<PAGE>
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997.
OR
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from _________________ to
_________________.
Commission file number 0-21370
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LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC
----------------------
(NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
California 77-0116801
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Ten Almaden Boulevard, Suite 1500, San Jose, California 95113
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number: (408) 995-6565
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
------------------- -----------------------------------------
Common Stock New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock Rights with
respect to Common Stock New York Stock Exchange
6 7/8% Convertible Subordinated
Notes New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [_]
Indicate by check mark 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. [_]
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant, computed by reference to the average bid and asked prices of
such stock as of March 20, 1998, was $179,662,000. As of such date, 8,202,100
shares of the registrant's Common Stock were outstanding.
Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on May 21, 1998, to be filed pursuant to Section 14 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K to the extent stated herein.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION
Leasing Solutions, Inc. (the "Company" or "LSI") is a full-service global
leasing company that specializes in leasing information processing and
communications equipment, principally to large, creditworthy customers, both
U.S. and foreign. The Company's leasing activities are conducted primarily
through vendor programs and strategic alliances with equipment manufacturers,
value-added resellers ("VARs") and systems integrators. LSI's focus is on
operating leases because such leases provide the opportunity for the Company to
realize the full benefit of residuals received upon remarketing the equipment to
the original customer at the end of the initial lease term. The Company expanded
its operations to Western Europe in early 1996 and to Canada in early 1997
through acquisitions of existing leasing companies.
To date, the Company has purchased approximately $1.3 billion of equipment for
lease to its customers and has in place over 700 master lease agreements with
corporate customers. Although the Company has leased and will continue to lease
a variety of information processing and communications equipment, it estimates
that, during 1997, desktop and laptop computers represented approximately 84% of
its Dollar Volume (Dollar Volume represents the total purchase price of
equipment placed under lease with customers).
The Company's vendor programs generally involve equipment purchase and lease
marketing arrangements with manufacturers, VARs and systems integrators
(collectively "vendors"). LSI has existing vendor relationships in the United
States with Vanstar Corporation, Fujitsu PC Corporation and HAL Computer
Systems, Inc. The Company also has strategic alliances with Leasing Group, Inc.
in the U.S. and with Schroder Leasing Limited in Western Europe. These companies
will make available so-called "small ticket" lease financing to the Company's
vendors in those respective geographic regions and will refer to the Company
leasing opportunities with customers that fit the Company's typical lease
financing profile. Through additional strategic alliances, the Company is in a
position to offer asset management services to its customers and will receive
refurbishment services and remarketing assistance for certain of its equipment
that has reached the remarketing phase.
The Company believes that the value of its equipment, and particularly
equipment used in client/server network environments, is greatest to the
original customer due to the tendency for the equipment to become "embedded" in
the customer's mission critical operations. Therefore, the Company seeks to
maximize the amount of equipment that is remarketed in place to the original
customer in order to realize the considerably higher residual values that may
result from such remarketing, as compared to equipment sold or leased to a third
party.
CUSTOMERS
The Company currently has in place over 700 master lease agreements with
corporate customers. The services and support provided by the Company to its
customers includes custom lease payment streams and structures, short-term
leasing, technology refresh leases, trial leases, asset swaps and trade-ins,
upgrade and add-on financing, renewal and remarketing, personalized invoicing
and asset management and reporting.
The Company's typical customers are large, creditworthy corporations that
require several million dollars of equipment per year and are repeat customers.
Repeat business generated through existing relationships is an important source
of revenue for the Company. As of December 31, 1997, over 90% of the lessees
with whom the Company has a master lease agreement have more than one lease
supplement in place with the Company. Additionally, once the Company has a
master lease agreement with a customer, its ability to lease other
manufacturers' products to that customer is enhanced.
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The ten largest customers of the Company, measured by Dollar Volume, during
1997 are listed alphabetically below. The total Dollar Volume associated with
these customers represented approximately 83% of the Company's total new lease
originations for 1997.
Aetna Life Insurance Monsanto
Deere & Company Motorola
Eastman Chemical Northern Telecom
Ernst & Young LLP State of California
Honeywell Xerox
From 1995 through 1997 (and in 1997), approximately 78% of the Company's total
lease transactions (based on Dollar Volume) were with customers whose credit
ratings, or the credit ratings of their parent companies, were Baa or better, as
rated by Moody's Investor Services, or with customers who were not rated but
possess a credit profile equivalent to a Moody's Baa rating. While LSI believes
that its business is not dependent on any single customer, during 1997, Ernst &
Young, and Xerox accounted for 19% and 11%, respectively, of its revenues. In
the event any of the customers listed above, and particularly Ernst & Young LLP
and Northern Telecom (which represented approximately 19% and 15%, respectively,
of the Company's Dollar Volume in 1997 and 20% and 9%, respectively, of the
Company's net book value at December 31, 1997) ceases to lease additional
equipment, or materially reduces the amount of equipment it leases, from the
Company in the future, and such reduction in lease volume is not replaced by
other existing or new customers, the Company's operating results could be
materially adversely affected. See "Factors That May Affect Future Operating
Results" below.
In April 1997, the Company's vendor relationship with Dell Computer was
terminated by Dell when Dell formed a joint venture with Newcourt Financial and
began using the joint venture for lease financing to its customers. However, as
a result of LSI's strong relationship with its Dell lease customers, LSI
successfully retained over 95% (based on master lease agreements) of its
existing Dell lessees. Consequently, the termination of the Dell relationship
did not materially adversely impact volume or revenues in 1997. In fact, the
Dollar Volume of equipment purchased from Dell in 1997 for lease to the
Company's customers, even after the termination of the Dell vendor relationship
in April, was approximately $145,000,000.
LEASING AND SALES ACTIVITIES
Strategic Programs
A majority of LSI's business by Dollar Volume for 1997 was generated through
vendor programs. The programs with equipment vendors generally involve equipment
purchasing and lease marketing arrangements. The programs generally have terms
of one year or two years. Certain of such agreements are extended automatically
for one year terms, unless they are terminated by either party upon the
expiration of the then existing term with prior written notice ranging from 90
to 180 days. Customers introduced to the Company through its vendor programs
typically acquire equipment from several manufacturers, which results in
additional lease volume to the Company from "non-vendor" manufacturers. This
non-vendor equipment, along with the vendor's equipment, is typically part of a
client/server network environment and remains in place along with the vendor's
equipment. Examples of such equipment include printers, networking routers and
switches and disk drives.
A substantial majority of transactions entered into under a typical vendor
program are direct leases. Under these direct leases, lessees enter into master
lease agreements directly with the Company, rather than with the vendor. The
master lease agreement sets forth the basic terms and conditions under which the
Company will lease equipment to the lessee. The lease of specific equipment is
documented with a simple supplement to the master lease agreement, thereby
avoiding the necessity of negotiating a new master lease agreement each time the
lessee desires to acquire additional equipment. Such a lease structure also
makes it convenient for the lessee to acquire add-ons and/or upgrades to
equipment it has leased from the Company and for the Company to finance such
add-ons and upgrades. In 1997, these direct lease agreements accounted for over
90% of the Company's Dollar Volume.
Under a typical vendor program, LSI works with the lessee and the vendor's
sales personnel to help structure the initial lease. The Company finances the
lease, purchases the related equipment and administers the lease (including
billing and collecting). See "Remarketing" below.
In June 1997, LSI established a vendor program with Vanstar Corporation, a VAR
that typically sells network systems to corporations, including large users of
information processing and communications equipment. Vanstar is a $2 billion
provider, annually, of equipment and services for computer networks and
technology infrastructure. Although no assurances can be given, the Company
anticipates generating significant lease volume in the future with Vanstar. The
equipment acquired by the Company from Vanstar is similar to those products
historically provided through its other vendor programs.
In September 1997, the Company and Fujitsu PC Company, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Fujitsu, a $37 billion worldwide IT conglomerate, entered into a
vendor agreement under which the Company is to provide leasing and asset
management services in support of Fujitsu's marketing to large corporate
accounts. The program contemplates global financing opportunities in the U.S.,
Canada and Western Europe.
In February 1998, LSI entered into an additional strategic agreement with HAL
Computer Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of computer systems. Under the terms of
the agreement, the Company is to provide account planning and field-based sales
support to HAL, as well as a leasing facility for use principally with HAL's
marketing of products and services to HAL's corporate customers.
In June 1997, the Company also entered into an operating agreement with
Leasing Group, Inc., a privately-held leasing services provider. Under the terms
of the agreement, the Company is to provide field-based sales support and lease
financing for large corporate customers of select vendors with whom LGI has
exclusive relationships, including CompUSA and NEC America. Furthermore, the
agreement contemplates that LGI may provide small-ticket leasing services to
certain vendors of LSI.
Asset Management
In January 1998, the Company entered into a Marketing Agreement with Apsylog,
Inc., a leading provider of help desk and asset management software. This
arrangement permits the Company to expand the scope of services it offers to
prospective and existing customers to include extensive tracking of and
reporting on the total lifecycle costs associated with the information
processing and communication systems installed at the customer. The Company
believes that the ability to offer such capabilities will increase the Company's
competitive position in the lease financing marketplace and increase customer
satisfaction with its services, thereby potentially increasing the number of
assets placed on lease with the Company's customers.
2
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Development Activities
The Company's objective is to leverage its existing customer relationships,
funding sources, regional leasing and support staff and back office operations
support organization by systematically adding new vendor programs, and
expanding the scope of its existing programs, including, as applicable,
increasing the geographic coverage of such relationships outside the United
States. See "International Expansion." This objective is addressed by a
dedicated Marketing and Business Development group responsible for securing
vendor and program agreements and related program development activity.
The Company believes that one of its major strengths is its ability and
willingness to customize its programs to meet the vendor's specific marketing
and financial objectives. The Company believes that this ability to customize
its programs and its willingness to make a capital investment in the equipment
it acquires makes it an attractive lease financing source for vendors
considering a lease financing program.
Once an agreement for a vendor program is established, the Company's
implementation process with the vendor's organization commences. This extensive
process involves presentations and training sessions at various levels and in
various locations throughout the country in which the program is to be
implemented. These training programs familiarize the Company's sales employees
with the vendor's products, customer base and methods of doing business, and the
vendor's sales employees with the lease financing opportunities offered by the
Company which they may make available to their existing and prospective
customers. Additionally, the Company works closely with the vendors to develop
printed sales collateral and internet-based training, marketing and reporting
tools to maximize efficiency and customer service. Recognizing that, with the
addition of each new vendor program, the Company incurs significant incremental
costs in the implementation process, the Company intends to continue to be
selective in establishing additional programs and relationships in the future.
Products Leased
The information processing and communications equipment that the Company
presently purchases for lease includes communication controllers, database
machines, desktop and laptop computers, display stations, file servers,
printers, tape and disk products, and network routers and automatic switches.
The majority of the equipment acquired by the Company since 1994 is utilized in
client/server network environments.
Desktop and laptop computers represented approximately 84% of the equipment
purchased by the Company, as measured by Dollar Volume, in 1997. Approximately
55% of its Dollar Volume for 1997 was composed of equipment, principally desktop
and laptop computers, purchased from Dell.
Lease Terms and Conditions
Substantially all of the Company's lease transactions are net leases with a
specified non-cancelable lease term. These non-cancelable leases have a "hell-
or-high-water" provision which requires the lessee to make all lease payments
under all circumstances. A net lease requires the lessee to make the full lease
payment and pay any other expenses associated with the use of equipment, such as
maintenance, casualty and liability insurance, sales or use taxes and personal
property taxes. The lessee also has the responsibility of obtaining the
additional items required under a net lease, such as maintenance and insurance.
However, many of the Company's more creditworthy customers are permitted to self
insure against equipment losses.
The Company offers financing for both operating leases and direct finance
leases. The vast majority of the leases the Company enters into have a lease
term of from two to four years. These leases are either operating leases or
direct finance leases. Generally leases having a term of three years or less are
classified as operating leases and leases having a term greater than three years
are classified as direct finance leases. Although the Company is principally
engaged in the business of writing operating leases, it has in the past entered
into direct finance leases for material amounts of equipment and expects to do
so again in the future, particularly in its European operations. See "MD&A --
Lease Accounting" for a further discussion of such leases.
3
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Under certain of the Company's vendor programs, the Company offers the
vendor's customers "technology refresh" leases. These leases typically have a
24 or 36 month original term with an option permitting the lessee to exchange
the equipment subject to the lease for new equipment on or after a designated
date. Upon exercising the option, the term of the lease is extended so that its
balance is equal to the 24 to 36 month original term of the lease. The
"technology refresh" option permits the lessee to upgrade its equipment on
specified terms and provides an opportunity for the lease to be extended.
Remarketing
The results of the remarketing process ultimately determine the degree of
profitability of a lease transaction. The Company's remarketing strategy is to
keep its equipment installed in place at the end of the initial lease term.
Typically, remarketing equipment in place produces substantially better
residual returns than equipment sold or leased to a third party. Prior to the
expiration of the original lease term, the Company initiates the remarketing
process for the related equipment.
The Company is able to maximize its revenues and residual return by focusing its
efforts on keeping the equipment in place at the end of the initial lease term
by (1) re-leasing it to the initial lessee for a specified term, (2) renting the
equipment to the initial lessee on a month-to-month basis, or (3) selling the
equipment to the initial lessee. If the Company is unsuccessful in keeping the
equipment in place, it will attempt to sell or lease the equipment to a
different customer, or sell the equipment to equipment brokers or dealers.
