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

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission File Number 000-50866

 

DOLLAR FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(610) 296-3400

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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 website, 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 the 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:  þ

 

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 Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

As of December 31, 2009, 24,228,074 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding. As of such date the aggregate market value of voting stock (based upon the last reported sales price in The Nasdaq Global Select Market) held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $572,751,669. As of July 31, 2010, the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding was 24,360,615.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on November 11, 2010, is incorporated by reference to Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

 

 

DOLLAR FINANCIAL CORP.

 

Table of Contents

 

2010 Report on Form 10-K

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those statements are therefore entitled to the protection of the safe harbor provisions of these laws. These forward-looking statements, which are usually accompanied by words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “intends,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects” and similar expressions, involve risks and uncertainties, and relate to, without limitation, statements about our market opportunities, anticipated improvements in operations, our plans, earnings, cash flow and expense estimates, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements, particularly those factors discussed in “Item 1A - Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that such expectations will be attained or that any deviations will not be material. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may not occur and our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as otherwise required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any update or revision to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. If we do update or modify one or more forward-looking statements, you should not conclude that we will make additional updates or modifications with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, (i) the terms “fiscal year” and “fiscal” refer to (i) the twelve-month period ended on June 30 of the specified year, (ii) references to “$,” “dollars,” “United States dollars” or “U.S. dollars” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America, (iii) references to “CAD” refer to the lawful currency of Canada, and (iv) references to “GBP” refer to the British Pound Sterling, the lawful currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

General

 

We are a leading international diversified financial services company serving primarily unbanked and under-banked consumers. Through our retail storefront locations as well as by other means, such as via the Internet, we provide a range of consumer financial products and services in five countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Poland, to customers who, for reasons of convenience and accessibility, purchase some or all of their financial services from us rather than from banks and other financial institutions. We believe that our customers, many of whom receive income on an irregular basis or from multiple employers, are drawn to our convenient neighborhood locations and Internet sites, extended operating hours and high-quality customer service. Our products and services, principally our short-term consumer loans, check cashing services, secured pawn loans and gold buying services, provide customers with immediate access to cash for living expenses or other needs. We strive to offer our customers additional high-value ancillary services, including Western Union^® money order and money transfer products, electronic tax filing, reloadable prepaid VISA^® and MasterCard^® debit cards, foreign currency exchange and prepaid local and long-distance phone services.

 

During fiscal 2010, we completed several acquisitions in furtherance of our objective to expand upon and diversify from our core retail financial services businesses in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States described in the preceding paragraph. Through our branded Military Installment Loan and Education Services, or MILES^®, program offered by our Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC subsidiary, which we acquired in December 2009, we provide fee based services to enlisted military personnel applying for loans to purchase new and used vehicles that are funded and serviced under an exclusive agreement with a major third-party national bank. In April 2010, we expanded our pawn lending activities in the United Kingdom through our acquisition of Suttons & Robertsons, the fourth largest pawn lending business in the United Kingdom whose three London-based stores focus on retail and pawn lending for high value gold jewelry, watches and diamonds. We also expanded our offerings for small business retail customers through our October 2010 acquisition of a U.K.-based provider of merchant cash advances which are repaid by the borrowers’ future credit card receipts. In late fiscal 2009, we acquired both a business that offers longer-term installment consumer loans in Poland with an in-home servicing feature, as well as an Internet-based short-term consumer loan business in the United Kingdom.

 

As we continue to diversify our organization, we expect the contributions to our revenue and profitability from fee-based financial processing and origination services to increase. During fiscal 2010, approximately 50% of our total consolidated revenue was comprised of products and services which generally carry little or no credit risk, such as check cashing, money transfers, gold purchasing, secured pawn lending and fee-based income generated from the MILES program.

 

We believe that our networks of retail locations in Canada and the United Kingdom are the largest of their kind in each of those countries, and that we have a strong presence in states with favorable regulations in the United States. As of June 30, 2010, our global retail operations consisted of 1,180 locations, of which 1,058 are company-owned, conducting business primarily under the names Money Mart^®, Money Shop^®, Loan Mart^®, Money Corner^®, Insta-Cheques^® and The Check Cashing Store^® in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Republic of Ireland.

 

We manage our business as five operating segments — our financial services offerings in each of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Poland, as well as our recently acquired Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC subsidiary, which we operate independently of our other businesses. Information regarding total assets, operating results and other financial information regarding each of our reporting segments for each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008, 2009 and 2010 is set forth in “Item 8. — Financial Data — Note 18” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our Industry

 

We operate in a sector of the financial services industry that serves the basic needs of individuals and small businesses needing quick and convenient access to cash and other financial services. These needs are primarily evidenced by consumer demand for short-term consumer and small business loans, check cashing, secured pawn lending, money transfers, prepaid debit cards, foreign currency exchange and other services. Consumers who use these services are often underserved by banks and other financial institutions.

 

Service sector and self-employed individuals represent the largest portion of the population in each of the countries in which we operate. Many of these individuals do not maintain regular banking relationships. They use services provided by our industry for a variety of reasons, including that they lack sufficient assets to maintain minimum balance requirements or to achieve the benefits of savings with banks, do not write enough checks to make a bank account beneficial, have a dislike or distrust of banks, or do not have a neighborhood bank in close proximity to them. Many of these individuals periodically require short-term loans to provide cash necessary for living and other episodic expenses. They may not be able, or even desire, to obtain loans from banks as a result of their immediate need for cash, the irregular receipt of payments from their employers, or the unavailability of bank loans in small denominations for short time periods. For those who do maintain banking relationships, our industry provides an alternative to the generally high cost of overdraft fees charged by their banks for overdrawn accounts.

 

Despite the demand for basic financial services, access to banks has become increasingly difficult for a significant segment of consumers. Many banks have chosen to close their less profitable or lower-traffic locations and to otherwise reduce the hours during which they operate at such locations. Typically, these closings have occurred in neighborhoods where the branches have failed to attract a sufficient base of customer deposits. This trend has resulted in fewer convenient alternatives for basic financial services in many neighborhoods. Furthermore, traditional banks have tended in recent years to eliminate, or have made it difficult or relatively expensive to obtain, many of the services that under-banked consumers’ desire.

 

As a result of these developments, a significant number of businesses offer financial services to service sector and self-employed individuals. The providers of these services are generally fragmented, and range from specialty finance offices to retail stores in other industries that offer ancillary financial services.

 

While the mix of products offered may vary, we believe that the under-banked consumer markets in each of the countries in which we operate will continue to grow as a result of a diminishing supply of competing banking services as well as underlying demographic trends. These demographic trends include an overall increase in the population in each of our markets and an increase in the number of self-employed, small business and service sector jobs as a percentage of the total workforce.

 

The demographics of the typical customers for non-banking financial services vary somewhat in each of the markets in which we operate. The type of store and services that appeal to customers in each market differs based on cultural, social, geographic, economic and other factors. The composition of providers of these services in each market results, in part, from the historical development and regulatory environment in that market.

 

Our Markets

 

We operate primarily in three geographical markets, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition to operating our traditional storefront locations in the United States, we also provide, through our Dealers Financial Services, LLC subsidiary and its MILES program, fee-based services to U.S. enlisted military personnel applying for automotive loans through a third party national bank. In addition to our storefront locations in the United Kingdom, we also provide Internet based lending. We also entered the Polish market in fiscal 2009 through our acquisition of a controlling interest (76%) in Optima, S.A., a consumer installment lender based in Gdansk, Poland.

Canada

 

We believe that we are the leading financial services company in Canada serving unbanked and under-banked consumers. We estimate that, across Canada, there are approximately 1,500 individual outlets offering single-payment consumer loans and/or check cashing, including only two other networks of stores exceeding 100 locations in Canada. We operate the largest store network in Canada based upon store revenues and profitability, and thereby we believe that we have the largest market share in Canada in our sector.

 

As of June 30, 2010, our Canadian network consists of 465 financial services stores, of which 403 are company-owned and 62 are operated by franchisees. We are located in 12 of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories, with 228 locations in Ontario, 83 locations in British Columbia, 73 locations in Alberta, 20 locations in Manitoba and 61 locations in the other Canadian provinces and territories. We have at least one store in nearly every Canadian city with a population exceeding 50,000.

 

Our Canadian stores typically offer short-term consumer loans, check cashing, Western Union money orders and money transfer products, prepaid debit cards, gold buying and other ancillary products and services. We also recently opened our first pawn broking store in Toronto and offer short term consumer loans via the Internet as well. All of our stores in Canada operate under the name “Money Mart”, except our locations in Québec, which operate under the name “Instant Cheques” and do not offer short-term consumer loans.

 

United Kingdom

 

Based on information from the British Cheque Cashers Association, we believe that our U.K. stores represent approximately 30% of all stores in the United Kingdom operating in our sector. In addition, we believe that our 382 company-operated and franchised and agent-operated stores account for approximately 40% of the total check cashing transactions performed at check cashing stores in the United Kingdom as of June 30, 2010. Like in Canada, we believe we operate the largest store network in our sector based upon store revenues and profitability and thereby we believe we have the largest market share in our sector.

 

As of June 30, 2010, our United Kingdom network consisted of 382 stores, of which 329 are operated by us and 53 are operated by franchisees or agents. We believe this to be the largest store network in the United Kingdom in our sector. Our stores are located in each of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom, with 325 locations in England, 27 locations in Scotland, 13 locations in Wales and 17 locations in Northern Ireland. We also currently have one store in the Republic of Ireland which we include in our United Kingdom operating segment.

 

Our financial services stores in the United Kingdom typically offer short-term consumer loans, check cashing, Western Union money transfers, secured pawn lending, foreign currency exchange, gold buying and other ancillary products and services. Most of our stores in the United Kingdom operate under the name “Money Shop”, with the exception of certain franchises which operate under the name “Cash A Cheque”. In addition to our traditional financial services stores, we also operate two traditional pawn shops located in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland under the name “Robert Biggar Ltd.” and three high-end pawn shops in London, England under the names “T.M. Suttons”, “Robertsons”, and “Suttons & Robertsons”. We also provide Internet-based consumer lending products in the United Kingdom under the name “Payday Express” and merchant cash advances which are repaid by future credit card receipts under the name “Business Cash Advance”.

 

United States Retail

 

We believe that we operate one of the largest U.S. check cashing store networks. Depending on location, our financial services store locations offer a range of financial products and services, including check cashing, short-term consumer loans, Western Union transfers and money orders, prepaid debit cards, gold buying and other ancillary services. As of June 30, 2010, we operated a total of 325 financial services stores in the United States in 15 states, including 104 stores in Florida, 99 stores in California, 19 stores in Arizona, 18 stores in Louisiana and 85 stores in 11 other states. We operate our stores in the United States primarily under the names “Money Mart” and “The Check Cashing Store.”

DFS and the MILES Program

 

In addition to our network of storefront retail financial services stores in the United States, we also offer our branded Military Installment Loan and Education Services, or MILES program through our Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC subsidiary (DFS). DFS provides fee-based services to junior enlisted military personnel seeking to purchase new and used vehicles, including access to loans through an exclusive agreement with a major third-party national bank and other ancillary products and services including service contracts and guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance. DFS operates through an established network with approximately 600 franchised and independent new and used car dealerships, in 23 states, that are in close proximity to significant military installations in the United States. Notwithstanding this extensive presence, we believe that there are opportunities to expand the MILES program geographically, to increase its penetration in certain markets, to expand its product offerings and to increase its penetration with more tenured enlisted military personnel with higher pay grade levels. We operate DFS as a stand-alone business within our corporate structure that is separate from our United States retail store operations, and we report its results of operations as a separate operating segment.

 

Poland

 

Through our 76% controlling interest in Optima, S.A. (Optima), an established installment consumer lending business, we offer relatively longer-term consumer installment loans with terms of approximately 40-50 weeks in duration with an average loan amount of $250 to $500. These loans include an in-home servicing feature. Customer sales and service activities are managed through an extensive network of local commission based representatives across seven provinces in Poland. Poland has a population of nearly 40 million people, with a significant percentage of the population currently underserved by the traditional banking industry. Our investment in Optima represents a planned first step into mainland Europe which we believe will also provide a platform for further expansion throughout Poland and other Eastern European countries. The demographics of neighboring Eastern European countries are similar to that of Poland, with the entire population of Eastern Europe approaching 200 million people across several countries, with a significant percentage of the population residing in urban-industrial areas.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our business strategy is designed to capitalize on our competitive strengths and enhance our leading position in each of the markets in which we operate, to enter new markets and to strengthen our overall business. Key elements of our strategy include:

 

Growth through Disciplined Expansion and Acquisition  Since 1990, we have completed nearly 100 acquisitions worldwide that have added over 790 company-owned financial services stores to our network, as well as new products, lending and other services platforms and expansion into additional countries, in each case with a continuing focus on serving the service sector workforce, small businesses and under-banked consumers generally. We intend to continue to grow our network through the addition of new stores and acquisitions and expansion of our financial services platforms, including fee based processing and origination services, while adhering to a disciplined selection process. We seek to carefully assess potential markets by analyzing demographic, competitive and regulatory factors, site selection and availability and growth potential. With respect to our core financial services businesses in Canada and the United Kingdom in particular, we intend and continue to add storefront locations that offer consumer lending, check cashing, debit cards, foreign currency, secured pawn lending, gold buying and other services, or a combination of any of these products and services.

 

In addition to expanding our existing networks of financial services stores in Canada and the United Kingdom, we also intend to continue our efforts both to expand our business geographically as well as to diversify into new business lines and financial platform delivery methods that complement our existing businesses, or that otherwise present an opportunity to leverage our knowledge of our core customer segments. For example, in fiscal 2009, we entered the growing Eastern European market with our acquisition of Poland-based Optima, which specializes in consumer installment loans. With our fiscal

2009 acquisition of a U.K.-based online consumer lending platform, we leveraged our credit analytics knowledge and increased our expertise within the Internet lending arena, which expertise we believe can be leveraged and exported to other European countries as well as to Canada.

