 20.5%, to $56.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $70.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The net interest and fee margin increased 19 basis points to 10.05% for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 9.86% for the same period in 2008. The following paragraphs discuss the components of this change.

 

Interest income, net of amortized initial direct costs and fees, decreased $20.1 million, or 23.3%, to $66.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $86.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to a 22.0% decrease in average total finance receivables and a 20 basis point decrease in average yield. The decrease in average yield is primarily due to lower earnings on interest-earning deposits with banks. The decrease in average total finance receivables is primarily due to our proactive decision to lower approval rates in response to economic conditions, combined with the limited availability of funding during the first half of 2009. The weighted average implicit interest rate on new finance receivables originated increased 142 basis points to 15.09% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 13.67% for year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Fee income decreased $4.0 million, or 18.7%, to $17.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in fee income was primarily due to a decline in administrative and late fee income of $3.4 million, or 22.1%, to $12.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily a result of lower total finance receivables. Fee income also included approximately $5.4 million of net residual income for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Fee income, as a percentage of average total finance receivables, increased 14 basis points to 3.12% for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 2.98% for the year ended December 31, 2008. Administrative and late fees remained the largest component of fee income at 2.15% as a percentage of average total finance receivables for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2.16% for the year ended December 31, 2008. As a percentage of average total finance receivables, net residual income was 0.97% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 0.83% for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Interest expense decreased $9.6 million to $27.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $36.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Interest expense, as a percentage of average total finance receivables, decreased 25 basis points to 4.90% for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 5.15% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to the 22.0% decline in average total finance receivables combined with a shift in mix from term securitization borrowings to less expensive deposits and short-term borrowings. During the year ended December 31, 2009, average term securitization borrowings outstanding were $330.1 million, representing 77.2% of total borrowings, compared to $591.8 million representing 94.3% of total borrowings for the same period in 2008.

 

Interest cost, excluding transaction costs, on short-term and long-term borrowings as a percentage of weighted average borrowings was 5.47% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 5.44% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The average balance for our warehouse facilities was $97.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to $35.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The average borrowing cost for our warehouse facilities was 4.81% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2008. (See Liquidity and Capital Resources in this Item 7).

 

Interest costs on our September 2006 and October 2007 issued term securitization borrowings increased over those issued in 2005 due to the rising interest rate environment. The coupon rate on the October 2007 securitization also reflected higher credit costs due to the general tightening of credit caused by overall stress and volatility in the financial markets. Our term securitizations also include multiple classes of fixed-rate notes with the shorter term, lower coupon classes amortizing (maturing) faster than the longer term higher coupon classes. This causes the blended interest expense related to these borrowings to change and generally increase over the terms of the borrowings. For the year ended December 31, 2009, average term securitization borrowings outstanding were $330.1 million at a weighted average coupon of 5.67% compared with $591.8 million at a weighted average coupon of 5.48% for the year ended December 31, 2008.

On August 18, 2005, we closed on the issuance of our seventh term note securitization transaction in the amount of $340.6 million at a weighted average interest coupon approximating 4.81% over the term of the financing. After the effects of hedging and other transaction costs are considered, we expect total interest expense on the 2005 term transaction to approximate an average of 4.50% over the term of the borrowing. On September 21, 2006, we closed on the issuance of our eighth term note securitization transaction in the amount of $380.2 million at a weighted average interest coupon approximating 5.51% over the term of the financing. After the effects of hedging and other transaction costs are considered, we expect total interest expense on the 2006 term transaction to approximate an average of 5.21% over the term of the financing. On October 24, 2007, we closed on the issuance of our ninth term note securitization transaction in the amount of $440.5 million at a weighted average interest coupon approximating 5.70% over the term of the financing. After the effects of hedging and other transaction costs are considered, we expect total interest expense on the 2007 term transaction to approximate an average of 6.32% over the term of the financing. Due to the impact on interest rates from unfavorable market conditions and the available capacity in other facilities, the Company elected not to complete fixed-rate term note securitizations in 2008 or 2009.

