corresp
VIA FEDEX AND EDGAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re:
|
|
Regional Management Corp. |
|
|
|
|
Registration Statement on Form S-1 |
|
|
|
|
File No. 333-174245 |
Christian Windsor, Esq.
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Dear Mr. Windsor:
On behalf of Regional Management Corp. (the Company), we hereby transmit via EDGAR the
following responses to your comment letter, dated July 29, 2011, regarding Pre-Effective Amendment
No. 2 (Amendment No. 2) to the above-referenced Registration Statement relating to the offering
of shares of its common stock, par value $0.10 per share. To assist your review, we have retyped
the text of the Staffs comment in italics below. Please note that all references to page numbers
in our responses refer to the page numbers of Amendment No. 2 unless otherwise specified. The
responses and information described below are based upon information provided to us by the Company.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
Form S-1/A filed July 13, 2011
Note 2. Finance Receivables, Credit Quality Information and Allowance for Loan Losses, page
F-15
|
1. |
|
Please tell us how you considered whether or not a loan subject to a Chapter 13
bankruptcy payment plan is a troubled debt restructuring and how that impacted your
analysis of whether these loans are within the scope of ASC 310-10 (formerly SFAS 114).
Tell us how evaluating these loans for impairment under this guidance would impact your
provision and allowance for loan losses for each of the periods presented. Provide us
with a qualitative and quantitative analysis. |
The Company acknowledges the Staffs comment and agrees that accounts of customers in
bankruptcy under Chapter 13 should be accounted for as troubled debt restructurings in
accordance with ASC 310-10.
Accordingly, the Company will include the following additional disclosure in its accounting
policy footnote to its audited financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and its unaudited financial statements as of
March 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011:
In 2011, the Company began individually evaluating the loans of customers in
Chapter 13 bankruptcy for impairment as troubled debt restructurings. Evaluating
loans for impairment is normally performed on a loan-by-loan basis. The Company has
adopted the policy of aggregating loans with similar risk characteristics for
purposes of computing the amount of impairment. In connection with the adoption of
this practice, the Company computed the estimated impairment on its Chapter 13
bankrupt loans by discounting the projected cash flows at the original contract rate
on the loan using the terms imposed by the bankruptcy court. This method was
applied to each of the Companys four classes of loans.
The Companys policy for the accounts of customers in bankruptcy is to charge off
the balance of accounts in a confirmed bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy
code. For customers in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, the Company reduces the
interest rate to that specified in the bankruptcy order. Additionally, if the
bankruptcy court converts a portion of a loan to an unsecured claim the Companys
policy is to charge-off the portion of the unsecured balance that it deems
uncollectible at the time the bankruptcy plan is confirmed. Once the customer is in
a confirmed Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, the Company receives payments with respect
to the remaining amount of the loan at the reduced interest rate from the bankruptcy
trustee. The Company does not believe that accounts in a confirmed Chapter 13 plan
have a higher level of risk than non-bankrupt accounts. If a customer fails to
comply with the terms of the bankruptcy order, the Company will petition the trustee
to have the customer dismissed from
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
bankruptcy. Upon dismissal, the Company restores the account to the original terms
and pursues collection through its normal collection activities.
In response to the Staffs request for qualitative and quantitative analysis, the Company
used data relating to bankrupt accounts as of June 30, 2011 to estimate the amount of
impairment relating to bankrupt accounts as of the dates and for the periods presented
because data for such historical periods is not reasonably available. Accordingly, the
Company proposes to add the following additional disclosure to its accounting policy
footnotes regarding bankrupt accounts:
In making the computations of the present value of cash payments to be received on
bankrupt accounts in each product category, the Company used the weighted average
interest rates and weighted average remaining term based on data as of June 30,
2011. Management believes using the current data does not materially change the
results that would be obtained if it had available data for interest rates and
remaining term data as of the applicable periods.
The Company advises the Staff that the additional provision required for impaired loans that
were bankrupt accounts as of March 31, 2010, December 31, 2010, and March 31, 2011 was
$660,000, $601,000, and $605,000, respectively. The Company has allocated the additional
provision relating to these impaired loans to the allowance for each of the four loan
categories, reducing the unallocated allowance in the presentation of the allowance for loan
losses. The unallocated portion of the reserve at each of these dates exceeded the required
additional provision for impaired loans. The Company believes that its aggregate allowance
for loan losses at each of those dates was appropriate.
The Company accounted for the additional required provision by reallocating the January 1,
2010 and March 31, 2011 balances of its allowance for loan losses as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALLOWANCE |
|
|
ALLOWANCE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AS |
|
|
AS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINANCE |
|
|
OF FINANCE |
|
|
OF FINANCE |
|
|
|
BALANCE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE |
|
|
RECEIVABLES |
|
|
RECEIVABLES |
|
|
RECEIVABLES |
|
|
|
JANUARY 1, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHARGE- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|
DECEMBER 31, |
|
|
|
2010 |
|
|
PROVISION |
|
|
OFFS |
|
|
RECOVERIES |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
2010 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
2010 |
|
Small installment loans |
|
$ |
8,083 |
|
|
$ |
10,664 |
|
|
|
($10,068 |
) |
|
$ |
295 |
|
|
$ |
8,974 |
|
|
$ |
117,599 |
|
|
|
7.9 |
% |
|
|
7.6 |
% |
Large installment loans |
|
|
2,719 |
|
|
|
2,780 |
|
|
|
(2,588 |
) |
|
|
61 |
|
|
|
2,972 |
|
|
|
33,653 |
|
|
|
9.6 |
% |
|
|
8.8 |
% |
Automobile purchase
loans |
|
|
7,629 |
|
|
|
2,745 |
|
|
|
(4,738 |
) |
|
|
103 |
|
|
|
5,739 |
|
|
|
93,232 |
|
|
|
9.2 |
% |
|
|
6.2 |
% |
Furniture and
appliance purchase
loans |
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
209 |
|
|
|
(75 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
145 |
|
|
|
2,762 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
% |
|
|
5.2 |
% |
Unallocated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
18,441 |
|
|
$ |
16,568 |
|
|
|
($17,469 |
) |
|
$ |
460 |
|
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
247,246 |
|
|
|
8.6 |
% |
|
|
7.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALLOWANCE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PERCENTAGE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FINANCE |
|
|
OF FINANCE |
|
|
|
BALANCE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE |
|
|
RECEIVABLES |
|
|
RECEIVABLES |
|
|
|
JANUARY 1, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHARGE- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARCH 31, |
|
|
MARCH 31, |
|
|
MARCH 31, |
|
|
|
2011 |
|
|
PROVISION |
|
|
OFFS |
|
|
RECOVERIES |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2011 |
|
|
2011 |
|
Small installment loans |
|
$ |
8,974 |
|
|
$ |
321 |
|
|
|
($2,465 |
) |
|
$ |
123 |
|
|
$ |
6,953 |
|
|
$ |
99,623 |
|
|
|
7.0 |
% |
Large installment loans |
|
|
2,972 |
|
|
|
66 |
|
|
|
(579 |
) |
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
2,478 |
|
|
|
32,669 |
|
|
|
7.6 |
% |
Automobile purchase
loans |
|
|
5,739 |
|
|
|
387 |
|
|
|
(925 |
) |
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
5,227 |
|
|
|
102,164 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
% |
Furniture and
appliance purchase
loans |
|
|
145 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
3,661 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
% |
Unallocated |
|
|
170 |
|
|
|
3,002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,172 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,836 |
|
|
|
($4,004 |
) |
|
$ |
168 |
|
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
238,117 |
|
|
|
7.6 |
% |
As of December 31, 2009 the additional provision required to provide for estimated
losses relating to impaired loans that were bankrupt accounts was $415,000 more than the
unallocated reserve at that date.
In reallocating the January 1, 2010 balance, the Company has reviewed the guidance provided
in Staff Accounting Bulletin 99 and does not believe the impairment required at December 31,
2009 results in a provision or an allowance that was inadequate at the time:
|
|
|
Charge-offs for the ensuing year were less than the January 1, 2010 balance
in Allowance for Loan Losses even including a full year of charge-offs for
small loans rather than the then existing policy of an allowance of nine months
for small loans. |
|
|
|
The 2009 provision was higher in amount and as a percentage of revenue and
average finance receivables than any year shown in the financial statements or
summary and selected financial data; thus there is no change in any trends. |
|
|
|
The amount needed to provide for the impairment on bankrupt finance
receivables was $0.6 million or 3.1% of the 2009 provision. |
In future filings, the Company will provide the data on bankrupt accounts and will use
current data in making estimates of the required impairment.
In addition, the Company advises the Staff that it will include in the next pre-effective
amendment of the Registration Statement the following additional disclosure in footnote 2 to
its audited financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and in footnote 3 to its unaudited financial statements as
of March 31, 2011 and the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2011.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009 |
|
|
December 31, 2010 |
|
Finance receivables evaluated
individually for impairment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts 180 or more days past due,
excluding accounts of customers in
bankruptcy |
|
$ |
1,835 |
|
|
$ |
803 |
|
Customers in Chapter 13 bankruptcy |
|
|
2,840 |
|
|
|
2,662 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accounts evaluated individually |
|
$ |
4,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,464 |
|
Finance receivables evaluated
collectively |
|
|
210,234 |
|
|
|
243,782 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance receivables outstanding |
|
$ |
214,909 |
|
|
$ |
247,246 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009 |
|
|
December 31, 2010 |
|
Loans individually evaluated for
impairment |
|
$ |
4,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,464 |
|
Amount of the reserve for
individually evaluated loans |
|
|
3,026 |
|
|
|
1,874 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2010 |
|
|
March 31, 2011 |
|
Finance receivables evaluated
individually for impairment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts 180 or more days past due,
excluding accounts of customers in
bankruptcy |
|
$ |
2,156 |
|
|
$ |
977 |
|
Customers in Chapter 13 bankruptcy |
|
|
2,930 |
|
|
|
2,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total accounts evaluated individually |
|
$ |
5,086 |
|
|
$ |
3,651 |
|
Finance receivables evaluated
collectively |
|
|
194,957 |
|
|
|
234,466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance receivables outstanding |
|
$ |
200,043 |
|
|
$ |
238,117 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2010 |
|
|
March 31, 2011 |
|
Loans individually evaluated for
impairment |
|
$ |
5,086 |
|
|
$ |
3,651 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of the reserve for individually
evaluated loans |
|
|
3,075 |
|
|
|
1,861 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * *
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
August 1, 2011 |
Please do not hesitate to call Joshua Ford Bonnie at 212-455-3986 or Lesley Peng at
212-455-2202 with any questions or further comments you may have regarding this filing or if you
wish to discuss the above responses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
|
|
|
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cc:
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission |
|
|
Matt McNair, Esq. |
|
|
Sharon Blume |
|
|
John Nolan |
|
|
|
|
|
Regional Management Corp. |
|
|
Thomas F. Fortin |
|
|
|
|
|
White & Case LLP |
|
|
Colin J. Diamond |