 

With our acquisition of DFS and its MILES program in December 2009, we have diversified into a business that operates in an entirely different market than our core retail financial services stores, yet adheres to our core focus of serving credit challenged individuals. DFS’ revenue comes both from fees which are paid by a major third-party national bank and fees from auto dealers as well as from fees generated by the sale of ancillary products such as warranty service contracts and GAP insurance coverage. At present, DFS’ business is solely focused on providing services to U.S. enlisted military personnel applying for auto loans to purchase new and late model, low mileage used vehicles. Through DFS, we currently provide services to approximately 110 U.S. military communities covering the majority of all U.S. military bases. We operate DFS as a standalone business unit in order to foster DFS’ focus on leveraging its existing dealership network and lending platform to other related customer segments through a number of planned proprietary strategic growth initiatives.

 

We continue to actively seek to acquire targeted competitor operations in selected expansion markets in Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe as well as attractive fee-based financial services businesses like DFS.

 

Introduction of Related Products and Services  We offer a wide range of consumer financial products and services to meet the demands of our customers in each of the areas in which we do business, including short-term consumer loans, check cashing, money orders and money transfer services, and secured pawn lending. To supplement these core products, we seek to provide high-value ancillary products and services, including electronic tax filing, bill payment, foreign currency exchange, reloadable VISA and MasterCard brand debit cards, gold buying, and prepaid local and long-distance phone services. These products and services enable our customers to manage their personal finances more effectively, and we continue to expand our service offerings to our customers. For example, during fiscal 2009, we began providing gold buying services in the United Kingdom and expand these services to Canada and the United States in fiscal 2010. Our broad product and geographic mix provides a diverse stream of revenue growth opportunities that we believe distinguishes us from others in our industry.

 

Capitalizing on our Enhanced Network and System Capabilities  With our networks of stores across Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, we believe that we are well positioned to capitalize on economies of scale. Our centralized core support functions, including credit analytics, collections, call centers, field operations and service, loan processing and tax filing, enable us to generate efficiencies by improving collections and leveraging purchasing power with our vendors. We use our proprietary systems to support our customer relations, consumer lending and loan servicing activities, as well as to provide an efficient means to manage our internal reporting requirements and regulatory compliance activities. We plan to continue to take advantage of these efficiencies to further enhance our network and store-level profitability.

 

Maintaining our Customer-Driven Retail Philosophy  We strive to maintain our customer-service-oriented approach and to meet the basic and diversified financial service needs of our customers. We believe our approach differentiates us from many of our competitors and is a key tenet of our employee training programs. We offer extended operating hours in clean, attractive and secure store locations to enhance appeal and stimulate store traffic. In certain locations, we operate stores that are open 24 hours a day. To ensure customer satisfaction, we periodically send anonymous market researchers posing as shoppers to our stores to measure customer service performance. We intend to continue to develop ways to improve our performance, including incentive programs that reward employees for exceptional customer service.

 

Community Involvement, Ethics and Customer Education  We believe that we strengthen our relationships with our business partners through ethical behavior and with our customers through community involvement. We encourage the management of each of our stores to involve themselves with

their respective local communities. During fiscal 2010 our global business units contributed approximately $1.0 million in charitable contributions, including over $0.3 million to the Haiti earthquake relief effort and over $0.5 million to various children’s health and welfare organizations.

 

We believe that it is our responsibility, and in the best interests of us and our customers, to provide our customers guidance on financial matters and education about our products and services. As a part of our commitment to the long-term financial health of our customers, in the majority of our markets we encourage our customers to contact our consumer education department for guidance or to report any concerns related to our company loan and other products. We have undertaken consumer education initiatives to advance and support financial education and literacy programs in the communities that we serve, as well as to promote responsible use of our products. Core components of the program include consumer brochures, social media posts, non-profit and charitable grant offerings to support financial education programs, free on-line financial literacy training, and the creation of a consumer education section on our websites.

 

Our Products and Services

 

Short-Term Consumer Lending

 

We offer a variety of short-term loan products and credit services in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Poland to customers who typically cannot access other traditional sources of credit such as from banks and family members. Many customers find our short loan products to be a more attractive alternative than borrowing from friends or family or incurring insufficient fund fees, overdraft protection fees, utility reconnect fees and other charges imposed when they have insufficient cash. By utilizing our loan products, our customers can exercise greater control of their personal finances without damaging the relationship they have with their merchants, service providers and family members.

 

We originate unsecured, single-payment short-term consumer loans at most of our retail financial service locations in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. We bear the entire risk of loss related to these loans. We originated approximately $1.7 billion of single-payment, short-term consumer loans during fiscal 2009 and approximately $1.8 billion during fiscal 2010.

 

Our single-payment short-term consumer loan products provide customers with cash in exchange for a promissory note or other repayment agreement supported, in most cases, by the customer’s personal check or an authorization to debit the customer’s account via an Automated Clearing House (ACH) transaction for the amount due. The customer may repay the loan in cash or by allowing the check to be presented for collection by manual deposit or an electronic debit ACH for the amount due. In Canada, single-payment short-term consumer loans are issued to qualified borrowers based on a percentage of the borrowers’ income in amounts up to CAD 1,500, with typical repayment terms of 1 to 35 days. We issue single payment short-term consumer loans in the United Kingdom for up to GBP 750, with a maximum term of 30 days. In the United States, these loans are made for amounts up to $1,000, with terms of 7 to 45 days.

 

We also offer single payment short-term consumer loans via the Internet in the United Kingdom and in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, Canada. We intend to increase our presence in the Internet-based short-term consumer lending space in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as throughout Europe, through both strategic acquisitions as well as by leveraging our experience in credit analytics and the online lending marketplace.

 

In addition to our lending activities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, we offer unsecured loans in Poland of generally 40 to 50 week durations with average loan amounts of $250 to $500. The loan transaction includes a convenient in-home servicing feature, whereby loan disbursement and collection activities take place in the customer’s home according to a mutually agreed upon and pre-arranged schedule. The in-home loan servicing concept is well established and accepted within Poland and Eastern Europe, and was initially established in Britain nearly a century ago. Customer sales and service activities are managed through an extensive network of local commission based representatives and market managers across seven provinces in northwestern Poland.

Because our revenue from our consumer lending activities is generated through a high volume of small-dollar financial transactions, our exposure to loss from a single customer transaction is minimal. Collection activities are, however, an important aspect of our operations, particularly with respect to our consumer loan products due to the relatively high incidence of unpaid balances beyond stated terms. We have instituted control mechanisms and a credit analytics function that have been very effective in managing risk in our consumer lending activities. We operate centralized collection centers to coordinate a consistent approach to customer service and collections in each of our markets. Our risk control mechanisms include, among others, the daily monitoring of initial return rates with respect to payments made on our consumer loan portfolio. We have also implemented proprietary predictive scoring models that are designed to limit the amount of loans we offer to customers who statistically would likely be unable to repay their loan. As a result, we believe that we are less likely to sustain a significant credit loss from a series of transactions or launch of a new product.

 

We had approximately $114.7 million and $138.3 million of net consumer loans outstanding as of June 30, 2009 and 2010, respectively. These amounts are reflected on our audited balance sheets included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as loans receivable, net. Loans receivable, net at June 30, 2009 and 2010 are reported net of a reserve of $12.1 million and $16.8 million, respectively, related to consumer lending. Loans in default as of June 30, 2009 was $6.4 million, net of a $17.0 million allowance, and was $7.3 million, net of a $14.4 million allowance at June 30, 2010. See “Item 8. Financial Statements — Note 2” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information regarding our company-funded loan loss reserve policy.

 

The following table presents a summary of our consumer lending originations, including loan extensions and revenues, for the following periods:

 

 

 

Check Cashing

 

Customers may cash all types of checks at our check cashing locations, including payroll checks, insurance proceeds checks, government checks and personal checks. In exchange for a verified check, customers receive cash immediately and do not have to wait several days for the check to clear. Before we distribute cash, we verify both the customer’s identification and the validity of the check, occasionally using multiple sources, as required by our standard verification procedures. Customers are charged a fee for this service, which is typically calculated as a percentage of the face value of the check. The fee varies depending on the size and type of check cashed as well as the customer’s check cashing history at our stores.

 

Since the beginning of fiscal 2009, the number and aggregate face value of checks that we have cashed at our stores has declined in all of our geographical core markets. Studies by the Federal Reserve Board and others suggest that payments made by electronic means may be displacing a portion of the paper checks traditionally cashed by our customers. Moreover, we believe that the recent significant global downturn, which has affected all of the countries in which we operate, and the continuing high unemployment rates, have significantly contributed to the decline in our check cashing business. In response to these developments, we have increased our focus on cashing payroll and commercial checks, which tend to have higher face values and therefore result in higher check cashing fees than government checks.

 

Other Retail Services and Products

 

In addition to short-term consumer loans and check cashing services, we offer our customers a variety of financial and other products and services at our retail locations. These services, which vary from store to store, include Western Union money order and money transfer products, secured pawn lending, gold buying, electronic tax filing, bill payment, foreign currency exchange, VISA and MasterCard branded reloadable debit cards, and prepaid local and long-distance phone services. Among our most significant other financial services products and services are:

 

Money Transfers.  Through a strategic alliance with Western Union in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, our customers can transfer funds to any location in the world providing Western Union money transfer services. Western Union currently has approximately 430,000 agents in more than 200 countries throughout the world. We receive a percentage of the commission charged by Western Union for each money transfer transaction. For fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010, we generated total revenues from money transfers of $26.8 million and $27.5 million, respectively, primarily at our financial services stores in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Secured Pawn Lending.  We offer secured pawn loans at most of our retail financial services locations in the United Kingdom and at two locations in Toronto, Canada. We also operate two traditional pawn shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland, and three pawn shops in London, England specializing

in high value gold jewelry, watches and diamonds. For fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010, we generated total revenues from secured pawn lending of $13.8 million and $19.9 million, respectively.

 

When receiving a pawn loan from us, a customer pledges personal property to us as security for the loan. We deliver a pawn transaction agreement to the customer, along with the proceeds of the loan. If the customer does not repay the loan and redeem the property, the customer forfeits the property to us, and we dispose of the property. We do not have recourse against the customer for the pawn loan. We rely on the disposition of pawned property to recover the principal amount of an unpaid pawn loan, plus a yield on the investment. As a result, the customer’s creditworthiness is not a significant factor in the loan decision, and a decision not to redeem pawned property does not affect the customer’s personal credit status. Goods pledged to secure pawn loans are principally jewelry items, but in a few of our stores includes tangible personal property items such as tools, televisions and other electronics, musical instruments, and other miscellaneous items.

 

We contract for a finance and service charge to compensate us for the use of the funds loaned and to cover direct operating expenses related to the pawn transaction. The finance and service charge is typically calculated as a percentage of the pawn loan amount based on the size and duration of the transaction and generally ranges from 12% to 300% on an annualized basis, as permitted by applicable laws.

 

We sell the merchandise that pawn customers forfeit when they do not repay or renew their pawn loans. We sell most of this merchandise at our stores offering pawn loans, but we also dispose of some items through wholesale sources, or, in the case of some gold jewelry, through sale to a smelter.

 

We also sell previously-owned merchandise primarily acquired from customers who do not redeem their pawned goods. Our pawn lending locations may also sell items purchased from third-parties or directly from customers.

 

Money Orders.  Most of our stores offer money orders for a minimal fee. Customers who do not have checking accounts typically use money orders to pay rent and utility bills. During fiscal 2010, money order transactions had an average face amount of $376.40 and an average fee of $5.35. Our customers purchased 5.1 million money orders in fiscal 2010.

 

DFS and the MILES Program

 

Through our MILES program, which is offered through our DFS subsidiary acquired in December 2009, we provide fee based services to enlisted U.S. military personnel applying for auto loans to purchase new and late-model, low-mileage used vehicles that are funded and serviced under an exclusive agreement with a major third-party national bank. Our partner third-party national bank approves the loans, funds and maintains the loan portfolio on its balance sheet, and bears any risk of repayment default. We derive revenue from the fees related to the loan application, an interest rate spread between the rate that the third-party lender receives and the rate that the borrower pays and fees from the auto dealers, as well as commission fees from the sale of warranty service contracts and GAP insurance coverage.

 

DFS, which is headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, and which has been in operation since 1996, operates through an established network of approximately 600 franchised and independent new and used car dealerships according to underwriting protocols specified by the major third-party bank lender and servicer. DFS maintains relationships with this network of car dealerships through an experienced group of local DFS sales representatives. To be part of the DFS network, dealerships must first be certified by DFS and agree to comply with a number of vehicle quality and sale stipulations. In particular, the vehicle being financed by the bank lender through the MILES program must be less than five years old, have fewer than 65,000 miles on the odometer and pass a comprehensive quality inspection.

 

The bank lender’s unique underwriting standards and the ability to purchase service contracts and GAP insurance policies at a discount are designed to help insulate the borrower from events that typically lead to a loan default. GAP insurance covers the difference between the outstanding loan amount and the retail value of the automobile, in the event the vehicle is classified as a “total loss” due to unforeseen events such as

a collision, mechanical failure or theft. As part of the MILES program, the borrower is also required to complete, at no charge, an educational course administered by DFS covering such topics as credit counseling, personal budgeting, and vehicle purchase and maintenance training.

 

Operations

 

Facilities and Hours of Operation

 

As part of our retail and customer-driven strategy, we seek to present a clean, attractive and secure environment, and an appealing format for our retail financial services stores. We follow a strict set of market survey and location guidelines when selecting store sites in order to ensure that our stores are placed in desirable locations near our core customers. Size varies by location, but our stores are generally 1,000 to 1,400 square feet, with approximately half of that space allocated to the customer service representative and back office areas. Operating hours vary by location, but are typically extended and designed to cater to those customers who, due to work schedules, cannot make use of “normal” banking hours. In certain locations, we operate stores, seven days per week and twenty-four hours a day.