 

The opening of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Marlin Business Bank, on March 12, 2008 provides an additional funding source. FDIC-insured deposits are raised nationally via the brokered certificates of deposit market and FDIC-insured retail deposits are also raised primarily directly from other financial institutions. Interest expense on deposits was $2.7 million, or 3.47% as a percentage of weighted average deposits, for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $1.2 million, or 4.16% as a percentage of weighted average deposits, for the year ended December 31, 2008. The average balance of deposits was $78.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to $28.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Provision for credit losses.  The provision for credit losses decreased $4.3 million, or 13.7%, to $27.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in the provision for credit losses was primarily the result of a lower allowance for credit losses due to a reduced portfolio size and improved delinquencies, partially offset by higher charge-offs. Net charge-offs were $30.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an increase of $3.1 million from $27.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2008. Net charge-offs as a percentage of average total finance receivables increased to 5.42% for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 3.80% for the same period in 2008. The allowance for credit losses decreased approximately $3.1 million to $12.2 million at December 31, 2009, from $15.3 million at December 31, 2008.

 

Unfavorable economic trends have most significantly impacted the performance of rate-sensitive industries in our portfolio, specifically companies in the construction, financial services, mortgage and real estate businesses. Though these industries comprised approximately 9% of the total portfolio at December 31, 2009, approximately 17% of the charge-off activity during the year ended December 31, 2009 related to these industries. Throughout 2007 to 2009, Marlin increased collection activities and strengthened underwriting criteria for these industries.

 

Additional information regarding asset quality is included herein in the subsequent section, “Finance Receivables and Asset Quality.”

 

Insurance income.  Insurance income decreased $1.0 million to $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily related to lower insurance billings due to lower total finance receivables.

 

Loss on derivatives.  Prior to July 1, 2008, the Company entered into derivative contracts which were accounted for as cash flow hedges under hedge accounting as prescribed by U.S. GAAP. While the Company may continue to use derivative financial instruments to reduce exposure to changing interest rates, effective July 1, 2008, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting.

 

By discontinuing hedge accounting effective July 1, 2008, any subsequent changes in the fair value of derivative instruments, including those that had previously been accounted for under hedge accounting, are recognized immediately. This change creates volatility in our results of operations, as the market value of our derivative financial instruments changes over time.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, the loss on derivatives was $2.0 million, compared to a loss of $16.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The losses included $2.8 million and $11.0 million, respectively,

which represented the decline in the fair value of derivatives contracts during each period. These losses are based on the values of the derivative contracts at December 31, 2009 and 2008 in a volatile market that is changing daily, and will not necessarily reflect the value at settlement.

 

During 2009 and 2008, the Company concluded that certain forecasted transactions were not probable of occurring on the anticipated date or in the additional time period permitted by U.S. GAAP. As a result, during 2009 an $880,000 pretax ($529,000 after-tax) gain on the related cash flow hedges was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into loss on derivatives. During 2008, a $5.0 million pretax ($3.0 million after-tax) loss on the related cash flow hedges was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into loss on derivatives.

 

Other income.  Other income includes various administrative transaction fees and fees received from lease syndications. Other income decreased $367,000 to $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease is primarily related to the impact of lower transaction volumes.

 

Salaries and benefits expense.  Salaries and benefits expense decreased $3.8 million, or 16.6%, to $19.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $22.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The decrease in compensation expense is primarily due to reduced headcount levels. Total personnel decreased to 181 at December 31, 2009 from 284 at December 31, 2008.

 

Personnel costs represent our most significant overhead expense and we actively manage our staffing levels to the requirements of our lease portfolio. As a financial services company, we continue to be impacted by the challenging economic environment. As a result, we proactively lowered expenses in the first quarter of 2009, including reducing our workforce by 17% and closing our two smallest satellite sales offices in Chicago and Utah. A total of approximately 49 employees company-wide were affected as a result of the staff reductions in the first quarter of 2009. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended March 31, 2009 of approximately $500,000 related to the staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.3 million.

 

During the second quarter of 2009, we announced a further workforce reduction of 24%, or 55 employees company-wide, including the closure of our Denver satellite office. We incurred pretax severance costs in the three months ended June 30, 2009 of approximately $700,000 related to these staff reductions. The total annualized pretax salary cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.9 million. Although we believe that our estimates are appropriate and reasonable based on available information, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

In comparison, during the first quarter of 2008 we reduced our workforce by approximately 51 employees and incurred related pretax severance costs of approximately $501,000. The total annualized pretax cost savings resulting from this reduction is estimated to be approximately $2.6 million.

 

Salaries and benefits expense, as a percentage of the average total finance receivables, was 3.42% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with 3.20% for the same period in 2008.

 

General and administrative expense.  General and administrative expense decreased $2.3 million, or 15.1%, to $12.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $15.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Over half of the decrease related to marketing expense and recruiting expense. As a percentage of average total finance receivables, general and administrative expense increased to 2.30% for the year ended December 31, 2009 from 2.13% for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Selected major components of general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 included $3.0 million of premises and occupancy expense, $1.2 million of audit and tax expense, $930,000 of data processing expense and $183,000 of marketing expense. In comparison, selected major components of general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2008 included $3.3 million of premises and occupancy expense, $1.3 million of audit and tax expense, $1.0 million of data processing expense, and $1.1 million of marketing expense.

Financing related costs.  Financing related costs primarily represent bank commitment fees paid to our financing sources. Financing related costs decreased $913,000 to $505,000 for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, primarily due to decreased bank commitment fees as a result of reduced unused borrowing capacity.

 

Income tax expense (benefit).  An income tax expense of $347,000 was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to an income tax benefit of $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The change in taxes is primarily attributed to the pretax loss recorded in 2008. Our effective tax rate, which is a combination of federal and state income tax rates, was 25.1% for the year ended December 31, 2009, compared to a benefit of 37.7% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2009 was reduced by a $60,000 benefit from adjustments relating to changes in estimates. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2008 reflects a decreased benefit due to a 2008 tax adjustment of $239,000, primarily related to a true-up of our deferred tax accounts. Without these adjustments in 2009 and 2008, our effective tax rate would have been an expense of approximately 29.4% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to an effective tax rate benefit without adjustments of 40.5% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The change in effective tax rate for 2009 is also due to a change in the mix of pretax book income across the jurisdictions and entities. We generally expect an effective tax rate of approximately 39% in future years.

 

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

 

Net income(loss).  A net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.44 per share, was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2008. This net loss includes an after-tax charge of approximately $6.7 million due to the change in market value of derivatives and an after-tax charge of approximately $3.0 million due to the reclassification into earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income related to a hedged forecasted transaction no longer anticipated to occur. Excluding these after-tax charges totaling $9.7 million, net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 would have been $4.5 million, a decrease of 75.0% or $13.5 million, compared to $18.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Diluted earnings per share excluding these after-tax charges would have been $0.36 for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $1.45 for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Excluding the after-tax losses on hedging activities identified above, returns on average assets were 0.53% for the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2.09% for the year ended December 31, 2007. On the same basis, returns on average equity were 2.98% for the year ended December 31, 2008 and 12.37% for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

The provision for credit losses increased $14.3 million, or 83.1%, to $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from $17.2 million for the same period in 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2008, net interest and fee income decreased $4.6 million from the prior year, primarily due to reduced interest income from payoffs of older, higher yielding leases, combined with lower outstanding invested cash balances.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, we generated 24,869 new finance receivables at a cost of $256.6 million compared to 33,141 new finance receivables at a cost of $390.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The reduction in volume was primarily due to a combination of our decision to lower approval rates in response to economic conditions. Overall, our average total finance receivables at December 31, 2008 decreased 0.9% to $715.6 million at December 31, 2008 from $721.9 million at December 31, 2007.

Average balances and net interest margin.  The following table summarizes the Company’s average balances, interest income, interest expense, and average yields and rates on major categories of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

 

 

 

The following table presents the components of the changes in net interest income by volume and rate.

 

 

 

 

Net interest and fee margin.  The following table summarizes the Company’s net interest and fee income as a percentage of average total finance receivables for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.