Although the Company has been successful in remarketing in place a majority (as
measured by Dollar Volume) of its equipment coming off lease, no assurances can
be given that the Company's past successes in remarketing its equipment in place
will be repeated in the future, primarily because the Company has little history
with respect to remarketing desktop and laptop computers, which make up a
substantial and growing percentage of the Company's equipment portfolio.
However, the Company believes that the residual value of the equipment it leases
to its customers that is used in client/server networks, including desktop and
laptop computers, is enhanced due to the "embedded" nature of products in such
networks and the resulting tendency for such equipment to remain in place after
the end of the original lease term. See "Factors That May Affect Future
Operating Results" below.
The Company has dedicated significant resources, through both its
headquarters and field offices, to support its remarketing effort. The Company's
sales personnel are provided incentives to remarket its equipment.
In August 1997, the Company entered into a service and remarketing
agreement with Micro Exchange Corporation, one of the largest independent
remarketing and servicing centers for name brand personal computer products
in the U.S. The agreement enhances the Company's existing remarketing
capabilities by providing increased remarketing opportunities through
additional channels of distribution, including retail channels. Micro
Exchange also provides return processing, computer repair and refurbishment
services under the agreement.
The Company's historical experience in estimating residual values may not be
applicable to most of the information processing and communications equipment
that the Company has recently purchased for lease. The initial lease
terms of the leases to which any material amount of such equipment is subject
have not yet expired and, as a result, the Company does not yet have meaningful
remarketing experience with respect to such equipment. Therefore, the Company's
historical experience in estimating residual values may not be applicable to
such equipment. Accordingly, for that reason and others, the Company's
historical remarketing experience is not necessarily indicative of future
performance and no assurances can be given that the Company will be able to
achieve remarketing results in the future that are comparable to its historical
remarketing results.
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Default and Loss Experience
The cumulative default and loss experience of the Company with respect to
lease payments under the leases in its portfolio as of December 31, 1997, 1996
and 1995 is set forth below.
CUMULATIVE DEFAULT AND LOSS EXPERIENCE
(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FROM INCEPTION THROUGH
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1996 DECEMBER 31, 1995
-------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------
PERCENT OF PERCENT OF PERCENT OF
TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
AMOUNT ACQUISITIONS AMOUNT ACQUISITIONS AMOUNT ACQUISITIONS
----------- ------------- --------- ------------- --------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Total Acquisitions (1)............. $1,224,000 $917,900 $635,558
Cumulative Gross Defaults (2)(4)... $ 2,292 0.2% $ 1,846 0.2% $ 1,526 0.2%
Cumulative Recoveries (3).......... 1,221 0.1% 989 0.1 904 0.1
-------- --- -------- ---
Net Losses......................... $ 1,071 0.1% $ 857 0.1% $ 622 0.1%
======== === ======== ===
</TABLE>
_____________
(1) Total Acquisitions represents the total cost (aggregate purchase price of
the equipment) to the Company since inception in 1986 through and including
the date set forth above.
(2) Cumulative Gross Defaults represents the total defaults of all lessees
experienced by the Company since inception in 1986 through and including the
date set forth above measured as the aggregate of the Company's net book
value in such lease and any recorded receivable on such lease at the date of
default.
(3) Cumulative Recoveries represents the total recoveries with respect to
defaults of all lessees since inception of the Company in 1986 through and
including the date set forth above.
(4) A lessee is deemed to be in default when it fails to meet its obligations to
make monthly rental payments under its lease, and fails to cure such breach,
pursuant to the terms of the lease, and the Company declares the lessee in
"default" by written notice to the lessee.
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Process Control and Administrative Systems
The Company has developed an administration system and controls which feature
a series of checks and balances. The Company's system and controls are designed
to protect against entering into lease transactions that may have undesirable
economics or unacceptable levels of risk, without impeding the flow of business
activity or preventing its sales organization from being creative and responsive
to the needs of vendors and customers.
The Company's sales offices are organized into four regions, each of which is
managed by a Regional Manager located in one of the region's sales offices. Each
of the sales offices are staffed with a District Manager ("DM") and at least one
Contract Administrator who work with the sales personnel of the companies for
which the Company provides customer lease financing services to offer lease
financing solutions to the sales customers. The Company also has an assistant DM
in several of its offices.
Once the Company commits to a lease transaction, its Contract Administrators
initiate a process of systematically preparing and gathering relevant lease
information and lease documentation. The contract administrators are also
responsible for monitoring the documentation through the Company's home office
documentation and review process. Prior to the Company entering into any lease
agreement, each transaction is evaluated based on the Company's pre-determined
standards regarding residual values, lease structure, lease documentation and
customer credit. The Company approves, and delivers documentation to its
customers, in most instances, in less than two business days after a request for
approval of the transaction has been submitted to the Company's headquarters by
one of its field sales personnel.
The Company utilizes an Investment Committee to review the residual values it
will use to price standard transactions. The Investment Committee also must
approve the pricing, including residual values, for all transactions involving
$5 million or more in aggregate purchase price of equipment if the pricing
parameters are outside previously approved guidelines. The Investment Committee
is composed of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, Vice President - Contract Administration, Vice President -
Treasurer, Vice President - Remarketing and Controller of the Company. In
addition, aggregate customer exposures from $2 - 5 million in aggregate
purchase price require the approval of certain officers of the Company.
International Expansion
Commencing in early 1996, the Company embarked on a plan to increase its
geographic coverage for vendor programs by expanding its lease financing
activities outside the United States. The first step in this international
expansion was into Western Europe, and was accomplished in April 1996 with the
acquisition of a small independent leasing company in the United Kingdom. This
company focused on leasing information processing equipment. Since that time,
the Company has also opened leasing offices in Germany, France, Belgium and The
Netherlands and has the ability to provide leasing services in Spain and Italy.
In March 1998, the Company's UK subsidiary entered into a strategic alliance
with Schroder Leasing Limited pursuant to which Schroder will provide
small-ticket lease financing to the Company's customers in Western Europe and
the Company's European operations will provide lease financing to the large
corporate customers of Schroder and certain of its customers. Although no
assurances can be given, the Company anticipates entering into other new vendor
relationships covering Western Europe in the future.
In April 1997, the Company continued its expansion through the acquisition of
a lease portfolio and related operations from a Canadian company engaged
primarily in computer leasing. The acquisition was made by a newly formed
Canadian subsidiary of the Company, Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc. The acquired
portfolio is comprised of information processing and communications equipment
primarily leased (principally under operating leases) to investment grade
companies and Canadian governmental entities. The Canadian operation has offices
in four Canadian cities, with headquarters in the Toronto area.
In the future, the Company may participate in additional international
markets, particularly Latin America and the Pacific Rim, as may be necessary to
meet the demands of existing and prospective vendors and customers.
Financing
The Company's financing strategy has been to obtain substantially all of its
required long-term borrowings from the proceeds of sales of nonrecourse, secured
debt securities in the public and private debt securities markets through
"securitizations" or by other similar secured financings. From time to time,
the Company will obtain long-term financing for one or more leases with a single
customer. Prior to securitizing its leases, the Company finances its acquisition
of equipment on a short-term basis through secured "warehouse" lines of credit
until such time as its portfolio of equipment is of sufficient size to permit it
to efficiently finance the portfolio on a long-term basis. Payments under the
Company's borrowings and the maturities of its long-term borrowings are
typically structured to match the payments due under the leases securing the
borrowings. Although the Company has not done so to date, it may engage in
hedging transactions, pursuant to the hedging strategy approved by its Board of
Directors, in order to
6
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protect itself, when necessary, against increases in interest rates prior to
obtaining fixed rate, long-term financing for its equipment. The Company
recently expanded its operations to Western Europe and Canada, and has obtained
lines of credit to finance its leasing activities in those countries. See
"MD&A --Liquidity and Capital Resources" and "Factors That May Affect Future
Operating Results" below.
Nonrecourse Debt. The credit standing of the Company's customers allows the
Company to obtain long-term financing for most of its leases on a nonrecourse
basis. However, the Company may, from time to time, obtain such financing on a
recourse basis if the Company believes that the rates and other terms offered
for recourse financing justify such an arrangement. Under such loans, the
Company typically borrows an amount equal to the committed lease payments under
the financed lease, discounted at a fixed interest rate. The lender is entitled
to receive the monthly lease payments under the financed lease in repayment of
the loan, and takes a security interest in the related equipment and those lease
payments. The Company retains ownership of such equipment. Interest rates under
this type of financing reflect the financial condition of the lessees, the term
of the leases, the amount of the loan and the nature and manufacturer of the
equipment.
Historically, such nonrecourse loans have generally provided between 85% and
90% of the funds necessary to acquire equipment. The Company normally obtains
the balance of the acquisition cost, commonly known in the leasing industry as
the "equity investment" in the equipment, from the proceeds of recourse, and
occasionally nonrecourse, financings by the Company, from its internally
generated funds or from the proceeds of sales of convertible debt or its Common
Stock.
The Company is not liable for the repayment of nonrecourse loans unless the
Company breaches certain limited representations and warranties in the loan
agreements. The lender assumes the credit risk of each lease financed with
recourse debt, and its only recourse, upon a default under a lease, is against
the lessee and such equipment. Because the Company's ability to obtain
nonrecourse lease financing from lenders depends on the credit standing of its
lessees, the Company targets large, creditworthy customers. See "Customers"
above.
The Company utilizes the public and private debt securities markets, through
securitizations, to provide a substantial portion of the nonrecourse debt it
required. The utilization of securitizations has reduced the Company's effective
interest cost for its nonrecourse debt. The Company expects to obtain most of
its long-term debt requirements in the future from the proceeds of sales of such
debt or similar securities in the public and private debt markets. See "Factors
That May Affect Future Operating Results" and "MD&A -- Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
In order to manage certain expected tax liabilities in its foreign
obligations, the Company may, from time to time, finance leases generated in
foreign countries by selling the related lease receivable. Under such
arrangements, the Company would grant a security interest in the underlying
equipment, rather than sell it, and thus retain its interest in the anticipated
remarketing proceeds from the equipment.
Recourse Financing. The other significant source of financing for equipment
acquisitions by the Company is recourse borrowings, both long-term and short-
term. This type of financing has been used principally to "warehouse" portfolios
of leases and the related equipment on a short-term basis, until the Company is
in a position to efficiently finance the portfolio on a long-term, nonrecourse
basis. In addition, when the Company finances its equity investment in leased
equipment with lenders, it often does so on a recourse basis. The Company has a
commitment from a syndicate of banks to provide a recourse, short-term line of
credit to the Company which will allow it to finance, at favorable rates, a
portion of its equity investment in leases. However, no assurances can be given
that this line of credit will be put in place. See "Factors That May Affect
Future Operating Results" and "MD&A -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
The loans available to the Company under recourse arrangements are typically
secured by the financed equipment and the monthly lease payments due under the
related lease. Upon default by a lessee under a lease covering equipment
financed through recourse borrowings, the financial institution providing the
financing can seek recourse from the Company for the balance due on such
financing.
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COMPETITION
The Company competes in the information processing and communications
equipment leasing marketplaces with other independent leasing companies, captive
lessors and bank affiliated lessors. The Company's business is highly
competitive, both with respect to obtaining and maintaining vendor program
arrangements and providing lease financing to end-user customers. The Company
competes directly in the U.S. with various independent leasing companies, such
as Comdisco, Newcourt Financial and G.E. Capital, certain bank affiliated
lessors, such as Leasetec, and certain captive or "semi-captive" leasing
companies, such as IBM Credit Corporation, Dell Financial Services and Compaq
Capital. Many of the Company's competitors have substantially greater resources
and capital and longer operating histories.
A substantial number of the Company's competitors are significantly larger,
and have substantially greater resources, than the Company. The Company's
relatively limited amount of capital places it at a disadvantage in relation to
its larger competitors, particularly in connection with financing lease
transactions involving large dollar volumes of equipment where the cost of the
equipment substantially exceeds the amount of debt available for such financing.
See "Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results."
The Company believes it competes on the basis of price, responsiveness to
customer needs, flexibility in structuring lease transactions, relationships
with its vendors, VARs and systems integrators and knowledge of products they
distribute. The Company has found it most effective to compete on the basis of
providing a high level of customer service and by structuring custom programs
and arrangements and lease transactions that meet the needs of all parties. The
Company also believes that its cost of capital is comparable to that of its
larger competitors, primarily due to its financing strategy of utilizing the
public and private debt securities markets to finance its lease receivables.
Other important elements that affect the Company's competitiveness are the high
degree of knowledge and competence of its key employees, specifically relating
to information processing and communications equipment and operating lease
financing.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1997, the Company had 159 employees, 23 of whom were
located in its regional or field offices in the United States, 45 of whom are
located in its European and Canadian offices, and 91 of whom were located in its
San Jose, California home office. The Company intends to hire a substantial
number of additional personnel during 1998. However, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to attract and retain personnel with the
experience and expertise necessary to meet its anticipated operating
requirements. See "Factors That May Affect Future Operating Results" below.
FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS
POTENTIAL REDUCTION IN RESIDUAL VALUES OF LEASED EQUIPMENT. The Company has
historically emphasized operating leases with a term of 24 to 36 months, rather
than direct finance leases. In general, under the Company's operating leases,
the present value of the monthly lease payments will pay back 85% to 90% of the
purchase price of the equipment whereas the present value of the monthly lease
payments under its direct finance leases will generally pay back the Company's
entire investment in the equipment. As a result, under its operating leases,
the Company assumes the risk of not recovering its entire investment in the
equipment through the remarketing process.