 

Structure

 

Our senior management resides at our corporate headquarters in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and is responsible for our overall strategic direction. This corporate staff includes our global executive management, global strategy, business development and acquisitions, corporate finance, investor relations, global compensation and benefits, global credit and legal functions, as well as compliance functions, including internal audit, risk management, and privacy. We also maintain administrative offices in Victoria, British Columbia, Toronto, Ontario, Nottingham, England and Gdansk, Poland. We maintain separate management and store support operations and other centralized functions such as information systems, treasury, accounting, human resources, loss prevention and marketing for each of the countries in which we operate.

 

We maintain in each country in which we operate a network of stores, a store-management organization that is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the stores in that country. District managers are directly responsible for the oversight of our store managers and store operations. Typically, each district manager oversees eight to ten stores. Each district manager reports to a market manager who typically supervises approximately five district managers. The market managers report to the head of operations in each of our divisional corporate offices.

 

We have centralized facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States to support our consumer lending activities in each of those countries. Our staff at each of these locations performs inbound and outbound customer service for current and prospective consumer loan customers, including collections for past-due consumer loans. Our management at these facilities includes experienced call-center operations, customer service, information technology and collections personnel. We believe that these centralized facilities have helped us both to improve our loan servicing significantly and to reduce credit losses on loans originated by us, and significantly enhances our ability to manage the compliance responsibilities related to our consumer lending operations in the markets in which we operate. We believe that our ongoing investment in, and organization-wide focus on, our compliance practices provides us with a competitive advantage relative to many other companies in our industry.

 

Technology

 

We maintain an enterprise-wide transaction processing computer network. We believe that this system improves our customer service by reducing transaction time and allows us both to manage our loan-collection efforts and returned-check losses better and to comply with regulatory recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

 

We continue to enhance our point-of-sale transaction processing systems, which are composed of a networked hardware and software package with integrated database and reporting capabilities. Our point-of-sale systems provide our stores with instantaneous customer information, thereby reducing transaction

time and improving the efficiency of our credit-verification and check cashing processes. We also utilize an enhanced centralized loan-management and collection system that provides improved customer service processing and management of loan transactions. The loan-management system and collection system uses integrated automated clearinghouse payment and returns processing, which facilitates faster notification of returns and faster clearing of funds as well as utilizing fax server document-processing technology to reduce both processing and loan-closing times. Our point-of-sale systems, together with the loan-management and collection systems, have enhanced our ability to offer new products and services and overall customer service.

 

Security

 

Robbery and employee theft are significant operational risks that we face. We have sought to deploy extensive security and surveillance systems, dedicated loss prevention and security personnel and management information systems throughout our operations to address areas of potential risk. We believe that our systems are among the most effective in our industry. Accordingly, net security losses represented 0.5% and 0.3% of total revenues for fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010, respectively.

 

To protect against robbery, most store employees work behind bullet-resistant glass and steel partitions, with back office, safe and computer areas locked and closed to customers. Security measures in each of our stores include safes, electronic alarm systems monitored by third parties, control over entry to teller areas, detection of entry through perimeter openings, walls, and ceilings and tracking of all employee movement in and out of secured areas. Employees use devices to ensure safety and security whenever they are outside the secure teller area. Additional security measures include sophisticated alarm systems, remote control over alarm systems, arming/disarming and changing user codes and mechanically and electronically controlled time-delay safes. Because we handle high volumes of cash and negotiable instruments at our locations, daily monitoring, an internal auditing program including periodic unannounced store audits and cash counts at randomly selected locations, and immediate responses to irregularities are critical in combating defalcations.

 

Advertising and Marketing

 

We employ a variety of media to advertise the products and services that we offer in our financial services stores, including point of purchase and in-store promotions, mass media including television and radio advertisements, electronic media including text messaging, e-mail campaigns, search engine marketing and web site marketing, and community activities, which we believe allows us to become a trusted part of the community with locally designed and executed programs like charity fundraisers and sponsorship of community events. The nature and type of advertising employed differs by geographical market and the products we are seeking to emphasize. Our in-store transaction database allows us to develop direct marketing strategies to communicate to existing customers and prospective customers who have similar demographic characteristics. We actively measure and conduct testing of our advertising programs to ensure we achieve a positive return on investment.

 

Proprietary Rights

 

We hold the rights to a variety of service marks relating to the financial services that we provide in our financial services stores and in our other businesses. In addition, we maintain service marks relating to the various names under which our stores operate. Our registered trademarks include Money Mart^®, Money Shop^®, Loan Mart^®, Money Corner^®, Money MartExpress^®, Insta-Cheques^®, Check Mart^®, The Check Cashing Store^®, Cash ‘Til Payday^®, CustomCash^®, Momentum^®, Qwicash^®, Payday Express^®, Cheque In Cash Out^®, Real People. Fast Cash^®, EasyTax^®, Zap-It^®, Fast Cash Advance^®, Advance Canada^®, CC^®, iii optima^®, mce^®, and MILES^®.

 

Insurance Coverage

 

We maintain insurance coverage against losses, including theft, to protect our assets and properties. We also maintain insurance coverage against criminal acts with a deductible of $50,000 per occurrence in the United States and the United Kingdom and CAD 25,000 per occurrence in Canada.

Franchises

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had 62 franchise locations in Canada and 53 in the United Kingdom. These franchised locations are subject to franchise agreements with us that have varying durations and have been negotiated individually with each franchisee. We are not, however, actively marketing franchises in any of our markets.

 

Employees

 

As of June 30, 2010, we employed approximately 4,966 persons worldwide, consisting of 593 persons in our accounting, management information systems, legal, human resources, treasury, finance and administrative departments, and 4,373 persons in our stores and other operational functions, including customer service representatives, store managers, regional supervisors, operations directors and store administrative personnel. None of our employees are represented by a labor union, and we believe that our relations with our employees are good.

 

Seasonality

 

Our business is seasonal primarily due to the impact of several tax-related services, including cashing tax refund checks, making electronic tax filings and processing applications of refund anticipation loans. Historically, we have generally experienced our highest revenues and earnings during our third fiscal quarter ending March 31, when revenues from these tax-related services peak. Due to the seasonality of our business, results of operations for any fiscal quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be achieved for the full fiscal year. In addition, quarterly results of operations depend significantly upon the timing and amount of revenues and expenses associated with the addition of new stores.

 

Competition

 

We face significant competition in each of the countries in which we operate, and for each of the services and products that we offer in those countries. Our industry includes companies that offer automated check cashing machines and franchised kiosk units that provide check cashing and money order services to customers, which can be located in places such as convenience stores, bank lobbies, grocery stores, discount retailers and shopping malls. We believe that, ultimately, convenience, hours of operations, accessibility and other aspects of customer service are the principal factors influencing customers’ selection of a financial services company in our industry, and that the pricing of products and services is a secondary consideration.

 

Because we operate primarily in three countries, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and intend to enter into additional markets, we face different competitive conditions across our operations. Competition is driven in part by the demographics of the potential customer base in each market, laws and regulations affecting the products and services we offer in a particular country or regional jurisdiction, platforms from which services are provided, and socio-economic factors present in each market.

 

The finalization of new provincial regulations in Canada for single-payment short-term consumer loans has caused certain existing competitors to expand their operations, in particular encouraging some U.S.-based competitors to begin to enter the Canadian market. Notwithstanding this increased competition, we believe that the new regulations adopted by a majority of the Canadian provinces in which we do business, including Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, present an opportunity to leverage our multi-product platform and to improve our share of the Canadian market by continuing to offer the lowest product pricing as compared to our competitors. Furthermore, we believe that many of the less efficient mono-line operators in Canada will likely struggle under the new more restrictive provincial regulations, presenting a potential opportunity for us to purchase their stores or customer accounts at attractive prices.

 

Recent research indicates that the U.K. market for small, short-term single-payment loans is served by approximately 1,200 store locations, which include check cashers, pawn brokers and home-collected credit companies, in addition to approximately 20 on-line lenders.

In the United States, our industry is highly fragmented. According to Financial Service Centers of America, Inc., there are approximately 7,000 neighborhood check cashing stores and, according to published equity research estimates by Stephens Inc., there are approximately 22,000 short-term lending stores. There are several public companies in the United States with large networks of stores offering single-payment consumer loans, as well as several large pawn shop chains offering such loans in their store networks in the United States. Like check cashing, there are also many local chains and single-unit operators offering single-payment consumer loans as their principal business product.

 

In addition to other check cashing stores and consumer lending stores and financial services platforms in each of the countries in which we operate, our competitors include banks and other financial services entities, as well as retail businesses, such as grocery and liquor stores, which often cash checks for their customers. Some competitors, primarily grocery stores, do not charge a fee to cash a check. However, these merchants generally provide this service to certain customers with solid credit ratings or for checks issued by highly recognized companies, or those written on the customer’s account and made payable to the store.

 

Regulation

 

We are subject to regulation by foreign, federal and state governments that affects the products and services we provide. In general, this regulation is designed to protect consumers who deal with us and not to protect the holders of our securities, including our common stock. In particular, we are subject to the regulations described below as well as regulations governing currency reporting, privacy and other matters described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including under “Item 1A — Risk Factors”.

 

Consumer Lending

 

Prior to 2007, our consumer lending activities in Canada were subject to a federal usury ceiling and provincial licensing in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Effective May 3, 2007, the Canadian Parliament amended the federal usury law to permit each province to assume jurisdiction over, and the development of, laws and regulations of short-term consumer loan products such as ours. To date, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia have passed legislation regulating short-term consumer lenders and each has, or is in the process of adopting, regulations and rates consistent with those laws. In general, the regulations proposed and implemented to date are similar to those in effect in the United States which require lenders to be licensed, set maximum limits on the charges to the consumer for a loan and regulate collection practices. We believe that the short-term consumer loan products that we currently offer in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia conform with the applicable regulations of such provinces. We do not offer short-term consumer loans in Quebec.

 

In the United Kingdom, consumer lending is governed by the Consumer Credit Act of 1974, and related rules and regulations. As required by the Consumer Credit Act of 1974, we have obtained licenses from the Office of Fair Trading, which is responsible for regulating competition, policy, and for consumer protection. The Consumer Credit Act of 1974 also contains rules regarding the presentation, form and content of loan agreements, including statutory warnings and the layout of financial information. Beginning July 31, 2009, The Money Laundering Regulations 2007 were enhanced to include consumer credit lenders, and all consumer credit lenders not authorized by the Financial Services Authority or HM Revenue and Customs as a Money Service Business are now required to register with the Office of Fair Trading. We believe we have complied with these regulations where we were not already registered by HM Revenue and Customs.

 

Short-term consumer loan products are subject to a variety of regulations at the federal, state and local levels in the United States. Currently, short-term consumer loan products are primarily regulated at the state level. Several states prohibit certain short-term consumer loan products and, as a result, we only offer check cashing and other non-loan products in those states. In other states in which operate, applicable laws and regulations typically limit the principal amount that we may offer and the maximum fees that we may charge on our short-term consumer loans. Some states also limit a customer’s ability to renew an advance and otherwise require certain consumer disclosures. These regulations in many cases also specify minimum and

maximum maturity dates and, in some case, impose mandatory “cooling off” periods between transactions. We believe that our short-term consumer loan products are in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations of the states in which we offer such products.

 

At the federal level, the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to each, impact our short-term loan products. Among other things, these laws and regulations require disclosure of the principal terms of each transaction to every customer, including the dollar amount of finance charges and the applicable imputed annual percentage rate, prohibit false or misleading advertising, prohibit discriminatory lending practices and prohibit unfair credit practices.

 

On July 21, 2010, President Obama in the United States signed into law the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 which, among other things, creates a federal Bureau of Consumer Protection which will have regulatory jurisdiction over large non-depository financial companies, including us. Under this law, the Bureau of Consumer Protection has broad authority to prescribe regulations over what it determines to be unfair, deceptive or abusive practices, including the ability to curtail or make unlawful any products falling within its regulatory authority. We cannot predict what, if any, action the Bureau of Consumer Protection might take with respect to short-term consumer loans.

 

Short-term consumer loans have also been the subject of several other proposed bills in the U.S. House and Senate that would impose limits on the interest and fees on such products. To date, none of these bills have moved past committee review.

 

In addition to state and federal laws and regulations, we are also subject to various local rules and regulations such as local zoning regulations and licensing requirements. These local rules and regulations are subject to change and vary by location.

 

Check Cashing

 

In Canada, the federal government generally does not regulate check cashing activities, nor do the provincial governments generally impose any regulations specific to the check cashing industry. The exceptions are the provinces of Québec and Saskatchewan, where check cashing stores are not permitted to charge a fee to cash government checks, and Manitoba, where the province imposes a maximum fee to cash government checks.

 

In the United Kingdom, as a result of the Cheques Act of 1992, banks must refund the fraudulent or dishonest checks that they clear to the maker. For this reason, banks have invoked more stringent credit inspection and indemnity criteria for businesses such as ours. Additionally, in 2003, the Money Laundering Regulations of 1993 were enhanced, requiring check cashing, money transfer and foreign currency exchange providers to be licensed, and in 2007, they were further enhanced to require background checks of persons running such businesses as a requirement of granting a license. We believe that we currently comply with these rules and regulations.

 

To date, regulation of check cashing fees in the United States has occurred on the state level. We are currently subject to fee regulation in seven states in which we operate: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, where regulations set maximum fees for cashing various types of checks. Our check cashing fees comply with applicable state regulations. Some states, including California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, have enacted licensing requirements for check cashing stores. Other states, including Ohio, require the conspicuous posting of the fees charged by each store. A number of states, including Ohio, have also imposed recordkeeping requirements, while other states require check cashing stores to file fee schedules with state regulators.

 

Currency Reporting

 

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada is responsible for ensuring that money services businesses comply with the legislative requirements of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. The Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act requires

the reporting of large cash transactions involving amounts of $10,000 or more received in cash and international electronic funds transfer requests of $10,000 or more. This act also requires submitting suspicious transactions reports where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction is related to the commission of a money laundering offense or to the financing of a terrorist activity. We believe that we are in compliance with the requirements of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

 

The Terrorism Act of 2000 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 expanded, reformed and consolidated the United Kingdom’s criminal money laundering offenses. The Money Laundering Regulations of 2003 impose certain reporting and record keeping requirements on persons and businesses in the regulated sector. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has the responsibility for enforcing the regulations. The regulations require that identity is taken for any person carrying out single or multiple foreign exchange transactions exceeding the GBP equivalent of EUR 15,000 and for the cashing of any third-party check, in any amount. Additionally, regulations require the submission of suspicious transaction reports to the Serious Organized Crime Agency whenever there is a transaction which is inconsistent with a customer’s known legitimate business activities or with normal business for that type of account. We have existing procedures to remain in compliance with these requirements and believe that we are in compliance with these regulatory requirements.

 

Regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Bank Secrecy Act require reporting of transactions involving currency in an amount greater than $10,000, and maintenance of records regarding the purchase of money orders and wire transfers for cash in amounts from $3,000 to $10,000. In general, every financial institution must report each deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency or other payment or transfer that involves currency in an amount greater than $10,000. In addition, multiple currency transactions must be treated as a single transaction if the financial institution has knowledge that the transactions are by, or on behalf of, any one person and result in either cash in or cash out totaling more than $10,000 during any one business day. We believe that our point-of-sale system and employee training programs support our compliance with these regulatory requirements.

 

Also, money services businesses are required by the Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994 to register with the U.S. Treasury Department. Money services businesses include check cashers and sellers of money orders. Money services businesses must renew their registrations every two years, maintain a list of their agents, update the agent list annually and make the agent list available for examination. In addition, the Bank Secrecy Act requires money services businesses to file a Suspicious Activity Report for any transaction conducted or attempted involving amounts individually or in total equaling $2,000 or greater, when the money services businesses knows or suspects that the transaction involves funds derived from an illegal activity, the transaction is designed to evade the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act or the transaction is considered so unusual that there appears to be no reasonable explanation for the transaction. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, or the PATRIOT Act, includes a number of anti-money-laundering measures designed to assist in the identification and seizure of terrorist funds, including provisions that directly impact check cashers and other money services businesses. Specifically, the PATRIOT Act requires all check cashers to establish certain programs designed to detect and report money laundering activities to law enforcement. We believe we are in compliance with the PATRIOT Act. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control administers economic sanctions and embargo programs that require assets and transactions involving target countries and their nationals (referred to as “specially designated nationals and blocked persons”) be frozen. We maintain procedures to assure compliance with these requirements.

 

Privacy of Personal Information

 

We are subject to a variety of state, federal and foreign laws and regulations restricting the use and seeking to protect the confidentiality of identifying and other personal consumer information. We believe that the procedures and systems that we maintain safeguard such information as required.

Corporate Information

 

Dollar Financial Corp. is a Delaware corporation formed in 1990. We operate our store networks through our direct and indirect wholly-owned foreign and domestic subsidiaries. Our principal executive offices are located at 1436 Lancaster Avenue, Berwyn, Pennsylvania 19312, and our telephone number is (610) 296-3400.

 

Available Information

 

We file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and other information with the SEC. Members of the public may read and copy materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Members of the public may also obtain information on the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and other information filed by us with the SEC are available, without charge, on our Internet web site, www.dfg.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed electronically with the SEC.

 

 

Our current business and future results may be affected by a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks and uncertainties we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

If we do not generate a sufficient amount of cash from operations, which depends on many factors beyond our control, we may not be able to satisfy our debt service or other liquidity requirements.

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had an aggregate of $728.6 million in outstanding indebtedness. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations and to satisfy our working capital and other liquidity needs, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, seek additional capital or seek to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful or may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to sell material assets or operations to attempt to meet our debt service and other obligations. If we are unable to make the required payments on our debt obligations, we would be in default under the terms of our indebtedness which could result in an acceleration of our repayment obligations. Any such default, or any attempt to alter our business plans and operations to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Changes in applicable laws and regulations governing our business may have a significant negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our business is subject to numerous federal, state, local and foreign laws, ordinances and regulations in each of the countries in which we operate which are subject to change and which may impose significant costs or limitations on the way we conduct or expand our business. These regulations govern or affect, among other things:

 

 

 

As we develop and introduce new products and services, we may become subject to additional laws and regulations. Future legislation or regulations may restrict our ability to continue our current methods of operation or expand our operations and may have a negative effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Governments at the national and local levels may seek to impose new licensing requirements or interpret or enforce existing requirements in new ways. We and other participants in our industry are currently, and may in the future be, subject to litigation and regulatory proceedings which could generate adverse publicity or cause us to incur substantial expenditures or modify the way we conduct our business. Changes in laws or regulations, or our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Our consumer lending products in particular are subject to regulations in each of the markets in which we operate that significantly impact the manner in which we conduct our business. In Canada, the Canadian Parliament amended the federal usury law in 2007 to permit each province to assume jurisdiction over and the development of laws and regulations regarding our industry. To date, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia have passed legislation regulating short-term consumer lenders and each has, or is in the process of adopting, regulations and rates consistent with those laws. In general, these regulations require lenders to be licensed, set maximum fees and regulate collection practices. There can be no assurance that these regulations will not have a detrimental effect on our consumer lending business in Canada in the future.

 

In the United Kingdom, our consumer lending activities must comply with the Consumer Credit Act of 1974 and related rules and regulations which, among other things, require us to obtain governmental licenses and prescribe the presentation, form and content of loan agreements, including statutory warnings and the layout of financial information. Our non-compliance with these rules could render a loan agreement unenforceable.

 

Short-term consumer loans have come under heightened regulatory scrutiny in the United States in recent years resulting in increasingly restrictive regulations and legislation at the state and federal levels that makes offering such loans less profitable or attractive to us. Regulations adopted by some states require that all borrowers of certain short-term loan products be listed on a database and limit the number of such loans that a borrower may have outstanding. Legislative or regulatory activities may also limit the amount of interest and fees to levels that do not permit the offering of cash advance loans to be feasible, may limit the number of short-term loans that customers may receive or have outstanding, or may prohibit entirely short-term loan products. Additionally, the U.S. Congress continues to receive significant pressure from consumer advocates and other industry opposition groups to adopt such legislation at the federal level. In July 2010, President Obama in the United States signed into law the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 which, among other things, creates a federal Bureau of Consumer Protection which will have regulatory jurisdiction over large non-depository financial companies, including us. Under this law, the Bureau of Consumer Protection has broad authority to prescribe regulations over what it determines to be unfair, deceptive or abusive practices, including the ability to curtail or make unlawful any products falling within its regulatory authority. We cannot predict what, if any, action the Bureau of Consumer Protection may take with respect to short-term consumer loans, and any such actions could have an adverse impact on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

The modification of existing laws or regulations in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate or in which we contemplate new operations, or the adoption of new laws or regulations restricting or imposing more stringent requirements, on our consumer lending or check cashing activities in particular, could increase our operating expenses, significantly limit our business activities in the effected markets limit our expansion opportunities and/or could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

We have engaged, and may engage in the future, in acquisitions or investments which present many risks, and we may not realize the anticipated financial and strategic goals for any of these transactions.

 

We have historically grown our business through strategic acquisitions, and a key component of our growth strategy is to continue to pursue acquisition opportunities. We may not, however, be able to achieve the anticipated benefits from the acquisition or investment due to a number of factors. The success of our acquisitions is dependent, in part, upon our effectively integrating the management, operations and technology of acquired businesses into our existing management, operations and technology platforms, of which there can be no assurance, particularly in the case of a larger acquisition or multiple acquisitions completed in a short period of time. The failure to successfully integrate acquired businesses into our organization could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. From time to time, we may enter into negotiations for acquisitions or investments that are not ultimately consummated. These negotiations could result in a significant diversion of our management’s time, as well as out-of-pocket costs.

 

The consideration paid for an acquisition or investment may also affect our financial results. If we were to proceed with one or more significant acquisitions in which the consideration included cash, we could be required to use a substantial portion of our available cash or to obtain debt or equity financing. To the extent that we issue shares of our capital stock or other rights to purchase shares of our capital stock as consideration for an acquisition or in connection with the financing of an acquisition, including options or other rights, our existing stockholders may be diluted, and our earnings per share may decrease. In addition, acquisitions may result in the incurrence of debt, large one-time write-offs, including write-offs of acquired in-process research and development costs, and restructuring charges. Acquisitions may require us to incur additional indebtedness to finance our working capital and may also result in goodwill and other intangible assets that are subject to impairment tests, which could result in future impairment charges.

 

Adverse economic conditions may significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and access to liquidity.

 

The ongoing current global economic downturn may adversely affect our business in several ways. For example, continued high levels of unemployment in the markets in which we operate will likely reduce the number of customers who qualify for our products and services, which in turn may reduce our revenues. Similarly, reduced consumer confidence and spending may decrease the demand for our products. Also, we are unable to predict how the widespread loss of jobs, housing foreclosures, and general economic uncertainty may affect our loss experience.

 

If internal funds are not available from our operations and after utilizing our excess cash, we may be required to rely on the banking and credit markets to meet our financial commitments and short-term liquidity needs. Disruptions in the capital and credit markets, as have been experienced since 2008, could adversely affect our ability to draw on our revolving loans. Our access to funds under our credit facility is dependent on the ability of the banks that are parties to the facility to meet their funding commitments. Those banks may not be able to meet their funding commitments to us if they experience shortages of capital and liquidity or if they experience excessive volumes of borrowing requests from us and other borrowers within a short period of time.

 

Longer term disruptions in the capital and credit markets as a result of uncertainty, changing or increased regulation, reduced alternatives, or failures of significant financial institutions could adversely affect our ability to refinance our outstanding indebtedness on favorable terms, if at all. The lack of availability under, and the inability to subsequently refinance, our indebtedness could require us to take measures to conserve cash until

the markets stabilize or until alternative credit arrangements or other funding for our business needs can be arranged. Such measures could include deferring capital expenditures, including acquisitions, and reducing or eliminating other discretionary uses of cash.

 

Public perception and press coverage of single-payment consumer loans as being predatory or abusive could negatively affect our revenues and results of operations.

 

Consumer advocacy groups, certain media reports, and a number of regulators and elected officials in the several jurisdictions in which we conduct business have from time to time advocated governmental action to prohibit or severely restrict certain types of short-term consumer lending. These efforts have often focused on lenders that charge consumers imputed interest rates and fees that are higher than those charged by credit card issuers to more creditworthy consumers and otherwise characterize our products and services as being predatory or abusive toward consumers. This difference in credit cost may become more pronounced if a consumer does not repay a loan promptly, instead electing to renew the loan for one or more additional short-term periods. If consumers accept this negative characterization of certain single-payment consumer loans and believe that the loans we provide to our customers fit this characterization, demand for our loans could significantly decrease. In addition, media coverage and public statements that assert some form of corporate wrongdoing can lower morale, make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified employees, management and directors, divert management attention and increase expenses. These trends could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

 

If our estimates of loan losses are not adequate to absorb losses, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

We maintain an allowance for loan losses for anticipated losses on company-funded loans and loans in default. To estimate the appropriate level of loan loss reserves, we consider known and relevant internal and external factors that affect loan collectability, including the amount of outstanding loans owed to us, historical loans charged off, current collection patterns and current economic trends. Our current allowance for loan losses is based on our charge-offs, expressed as a percentage of loan amounts originated for the last twelve months applied against the principal balance of outstanding loans. As of June 30, 2010, our allowance for loan losses on company-funded consumer loans that were not in default was $16.8 million and our allowance for losses on loans in default was $14.4 million. These reserves, however, are estimates, and if actual loan losses are materially greater than our loan loss reserves, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

Legal proceedings may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or cash flows in future periods.

 

We are currently subject to several legal proceedings. We are vigorously defending these proceedings. In addition, we are likely to be subject to additional legal proceedings in the future. The resolution of any current or future legal proceeding could cause us to have to refund fees and/or interest collected, refund the principal amount of advances, pay damages or other monetary penalties and/or modify or terminate our operations in particular local and federal jurisdictions. We may also be subject to adverse publicity. Defense of any legal proceedings, even if successful, requires substantial time and attention of our senior officers and other management personnel that would otherwise be spent on other aspects of our business and requires the expenditure of significant amounts for legal fees and other related costs. Settlement of lawsuits may also result in significant payments and modifications to our operations. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Competition in the financial services industry could cause us to lose market share and revenues.

 

The industry in which we operate is highly fragmented and very competitive, and we believe that the market may become more competitive as the industry consolidates. In addition to other consumer lending and check cashing stores in the markets in which we operate, we compete with banks and other financial services entities and retail businesses that offer consumer loans, cash checks, sell money orders, provide money transfer

services or offer other products and services offered by us. Some of our competitors have larger and more established customer bases and substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources than we have. As a result, we could lose market share and our revenues could decline, thereby affecting our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to service our indebtedness and fund our operations.

 

Foreign currency fluctuations and unexpected changes in foreign tax rates may adversely affect our reported results of operations.