At the inception of each operating lease, the company estimates a residual
value for the leased equipment based on guidelines established by the Company's
Investment Committee. However, as is typical of information processing and
communications equipment, the equipment owned and leased by the Company is
subject to rapid technological obsolescence. Furthermore, decreases in
manufacturers' prices of equipment, such as those experienced recently with
respect to desktop and laptop computers, may adversely affect the market value
of such equipment, and thus its residual value. While the Company's experience
generally has resulted in aggregate realized residual values for equipment in
excess of the initial estimated residual values for such equipment, a decrease
in the market value of such equipment at a rate greater than expected by the
Company, whether due to rapid technological obsolescence, price decreases or
other factors, would adversely affect the residual values of such equipment. In
addition, since early 1993, the Company has entered into several new vendor
programs and arrangements that have produced substantial lease volume. The
Company estimates that during this period, desktop and laptop computers
represented approximately 85% of its Dollar Volume. The initial lease terms of
most of the leases to which such equipment is subject have not yet expired and,
as a result, the Company does
8
<PAGE>
not yet have remarketing experience with respect to such equipment.
Additionally, the desktop and laptop computer equipment purchased as a result of
such new programs and arrangements is a different type of information processing
and communications equipment than equipment for which the Company has
significant remarketing experience. Therefore, the company's historical
experience in estimating residual values may not be applicable to such desktops
and laptop computers, and the Company's historical remarketing experience is not
necessarily indicative of future performance.
The Company obtains the maximum residual value on its equipment by remarketing
it "in-place" to its end-user customer, whether by extension of the lease term,
month-to-month extensions or sale. To date, the Company has been relatively
successful in its ability to remarket equipment in-place. In the event desktop
or laptop computers are returned to the Company at the end of the lease term,
the Company's potential residual recovery from such equipment will be
substantially reduced. No assurances can be given that a substantial amount of
such equipment will be remarketed in-place.
Accordingly, there can be no assurances that the Company's estimated residual
values for equipment will be achieved. If the Company's estimated residual
values with respect to any type of equipment are reduced or not realized in the
future, the Company may not recover its investment in such equipment and, as a
result, its operating results, cash flows and financial condition could be
materially adversely affected.
POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS. The Company's future
quarterly operating results may fluctuate. The company's quarterly results of
operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons, including,
without limitation, any reduction of expected residual values related to the
equipment the Company leases. Quarterly operating results could also fluctuate
as a result of the sale by the Company of equipment in its lease portfolio, at
the expiration of a lease term or prior to such expiration, to the lessee or to
a third party or the sale of the stream of monthly rental payments under its
leases to a third party. Such sales of equipment or lease receivables may have
the effect of increasing revenues and net income during the quarter in which the
sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net income otherwise expected in
subsequent quarters. See "Potential Reduction in Residual Values of Leased
Equipment" above and "MD&A -- Lease Accounting" and "MD&A -- Results of
Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1997."
DEPENDENCE ON AVAILABILITY OF FINANCING. The operating lease business on
which the Company focuses is a capital intensive business. The typical
operating lease transaction requires a cash investment by the Company of 10% to
15% of the original equipment cost, commonly known in the equipment leasing
industry as an "equity" investment. The Company's equity investment is
typically financed with either recourse borrowings, the net proceeds of the sale
of debt or equity securities or internally generated funds. The balance of the
equipment cost is typically financed with the proceeds of long-term, nonrecourse
debt. In addition, the Company typically finances the acquisition of equipment
for lease through short-term, "warehouse" lines of credit prior to obtaining
long-term, permanent financing for the equipment. Accordingly, the Company's
ability to successfully execute its business strategy and to sustain its growth
is dependent, in part, on its ability to obtain recourse and nonrecourse debt
capital, both short-term and long-term, and to raise additional debt or equity
capital to meet its equity investment requirements in the future. Although, to
date, the Company has been able to obtain the recourse and nonrecourse
borrowing, and raise the other capital, it requires to finance its business, no
assurances can be given that the necessary amount of such capital will continue
to be available to the Company on favorable terms or at all. In particular, any
material failure of the Company to achieve its residual value estimates through
the remarketing of equipment would adversely affect its ability to finance its
equity investments. If the Company were unable to obtain any portion of its
required financing on favorable terms, the Company would be required to reduce
its leasing activity, which would have a material adverse effect on the
company's results of operations and financial condition. See "MD&A -- Liquidity
and Capital Resources" and "Business -- Financing."
INTEREST RATE RISK. The Company's equipment leases are structured on a fixed
monthly rental basis. Prior to obtaining long-term financing for its leases and
the related equipment, the Company typically finances the purchase of those
assets through short-term, "warehouse" lines of credit which bear interest at
variable rates. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on leases financed
through its warehouse facilities to the extent interest rates increase between
the time the leases are initially financed and the time they are permanently
financed. Increases in interest rates during this period could narrow or
eliminate the spread, or result in a negative spread, between the effective
interest rate the Company realizes under its leases and the interest rate that
the Company pays under its warehouse facilities or, more importantly, under the
borrowings used to provide long-term financing for such leases. To protect the
Company against this risk, the Company's Board of directors has approved a
hedging strategy and, as appropriate, the Company will hedge against such
interest rate risk. To date, the Company has not engaged in any such hedges.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's hedging strategy or
techniques will be effective, that the profitability of the Company will not be
adversely affected during any period of changes in interest rates or that the
costs of hedging will not exceed the benefits. See "MD&A - Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
9
<PAGE>
DEPENDENCE ON MAJOR CUSTOMERS. The company has two customers, Ernst & Young
and Xerox, which accounted for 19% and 11%, respectively, of 1997 revenues. In
addition, Ernst & Young and Northern Telecom represented 19% and 15%,
respectively, of the Company's Dollar Volume in 1997 and 20 % and 9%,
respectively, of the Company's net book value at December 31, 1997. The
Company's lease agreements with these customers presently expire between now and
late 2000. In the event any of these customers, or any of the Company's other
major customers, ceases to lease additional equipment or materially reduces the
amount of equipment it leases from the Company in the future, the Company's
operating results could be materially adversely affected.
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH. In the past five years, the Company financed a
significantly greater number of leases than it had in the prior seven years of
its existence. As a result of this rapid growth, the Company's investment in
leases grew from $125 million at December 31, 1994 to $551 million at December
31, 1997. In light of this growth, the historical performance of the Company's
lease portfolio may be of limited relevance in predicting future lease portfolio
performance. Any credit or other problems associated with the large number of
leases financed in recent years will not become apparent until sometime in the
future.
In order to support the anticipated growth of its business, the Company has
added a substantial number of new personnel since the beginning of 1995 and
expects to add a substantial number of additional personnel during 1998. The
Company is absorbing, and will continue to absorb in the future, the effects of
additional personnel costs and the implementation of new software systems
necessary to manage such growth. The Company's future operating results will
depend on its ability to attract, hire and retain skilled employees and on the
ability of its officers and key employees to continue to implement and improve
its operational and financial control systems and to train and manage its
employees. The Company's inability to manage growth effectively, should it
occur, or to attract and retain the personnel it requires, could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
GLOBAL EXPANSION. In April 1996, the Company expanded its lease financing
activities to Western Europe by acquiring a small independent leasing company in
the United Kingdom. It now has sales offices, and leasing activities, in
Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and the ability to finance leases
for equipment in Italy and Spain. In April 1997, the Company acquired the lease
portfolio and operations of a Canadian leasing company, and now conducts
operations throughout Canada. International activities pose certain risks not
faced by leasing companies that limit themselves to the United States lease
financing activities. Fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies relative
to the U.S. dollar, for example, could adversely impact the Company's results of
operations. International activities also could be adversely affected by factors
beyond the Company control, including the imposition of or changes in
government controls, export license requirements, or tariffs, duties or taxes
and changes in economic and political conditions. In addition, cross-border
leasing transactions within Western Europe raise the risk that VAT or other
taxes that are not reimbursable by the lessee may be imposed on the transaction.
COMPETITION. The information processing and communications equipment leasing
business is characterized by significant competition. The Company competes with
leasing companies, both captive and independent, commercial banks and other
financial institutions with respect to opportunities to provide lease financing
to end-user customers and to provide vendor programs to manufacturers and
distributors of such equipment. A substantial number of the Company's
competitors are significantly larger, and have substantially greater resources,
than the Company. The Company's relatively limited amount of capital places it
at a disadvantage in relation to its larger competitors, particularly in
connection with financing lease transactions involving large dollar volumes of
equipment where the cost of the equipment substantially exceeds the amount of
debt available for such financings. See "Business -- Competition."
YEAR 2000. As the year 2000 approaches, a critical issue has emerged for all
companies, including the Company, with respect to whether application software
programs and operating systems utilized by a company and the companies with
which it does business can accommodate this date value. In brief, many existing
application software products in the marketplace were designed to only
accommodate a two-digit date position which represents the year (e.g., "95" is
stored on the system and represents the year 1995). As a result, the year 1999
(i.e., "99") could be the maximum date value these systems will be able to
process accurately.
The Company has, for several months, been engaged in a review of the software
and systems it uses in an effort to determine whether it or its operations may
be materially adversely affected by this so-called "Year 2000" conversion. In
that review, the Company has identified certain software applications as being
"critical applications" used in daily operations. Such applications include
lease management, accounting and financial reporting systems, as well as
spreadsheet programs. The Company has inquired of, and generally obtained the
assurances of, the providers of such software with respect to it being Year 200
compliant. Based on its review, the Company does not presently believe that Year
2000 compliance issues with respect to its software and systems will materially
adversely affect the Company or its operations. However, no assurances can be
given that such review uncovered every potential adverse effect of the Year 2000
conversion in connection with any of such software or systems.
The Company has only recently commenced a review of whether the software and
systems of the vendors, financing sources, customers, equipment manufacturers or
distributors or other parties with which it deals may, as a result of the Year
2000 conversion, have a materially adverse effect on the Company or its
operations. Accordingly, it is too early for the Company to be able to predict
whether such software or systems of such parties may have such effect. As part
of this review, the Company will attempt to obtain assurances from each of such
parties, whose dealings with the Company are material to the Company or its
operations, that such party does not and will not utilize software or systems
that may interface with the Company, or are or will be important to the
operations of such party, that may cause problems to such party or the Company
as a result of the Year 2000 conversion. However, no assurances can be given
that the Company will be able to obtain such assurances from each of such
parties or that it will be able to obtain the information from such parties
necessary for the Company to determine whether it may be materially adversely
affected by the software or systems of such parties.
The Company will maintain on ongoing effort to recognize and evaluate
potential exposures relating to the Year 2000 conversion arising from its use of
software supplied by other parties or its dealings with other parties. At
present, the Company cannot estimate the total cost to it of recognizing,
evaluation and addressing any such exposures.
10
<PAGE>
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's home office is located in leased space at 10 Almaden Boulevard,
Suite 1500, San Jose, California 95113. The Company also leases office space for
its regional offices in the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York and Los
Angeles metropolitan areas. The aggregate monthly rent under the Company's U.S.
office leases, with respect to an aggregate of approximately 28,500 square feet,
was approximately $50,000 as of December 31, 1997. The Company also leases
office space in Europe and Canada. The aggregate monthly rent under the
Company's European and Canadian office leases, with respect to an aggregate of
approximately 7,100 square feet, was approximately $18,000 and $7,000,
respectively, as of December 31, 1997.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not involved in any material legal proceedings, and is not
aware of any pending or threatened legal proceedings that would have a material
adverse effect upon its financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS
TO A VOTE OF SECURITY-HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security-holders of the Company during
the fourth quarter of 1997.
11
<PAGE>
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
DIVIDEND POLICY
The Company has never paid a dividend to shareholders and does not anticipate
paying a dividend in the foreseeable future, as the Company's Board of Directors
intends to retain earnings for use in the business. One of the agreements with
respect to the Company's secured bank lines of credit includes a covenant which
prohibits the Company from paying dividends in any year in excess of 25% of its
net income for that year. Any future determination concerning the payment of
dividends will depend upon any such dividend restrictions, the Company's
financial condition, the Company's results of operations, and such other factors
as the Board of Directors deems relevant.
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
On November 14, 1997, the Company's Common Stock began trading on the New York
Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol LSN. Prior to November 1997, the
Company's Common Stock was quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
LSSI. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and
low sales prices of the Common Stock as reported on the NYSE and Nasdaq National
Market.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
High Low
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
1996
First Quarter............................................................................. $15.620 $12.500
Second Quarter............................................................................ 17.250 12.375
Third Quarter............................................................................. 30.250 13.000
Fourth Quarter............................................................................ 35.500 23.750
1997
First Quarter............................................................................. $32.500 $16.125
Second Quarter............................................................................ 19.500 6.750
Third Quarter............................................................................. 19.125 14.750
Fourth Quarter............................................................................ 24.750 18.000
</TABLE>
As of December 31, 1997, there were approximately 155 shareholders of record of
the Company's Common Stock.
12
<PAGE>
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(In thousands, except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenues:
Operating lease revenue............. $217,781 $141,838 $77,317 $55,319 $43,871
Earned lease income................. 2,924 2,091 2,885 4,256 6,603
Interest income..................... 219 393 462 327 239
Other............................... 4,319 274 12 185 105
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Total revenues...................... 225,243 144,596 80,676 60,087 50,818
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Costs and expenses:
Depreciation - operating leases..... 151,659 96,256 51,164 37,781 29,830
Selling, general and administrative
expenses........................... 18,874 12,300 8,584 7,294 7,435
Interest expense.................... 30,067 19,018 10,428 6,523 7,701
Other............................... 2,046 1,100 641 837 391
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Total costs and expenses............ 202,646 128,674 70,817 52,435 45,357
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Income before income taxes........... 22,597 15,922 9,859 7,652 5,461
Provision for income taxes........... 9,536 6,549 3,931 3,060 2,242
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Net income........................... $ 13,061 $ 9,373 $ 5,928 $ 4,592 $ 3,219
======== ======== ======= ======= =======
Net income per share -
assuming dilution ................... $1.55 $1.16 $.93 $.75 $.66
======== ======== ======= ======= =======
Shares used in computing per share
amounts............................. 10,444 8,077 6,373 6,096 4,884
======== ======== ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance Sheet Data:
Investment in leases....................... $551,294 $376,960 $208,483 $124,621 $ 93,891
Total assets............................... 596,731 407,291 224,102 141,364 100,715
Recourse debt.............................. 269,591 182,739 71,681 9,897 7,503
Nonrecourse debt........................... 202,259 138,919 93,354 89,594 68,878
Shareholders' equity....................... 76,587 63,556 30,912 24,438 11,099
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
THE BUSINESS
Leasing Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") is in the business of leasing
information processing and communications equipment to large, creditworthy
customers, primarily through vendor programs and strategic alliances with
equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers and systems integrators.
The Company's focus is on operating leases because such leases provide the
opportunity for the Company to realize the full benefit of residuals received
upon remarketing the equipment to the original customer at the end of the
initial lease term. To date, the Company has purchased approximately $1.3
billion of equipment. Beginning in 1996 and continuing into 1997, the Company
expanded its operations to Western Europe and Canada through acquisitions of
existing leasing companies.
LEASE ACCOUNTING
Since 1990, the Company has principally engaged in two types of lease
transactions which, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 13 ("SFAS 13"), "Accounting for Leases", are classified as
operating leases or direct finance leases. The allocation of income among
accounting periods within a lease term will vary depending upon the lease
classification, as described below.
Direct Finance Leases. Direct finance leases transfer substantially all
benefits and risks of equipment ownership to the lessee. A lease is a direct
finance lease if the collectibility of lease payments is reasonably certain and
it meets one of the following criteria: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the
equipment to the lessee by the end of the lease term; (2) the lease contains a
bargain purchase option; (3) the lease term at inception is at least 75% of the
estimated economic life of the leased equipment; or (4) the present value of the
minimum lease payments is at least 90% of the fair value of the leased equipment
at inception of the lease.
Direct finance leases are recorded as "Investment in direct finance leases"
upon acceptance of the equipment by the customer. At the inception of the lease,
unearned lease income represents the amount by which the gross lease payments
receivable plus estimated residual value exceeds the equipment cost. Unearned
lease income is recognized, using the interest method, as earned lease income
over the lease term.
Operating Leases. All lease contracts which do not meet the criteria of
direct finance leases are accounted for as operating leases. Monthly lease
payments are recorded as operating lease revenues. Leased equipment is recorded,
at the Company's cost, as "Investment in operating leases" and depreciated on a
straight-line basis over the lease term to the estimated residual value at the
expiration of the lease term. The residual value of an item of leased equipment
is its fair market value at the expiration of the lease. Residual values are
estimated at the inception of the lease and reviewed quarterly over the term of
the lease. Estimated residual values of leased equipment may be adjusted
downward, if necessary. Decreases in estimated residual values are made as the
change in residual value becomes apparent, and are reflected over the remaining
term of the lease by increased depreciation expense for operating leases or by
decreased earned lease income for direct finance leases.
When equipment is sold, the net proceeds realized in excess of the estimated
residual value are generally recorded as a "Operating Lease Revenue", or the
amount by which the estimated residual value exceeds the net proceeds is
recorded as a loss. See "Business-Leasing and Sales Activities-Remarketing."
When equipment is re-leased, the Company continues to depreciate the equipment
in accordance with the Company's then current estimate of its residual value,
and the monthly lease payments are recorded as revenue when billed.
Substantially all of the leases which the Company enters into are
noncancelable transactions under which the obligor must make all scheduled
payments, maintain the equipment, accept the risk of loss of such equipment and
pay all equipment related taxes. See "Business -- Leasing and Sales Activities
- -- Lease Terms and Conditions."
14
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Net Income. Net income for the year ended December 31, 1997 was $13,061,000
and represented an increase of $3,688,000, or 39%, over net income of $9,373,000
in 1996. Net income per share for 1997 increased 34% to $1.55, compared to
$1.16 one year earlier. Net income in 1996 increased $3,445,000, or 58%, over
$5,928,000 for the same period in 1995. The increases in earnings in 1997 and
1996 were primarily the result of increases in operating lease and other
revenues that outpaced increases in costs and expenses.
Revenues. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1997 increased
$80,647,000, or 56%, to $225,243,000 over $144,596,000 one year earlier.
Revenues for 1996 represented an increase of $63,920,000, or 79%, over
$80,676,000 for the same period in 1995. The increase in revenues in both
periods is primarily the result of increases in operating lease revenues which
comprised 97%, 98% and 96% of total revenue in 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Operating lease revenue grew to $217,781,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997, representing an increase of $75,943,000, or 54%, over
$141,838,000 in 1996. In 1996, operating lease revenue of $141,838,000
represented an increase of $64,521,000, or 83%, over $77,317,000 in 1995. The
increase in operating lease revenue for 1997 and 1996 reflects a higher average
investment in operating leases, resulting from increases in operating leases
originated or acquired by the Company over the three year period. Earned lease
income for 1997 increased $833,000, or 40%, to $2,924,000, compared to
$2,091,000 one year earlier. The increase in earned lease revenue reflects an
increase in direct finance leases resulting from the Canadian acquisition in
1997 offset, in part, by outstanding direct finance leases being paid down. In
1996, earned lease revenue represented a decrease of $794,000, or 27%, from
$2,885,000 in 1995. The decrease in 1996 was a result of outstanding direct
finance leases being paid down and fewer new direct finance leases being
originated, due principally to the Company's focus on operating leases. Other
revenue of $4,319,000 in 1997 represented an increase of $4,045,000 over
$274,000 in 1996. The increase in other revenue primarily reflects the net gain
on sale of two lease portfolios in 1997.
Depreciation - Operating Leases. Depreciation expense primarily relates to
equipment under operating leases. For the year ended December 31, 1997,
depreciation expense of $151,659,000 represented an increase of $55,403,000, or
58%, over $96,256,000 in 1996. In 1996, depreciation expense increased
$45,092,000, or 88%, over $51,164,000 in 1995. The increases in depreciation
for both 1997 and 1996 are principally the result of increases in the operating
lease base caused by increases in operating leases originated or acquired by the
Company over the three year period.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A) expenses for the year ended December 31, 1997 increased
$6,574,000, or 53%, to $18,874,000, compared to $12,300,000 for the same period
one year earlier. SG&A expenses in 1996 represented an increase of $3,716,000,
or 43%, over $8,584,000 in 1995. The increase, for both years, is due to
increased personnel costs and compensation associated with the overall growth in
leasing activities, particularly increases in personnel in sales, lease contract
administration and information systems areas to support such growth, and an
increase in discretionary year end bonuses from the prior year. In addition, a
substantial increase in personnel in 1997 and 1996, resulting from the Company's
expansion to Canada and to Europe, respectively, was a significant contributor
to the increase in SG&A expenses in both 1997 and 1996. The 1997 and 1996 SG&A
expenses were also significantly affected by increases in travel costs
associated with increased leasing activity and the expansion of the Company's
foreign operations in Europe and Canada, and increased occupancy costs resulting
from an expansion of the Company's headquarters and the expansion of the
Company's foreign operations in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $11,049,000, or 58%, to
$30,067,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997. In 1996, interest expense of
$19,018,000 represented an increase of $8,590,000, or 82%, over $10,428,000 in
1995. The increases in 1997 and 1996 were due to higher recourse and
nonrecourse debt outstanding, related to the higher average investment in
leases.
Other Expenses. Other expenses increased $946,000, or 86%, to $2,046,000 in
1997 over $1,100,000 in 1996. This increase is primarily the result of costs
related to development of infrastructure in the Company's remarketing
organization and amortization of goodwill related to acquisitions.
Income Taxes. Provisions for income taxes were 42.2%, 41.1%
and 39.9% of income before income taxes for the years 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. The increase in the effective tax rates during the three years
ended December 31, 1997 relates primarily to the Company's international
expansion and changes in the geographic distribution of the Company's income to
states with higher tax rates.
15
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's debt financing activities typically provide approximately 85% to
90% of the purchase price of the equipment purchased by the Company for lease to
its customers. The 15% to 20% balance of the purchase price (the Company's
"equity" investment in equipment) must generally be financed by cash flow from
its operations, or recourse debt, or common stock or convertible debt sold by
the Company.
The Company generated cash flow from operations of $190,442,000 during 1997,
compared to net income of $13,061,000 for the same period. Cash flow from
operations was higher than net income primarily as a result of non-cash
expenses, such as depreciation and amortization, of $153,243,000, and the
combined effect of other sources and uses of cash from operations, including
resulting changes in accounts receivable, accounts payable, deferred income
taxes, and other assets and liabilities, totaling $24,138,000. Investing
activities, which are primarily related to investments in equipment for lease,
used $302,776,000 during the period. Financing activities generated $122,068,000
from $662,506,000 in new borrowings of recourse and nonrecourse debt and
$1,397,000 from the Company's issuance of common stock upon exercise of options
reduced by $540,572,000 used to repay recourse and nonrecourse borrowings and
$1,263,000 to repurchase shares of Common Stock. The net result of the above
activity for 1997 was an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $9,681,000.
In February 1996, the Company closed a public stock offering in which it sold
1,800,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Company received net
proceeds of approximately $22,540,000 from the offering.
In October 1996, the Company closed a public debt offering for $71,875,000 of
convertible subordinated notes. The notes constitute general unsecured
obligations of the Company and are subordinated in right of payment to all
existing and future debt of the Company. The Company received net proceeds of
approximately $69,400,000 from the offering. The seven-year notes bear interest
at a rate of 6.875% per annum and are convertible into Common Stock at a
conversion price of $34.90. Interest is payable in April and October of each
year. Principal is payable upon maturity in October 2003. The Company may
call, or prepay, all or a portion of the notes beginning in October 1999. These
equity and debt public offerings were made principally to raise "equity" for the
Company's purchase of equipment for lease to its customers.
The financing necessary to support the Company's leasing activities has
principally been provided from nonrecourse and recourse borrowings.
Historically, the Company has obtained recourse and nonrecourse borrowings from
money center banks, regional banks, insurance companies, finance companies and
financial intermediaries.
Prior to the permanent financing of its leases, interim financing has been
obtained through short-term, secured, recourse facilities. The Company's
available credit under these short-term, recourse facilities totaled
$205,000,000 at December 31, 1997. A brief description of each of those
facilities follows.
(1) $175,000,000 revolving facility syndicated with eleven banks, expiring
October 29, 1998. At December 31, 1997, $129,393,000, with a weighted
average interest rate of 7.3% per annum, was outstanding under this
facility. Borrowings under the facility bear an interest rate, at the
Company's option, of the agent bank's prime rate (8.5% at December 31,
1997) or LIBOR (5.72% at December 31, 1997) plus 120 basis points.
(2) $15,000,000 revolving facility with one bank, with borrowings
available through April 30, 1998, and repayments due 240 days after
borrowing. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at LIBOR (5.72%
at December 31, 1997) plus 150 basis points. There were no outstanding
borrowings under this facility at December 31, 1997.
(3) $15,000,000 revolving facility ($11,000,000 outstanding at December
31, 1997) with one bank, expiring October 15, 1998. Borrowings under
the facility bear interest at prime (8.5% at December 31, 1997) plus
95 basis points.
16
<PAGE>
The Company also has a $15,000,000 revolving facility ($15,000,000 outstanding
at December 31, 1997), expiring October 15, 1998, with one bank. Borrowings
under the facility bear interest at the bank's prime rate (8.5% at December 31,
1997). The proceeds of borrowings under this line may be used only to fund
certain accounts payable to two of the Company's vendors resulting from the
purchase of equipment for lease to specified significant customers of the
Company.
The agreements for the facilities described above contain covenants regarding
leverage, interest coverage, minimum net worth and profitability and a
limitation on the payment of dividends.
In November 1997, the Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom entered into
a revolving recourse line of credit with availability of approximately
$50,000,000 (30,000,000 British pounds) from a syndicate of three banks to
provide short-term financing for leasing activities in Europe. Borrowings under
the facility may be made in a number of European currencies and bear interest at
LIBOR plus 145 basis points. There was $19,737,000 outstanding under this
facility at December 31, 1997. The line expires in November 1998.
The Company's Canadian subsidiary maintains a three-tiered credit facility
with a Canadian bank, with borrowing availability through August 1998, to
provide short-term financing for leasing activities in Canada. The first tier
is an approximately $10,500,000 ($15,000,000 Canadian) revolving facility
with repayments due 180 days after each borrowing. Borrowing under this
facility bear interest at the Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997)
plus 25 basis points or Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75% at December 31, 1997)
plus 135 basis points. There was $9,579,000 outstanding under this facility at
December 31, 1997.
The second tier is an approximately $4,200,000 ($6,000,000 Canadian) revolving
facility with repayments due 90 days after each borrowing. Borrowing under this
facility bear interest at the Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997)
plus 25 basis points or Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75% at December 31, 1997) plus
135 basis points. There was $227,000 outstanding under this facility at December
31, 1997.
The third tier is has an approximately $2,100,000 ($3,000,000 Canadian)
revolving facility with repayments due 364 days after each borrowing. Borrowing
under this facility bear interest at the Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December
31, 1997) plus 150 basis points. There was $1,680,000 outstanding under this
facility at December 31, 1997.
The Company maintains a $100,000,000, nonrecourse revolving facility with an
affiliate of a money center bank. This revolving facility expires in March
1999, and borrowings under the facility bear interest at a rate of 125 to 200
basis points over average life treasuries at the time of borrowing. Through
December 31, 1997, the Company has refinanced approximately $93,176,000 of
borrowings under its other short-term facilities through this facility. At
December 31, 1997, $28,183,000 was outstanding under this facility at a weighted
average interest rate of 7.3%.
In January 1997, the Company's, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries
in the United States, obtained long-term financing for the Company's leasing
activities through a $100,000,000 commercial paper-backed conduit, nonrecourse
line of credit provided by an affiliate of a money center bank. This is a
revolving facility expiring April 1998. To date, the Company has financed
approximately $103,693,000 of borrowings under this facility. At December 31,
1997, the Company had $66,909,000 outstanding under this facility, at a weighted
average interest rate of 7.2%.
The Company's Canadian Subsidiary maintains a revolving line of credit of
$10,500,000 ($15,000,000 Canadian) with a Canadian financial institution,
with borrowing available through February 1999, to provide short-term financing
for its leasing activities. Borrowing under this facility bear interest, at the
Subsidiary's election, at Canadian prime rate (6.0 % at December 31, 1997) plus
25 basis points or Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75 % at December 31, 1997) plus 135
basis points. There were no amounts outstanding under this facility at December
31, 1997.
In June 1997, the Company, through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the
United States, financed a portion of its residual interest in a lease portfolio,
pursuant to an arrangement accounted for as a sale, through an affiliate
17
<PAGE>
of a major life insurance company. The transaction generated proceeds of
$8,500,000, a portion of which. were used to repay certain subordinated debt of
the Company, which was owed to the same financing source.
Occasionally, the Company will obtain long-term, nonrecourse financing for
individual significant lease transactions at the time or shortly after it
purchases the related equipment. An aggregate of $118,267,000 ($11,100,000 of
which is recourse), with a weighted average interest rate of 8.0% per annum,
remained outstanding under all such arrangements as of December 31, 1997.
The Company's debt financing activities typically provide approximately 85% to
90% of the purchase price of the equipment purchased by the Company for lease to
its customers. The 15% to 20% balance of the purchase price (the Company's
equity investment in equipment) must generally be financed by cash flow from its
operations, recourse debt, or common stock or convertible debt sold by the
Company. Debt financing for all or a portion of the Company's equity investment
is not readily available in the marketplace and may require an interest rate
materially higher than is required by the Company's conventional debt financing.
Although the Company expects that the credit quality of its lessees and its
residual return history will continue to allow it to obtain such financing, no
assurances can be given that such financing will be available, at acceptable
terms or at all.
Borrowings under the above-described facilities or transactions are generally
secured by the lease receivables financed under such arrangements and the
related equipment. Payments under the Company's borrowings and the maturities of
its long-term borrowings are typically structured to match the payments due
under the leases securing the borrowings.
The Company's current lines of credit, if renewed or replaced, its expected
access to the public and private securities markets, both debt and equity,
anticipated new lines of credit (both short-term and long-term and recourse and
nonrecourse), anticipated long-term financing of individual significant lease
transactions, and its estimated cash flow from operations are anticipated to
provide adequate capital to fund the Company's operations, including
acquisitions and financings under its vendor programs, for the next twelve
months. Although no assurances can be given, the Company expects to be able to
renew or timely replace its existing and recently expired lines of credit, to
continue to have access to the public and private securities markets, both debt
and equity, and to be able to enter into new lines of credit and individual
financing transactions. However, no assurances can be given as to the rates
that the Company may be required to pay under any of such financing
arrangements.
POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
The Company's future quarterly operating results and the market price of its
stock may fluctuate. In the event the Company's revenues or earnings for any
quarter are less than the level expected by securities analysts or the market in
general, such shortfall could have an immediate and significant adverse impact
on the market price of the Company's stock. Any such adverse impact could be
greater if any such shortfall occurs near the time of any material decrease in
any widely followed stock index or in the market price of the stock of one or
more public equipment leasing companies or major customers or vendors of the
Company.
The Company's quarterly results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations
for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, as a result of sales by
the Company of equipment it has leased to its customers or of sales of the lease
receivables under the leases with its customers. Such sales of equipment or
lease receivables, which are an ordinary but not predictable part of the
Company's business, will have the effect of increasing revenues, and, to the
extent sales proceeds exceed net book value, net income, during the quarter in
which the sale occurs. Furthermore, any such sale may result in the reduction of
revenue, and net income, otherwise expected in subsequent quarters, as the
Company will not receive lease revenue from the sold equipment in those
quarters.
Given the possibility of such fluctuations, the Company believes that
comparisons of the results of its operations to immediately succeeding quarters
are not necessarily meaningful and that such results for one quarter should not
be relied upon as an indication of future performance.
18
<PAGE>
YEAR 2000
As the year 2000 approaches, a critical issue has emerged for all companies,
including the Company, with respect to whether application software programs and
operating systems utilized by a company and the companies with which it does
business can accommodate this date value. In brief, many software products in
the marketplace only accommodate a two-digit date position which represents the
year (e.g., "95" is stored on the system and represents the year 1995). As a
result, the year 1999 (i.e., "99") could be the maximum date value these
products would be able to process accurately.
The Company has, for several months, been engaged in a review of the software
and systems it uses in an effort to determine whether it or its operations may
be materially adversely affected by this so-called "Year 2000" conversion. In
that review, the Company has identified certain software applications as being
"critical applications" used in daily operations. Such applications include
lease management, accounting and financial reporting systems, as well as
spreadsheet programs. The Company has inquired of, and generally obtained the
assurances of, the providers of such software with respect to it being Year 2000
compliant. Based on its review, the Company does not presently believe that
Year 2000 compliance issues with respect to its software and systems will
materially adversely affect the Company or its operations. However, no
assurances can be given that such review uncovered every potential adverse
effect of the Year 2000 conversion in connection with any of such software or
systems.
The Company has only recently commenced a review of whether the software and
systems of the vendors, financing sources, customers, equipment manufacturers or
distributors or other parties with which it deals may, as a result of the Year
2000 conversion,have a material adverse effect on the Company or its operations.
Accordingly, it is too early for the Company to be able to predict whether such
software or systems of such parties may have such effect. As part of this
review, the Company will attempt to obtain assurances from each of such parties,
whose dealings with the Company are material to the Company or its operations,
that such party does not and will not utilize software or systems that may
interface with the Company, or are or will be important to the operations of
such party, that may cause problems to such party or the Company as a result of
the Year 2000 conversion. However, no assurances can be given that the Company
will be able to obtain such assurances from each of such parties or that it will
be able to obtain the information from such parties necessary for the Company to
determine whether it may be materially adversely affected by the software or
systems of such parties.
The Company will maintain an ongoing effort to recognize and evaluate
potential exposures relating to the Year 2000 conversion arising from its use of
software supplied by other parties or its dealings with other parties. At
present, the Company cannot estimate the total cost to it of recognizing,
evaluating and addressing any such exposures.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" (SFAS 130) and
SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information" (SFAS 131), were issued. SFAS 130 requires that an enterprise
report, by major components and as a single total, the change in its net assets
during the applicable period from nonowner sources. SFAS 131 establishes annual
and interim reporting standards for an enterprise's business segments and
related disclosures about its products, services, geographic areas, and major
customers. The effect of adoption of these statements will be limited to the
form and content of the Company's disclosures and will not impact the Company's
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Both
statements are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997,
with earlier adoption permitted.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995
This report includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-
looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
included in this report that address activities, events or developments that the
Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future,
including, without limitation, with respect to demand and competition for the
Company's lease financing services and the products to be leased by the Company,
the continued availability to the Company of adequate financing to support its
global expansion activities, risks and uncertainties of doing business in Europe
and Canada and other foreign countries, the ability of the Company to
recover its investment in equipment through remarketing, the ability of the
Company to enter into new strategic relationships and extended existing
strategic relationships, the performance of its strategic partners and the
ability of the Company to manage its growth, are forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on certain assumptions and, in certain cases,
analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other
factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are
subject to a number of assumptions, risks or uncertainties, including the risk
factors described above under "Business-Factors That May Affect Future Operating
Results", general economic and business conditions, the business opportunities
(or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, changes
in laws or regulations and other factors, many of which are beyond the control
of the Company. Prospective investors and existing shareholders are cautioned
that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that
actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in
forward-looking statements.
19
<PAGE>
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Company's consolidated financial statements at December 31, 1997 and 1996
and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 and the
Independent Auditors' Report thereon are contained on pages F-1 through F-17 of
this Form 10-K.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH
ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
OF THE REGISTRANT
Incorporated by reference from the section entitled "Election of Directors" in
the Registrant's Notice and Proxy Statement to be filed, pursuant to Section 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with the Registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on May 21, 1998.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Incorporated by reference from the section entitled "Executive Compensation
and Other Information" in the Registrant's Notice and Proxy Statement to be
filed, pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registrant's Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 1998.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Incorporated by reference from the section entitled "Security Ownership of
Management and Principal Shareholders" in the Registrant's Notice and Proxy
Statement to be filed, pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Registrant's Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 1998.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Not Applicable
20
<PAGE>
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE,
AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DESCRIPTION Page
- -------------------------------------- ----
<S> <C>
Independent Auditors' Report F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1997 and 1996 F-2
Consolidated Income Statements - Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - Years Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6
</TABLE>
(2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE:
----------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DESCRIPTION Page
- -------------------------------------- ----
<S> <C>
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts F-17
</TABLE>
(3) EXHIBITS: The following exhibits are filed herewith:
--------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DOCUMENT
- ----------------- --------
<C> <S>
3.1(1)(10) Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date.
3.2(1) By-Laws of the Company.
10.30(1) Form of Master Lease Agreement of the Company and form of supplement thereto.
10.31(8)* Employee Bonus Program, as amended.
10.32(8)* Deferred Income Plan, as amended.
10.33(1) 1986 Stock Option Plan and form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement.
10.35(1) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 19, 1986, between Hal J Krauter and the Company.
10.36(1) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 17, 1986, between Louis R. Adimare and the
Company.
10.37(1) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 11, 1987, between Louis R. Adimare and the
Company.
10.39(1) Lease Agreement, dated June 18, 1988, between Almaden Tower Partners and the Company
for offices at 10 Almaden Blvd., San Jose, California, as amended.
10.39.1(2) Lease Amendment, dated June 28, 1993, between Almaden Tower Partners and the Company.
10.39.2(9) Lease Amendment, dated February 28, 1997, between Almaden Tower Partners and the Company.
10.54(3)* 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
</TABLE>
21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
10.56(6) Warehousing Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 31, 1994, between NationsBanc
Leasing Corporation and the Company ("NationsBanc Agreement").
10.56.1(6) Amendment to NationsBanc Agreement, dated October 3, 1994.
10.56.2(7) Amendment to NationsBanc Agreement, dated April 30, 1995.
10.56.3(7) Amendment to NationsBanc Agreement, dated August 6, 1995.
10.56.4(12) Amendment to NationsBanc Agreement, dated February 29, 1996.
10.61(5)* 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
10.62(7) Marketing Agreement, dated June 1, 1995, between Dell Products, L.P. and the Company.
10.68(11) Lease Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 27, 1996, among CXC
Incorporated, as Purchaser, Citicorp North America, Inc., as Agent, and Leasing
Solutions, Inc., as Seller and the Collection Agent.
10.69(12) Credit Agreement and Security Agreement between Leasing Solutions, Inc. and Wells
Fargo Bank, National Association, dated May 30, 1996. ("Wells Fargo Agreement")
10.73(9) Third Amendment to Wells Fargo Bank Agreement dated October 15, 1997.
10.74(9) Agreement, dated December 1, 1997, between Dell Computer Corporation and the Company.
10.75(9) Amended and Restated Warehousing Credit Agreement, dated October 31, 1997, between CoreStates Bank, N.A. and
the Company ("CoreStates Agreement").
10.76(9) First Amendment to CoreStates Agreement dated November 18, 1997.
10.77(10) Indenture, dated as of October 9, 1996, with respect to 6 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2003,
between Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee, and the Company.
10.78(9) Consolidated, Amended and Restated Revolving Loan Agreement, dated May 2, 1997, between the Company and
Silicon Valley Bank and related Security Agreement.
10.79(9) Contribution Agreement and Sale and Servicing Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1997, among the Company,
Leasing Solutions Receivables III, Inc. and MetLife Capital Corporation ("MetLife"), and related Remarketing
Agreement, dated as of June 30, 1997, between the Company and MetLife.
10.80(9) Guaranty Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1997, between the Company and The Bank of Nova Scotia
("ScotiaBank"), as it relates to that certain Credit Agreement and Security Agreement, dated as of August 29,
1997, among Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc., as Borrower, and ScotiaBank.
10.81(9) Credit Agreement, dated as of August 29, 1997, between Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc., as Borrower, and
ScotiaBank and related Security Agreement.
10.82(9) Guaranty Agreement, dated as of October 8, 1997, between the Company and CoreStates as it relates to that
certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 8, 1997, between Leasing Solutions International Ltd and
CoreStates.
10.83(9) Credit Agreement, dated as of October 8, 1997, among Leasing Solutions International Ltd and CoreStates and
related Subordinated Floating Charge and related Security Assignment.
10.84(9) Guaranty Agreement, dated December 10, 1997, between the Company and The Mutual Life Assurance Company of
Canada ("Mutual Life") as it relates to that certain Loan Agreement, dated December 10, 1997, between the
Company and Mutual Life and related Security Agreement.
10.85(9) Loan Agreement, dated December 10, 1997, between the Company and Mutual Life and related Security Agreement.
10.86(13) Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1997, between the Company and Citicorp North America, Inc.
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1 Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule, Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.1 Power of Attorney (See page 24 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).
27.1 Current Financial Data Schedule for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997
27.2 Restated Financial Data Schedule, including columns, for the three prior quarterly periods ending March 31,
1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997, and the prior fiscal year ending December 31, 1996.
27.3 Restated Financial Data Schedule, including columns, for the three prior quarterly periods ending March 31,
1996, June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996, and the prior fiscal years ending December 31, 1995 and December
31, 1994.
</TABLE>
(1) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-57944), as amended, originally filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 1993, which Exhibit is
incorporated herein by this reference.
(2) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. No. 33-74540), as amended, originally filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 1994, which Exhibit is
incorporated herein by this reference.
(3) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-85746), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on October 28, 1994, which Exhibit is incorporated by this
reference.
(4) Previously filed as an Exhibit to LRSI's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 33-74394), as amended, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 4, 1994, or LRSI's Form 8-K Current Report,
dated April 7, 1994, or LRSI's Form 8-K Current Report, dated December 15,
1994, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which Exhibit is
incorporated herein by this reference.
(5) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Proxy Statement in
connection with its 1995 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
(6) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for its fiscal year ended December 31, 1994, which Exhibit is incorporated
herein by this reference.
22
<PAGE>
(7) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-00740), as amended, originally filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 29, 1996, which Exhibit
is incorporated herein by this reference.
(8) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for its fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, which Exhibit is incorporated
herein by this reference.
(9) Filed as an Exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, by amendment.
(10) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-12355), as amended, originally filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 1996, which Exhibit
is incorporated herein by this reference.
(11) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report for the
quarterly period ending March 31, 1996.
(12) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report for the
quarterly period ending June 30, 1996.
(13) Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Quarterly Report for the
quarterly period ending March 31, 1997.
* Executive compensation plan or arrangement.
(i) Confidential treatment has been accorded certain information contained in
this exhibit.
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
The Registrant did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the quarter
ended December 31, 1997.
23
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Hal J Krauter and Steven L. Yeffa, and each of
them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of
substitution and resubstitution for him in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments to this Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full
power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute of substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, there unto duly authorized.
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Hal J Krauter Dated: March 30, 1998
----------------------------- -------------------
Hal J Krauter
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of Registrant in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME TITLE DATE
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Hal J Krauter President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, March 30, 1998
- ----------------------------------------- and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Hal J Krauter
/s/ Steven L. Yeffa Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial March 30, 1998
- ----------------------------------------- Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
Steven L. Yeffa
/s/ Louis R. Adimare Director March 30, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
Louis R. Adimare
/s/ George L. Bragg Director March 30, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
George L. Bragg
/s/ James C. Castle Director March 30, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
James C. Castle
/s/ Peter K. Nevitt Director March 30, 1998
- -----------------------------------------
Peter K. Nevitt
</TABLE>
24
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Leasing Solutions, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Leasing
Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the
related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Leasing Solutions, Inc. and
subsidiaries at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
January 23, 1998
F-1
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 1997 and 1996
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
--------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash and cash equivalents............................................ $ 16,569,000 $ 6,888,000
Accounts receivable.................................................. 16,318,000 11,534,000
Investment in direct finance leases-net.............................. 24,269,000 15,088,000
Investment in operating leases-net................................... 527,025,000 361,872,000
Property and equipment-net........................................... 3,545,000 2,338,000
Other assets......................................................... 9,005,000 9,571,000
------------ ------------
TOTAL ASSETS...................................................... $596,731,000 $407,291,000
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable-equipment purchases................................. $ 17,143,000 $ 4,252,000
Accrued and other liabilities........................................ 17,605,000 9,497,000
Recourse debt........................................................ 269,591,000 182,739,000
Nonrecourse debt..................................................... 202,259,000 138,919,000
Deferred income taxes................................................ 13,546,000 8,328,000
------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES................................................. 520,144,000 343,735,000
------------ ------------
COMMITMENTS (Notes 7 and 9).......................................... -- --
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock, authorized 5,000,000 shares; none outstanding
Common stock, authorized 20,000,000 shares; shares outstanding:
1997 - 8,181,800; 1996 - 8,170,836;............................... 38,625,000 37,658,000
Retained earnings.................................................... 37,852,000 25,624,000
Accumulated translation adjustment................................... 110,000 274,000
------------ ------------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY........................................... 76,587,000 63,556,000
------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY.............................................. $596,731,000 $407,291,000
============ ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-2
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996 1995
--------------- ---------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES
Operating lease revenue......................... $217,781,000 $141,838,000 $77,317,000
Earned lease income............................. 2,924,000 2,091,000 2,885,000
Interest income................................. 219,000 393,000 462,000
Other........................................... 4,319,000 274,000 12,000
------------ ------------ -----------
TOTAL REVENUES.................................. 225,243,000 144,596,000 80,676,000
------------ ------------ -----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Depreciation - operating leases................. 151,659,000 96,256,000 51,164,000
Selling, general and administrative............. 18,874,000 12,300,000 8,584,000
Interest........................................ 30,067,000 19,018,000 10,428,000
Other........................................... 2,046,000 1,100,000 641,000
------------ ------------ -----------
TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES........................ 202,646,000 128,674,000 70,817,000
------------ ------------ -----------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES......................... 22,597,000 15,922,000 9,859,000
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES......................... 9,536,000 6,549,000 3,931,000
------------ ------------ -----------
NET INCOME......................................... $ 13,061,000 $ 9,373,000 $ 5,928,000
============ ============ ===========
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE $ 1.60 $ 1.19 $ .95
============ ============ ===========
NET INCOME PER COMMON
SHARE - ASSUMING DILUTION....................... $ 1.55 $ 1.16 $ .93
============ ============ ===========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES..................... 8,182,000 7,854,000 6,223,000
============ ============ ===========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON AND EQUIVALENT SHARES...... 10,444,000 8,077,000 6,373,000
============ ============ ===========
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK ACCUMULATED
------------------------ RETAINED TRANSLATION
SHARES AMOUNT EARNINGS ADJUSTMENT TOTAL
---------- ------------- ------------ ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCES, January 1, 1995..................... 6,136,929 $14,115,000 $10,323,000 -- $24,438,000
Issuance of common stock...................... 10,122 87,000 -- -- 87,000
Exercise of stock options..................... 116,879 190,000 -- -- 190,000
Tax benefit of stock option transactions...... -- 269,000 -- -- 269,000
Net income.................................... -- -- 5,928,000 -- 5,928,000
--------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1995................... 6,263,930 14,661,000 16,251,000 -- 30,912,000
Issuance of common stock...................... 1,854,705 22,616,000 -- -- 22,616,000
Exercise of stock options..................... 52,201 221,000 -- -- 221,000
Tax benefit of stock option transactions...... -- 160,000 -- -- 160,000
Accumulated translation adjustment............ -- -- -- $ 274,000 274,000
Net income.................................... -- -- 9,373,000 -- 9,373,000
--------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1996................... 8,170,836 37,658,000 25,624,000 274,000 633,556,000
Issuance of common stock...................... 9,750 104,000 104,000
Exercise of stock options..................... 91,214 793,000 -- -- 793,000
Tax benefit of stock option transactions...... -- 500,000 -- -- 500,000
Accumulated translation adjustment............ -- -- -- (164,000) (164,000)
Repurchase of common stock.................... (90,000) (430,000) (833,000) (1,263,000)
Net income.................................... -- -- 13,061,000 -- 13,061,000
--------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1997................... 8,181,800 $38,625,000 $37,852,000 $ 110,000 $76,587,000
========= =========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996 1995
-------------------- ------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income................................................... $ 13,061,000 $ 9,373,000 $ 5,928,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization............................... 153,243,000 96,972,000 51,655,000
Provision for uncollectible amounts......................... 60,000 55,000 --
Deferred income taxes....................................... 5,218,000 5,954,000 1,415,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable....................................... (4,756,000) (7,196,000) (1,655,000)
Other assets.............................................. 2,728,000 (8,914,000) 88,000
Accounts payable - equipment purchases.................... 12,891,000 (15,381,000) 7,499,000
Accrued and other liabilities............................. 7,997,000 2,730,000 1,982,000
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash provided by operating activities.................... 190,442,000 83,593,000 66,912,000
------------- ------------- -------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Property and equipment purchases............................. (2,336,000) (1,527,000) (921,000)
Cash received over revenue recognized........................ 66,949,000 19,701,000 14,356,000
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash received.............. (8,895,000) (1,100,000) --
Cost of equipment acquired for lease......................... (358,494,000) (279,462,000) (149,382,000)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash used for investing activities....................... (302,776,000) (262,388,000) (135,947,000)
------------- ------------- -------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings:
Nonrecourse................................................ 205,769,000 119,035,000 61,307,000
Recourse................................................... 456,737,000 445,760,000 105,597,000
Repayments:
Nonrecourse................................................ (156,654,000) (75,821,000) (57,547,000)
Recourse................................................... (383,918,000) (334,702,000) (43,813,000)
Issuance of common stock..................................... 1,397,000 22,997,000 277,000
Repurchase of common stock (1,263,000) - -
Repayment of capital lease obligations....................... - (143,000) (69,000)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash provided by financing activities.................... 122,068,000 177,126,000 65,752,000
------------- ------------- -------------
IMPACT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES
ON CASH..................................................... (53,000) 134,000 --
------------- ------------- -------------
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS............. 9,681,000 (1,535,000) (3,283,000)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Beginning of year.......................................... 6,888,000 8,423,000 11,706,000
------------- ------------- -------------
End of year................................................ $ 16,569,000 $ 6,888,000 $ 8,423,000
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
F-5
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. THE BUSINESS
Leasing Solutions, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated in California and
commenced operations in June 1986. The Company is a full-service, global leasing
company that specializes in leasing information processing and communications
equipment, principally to large, creditworthy customers, both U.S. and foreign,
in a variety of industries. Beginning in 1994, the Company formed three wholly
owned subsidiaries, Leasing Solutions Receivables, Inc., Leasing Solutions
Receivables II, Inc. and Leasing Solutions Receivables III, Inc., as special
purpose corporations to issue debt securities collateralized by lease
receivables and the underlying leased equipment. In April 1996 the Company
formed Leasing Solutions International Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, which manages the Company's European leasing operations through ten
wholly owned subsidiaries based in Western Europe. In January 1997 the Company
formed Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary which manages
the Company's Canadian leasing operations.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include
the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Leasing Solutions
Receivables, Inc.. Leasing Solutions Receivables, Inc. II, Leasing Solutions
Receivables, Inc. III, Leasing Solutions International, Ltd, after elimination
of intercompany accounts and transactions.
Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues
and expenses as of the dates and for the periods presented. Such management
estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, residual
values on leased equipment, certain accruals and the valuation allowance for
deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents - Cash equivalents are highly liquid debt
instruments with a remaining maturity of three months or less from date of
purchase by the Company. At December 31, 1997 and 1996, $3,694,000 and
$3,429,000, respectively, of such amount was restricted in connection with
certain debt securities issued by the Company and was not available for other
uses (see Note 7).
Investment in direct finance leases - Lease contracts (whether financed with
recourse or nonrecourse debt) which meet the appropriate criteria specified in
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 13, "Accounting for
Leases", are classified as direct finance leases. Direct finance leases are
recorded upon acceptance of the equipment by the customer. Original unearned
lease income represents the excess of the gross lease receivable and estimated
residual value over the equipment cost. Unearned lease income is recognized as
revenue (earned lease income) over the lease term at a constant rate of return
on the net investment in the lease.
Investment in operating leases - Leases which do not meet the criteria of
direct finance leases are accounted for as operating leases. Leased equipment is
recorded at cost and depreciated over the lease term, to the estimated residual
value at the expiration of the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis.
Purchased portfolios of certain leases are depreciated on an accelerated method.
The Company reviews estimated net realizable values on a regular basis and
adjustments are made as necessary.
Initial direct costs are capitalized and amortized over the original lease
term.
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is computed using
the straight-line method over estimated useful lives, which range from three to
five years.
F-6
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Income taxes - Income taxes are reported using the asset and liability
approach.
Net income per share - The Company was required to adopt SFAS 128 , "Earnings
Per Share," in the fourth quarter of 1997, and restated at that time earnings
per share (EPS) data for prior periods to conform with SFAS 128. SFAS 128
requires a dual presentation of basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS excludes
dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average of
shares of common stock of the Company ("Common Stock") outstanding for the
period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if
outstanding securities or other contracts to issue Common Stock, including with
respect to stock options, were converted into Common Stock or exercised.
Stock-based compensation - The Company accounts for stock-based awards to
employees using the intrinsic value method in accordance with Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees".
Foreign currency translation. - The assets and liabilities of foreign
subsidiaries are translated at year end rates of exchange and revenues and
expenses are translated at the average rates of exchange for the year. Gains
and losses from translation are recorded directly into a separate component of
shareholders' equity.
Concentrations of credit risk - Financial instruments which potentially
subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash
equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. The Company's
leases are generally with large, creditworthy lessees. Management believes that
its credit evaluation, approval and monitoring processes substantially mitigate
potential credit risks.
Recent Accounting Pronouncement - In June 1997, SFAS No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income" (SFAS 130) and SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS 131), were issued. SFAS 130
requires that an enterprise report, by major components and as a single total,
the change in its net assets during the applicable period from nonowner sources.
SFAS 131 establishes annual and interim reporting standards for an enterprise's
business segments and related disclosures about its products, services,
geographic areas, and major customers. The effect of adoption of these
statements will be limited to the form and content of the Company's disclosures
and will not impact the Company's consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows. Both statements are effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997, with earlier adoption permitted.
Reclassifications - Certain items have been reclassified in the prior period
financial statements to conform to the 1997 presentation and had no effect on
net income or shareholders' equity.
F-7
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
3. INVESTMENT IN DIRECT FINANCE LEASES
Investment in direct finance leases represents equipment leased for up to five
years. The components of the net investment in direct finance leases, as of
December 31, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Minimum lease payments receivable........................................... $22,857,000 $15,397,000
Estimated unguaranteed residual value....................................... 4,345,000 1,609,000
Initial direct costs - net.................................................. 33,000 12,000
Unearned lease income....................................................... (2,966,000) (1,930,000)
----------- -----------
Investment in direct finance leases-net..................................... $24,269,000 $15,088,000
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
Interest rates implicit in the leases generally range from 5% to 22%.
4. INVESTMENT IN OPERATING LEASES
Investment in operating leases primarily represents equipment leased for two
to three years. The components of the net investment in operating leases, as of
December 31, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
------------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Equipment under operating leases....................................... $ 783,784,000 $ 560,128,000
Initial direct costs - net............................................. 7,540,000 4,316,000
Accumulated depreciation............................................... (264,071,000) (202,404,000)
Allowance for doubtful accounts........................................ (228,000) (168,000)
------------- -------------
Investment in operating leases - net................................... $ 527,025,000 $ 361,872,000
============= =============
</TABLE>
5. FUTURE MINIMUM LEASE PAYMENTS
Future minimum lease payments to be received by the Company on direct
finance leases and noncancelable operating leases, as of December 31,
1997, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31 DIRECT
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FINANCE OPERATING
LEASES LEASES
---------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
1998.................................................................... $12,779,000 $222,702,000
1999.................................................................... 6,582,000 140,274,000
2000.................................................................... 2,279,000 41,381,000
2001.................................................................... 701,000 414,000
2002.................................................................... 413,000 354,000
Thereafter.............................................................. 103,000 324,000
----------- ------------
TOTAL................................................................... $22,857,000 $405,449,000
=========== ============
</TABLE>
F-8
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment, as of December 31, consist of:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
----------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Equipment and software.................................................. $ 5,626,000 $ 3,691,000
Furniture............................................................... 849,000 613,000
----------- -----------
Total................................................................... 6,475,000 4,304,000
Accumulated depreciation................................................ (2,930,000) (1,966,000)
----------- -----------
Property and equipment - net............................................ $ 3,545,000 $ 2,338,000
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
7. DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
The Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"), utilize their
lease receivables and the underlying leased equipment as collateral to obtain
debt financing, on either a recourse or nonrecourse basis, for the acquisition
of equipment for lease. Principal and interest payments on the debt are
generally due monthly in amounts that are approximately equal to the total
payments due from the lessee under the leases that collateralize the debt. Under
recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the lender has
recourse against the lessee, the equipment serving as collateral, and the
Company. Under nonrecourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the
lender generally only has recourse against the lessee and the equipment serving
as collateral, but not against the Company's other assets.
Prior to 1994, the Company obtained debt financing for its leasing activity
primarily from banks, insurance and finance companies, and financial
intermediaries. In 1994, the Company, through one of its subsidiaries, obtained
long-term, permanent financing for a substantial portion of its lease portfolio
through the issuance of nonrecourse debt securities. Such financing is generally
known as a securitization.
On an interim basis, prior to a portfolio of leases being permanently financed
under a securitization, or other long-term loan agreement, the Company finances
its lease transactions under short-term, recourse credit facilities currently
with total availability of $205,000,000. The Company has the following such
short-term recourse facilities in place:
. a $175,000,000 revolving facility ($129,393,000 outstanding at December 31,
1997) syndicated with eleven banks, expiring October 29, 1998. Borrowings
under the facility bear an interest rate, at the Company's option, of the
agent bank's prime rate (8.5% at December 31, 1997) or LIBOR (5.72% at
December 31, 1997) plus 120 basis points.
. a $15,000,000 revolving facility (no amounts are outstanding at December 31,
1997) with one bank, with borrowing available through April 30, 1998, and
repayments due 240 days after each borrowing. Borrowings under the facility
bear interest at LIBOR (5.72% at December 31, 1997) plus 150 basis points.
. a $15,000,000 revolving facility with one bank ($11,000,000 outstanding at
December 31, 1997), expiring October 15, 1998. Borrowings under the facility
bear interest at prime (8.5% at December 31, 1997) plus 95 basis points.
F-9
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
In addition, the Company maintains a $15,000,000 revolving facility
($15,000,000 outstanding at December 31, 1997), expiring October 15, 1998, with
one bank. Borrowings under the facility bear interest at the bank's prime rate
(8.5% at December 31, 1997). The borrowings under this line may be used only to
fund certain accounts payable to two of the Company's vendors, resulting from
the purchase of equipment for lease to specified significant customers of the
Company.
The Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom entered into a revolving
recourse line of credit with availability of approximately $50,000,000
(30,000,000 British pounds) from a syndicate of three banks to provide
short-term financing for leasing activities in Europe. Borrowings under the
facility may be made in a number of European currencies and bear interest at
LIBOR plus 145 basis points. There was $19,737,000 outstanding under this
facility at December 31, 1997.
The Company's Canadian subsidiary maintains three short-term, recourse lines
of credit as follows:
. An approximately $10,530,000 (15,000,000 Canadian) revolving facility with
one bank with borrowing available through August 28, 1998, and repayments due
180 days after each borrowing. Borrowing under this facility bear interest at
Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997) plus 25 basis points or
Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75% at December 31, 1997) plus 135 basis points. At
December 31, 1997 there was $9,579,000 outstanding under this facility.
. An approximately $4,212,000 (6,000,000 Canadian) revolving facility with one
bank with borrowing available through August 28, 1998, and repayments due 90
days after each borrowing. Borrowing under this facility bear interest at
Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997) plus 25 basis points or
Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75% at December 31, 1997) plus 135 basis points. At
December 31, 1997 there was $227,000 outstanding under this facility.
. An approximately $2,106,000 (3,000,000 Canadian) revolving facility with one
bank with borrowing available through August 28, 1998, and repayments due 364
days after each borrowing. Borrowing under this facility bear interest at
Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997) plus 150 basis points. At
December 31, 1997 there was $1,680,000 outstanding under this facility.
The Company, has a $100,000,000 nonrecourse lease receivables financing
facility with an affiliate of a money center bank. This is a revolving facility,
expiring in March 1999, and borrowings under the facility bear interest at a
rate of 125 to 200 basis points over average life treasuries at the time of
borrowing. Through December 31, 1997, the Company has refinanced approximately
$93,176,000 of borrowings under its other short-term facilities through this
facility. At December 31, 1997, the Company had $28,183,000 outstanding under
this facility, at a weighted average interest rate of 7.39%.
In 1997, the company established a $100,000,000 commercial paper-backed
conduit, nonrecourse line of credit with an affiliate of a money center bank.
This is a revolving facility expiring April 1998, and borrowings under the
facility bear interest at a rate of 123 basis points over the bank's commercial
paper rate. To date, the Company has financed approximately $103,693,000 of
borrowings under this facility. At December 31, 1997, the Company had
$66,909,000 outstanding under this facility, at an average interest rate of
7.2%.
At December 31, 1997, $3,694,000 of cash was restricted in connection with the
two nonrecourse facilities described above and was not available for other uses.
The Company's Canadian Subsidiary maintains a revolving line of credit of
$10,500,000 ($15,000,000 Canadian) with a Canadian financial institution with
borrowing available through February 1999, to provide long-term financing for
its leasing activities. Borrowing under this facility bear interest, at the
Subsidiary's election, at Canadian prime rate (6.0% at December 31, 1997) plus
25 basis points or Canadian dollar LIBOR (4.75% at December 31, 1997) plus 135
basis points. There were no amounts outstanding under this facility at December
31, 1997.
The Company maintains relationships with several other financial institutions
for additional recourse financing. At December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company
had $11,100,000 and $11,395,000 (bearing interest at rates ranging from 7.0% to
10.3%) outstanding to such sources.
In order to issue nonrecourse, lease-backed debt securities to permanently
finance its lease transactions, one of the Subsidiaries filed a $150,000,000
shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
January 1994. Securities issued under this registration are collateralized by
the lease receivables financed by such
F-10
<PAGE>
securities and residual proceeds of the underlying equipment and are backed by
credit enhancement provided by a national bond guarantor. The Subsidiary had two
issuances under the shelf registration in 1994. The first was for $36,685,000,
issued in April 1994 at a coupon rate of 5.575%, and due through March 1998,
with $1,257,000 and zero (including accrued interest) outstanding at December
31, 1996. The second was for $37,499,000, issued in December 1994 at a coupon
rate of 8.075%, and due through October 1999, with $8,041,000 (including accrued
interest) outstanding at December 31, 1996. Both of the issues were repaid in
full during 1997.
In 1995, the Company issued $17,500,000 of nonrecourse subordinated debt at a
coupon rate of 9.71% due through May 1998. Borrowings under this arrangement are
to be repaid from expected residuals from portfolios of equipment subject to the
two public securitizations and are secured by the residual cash flows from such
portfolios. At December 31, 1996, the Company had $10,073,000 outstanding under
this arrangement. This note was paid in full during 1997.
The Company continues to maintain relationships with banks, insurance and
finance companies, and financial intermediaries as additional nonrecourse,
permanent financing sources. At December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company had
$107,167,000 and $78,121,000, respectively, outstanding under arrangements with
sources at debt rates ranging from 7.0% to 9.7%.
Borrowings under the above facilities are generally secured by lease
receivables and the underlying equipment financed under the respective facility.
The agreements for the facilities contain covenants regarding leverage, interest
coverage, minimum net worth and profitability and a limitation on the payment of
dividends.
In October 1996, the Company closed a public debt offering for $71,875,000 of
convertible subordinated notes. The notes constitute general unsecured
obligations of the Company and are subordinated in right of payment to all
existing and future debt of the Company. The Company received net proceeds of
approximately $69,400,000 from the offering. The seven year notes bear interest
at a rate of 6.875% per annum and are convertible into Common Stock at a
conversion price of $34.90. Interest is payable in April and October of each
year. Principal is payable upon maturity in October 2003. The Company may
call, or prepay, all or a portion of the notes beginning in October 1999. At
December 31, 1997, the Company had $71,875,000 outstanding under the notes.
Future maturities of nonrecourse and recourse debt are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31 NONRECOURSE RECOURSE
- ------------------------- DEBT DEBT
------------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
1998.................................................................... $117,104,000 $188,629,000
1999.................................................................... 68,936,000 6,825,000
2000.................................................................... 15,167,000 2,198,000
2001.................................................................... 634,000 --
2002.................................................................... 331,000 64,000
Thereafter.............................................................. 87,000 71,875,000
------------ ------------
Total................................................................ $202,259,000 $269,591,000
============ ============
</TABLE>
Cash paid for interest in 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $28,189,000, $17,639,000, and
$10,294,000, respectively.
F-11
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
8. ACQUISITIONS
In April 1997, the Company acquired the bsuiness and substantially all of the
assets, including the lease portfolio and related equipment of Scott Capital,
a Canadian company engaged primarily in leasing personal computers. The net
purchase price was $8,898,000 in cash and the transaction was accounted for as
a purchase. In connection with the transaction, the Company acquired tangible
assets (primarily leases) with a total value of $34,836,000, assumed recourse
and nonrecourse debt of $28,258,000, and recorded goodwill of $2,320,000. The
acquisition of assets was accounted for as a purchase. In addition, the Company
assumed the office leases of the seller and has hired its 19 employees. The
results of the Canadian operation have been included in the Company's operations
from April 1997, the month of acquisition. Proforma financial information has
not been presented, as the impact on the Company's results of operations for
1996 and 1997 is not
material.
In April 1996, the Company acquired all of the stock of a company located in
the United Kingdom and engaged in the equipment leasing business in a
transaction accounted for as a purchase. The purchase price in the acquisition
was $1,100,000 in cash. In connection with the transaction, the Company
acquired tangible assets (primarily leases) of $3,951,000 and assumed
liabilities, primarily related debt, of $2,851,000. Proforma financial
information has not been presented, as the impact of proforma adjustments on the
Company's results of operations in 1996 is not material.
9. COMMITMENTS
The Company leases its facilities under noncancelable operating leases
expiring through 2002. Rent expense for 1997, 1996 and 1995 was $1,048,000,
$606,000 and $377,000, respectively.
Future minimum annual rental payments for all operating leases are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
1998.............................................................. $1,041,000
1999.............................................................. 1,034,000
2000.............................................................. 872,000
2001.............................................................. 544,000
2002.............................................................. 177,000
----------
Total.......................................................... $3,668,000
==========
</TABLE>
10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company has a 401(k) plan which covers substantially all full-time
employees. The plan operates on a calendar year. All eligible employees are
permitted to make tax deferred contributions to the plan of up to 15% of their
annual compensation, subject to certain Internal Revenue Service limitations.
The Company provides matching contributions of employees' contributions up to
$1,000. Employee contributions, earnings thereon, and Company contributions are
vested immediately. In 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Company contributed $90,000,
$62,000 and $48,000, respectively, to the plan.
F-12
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
11. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes at December 31 consists of:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996 1995
---------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current:
Federal....................................................... $3,791,000 $ 681,000 $1,984,000
State......................................................... (109,000) (86,000) 532,000
Foreign....................................................... 636,000 -- --
---------- ---------- ----------
Total current.................................................. 4,318,000 595,000 2,516,000
---------- ---------- ----------
Deferred:
Federal....................................................... 3,620,000 5,641,000 1,236,000
State......................................................... 1,817,000 313,000 179,000
Foreign....................................................... (219,000) -- --
---------- ---------- ----------
Total deferred................................................. 5,218,000 5,954,000 1,415,000
---------- ---------- ----------
Total provision................................................ $9,536,000 $6,549,000 $3,931,000
========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
The cumulative items giving rise to deferred taxes at December 31 were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
-------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax liability:
Lease transactions treated differently for tax and financial reporting $(28,974,000) $(15,178,000)
------------ ------------
Deferred tax assets:
Alternative minimum tax credits....................................... 13,829,000 6,151,000
State income tax...................................................... 1,309,000 435,000
Other................................................................. 290,000 264,000
------------ ------------
Total deferred tax assets................................................ 15,428,000 6,850,000
------------ ------------
Net deferred tax liability............................................... $(13,546,000) $ (8,328,000)
============ ============
</TABLE>
The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory income tax rate as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996 1995
----------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Statutory rate.................................................................. 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
State taxes, net of federal effect.............................................. 4.9 6.0 4.8
Other........................................................................... 2.3 0.1 0.1
---- ---- ----
Total........................................................................... 42.2% 41.1% 39.9%
==== ==== ====
</TABLE>
Cash paid for income taxes in 1997, 1996, and 1995 was $3,882,000, $1,947,000,
and $2,687,000, respectively.
Refundable income taxes of $925,000 at December 31, 1997 are included in other
assets and income taxes payable of $883,000 at December 31, 1996 are included in
accrued and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
F-13
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
12. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Stock Option Plans - The Company's stock option plans provide that incentive
and nonqualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,240,000
shares of the Common Stock of the Company may be granted to key contributors
to the Company, including officers, directors, employees and consultants.
Options are granted at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date
of grant, as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board.
Options generally become exercisable ratably over three or four years and
expire five or ten years from the grant date.
At December 31, 1997, the Company had reserved 1,028,018 shares for issuance
under these plans.
Activity under the stock option plans is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED
NUMBER OF AVERAGE
SHARES EXERCISE PRICE
--------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding, January 1, 1995.................................... 352,702 $ 4.78
Granted (weighted average fair value of $3.07)................. 259,725 8.34
Exercised...................................................... (116,879) 1.63
Canceled....................................................... (19,174) 6.68
--------- ------
Outstanding, December 31, 1995.................................. 476,374 7.42
Granted (weighted average fair value of $7.57)................. 251,850 14.52
Exercised...................................................... (52,201) 4.23
Canceled....................................................... (29,913) 12.84
--------- ------
Outstanding, December 31, 1996.................................. 646,110 10.19
Granted (weighted average fair value of $7.56)................. 527,175 17.10
Exercised...................................................... (91,214) 8.43
Canceled....................................................... (80,979) 20.83
--------- ------
Outstanding, December 31, 1997 1,001,092 $13.42
========= ======
</TABLE>
Additional information regarding options outstanding as of December 31, 1997 is
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Range of Number Contractual Weighted Average Number Weighted Average
Exercise Prices Outstanding Life (years) Exercise Price Exercisable Exercise Price
- ---------------------------- ------------- ---------------- ----------------- ---------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 4.000 - $ 7.750 268,834 5.70 $ 7.35 243,202 $ 7.42
9.250 - 12.375 233,058 7.26 10.73 29,801 9.68
12.875 - 16.500 210,200 5.35 14.49 39,885 14.68
17.875 - 22.375 219,000 9.48 19.29 15,000 17.88
22.500 - 28.750 70,000 9.41 24.06 625 28.75
--------- ---- ------ ------- ------
4.000 - 28.750 1,001,092 7.08 $13.42 328,513 $ 9.02
========= ==== ====== ======= ======
</TABLE>
At December 31, 1997 and 1996, options to purchase 328,513 and 265,000 shares
were exercisable with a weighted average exercise price of $9.02 and $6.62,
respectively. At December 31, 1997, options for 26,926 shares were available
for future grant under the stock option plans.
F-14
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Stock Purchase Plan - In 1994, the shareholders of the Company approved the
1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") under which 200,000 shares of the
Company's common stock were reserved for issuance. The ESPP permits virtually
all employees to purchase Common Stock, through payroll deductions, at the lower
of (a) 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the first day of each
twelve-month offering period, or (b) 85% of the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the applicable exercise date. Each offering period has two six-month
exercise periods with the last day of each exercise period being an exercise
date. During 1997, 1996 and 1995, employees purchased 9,750, 11,481 and 10,122
shares, respectively, under the ESPP for a total purchase price of $104,000,
$123,000 and $87,000, respectively. At December 31, 1997, the Company had
reserved 159,457 shares for issuance under the ESPP.
Additional Stock Plan Information - As discussed in Note 1, the Company
continues to account for its stock-based awards using the intrinsic value method
in accordance with Accounting Principles Board No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and its related interpretations. Accordingly, no
compensation expense has been recognized in the financial statements for
employee stock arrangements.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-
Based Compensation", (SFAS 123) requires the disclosure of pro forma net income
and earnings per share as if the Company had adopted the fair value method as of
the beginning of 1995. Under SFAS 123, the fair value of stock-based awards to
employees is calculated through the use of option pricing models, even though
such models were developed to estimate the fair value of freely tradable, fully
transferable options without vesting restrictions, which significantly differ
from the Company's stock option awards. These models also require subjective
assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to
exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values. The Company's
calculations were made using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the
following weighted average assumptions: expected life, 12 months following
vesting; stock volatility, 58% in 1997, 62% in 1996, and 51% in 1995; risk free
interest rates, 5.7% in 1997, 5.9% in 1996, and 6.5% in 1995; and no dividends
during the expected term. The Company's calculations are based on a multiple
option valuation approach and forfeitures are recognized as they occur. If the
computed fair values of the 1997, 1996 and 1995 awards had been amortized to
expense over the vesting period of the awards, pro forma net income would have
been $12,184,000 ($1.49 per share on a diluted basis) in 1997, $8,836,000 ($1.10
per share on a diluted basis) in 1996, and $5,647,000 ($.89 per share on a
diluted basis) in 1995. However, the impact of outstanding non-vested stock
options granted prior to 1995 has been excluded from the pro forma calculation;
accordingly, the 1997 and 1996 pro forma adjustments are not indicative of
future period pro forma adjustments, when the calculation will apply to all
applicable stock options.
13. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
Two customers accounted for 19% and 11% of the Company's revenues in 1997.
Three customers accounted for 18%, 17% and 10% of the Company's revenues in
1996. Two customers accounted for 11% and 10% of the Company's revenues in
1995. There can be no assurance that loss of any of these customers would not
have a material adverse impact on the Company's results of operations.
14. ESTIMATED FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following disclosure is the estimated fair value of the Company's
financial instruments. The valuation methods used by the Company are set forth
below.
F-15
<PAGE>
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
The accuracy and usefulness of the fair value information disclosed herein is
limited by the following factors:
. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and
matters of significant judgment and therefore cannot be determined with
precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
. These estimates do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from
offering for sale at one time the Company's entire holding of a particular
financial asset.
. There are no disclosure requirements for lease contracts and various
significant assets and liabilities that are not considered to be financial
instruments.
Because of these and other limitations, the aggregate fair value amounts
presented in the following table do not represent the underlying value of the
Company.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's financial
instruments as of December 31, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997 1996
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Carrying Carrying
Amount Fair Value Amount Fair Value
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Assets:
Cash and equivalents........... $ 16,569,000 $16,569,000 $ 6,888,000 $ 6,888,000
Liabilities:
Recourse debt.................. $269,591,000 $270,690,000 $182,739,000 $183,905,000
Nonrecourse debt............... 202,259,000 202,421,000 138,919,000 139,290,000
</TABLE>
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in computing
the estimated fair value in the above table:
Cash and equivalents - The carrying amounts of these financial instruments
were the same as their fair value.
Recourse and Nonrecourse Debt - The fair value of recourse and nonrecourse
debt is based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for
debt with similar terms and average maturity.
F-16
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
LEASING SOLUTIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DESCRIPTION BALANCE AT CHARGED TO
- ----------- BEGINNING OF COSTS AND RECOVERIES END OF
PERIOD EXPENSES (DEDUCTIONS)(1) PERIOD
------------- ----------- --------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Allowance for uncollectible amounts:
Year ended December 31, 1995........................ $187,000 $ -- $(74,000) $113,000
======== ======= ======== ========
Year ended December 31, 1996........................ $113,000 $55,000 -- $168,000
======== ======= ======== ========
Year ended December 31, 1997........................ $168,000 $60,000 -- $228,000
======== ======= ======== ========
</TABLE>
___________
(1) To write off uncollectible amounts or reflect recovery of previously
written-off accounts.
F-17
<PAGE>
Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
The subsidiaries of the Registrant are Leasing Solutions Receivable, Inc.
("LSRI"), Leasing Solutions Receivables, Inc. II ("LSRI II"), Leasing Solutions
Receivables, Inc. III ("LSRI III"), Leasing Solutions International, Ltd.
("LSIL"), and Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc. LSRI, LSRI II, and LSRI III are
wholly-owned subsidiaries incorporated in California and do business under their
corporate names. LSIL is incorporated in the United Kingdom and does business
under its corporate name. Leasing Solutions (Canada) Inc. is incorporated in
Canada and does business under its corporate name.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT AND REPORT ON SCHEDULE
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 33-
72000 and 33-93014 of Leasing Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries on Form S-8, of
our reports dated January 23, 1998 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Leasing Solutions, Inc. and subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 1997.
Our audits of the financial statements referred to in our aforementioned report
also included the financial statement schedule of Leasing Solutions, Inc.,
listed in Item 14(a)2. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility
of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based
on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose , California
March 27, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<CASH> 16,569
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 16,318
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0
<PP&E> 6,475
<DEPRECIATION> (2,930)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 596,731
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 34,748
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 38,625
<OTHER-SE> 37,962
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 596,731
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 225,243
<CGS> 151,659
<TOTAL-COSTS> 0
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 18,874
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30,067
<INCOME-PRETAX> 22,597
<INCOME-TAX> 9,536
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 0
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 13,061
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.60
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.55
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS 9-MOS 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 JUN-30-1997 SEP-30-1997 DEC-31-1996
<CASH> 19,639 19,008 9,466 6,888
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 8,915 15,185 17,079 11,534
<ALLOWANCES> 0 0 0 0
<INVENTORY> 0 0 0 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 0 0 0
<PP&E> 2,679 2,661 3,493 4,304
<DEPRECIATION> 0 0 0 (1,966)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 468,694 518,216 532,388 407,291
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38,919 29,227 22,486 26,622
<BONDS> 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
<COMMON> 38,178 37,890 37,974 37,658
<OTHER-SE> 28,210 30,421 33,606 25,898
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 468,694 518,216 532,388 407,291
<SALES> 0 0 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 46,929 102,826 161,282 144,596
<CGS> 32,245 70,562 109,365 96,256
<TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 0 0
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 3,812 8,417 13,415 12,300
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,219 13,641 21,851 19,018
<INCOME-PRETAX> 4,338 9,497 15,487 15,922
<INCOME-TAX> 1,813 3,979 6,484 6,549
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 0 0
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 2,525 5,518 9,003 9,373
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.31 0.67 1.10 1.19
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.30 0.66 1.08 1.16
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 6-MOS 9-MOS 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 JUN-30-1996 SEP-30-1996 DEC-31-1995
<CASH> 10,441 8,152 9,118 8,423
<SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0
<RECEIVABLES> 5,545 11,589 6,713 4,068
<ALLOWANCES> 0 0 0 0
<INVENTORY> 0 0 0 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 0 0 0
<PP&E> 1,717 1,715 2,107 2,644
<DEPRECIATION> 0 0 0 (1,117)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 247,417 314,817 363,026 224,102
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,399 10,330 23,212 13,749
<BONDS> 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
<COMMON> 37,154 37,342 37,407 14,661
<OTHER-SE> 18,028 20,381 22,909 16,251
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 247,417 314,817 363,026 224,102
<SALES> 0 0 0 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 26,637 59,864 99,320 80,676
<CGS> 17,303 39,065 65,087 51,164
<TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 0 0
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,444 5,419 9,007 8,584
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,666 7,738 13,028 10,428
<INCOME-PRETAX> 2,962 6,956 11,168 9,859
<INCOME-TAX> 1,185 2,846 4,571 3,931
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 0 0
<DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0
<CHANGES> 0 0 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 1,777 4,110 6,597 5,928
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.25 0.55 0.86 0.95
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.25 0.53 0.83 0.83
</TABLE>