 

We currently generate a majority of our revenue outside the United States. Our foreign subsidiaries accounted for 70.7% and 76.6% of our total revenues for the years ended June 30, 2009 and 2010, respectively. As a result, our reported results of operations are vulnerable to currency exchange rate fluctuations, principally in the Canadian dollar and the British pound against the United States dollar. Upon consolidation, as exchange rates vary, net sales and other operating results may differ materially from expectations, and we may record significant gains or losses on the remeasurement of intercompany balances. We estimate that a 10.0% change in foreign exchange rates by itself would have impacted reported pre-tax earnings from continuing operations (exclusive of losses on extinguishment of debt of $8.4 million, unrealized foreign exchange losses of $10.2 million, losses on derivatives not designated as hedges of $12.9 million, litigation expense of $22.6 million and losses on store closings of $0.9 million) by approximately $9.2 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2010 and $9.7 million (exclusive of the unrealized foreign exchange gain of $5.5 million, litigation expense of $57.5 million and losses on store closings of $3.2 million) for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009. This impact represents 11.3% of our consolidated foreign pre-tax earnings for the twelve months ended June 30, 2010 and 13.7% of our consolidated foreign pre-tax earnings for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009.

 

The international scope of our operations may contribute to increased costs that could negatively impact our operations.

 

Since international operations increase the complexity of an organization, we may face additional administrative costs in managing our business than we would if we only conducted operations domestically. In addition, most countries typically impose additional burdens on non-domestic companies through the use of local regulations, tariffs and labor controls. Unexpected changes to the foregoing could negatively impact our operations. Furthermore, our financial results may be negatively impacted to the extent tax rates in foreign countries where we operate increase and/or exceed those in the United States and as a result of the imposition of withholding requirements on foreign earnings.

 

A reduction in demand for our products and services, and failure by us to adapt to such potential reduction, could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

The demand for a particular product or service we offer may be reduced due to a variety of factors, such as regulatory restrictions that decrease customer access to particular products, the availability of competing products, changes in customers’ preferences or financial conditions. Furthermore, any changes in economic factors that adversely affect consumer transactions and employment could reduce the volume or type of transactions that we process and have an adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations. Should we fail to adapt to significant changes in our customers’ demand for, or access to, our products or services, our revenues could decrease significantly and our operations could be harmed. Each modification, new product or service, and alternative method of conducting business is subject to risk and uncertainty and requires significant investment in time and capital, including additional marketing expenses, legal costs, and other incremental start-up costs. Even if we do make changes to existing products or services or introduce new products or services to fulfill customer demand, customers may resist or may reject such products or services. The effect of any product change on the results of our business may not be fully ascertainable until the change has been in effect for some time and by that time it may be too late to make further modifications to such product or service without causing further harm to our business and results of operations.

Our check cashing services may further diminish because of technological advances.

 

We derive a significant portion of our revenues from fees associated with cashing payroll, government and personal checks. In fiscal 2010, we generated approximately 24.5% of our total consolidated revenues from fees associated with check cashing. Recently, there has been increasing penetration of electronic banking services into the check cashing and money transfer industry, including direct deposit of payroll checks and electronic transfer of government benefits. To the extent that checks received by our customer base are replaced with such electronic transfers, demand for our check cashing services could decrease.

 

Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected if we are unable to manage our growth effectively.

 

Our expansion strategy, which in part contemplates the addition of new stores, the acquisition of competitor stores and acquiring or developing new distribution channels for our products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Poland and other international markets, is subject to significant risks. Our continued growth in this manner is dependent upon a number of factors, including the ability to hire, train and retain an adequate number of experienced management employees, the availability of adequate financing for our expansion activities, the ability to successfully transition acquired stores or their historical customer base to our operating platform, the ability to obtain any government permits and licenses that may be required, the ability to identify and overcome cultural and linguistic differences which may impact market practices within a given geographic region, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully grow our business or that our current business, results of operations and financial condition will not suffer if we are unable to do so. Expansion beyond the geographic areas where the stores are presently located will increase demands on management and divert their attention. In addition, expansion into new products and services will present new challenges to our business and will require additional management time.

 

Our ability to open and acquire new stores is subject to outside factors and circumstances over which we have limited control or that are beyond our control which could adversely affect our growth potential.

 

Our expansion strategy includes acquiring existing retail financial services stores and opening new ones. The success of this strategy is subject to numerous outside factors, such as the availability of attractive acquisition candidates, the availability of acceptable business locations, the ability to access capital to acquire and open such stores, the ability to obtain required permits and licenses and continuing favorable legal and regulatory conditions. We have limited control, and in some cases, no control, over these factors. Moreover, the start-up costs and the losses we likely would incur from initial operations attributable to each newly opened store places demands upon our liquidity and cash flow, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to satisfy these demands. The failure to execute our expansion strategy would adversely affect our ability to expand our business and could materially adversely affect our revenue, profitability and results of operations and our ability to service our indebtedness.

 

Our MILES program relies upon exclusive and non-exclusive contractual relationships with its service providers, the loss of any of which could adversely affect the performance of the MILES business and our results of operations generally.

 

Our MILES program, which is offered by our recently acquired DFS subsidiary, provides fee-based services to junior enlisted military personnel applying for automobile loans. The MILES program generates its operating revenue from fees paid by a major third-party national bank funding the loans, fees from auto dealers and fees from the sale of ancillary products such as warranty service contracts and GAP insurance coverage. We rely upon exclusive contractual relationships with the third-party national bank for the funding and servicing of auto loans made in connection with the MILES program, and non-exclusive arrangement with other providers for warranty service contracts and GAP insurance contracts. However, if any or all of these contractual relationships were terminated, or if events were to occur which resulted in a material reduction in the services provided, a material increase in the cost of the services provided or a material reduction in the fees earned by it for the services provided under these contractual relationships, we could be required to locate

new or alternate service providers for our MILES program. In such event, and until we would be able to locate new or alternate service providers, our MILES program business could be significantly disrupted. In addition, such new or alternate service providers may offer services that are more costly to MILES’ customers or that pay premiums or fees below the level that we currently receive. These changes could have a material adverse effect on our business and negatively affect our revenues and results of operations.

 

Unites States defense budget cuts that reduce enlistments or the number of active duty military personnel could harm our MILES program business.

 

The number of enlisted active duty military personnel and the number of recruits joining the military each year are subject to the U.S. defense budget. Cuts in the U.S. defense budget may result in reductions in recruitment targets, reductions in the number of active duty military personnel or both, any of which would reduce the overall number of potential MILES program customers or potentially reduce demand for the services offered by us through our MILES program which would cause our revenue to decline and could otherwise harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business is seasonal in nature, which causes our revenues and earnings to fluctuate.

 

Our business is seasonal due to the impact of several tax-related services, including cashing tax refund checks and making electronic tax filings. Historically, we have generally experienced our highest revenues and earnings during the third fiscal quarter ending March 31, when revenues from these tax-related services peak. This seasonality requires us to manage our cash flows over the course of the year. If our revenues were to fall substantially below what we would normally expect during certain periods, our financial results could be adversely impacted.

 

Because we maintain a significant supply of cash in our stores, we may be subject to cash shortages due to robbery, employee error and theft.

 

Since our business requires us to maintain a significant supply of cash in each of our retail financial services stores, we are subject to the risk of cash shortages resulting from robberies, as well as employee errors and theft. Although we have implemented various programs to reduce these risks, maintain insurance coverage for theft and provide security, systems and processes for our employees and facilities, we cannot assure you that robberies, employee error and theft will not occur and lead to cash shortages that could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

If we lose key management or are unable to attract and retain the talent required for our business, our operating results could suffer.

 

Our future success depends to a significant degree upon the members of our executive management team, which have been instrumental in procuring capital to assist us in executing our growth strategies, identifying and negotiating domestic and international acquisitions, and providing expertise in managing our developing international operations. The loss of the services of one or more members of our executive management team could harm our business and future development. Our continued growth also will depend upon our ability to attract and retain additional skilled management personnel. If we are unable to attract and retain the requisite personnel as needed in the future, our operating results and growth could suffer.

 

A catastrophic event or security breach at our corporate or international headquarters or our centralized call-center facilities in Canada, the United Kingdom or the United States could significantly disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our global business management processes are primarily provided from our corporate headquarters in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and our operations headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia, and Nottingham, England. We also maintain centralized call-center facilities in each of these locations as well as in Salt Lake City, Utah, that perform customer service, collection and loan-servicing functions for our consumer lending business. We have in place disaster recovery plans for each of these sites, including data redundancy and remote information

back-up systems, but if any of these locations were severely damaged by a catastrophic event, such as a flood, significant power outage or act of terror, our operations could be significantly disrupted and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

 

A security breach of our computer systems could also interrupt or damage our operations or harm our reputation, and could subject to us to significant liability if confidential customer information is misappropriated from our computer systems. Despite the implementation of significant security measures, these systems may still be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, programming errors, attacks by third parties or similar disruptive problems. Any compromise of security could deter people from entering into transactions that involve transmitting confidential information to our systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Any disruption in the availability of our information systems could adversely affect our business operations.

 

We rely upon our information systems to manage and operate our retail financial services stores and other businesses. Each store is part of an information network that is designed to permit us to maintain adequate cash inventory, reconcile cash balances on a daily basis and report revenues and expenses to our headquarters. Our back-up systems and security measures could fail to prevent a disruption in our information systems. Any disruption in our information systems could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We have a significant amount of goodwill which is subject to periodic review and testing for impairment.

 

As of June 30, 2010, we had goodwill of $609.0 million, representing a significant portion of the $1.2 billion in total assets reflected on our consolidated balance sheet as of such date. A substantial portion of our goodwill represents assets capitalized in connection with our historical acquisitions and business combinations. Accounting for intangible assets such as goodwill requires us to make significant estimates and judgments, and as a result we make not realize the value of such intangible assets. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we conduct an impairment analysis of our goodwill annually and at such other times when an event or change in circumstances occurs which would indicate potential impairment. A variety of factors could cause the carrying value of an intangible asset to become impaired, including that our cash flow from operations is not sufficient to meet our future liquidity needs. Should such a review indicate impairment, a write-down of the carrying value of the intangible asset would occur, resulting in a non-cash charge, which could adversely affect our reported results of operations and could materially impact the reported balance of our total stockholders’ equity.

 

The price of our common stock may be volatile.

 

The market price of our common stock has been subject to significant fluctuations and may continue to fluctuate or decline. Over the course of the twelve months ended June 30, 2010, the market price of our common stock has been as high as $27.21, and as low as $12.88. The market price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations due to a variety of factors, including global economic and market conditions, quarterly variations in operating results, operating results which vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors, changes in financial estimates, changes in market valuations of competitors, announcements by us or our competitors of a material nature, additions or departures of key personnel, changes in applicable laws and regulations governing consumer protection and lending practices, the effects of litigation, future sales of common stock, and general stock market price and volume fluctuations. In addition, general political and economic conditions such as a recession, or interest rate or currency rate fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the common stock of many companies, including our common stock. A significant decline in our stock price could result in substantial losses for individual stockholders and could lead to costly and disruptive securities litigation.

We have never paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any in the foreseeable future.

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently expect to retain any future earnings for use in the growth and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Our anti-takeover provisions could prevent or delay a change in control of our company, even if such change of control would be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws as well as provisions of Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company, even if such change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions include:

 

 

In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law limits business combination transactions with 15% stockholders that have not been approved by the board of directors. These and similar provisions make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us without negotiation. These provisions may apply even if the transaction may be considered beneficial by some stockholders.

 

 

None.

 

 

All of our company-operated stores and our administrative offices are leased, generally under leases providing for an initial multi-year term and renewal terms from one to five years. The leases for our company-operated stores may contain provisions for additional rental charges based on revenue and payment of real estate taxes and common area charges. We generally assume the responsibility for required leasehold improvements, including signage, customer service representative partitions, alarm and recovery systems, computers, time-delayed safes and other office equipment. With respect to leased locations open as of June 30, 2010, the following table shows the total number of leases expiring during the periods indicated, assuming the exercise of our renewal options:

 

Store Operations

 

Locations

 

The following chart sets forth the number of company-operated and franchised stores in operation as of the specified dates:

 

 

 

 

We generally assume the responsibility for required leasehold improvements, including signage, customer service representative partitions, alarm and security systems, computers, time-delayed safes and other office equipment. We adhere to a strict set of market survey and location guidelines when selecting store sites in order to ensure that our stores are placed in desired locations near our customers.

 

The following table reflects the change in the number of stores during fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010:

 

 

 

The information required by this Item 3 is incorporated by reference herein to the section in Part II, Item 8 “Note 13. Contingent Liabilities” of this Annual Report on Form 10K.

 

PART II

 

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “DLLR.” Below is a summary of the high and low prices of our common stock for each quarterly period during the two-year period ending June 30, 2010 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

 

Holders

 

On July 31, 2010, there were approximately 109 holders of record of our common stock.

 

Dividends

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently expect to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be dependent upon the ability of Dollar Financial Group, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, to pay dividends or make cash payments or advances to us. Our credit agreement, as amended and restated as of December 23, 2009, contains restrictions on our declaration and payment of dividends. See “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report as Form 10-K. For example, Dollar Financial Group, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends or to make other distributions to us, and thus our ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock, will depend upon, among other things, its level of indebtedness at the time of the proposed dividend or distribution, whether it is in default under its financing agreements and the amount of dividends or distributions made in the past. Our future dividend policy will also depend on the requirements of any future financing agreements to which we may be a party and other factors considered relevant by our board of directors, including the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.

 

Stock Performance Graph

 

The rules of the Securities Exchange Commission require us to present a chart comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total stockholder return of (i) a broad equity index and (ii) a published industry or peer group index. Set forth below is a graph and table indicating the value at the end of the specified time periods of a $100 investment made on June 30, 2005 in our common stock and similar investments made in the Nasdaq Composite Index and securities of companies in a peer group of financial services companies comprised of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc., Cash America International, Inc., EZCorp Inc., First Cash Financial Services, Inc., and QC Holdings, Inc. The graph and table assume the reinvestment of any dividends received.

 

 

 

 

The selected consolidated financial data set forth below are derived from our consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated statements of operations data for each of the years June 30, 2010, 2009 and 2008 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2010 and 2009 are derived from, and qualified by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report as Form 10-K. The consolidated statements of operations data for each of the years ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

 

 

Executive Summary

 

Overview

 

We are a leading international diversified financial services company serving primarily unbanked and under-banked consumers. Through our retail storefront locations as well as by other means, such as via the Internet, we provide a range of consumer financial products and services in five countries; Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Poland, to customers who, for reasons of convenience and accessibility, purchase some or all of their financial services from us rather than from banks and other financial institutions. We believe that our networks of retail locations in Canada and the United Kingdom are the largest of their kind in each of those countries, and that we operate the second-largest network of its kind in the United States. As of June 30, 2010, our global retail operations consisted of 1,180 retail locations, of which 1,058 are company-owned, conducting business primarily under the names Money Mart^®, Money Shop^®, Loan Mart^®, Money Corner^®, Insta-Cheques^® and The Check Cashing Store^® in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Republic of Ireland. Through our branded Military Installment Loan and Education Services, or MILES^®, program offered by our Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC subsidiary which we acquired in December 2009, we also provide services to enlisted military personnel applying for loans to purchase new and used vehicles that are funded and serviced under an exclusive agreement with a major third-party national bank.

 

Historically, we have derived our revenues primarily from providing check cashing services, consumer lending and other consumer financial products and services, including money orders, money transfers, foreign currency exchange, branded debit cards, pawn lending, gold buying and bill payment. For our check cashing services, we charge our customers fees that are usually equal to a percentage of the amount of the check being cashed and are deducted from the cash provided to the customer. For our consumer loans, including pawn lending, we receive interest and fees on the loans.

 

Our expenses primarily relate to the operations of our store network, including the provision for loan losses, salaries and benefits for our employees, occupancy expense for our leased real estate, depreciation of our assets and corporate and other expenses, including costs related to opening and closing stores.

 

In each foreign country in which we operate, local currency is used for both revenues and expenses. Therefore, we record the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to our foreign net income.

 

As we continue to diversify our organization, we expect the contributions to our revenue and profitability from fee-based financial processing and origination services to increase. During fiscal 2010, approximately 50% of our total consolidated revenue was comprised of products and services which generally carry little or no credit risk, such as check cashing, money transfers, gold purchasing, secured pawn lending and fee-based income generated from the MILES program.

 

We manage our business as five operating segments — our financial services offerings in each of Canada, the United Kingdom, the Unites States and Poland, as well as our Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC subsidiary, which we operate independently of our other businesses.

 

Recent Events

 

On June 30, 2008, as part of a process to rationalize our United States markets, we made a determination to close 24 of our unprofitable stores in various United States markets. In August 2008, we identified another 30 stores in the United States and 17 stores in Canada that were under-performing and which were closed or merged into a geographically proximate store. The primary cease-use date for these stores was in September 2008. Customers from these stores were transitioned to our other stores in close proximity to the stores affected. We recorded costs for severance and other retention benefits of $0.6 million and store closure costs of $4.9 million consisting primarily of lease obligations and leasehold improvement write-offs. Subsequent to

the initial expense amounts recorded, we recorded $0.9 million of additional lease obligation expense for these locations. During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, we announced the closing of an additional 60 under-performing U.S. store locations. We recorded costs for severance and other retention benefits of approximately $0.4 million and store closure related costs of approximately $3.2 million consisting primarily of lease obligations and leasehold improvement write-offs. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2010 (“fiscal 2010”), we recorded an additional $1.4 million of current year store closure related costs. We also recorded $1.9 million of store closure related expenses associated with prior year store closures and the buy-out of certain “We The People” franchises. The closure of stores in the United States and Canada did not result in any impairment of goodwill since the store closures will be accretive to cash flow.

 

On July 21, 2008, we announced that our Board of Directors had approved a stock repurchase plan, authorizing us to repurchase in the aggregate up to $7.5 million of our outstanding common stock and by October 13, 2008, we had repurchased 535,799 shares of our common stock at a cost of approximately $7.5 million, thus completing our stock repurchase plan.

 

On April 21, 2009, we completed the acquisition of an established profitable U.K. internet-based consumer lending business which was immediately accretive to earnings. The acquired company is competitively positioned in a rapidly growing market and further expands our expertise within the internet lending arena. Moreover, we believe we can export and leverage this expertise to other European countries as well as our Canadian business unit.

 

On June 29, 2009, we completed the acquisition of two market-leading traditional pawn shops located in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. The two stores were established in the year 1830 and primarily deal in loans securitized by gold jewelry and fine watches, while offering traditional secured pawn lending for an array of other items. Both stores are located in prominent locations on major thoroughfares and high pedestrian traffic zones.

 

On June 30, 2009, we completed the acquisition of four stores in Northern Ireland. Three of the stores are located in central Belfast, with the fourth store situated in the town of Lisburn, the third largest city in Northern Ireland. The acquired stores are multi-product locations offering check cashing, single payment consumer lending and pawn broking services.

 

On June 30, 2009, we completed the acquisition of 76% of the outstanding equity of an established consumer lending business in Poland. The acquired company, Optima, S.A., founded in 1999 and headquartered in Gdansk, offers unsecured loans of generally 40 — 50 week durations with an average loan amount of $250 to $500. The loan transaction includes a convenient in-home servicing feature, whereby loan disbursement and collection activities take place in the customer’s home according to a mutually agreed upon and pre-arranged schedule. The in-home loan servicing concept is well accepted within Poland and Eastern Europe, and was initially established in the United Kingdom approximately 100 years ago. Customer sales and service activities are managed through an extensive network of local commission-based representatives across six provinces in northwestern Poland.

 

On October 3, 2009, we entered into an agreement to acquire a merchant cash advance business in the United Kingdom. The acquired company primarily services the working capital needs of small retail businesses by providing cash advances secured against a percentage of future credit card sales. The purchase price for the acquired company, which currently manages a receivable portfolio of approximately $3.5 million, was $4.6 million.

 

On December 21, 2009, we commenced the closing of an exchange offer with certain holders of our 2.875% Senior Convertible Notes due 2027, which we refer to as the 2027 Notes, pursuant to the terms of privately negotiated exchange agreements with such holders. Pursuant to the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged an aggregate of $120.0 million principal amount of the 2027 Notes held by such holders for an equal aggregate principal amount of our new 3.0% Senior Convertible Notes due 2028, which we refer to as the 2028 Notes. The 2028 Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equal in right of payment to all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt and to the indebtedness and other liabilities of its subsidiaries.

On December 23, 2009, our indirect wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, National Money Mart Company, which we refer to as Money Mart, sold $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 10.375% Senior Notes due 2016, which we refer to as the 2016 Notes. The 2016 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of December 23, 2009, among Money Mart, as issuer, Dollar Financial Corp. and certain of our direct and indirect wholly-owned U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries, as guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The 2016 Notes bear interest at the rate of 10.375% per year.

 

On December 23, 2009, we acquired Military Financial Services, LLC, including its subsidiaries, Dealers’ Financial Services, LLC and Dealers’ Financial Services Reinsurance Ltd., which we collectively refer to as DFS. DFS is an established business that provides fee based services to enlisted military personnel seeking to purchase new and used vehicles. DFS markets its services through its branded Military Installment Loan and Education Services, or “MILES”, program. DFS provides services to enlisted military personnel who make applications for auto loans to purchase new and used vehicles that are funded and serviced under an exclusive agreement with a major third-party national bank based in the United States. Additionally, DFS provides ancillary services such as service contracts and guaranteed asset protection, or GAP insurance, along with consultations regarding new and used automotive purchasing, budgeting and credit and ownership training. We paid a purchase price of approximately $117.8 million plus approximately $5.5 million on account of the working capital as of the closing date.

 

In February 2010, we repurchased $35.2 million aggregate principal amount of 2027 Notes in privately negotiated transactions with three of the holders of the 2027 Notes. We paid 91% of the stated principal amount of the repurchased 2027 Notes for an aggregate price of $32.0 million. As a result of these repurchase transactions and the exchange transactions described above, $44.8 million aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes remains outstanding as of June 30, 2010.

 

Effective March 3, 2010, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement of the pending class action against OPCO and Money Mart in Ontario commenced on behalf of a purported class of Ontario borrowers who, it was alleged, were subjected to usurious charges in payday loan transactions in violation of Canadian federal law proscribing usury.

 

On March 4, 2010, Money Mart and OPCO reached an agreement to settle their outstanding British Columbia class action litigation in which the plaintiffs claimed that the business model used by Money Mart resulted in the collection of fees in excess of the statutory limit for loans made since 1997. Under the terms of the British Columbia settlement, Money Mart will create a settlement fund in an amount of CAD 24.8 million, consisting of CAD 12.4 million in cash and CAD 12.4 million in vouchers. Fees payable to plaintiffs’ counsel will be paid from this fund. The settlement is set forth in a definitive settlement agreement executed on May 7, 2010 which received final court approval on July 19, 2010.

 

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Money Mart recorded a charge of CAD 23.2 million in relation to the pending settlements of the British Columbia Litigation and for the potential settlement of the other pending and purported Canadian class action proceedings described above. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, Money Mart recorded a charge of CAD 64.7 million in relation to then pending settlement of the Ontario Litigation and for the potential settlement of the other pending and purported Canadian class action proceedings described above. As of June 30, 2010, an aggregate of approximately CAD 77.5 million is included in the Company’s accrued expenses relating to the Canadian proceedings described above. Of those expenses, approximately CAD 37.7 million is expected to be non-cash. Although we believe that we have meritorious defenses to the claims in the pending and purported class proceedings described above and intend vigorously to defend against such remaining pending claims, the ultimate cost of resolution of such claims may exceed the amount accrued at June 30, 2010 and additional accruals may be required in the future.

 

On April 13, 2010, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all of the shares of Suttons & Robertsons (“S&R”). S&R is the fourth largest pawn lending business in the United Kingdom. S&R’s three London-based stores focus on high value gold jewelry, watches and diamonds. The purchase price of the acquisition, including approximately GBP 6.0 million of net assets, was GBP 16.9 million.

Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies

 

In the ordinary course of business, we have made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial condition in the preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to revenue recognition, loan loss reserves and goodwill and intangible assets. We base these estimates on the information currently available to us and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could vary from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements:

 

Revenue Recognition

 

With respect to company-operated stores, revenues from our check cashing, money order sales, money transfer, foreign currency exchange and other miscellaneous services reported in other revenues on our statement of operations are all recognized when the transactions are completed at the point-of-sale in the store.

 

With respect to the Company’s franchised locations, the Company recognizes initial franchise fees upon fulfillment of all significant obligations to the franchisee. Royalties from franchisees are recognized as earned. The Company’s standard franchise agreement grants to the franchisee the right to develop and operate a store and use the associated trade names, trademarks, and service marks within the standards and guidelines established by the Company. As part of the franchise agreement, the Company provides certain pre-opening assistance and after the franchised location has opened, the Company also provides updates to software, samples of certain advertising and promotional materials and other post-opening assistance.

 

For single-payment consumer loans (company-funded loans), which have terms ranging from 1 to 45 days and for longer-term consumer installment loans, revenues are recognized using the interest method. Loan origination fees are recognized as an adjustment to the yield on the related loan. Our reserve policy regarding these loans is summarized below in “Company-Funded Consumer Loan Loss Reserves Policy.”

 

Secured pawn loans are offered at most of our retail financial services locations in the United Kingdom. We also operate two traditional pawn shops in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland, and three pawn shops in London, England specializing in high value gold jewelry, watches and diamonds. Pawn loans are short-term in nature and are secured by the customer’s personal property (“pledge”). At the time of pledge, the loan is recorded and interest and fees are accrued for over the life of the loan. If the loan is not repaid, the collateral is deemed forfeited and the pawned item will go up for auction. If the item is sold, proceeds are used to recover the loan value, interest accrued and fees. Excess funds received from the sale are repaid to the customer. As with our single-payment consumer loans, revenues are recognized using the interest rate method and loan origination fees are recognized as an adjustment to the yield on the related loan.

 

DFS fee income associated with originated loan contracts is recognized as revenue by the Company concurrent with the funding of loans by the lending financial institution. The Company also earns additional fee income from sales of service agreement and guaranteed asset protection (“GAP”) insurance contracts. DFS may be charged back (“chargebacks”) for service agreement and GAP fees in the event contracts are prepaid, defaulted or terminated. Service agreement and GAP contract fees are recorded at the time the contracts are sold and a reserve for future chargebacks are established based on historical operating results and the termination provisions of the applicable contracts. Service warranty and GAP contract fees, net of estimated chargebacks, are included in Other Revenues in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Company-Funded Consumer Loan Loss Reserves Policy

 

We maintain a loan loss reserve for probable losses inherent in the outstanding loan portfolio for single-payment and other consumer loans that we make directly through our company-operated locations. To estimate the appropriate level of loan loss reserves, we consider known and relevant internal and external factors that affect loan collectability, including the amount of outstanding loans owed to us, historical loans charged off,

current collection patterns and current economic trends. Our current loan loss reserve is based on our net charge-offs, typically expressed as a percentage of loan amounts originated for the last twelve months applied against the total amount of outstanding loans that we make directly. As these conditions change, we may need to make additional allowances in future periods. Despite the economic downturn in the United States and the foreign markets in which we operate, we have not experienced any material increase in the defaults on outstanding loans, although we have tightened lending criteria. Accordingly, we have not modified our approach to determining our loan loss reserves.

 

When a loan is originated, the customer receives the cash proceeds in exchange for a post-dated customer check or a written authorization to initiate a charge to the customer’s bank account on the stated maturity date of the loan. If the check or the debit to the customer’s account is returned from the bank unpaid, the loan is placed in default status and an additional reserve for this defaulted loan receivable is established and charged to operating expenses in the period that the loan is placed in default status. This reserve is reviewed monthly and any additional provision to the loan loss reserve as a result of historical loan performance, current collection patterns and current economic trends is charged to operating expenses. If the loans remain in defaulted status for 180 days, a reserve for the entire amount of the loan is recorded and the receivable and corresponding reserve is ultimately removed from the balance sheet. The receivable for defaulted single-payment loans, net of the allowance of $14.4 million at June 30, 2010 and $17.0 million at June 30, 2009, is reported on our balance sheet in loans in default, net, and was $7.3 million at June 30, 2010 and $6.4 million at June 30, 2009.

 

Check Cashing Returned Item Policy

 

We charge operating expense for losses on returned checks during the period in which such checks are returned, which generally is three to five business days after the check is cashed in our store. Recoveries on returned checks are credited to operating expense during the period in which recovery is made. This direct method for recording returned check losses and recoveries eliminates the need for an allowance for returned checks. These net losses are charged to other store and regional expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill is the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets of the business acquired. In accordance with the Intangibles Topic of the FASB Codification, goodwill is assigned to reporting units, which we have determined to be our reportable operating segments of the United States Retail, Canada, the United Kingdom, DFS and Poland (which is reported in Other). We also have a corporate reporting unit which consists of costs related to corporate management, oversight and infrastructure, investor relations and other governance activities. Because of the limited activities of the corporate reporting unit, no goodwill has been assigned to it. Goodwill is assigned to the reporting unit that benefits from the synergies arising from each particular business combination. The determination that the operating segments are equivalent to the reporting units for goodwill allocation purposes is based upon our overall approach to managing our business along operating segment lines, and the consistency of the operations within each operating segment. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis on June 30 or between annual tests if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. To accomplish this, we are required to determine the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units. We are then required to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the carrying amount of the reporting unit. To the extent the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, we would be required to perform a second step to the impairment test because this is an indication that the reporting unit goodwill may be impaired. If after the second step of testing, the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the individual tangible and identifiable intangible assets, an impairment loss would be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill over its carrying value.

Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of reacquired franchise rights and DFS’ MILES program, which are deemed to have an indefinite useful life and are not amortized. Non-amortizable intangibles with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually as of December 31, or whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that an asset may be impaired. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying amount of the intangible assets with indefinite lives, then an impairment charge would be recognized to reduce the asset to its estimated fair value.

 

We consider this to be one of the critical accounting estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. We estimate the fair value of our reporting units using a discounted cash flow analysis. This analysis requires us to make various assumptions about revenues, operating margins, growth rates, and discount rates. These assumptions are based on our budgets, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and marketplace data. Assumptions are also made for perpetual growth rates for periods beyond the period covered by our long term business plan. We perform our goodwill impairment test annually as of June 30, and our non-amortizable intangibles with indefinite lives are tested annually as of December 31. At the date of our last evaluations, there was no impairment of goodwill or reacquired franchise rights. However, we may be required to evaluate the recoverability of goodwill and other intangible assets prior to the required annual assessment if we experience a significant disruption to our business, unexpected significant declines in our operating results, divestiture of a significant component of our business, a sustained decline in market capitalization, particularly if it falls below our book value, or a significant change to the regulatory environment in which we operate. While we believe we have made reasonable estimates and assumptions to calculate the fair value of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, it is possible that a material change could occur, including if actual experience differs from the assumptions and considerations used in our analyses. These differences could have a material adverse impact on the consolidated results of operations and cause us to perform the second step impairment test, which could result in a material impairment of our goodwill. We will continue to monitor our actual cash flows and other factors that may trigger a future impairment in the light of the current global recession.

 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

The Derivative and Hedging Topic of the FASB Codification requires companies to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. This Topic also requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments.

 

As required by the Derivative and Hedging Topic of the FASB Codification, we record all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether we have elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Derivatives may also be designated as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge. We may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of our risks, even though hedge accounting does not apply or we elect not to apply hedge accounting.

Put Options

 

Operations in the United Kingdom and Canada expose the Company to shifts in currency valuations. From time to time, we purchase put options in order to protect aspects of our operations in the United Kingdom and Canada against foreign currency fluctuations. Out of the money put options are generally used because they cost less than completely averting risk using at the money put options, and the maximum loss is limited to the purchase price of the contracts. We have designated the purchased put options as cash flow hedges of the foreign exchange risk associated with the forecasted purchases of foreign-currency-denominated investment securities. These cash flow hedges have maturities of less than twelve months. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portions of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument are initially recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of stockholders’ equity and are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period during which the hedged transaction is recognized in earnings. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss is reported in other income/expense on the statement of operations. For options designated as hedges, hedge effectiveness is measured by comparing the cumulative change in the hedge contract with the cumulative change in the hedged forecasted transactions, both of which are based on forward rates.

 

Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps

 

From time to time, we enter into cross-currency interest rate swaps to protect against changes in cash flows attributable to changes in both the benchmark interest rate and foreign exchange rates on its foreign denominated variable rate term loan borrowing. In the past, the Company designated derivative contracts as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. We recorded foreign exchange re-measurement gains and losses related to the term loans and also records the changes in fair value of the cross-currency swaps each period in loss/gain on derivatives not designated as hedges in our consolidated statements of operations. Because these derivatives were designated as cash flow hedges, we recorded the effective portion of the after-tax gain or loss in other comprehensive income, which was subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period that the hedged transactions affect earnings.

 

At such time that the derivatives no longer met the requirements of hedge accounting and to the extent that third party debt remained outstanding, we concluded that the original hedged transactions were still probable of occurring. Therefore, in accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB Codification, we continued to report the net gain or loss related to the discontinued cash flow hedges in other accumulated comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassifying such amounts into earnings over the remaining original term of the derivative as the hedged forecasted transactions are recognized in earnings.

 

Income Taxes

 

As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating the actual current tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. An assessment is then made of the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. We intend to reinvest our foreign earnings and a result, we do not provide a deferred tax liability on foreign earnings.

 

We account for uncertainty in income taxes pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Codification Statement (“ASC”) 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), (formerly FIN 48). We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if applicable, are recognized in the income tax provision.

Results of Operations

 

The percentages presented in the following table are based on each respective fiscal year’s total consolidated revenues as well as the reportable segment revenues:

 

 

Constant Currency Analysis

 

We maintain operations primarily in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Approximately 70% of our revenues are originated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, principally the Canadian Dollar and British Pound Sterling. As a result, changes in our reported revenues and profits include the impacts of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. As additional information to the reader, we provide “constant currency” assessments in the following discussion and analysis to remove and/or quantify the impact of the fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and utilize constant currency results in our analysis of segment performance. Our constant currency assessment assumes foreign exchange rates in the current fiscal periods remained the same as in the prior fiscal year periods. For the year ended June 30, 2010, the actual average exchange rates used to translate the Canadian and United Kingdom’s results were 0.9484 and 1.5811, respectively. For our constant currency reporting for comparing fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, the average exchange rates used for the year ended June 30, 2009 to translate the Canadian and United Kingdom’s results were 0.8625 and 1.6125, respectively. For our constant currency reporting for comparing fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2008, the average exchange rates used for the year ended June 30, 2008 to translate the Canadian and United Kingdom’s results were 0.9907 and 2.0036, respectively. All conversion rates are based on the U.S. Dollar equivalent to one Canadian Dollar and one Great British Pound.

 

We believe that our constant currency assessments are a useful measure, indicating the actual growth and profitability of our operations. Earnings from our subsidiaries are not generally repatriated to the United States; therefore, we do not incur significant economic gains or losses on foreign currency transactions with our subsidiaries. To the extent funds are transmitted between countries, we may be subject to realized foreign exchange gains or losses. To the extent liabilities are paid or assets are received in a currency other than the local currency, we would incur realized transactional foreign exchange gains or losses. Cash accounts are maintained in Canada and the U.K. in local currency, and as a result, there is little, if any diminution in value from the changes in currency rates. Therefore, cash balances are available on a local currency basis to fund the daily operations of the Canadian and U.K. business units.

 

Fiscal 2010 Compared to Fiscal 2009

 

Revenues  Total revenues for the year ended June 30, 2010 increased $83.1 million, or 15.7%, as compared to the year ended June 30, 2009. The impact of foreign currency accounted for $22.5 million of the increase and the impact of new stores and acquisitions contributed $68.2 million of the increase. On a constant

currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, total revenues decreased by $7.6 million or 1.4%. The decrease was primarily the result of a $25.5 million decrease in the U.S. revenues primarily related to the closure of 60 under-performing store locations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

 

Relative to our products, consolidated check cashing revenue decreased $15.1 million or 9.2% for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to the prior year. There was an increase of approximately $5.3 million related to foreign exchange rates and increases from new stores and acquisitions of $2.6 million. The remaining check cashing revenues were down $23.0 million or 14.0% for the year ended June 30, 2010. Check cashing revenues from our U.S. Retail business segment decreased 17.9%, again heavily influenced by the closure of under-performing stores during fiscal 2009 and the economic downturn. On a constant currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, the Canadian check cashing revenues declined 6.7% and the U.K. check cashing revenues were down 20.7% for the year ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the prior year, reflecting the continuing global recession. Further, studies by the Federal Reserve Board and others suggest that payments made by electronic means may be displacing a portion of the paper checks traditionally cashed by our customers. On a consolidated constant currency basis, the face amount of the average check cashed decreased 0.6% to $484 for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to $487 for the prior year period, while the average fee per check cashed increased by 3.8% to $18.46. There was also a decline of 15.6% in the number of checks cashed for the year ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the year ended June 30, 2009 — down from 9.3 million in the prior year to 7.8 million in the current year.

 

Consolidated fees from consumer lending were $319.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to $266.5 million for the year earlier period, an increase of $53.0 million or 19.9%. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations accounted for an increase of approximately $11.9 million and the impact of new stores and acquisitions was an increase of $38.9 million. On a constant currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, consumer lending revenues increased by approximately $2.2 million. The U.S. Retail consumer lending revenues were down approximately $14.0 million while both the Canadian and U.K.’s consumer lending revenues were up by $12.8 million and $3.6 million, respectively (on a constant currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions). Consumer lending revenues in the “Other” segment which is almost entirely comprised of the results from our Polish lending operations, for the year ended June 30, 2010 were approximately $7.1 million.

 

Pawn service fees were $19.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2010, representing an increase of $6.1 million or 44.3% compared to prior year period. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations accounted for a nominal decrease of $0.4 million and increases of approximately $3.8 million related to the impact from new stores and acquisitions. The remaining increase of $2.7 million or 19.6% is primarily due to management’s increased emphasis on promoting and growing the U.K. pawn business.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2010, money transfer fees, scrap gold sales and all other revenues increased by $39.1 million. On a constant currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, these revenues increased by $10.3 million, or 12.5%, for the year ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily due to the success of the foreign exchange product, the debit card business and scrap gold sales in both the United Kingdom and Canada.

 

Operating Expenses  Operating expenses were $364.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to $346.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2009, an increase of $18.6 million or 5.4%. The impact of foreign currency accounted for an increase of $11.7 million. There was an increase in the current year’s operating expenses related to new stores and acquisitions of approximately $52.7 million. On a constant currency basis and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, operating expenses decreased by $45.8 million as compared to the prior year. For the year ended June 30, 2010, total operating expenses decreased to 59.7% of total revenue compared to 65.6% of total revenue in the prior year. After adjusting for constant currency reporting and excluding the impacts of new stores and acquisitions, the percentage of total operating expenses as compared to total revenue was 57.7%.

 

Relative to our primary business units, after excluding the impacts of foreign currency and acquisitions, operating expenses decreased in United States Retail, Canada and the United Kingdom by $34.6 million,

$4.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively. These decreases were a result of a focus on cost reductions in addition to the closure of approximately 114 United States stores during fiscal 2009.

 

Corporate Expenses  Corporate expenses were $86.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to $68.2 million for the prior year or an increase of $18.6 million. On a constant currency basis, corporate expenses increased by approximately $16.9 million reflecting an increased investment in our global infrastructure to support global store, product and platform expansion plans as well our investment in our global business development team which is focused on acquisition and business development strategies and execution.

 

Other Depreciation and Amortization  Other depreciation and amortization was $7.3 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 compared to $3.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2009. The increase of $3.5 million is primarily related to DFS’ amortization of identifiable intangible assets.

 

Extinguishment of Debt  In connection with our refinancing activities during the year ended June 30, 2010, certain non-recurring expenses have been reported in the current period’s results. There were $9.5 million of expenses related to the repayment of our term loan debt and the exchange of $120.0 million and repurchase of $35.2 million of our 2.875% Senior Convertible Debt due 2027 that have been reported as “Extinguishment of Debt”. Of that amount, approximately $7.0 million related to the write-off of pre-existing deferred term debt costs that were being amortized over the life of the term debt. The other primary element of this expense was a $3.9 million non-cash charge related to our U.K. cross-currency interest rate swaps that had been terminated in May 2009. Because the termination of the debt caused management to conclude that the future cash flows originally hedged would no longer occur, the net loss related to the discontinued cash flow hedge that was included in other comprehensive income was reclassified to the income statement. Offsetting these charges in part was a $1.5 million gain on the repurchase of the 2027 Notes.

 

Interest Expense  Interest expense, net was $68.9 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2010 compared to $43.7 million for the same period in the prior year. Interest related to our newly issued $600.0 million principal 10.375% Senior Notes due 2016 accounted for $19.2 million of the increase, net of a decrease in interest expense associated with our repayment of all of our U.K. and Canadian term debt. In addition, interest expense associated with our revolving credit facility and the reduction in the amount of interest income earned by us accounted for $1.3 million of the net increase.

 

Non-cash interest accounted for $4.7 million of the overall increase. This increase is comprised of $4.2 million related to the amortization of accumulated charges related to the discontinuance of hedge accounting for our cross currency interest rate swaps and $0.5 million related to the amortization of deferred issuance costs.

 

 

Unrealized Foreign Exchange Gain/Loss  Unrealized foreign exchange loss of $10.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 is due primarily to the unrealized foreign exchange losses associated with our newly issued $600 million senior notes and the remaining term debt balance related to the Company’s 2006 Credit Agreement, as amended. All of this debt was issued by our indirectly wholly-owned Canadian and U.K. subsidiaries and is denominated in currencies other than the reporting currency of those entities. Near the end of the fiscal year, we retired the remaining term debt related to the 2006 Credit Agreement, as amended, leaving only the Canadian subsidiary’s $600 million in senior notes outstanding. The impact of all prospective changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Canadian Dollar will be reflected in our earnings as “unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses”. The unrealized foreign exchange gain recorded for the year ended June 30, 2009 was related to the term debt outstanding under the 2006 Credit Agreement, as amended.

 

Loss on Derivatives not Designated as Hedges  Loss on derivatives not designated as hedges was $12.9 million for the year ended June 30, 2010 related to the change in fair value and the net additional cash payments to the swap counter parties associated with our cross-currency interest rate swaps in Canada related to the legacy term loans. The change in fair value related to both the changes in market interest and foreign exchange rates and amendments that were made to the swap agreements required in connection with the debt offerings completed during fiscal 2010.

 

Provision for Litigation Settlements  Provision for litigation settlements during the year ended June 30, 2010 was $29.1 million, primarily related to the settlements of our class action litigation during the current fiscal year in British Columbia and the Canadian Maritimes province and for the potential settlement of other pending and purported Canadian class action proceedings. During the year ended June 30, 2009, we recorded $57.9 million of Canadian litigation settlement provisions primarily related to the settlement of our class action litigation in the province of Ontario.

 

Loss on Store Closings  During the year ended June 30, 2010, we recorded additional expense related to stores closed during fiscal 2009 of approximately $1.0 million. This additional expense was related to adjustment assumptions related to the sub-lease potential of some of the locations and the closure of other non-performing U.S. store locations. We also incurred additional expenses of approximately $1.4 million for current period store closures. Lastly, we incurred approximately $0.9 million of expense in relation to the buy-out of certain “We the People” franchises. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, we recorded store closure expenses of $10.3 million of which $7.2 million related to the U.S. Retail business, $3.0 million related to the Canadian business and the remaining $0.2 million related to the U.K. operations.

 

Income Tax Provision  The provision for income taxes was $21.4 million for fiscal 2010 compared to a provision of $15.0 million for fiscal 2009. Our effective tax rate for fiscal 2010 is 132.1%, which is a combination of an effective rate of 96.1% on continuing operations and other one-time charges increased by the impact of a change in the reserve for an uncertain tax position related to transfer pricing, and the impact of the convertible debt discount. The impact to our fiscal 2010 provision for income taxes related to these two items was $5.8 million. Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 35% due to foreign taxes, permanent differences and a valuation allowance on U.S. and foreign deferred tax assets and the aforementioned changes to our reserve for uncertain tax positions.

 

We believe that our ability to utilize pre-2007 net operating losses in a given year will be limited to $9.0 million under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, which we refer to as the Code, because of changes of ownership resulting from our June 2006 follow-on equity offering. In addition, any future debt or equity transactions may reduce our net operating losses or further limit our ability to utilize the net operating losses under the Code. The net operating loss carry forward as of June 30, 2010 is $68.3 million. The deferred tax asset related to excess foreign tax credits is also fully offset by a valuation allowance of $54.6 million. Additionally, we maintain foreign deferred tax assets in the amount of $24.6 million. Of this amount,

$1.1 million was recorded by our Canadian affiliate during fiscal 2007 related to a foreign currency loss sustained in connection with the hedge of its term loan. This deferred tax asset was offset by a full valuation allowance of $1.1 million since the foreign currency loss is capital in nature and at this time we have not identified any potential for capital gains against which to offset the loss. This deferred tax asset and valuation allowance was utilized in connection with the repayment of the 2006 Canadian term debt in December 2009, but was replaced by a $1.0 million deferred tax asset and valuation allowance related to the Canadian cross-currency interest rate swap.

 

Effective July 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of ASC 740 (formerly FIN 48), which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for recording in the financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Additionally, ASC 740 provides guidance on the recognition, classification, accounting in interim periods and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions. The implementation of ASC 740 did not result in any adjustment in our liability for unrecognized income tax benefits. At June 30, 2010, we had $10.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits, primarily related to transfer pricing matters, which if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate.

 

The tax years ending June 30, 2006 through 2009 remain open to examination by the taxing authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of June 30, 2010, we had approximately $0.9 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions which remained materially unchanged from the prior year. The provision for unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest, is included in income taxes payable.

 

Fiscal 2009 Compared to Fiscal 2008

 

Revenues  Total revenues for the year ended June 30, 2009 decreased $44.3 million, or 7.7% as compared to the year ended June 30, 2008. The impact of foreign currency accounted for a decrease of approximately $67.2 million which was offset by new store openings and acquisitions of approximately $36.3 million. On a constant currency basis and after eliminating the impact of new stores and acquisitions, total revenues decreased by $13.4 million or 2.3%.

 

Relative to our products, consolidated check cashing revenue decreased $32.0 million or 16.3% for the year ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year. There was a decrease of $19.0 million related to foreign exchange rates and increases from new stores and acquisitions of $10.5 million. The remaining check cashing revenues were down $23.5 million or 11.9% for the current year, reflecting the effects of the global recession. Eliminating the impacts of foreign exchange rates and new stores and acquisitions, check cashing revenues from our U.S. Retail business segment decreased 14.1%, while the Canadian business declined 6.9% over the previous year’s period. Similarly, check cashing fees in the United Kingdom decreased 17.0% over the prior year’s period. On a consolidated constant currency basis, the face amount of the average check cashed increased 0.5% to $534 for the year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $531 for the prior year period while the average fee per check cashed remained consistent at approximately $19.85. During fiscal 2009, global check counts declined by approximately 6.6%.

 

Consolidated fees from consumer lending were $275.3 million for the year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $292.5 million for the year earlier period which is a decrease of $17.2 million or 5.9%. The impact of foreign currency fluctuations accounted for a decrease of approximately $35.3 million that was partially offset by new stores and acquisitions of $17.4 million. The remaining increase of $0.7 million was primarily provided by our operations in the United Kingdom which increased by 33.3% offset in part by both the U.S. Retail and Canadian consumer lending businesses, which decreased by 12.4% and 7.6%, respectively, reflecting the effects of the global recession. The increase in the United Kingdom is in part related to the strong growth in that country’s pawn lending business, which is included as “pawn service fees and sales” in the statement of operations.

 

For the year ended June 30, 2009, money transfer fees decreased in reported amounts by $0.7 million, when adjusted for currency and excluding the impact from new stores and acquisitions, increased by

$1.1 million or 4.1% for the year ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the year earlier period. On a constant currency basis and excluding the impact from new stores and acquisitions, other revenue, increased by $8.3 million, or 15.0% in the current fiscal year, principally due to the success of the foreign exchange product, the debit card business, gold sales and other ancillary products.

 

Operating Expenses  Operating expenses were $346.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $373.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2008, a decrease of $26.9 million or 7.2%. The impact of foreign currency accounted for a decrease of approximately $38.7 million which was partially offset by the impact associated with the two acquisitions during the first half of fiscal 2008 of approximately $16.1 million. On a constant currency basis and after eliminating the impact of new stores and acquisitions, operating expenses decreased by $4.3 million. For the year ended June 30, 2009, total operating expenses increased to 65.6% of total revenue compared to 65.2% of total revenue for the year earlier period. After adjusting for constant currency reporting and eliminating the impact of new stores and acquisitions, the percentage of total operating expenses as compared to total revenue increased from the reported amount of 65.6% in fiscal 2008 to 66.0% for fiscal 2009.

 

Relative to our business units, after excluding the impacts of foreign currency and acquisitions, U.S. Retail operating expenses decreased by $20.5 million and Canada’s expenses remained relatively flat. The results in the United States and Canada are consistent with the closure of approximately 70 U.S. and Canadian stores that was announced earlier in the year ended June 30, 2009. In addition, there were an additional 60 U.S. stores that were closed during June 2009. The adjusted operating expenses in the United Kingdom were up approximately $16.0 million for the year ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the prior year. The U.K. increase was primarily attributable to the categories of salary and benefits, occupancy, loan loss provision, depreciation and advertising which are all commensurate with growth in that country.

 

Corporate Expenses  Corporate expenses were $68.2 million for fiscal 2009 compared to $70.9 million for fiscal 2008, a decrease of $2.7 million or 3.8%. On a constant currency basis, corporate expenses increased by approximately $2.7 million. The increase is primarily due to increased regulatory and lobbying costs, increased investment in global management capabilities, additional investment in infrastructure to support our global de novo store growth, acquisitions strategy and management and integration of recent acquisitions.

 

Other Depreciation and Amortization  Other depreciation and amortization expenses remained relatively unchanged and were $3.8 million for fiscal 2009 and $3.9 million for fiscal 2008.

 

Provision for Litigation Settlements  Provisions for legal settlement were $57.9 million for fiscal 2009 compared to $0.3 million in the prior year. The increase was almost solely driven as a result of a fourth quarter charge of $57.4 million by our Canadian subsidiary, Money Mart, on account of the Ontario class action settlement and for the potential settlement of certain of the similar class action proceedings pending in other Canadian provinces.

 

Loss on Store Closings  The Company recognized loss on store closing expense of $10.3 million for the year ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the year earlier period amount of $1.0 million. Of the fiscal 2009 amount, $7.2 million was recognized in the United States, $$3.0 million in Canada and $0.2 million in the United Kingdom. These expenses were related to the Company’s actions to close under-performing locations as well as closing stores in states with uncertain or less favorable regulation or that are located in areas where the Company had only a few locations resulting in an inefficient cost infrastructure.

 

Unrealized Foreign Exchange Gain  In May 2009, we executed an early settlement of its U.K. cross currency interest rate swaps that had been in place since December, 2006. These cross currency interest rate swaps had the impact of synthetically converting the foreign denominated debt into the local currency of the United Kingdom at a fixed rate of interest. As a result of that early settlement, the foreign currency impacts associated with the bank debt outstanding in both U.S. Dollars and Euros on the U.K.’s balance sheet is now recorded through our income statement — resulting in gain of $5.5 million for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

Interest Expense  Interest expense was $43.7 million for the year ended June 30, 2009 compared to $44.4 million for the preceding year. On June 27, 2007, we issued $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes in a private offering for resale to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under

the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proceeds from the 2027 Notes were initially invested until approximately $131.4 million was utilized during fiscal 2008 for the American Payday Loans and The Check Cashing Store acquisitions. For the year ended June 30, 2009, there was an increase in net interest expense of approximately $3.0 million resulting from a decrease of interest income related to the lower amount of short-term invested cash due to the aforementioned fiscal 2008 acquisitions, as compared to the prior year. This was offset by a decrease of approximately $4.5 million in interest expense resulting primarily from the impact of foreign currency translation of interest expense in our Canadian and U.K. operations. With the early settlement of the U.K.’s cross-currency interest rate swaps that were executed during the fourth quarter of this fiscal year, the interest rate for our U.K. debt will now be recorded at the variable interest rates provided for in the credit agreement.

 

Income Tax Provision  The provision for income taxes was $15.0 million for fiscal 2009 compared to a provision of $36.0 million for fiscal 2008. Our effective tax rate for fiscal 2009 was 183.2%, which is a combination of an effective rate of 106.4% on continuing operations and other one-time charges reduced by the impact of a favorable settlement granted in a competent authority tax proceeding between the United States and Canadian tax authorities related to transfers pricing matters for years 2000 through 2003, the import of the convertible debt discount and an adjustment to our reserve for uncertain tax benefits related to years for which a settlement has not yet been received. The impact to our fiscal 2009 provision for income taxes related to these two items was $2.9 million. Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 35% due to foreign taxes, permanent differences and a valuation allowance on U.S. and foreign deferred tax assets and the aforementioned changes to our reserve for uncertain tax positions. The principal reason for the significant difference in the effective tax rate between periods was the $57.4 million charge to earnings in connection with the pending Ontario settlement and for the potential settlement of certain of the similar class action proceedings pending in other Canadian provinces. This charge caused a significant reduction in pre-tax income resulting in a material difference in the effective tax rate on continuing operations for fiscal 2009. Without the provision for legal settlements, the impact of the convertible debt discount and Competent Authority settlement the effective tax rate for fiscal 2009 would have been 48.6%.

 

The Company believes that its ability to utilize pre-2007 net operating losses in a given year will be limited to $9.0 million under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, which we refer to as the Code, because of changes of ownership resulting from our June 2006 follow-on equity offering. In addition, any future debt or equity transactions may reduce our net operating losses or further limit our ability to utilize the net operating losses under the Code. The deferred tax asset related to excess foreign tax credits is also fully offset by a valuation allowance of $45.6 million. Additionally, we maintain foreign deferred tax assets in the amount of $28.4 million. Of this amount $1.3 million was recorded by our Canadian affiliate during fiscal 2007 related to a foreign currency loss sustained in connection with the hedge of its term loan. This deferred tax asset was offset by a full valuation allowance of $1.3 million since the foreign currency loss is capital in nature and at this time we have not identified any potential for capital gains against which to offset the loss.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of June 30, 2009, we had approximately $0.5 million of accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions which remained materially unchanged from the prior year. The provision for unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest, is included in income taxes payable.

Fiscal 2010 compared to Fiscal 2009

 

 

The following table represents each reportable segment’s revenue as a percentage of total segment revenue and each reportable segment’s pre-tax income as a percentage of total segment pre-tax income: