CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES INC
S-3/A, 1997-03-04
SHORT-TERM BUSINESS CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
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<PAGE>

   
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 1997           
                                                                   No. 333-21289
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
     
   
                               Amendment No. 1 to
                              --------------------
                         FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
                                   ----------

                        CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S><C>
          California                            6153                             33-0459135
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)       Classification Code Number)            Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                              ---------------------

                                      2 ADA
                            IRVINE, CALIFORNIA  92618
                                 (714) 753-6800
          (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
             area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                              ---------------------

                             CHARLES E. BRADLEY, JR.
                                    President
                        Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.
                                      2 Ada
                            Irvine, California  92618
                                 (714) 753-6800
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                              ---------------------

   
                                 WITH COPIES TO:
         WILLIAM J. FEIS, ESQ.                      DAVID S. KATZ, ESQ.
             TROY & GOULD                   ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
       Professional Corporation                     Washington Harbour
  1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600                3050 K Street, N.W.
    Los Angeles, California  90067                Washington, D.C.  20007
            (310) 553-4441                            (202) 339-8497
         (310) 201-4746 (fax)                      (202) 339-8500 (fax)

                              ---------------------
    
   
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, check the following box. /_/
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. /_/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. /_/
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. /_/
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. /_/
    

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed maximum                                       Amount of
 Title of each class of securities      Amount to be       offering price per   Proposed maximum aggregate        registration
         to be registered                registered             security             offering price(1)                 fee 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                    <C>                <C>                  <C>                              <C>        
 Participating Equity Notes-SM- due 
 2004 (partially convertible)           $40,250,000               100%                  $40,250,000              $12,196.97 (2) 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
   
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)  Previously paid.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

   

                                Preliminary Note

     This registration statement as initially filed covered $40,250,000 of
Participating Equity Notes due 2004 (partially convertible), and also an
estimated 670,833 shares ("Underlying Shares") of common stock issuable upon
exercise of the conversion feature of such notes.  With this Amendment No. 1,
the registrant is removing from registration the Underlying Shares.
    

<PAGE>

   
PROSPECTUS         Subject to completion, dated March 4, 1997
DATED ____, 1997                  $35,000,000 
    

   
                        CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
                 ____% PARTICIPATING EQUITY NOTES -SM-  DUE 2004
                                    "PENS"-SM-
    

   
The  ____% Participating Equity Notes-SM- ("PENs-SM-") due April __, 2004 (the
"Notes") being offered hereby (the "Offering") will be unsecured general
obligations of Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company").  Interest on the Notes will be payable on the ______day of each
month (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing April __, 1997. The Notes
will be subordinated to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined
herein) of the Company.  As of December 31, 1996, there was approximately $13.3
million of Senior Indebtedness outstanding.
    
   
The Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Company prior to April __,
2000.  The Company may at its option elect to redeem the Notes from the
registered holders of the Notes ("Holders"), in whole but not in part, at any
time on or after April ____, 2000 at 100% of their principal amount, subject to
limited conversion rights, plus accrued interest to and including the date of
redemption. At maturity or upon the exercise by the Company of an optional
redemption each Holder will have the right to convert into common stock of the
Company ("Common Stock") 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes held
by such Holder and if a Special Redemption Event occurs, Holders who require the
redemption of their Notes will have the right to convert up to 25% of the
principal amount thereof into Common Stock. In such events, 25% of each Note
will be convertible into Common Stock, at the conversion price of $_____ per
share of Common Stock (equivalent to approximately ____ shares of Common Stock
for each $250 portion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes) as adjusted as
described herein.  The Company will be required, at the option of the Holder and
at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest to and including the
redemption date, to redeem Notes properly tendered following a Special
Redemption Event.  A Special Redemption Event is limited to certain events or
transactions that result in a change of control of the Company.  The Common
Stock trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "CPSS." On February
27, 1997, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock was $9.75 per share. 
See "Description of the Notes."
    
   
The Notes will be issued initially only in fully registered book-entry form. The
minimum principal amount of Notes which may be purchased is $1,000.  Application
has been made by the Company to have the Notes approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc.  Although the Underwriters have each indicated an
intention to make a market in the Notes, none of the Underwriters is obligated
to make a market in the Notes and any market making may be discontinued at any
time at the sole discretion of such Underwriter.  See "Underwriting."
    
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 11 FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                         Price to Public      Underwriting       Proceeds To 
                                               Discount(1)       Company (2) 
 Per Note . . . . . . .       100%                 %                 % 
 Total(3) . . . . . . .    $35,000,000         $                 $ 

(1)  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
     liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended (the "Securities Act").  See "Underwriting."
(2)  Before deducting offering expenses payable by the Company estimated to be
     $__________.
(3)  The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
     an aggregate principal amount of $5,250,000 of additional Notes on the same
     terms and conditions shown above, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. 
     If the Underwriters exercise such option in full, the total Price to
     Public, Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Company will be $40,250,000,
     $_________ and $_________, respectively. See "Underwriting."

                      -------------------------------------

The Notes are offered by the several Underwriters subject to prior sale when, as
and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to their right
to reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Notes
will be made at the offices of Piper Jaffray Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota on
or about _________, 1997. The Notes will be issued initially as book-entry notes
in the form of one fully registered global security deposited with or on behalf
of The Depository Trust Company or its nominees ("DTC"). The Notes will not
initially be issuable in definitive certificated form to any person other than
DTC.

   
PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
    
                             LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER
                                  INCORPORATED                     DAIN BOSWORTH
                                                                    INCORPORATED

<PAGE>











[Map of the United States.  All states except Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and
Wisconsin are highlighted.]












THE ABOVE MAP HIGHLIGHTS THE STATES IN WHICH CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
(THE "COMPANY") CURRENTLY PURCHASES RETAIL AUTOMOBILE  INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS.

The Company will make available, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report to
Shareholders to each person who requests a copy of such report.  Such requests
should be directed to Corporate Secretary, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., 2
Ada, Irvine, CA  92618.

   
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY,
INCLUDING TRANSACTIONS ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET
OR OTHERWISE.  FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING".
    


                                        2
<PAGE>

                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND CONSOLIDATED AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS,
AND THE RELATED NOTES THERETO, INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.  EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS ASSUMES THAT THE
UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION WILL NOT BE EXERCISED. THE COMPANY IN 1995
CHANGED ITS FISCAL YEAR END FROM MARCH 31 TO DECEMBER 31. UNLESS THE CONTEXT
OTHERWISE REQUIRES, "FISCAL 1992," "FISCAL 1993," "FISCAL 1994" AND "FISCAL
1995" REFER TO THE COMPANY'S FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 1992, 1993, 1994 AND
1995, RESPECTIVELY, THE "NINE-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD" REFERS TO THE NINE-MONTH
PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND "FISCAL 1996" REFERS TO THE YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996.  EFFECTIVE MARCH 7, 1996, THE COMPANY SPLIT ITS OUTSTANDING
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TWO-FOR-ONE.  REFERENCES HEREIN TO NUMBERS OF SHARES HAVE
BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THAT SPLIT.  UNLESS THE CONTEXT INDICATES OTHERWISE,
ALL REFERENCES HEREIN TO THE "COMPANY" REFER TO CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES,
INC., AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.  EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS URGED TO READ THIS
PROSPECTUS IN ITS ENTIRETY.

                                   THE COMPANY

     Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (the "Company") is a consumer finance
company specializing in the business of purchasing, selling and servicing retail
automobile installment contracts ("Contracts") originated by dealers ("Dealers")
in the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger vans. 
Through its purchases, the Company provides indirect financing to borrowers with
limited credit histories, low incomes or past credit problems ("Sub-Prime
Borrowers").  The Company serves as an alternative source of financing for
Dealers, allowing sales to customers who otherwise might not be able to obtain
financing from more traditional sources of automobile financing such as banks,
credit unions, or finance companies affiliated with major automobile
manufacturers.

   
     Since its founding in March 1991, the Company has experienced significant
growth.  Its "Servicing Portfolio" (the aggregate principal amount of Contracts
for which the Company performs collection services) increased from $288.9
million at December 31, 1995 to $505.9 million at December 31, 1996.  Total
revenue increased  from $24.3 million for the nine-month period ended December
31, 1995 to $51.2 million for the year ended December 31, 1996.  The Company
uses a combination of employee and independent Dealer marketing representatives
to solicit Dealers to submit Contracts to the Company for purchase.  In the year
ended December 31, 1996, the Company increased its number of Dealer marketing
representatives from 40 to 48 and the number of Dealers with which it has its
standard form dealer agreements ("Dealer Agreements") from 800 in 30 states to
2,171 in 41 states. Approximately 93.2% of these Dealers operate franchised car
dealerships.  In the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company purchased
Contracts at an average rate of approximately $29.3 million per month.
    
   
     The Company believes the Contracts that it purchases have a larger
principal balance and are secured by relatively newer cars than those purchased
by many of the other finance companies in the sub-prime automobile market. 
Historically, the Company has charged Dealers a fixed acquisition fee and a
percentage discount from the amount financed under the Contract ranging from 0%
to 10%, depending on the perceived credit risk of the Contract.  In the year
ended December 31, 1996, the average original principal amount financed under
Contracts purchased by the Company was approximately $12,606 and the Contracts
were purchased at an average discount of approximately 2.8%.  Effective January
10, 1997, the Company began purchasing all Contracts without a percentage
discount, charging Dealers only a flat acquisition fee for each Contract
purchased.  The flat fees instituted in January 1997 are larger than the fees
previously charged in conjunction with percentage discounts, resulting in a
similar net purchase price on a typical Contract. The fees vary based on the
perceived credit risk and, in some cases, the interest rate on the Contract.
Approximately 11.5% of the automobiles securing Contracts purchased during the
year ended December 31, 1996, were new.  In the aggregate, the average age of
the automobiles securing the Contracts purchased in the year ended December 31,
1996 was 3.4 years.  The average original term and Annual Percentage Rate
("APR") on Contracts purchased during the year ended December 31, 1996, were
approximately 54.0 months and 20.4%, respectively.  Based on information
contained in borrower applications,


                                        3
<PAGE>


for Contracts purchased during the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company's
average borrower at the time of purchase was approximately 37.0 years old, with
approximately $32,007 in average household income and an average of 4.6 years'
history with his or her current employer.
    
   
     The Company generates earnings and cash flow primarily from the servicing
fees and gain on sale associated with the sales or securitizations of Contracts.
In each securitization, the Company sells Contracts to a trust which, in turn,
sells asset-backed securities to institutional investors ("Investors").  At the
closing of each sale or securitization, the Company recognizes a gain on the
sale of the Contracts to the trust.  Over the life of the Contracts sold to
trusts, the Company is eligible to receive excess cash flow distributions from
the trust, in accordance with the terms of the related Spread Account (as
defined herein), resulting from the difference between the interest received
from the obligors on the Contracts and the interest paid to investors in the
asset-backed securities, net of losses and expenses.  As of December 31, 1996,
the Company had sold $570.3 million of Contracts to Investors through the
issuance of asset-backed securities, and had also sold an aggregate of $142.7
million of Contracts to General Electric Capital Corporation ("GECC") and Sun
Life Insurance Company of America ("Sun Life") pursuant to purchase commitments.
Since June 1996, the Company has sold its asset-backed securities in registered
public offerings.  The Company services all Contracts that it purchases and
sells, for which it also receives monthly servicing fees. The Company
occasionally purchases portfolios of Contracts in bulk ("Bulk Purchases") from
other financial institutions.  As of December 31, 1996, Contracts that were
acquired in Bulk Purchases and not yet sold account for 0.2% of the Servicing
Portfolio.
    
   
     The Company currently operates from a centralized office in Irvine,
California, and utilizes highly sophisticated, automated data processing and
collection systems.  This centralized structure, combined with significant
servicing fees and gains on sales, enabled it to achieve a return on
average equity of 28.6% for the year ended December 31, 1996.  To better
accommodate increased servicing and collections demand relating to increases in
its Servicing Portfolio, the Company plans to open in March 1997 a satellite 
collections facility in Chesapeake, Virginia.
    
   
     The Company attributes its growth to its: (i) consistent and thorough
underwriting practices; (ii) ability to pay Dealers competitive purchase prices
for Contracts; (iii) reliability as a funding source and the timely
communication of credit decisions to Dealers; and (iv) control of losses through
an aggressive monitoring and collection program.  The Company's high penetration
autodialer telephone system and its interface to the Contract servicing
computers provide portfolio performance monitoring capabilities and efficiency
in contacting delinquent borrowers.  At December 31, 1996, the aggregate amount
of contractual delinquencies (greater than 30 days) as a percentage of the
month-end gross Servicing Portfolio balance was 6.8% (excluding Bulk Purchases
of Contracts not yet sold).  Net charge-offs (excluding Bulk Purchases and
uninsured casualty losses) as a percentage of the average Servicing Portfolio
(excluding Bulk Purchases of Contracts not yet sold) was 5.1%. The Company's
senior management, including those with responsibility for underwriting,
collections, Dealer marketing, systems and financial accounting, have an average
of approximately 13 years of experience in the consumer finance industry and
nine years of experience in Sub-Prime automobile finance.
    
   
     The structures under which the Company sells its Contracts generally
require that the Company establish and maintain certain credit enhancements on a
pool-specific basis for the benefit of Investors in the asset-backed securities.
Generally, the Company makes an initial cash deposit to an account (a "Spread
Account") which is controlled by a trustee and which is pledged to support the
asset-backed securities backed by the related Contracts.   During the term of
each securitization, cash flows in excess of those necessary to pay investor
principal and interest and the expenses of the trust are deposited in the Spread
Account related to that trust until such time as the Spread Account balance
reaches a predetermined percentage of the outstanding related Contracts.  To the
extent cash in excess of the predetermined level is generated, such cash is
either transferred to cover deficiencies, if any, in Spread Accounts for other
pools, or is released to the Company.  In each securitization transaction since
June 1995, the Company has issued a subordinated class of securities (a "B
Piece") representing 5.0% of the principal balance of the Contracts in each
securitization pool.  Cash flows payable on the B Piece are subordinate to those
payable on the senior class of asset-backed securities, which represent 95% of
the principal balance of the securitization pool.  The aggregate of the Spread
Accounts and the one retained B Piece are recorded by the Company on its balance
sheet as investments


                                        4
<PAGE>


in credit enhancements, which equaled approximately 9.0% of the servicing
portfolio subject to recourse at December 31, 1996.  Structures for future
securitization transactions may require higher or lower levels of credit
enhancement than past structures.
    
     The principal components of the Company's strategy are to (i) maintain
consistent underwriting standards and portfolio performance; (ii) continue to
expand the volume of Contracts purchased and serviced by increasing the number
of Dealers, states and geographic areas the Company services; (iii) control
and/or reduce its cost of funds; and (iv) maintain and strengthen its
relationship with its Dealers through the development of other products and
services for its Dealers. 

     The Company was incorporated as a California corporation in March 1991. 
The Company's offices are located at 2 Ada, Irvine, CA  92618, and its telephone
number is (714) 753-6800.


                                        5
<PAGE>

                                  THE OFFERING

   
Notes offered. . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
                                     ___% Participating Equity Notes-SM-,
                                     ("PENs-SM-"),* due April _____, 2004, (the
                                     "Notes"), plus an Underwriters' over-
                                     allotment option to purchase up to an
                                     additional $5,250,000 aggregate principal
                                     amount of Notes.  See "Description of the
                                     Notes" for a more detailed description of
                                     the Notes offered hereby.
    

   
Denomination . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
    

Maturity date. . . . . . . . . . . . April ____, 2004.

Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interest at the rate of ___% per annum is
                                     payable monthly on the _______day of each
                                     month, commencing April ____, 1997.  The
                                     first interest payment will represent
                                     interest from the date of original issuance
                                     to and including April ____, 1997.

Conversion . . . . . . . . . . . . . At maturity or in connection with a
                                     redemption of the Notes at the option of
                                     the Company or a redemption following a
                                     Special Redemption Event, 25% of the
                                     principal amount of each Note is
                                     convertible, in whole but not in part, at
                                     the option of the Holder, into Common Stock
                                     at the rate of $______ per share, subject
                                     to adjustment under certain circumstances. 
                                     See "Description of the Notes -- Conversion
                                     Rights".

Redemption at option of 
  the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . The Notes may not be redeemed at the
                                     Company's option prior to April ____, 2000.
                                     Thereafter, the Company may, at its option,
                                     elect to redeem the Notes, in whole but not
                                     in part, at any time, upon not less than 30
                                     days' notice to the Holder.  The redemption
                                     price will be 100% of the principal amount
                                     of any redeemed Notes, in each case plus
                                     accrued interest to and including the
                                     redemption date.  See "Description of the
                                     Notes -- Redemption at Option of the
                                     Company."
   
Special Redemption . . . . . . . . . In the event of a Special Redemption Event,
                                     each Holder will have the right, at the
                                     Holder's option, to require the Company to
                                     redeem the Holder's Notes, in whole but not
                                     in part, at 100% of the principal amount
                                     plus accrued interest to and including the
                                     date of redemption.  The term Special
                                     Redemption Event is limited to certain
                                     events or transactions that result in a
                                     change of control of the Company.  See
                                     "Description of the Notes -- Holders' Right
                                     to Redemption After Special Redemption
                                     Event."
    
   
Subordination. . . . . . . . . . . . The Notes are unsecured and subordinated in
                                     right of payment to all existing and future
                                     Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
                                     including amounts outstanding under the
                                     Company's existing Warehouse Line of Credit
                                     (as defined herein).  With respect to any
                                     distributions that the Company might
                                     receive from its subsidiaries, the Notes
                                     are also effectively subordinated to the
                                     claims of the creditors of such
                                     subsidiaries.  As of December 31, 1996,
                                     there was approximately $13.3 million of
                                     Senior Indebtedness outstanding. See
                                     "Description of the Notes --
                                     Subordination."
    

- --------------------
*"Participating Equity Notes" and "PENs" are service marks of
Piper Jaffray Inc.


                                        6
<PAGE>


   
Other subordinated debt. . . . . . . The Notes rank equally with $20 million of
                                     previously issued subordinated debt of the
                                     Company ("1995 Subordinated Debt"), all of
                                     which remains outstanding.  See
                                     "Description of Notes -- 1995 Subordinated
                                     Debt."
    
Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Notes will be rated below investment
                                     grade by Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.
                                     ("Duff & Phelps").  Ratings are not a
                                     recommendation to purchase, hold or sell
                                     the Notes, as ratings do not comment as to
                                     market price or suitability for a
                                     particular investor.  The ratings are based
                                     on current information furnished to Duff &
                                     Phelps by the Company and obtained from
                                     other sources.  The ratings may be changed,
                                     suspended or withdrawn at any time as a
                                     result of changes in, or unavailability of,
                                     such information.

Listing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Company has applied for listing of the
                                     Notes on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
   
Certain covenants of the Company . . In the Indenture (as defined herein), the
                                     Company agrees to certain limitations on
                                     dividends and additional indebtedness and
                                     to certain restrictions on consolidation,
                                     merger or transfer of all or substantially
                                     all of its assets.  See "Description of the
                                     Notes -- Limitations on Additional
                                     Indebtedness," "-- Limitation on Restricted
                                     Payments" and "-- Consolidation, Merger or
                                     Transfer."
    
Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . The Notes will be initially issued only in
                                     fully registered book-entry form.  The
                                     Notes will not initially be issuable in
                                     definitive certificated form to any person
                                     other than The Depository Trust Company or
                                     its nominees.  See "Description of the
                                     Notes -- Book-Entry System."

Use of proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . Proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be
                                     used to increase the amount of Contracts
                                     that the Company can acquire and hold for
                                     sale in securitization transactions, to
                                     fund credit enhancements for such
                                     transactions, for other working capital
                                     needs and for general corporate purposes. 
                                     See "Use of Proceeds."

Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bankers Trust Company, New York, New York.


                                        7

<PAGE>


                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           NINE-MONTH
                                           YEAR ENDED      TRANSITION             FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31
                                           DECEMBER 31       PERIOD               --------------------------
                                           -----------        ENDED
                                               1996         12/31/95          1995          1994(1)          1993
                                             --------      ----------       --------       --------        --------
                                                          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                        <C>            <C>               <C>            <C>             <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:

Net gain on sale of Contracts. . . . .         $23,321        $11,549         $9,455         $5,425           $523

Servicing fees . . . . . . . . . . . .          16,169          6,475          7,201          3,556          1,538

Interest income. . . . . . . . . . . .          11,704          6,230          5,849          1,443            400

Total revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . .          51,194         24,254         22,505         10,424          2,461

Operating expenses . . . . . . . . . .          27,502         11,597         11,358      11,712(1)          3,963

Income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . .           9,595          5,082          4,481            490              0

Net income (loss). . . . . . . . . . .         $14,097         $7,575       $  6,666     $  (1,778)     $  (1,502)

Primary net income (loss) per
 common share. . . . . . . . . . . . .          $  .95         $  .53         $  .60       $  (.21)       $  (.24)

Fully diluted net income (loss)
 per common share. . . . . . . . . . .          $  .93         $  .52         $  .56       $  (.21)       $  (.24)

OTHER DATA:

Principal amount of Contracts
 purchased during period
 (excluding Bulk Purchases). . . . . .        $351,350       $150,943       $150,573      $  53,103      $  19,484

Principal amount of Contracts sold
 during period . . . . . . . . . . . .         340,990        155,719        140,617         58,095         14,103

Outstanding Servicing Portfolio
 at end of period(2) . . . . . . . . .         505,934        288,927        192,800         63,208         20,436

Net charge-offs(3) . . . . . . . . . .          20,328          8,331          4,349            964            276

Servicing fees as a percentage of
 average principal balance of
 Contracts being serviced(4) . . . . .            4.1%           3.6%           5.3%           7.5%           4.7%

Delinquencies as a percentage of gross
 Servicing Portfolio at end of
 period(5)(6). . . . . . . . . . . . .            6.8%           5.1%           2.5%           1.3%           1.0%

Delinquencies and amount in repossesion
 as a percent of gross Servicing 
 Portfolio(5)(6) and (11). . . . . . .            9.2%           7.9%           4.4%           2.0%           2.0%

Net charge-offs as a percentage of
 average Servicing Portfolio(3)(6) . .            5.1%           4.6%           3.4%           2.5%           2.2%

Operating expenses (before interest and
 provisions for credit losses) as a
 percentage of average Servicing
 Portfolio(2)(4) . . . . . . . . . . .            4.8%           4.4%           5.4%          28.9%          31.5%

Servicing subject to recourse
 provisions(6) . . . . . . . . . . . .         483,106        268,163        169,331         62,464         14,736

Discounted allowance for credit losses
 as a percentage of servicing
 subject to recourse provisions(7) . .            9.7%           8.7%           8.5%           8.1%          10.2%

Ratio of earnings to fixed
 charges(8)(9) . . . . . . . . . . . .            5.0x           5.5x           4.2x              -              -

Cash flows used in operating
 activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $(9,661)      $(18,533)       $(6,115)       $(2,816)       $(6,718)

</TABLE>
    


                                          8

<PAGE>

   
BALANCE SHEET DATA:

                                                 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                            --------------------------------
                                                                PRO FORMA
                                                ACTUAL       AS ADJUSTED (10)
                                            --------------   ---------------
                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          $    154            $ 20,219
Investments in credit enhancements . .            43,597              43,597
Contracts held for sale. . . . . . . .            21,657              21,657
Excess servicing receivables . . . . .            23,654              23,654
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . .           101,946             123,681
Total liabilities. . . . . . . . . . .            44,989              63,724
Total shareholders' equity . . . . . .            56,957              59,957
    

   
(1)      In October 1992, as a condition to the initial public offering of
    Common Stock of the Company, the then majority shareholder of the Company
    deposited 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Escrow Shares") in escrow.
    The escrow agreement provided that part or all of the Escrow Shares would
    be released if the Company's net income after taxes (as defined in the
    escrow agreement) or the average market price of the Common Stock for
    specified periods exceeded specified levels.  The Company's net income (as
    defined in the escrow agreement) for fiscal 1994 (prior to the accounting
    effect of the release of the Escrow Shares) exceeded the specified level
    and, accordingly, all 1,200,000 Escrow Shares were released.  The release
    of the Escrow Shares was deemed compensatory for accounting purposes,
    resulting in a one-time, non-cash charge of $6,450,000 against earnings for
    fiscal 1994.  Without that charge, net income, primary net income per share
    and fully diluted net income per share for fiscal 1994 would have been
    $4,672,000, $.46 and $.44, respectively.  See "Management's Discussion and
    Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Fiscal Year
    Ended March 31, 1995 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1994 --
    Expenses."
    

(2)      Includes the outstanding principal amount of all Contracts purchased
    by the Company, including Contracts subsequently sold by the Company which
    it continues to service.  Excludes Contracts serviced for third parties but
    not purchased by the Company.  As of December 31, 1994, the Company had
    ceased servicing Contracts for third parties.


(3)      Net charge-offs include the remaining principal balance, after the
    application of the net proceeds from the liquidation of the vehicle
    (excluding accrued and unpaid interest).  Post-liquidation amounts received
    on previously charged-off Contracts are applied to the period in which the
    related Contract was originally charged off.  Excludes Bulk Purchases not
    yet sold and uninsured casualty losses.

   
(4)      The percentages set forth for the nine-month transition period ended
    December 31, 1995 are computed using annualized operating data, which do
    not necessarily represent comparable data for a full twelve-month period.
    

(5)      The Company considers a Contract delinquent when an obligor fails to
    make at least 90% of a contractually due payment by the following due date
    and the vehicle securing the Contract has not been repossessed.  All
    amounts and percentages are based on the full amount remaining to be repaid
    on each Contract, including, for rule of 78s Contracts, any unearned
    finance charges.  Excludes Bulk Purchases not yet sold.

(6)      Includes the outstanding principal amount of all Contracts purchased
    and subsequently sold by the Company which it continues to service.
    Excludes Contracts serviced for third parties and Contracts purchased but
    not yet sold by the Company.

   
(7)      Discounted allowance for credit losses represents the discounted
    present value, calculated at a risk-free rate, of future estimated credit
    losses as determined by the Company in conjunction with the recognition of
    its gains on sale of Contracts.
    

(8)      The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing
    income before taxes and fixed charges by fixed charges.  Fixed charges
    include interest expense and the portion of rent expense that is
    representative of the interest factor (deemed by the Company to be
    one-third).

   
(9)      The Company incurred losses in fiscal 1994 and fiscal 1993.  Earnings
    were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $1.3 million and $1.5 million
    for fiscal 1994


                                          9

<PAGE>

and fiscal 1993, respectively.  Adjusted to eliminate the one-time non-cash
charge of $6,450,000 referred to in footnote (1) above, the ratio of earnings to
fixed charges for fiscal 1994 would have been 10.1x.
    
   
(10)     Adjusted to reflect (i) the conversion into 480,000 shares of Common
    Stock of an outstanding $3 million convertible subordinated note, which
    conversion was effected on January 17, 1997, and (ii) the sale of the Notes
    offered hereby and the application of the estimated net proceeds 
    therefrom, including a paydown of a line of credit on which $13,265,000 
    was owed at December 31, 1996.  See "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization."
    
   
(11)     Amount in repossession represents financed vehicles which have been
    repossessed but not yet liquidated.
    



                                          10

<PAGE>

                                     RISK FACTORS

    THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY ARE SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO, THE RISK FACTORS DESCRIBED BELOW.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS
INHERENT IN AND AFFECTING THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY AND THE OFFERING BEFORE
MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION.  WHEN USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE WORDS "MAY,"
"WILL," "EXPECT," "ANTICIPATE," "CONTINUE," "ESTIMATE," "PROJECT," "INTEND" AND
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN
THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND SECTION 21E OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 REGARDING EVENTS, CONDITIONS AND FINANCIAL
TRENDS THAT MAY AFFECT THE COMPANY'S FUTURE PLANS OF OPERATIONS, BUSINESS
STRATEGY, OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL POSITION.  PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE
CAUTIONED THAT ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE
PERFORMANCE AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES AND THAT ACTUAL RESULTS
MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE INCLUDED WITHIN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS FACTORS.  SUCH FACTORS ARE DESCRIBED UNDER THE HEADINGS
"MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS", AND "THE COMPANY" AND IN THE RISK FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

   
    LIQUIDITY. The Company requires significant operating cash to purchase 
Contracts. As a result of the Company's expansion since inception and its 
program of securitizing and selling Contracts, the Company's cash 
requirements have in the past exceeded cash generated from operations. The 
Company's primary operating cash requirements include the funding of (a) 
purchases of Contracts pending their pooling and sale, (b) Spread Accounts in 
connection with sales or securitizations of Contracts, (c) fees and expenses 
incurred in connection with its sales and securitizations of Contracts, (d) 
tax payments and (e) ongoing administrative and other operating expenses. Net 
cash used in operating activities during fiscal 1995, the nine-month 
transition period ended December 31, 1995, and the year ended December 31, 
1996 was $6.1 million, $18.5 million, and $9.7 million, respectively. The 
Company has obtained these funds in three ways: (a) loans and warehouse 
financing arrangements, pursuant to which Contracts are financed on a 
temporary basis; (b) securitizations or sales of Contracts, pursuant to which 
Contracts are sold; and (c) external financing. At December 31, 1996 the 
Company had cash of approximately $154,000. See "Use of Proceeds" and 
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
    

    CASH FLOWS ASSOCIATED WITH SECURITIZATION TRUSTS. Under the financial 
structures the Company has used to date in its securitizations, certain 
excess servicing cash flows generated by the Contracts are retained in a 
Spread Account within the securitization trusts to provide liquidity and 
credit enhancement. While the specific terms and mechanics of the Spread 
Account can vary slightly depending on each transaction, the Company's 
agreements with Financial Security Assurance, Inc. ("FSA"), the financial 
guaranty insurer that has provided credit enhancements in connection with the 
Company's securitizations since June 1994, generally provide that the Company 
is not entitled to receive any excess servicing cash flows unless certain 
Spread Account balances have been attained and/or the delinquency or losses 
related to the Contracts in the pool are below certain predetermined levels. 
In the event delinquencies and losses on the Contracts exceed such levels, 
the terms of the securitization may require increased Spread Account balances 
to be accumulated for the particular pool; may restrict the distribution to 
the Company of excess cash flows associated with other pools in which 
asset-backed securities are insured by FSA; or, in certain circumstances, may 
require the transfer of servicing on some or all of the Contracts in 
FSA-insured pools to another servicer. The imposition by FSA of any of these 
conditions could materially adversely affect the Company's liquidity and 
financial condition. In the past, delinquency and loss levels on some pools 
have attained levels which temporarily resulted in increased Spread Account 
levels for those pools.  As of December 31, 1996, all FSA-insured pools were 
performing within the guidelines required by their related insurance policies.

    DEPENDENCE ON WAREHOUSE FINANCING. One of the Company's primary sources 
of financing is its $100.0 million warehouse line of credit (the "Warehouse 
Line of Credit"), under which the Company borrows against Contracts held for 
sale, pending their sale in securitization transactions. The Warehouse Line 
of Credit expires in 1998. The Company expects to be able to maintain 
existing warehouse arrangements (or to obtain replacement or additional 
financing) as current arrangements expire or become

                                          11

<PAGE>

fully utilized; however, there can be no assurance that such financing will be
obtainable on favorable terms.  To the extent that the Company is unable to
maintain its existing Warehouse Line of Credit or is unable to arrange new
warehouse lines of credit, the Company may have to curtail Contract purchasing
activities, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations.

    DEPENDENCE ON SECURITIZATION PROGRAM.  The Company is dependent upon its
ability to continue to pool and sell Contracts in order to generate cash
proceeds for new purchases.  Adverse changes in the market for securitized
Contract pools, or a substantial lengthening of the warehousing period, would
burden the Company's financing capabilities, could require the Company to
curtail its purchase of Contracts, and could have a material adverse effect on
the Company.  In addition, as a means of reducing the percentage of cash
collateral that the Company would otherwise be required to deposit and maintain
in Spread Accounts, all of the Company's securitizations since June 1994 have
utilized credit enhancement in the form of financial guaranty insurance policies
issued by FSA to achieve "AAA/Aaa" ratings for the asset-backed securities that
have been sold to investors.  The Company believes that financial guaranty
insurance policies reduce the costs of securitizations relative to alternative
forms of credit enhancements available to the Company.  FSA is not required to
insure Company-sponsored securitizations and there can be no assurance that it
will continue to do so or that future securitizations will be similarly rated.
Similarly, there can be no assurance that any securitization transaction will be
available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.  The timing of any
securitization transaction is affected by a number of factors beyond the
Company's control, any of which could cause substantial delays, including,
without limitation, market conditions and the approval by all parties of the
terms of the securitization.  Any delay in the sale of a pool of Contracts
beyond a quarter-end could reduce the gain on sale recognized in such quarter
and could result in decreased earnings or possible losses for such quarter being
reported by the Company.  See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of Contracts --
Securitization and Sale of Contracts to Institutional Investors."

ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

    GENERAL.  The Company's business is directly related to sales of new and
used automobiles, which are affected by employment rates, prevailing interest
rates and other domestic economic conditions.  Delinquencies, foreclosures and
losses generally increase during economic slowdowns or recessions.  Because of
the Company's focus on Sub-Prime Borrowers, the actual rates of delinquencies,
repossessions and losses on such Contracts could be higher under adverse
economic conditions than those currently experienced in the automobile finance
industry in general.  Any sustained period of economic slowdown or recession
could adversely affect the Company's ability to sell or securitize pools of
Contracts.  The timing of any economic changes is uncertain, and sluggish sales
of automobiles and weakness in the economy could have an adverse effect on the
Company's business and that of the Dealers from which it purchases Contracts.

    CREDITWORTHINESS OF BORROWERS.  The Company specializes in the purchase,
sale and servicing of Contracts to finance automobile purchases by Sub-Prime
Borrowers, which entail a higher risk of non-performance, higher delinquencies
and higher losses than Contracts with more creditworthy borrowers.  While the
Company believes that the underwriting criteria and collection methods it
employs enable it to control the higher risks inherent in Contracts with
Sub-Prime Borrowers, no assurance can be given that such criteria and methods
will afford adequate protection against such risks.  Since inception, the
Company has expanded its operations significantly and has rapidly increased its
Servicing Portfolio.  Because there is limited performance data available with
respect to that portion of the Company's Servicing Portfolio purchased most
recently, historical delinquency and loss statistics are not necessarily
indicative of future performance.  The Company has experienced fluctuations in
the delinquency and charge-off performance of its Contracts, including an upward
trend for each.  The Company believes, however, that such fluctuations are
normal and that the upward trend is the result of the seasoning of the Servicing
Portfolio.  In the event that portfolios of Contracts sold and serviced by the
Company experience greater defaults, higher delinquencies or higher losses than
anticipated, the Company's earnings could be negatively impacted.  In addition,
the Company bears the entire risk of loss on Contracts it holds for sale.  A
larger number of defaults than anticipated could also result in adverse changes
in the structure of the Company's future securitization transactions, such as
increased interest rates on the asset-backed securities issued in those
transactions.  See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of Contracts -- Contract
Purchase Criteria" and "Business -- Servicing of Contracts."


                                          12

<PAGE>

   
    GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATION OF BUSINESS. For the year ended December 31, 
1996, the Company purchased 25.8% of its Contracts from Dealers located in 
California, and its prospects are dependent, in part, upon economic 
conditions prevailing in this state. Such geographic concentration increases 
the potential impact of collection disruptions and casualty losses on the 
financed vehicles which could result from regional economic or catastrophic 
events. Although the percentage of the Servicing Portfolio purchased from 
Dealers in California has been declining as the Company's volume of Contract 
purchases has increased, at December 31, 1996, 58.0% of the Servicing 
Portfolio represents obligations of automobile purchasers in California. 
Accordingly, an economic slowdown in California could result in a decline in 
the availability of Contracts for purchase by the Company as well as an 
increase in delinquencies and repossessions. Such conditions could have a 
material adverse effect on the Company's revenue and results of operations. 
See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of Contracts--Dealer Contract Purchase 
Program."
    

    INCREASES IN INTEREST RATES. The Company's profitability is determined 
by, among other things, the difference between the rate of interest charged 
on the Contracts purchased by the Company and the pass-through rate of 
interest (the "Pass-Through Rate") payable to investors on portfolios of 
Contracts sold by the Company. The Contracts purchased by the Company 
generally bear the maximum finance charges permitted by applicable state law. 
The fixed Pass-Through Rates payable to investors on portfolios of Contracts 
sold by the Company are based on interest rates prevailing in the market at 
the time of sale. Consequently, increases in market interest rates tend to 
reduce the "spread" or margin between Contract finance charges and the 
Pass-Through Rates required by investors and, thus, the potential operating 
profits to the Company from the purchase, sale and servicing of Contracts. 
Operating profits expected to be earned by the Company on portfolios of 
Contracts previously sold are insulated from the adverse effects of 
increasing interest rates because the Pass-Through Rates on such portfolios 
were fixed at the time the Contracts were sold. Any future increases in 
interest rates would likely increase the Pass-Through Rates for future 
portfolios sold and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's 
results of operations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."

   
    PREPAYMENT AND DEFAULT RISK. Gains from the sale of Contracts in 
securitization transactions have constituted a significant portion of the net 
earnings of the Company and are likely to continue to represent a significant 
portion of the Company's net earnings. A portion of the gains are based in 
part on management's estimates of future prepayment and default rates and 
other considerations in light of then-current conditions. If actual 
prepayments with respect to Contracts occur more quickly than was projected 
at the time such Contracts were sold, as can occur when interest rates 
decline, or if default rates are greater than projected at the time such 
Contracts were sold, a charge to earnings may be required and would be taken 
in the period of adjustment. If actual prepayments occur more slowly or if 
default rates are lower than estimated with respect to Contracts sold, total 
revenue would exceed previously estimated amounts. See "Business--Servicing 
of Contracts."
    

COMPETITION

    The automobile financing business is highly competitive. The Company 
competes with a number of national, local and regional finance companies. In 
addition, competitors or potential competitors include other types of 
financial services companies, such as commercial banks, savings and loan 
associations, leasing companies, credit unions providing retail loan 
financing and lease financing for new and used vehicles and captive finance 
companies affiliated with major automobile manufacturers such as General 
Motors Acceptance Corporation, Ford Motor Credit Corporation, Chrysler Credit 
Corporation and Nissan Motors Acceptance Corporation. Many of the Company's 
competitors and potential competitors possess substantially greater 
financial, marketing, technical, personnel and other resources than the 
Company. Moreover, the Company's future profitability will be directly 
related to the availability and cost of its capital relative to that of its 
competitors. The Company's competitors and potential competitors include far 
larger, more established companies that have access to capital markets for 
unsecured commercial paper and investment grade rated debt instruments, and 
to other funding sources which may be unavailable to the Company. Many of 
these companies also have long-standing relationships with Dealers and may 
provide other financing to Dealers, including floor plan financing for the 
Dealers' purchases of automobiles from manufacturers, which is not offered by 
the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to 
continue to compete

                                          13
<PAGE>

successfully.  See "Business -- Competition."

MANAGEMENT OF RAPID GROWTH

   
    The Company has experienced rapid growth and expansion of its business.
The Company's ability to support and manage continued growth is dependent upon,
among other things, its ability to hire, train, supervise and manage the
increased personnel.  Furthermore, the Company's ability to manage portfolio
delinquency and loss rates is dependent upon the maintenance of efficient
collection procedures, adequate collection staffing, internal controls, and
automated systems.  There can be no assurance that the Company's personnel,
procedures, staff, internal controls, or systems will be adequate to support
such growth.  See generally "Business."
    

SUBORDINATION OF THE NOTES AND ENCUMBRANCES ON THE COMPANY'S ASSETS

    The Notes are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to all 
existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company, including 
indebtedness under the Warehouse Line of Credit, and indebtedness that may be 
incurred under the standby line of credit associated with the Warehouse Line 
of Credit. The standby line is secured by substantially all of the Company's 
assets. Therefore, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or 
reorganization of or any similar proceedings regarding the Company, the 
assets of the Company will be available to pay obligations on the Notes (and 
any other obligations ranking PARI PASSU with the Notes, including, without 
limitation, the presently existing subordinated debt) only after all Senior 
Indebtedness has been paid in full, and there may not be sufficient assets to 
pay any or all amounts due on the Notes. If the Company becomes insolvent or 
is liquidated, or if payment under the Warehouse Line of Credit or the 
associated standby line of credit is accelerated, the lenders under the lines 
of credit, as the holders of security interests in substantially all of the 
Company's assets, would be entitled to exercise the remedies available to a 
secured lender under applicable law and pursuant to these lines of credit. 
See "Description of the Notes." Any right of the Company to receive assets of 
any of its subsidiaries upon the latter's liquidation or reorganization (and 
the consequent right of the holders of the Notes to participate in those 
assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of creditors of such 
subsidiaries, including claims of warehouse lenders, FSA and any other credit 
enhancement providers, and holders of asset-backed securities that may be 
secured by Spread Accounts before such assets may be available for 
distribution to the Company. As a result, there can be no assurance that in 
such event there will be resources available to repay the holders of the 
Notes in whole or in part.

RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE TERMS OF THE COMPANY'S INDEBTEDNESS

   
    The Warehouse Line of Credit and the indentures governing the Notes 
("Indenture") and the 1995 Subordinated Debt ("1995 Indenture") contain 
covenants limiting, among other things, the nature and amount of additional 
indebtedness that the Company may incur. These covenants could limit the 
Company's ability to withstand competitive pressures or adverse economic 
conditions, make acquisitions or take advantage of business opportunities 
that may arise. Failure to comply with these covenants could, as provided in 
the Warehouse Line of Credit, permit the lender under the Warehouse Line of 
Credit to accelerate payment of the amounts borrowed under the facility or, 
as provided in the 1995 Indenture, permit the indenture trustee thereunder to 
accelerate payment of the 1995 Subordinated Debt. See "Management's 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- 
Liquidity and Capital Resources."
    

POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS

   
    Under the Indenture and the 1995 Indenture, the Company will be permitted
to incur substantial additional senior indebtedness.  Based on the Company's
consolidated stockholders' equity as of December 31, 1996, the Company would be
permitted to borrow approximately $328 million in Senior Indebtedness.
Effective January 17, 1997, an outstanding $3 million convertible subordinated
note was converted into 480,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock.  The sale
of the Notes will increase the Company's outstanding subordinated indebtedness
from $20.0 million to $55.0 million (assuming no exercise of the Underwriters'
over-allotment option).  The interest expense associated with the Notes and the
potential interest expense associated with the maximum permitted Senior
Indebtedness could substantially increase the

                                          14
<PAGE>

Company's fixed charge obligations and could potentially limit the Company's
ability to meet its obligations under the Notes.  See "Description of the
Notes."
    


                                          15

<PAGE>

ABILITY TO REPAY NOTES UPON ACCELERATED REDEMPTION

   
    Upon the occurrence of a Special Redemption Event (certain events or
transactions that result in a change in control of the Company), each Holder
will have the right to require that the Company purchase the Holder's Notes at
100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest.  If a Special Redemption
Event should occur, there can be no assurance that the Company will have
available funds sufficient to pay that purchase price for all of the Notes that
might be delivered by Holders seeking to exercise such rights.  In the event the
Company is required to purchase outstanding Notes pursuant to a Special
Redemption Event, the Company expects that it would seek third party financing
to the extent it does not have available funds to meet its purchase obligations.
However, there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to obtain such
financing, and, if obtained, the terms of any such financing may be less
favorable than the terms of the Notes.  See "Desription of the Notes."
    

LIMITED COVENANTS IN THE INDENTURE

   
    The Indenture contains financial and operating covenants including, among
others, limitations on the Company's ability to pay dividends, to incur
additional indebtedness and to engage in certain transactions, including
consolidations, mergers or transfers of all or substantially all of its assets.
The covenants in the Indenture are limited and are not designed to protect
holders of the Notes in the event of a material adverse change in the Company's
financial condition or results of operations.  See "Description of the Notes."
    

LITIGATION

    Because of the consumer-oriented nature of the industry in which the
Company operates and the application of certain laws and regulations, industry
participants are regularly named as defendants in class-action litigation
involving alleged violations of federal and state laws and regulations and
consumer law torts, including fraud.  Many of these actions involve alleged
violations of consumer protection laws.  Although the Company is not involved in
any material litigation, a significant judgment against the Company or within
the industry in connection with any such litigation could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
See "Business - Government Regulation."

DEPENDENCE ON DEALERS

   
    The Company is dependent upon establishing and maintaining relationships
with unaffiliated Dealers to supply it with Contracts.  As of December 31, 1996
the Company was a party to Dealer Agreements with 2,171 Dealers.  During the
year ended December 31, 1996, no Dealer accounted for more than 2.3% of the
Contracts purchased by the Company.  The Dealer Agreements do not require
Dealers to submit a minimum number of Contracts for purchase by the Company.
The failure of Dealers to submit Contracts that meet the Company's underwriting
criteria would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition and results of operations.  See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of
Contracts -- Dealer Contract Purchase Program."
    

CONTRACTUAL RECOURSE BY PURCHASERS OF CONTRACTS

    Purchasers of Contracts have recourse against the Company in the event of
the Company's breach of its representations and warranties to the purchaser
(relating to the enforceability and validity of the Contracts) or certain
defaults with respect to the Contracts.  In such cases, recourse is limited to
requiring the Company to repurchase the Contracts in question.  In the event the
Company is required to repurchase a Contract, the Company will generally have
similar recourse against the Dealer from which it purchased the Contract;
however, there can be no assurance that any Dealer will have the financial
resources to satisfy its repurchase obligations to the Company.  Subject to any
recourse against Dealers, the Company will bear any loss on repossession and
resale of vehicles financed under Contracts repurchased by it from investors,
which could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company.  See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of
Contracts -- Sale of Contracts to Institutional Investors."


                                          16

<PAGE>

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

    The Company's business is subject to numerous federal and state consumer
protection laws and regulations, which, among other things: (i) require the
Company to obtain and maintain certain licenses and qualifications; (ii) limit
the interest rates, fees and other charges the Company is allowed to charge;
(iii) limit or prescribe certain other terms of its Contracts; (iv) require the
Company to provide specified disclosures; and (v) regulate certain servicing and
collection practices and define its rights to repossess and sell collateral.  An
adverse change in existing laws or regulations, or in the interpretation
thereof, the promulgation of any additional laws or regulations, the failure to
comply with such laws and regulations or the expansion of the Company's business
into jurisdictions with more stringent requirements could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
See "Business -- Government Regulation."

OPERATING HISTORY

   
    The Company incurred net losses for each of fiscal 1993 and 1994 of $1.5
million, and $1.8 million, respectively.  Losses incurred through the end of
fiscal 1993 were attributable primarily to the Company's relatively high degree
of fixed operating costs as compared to its revenue in those years.  The net
loss for fiscal 1994 was attributable entirely to a one-time, non-cash
accounting charge reflecting the release of the Escrow Shares.  Although the
Company generated net income of $6.7 million for fiscal 1995, $7.6 million for
the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995, and $14.1 million for
the year ended December 31, 1996, there can be no assurance that the Company
will not sustain losses in the future.  See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Results of
Operations."
    

LIMITED MARKET

    Prior to the Offering, there has been no market for the Notes.  Although
the Company has applied for listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange,
no assurance can be given that an active trading market in the Notes will
develop or that Holders will be able to sell their Notes at or above par.  The
Company has been advised that the Underwriters currently intend to make a market
in the Notes, but they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue such
market making activities at any time.  Accordingly, in deciding whether or not
to invest in the Notes, investors should take into account the possible illiquid
and long-term nature of an investment in the Notes.

DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

    The Company's success is largely dependent on the efforts of Charles
E. Bradley, Jr., its President, Jeffrey P. Fritz, its Senior Vice
President-Chief Financial Officer, and on Nicholas P. Brockman, William J.
Brummund, Jr., Richard P. Trotter, Curtis K. Powell, and Mark A. Creatura, each
of whom is a Senior Vice President responsible for a different aspect of the
Company's operations.  The Company has not entered into employment agreements
with any of these individuals and the loss of the services of any of these
individuals could have a material adverse effect on the Company.  The Company
has obtained "key man" life insurance on Messrs. Bradley and Fritz in the amount
of $1.0 million each.  See "Management."

CONTROL OF THE COMPANY

   
    As of December 31, 1996, Charles E. Bradley, Jr., his father, Charles
Bradley, Sr., and other members of his family beneficially owned 3,847,497
shares of outstanding Common Stock, and held options or other rights to acquire
an additional 867,640 shares.  Such shares represent approximately 27.0% of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Company (or 31.2%, upon assumed exercise of all
such options).  As a result of their ownership of Common Stock, they and the
other directors of the Company collectively are able, as a practical matter, to
elect a majority of the Company's Board of Directors, to cause an increase in
the authorized capital or the dissolution, merger or sale of the assets of the
Company, and generally to direct the affairs of the Company.  See "Principal
Shareholders."
    


                                          17

<PAGE>

                                   USE OF PROCEEDS

    The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes (after deducting underwriting
discounts and Offering expenses) are expected to be approximately $33.3 million
(approximately $38.4 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is
exercised in full).  The primary purpose of the Offering is to provide the
Company with additional capital to fund its growth, including increasing the
amount of Contracts that the Company can acquire and hold for pooling and sale
in the asset-backed securities market, to support securitization transactions,
for other working capital needs and for general corporate purposes.  Pending
their ultimate application, the net proceeds will be used to reduce temporarily
the Company's balances under its existing Warehouse Line of Credit.  As of
December 31, 1996, amounts outstanding under the Warehouse Line of Credit bore
interest at an effective rate of 6.99% per annum.


                   PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY


The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market, under the
symbol "CPSS."  The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of
the Common Stock for the periods indicated.

   
                                                       High         Low
                                                       ----         ---

         January 1-March 31, 1995. . . . . .         $  8.625    $  6.625

         April 1-June 30, 1995 . . . . . . .            9.625       7.125
         July 1-September 30, 1995 . . . . .           13.25        9.375
         October 1-December 31, 1995 . . . .           12.00        8.50

         January 1-March 31, 1996. . . . . .           10.75        7.375
         April 1-June 30, 1996 . . . . . . .           10.50        8.25
         July 1-September 30, 1996 . . . . .           13.125       7.75
         October 1-December 31, 1996 . . . .           14.75       10.625

         January 1-February 25, 1997 . . . .           13.875       9.69
    

   
    On February 27, 1997 the last reported sale price for the Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National Market was as reported on the cover page of this Prospectus.
As of February 25, 1997, there were 77 holders of record of the Company's Common
Stock.
    

   
    To date, the Company has not declared or paid any dividends on its Common
Stock.  The payment of future dividends, if any, on the Company's Common Stock
is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon the
Company's earnings, its capital requirements and financial condition, and other
relevant factors. The Company does not intend to declare any dividends on its
Common Stock in the foreseeable future, but instead intends to retain any
earnings for use in the Company's operations.  See "Description of Common
Stock."
    


                                          18

<PAGE>

                                    CAPITALIZATION

   
    The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of
December 31, 1996 and as adjusted to give effect to  (i) the conversion into
480,000 shares of Common Stock at $6.25 per share of the 9.5% Convertible
Subordinated Note due November 16, 1998, which was effected on January 17, 1997,
and (ii) the sale of the Notes offered hereby (assuming no exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option) and the application of the estimated net
proceeds therefrom as described in "Use of Proceeds."  The table should be read
in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the
related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    

   
                                                       AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                      -------------------------

                                                                    PRO FORMA
                                                       ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED
                                                       ------      -----------
                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
LIABILITIES:

 Warehouse Line of Credit. . . . . . . . . . . .       $  13,265      $       -

 Subordinated Notes due 2006 . . . . . . . . . .          20,000         20,000

 9.5% Convertible Subordinated Note
   due November 16, 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . .           3,000              -

 Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           8,724          8,724

 ___% Participating Equity Notes(sm) due 2004. .               -         35,000
                                                       ---------      ---------

       Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . .       $  44,989      $  63,724
                                                       ---------      ---------

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value,
   5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued. . .       $       -      $       -

 Common Stock, no par value, 30,000,000 shares
   authorized, 13,779,242 shares issued and
   outstanding and 14,259,242 shares pro forma
   as adjusted(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          34,644         37,644
                                                       ---------      ---------

 Retained earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          22,313         22,313
                                                       ---------      ---------

       Total shareholders' equity. . . . . . . .          56,957         59,957
                                                       ---------      ---------

       Total capitalization. . . . . . . . . . .       $ 101,946      $ 136,946
                                                       ---------      ---------
                                                       ---------      ---------
    

   
(1) Does not include: (i) 14,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
upon exercise of warrants issued in connection with the Company's 1992 initial
public offering of Common Stock; (ii) 2,094,200 shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance upon exercise of stock options outstanding under the Company's 1991
Stock Option Plan, of which options to purchase 1,319,420 shares were
exercisable at December 31, 1996; (iii) 97,000 shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance upon exercise of stock options available for future grant under the
Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan; and (iv) 60,000 shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options


                                          19

<PAGE>

granted to certain directors of the Company.  See "Certain Transactions" and
"Principal Shareholders."
    


                                          20

<PAGE>


                         SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

   
    The following table presents certain summary consolidated financial
information for the year ended December 31, 1996, the nine-month transition
period ended December 31, 1995, and the fiscal years ended March 31, 1995, 1994
and 1993, which has been derived from the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, certain of which have been included elsewhere herein. The following
information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
Statements and related Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere herein.
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              NINE-MONTH
                                                YEAR ENDED    TRANSITION
                                                DECEMBER 31,    PERIOD       FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                ------------     ENDED       ---------------------------
                                                   1996        12/31/95     1995       1994(1)       1993
                                                   ----        --------     ----       -------       ----
                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                             <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:

Net gain on sale of Contracts. . . . . . . .      $  23,321   $  11,549   $   9,455   $   5,425   $     523

Servicing fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         16,169       6,475       7,201       3,556       1,538

Interest income. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         11,704       6,230       5,849       1,443         400
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------

Total revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         51,194      24,254      22,505      10,424       2,461

Operating expenses (including a one-time
 charge of $6,450 in fiscal 1994)(1) . . . .         27,502      11,597      11,358      11,712       3,963

Income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          9,595       5,082       4,481         490           0
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------

Net income (loss). . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $  14,097   $   7,575   $   6,666    $ (1,778)   $ (1,502)
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------

Primary net income (loss) per
 common share. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $     .95   $     .53   $     .60    $   (.21)   $   (.24)
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------

Weighted average common and
 common equivalent shares. . . . . . . . . .     14,849,609  14,323,592  11,143,268   8,520,548   6,378,082

Fully diluted net income (loss)
 per common share. . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $     .93   $     .52   $     .56    $   (.21)   $   (.24)
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                  ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------

Fully diluted weighted average common
 and common equivalent shares. . . . . . . .     15,410,044  14,803,592  12,538,352   8,520,548   6,378,082

OTHER DATA:

Principal amount of Contracts
 purchased during period
 (excluding Bulk Purchases). . . . . . . . .      $ 351,350   $ 150,943   $ 150,573   $  53,103   $  19,484

Principal amount of Contracts sold
 during period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        340,990     155,719     140,617      58,095      14,103

Outstanding Servicing Portfolio
 at end of period(2) . . . . . . . . . . . .        505,934     288,927     192,800      63,208      20,436

Net charge-offs(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . .         20,328       8,331       4,349         964         276

Servicing fees as a percentage of
 average principal balance of
 Contracts being serviced(4) . . . . . . . .           4.1%        3.6%        5.3%        7.5%        4.7%

Delinquencies as a percentage of gross
 Servicing Portfolio at end of period(5)(6).           6.8%        5.1%        2.5%        1.3%        1.0%

Delinquencies and amount in repossession
 as a percent of gross Servicing 
 Portfolio(5)(6)(10) . . . . . . . . . . . .           9.2%        7.9%        4.4%        2.0%        2.0%

Net charge-offs as a percentage of
 average Servicing Portfolio(3)(6) . . . . .           5.1%        4.6%        3.4%        2.5%        2.2%

</TABLE>
    


                                          21

<PAGE>

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              NINE-MONTH
                                                YEAR ENDED    TRANSITION
                                                DECEMBER 31,    PERIOD       FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                ------------     ENDED       ---------------------------
                                                   1996        12/31/95     1995       1994(1)       1993
                                                   ----        --------     ----       -------       ----
                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                             <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>
Operating expenses (before interest and
 provisions for credit losses)
 as a percentage of average Servicing
 Portfolio(2)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           4.8%        4.4%        5.4%       28.9%       31.5%

Servicing subject to recourse
 provisions(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        483,106     268,163     169,331      62,464      14,736

Discounted allowance for credit losses
 as a percentage of servicing
 subject to recourse provisions(7) . . . . .           9.7%        8.7%        8.5%        8.1%       10.2%

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(8)(9) . .           5.0x        5.5x        4.2x           -           -

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating
 activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      $  (9,661)  $ (18,533)  $  (6,115)  $  (2,816)  $  (6,718)

</TABLE>
    

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          AS OF DECEMBER 31,    AS OF DECEMBER 31,               AS OF MARCH 31,
                                                 1996                  1995               1995         1994        1993
                                         -------------------   -------------------     ---------    ---------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>                   <C>                     <C>          <C>         <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)

Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            $     154             $  10,895      $   5,767    $   2,089   $     245

Investments in credit enhancements . .               43,597                30,478         23,201       10,497           0

Contracts held for sale. . . . . . . .               21,657                19,549         21,896          647       5,054

Excess servicing receivables . . . . .               23,654                11,108          5,154        2,294         503

Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . .              101,946                77,878         57,975       16,538       6,922

Total liabilities. . . . . . . . . . .               44,989                36,397         30,981        6,337       2,833

Total shareholders' equity . . . . . .               56,957                41,481         26,994       10,201       4,089

</TABLE>
    

- ---------------

   
(1) In October 1992, as a condition to the initial public offering of Common
    Stock of the Company, the then majority shareholder of the Company
    deposited 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Escrow Shares") in escrow.
    The escrow agreement provided that part or all of the Escrow Shares would
    be released if the Company's net income after taxes (as defined in the
    escrow agreement) or the average market price of the Common Stock for
    specified periods exceeded specified levels.  The Company's net income (as
    defined in the escrow agreement) for fiscal 1994 (prior to the accounting
    effect of the release of the Escrow Shares) exceeded the specified level
    and, accordingly, all 1,200,000 Escrow Shares were released.  The release
    of the Escrow Shares was deemed compensatory for accounting purposes,
    resulting in a one-time, non-cash charge of $6,450,000 against earnings for
    fiscal 1994. Without that charge, net income, primary net income per share
    and fully diluted net income per share for fiscal 1994 would have been
    $4,672,000, $.46 and $.44, respectively.
    

   
(2) Includes the outstanding principal amount of all Contracts purchased by the
    Company, including Contracts subsequently sold by the Company which it
    continues to service.  Excludes loans serviced for third parties but not
    purchased by the Company.  As of December 31, 1994, the Company had ceased
    servicing loans for third parties.
    

(3) Net charge-offs include the remaining principal balance, after the
    application of the net proceeds from the liquidation of the vehicle
    (excluding accrued and unpaid interest).  Post-liquidation amounts received
    on previously charged-off Contracts are applied to the period in which the
    related Contract


                                          22

<PAGE>

    was originally charged off.  Excludes Bulk Purchases not yet sold and
    uninsured casualty losses.

   
(4) The percentages set forth for the nine-month transition period ended
    December 31, 1995, are computed using annualized operating data, which do
    not necessarily represent comparable data for a full twelve-month period.
    

(5) The Company considers a Contract delinquent when an obligor fails to make
    at least 90% of a contractually due payment by the following due date and
    the vehicle securing the Contract has not been repossessed.  All amounts
    and percentages are based on the full amount remaining to be repaid on each
    Contract, including, for rule of 78s Contracts, any unearned finance
    charges.  Excludes Bulk Purchases not yet sold.

   
(6) Includes the outstanding principal amount of all Contracts purchased and
    subsequently sold by the Company which it continues to service.  Excludes
    loans serviced for third parties and Contracts purchased but not yet sold
    by the Company.
    

(7) Discounted allowance for credit losses represents the discounted present
    value calculated at a risk free rate, of future estimated credit losses as
    determined by the Company in conjunction with the recognition of its gains
    on sale of Contracts.

(8) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing income
    before taxes and fixed charges by fixed charges.  Fixed charges include
    interest expense and the portion of rent expense that is representative of
    the interest factor (deemed by the Company to be one-third).

   
(9)  The Company incurred losses in fiscal 1994 and fiscal 1993.  Earnings were
     inadequate to cover fixed charges by $1.3 million and $1.5 million for
     fiscal 1994 and fiscal 1993, respectively.  Adjusted to eliminate the
     one-time non-cash charge of $6,450,000 referred to in footnote (1) above,
     the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for fiscal 1994 would have been
     10.1x.
    
   
(10) Amount in repossession represents financed vehicles which have been 
     repossessed but not yet liquidated.
    

                                          23

<PAGE>

                         MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                   OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    The following analysis of the financial condition of the Company should be
read in conjunction with "Selected Financial Data" and the Company's
Consolidated and Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes
thereto and the other financial data included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

OVERVIEW

    The Company specializes in the business of purchasing, selling and
servicing retail automobile installment sales Contracts originated by Dealers in
the sale of new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger vans and has
done so since its inception on March 8, 1991.  Through its purchases, the
Company provides indirect financing to borrowers with limited credit histories,
low incomes or past credit problems.
   
    The Company generates earnings and cash flow primarily from the servicing
fees, gains associated with the sales or securitizations of Contracts and 
interest earned on Contracts held for sale.  In each securitization, the Company
sells Contracts to a trust which, in turn, sells asset-backed securities to 
Investors.  The terms of the securitization transactions generally provide for 
the Company to earn a base servicing fee computed as a percentage of the 
outstanding balance of the Contracts as compensation for its duties as servicer.
In addition, the Company is entitled to certain excess servicing fees which 
represent collections on the Contracts in excess of the amounts necessary to pay
principal and interest to Investors and the expenses of the trust, including, 
primarily, base servicing fees.
    
    The Company also recognizes gains on its sales of Contracts.  Gains are
determined based upon the difference between the sales proceeds for the portion
of Contracts sold and the Company's recorded investment in the Contracts sold.
The Company allocates the recorded investment in the Contracts between the
portion of the Contracts sold and the portion retained based on the relative
fair values of those portions on the date of the sale.  In addition, the Company
recognizes gains attributable to its estimates of excess servicing receivables
for each pool of Contracts it securitizes.  Excess servicing receivables are
determined by computing the difference between the weighted average yield of the
Contracts sold and the yield to the purchaser, adjusted for the normal servicing
fee based on the agreements between the Company and the purchaser.  The
resulting differential is recorded as a gain at the time of sale equal to the
present value of the estimated cash flows, net of any portion of the excess that
may be due to the purchaser and adjusted for anticipated prepayments,
repossessions, liquidations and other losses.  To the extent that the actual
future performance of the Contracts results in less excess cash flows than the
Company estimated, the Company's excess servicing receivables will be adjusted
at least quarterly, with corresponding charges recorded against income in the
period in which the adjustment is made.  To the extent that the actual cash
flows exceed the Company's discounted estimates, the Company will record
additional servicing fees in the periods in which the excess cash is received.


                                          24

<PAGE>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 COMPARED TO THE NINE-MONTH TRANSITION  PERIOD
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995

    The Company changed its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December 31,
effective with the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995.
Accordingly, readers should take into account that the following discussion
compares figures for a full twelve month year to a nine-month period.  The
discussion below does not attempt to explain, for each item discussed, the
extent to which the differing length of these periods has affected the figures.

    REVENUE.  During the year ended December 31, 1996, revenue increased $26.9
million, or 111.1%, compared to the nine-month transition period ended December
31, 1995. Net gain on sale of Contracts includes (i) the excess of the amount
realized on the sale of Contracts over the Company's net cost, (ii) the net
present value of estimated excess servicing fees on sold contracts, and (iii)
the recognition of deferred acquisition fees paid by Dealers net of related
acquisition costs.  Net gain on sale of Contracts increased by $11.8 million, or
101.9%, and represented 45.6% of total revenue for the year ended December 31,
1996.  The increase in gain on sale is largely due to the volume of Contracts
which were sold in the period.  During the year ended December 31, 1996, the
Company sold $341.0 million in Contracts, compared to $155.7


                                          25

<PAGE>

million in the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995.
    

   
    Servicing fees increased by $9.7 million, or 149.7%, and represented 31.6%
of total revenue.  The increase in servicing fees is due to the Company's
continued expansion of its Contract purchase, sale and servicing activities.  As
of December 31, 1996, the Company was earning servicing fees on 45,363 Contracts
approximating $483.1 million compared to 25,398 Contracts approximating 
$268.2 million as of December 31, 1995.  In addition to the $483.1 million in 
sold Contracts on which servicing fees were earned, the Company was holding for 
sale and servicing an additional $22.8 million in Contracts for an aggregate 
servicing portfolio of $505.9 million.  All figures for the dollar amount of 
Contracts represent the remaining principal amount owing under such Contracts.
    

   
    Interest income on Contracts held for sale increased by $5.5 million, or
87.9%, representing 22.9% of total revenues for the year ended December 31,
1996. The increase is due to the increase in the volume of contracts purchased
and held for sale.  During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company
purchased $351.4 million in Contracts from Dealers, compared to $160.1 million
in the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995.
    

    EXPENSES.  During the year ended December 31, 1996, operating expenses
increased $15.9 million, or 137.1%, compared to the nine-month transition period
ended December 31, 1995.  Employee costs increased by $5.6 million, or 169.6%,
and represented 32.4% of total operating expenses.  The increase is due to the
addition of staff necessary to accommodate the Company's growth and certain
increases in salaries of existing staff.  General and administrative expenses
increased by $4.4 million, or 158.9% and represented 26.4% of total operating
expenses.  Increases in general and administrative expenses included increases
in telecommunications, stationery, credit reports and other related items as a
result of increases in the volume of purchasing and servicing of Contracts.
Additionally, general and administrative expenses increased by $595,000 as a
result of including the company's share of losses incurred by NAB Asset
Corporation, in which the Company made a 38% equity investment on June 6, 1996.

    Marketing expenses increased by $448,000, or 36.4%, and represented 6.1% of
total expenses.  The increase is primarily due to the increase in the volume of
contracts purchased as marketing representatives are compensated directly in
proportion to the number of Contracts the Company purchases from Dealers
serviced by the marketing representative.  Additional increases in marketing
expense relate to other marketing expenses such as travel, promotion and
convention expenses.

    Interest expense increased $3.1 million, or 112.2%, and represented 21.0%
of total operating expenses.  The increase is primarily due to the interest paid
on the $20.0 million in subordinated debt securities issued on December 20,
1995.  Interest expense was also impacted by the volume of Contracts held for
sale as well as by the Company's cost of borrowed funds.

    During the year ended December 31, 1996, the provision for losses on
Contracts held for sale increased by $1.9 million, or 232.6%, and represented
10.0% of total operating expenses.  The increase in the provision reflects
somewhat higher charge-off rates and a larger volume of Contracts held prior to
sale when compared to the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995.

    The results for the year ended December 31, 1996 include net operating
losses of $491,000 from the Company's subsidiary Samco Acceptance Corp.
("Samco").  Samco was formed in March 1996 and provides the Company's products
and services to Dealers and independent finance companies primarily in rural
areas of the southeastern portion of the United States.
   
    The results for the year ended December 31, 1996 also include net operating
losses of  $324,000 from the Company's subsidiary LINC Acceptance Corp.
("LINC").  LINC was formed in May 1996 and provides the Company's products and
services to credit unions and other depository institutions.
    

NINE-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED
MARCH 31, 1995

    The Company changed its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December 31,
effective with the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 1995.
Accordingly, readers should take into account that the following


                                          26

<PAGE>

discussion compares figures for a nine-month period to a full twelve-month year.
The discussion below does not attempt to explain, for each item discussed, the
extent to which the differing length of these periods has affected the figures.

   
    REVENUES.  During the nine months ended December 31, 1995, revenues
increased $1.7 million, or 7.8%, compared to the year ended March 31, 1995. Net
gain on sale of Contracts, which includes (i) the excess of the amount realized
on the sale of Contracts over the Company's net cost, (ii) the net present value
of estimated excess servicing fees on sold Contracts, and (iii) the recognition
of acquisition fees paid by Dealers and deferred by the Company, increased by
$2.1 million, or 22.2%, and represented 47.6% of total revenues for the nine
months ended December 31, 1995.  The increase in gain on sale is largely due to
the volume of Contracts which were sold in the period.  During the nine months
ended December 31, 1995, the Company sold $155.7 million in Contracts, compared
to $140.6 million in the year ended March 31, 1995.
    

   
    Servicing fees decreased by $726,000, or 10.1%, and represented 26.7% of
total revenues.  Servicing fees consist primarily of base and excess monthly
servicing fees earned on Contracts sold and serviced by the Company, as well as
servicing fees for certain third-party originated portfolios for which it has
been engaged as servicer.  Servicing fees have been impacted by the Company's
continued expansion of its Contract purchase, sale and servicing activities.  As
of December 31, 1995, the Company was earning servicing fees on 25,398 Contracts
and loans approximating $268.2 million compared to 16,077 Contracts and loans
approximating $169.3 million as of March 31, 1995.  In addition to the $268.2
million in sold Contracts and loans on which servicing fees were earned, the
Company was holding for sale and servicing an additional $20.8 million in
Contracts for an aggregate total servicing portfolio of $288.9 million at
December 31, 1995.
    

   
    Interest income on Contracts warehoused for sale increased by $381,000, or
6.5%, representing 25.7% of total revenues for the nine months ended December
31, 1995.  Interest income is closely related to the volume of Contracts
purchased and the length of time they are held by the Company prior to their
sale.  During the nine months ended December 31, 1995, the Company purchased
$151.0 million in Contracts from Dealers, compared to $150.6 million in the year
ended March 31, 1995.  In addition to Contracts purchased from Dealers, the
Company made two bulk purchases of portfolios of Contracts having an aggregate
principal balance of $9.2 million during the nine months ended December 31,
1995.
    

    EXPENSES.  During the nine months ended December 31, 1995, operating
expenses increased $239,131, or 2.1%, compared to the year ended March 31, 1995.
Employee costs increased by $318,886 or 10.7%, and represented 28.5% of total
operating expenses.  The increase is due to the addition of staff necessary to
accommodate the Company's growth in its business as well as certain increases in
salaries of existing staff.  General and administrative expenses increased by
$894,444, or 46.9% and represented 24.1% of total operating expenses. Increases
in general and administrative expenses included increases in telephone,
stationery, credit bureaus and other related items as a result of increases in
the volume of purchases and servicing of Contracts.

    Marketing expenses decreased by $533,011 or 30.2%, and represented 10.6% of
total expenses.  The Company uses a combination of independent contractor and
employee marketing representatives all of whom are compensated directly in
proportion to the number of Contracts the Company purchases from Dealers
serviced by the marketing representative.  Marketing expense is further impacted
by the Company's estimates for direct expenses made in accordance with deferring
contract origination costs.


                                          27

<PAGE>

    Interest expense decreased by $683,195, or 20.0%, and represented 23.5% of
total operating expenses.  During the nine-month period ended December 31, 1995,
the Company's interest expense was affected by improved pricing on the Line, a
more favorable interest rate environment, and less reliance on other short term
financing, in part, as a result of the proceeds from the Company's issuance of
two million shares of common stock in March 1995.

   
    During the nine months ended December 31, 1995, the provision for losses on
Contracts held for sale increased by $295,511 or 55.4% and represented 7.1% of
total operating expenses.  The increase in the provision reflects a larger
volume of Contracts held for a longer period of time prior to sale when compared
to the year ended March 31, 1995, and certain losses associated with Bulk
Purchases in the nine months ended December 31, 1995.
    

   
CHANGE OF FISCAL YEAR; 1994 RELEASE OF ESCROW SHARES
    

   
    In 1995, the Company changed its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December
31.  For that reason, much of the information contained herein compares a fiscal
year ended March 31, 1995 with a nine-month transition period ended December 31,
1995, and then with a full fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.  The table below
presents certain information on a calendar-year basis, for the calendar years
1994, 1995 and 1996.  In that table, two columns present information regarding
the year ended December 31, 1994, one column including and one column excluding
the effect of a charge for release of Escrow Shares (as described below).
    


                                          28

<PAGE>

   
    Upon consummation of the Company's initial public offering which became
effective on October 22, 1992, the Company's controlling shareholder, Holdings,
deposited 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Escrow Shares") in escrow,
subject to release upon attainment of certain net income goals or stock price
levels.  As of March 31, 1994, the Company exceeded the requisite levels.  The
release of the Escrow Shares was deemed compensatory and resulted in a one-time,
non-cash charge for fiscal 1994 of $6.5 million which was equal to the market
value of the Escrow Shares at the time of their release.  This one-time,
non-cash charge was offset by an identical increase in common stock and was not
tax deductible.  Consequently, there was no impact on total shareholders' equity
on the Company's financial statements as a result of the release of the Escrow
Shares and the corresponding charge.  The following table presents three-year
comparative information.
    


                                          29

<PAGE>


   
    

   
                                              12 Months Ended December 31,
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                         1994 (1)  1994 (2)    1995      1996
                                         ----      ----        ----      ----
                                         (In thousands, except per share data)

REVENUES:
Net gain on sale of contracts             $ 9,980  $  9,980  $ 13,719  $ 23,321
Servicing fees                              6,175     6,175     9,019    16,169
Interest                                    4,403     4,403     7,869    11,704
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                           20,558    20,558    30,607    51,194
EXPENSES:
Charge from release of escrow shares        6,450        --        --        --
Selling, general and administrative         3,651     3,651     5,276     9,694
Employee costs                              3,253     3,253     3,888     8,921
Interest                                    2,520     2,520     3,842     5,781
Provision for losses                          384       384     1,008     2,756
Depreciation                                  169       169       209       275
Related party consulting fees                 350       350       350        75
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                           16,777    10,327    14,573    27,502
                                       -----------------------------------------
Income before taxes                         3,781    10,231    16,034    23,692

Income taxes                                3,613     3,613     6,440     9,595

                                       -----------------------------------------
Net income                                $   168  $  6,618  $  9,594  $ 14,097
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       -----------------------------------------

Primary income per share                    $0.02     $0.61     $0.71     $0.95
Weighted average primary shares            10,932    10,932    13,431    14,850
Fully diluted income per share              $0.02     $0.57     $0.70     $0.93
Fully diluted weighted average shares      12,182    12,182    13,911    15,410
    

- ---------------
 (1) Results include the non-cash one time charge from the release of Escrow
     Shares.
 (2) Results exclude the non-cash one time charge from the release of Escrow
     Shares.


                                          30

<PAGE>

   
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

    The Company's primary sources of cash from operating activities include
base and excess servicing fees it earns on portfolios of Contracts it has
previously sold, proceeds on the sales of Contracts in excess of its recorded
investment of the Contracts, amortization and release of investments in credit
enhancement balances pledged in conjunction with the securitization of its
Contracts, borrower payments on Contracts held for sale and interest earned 
on Contracts held for sale.  The Company's primary uses of cash include its 
normal operating expenses, the establishment and build-up of Spread Accounts 
used for credit enhancement to their maintenance levels and income taxes.

    Net cash used in operating activities was $9.7 million during the year
ended December 31, 1996 compared to net cash used of $18.5 million during the
nine month transition period ended December 31, 1995.  Cash used for purchasing
Contracts was $351.4 million, an increase of $191.2 million, or 119.4%, over
cash used for purchasing Contracts in the nine month transition period ended
December 31, 1995.  Cash provided from the liquidation of Contracts was $346.5
million, an increase of $189.6 million, or 120.8%, over cash provided from
liquidation of Contracts in the nine month transition period ended December 31,
1995.

    During the year ended December 31, 1996, cash used for initial deposits to
Spread Accounts was $12.3 million, an increase of $7.3 million, or 149.0%, from
the amount of cash used for initial deposits to Spread Accounts in the nine
month transition period ended December 31, 1995.  Cash from excess servicing
deposited to Spread Accounts for the year ended December 31, 1996, was $18.8
million, an increase of $11.2 million, or 148.8%, over cash from excess
servicing deposited to Spread Accounts in the nine month transition period ended
December 31, 1995. Cash released from Spread Accounts for the year ended
December 31, 1996, was $17.9 million, an increase of $10.2 million, or 133.2%,
over cash released from Spread Accounts in the nine month transition period
ended December 31, 1995.  Changes in deposits to and releases from Spread
Accounts are impacted by the relative size, seasoning and performance of the
various pools of sold Contracts that make up the Company's servicing portfolio.

    During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company purchased 38% of the
outstanding common stock of NAB Asset Corporation for approximately $4.3
million.  See "Business--Expansion and Diversification".

    The Company's cash requirements have been and will continue to be
significant.  The agreements under which the Company has securitized and sold
its Contracts required the Company to make a significant initial cash deposit,
for purposes of credit enhancement, to a Spread Account which is pledged to
support the related asset-backed securities, and is invested in high quality
liquid securities.  Excess cash flows from the securitized Contracts are
deposited into the Spread Accounts until such time as the Spread Account balance
reaches a specified percent of the outstanding balance of the related
asset-backed securities.  Since its June 1995 securitization, and, it is
expected, on an ongoing basis, the Company altered the credit enhancement
mechanism used in its securitizations to create a subordinated class of
asset-backed securities (a "B Piece") in order to reduce the size of the
required initial deposit to the Spread Accounts.  This revised structure may, if
the Company is able to continue to sell the B Piece, reduce the amount of cash
that the Company must invest or set aside in Spread Accounts in future
securitizations.  The Company continues to hold the B Piece associated with its
June 1995 transaction, but has sold and believes it will be able to continue to
sell the B Pieces created in subsequent securitizations.  The aggregate balances
of the Spread Accounts associated with each securitization of Contracts,
together with the one B Piece held by the Company, are reflected as "Investments
in credit enhancements" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

The table below documents the Company's history of Contract Securitizations
    


                                          31

<PAGE>

                         STRUCTURED CONTRACT SECURITIZATIONS

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

   PERIOD            SECURITIZED                RATING
   FUNDED      DOLLAR AMOUNT   RATINGS(1)       AGENCY                  POOL NAME
- ------------   -------------  -----------    -------------    ------------------------------
               (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>            <C>             <C>           <C>              <C>
April 1993        $   4,990         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-1
May 1993              3,933         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-1
June 1993             3,467         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-1
July 1993             5,575         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-2
August 1993           3,336         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-2
September 1993        3,578         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-2
October 1993          1,921         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-2
November 1993         1,816         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-3
December 1993         6,694         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-3
January 1994          1,998         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-3
March 1994           20,787         A        Duff & Phelps    Alton Grantor Trust 1993-4
June 1994            24,592      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1994-1
September 1994       28,916      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1994-2
October 1994         13,136      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1994-3
December 1994        28,893      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1994-4
February 1995        20,084      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-1
June 1995            49,290      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-2
September 1995       45,009      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-3
September 1995        2,369         BB       S&P              CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-3
December 1995        53,634      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-4
December 1995         2,823         BB       S&P              CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1995-4
March 1996           63,747      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-1
March 1996            3,355         BB       S&P              CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-1
June 1996 (2)        84,456      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      Fasco Auto Grantor Trust 1996-1
June 1996             4,445         BB       S&P              Fasco Auto Grantor Trust 1996-1
September 1996       87,523      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-2
September 1996        4,606         BB       S&P              CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-2
December 1996        88,215      Aaa/AAA     Moody's/S&P      CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-3
December 1996         4,643         BB       S&P              CPS Auto Grantor Trust 1996-3
                    -------
                  $ 667,831
                  ---------
                  ---------

</TABLE>
    

(1) Commencing with the securitization completed on June 28, 1994, the
principal and interest due on the asset-backed securities issued by the various
grantor trusts are guaranteed by Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("FSA"),
enabling the issuer to obtain Aaa/AAA ratings for the asset-backed securities
issued in such transactions.  See "Business -- Purchase and Sale of Contracts --
Securitization and Sale of Contracts to Institutional Investors."

(2) Commencing with the securitization completed on June 27, 1996, asset-backed
securities with Aaa/AAA ratings have been sold through public offerings pursuant
to registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                          32

<PAGE>

   
    Cash flows are impacted by the use of the Warehouse Line of Credit which is
in turn impacted by the amount of Contracts the Company holds for sale.  At
December 31, 1996, the Warehouse Line of Credit had an outstanding balance of
$13.3 million compared to $7.5 million at December 31, 1995.  In June 1995 the
Company entered into two new agreements which restructured the Warehouse Line of
Credit and increased the maximum available amount to $100.0 million.  The
primary agreement provides for loans by Redwood Receivables Corporation
("Redwood") to the Company, to be funded by commercial paper issued by Redwood
and secured by Contracts pledged periodically by the Company.  The Redwood
facility provides for a maximum of $100.0 million of advances to the Company,
with interest at a variable rate tied to prevailing commercial paper rates.
When the Company wishes to securitize these Contracts, a substantial part of the
proceeds received from Investors is paid to Redwood, which simultaneously
releases the pledged Contracts for transfer to a pass-through securitization
trust.  The second agreement is a standby line of credit with GECC, also with a
$100.0 million maximum, which the Company may use only if and to the extent that
Redwood does not provide funding as described above.  The GECC line is secured
by Contracts and substantially all the other assets of the Company.  Both
agreements extend through November 30, 1998.  The two agreements are viewed as a
single short-term warehouse line of credit, with advances varying according to
the amount of pledged Contracts.  All references in this Prospectus to the
Warehouse Line of Credit refer, since June 1995, to the Redwood facility and,
unless the context indicates otherwise, the standby line of credit with GECC.
    

   
    Prior to October 29, 1992, the Company was dependent on capital
contributions and loans by Holdings (which was then the sole shareholder of the
Company) to satisfy its cash requirements.  On October 29, 1992, the Company
raised approximately $4.9 million (net of offering expenses) in an initial
public offering.  On March 12, 1993, the Company borrowed $2.0 million from Sun
Life through the issuance of a convertible note in conjunction with an agreement
by that investor to purchase up to $50.0 million of the Company's Contracts.  On
July 5, 1995, Sun Life converted this note into 533,334 shares of the Company's
Common Stock.  On November 16, 1993, the Company borrowed an additional $3.0
million from Sun Life through the issuance of a convertible note in conjunction
with that investor's commitment to purchase an additional $50.0 million in
Contracts.  On January 17, 1997, Sun Life converted this note into 480,000
shares of Common Stock.   On November 23, 1993, the Company issued and sold
333,334 shares of Common Stock in a private transaction at a price of $4.50 per
share ($1.5 million in the aggregate). In May and October, 1994, the Company
borrowed an aggregate of $5.0 million pursuant to three short term notes, all of
which were repaid in March 1995 with proceeds from the March 7, 1995 public
offering of 2.0 million shares of the Company's stock at a price of $7.38 per
share.  In December 1995, the Company issued $20 million of debt in the form of
Rising Interest Subordinated Redeemable Securities ("RISRS").
    

    The Company anticipates that the proceeds from this offering, the funds
available under the Warehouse Line of Credit, proceeds from the sale of
Contracts, and cash from operations will be sufficient to satisfy the Company's
estimated cash requirements for at least the next 12 months, assuming that the
Company continues to have a means by which to sell its warehoused Contracts.  If
for any reason the Company is unable to sell its Contracts, or if the Company's
available cash otherwise proves to be insufficient to fund operations (because
of future changes in the industry, general economic conditions, unanticipated
increases in expenses, or other factors), the Company may be required to seek
additional financing.

    On November 1, 1996, the Company began to rent an additional 7,000 square
feet of contiguous office space in accordance with the Company's lease
agreement.  In addition, the Company recently acquired an additional, and
significantly upgraded, IBM AS/400 computer.  This hardware serves as the
primary platform on which the Company processes its Contracts.  The Company
anticipates that it will incur certain limited capital expenditures during the
next twelve months as its business continues to grow.  The Company expects to
incur occupancy expenses of approximately $50,000 per month in connection with
its Chesapeake, Virginia satellite facility, which were not incurred in fiscal
1996.  Personnel and other expenses may also increase, depending on the extent
of any continuing growth in the Company's business (as to which there can be no
assurance) and the availability of personnel.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS


                                          33

<PAGE>

   
    

   
    In June 1996, the Financial Accounting Standards board issued SFAS No. 125,
Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments 
of Liabilities.  SFAS No. 125 is effective for transfers and servicing of 
financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after December 31,
1996 and is to be applied prospectively.  This Statement provides accounting and
reporting standards for transfers and servicing of financial assets and
extinguishments of liabilities based on consistent application of a
financial-components approach that focuses on control.  It distinguishes
transfers of financial assets that are sales from transfers that are secured
borrowings.  Management of the Company does not expect that adoption of SFAS No.
125 will have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of
operations or liquidity.
    

   
    


                                          34

<PAGE>

                                       BUSINESS

GENERAL

    The Company is a consumer finance company specializing in the business of
purchasing, selling and servicing Contracts originated by Dealers in the sale of
new and used automobiles, light trucks and passenger vans.  Through its
purchases, the Company provides indirect financing to Sub-Prime Borrowers.  The
Company serves as an alternative source of financing for Dealers, allowing sales
to customers who otherwise might not be able to obtain financing from more
traditional sources of automobile financing such as banks, credit unions or
finance companies affiliated with major automobile manufacturers.

HISTORY

    The Company was incorporated in March 1991 as a wholly owned subsidiary of
CPS Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings") (formerly known as FWB Acceptance Corp.).
Holdings was formed in April 1990 by Charles E. Bradley, Sr., the Chairman of
the Board of the Company, in order to enter into the automobile financing
business.  Mr. Bradley believed that the Sub-Prime Borrower segment of this
business had the potential for growth and profit due in part to the withdrawal
from such business by many savings and loan associations and other financial
institutions.  In December 1995, Holdings was merged with and into the Company.

   
    The period from March 8, 1991 (the Company's inception) through May 1991
was devoted to the start-up of the Company's operations.  On May 31, 1991, the
Company first acquired certain third-party loan servicing contracts and in
June 1991 began earning servicing fee income.  The Company thereafter added to
its third-party loan servicing portfolio and, in October 1991, began acquiring
Contracts and selling them to GECC.  To date, the Company has sold $42.6 million
in Contracts to GECC and an additional $100.1 million to Sun Life. Since June
1994, the Company has issued an additional $545.4 million of "AAA"-rated and
$22.2 million of "BB"-rated certificates backed by Contracts to various
institutional investors.  Since June 1996, all sales of "AAA"-rated certificates
have been made in public offerings pursuant to registration statements filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  See "Servicing of
Contracts--Third-Party Loan Servicing" and "Purchase and Sale of
Contracts--Securitization and Sale of Contracts to Institutional Investors."
    

AUTOMOBILE FINANCING INDUSTRY

    Automobile financing is the largest category, by dollar amount, of consumer
installment debt in the United States.  Most traditional sources of automobile
financing, such as commercial banks, credit unions and captive finance companies
affiliated with major automobile manufacturers, generally provide automobile
financing for the most creditworthy, or so-called "prime" borrowers.  The
Company believes that the strong credit performance and large size of the market
have led to intense price competition in the financing market for prime
borrowers, and, in turn, low profit margins, effectively limiting this market to
only the largest participants.  In addition, special low-rate financing programs
offered by automobile manufacturers' captive finance companies to promote the
sale of specific automobiles have added to the competition within the prime
borrower market.

    Although prime borrowers represent the largest segment of the automobile
financing market, there are many potential purchasers of automobiles who do not
qualify as prime borrowers.  Purchasers considered by the Company to be
Sub-Prime Borrowers have limited credit histories, low incomes or past credit
problems and, therefore, are unable to obtain credit from traditional sources of
automobile financing, such as commercial banks, credit unions or captive finance
companies affiliated with major automobile manufacturers.  (The terms "prime"
and "sub-prime" reflect the Company's categorization of borrowers and bear no
relationship to the prime rate of interest or persons who are able to borrow at
that rate.)  The Company believes that, because these potential purchasers
represent a substantial market, there is a demand by automobile dealers for
Sub-Prime Borrower financing that has not been effectively served by traditional
automobile financing sources.

    According to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as of
March 1996, there was approximately $359 billion in automobile-related
installment credit outstanding. The Company is unaware of


                                          35

<PAGE>

any authoritative estimates of the size of the "non-prime" portion of this
market, although various sources have estimated that the potential loan base in
this portion of the market is between $50 billion and $70 billion.  Based on
these figures, the Company's Servicing Portfolio represents less than one
percent of the market.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

    The Company's primary objective is to increase revenue and earnings through
the expansion of its sales and servicing of Contracts purchased from Dealers.
The Company has substantial operational and administrative capacity to expand
its business.  The Company's strategy is to:

- -   Maintain consistent underwriting standards and portfolio performance.

- -   Increase the number of Contracts it purchases from its existing Dealers.

   
- -   Expand its Dealer network, in part by entry into other geographic areas.
    During the year ended December 31, 1996, 52.1% of the Contracts acquired by
    the Company related to borrowers who resided in California, Florida,
    Pennsylvania and Texas (see "Purchase and Sale of Contracts--Dealer
    Contract Purchase Program").
    

- -   Control and/or reduce its cost of funds by proper structuring of its
    securitization offerings and by obtaining the necessary ratings from
    nationally recognized credit rating agencies.

- -   Evaluate opportunities to provide additional products and services, such as
    automobile insurance, credit cards and extended maintenance contracts.

EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION

    In March 1996, the Company formed Samco Acceptance Corp. ("Samco"), an 80
percent-owned subsidiary based in Dallas, Texas.  Samco's business plan is to
provide the Company's sub-prime auto finance products to rural areas through
independently owned finance companies.  The Company believes that many rural
areas are not adequately served by other industry participants due to their
distance from large metropolitan areas where a Dealer marketing representative
is most likely to be based.

   
    Samco employees call on independent finance companies ("IFCs"), primarily
in the southeastern United States and present them with financing programs that
are essentially identical to those which the Company markets directly to Dealers
through its marketing representatives.  The Company believes that a typical
rural IFC has relationships with many local automobile purchasers as well as
Dealers who, because of their financial resources or capital structure are
generally unable to provide 36, 48 or 60 month financing for an automobile.
IFCs may offer Samco's financing programs to borrowers directly or to local
Dealers.  Upon submission of applications to Samco, credit personnel who have
been trained by the Company use the Company's proprietary systems to evaluate
the borrower and the proposed Contract terms.  Samco purchases Contracts from
the IFCs after its credit personnel have performed all of the underwriting and
verification procedures that the Company performs for Contracts it purchases
from Dealers.  Servicing and collection procedures on Samco Contracts are
performed by the Company at its headquarters in Irvine, California.  However,
Samco may solicit aid from the IFC in collecting accounts that are seriously
past due. As of December 31, 1996, Samco had purchased 399 Contracts with
original balances of $4.7 million.
    

    In May 1996, the Company formed LINC Acceptance Corp. ("LINC"), an 80
percent-owned subsidiary based in Norwalk, Connecticut.  LINC's business plan is
to provide the Company's sub-prime auto finance products to credit unions, banks
and savings and loans ("Deposit Institutions").  The Company believes that
credit unions, banks and savings and loans do not generally make loans to
sub-prime borrowers, even though they may have relationships with Dealers and
have sub-prime borrowers as deposit customers.

    LINC proposes to have certain of its employees call on various Deposit
Institutions and present them with a financing program that is similar to those
which the Company markets directly to Dealers through its


                                          36

<PAGE>

   
marketing representatives.  The LINC program is intended to result in a slightly
more creditworthy borrower than the Company's regular programs by requiring
slightly higher income and lower debt-to-income ratios.  LINC's customers  may
offer its financing program to borrowers directly or to local Dealers.  Unlike
Samco, which has employees who evaluate applications and make decisions to
purchase Contracts, LINC applications will be submitted by the Deposit
Institution directly to the Company, where the approval, underwriting and
purchase procedures will be performed by Company staff who will work with LINC
as well as with the Company's Dealers.   Servicing and collection procedures on
LINC Contracts will be performed entirely by the Company using its personnel. As
of December 31, 1996, LINC had purchased seven Contracts with original balances
of $81,000.
    

   
    In June 1996, the Company acquired 38% of the outstanding shares of NAB
Asset Corporation ("NAB") for $4.3 million.  At the time of the acquisition, NAB
had approximately $3.5 million in cash and no significant operations.
Subsequent to the Company's investment in NAB, NAB purchased Mortgage Portfolio
Services, Inc. ("MPS") from the Company for $300,000. MPS is a Dallas,
Texas-based mortgage broker-dealer which the Company formed in April 1996.  MPS
specializes in the origination and sale of sub-prime residential mortgages.  In
July 1996, NAB formed CARSUSA, Inc., which subsequently purchased a Mitsubishi
dealership in Riverside, California.  The Company provides CARS USA with an
$800,000 line of credit for financing its vehicle inventory.  In November 1996,
NAB purchased Mack Financial Ltd, a small appliance "rent to own" company based
in Dallas, Texas.
    

   
    In January 1997, the Company purchased 80% of the outstanding shares of an
equipment financing company, Stanwich Leasing, Inc. ("SLI"), from two directors
of the Company, Charles E. Bradley, Sr. and John G. Poole.  The purchase price
was $100,000 in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities of SLI.  As of
December 31, 1996, SLI owned and serviced an outstanding equipment lease
portfolio of $2.2 million.  Its primary customers are companies affiliated with
Charles E. Bradley, Sr.
    

PURCHASE AND SALE OF CONTRACTS

   
    DEALER CONTRACT PURCHASE PROGRAM.  As of December 31, 1996, the Company was
a party to Dealer Agreements with 2,171 Dealers.  Approximately 93.2% of these
Dealers are franchised new car dealers that sell both new and used cars and the
remainder are independent used car dealers.  For the year ended December 31,
1996, approximately 88.5% of the Contracts purchased by the Company consisted of
financing for used cars and the remaining 11.5% for new cars.  Most of these
Dealers regularly submit Contracts to the Company for purchase, although such
Dealers are under no obligation to submit any Contracts to the Company, nor is
the Company obligated to purchase any Contracts. During the year ended December
31, 1996, no Dealer accounted for more than 2.3% of the total number of
Contracts purchased by the Company.  In addition, the Company continues to
diversify geographically, and has reduced its concentration of Contract
purchases in California from 35.0% for the year ended December 31, 1995, to
25.8% for the year ended December 31, 1996.  The following table sets forth the
geographical sources of the Contracts purchased by the Company (based on the
addresses of the borrowers as stated on the Company's records) during each of
the years ended December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995.
    


                                          37

<PAGE>

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                 CONTRACTS PURCHASED DURING YEAR ENDED
                                       ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                            DECEMBER 31, 1996                 DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                       --------------------------------  ------------------------------
                                          NUMBER            PERCENT        NUMBER              PERCENT
                                       ------------       -----------    --------------     ------------
           <S>                         <C>                <C>            <C>                <C>
           California                        7,296             25.8%            5,157             35.0%

           Pennsylvania                      2,730              9.6%            1,432              9.7%

           Florida                           2,638              9.3%            1,555             10.6%

           Texas                             2,073              7.3%            1,046              7.1%

           Illinois                          1,385              4.9%              963              6.5%

           Tennessee                         1,225              4.3%              221              1.5%

           New York                          1,201              4.2%              384              2.6%

           Louisiana                         1,184              4.2%              271              1.8%

           Ohio                              1,180              4.2%              119              0.8%

           Nevada                            1,060              3.7%              750              5.1%

           Maryland                            920              3.3%              106              0.7%

           Alabama                             906              3.2%               93              0.6%

           Michigan                            788              2.8%              598              4.1%

           New Jersey                          625              2.2%              308              2.1%

           Hawaii                              507              1.8%              452              3.1%

           Other states                      2,587              9.1%            1,283              8.7%
                                          --------                            -------
          Total                             28,305                             14,738
                                          --------                            -------
                                          --------                            -------
</TABLE>
    

     When a retail automobile buyer elects to obtain financing from a Dealer, 
an application is taken for submission by the Dealer to its financing 
sources. Typically, a Dealer will submit the buyer's application to more than 
one financing source for review. The Company believes the Dealer's decision 
to finance the automobile purchase with the Company, rather than other 
financing sources, is based primarily upon an analysis of the discounted 
purchase price offered for the Contract, the timeliness, consistency and 
predictability of response, the cash resources of the financing source, and 
any conditions to purchase.

     Upon receipt of an application from a Dealer, the Company's administrative
personnel order a report containing information from the three major national
credit bureaus on the applicant to document the buyer's credit history. If,
upon review by a Company loan officer, it is determined that the application
meets the Company's underwriting criteria, or would meet such criteria with
modification, the Company requests and reviews further information and
supporting documentation and, ultimately, decides whether to purchase the
Contract. When presented with an application, the Company attempts to notify
the Dealer within four hours as to whether it intends to purchase such Contract.
The Company buys Contracts directly from Dealers and does not make loans
directly to purchasers of automobiles.

     The Company has historically purchased Contracts from Dealers at discounts
ranging from 0% to 10% of 

                                       38
<PAGE>

   
the total amount financed under the Contracts, depending on the perceived 
credit risk of the Contract, plus a flat acquisition fee for each Contract 
purchased. Discounts averaged 4.1% and 2.8% for the years ended December 31, 
1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company believes that the level of discounts 
and fees are a significant factor in the Dealer's decision to submit a 
Contract to the Company for purchase, and will continue to play such a role 
in the future. Effective January 10, 1997, the Company began purchasing all 
Contracts without a percentage discount, charging Dealers only a flat 
acquisition fee for each Contract purchased. The fees vary based on the 
perceived credit risk and, in some cases, the interest rate on the Contract. 
The flat fees instituted in January 1997 are larger than the fees previously 
charged in conjunction with percentage discounts, so as to result in a 
similar net purchase price on a typical Contract.
    

     The Company attempts to control Dealer misrepresentation by carefully 
screening the Contracts it purchases, by establishing and maintaining 
professional business relationships with Dealers, and by including certain 
representations and warranties by the Dealer in the Dealer Agreement. 
Pursuant to the Dealer Agreement, the Company may require the Dealer to 
repurchase any Contract in the event that the Dealer breaches its 
representations or warranties or if a borrower fails, for any reason, to make 
timely payment of the first installment due under a Contract. There can be no 
assurance, however, that any Dealer will have the financial resources to 
satisfy its repurchase obligations to the Company.
   

     BULK PURCHASES. The Company has purchased portfolios of Contracts and 
assumed the servicing thereon in bulk from other companies that had 
previously purchased the Contracts from Dealers. To date, the Company has 
made four such bulk purchases aggregating approximately $22.9 million. In 
considering Bulk Purchases, the Company carefully evaluates the credit 
profile and payment history of each portfolio and negotiates the purchase 
price accordingly. The credit profiles of the Contracts in each of the 
portfolios purchased are similar to those in the underwriting standards used 
by the Company in its normal course of business. The Bulk Purchases were made 
at purchase prices ranging from 93.0% to 100.0% of the aggregate principal 
balance of the Contracts. The Company may consider the purchase of additional 
portfolios from third parties, but has not made any such purchases since 
August 1995. As of December 31, 1996, Contracts that were acquired in Bulk 
Purchases and not yet sold account for 0.2% of the Servicing Portfolio.
    

     CONTRACT PURCHASE CRITERIA.  To be eligible for purchase by the Company, 
a Contract must have been originated by a Dealer that has entered into a 
Dealer Agreement to sell Contracts to the Company.  The Contracts must be 
secured by a first priority lien on a new or used automobile, light truck or 
passenger van and must meet the Company's underwriting criteria.  In 
addition, each Contract requires the borrower to maintain physical damage 
insurance covering the financed vehicle and naming the Company as a loss 
payee.  The Company or any purchaser of the Contract from the Company may, 
nonetheless, suffer a loss upon theft or physical damage of any financed 
vehicle if the borrower fails to maintain insurance as required by the 
Contract and is unable to pay for repairs to or replacement of the vehicle or 
is otherwise unable to fulfill its obligations under the Contract.

     The Company believes that its objective underwriting criteria enable it 
to evaluate effectively the creditworthiness of Sub-Prime Borrowers and the 
adequacy of the financed vehicle as security for a Contract.  These criteria 
include standards for price; term; amount of down payment, installment 
payment and add-on interest rate; mileage, age and type of vehicle; amount of 
the Contract in relation to the value of the vehicle; borrower's income 
level, job and residence stability, credit history and debt serviceability; 
and other factors.  These criteria are subject to change from time to time as 
circumstances may warrant.  Upon receiving this information with the 
borrower's application, the Company's underwriters will verify the borrower's 
employment, residency, insurance and credit information provided by the 
borrower by contacting various parties noted on the borrower's application, 
credit information bureaus and other sources.  The Company typically 
completes its credit review and responds to the Dealer within four hours.
   

     CREDIT SCORING.  Since its inception the Company has purchased $729.1 
million in Contracts and, as of December 31, 1996, has an outstanding 
servicing portfolio of $505.9 million.  The Company's management information 
systems are structured to include a variety of credit and demographic data 
for each Contract as well as maintaining data which indicate each Contract's 
past or current performance 
    

                                       39
<PAGE>

characteristics. Furthermore, the Company's technical staff have the ability 
to interrogate the database to compare performing and non-performing 
Contracts and to ascertain which demographic and credit related data elements 
may be predictors of credit performance.

     In November 1996, the Company implemented a scoring model which assigns 
each Contract a numeric value (a "credit score") at the time the application 
is received from the Dealer and the borrower's credit information is 
retrieved from the credit reporting agencies. The credit score is based on a 
variety of parameters such as the borrower's job and residence stability, the 
amount of the down payment, and the age and mileage of the vehicle. The 
Company has developed the credit score as a means of improving its 
productivity by identifying Contracts where the characteristics are so strong 
(or alternatively, so weak), that the initial notification to the Dealer can 
be given without the more extensive analysis that a Company loan officer 
would give to a more average scoring Contract. Regardless of the credit score 
a Contract originally receives, the Company's underwriters perform the same 
extensive review and verification procedures on all Contracts. In addition to 
productivity improvements, the credit score is used to identify Contracts for 
which review by a supervisor or manager prior to approval and purchase may be 
appropriate.

     Once an application is approved, financing documents are generated by 
the Dealer and the Company obtains a certificate of title for the vehicle 
when a lien is recorded, and various other documents pertaining to the 
borrower's credit application. After the documents are signed by the Dealer 
and the borrower, the Dealer sells the Contract to the Company. The borrower 
then receives monthly billing statements.

   
     All of the Contracts purchased by the Company are fully amortizing and 
provide for level payments over the term of the Contract. The average 
original principal amount financed under Contracts purchased in the year 
ended December 31, 1996 was approximately $12,606, with an average original 
term of approximately 54.0 months and an average down payment of 15.3%.  
Based on information contained in borrower applications, for this 
twelve-month period, the retail purchase price of the related automobiles 
averaged $12,855 (which excludes tax and license fees, and any additional 
costs such as a maintenance contract), and the Company's average borrower at 
the time of purchase was approximately 37.0 years old, with approximately 
$32,007 in average household income and an average of 4.6 years' history with 
his or her current employer.  
    

     All Contracts may be prepaid at any time without penalty. In the event a 
borrower elects to prepay a Contract in full, the payoff amount is calculated 
by deducting the unearned interest (as determined by the "Rule of 78s" 
method, where applicable) from the Contract balance. When a partial 
prepayment is made on a Contract originated in California, at the option of 
the borrower, the future monthly payments may be reduced pro rata by the 
aggregate amount of the prepayment, payment of the next succeeding regular 
monthly payments may be suspended, or the borrower may continue to make the 
regular monthly payments and thereby pay the Contract in full prior to its 
scheduled amortization. With respect to Contracts originated outside of 
California, the portion of each payment on the Contracts allocated to 
principal and interest and the payoff amount in the event of a full 
prepayment would be determined by the Rule of 78s method or such other 
interest amortization method as is permitted by applicable state law.

     Each Contract purchased by the Company prohibits the sale or transfer of 
the financed vehicle without the Company's consent and allows for the 
acceleration of the maturity of a Contract upon a sale or transfer without 
such consent. In most circumstances, the Company will not consent to a sale 
or transfer of a financed vehicle unless the related Contract is prepaid in 
full.

     The Company believes that the most important requirements to succeed in 
the sub-prime automobile financing market are the ability to control borrower 
and Dealer misrepresentation at the point of origination; the development and 
consistent implementation of objective underwriting criteria specifically 
designed to evaluate the creditworthiness of Sub-Prime Borrowers; and the 
maintenance of an active program to monitor performance and collect payments.

     SECURITIZATION AND SALE OF CONTRACTS TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS.  The 
Company purchases Contracts with the intention of reselling them to Investors 
either as bulk sales or as asset-backed securities.  Asset-backed securities 
are generally structured as follows:  First, the Company sells a portfolio of 
Contracts to a wholly-owned subsidiary which has been established for the 
limited purpose of buying and reselling the Company's 

                                       40
<PAGE>

Contracts.  The subsidiary then sells the same Contracts to a grantor trust, and
the grantor trust in turn issues interest-bearing asset-backed securities in an
amount equal to the aggregate principal balance of the Contracts. One or more
Investors  purchase these asset-backed securities, the proceeds of which are
used by the grantor trust to purchase the Contracts from the subsidiary, which
uses such proceeds to purchase the Contracts from the Company.  In addition, the
Company provides a credit enhancement for the benefit of investors in the form
of an initial cash deposit to a specific trust account ("Spread Account") and a
deposit of certain excess servicing cash flows.  Since its September 1995
securitization, and, it is expected, on an ongoing basis in the future, the
Company altered the credit enhancement mechanism used in its securitizations to
create and sell a subordinated security ("B Piece") in order to reduce the size
of the required initial deposit to the Spread Account.  The B Piece provides an
additional credit enhancement to the senior security holders because
distributions of interest on the B Piece are subordinated in priority of payment
to interest due on the senior certificates and distributions of principal on the
B Piece are subordinated in priority of payment to interest and principal due on
the senior certificates.  This revised structure may, if the Company is able to
continue to sell the B Piece, reduce the amount of cash effectively used in
securitizations.  The Company continues to hold the B Piece associated with the
June 1995 securitization but has sold all subsequent B Pieces.  The Company
believes it will be able to continue to sell the B Pieces created in its future
securitizations.  Purchasers of the asset-backed securities receive a particular
coupon rate (the "Pass-Through Rate") established at the time of the sale.  The
Company receives periodic base servicing fees for its duties relating to the
accounting for and collection of the Contracts.  In addition, the Company is
entitled to certain excess servicing fees that represent collections on the
Contracts in excess of the amounts required to pay investor principal and
interest, the base servicing fees and certain other fees such as trustee and
custodial fees.  Generally, the Company sells the Contracts at face value and
without recourse except that the representations and warranties provided by the
Dealer to the Company are similarly provided by the Company to the investor.  

     At the end of the month, the aggregate cash collections are allocated first
to the base servicing fees and certain other fees such as trustee and custodial
fees for the period, then to the asset-backed securities certificateholder in an
amount equal to the interest accrued at the Pass-Through Rate on the portfolio
plus the amount by which the portfolio balance decreased (due to payments,
payoffs or charge-offs) during the period.  If the amount of cash required for
the above allocations exceeds the amount collected during the monthly period,
the shortfall is drawn from the Spread Account.  If the cash collected during
the period exceeds the amount necessary for the above allocations, and there is
no shortfall in the related Spread Account, the excess is returned to the
Company or one of its subsidiaries.  The excess cash flows are considered by the
Company to be excess servicing fees, part of which the Company recognizes as a
gain on sale based on an estimate of the discounted present value of the excess
cash flows.

     Each sale of asset-backed securities results in an increase in the Excess
Servicing Receivables account on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet and
the recognition of a "Net Gain on Sale of Contracts" on the Company's
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the period in which the sale was made. 
The Excess Servicing Receivables account is increased by a portion of the gain
recognized on each securitization which represents principally the net present
value of estimated future cash flows relating to the Contracts which were sold,
calculated as follows:

     (i)  the present value of all future interest and principal payments
expected to be received by the Company over the remaining life of the Contracts;

               less

     (ii) the Contracts' principal payments which are required to be passed
through to the investors in the period in which they were received plus interest
payments required to be made to investors at the Pass-Through Rate established
at the time of securitization, and certain other fees and expenses associated
with the securitization transaction, including the base servicing fee paid to
the Company in respect of its obligations to service the borrowers' Contracts.

     Because the APR on the Contracts received by the Company is relatively high
in comparison to the Pass-Through Rate paid to investors, the net present value
described above can be significant.  In calculating the net gain on sale
described above, the Company must estimate the future rates of prepayments,
delinquencies, 

                                       41
<PAGE>

defaults and default loss severity as they impact the amount and timing of the
cash flows in the net present value calculation.  The cash flows received by the
Company are then discounted at an interest rate that the Company believes a
third-party purchaser would require as a rate of return.  Expected losses are
discounted using a rate equivalent to the risk free rate for securities with a
duration similar to that estimated for the underlying Contracts.

     In future periods, the Company will recognize additional revenue in the
Servicing Fees account if the actual performance of the Contracts is better than
the original discounted estimate.  Although the Company has never recognized a
writedown against the Excess Servicing Receivables account, if the actual
performance of the Contracts is worse than the original discounted estimate,
then such a writedown would be required. The Company's actual excess servicing
cash flows, however, historically have exceeded the Company's original
discounted estimates.

   
     The Company's first significant sales consisted of an aggregate of $17.6
million of Contracts sold from October 1, 1991 through January 31, 1993 to GECC
pursuant to an agreement that expired on December 31, 1992. On March 16, 1995,
the Company sold an additional $25.0 million in Contracts to GECC for an
aggregate total of $42.6 million sold to GECC.  On April 7, 1993, the Company 
began selling Contracts to Sun Life pursuant to various agreements.  As of
December 31, 1996, the Company had sold approximately $100.1 million in
Contracts to Sun Life, $42.1 million of which was sold in the form of "Aaa/AAA"
rated securities, as discussed below.  As of December 31, 1996, the unpaid
balance of the Contracts sold to Sun Life was approximately $25.0 million and
the unpaid balance of Contracts sold to GECC was approximately $11.2 million.
    

     Contract sales to GECC were in the form of whole loan sales.  All of the
Contracts sold to Sun Life have been in the form of asset-backed securities
issued by grantor trusts to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company has
sold the Contracts.  The first $58.1 million of the certificates sold to Sun
Life were rated "A" by Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co.  The principal and
interest due on the remaining $42.0 million of the certificates sold to Sun Life
are guaranteed by Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("FSA"), and, as a result,
such certificates were rated "Aaa" by Moody's Investors Service and "AAA" by
Standard & Poor's Corporation.

   
     On June 23, 1994, the Company began using various investment banking firms
to place its asset-backed securities issues.  The certificates have been issued
by grantor trusts to which a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company has sold the
related Contracts.  Through December 31, 1996, the Company had delivered
approximately $612.3 million principal amount of Contracts (of which
approximately $461.7 million was outstanding at December 31, 1996) to twelve
grantor trusts pursuant to these arrangements.  The principal and interest due
on the certificates issued pursuant to these arrangements are guaranteed by FSA
and, as a result, such certificates are rated "Aaa" by Moody's Investors
Services and "AAA" by Standard & Poor's Corporation.  Since June 1996, the
Company has sold such "AAA"-rated certificates in public offerings pursuant to
registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    

     In connection with the sale of the Contracts, the Company is required to
make certain representations and warranties, which generally duplicate the
substance of the representations and warranties made by Dealers in connection
with the Company's purchase of the Contracts.  If the Company breaches any of
its representations or warranties to a purchaser of the Contracts, the Company
will be obligated to repurchase the Contract from such purchaser at a price
equal to such purchaser's purchase price less the related cash securitization
reserve and any payments received by such purchaser on the Contract.  In most
cases, the Company would then be entitled under the terms of its Dealer
Agreement to require the selling Dealer to repurchase the Contract at a price
equal to the Company's purchase price, less any payments made by the borrower. 
Subject to any recourse against Dealers, the Company will bear the risk of loss
on repossession and resale of vehicles under Contracts repurchased by it.

                                       42
<PAGE>

     TERMS OF SERVICING AGREEMENTS.  The Company currently services all
Contracts sold and expects to service all Contracts that it purchases and sells
in the future, whether structured as whole loan sales or sales of asset-backed
securities.  Pursuant to the Company's usual form of servicing agreement (the
Company's servicing agreements are collectively referred to as the "Servicing
Agreements"), the Company is obligated to service all Contracts sold to the
investors or trusts in accordance with the Company's standard procedures.  The
Servicing Agreements generally provide that the Company will bear all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the management, administration and
collection of the Contracts serviced.  The Servicing Agreements also provide
that the Company will take all actions necessary or reasonably requested by the
investor to maintain perfection and priority of the investor's or the trust's
security interest in the financed vehicles.

     Upon the sale of a portfolio of Contracts to an investor or a trust, the
Company mails to borrowers monthly billing statements directing them to mail
payments on the Contracts to a lock-box account.  The Company engages an
independent lock-box processing agent to retrieve and process payments received
in the lock-box account.  This results in a daily deposit to the investor's or
the trust's bank account of the entire amount of each day's lock-box receipts
and the simultaneous electronic data transfer to the Company of borrower payment
data for posting to the Company's computerized records.  Pursuant to the
Servicing Agreements, the Company is required to deliver monthly reports to the
investor or the trust reflecting all transaction activity with respect to the
Contracts.  The reports contain, among other information, a reconciliation of
the change in the aggregate principal balance of the Contracts in the portfolio
to the amounts deposited into the investor's or the trust's bank account as
reflected in the daily reports of the lock-box processing agent.

     The Company is entitled under most of the Servicing Agreements to receive a
base monthly servicing fee of 2.0% per annum computed as a percentage of the
declining outstanding principal balance of each Contract in the portfolio that
is not in default as of the beginning of the month.  Each month, after payment
of the Company's base monthly servicing fee and certain other fees, the investor
receives the paid principal reduction of the Contracts in its portfolios and
interest thereon at the Pass-Through Rate.  If, in any month, collections on the
Contracts are insufficient to pay such amounts and any principal reduction due
to charge-offs, the shortfall is satisfied from the Spread Account established
in connection with the sale of the portfolio.  (If the Spread Account is not
sufficient to satisfy a shortfall, then the investor or trust may suffer a loss
to the extent that the shortfall exceeds the Spread Account.)  If collections on
the Contracts exceed such amounts, the excess is utilized, first, to build up or
replenish the Spread Account to the extent required, next, to cover deficiencies
in Spread Accounts for other portfolios, and the balance, if any, constitutes
excess servicing fees, which are distributed to the Company.  If, in any month,
the Spread Account balance is in excess of that required under the commitment or
the Servicing Agreements, the Company is entitled to receive such excess.  The
Servicing Agreements also provide that the Company is entitled to receive
certain late fees collected from borrowers.  

   
     Pursuant to the Servicing Agreements, the Company is generally required to
charge off the balance of any Contract by the earlier of the end of the month in
which the Contract becomes five scheduled installments past due or, in the case
of repossessions, the month that the proceeds from the liquidation of the
financed vehicle are received by the Company.  In the case of a repossession,
the amount of the charge-off is the difference between the outstanding principal
balance of the defaulted Contract and the repossession sale proceeds.  In the
event collections on the Contracts are not sufficient to pay to the investor the
entire principal balance of any Contracts charged off during the month, the
Spread Account established in connection with the sale of the Contracts is
reduced by the unpaid principal amount of such Contracts.  Such amount would
then have to be restored to the Spread Account from future collections on the
Contracts remaining in the portfolio before the Company would again be entitled
to excess servicing fees.  In addition, the Company would not be entitled to
receive any further base monthly servicing fees with respect to the defaulted
Contracts.  Subject to any recourse against the Company in the event of a breach
of the Company's representations and warranties with respect to any Contracts
and after any recourse to any FSA guarantees backing the certificates, the
investor bears the risk of all charge-offs on the Contracts in excess of the
Spread Account.  However, the Company would experience a reduction of excess
servicing fees in the event of greater than anticipated charge-offs or
prepayments on Contracts sold and serviced by the Company.
    

                                       43
<PAGE>

     The Servicing Agreements are terminable by the investor in the event of
certain defaults by the Company and under certain other circumstances.

SERVICING OF CONTRACTS

     GENERAL.  The Company's servicing activities, both with respect to
portfolios of Contracts sold by it and with respect to loans owned or originated
by third parties, consist of collecting, accounting for and posting of all
payments received; responding to borrower inquiries; taking all necessary action
to maintain the security interest granted in the financed vehicle or other
collateral; investigating delinquencies; communicating with the borrower to
obtain timely payments; repossessing and reselling the collateral when
necessary; and generally monitoring each Contract and any related collateral.

     COLLECTION PROCEDURES.  The Company believes that its ability to monitor
performance and collect payments owed from Sub-Prime Borrowers is primarily a
function of its collection approach and support systems.  The Company believes
that if payment problems are identified early and the Company's collection staff
works closely with borrowers to address these problems, it is possible to
correct many of them before they deteriorate further.  To this end, the Company
utilizes pro-active collection procedures, which include making early and
frequent contact with delinquent borrowers; educating borrowers as to the
importance of maintaining good credit; and employing a consultative and customer
service approach to assist the borrower in meeting his or her obligations, which
includes attempting to identify the underlying causes of delinquency and cure
them whenever possible.  In support of its collection activities, the Company
maintains a computerized collection system specifically designed to service
automobile installment sale contracts with Sub-Prime Borrowers and similar
consumer loan contracts.  See "Business -- Management Information Systems."

     With the aid of its high penetration auto dialer, the Company typically
attempts to make telephonic contact with delinquent borrowers on the sixth day
after their monthly payment due date.  Using coded instructions from a
collection supervisor, the automatic dialer will attempt to contact borrowers
based on their physical location, state of delinquency, size of balance or other
parameters.  If the automatic dialer obtains a "no-answer" or a busy signal, it
records the attempt on the borrower's record and moves on to the next call.  If
a live voice answers the automatic dialer's call, the call is transferred to a
waiting collector at the same time that the borrower's pertinent information is
simultaneously displayed on the collector's workstation.  The collector then
inquires of the borrower the reason for the delinquency and when the Company can
expect to receive the payment.  The collector will attempt to get the borrower
to make a promise for the delinquent payment for a time generally not to exceed
one week from the date of the call.  If the borrower makes such a promise, the
account is routed to a pending queue and is not contacted until the outcome of
the promise is known.  If the payment is made by the promise date and the
account is no longer delinquent, the account is routed out of the collection
system.  If the payment is not made, or if the payment is made, but the account
remains delinquent, the account is returned to the automatic dialing queue for
subsequent contacts.

     If a borrower fails to make or keep promises for payments, or if the
borrower is uncooperative or attempts to evade contact or hide the vehicle, a
supervisor will review the collection activity relating to the account to
determine if repossession of the vehicle is warranted.  Generally, such a
decision will occur between the 45th and 90th day past the borrower's payment
due date, but could occur sooner or later, depending on the specific
circumstances.

     If a decision to repossess is made by a supervisor, such assignment is
given to one of many licensed, bonded repossession agents used by the Company. 
When the vehicle is recovered, the repossession agent delivers it to a wholesale
auto auction where it is kept until it is liquidated, usually within 30 days of
the repossession.  Liquidation proceeds are applied to the borrower's
outstanding obligation under the Contract and the borrower is advised of his
obligation to pay any deficiency balance that remains.  The Company uses all
practical means available to collect deficiency balances, including filing for
judgments against borrowers where applicable.

     The goal of the Company's collection efforts under the Servicing Agreements
is to minimize delinquencies, repossessions and charge-offs under the portfolios
of Contracts serviced.  If the situation so merits, the Company may extend or
modify a Contract within parameters specified in the Servicing 


                                       44
<PAGE>

Agreement.


     The Company's excess servicing fees are impacted by the relative
performance of the portfolios of Contracts it has sold to institutional
investors.  The tables below document the delinquency, repossession and net
credit loss experience of all Contracts originated by the Company since its
inception:

     DELINQUENCY EXPERIENCE(1)

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               DECEMBER 31, 1996               DECEMBER 31, 1995               MARCH 31, 1995
                                               -----------------               -----------------              ----------------

                                              NUMBER                         NUMBER                           NUMBER 
                                              OF LOANS       AMOUNT          OF LOANS          AMOUNT         OF LOANS     AMOUNT
                                              --------       ------          --------          ------         --------     ------
- -------                                                                          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) 
<S>                                       <C>               <C>               <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Gross Servicing Portfolio   . . . . .         47,187          $604,092         27,113          $355,965       18,106       $247,642

Period of delinquency (2) 
  31-60 days  . . . . . . . . . . . .          1,801            22,099            909            11,520          298          3,865
  61-90 days  . . . . . . . . . . . .            724             9,068            203             2,654           63            885
  91 +  days  . . . . . . . . . . . .            768             9,906            272             3,899           87          1,370
                                               -----            ------          -----            ------          ---         ------
Total delinquencies . . . . . . . . .          3,293            41,073          1,384            18,073          448          6,120

 
Amount in repossession (3)  . . . . .          1,168            14,563            834            10,151          323          4,792
                                               -----            ------          -----            ------          ---         ------
 
Total delinquencies and 
 amount in repossession (2) . . . . .          4,461            55,636          2,218            28,224          771         10,912
                                               -----            ------          -----            ------          ---         ------
                                               -----            ------          -----            ------          ---         ------

Delinquencies as a percent 
 of gross Servicing Portfolio . . . .           7.0%              6.8%           5.1%              5.1%         2.5%           2.5%

Total delinquencies and amount  
 in repossession as a percent 
 of gross Servicing Portfolio . . . .           9.5%              9.2%           8.2%              7.9%         4.3%           4.4%
</TABLE>
    

(1)  All amounts and percentages are based on the full amount remaining to be
repaid on each Contract, including, for Rule of 78s Contracts, any unearned
finance charges.  The information in the table represents the principal amount
of all Contracts purchased (excluding Bulk Purchases not yet sold) by the
Company, including Contracts subsequently sold by the Company which it continues
to service.
(2)  The Company considers a Contract delinquent when an obligor fails to make
at least 90% of a contractually due payment by the following due date.  The
period of delinquency is based on the number of days payments are contractually
past due.  Contracts less than 31 days delinquent are not included. 
(3)  Amount in repossession represents financed vehicles which have been
repossessed but not yet liquidated.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

NET CHARGE-OFF EXPERIENCE(1)
     
                                                YEAR             TRANSITION PERIOD       FISCAL YEAR
                                                ENDED                 ENDED                  ENDED
                                           DECEMBER 31, 1996     DECEMBER 31, 1995       MARCH 31, 1995
                                           -----------------     -----------------       --------------
                                                               (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                           <C>                <C>                     <C>
Average Servicing Portfolio 
outstanding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       $397,430               $240,864               $128,004

Net charge-offs as a percent of
 average Servicing Portfolio(3). . . . .           5.1%                   4.6%                   3.4%
</TABLE>
    

   
(1)  All amounts and percentages are based on the principal amount scheduled to
be paid on each Contract.  The information in the table represents all Contracts
purchased by the Company including Contracts subsequently sold by the Company
which it continues to service.
(2)  The percentages set forth for the nine-month transition period ended
December 31, 1995, are computed using annualized operating data which do not
necessarily represent comparable data for a full twelve-month period.
    

                                       45
<PAGE>

(3)  Net charge-offs include the remaining principal balance, after the 
application of the net proceeds from the liquidation of the vehicle 
(excluding accrued and unpaid interest).  Post-liquidation amounts received 
on previously charged-off Contracts are applied to the period in which the 
related Contract was originally charged off.  Excludes Bulk Purchases not yet 
sold and uninsured casualty losses.

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

     The Company maintains sophisticated data processing support and 
management information systems.  To support its collection efforts, the 
Company utilizes Digital Systems International's Intelligent Dialing 
System-TM-, a high-penetration automatic dialer, in conjunction with the 
American Management Systems' Computer Assisted Collection System software, 
which has been customized by the Company, and numerous accounting software 
programs.  All systems are operated at the Company's offices on an Advance 
System IBM AS/400 computer.

     The Company's high-penetration automatic dialer controls multiple 
telephone lines and automatically dials numbers from file records in 
accordance with programmed instructions established by management.  If the 
dialer receives a busy signal or no answer, it will generally route the 
number for a subsequent re-call.  The dialer has the ability to distinguish a 
pre-recorded voice and will leave the appropriate digitized human voice 
message on the borrower's answering machine.  Generally, the dialer transfers 
the call to a collector only after it has determined that there is a live 
voice on the line.  In most instances, this is accomplished so rapidly that 
the individual receiving the call is unaware that an automatic dialer has 
been used.  The efficiency of the auto dialer allows the Company to place as 
many as 5,000 telephone calls per day.

     The high-penetration automatic dialer also monitors telephone activity 
and activates more telephone lines when connect rates are low or shuts down 
lines when connect rates are high.  Once a live call is passed to a 
collector, all relevant account information, including one of 99 account 
status codes, automatically appears on the collector's video screen.  The 
Company believes the capabilities of the automatic dialer reduce the 
likelihood that an account will remain delinquent for a prolonged period 
without appropriate follow-up.

     The Company's automation allows it to electronically sort and prioritize 
each collector's workload as well as to implement specific collection 
strategies.  Moreover, the Company has adopted certain procedural controls 
designed to ensure that certain important decisions, such as ordering a 
repossession, initiating legal action or materially modifying an account, are 
automatically routed to a supervisor for review and approval.

     The Company believes that the capacity of its existing data processing 
support and management information systems is sufficient to allow the Company 
to substantially expand its business without significant additional capital 
expenditures.

COMPETITION

     The automobile financing business is highly competitive. The Company 
competes with a number of national, local and regional finance companies with 
operations similar to those of the Company. In addition, competitors or 
potential competitors include other types of financial services companies, 
such as commercial banks, savings and loan associations, leasing companies, 
credit unions providing retail loan financing and lease financing for new and 
used vehicles, and captive finance companies affiliated with major automobile 
manufacturers such as General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Ford Motor 
Credit Corporation, Chrysler Credit Corporation and Nissan Motors Acceptance 
Corporation. Many of the Company's competitors and potential competitors 
possess substantially greater financial, marketing, technical, personnel and 
other resources than the Company. Moreover, the Company's future 
profitability will be directly related to the availability and cost of its 
capital in relation to the availability and cost of capital to its 
competitors. The Company's competitors and potential competitors include far 
larger, more established companies that have access to capital markets for 
unsecured commercial paper and investment grade-rated debt instruments and to 
other funding sources which may be unavailable to the Company. Many of these 
companies also have long-standing relationships with Dealers and may provide 
other financing to dealers, including floor plan financing for the Dealers' 
purchase of automobiles from manufacturers, which is not offered by the 
Company.

     The Company believes that the principal competitive factors affecting a 
Dealer's decision to offer 

                                       46
<PAGE>
Contracts for sale to a particular financing source are the purchase price 
offered for the Contracts, the reasonableness of the financing source's 
underwriting guidelines and documentation requests, the predictability and 
timeliness of purchases and the financial stability of the funding source.  
The Company believes that it can obtain from Dealers sufficient Contracts for 
purchase at attractive prices by consistently applying reasonable 
underwriting criteria and making timely purchases of qualifying Contracts.

     The Company believes that it can compete effectively for the interest of 
institutional investors in purchasing Contracts acquired by the Company based 
upon the historical performance of portfolios of Contracts sold and serviced 
by it and its willingness to establish substantial Spread Accounts for the 
benefit of investors and to derive a portion of its revenues from excess 
servicing fees paid on a monthly basis rather than up-front fees paid at the 
time of sale of the Contracts.  

MARKETING

   
     The Company establishes relationships with Dealers through Company 
representatives that contact a prospective Dealer to explain the Company's 
Contract purchases and thereafter provide Dealer training and support 
services. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had 48 representatives, 31 of 
whom are employees and 17 of whom are independent.  The independent 
representatives are contractually obligated to represent the Company's 
financing program exclusively.  The Company's representatives present the 
Dealer with a marketing package, which includes the Company's promotional 
material containing the current discount rate offered by the Company for the 
purchase of Contracts, a copy of the Company's standard-form Dealer 
Agreement, examples of monthly reports and required documentation relating to 
Contracts, but they have no authority relating to the decision to purchase 
Contracts from Dealers.  The Company's acceptance of a Dealer is subject to 
its analysis of, among other things, the Dealer's operating history.
    

     The Company has not actively advertised its automobile financing or 
third-party loan servicing businesses, although it may do so selectively in 
the future.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

     The Company intends to obtain and maintain all licenses necessary to the 
lawful conduct of its business and operations.  The Company is not licensed 
to make loans directly to borrowers.

     Several federal and state consumer protection laws, including the 
Federal Truth-In-Lending Act, the Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the 
Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Federal Trade Commission 
Act, regulate the extension of credit in consumer credit transactions. These 
laws mandate certain disclosures with respect to finance charges on Contracts 
and impose certain other restrictions on Dealers. In addition, laws in a 
number of states impose limitations on the amount of finance charges that may 
be charged by Dealers on credit sales. The so-called Lemon Laws enacted by 
the federal government and various states provide certain rights to 
purchasers with respect to motor vehicles that fail to satisfy express 
warranties. The application of Lemon Laws or violation of such other federal 
and state laws may give rise to a claim or defense of a borrower against a 
Dealer and its assignees, including the Company and purchasers of Contracts 
from the Company. The Dealer Agreement contains representations by the Dealer 
that, as of the date of assignment of Contracts, no such claims or defenses 
have been asserted or threatened with respect to the Contracts and that all 
requirements of such federal and state laws have been complied with in all 
material respects. Although a Dealer would be obligated to repurchase 
Contracts that involve a breach of such warranty, there can be no assurance 
that the Dealer will have the financial resources to satisfy its repurchase 
obligations to the Company. Certain of these laws also regulate the Company's 
servicing activities, including its methods of collection.

     Although the Company believes that it is currently in compliance with 
applicable statutes and regulations, there can be no assurance that the 
Company will be able to maintain such compliance.  The failure to comply with 
such statutes and regulations could have a material adverse effect upon the 
Company. Furthermore, the adoption of additional statutes and regulations, 
changes in the interpretation and enforcement of current statutes and 
regulations or the expansion of the Company's business into jurisdictions 
that have adopted more stringent regulatory requirements than those in which 
the Company currently conducts business could have a 
                                       47
<PAGE>
material adverse effect upon the Company. In addition, due to the 
consumer-oriented nature of the industry in which the Company operates and 
the application of certain laws and regulations, industry participants are 
regularly named as defendants in litigation involving alleged violations of 
federal and state laws and regulations and consumer law torts, including 
fraud. Many of these actions involve alleged violations of consumer 
protection laws. Although the Company is not involved in any material 
litigation, a significant judgment against the Company or within the industry 
in connection with any such litigation could have a material adverse effect 
on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

     Upon the purchase of Contracts by the Company, the original Contracts and
related title documents for the financed vehicles are delivered by the selling
Dealers to the Company.  Upon the sale of each portfolio of Contracts by the
Company, a financing statement is filed under the Uniform Commercial Code as
adopted in the applicable state (the "UCC") to perfect and give notice of the
purchaser's security interest in the Contracts.

     The Dealer Agreement and related assignment contain representations and 
warranties by the Dealer that an application for state registration of each 
financed vehicle, naming the Company as secured party with respect to the 
vehicle, was effected at the time of sale of the related Contract to the 
Company, and that all necessary steps have been taken to obtain a perfected 
first priority security interest in each financed vehicle in favor of the 
Company under the laws of the state in which the financed vehicle is 
registered. If a Dealer or the Company, because of clerical error or 
otherwise, has failed to take such action in a timely manner, or to maintain 
such interest with respect to a financed vehicle, neither the Company nor any 
purchaser of the related Contract from the Company would have a perfected 
security interest in the financed vehicle and its security interest may be 
subordinate to the interest of, among others, subsequent purchasers of the 
financed vehicle, holders of perfected security interests and a trustee in 
bankruptcy of the borrower. The security interest of the Company or the 
purchaser of a Contract may also be subordinate to the interests of third 
parties if the interest is not perfected due to administrative error by state 
recording officials. Moreover, fraud or forgery by the borrower could render 
a Contract unenforceable against third parties. In such events, the Company 
could be required by the purchaser to repurchase the Contract. In the event 
the Company is required to repurchase a Contract, it will generally have 
recourse against the Dealer from which it purchased the Contract. This 
recourse will be unsecured except for a lien on the vehicle covered by the 
Contract, and there can be no assurance that any Dealer will have the 
financial resources to satisfy its repurchase obligations to the Company. 
Subject to any recourse against Dealers, the Company will bear any loss on 
repossession and resale of vehicles financed under Contracts repurchased by 
it from investors.

     Under the laws of many states, liens for storage and repairs performed on a
vehicle and for unpaid taxes take priority over a perfected security interest in
the vehicle.  Pursuant to its securitization purchase commitments, the Company
generally warrants that, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such liens
or claims are pending or threatened with respect to a financed vehicle, which
may be or become prior to or equal with the lien of the related Contracts.  In
the event that any of the Company's representations or warranties proves to be
incorrect, the trust or the investor would be entitled to require the Company to
repurchase the Contract relating to such financed vehicle.

     The Company, on behalf of purchasers of Contracts, may take action to
enforce the security interest in financed vehicles with respect to any related
Contracts in default by repossession and resale of the financed vehicles.  The
UCC and other state laws regulate repossession sales by requiring that the
secured party provide the borrower with reasonable notice of the date, time and
place of any public sale of the collateral, the date after which any private
sale of the collateral may be held and of the borrower's right to redeem the
financed vehicle prior to any such sale and by providing that any such sale be
conducted in a commercially reasonable manner.  Financed vehicles repossessed
generally are resold by the Company through unaffiliated wholesale automobile
networks or auctions, which are attended principally by used car dealers.

     In the event of a repossession and resale of a financed vehicle, after
payment of outstanding liens for storage, repairs and unpaid taxes, to the
extent those liens take priority over the Company's security interest, and after
payment of the reasonable costs of retaking, holding and selling the vehicle,
the secured party would be entitled to be paid the full outstanding balance of
the Contract out of the sale proceeds before payments are made to the holders of
junior security interests in the financed vehicles, to unsecured creditors of
the borrower, or, thereafter, to the borrower.  Under the UCC and other laws
applicable in most states (including 
                                       48
<PAGE>
   
California), a creditor is entitled to obtain a deficiency judgment from a
borrower for any deficiency on repossession and resale of the motor vehicle
securing the unpaid balance of such borrower's Contract. However, some states
impose prohibitions or limitations on deficiency judgments.  If a deficiency
judgment were granted, the judgment would be a personal judgment against the
borrower for the shortfall, and a defaulting borrower may often have very little
capital or few sources of income available following repossession.  Therefore,
in many cases, it may not be useful to seek a deficiency judgment against a
borrower or, if one is obtained, it may be settled at a significant discount.
    

PROPERTY

     The Company's headquarters are located in Irvine, California, where it
leases approximately 51,400 square feet of general office space from an
unaffiliated lessor.  The annual rent is $524,596 through the year 2000, the
final year of the lease.  In addition, the Company pays the property taxes,
maintenance and other common area expenses of the premises, currently at the
approximate annual rate of $98,000.  All such amounts are payable monthly.  The
Company has an option to extend the lease for an additional five years upon
terms substantially similar to those of the existing lease.

     The Company plans to establish a branch facility in Chesapeake, Virginia. 
The Company has agreed to lease approximately 18,600 square feet of general
office space in Chesapeake at an initial annual rent of $260,666, increasing to
$333,652 over a ten-year term.  In addition, the Company is in discussions with
its current landlord in California regarding a lease of a larger headquarters
location or of additional space.  Although the terms of any such lease have not
been fixed as yet, the Company believes that adequate facilities are available.

EMPLOYEES

   
     As of December 31, 1996, the Company had 325 full-time and 5 part-time
employees, of whom 10 are management personnel, 102 are collections personnel,
119 are Contract origination personnel, 37 are marketing representatives, 53 are
operations personnel, and 9 are accounting personnel.  The Company believes that
its relations with its employees are good.  The Company is not a party to any
collective bargaining agreement.
    

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company was not involved in any
material litigation in which it is the defendant.  The Company regularly
initiates legal proceedings as a plaintiff in connection with its routine
collection activities.


                                       49
<PAGE>


                                      MANAGEMENT

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

    The current directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
   
          NAME              AGE                  POSITION
          ----              ---                  --------

Charles E. Bradley Sr.        67   Chairman of the Board of Directors
Charles E. Bradley Jr.        37   President, Chief Executive Officer, and
William B. Roberts            59   Director
John G. Poole                 54   Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Robert A. Simms               58   Director
Thomas L. Chrystie            63   Director
Jeffrey P. Fritz              37   Senior Vice President - Chief Financial
                                    Officer and Secretary
William L. Brummund, Jr.      44   Senior Vice President - System
                                    Administration
Nicholas P. Brockman          52   Senior Vice President - Asset Recovery &
                                    Liquidation
Richard P. Trotter            53   Senior Vice President - Contract Origination
Curtis K. Powell              40   Senior Vice President - Marketing
Mark A. Creatura              37   Senior Vice President - General Counsel
    

   
    CHARLES E. BRADLEY, SR. has been the Chairman of the Board of the Company
since its formation in March 1991.  Mr. Bradley is one of the founders of
Stanwich Partners, Inc. ("Stanwich"), a Connecticut investment firm which
acquires controlling interests in companies in conjunction with the existing
operating management of such companies, and has been President, a director and a
shareholder of that company since its formation in 1982. He is also President
and director of Reunion Industries, Inc., a publicly held company which
manufactures precision plastic products and provides engineered plastics
services.  Mr. Bradley also served as President and a director of CPS Holdings,
Inc., the Company's former parent corporation, from August 1989 until its merger
into the Company in December 1995.  He currently is a director of
DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc., Chatwins Group, Inc., Texon Energy Corp., General
Housewares Corp., NAB Asset Corporation (38% of whose outstanding shares of
voting stock are held by the Company), Zydeco Exploration, Inc., Sanitas, Inc.
and Audits and Surveys Worldwide, all of which are publicly-held corporations or
are required to file periodic reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Mr. Bradley is the father of Charles E.
Bradley, Jr.
    

    CHARLES E. BRADLEY, JR. has been the President and a director of the
Company since its formation in March 1991.  In January 1992, Mr. Bradley was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company. From March 1991 until December
1995 he served as Vice President and a director of CPS Holdings, Inc.  From
April 1989 to November 1990, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Barnard and
Company, a private investment firm.  From September 1987 to March 1989, Mr.
Bradley, Jr. was an associate of The Harding Group, a private investment banking
firm.  Mr. Bradley, Jr. is currently serving as a director of NAB Asset
Corporation, Chatwins Group, Inc., Texon Energy Corporation, Thomas Nix
Distributor, Inc., and CARS USA.    Charles E. Bradley, Sr. is his father.

    WILLIAM B. ROBERTS has been a director of the Company since its formation
in March 1991.  Since 1981, he has been the President of Monmouth Capital Corp.,
an investment firm which specializes in management buyouts.  Mr. Roberts serves
on the board of directors of Atlantic City Racing Association, a publicly-held
corporation, which owns and operates a race track.


   
    JOHN G. POOLE has been a director of the Company since November 1993 and
its Vice Chairman since January 1996.  He was a co-founder of Stanwich in 1982
and has been a director, vice president and shareholder of that company since
its formation.  Mr. Poole is a director of Reunion Industries, Inc., Sanitas,
Inc., Chatwins Group, Inc., and DeVlieg-Bullard, Inc.  Mr. Poole served as a
director and Vice President of CPS Holdings, Inc. from 1993 to 1995.
    


                                          50

<PAGE>

   
    ROBERT A. SIMMS has been a director of the Company since April 1995.  He
has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Simms Capital Management,
Inc. since 1984.  He is also a director of New York Bancorp, Arrhythmia Research
Technology, Inc. and the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame.  Mr.
Simms also serves on the Board of Overseers of Rutgers University and was
formerly a partner in Bear Stearns & Co.
    


                                          51

<PAGE>

   
    THOMAS L. CHRYSTIE has been a director of the Company since April 1995.  He
has been self-employed as an investor since 1988. His previous experience
includes 33 years at Merrill Lynch & Co. in various capacities including heading
Merrill Lynch's investment banking, capital markets and merchant banking
activities.  In addition, he served as Merrill Lynch & Co.'s Chief Financial
Officer. He is also a director of Titanium Industries, Eonyx Corporation and
Wyoming Properties.
    

    JEFFREY P. FRITZ has been Senior Vice President - Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary of the Company since March 1991.  From December 1988 to March
1991, Mr. Fritz was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of  Far Western
Bank.  From 1985 to December 1988, Mr. Fritz was a management consultant for
Price Waterhouse in St. Louis, Missouri.

    WILLIAM L. BRUMMUND, JR.  has been Senior Vice President - Systems
Administration since March 1991.  From 1986 to March 1991, Mr. Brummund was Vice
President and Systems Administrator for Far Western Bank.

    NICHOLAS P. BROCKMAN has been Senior Vice President - Asset Recovery &
Liquidation since January 1996.  He was Senior Vice President of Contract
Originations from April 1991 to January 1996.  From 1986 to March 1991, Mr.
Brockman served as a Vice President and Branch Manager of Far Western Bank.

   
    RICHARD P. TROTTER has been Senior Vice President-Contract Origination
since January 1995.  He was Senior Vice President of Administration from April
1995 to December 1995.  From January 1994 to April 1995 he was Senior Vice
President-Marketing of the Company.  From December 1992 to January 1994, Mr.
Trotter was Executive Vice President of Lange Financial Corporation, Newport
Beach, California.  From May 1992 to December 1992, he was Executive Director of
Fabozzi, Prenovost & Normandin, Santa Ana, California.  From December 1990 to
May 1992 he was Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of R. Thomas
Ashley, Newport Beach, California.  From April 1984 to December 1990, he was
President/Chief Executive Officer of Far Western Bank, Tustin, California.
    

   
    CURTIS K. POWELL has been Senior Vice President - Marketing of the Company
since April 1995.  He joined the Company in January 1993 as an independent
marketing representative until being appointed Regional Vice President of
Marketing for Southern California in November 1994.  From June 1985 through
January 1993, Mr. Powell was in the retail automobile sales and leasing
business.
    

    MARK A. CREATURA has been Senior Vice President - General Counsel since
October 1996.  From October 1993 through October 1996, he was Vice President and
General Counsel at Urethane Technologies, Inc., a polyurethane chemicals
formulator.  Mr. Creatura was previously engaged in the private practice of law
with the Los Angeles law firm of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation, from
October 1985 through October 1993.

    The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee and Compensation
and Stock Option Committee.  The members of the Audit Committee are Robert A.
Simms, Thomas L. Chrystie and William B. Roberts.  The Audit Committee is
empowered by the Board of Directors to review the financial books and records of
the Company in consultation with the Company's accounting and auditing staff and
its independent auditors and to review with the accounting staff and independent
auditors any questions raised with respect to accounting and auditing policy and
procedure.

    The members of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee are Robert A.
Simms, Thomas L. Chrystie and William B. Roberts.  This Committee makes
recommendations to the Board of Directors as to general levels of compensation
for all employees of the Company, the annual salary of each of the executive
officers of the Company, authorizes the grants options to employees under the
Company's 1991 Stock Option Plan, and reviews and approves compensation and
benefit plans of the Company.


                                       52

<PAGE>

   
                               CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
    
    On January 3, 1996, the Company and Stanwich (an affiliate of the Company)
entered into an agreement pursuant to which Stanwich provides consulting
services on a non-exclusive basis for a three year period ended December 31,
1998 for fee of  $75,000 per year.

    The Company has purchased 80% of the outstanding stock of Stanwich Leasing,
Inc. ("SLI") from Charles E. Bradley, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Directors
and a principal stockholder, and John G. Poole, a director of the Company, for a
purchase price of $100,000.  The transaction was considered and approved by the
independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company, namely Messrs.
Chrystie, Roberts and Simms.

    The agreements and arrangements described above were not entered into
between parties negotiating or dealing on an arm's length basis, but were
entered into by the Company with the parties who personally benefited from such
transactions and who had a control or fiduciary relationship with the Company.


                                       53

<PAGE>

   
                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
    
   
    The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of
Common Stock owned beneficially as of February 28, 1997:  (i) by each person
known to the Company to own more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock,
(ii) by each director and executive officer of the Company, and (iii) by all
directors and officers of the Company as a group.
    

    Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property
and similar laws, each of the persons named has sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned by such persons.  The
address of Messrs. Bradley, Jr., Brockman, Fritz, Brummund, Trotter, Powell and
Creatura is c/o Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., 2 Ada, Irvine, CA  92618.

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   AMOUNT & NATURE OF
              NAME & ADDRESS OF                                   BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP     PERCENT OF
              BENEFICIAL OWNER                                            (1)                 CLASS
              -----------------                                   --------------------     ----------
<S>                                                               <C>                      <C>
Charles E. Bradley, Sr.
c/o Stanwich Partners, Inc., 62 Southfield Avenue,
Stamford, CT  06902                                                   2,895,137   (2)         19.5%

William B. Roberts
Monmouth Capital Corp., 126 East 56th Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY  10022                                                   1,233,982                8.5%

John G. Poole
c/o Stanwich Partners, Inc., 62 Southfield Avenue,
Stamford, CT  06902                                                     284,360   (3)          2.0%

Thomas L. Chrystie,  P.O. Box 640, Wilson, WY  83014                     60,000   (4)        *

Robert A. Simms,   55 Railroad Ave., Plaza Suite
Greenwich, CT  06830                                                    217,144   (5)          1.5%

Charles E. Bradley, Jr.                                               1,572,920   (6)         10.8%

Nicholas P. Brockman                                                     90,600              *

Jeffrey P. Fritz                                                         90,600              *

William L. Brummund, Jr.                                                 89,600              *

Richard P. Trotter                                                       54,086              *

Curtis K. Powell                                                         19,300              *

Mark A. Creatura                                                          8,000              *

All officers and directors as a group (sixteen  persons)              6,081,209   (7)         38.8%

Sun Life Insurance Company of America
One Sun America Center, Los Angeles, CA  90067                        1,013,332                7.1%

Robert T. Gilhuly and Kimball J. Bradley, Trustees
c/o Cummings & Lockwood
Two Greenwich Plaza, Box 2505, Greenwich, CT 06830                    1,058,818   (8)          7.4%

</TABLE>

    

- ---------------

                                          54

<PAGE>

*  Less than 1%

   
(1) Includes the following shares which are not currently outstanding but which
    the named individuals have the right to acquire currently or within 60 days
    of February 28, 1997 upon exercise of options:  Charles E. Bradley, Sr. -
    600,000 shares; William B. Roberts - 200,000 shares; Thomas L. Chrystie -
    20,000 shares; Robert A. Simms - 20,000 shares; Charles E. Bradley, Jr. -
    267,640 shares; Jeffrey P. Fritz - 70,600 shares; William L. Brummund, Jr.
    - 49,600 shares; Richard P. Trotter - 53,686 shares; Nicholas P. Brockman -
    36,600 shares; Curtis K. Powell - 19,300 shares; Mark A. Creatura - 8,000
    shares; and all directors and officers as a group (16 persons) - 1,400,906
    shares.  The shares described in this note are deemed to be outstanding for
    the purpose of computing the percentage of outstanding Common Stock owned
    by such persons individually and by the group, but are not deemed to be
    outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of any
    other person.
    
(2) Includes 207,490 shares owned by the named person's spouse as to which he
    has no voting or investment power; and 600,000 shares that Mr. Bradley,
    Jr., has the presently exercisable right to acquire from Mr. Bradley, Sr.
(3) Includes 2,000 shares held by Mr. Poole as custodian for his children.
(4) Includes 40,000 shares held by the Thomas L. Chrystie Living Trust.
(5) Includes 16,944 shares owned by Mr. Simms' spouse as to which he has no
    voting or investment power.
   
(6) Includes 211,738 shares held by a trust of which Mr. Bradley is the
    beneficiary, as to which he has no voting or investment power.  Also
    includes, in addition to the 267,640 shares referred to in footnote 1, 
    600,000 shares that Mr. Bradley, Jr. has the presently exercisable right
    to acquire from Mr. Bradley, Sr.
    
   
(7) Includes an aggregate of 1,400,906 shares which are not currently
    outstanding, but which may be acquired by officers and directors of the
    company within 60 days of February 28, 1997.
    
(8) These shares are held in trusts of which the beneficiaries are Charles E.
    Bradley, Sr.'s adult children, including, among others, Charles E. Bradley,
    Jr., (as to 211,738 shares) and Kimball J. Bradley (as to 211,802 shares).


                                          55

<PAGE>

                               DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

    THE NOTES WILL BE ISSUED UNDER AN INDENTURE BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND BANKERS
TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE (THE "TRUSTEE"), THE FORM OF WHICH HAS BEEN FILED AS
AN EXHIBIT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF WHICH THIS PROSPECTUS IS A PART.
THE INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO AND IS GOVERNED BY THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939,
AS AMENDED (THE "TRUST INDENTURE ACT").  THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS, UNLESS THE
CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES, ARE SUMMARIES OF THE SUBSTANCE OR GENERAL EFFECT OF
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE, DO NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND ARE
SUBJECT TO, AND QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO, THE INDENTURE,
INCLUDING THE DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS IN THE INDENTURE AND THOSE TERMS MADE
A PART OF THE INDENTURE BY THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT.  WHEREVER PARTICULAR
PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS CONTAINED IN THE INDENTURE ARE REFERRED TO, SUCH
PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AS PART OF THE
STATEMENTS MADE, AND THE STATEMENTS ARE QUALIFIED IN THEIR ENTIRETY BY THOSE
REFERENCES.  ARTICLE AND SECTION REFERENCES ARE TO ARTICLES AND SECTIONS OF THE
INDENTURE.  UNLESS OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN, CAPITALIZED TERMS HAVE THE SAME
MEANINGS AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE.  FOR DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS USED IN
THIS SECTION, SEE "-- CERTAIN DEFINITIONS" BELOW.

GENERAL

   
    The Notes will be general, unsecured obligations of the Company and will be
limited to $35,000,000 aggregate principal amount, plus up to an additional
$5,250,000 aggregate principal amount if the Underwriters' over-allotment option
is exercised in full.  The Notes will be subordinated to all existing and future
Senior Indebtedness of the Company as described under "Subordination" below.  At
December 31, 1996, there was approximately $13.3 million of Senior Indebtedness
outstanding.  The Notes will mature on April _____, 2004, unless redeemed
earlier (i) at the option of the Company or (ii) at the option of Holders
following the occurrence of a Special Redemption Event.  See "-- Redemption at
Option of the Company" and "-- Holders' Right to Redemption After Special
Redemption Event."
    

    Interest on the Notes will be payable on the _____ day of each month
commencing __________, 1997 (each on Interest Payment Date) to the person who is
the Holder as of the close of business on the seventh day of the month (whether
or not a Business Day) immediately preceding an Interest Payment Date.  Interest
will accrue, at the rate per annum stated on the cover page of this Prospectus,
from and including each Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the first
Interest Payment Date, from the date of issuance) to but excluding the next
Interest Payment Date.  In the event an Interest Payment Date falls on a day
other than a Business Day, interest will be paid on the next succeeding Business
Day and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after
such Interest Payment Date to such next succeeding Business Day.  The amount of
interest payable on each Interest Payment Date will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. (Sections 301, 307, 308, 310
and Supplement Sections 1.4 and 1.5) Principal and interest will be payable at
an office or agency to be maintained by the Company in __________, ___________.
(Sections 301, 307, 1002 and Supplement Section 1.3)

    The Company will issue the Notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.  (Section 302) The Notes will be initially issued only in
fully registered book-entry form with The Depository Trust Company, as the
book-entry depositary (the "Depositary").  Except as described in this
Prospectus or in the Indenture, the Notes will not be issuable in definitive
certificated form to any person other than the Depositary or its nominees
(Article 2 and Supplement 1.3).  See "-- Book-Entry System."

    The Company will furnish to Holders annual reports containing financial
statements of the Company audited by independent certified public accountants.
(Section 704)

CONVERSION RIGHTS

    At maturity or upon the exercise by the Company of an optional redemption,
each Holder of Notes will have the right to convert into Common Stock 25% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by such Holder and if a Special
Redemption Event occurs, each Holder who elects to require the redemption of its
Notes will have the right to convert into Common Stock 25% of the principal
amount of its Notes. Accordingly, 25% of each Note when subject to conversion
will be convertible into Common Stock, at the


                                          56

<PAGE>

   
conversion price of $______ per share (equivalent to approximately ______ shares
of Common Stock for each $250 portion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes)
provided that such price may be adjusted from time to time as provided in the
Indenture.   In order to exercise the conversion privilege, a Holder shall
surrender such Holder's Note at the Office or Agent maintained therefor as
provided in the Indenture, accompanied by written notice that the Holder elects
to convert 25% of the principal amount of such Notes and stating the name or
names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of
Common Stock which shall be issuable (if other than the Holder, certain other
conditions will apply).  All Notes surrendered for conversion shall be
accompanied by proper assignments thereof to the Company or be blank.  To be
effective, any notice that a Holder is exercising its right to convert 25% of
its Notes to Common Stock must be received by the Trustee not later than the
Effective Date.  The "Effective Date" refers to (i) if the conversion occurs on
the Stated Maturity of the Notes, the Stated Maturity date, (ii) if the
conversion occurs as a result of the redemption of the Notes at the option of
the Company, the Redemption Date, and (iii) if the conversion occurs because of
the occurrence of a Special Redemption Event and the Holder's election to
require redemption of such Holder's Notes, the Repayment Date.  (Supplement
Sections 1.9 and 1.10)
    

   
    The conversion price will be subject to adjustment in certain events,
including (i) dividends (and other distributions) payable in Common Stock on any
class of capital stock of the Company, (ii) the issuance to all holders of
Common Stock of rights, options or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or
purchase Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common Stock) at less than
the then-current market price (as determined in accordance with the Indenture)
unless holders of Notes are entitled to receive the same upon conversion, (iii)
subdivisions, combinations and reclassifications of Common Stock and (iv)
distributions to all holders of Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness of the
Company or assets (including securities, but excluding those rights, options,
warrants, dividends and distributions referred to above, and excluding dividends
and distributions paid in cash out of the retained earnings of the Company).  In
addition to the foregoing adjustments, in case the Company shall subdivide its
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the
Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall be
proportionately reduced, and, in case the outstanding shares of Common Stock of
the Company shall be combined into a smaller number of shares, the conversion
price in effect immediately prior to such combination shall be proportionately
increased.  In addition, if any capital reorganization or reclassification of
the capital stock of the Company, or consolidation or merger of the Company with
another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to
another corporation shall result in the holders of Common stock being entitled
to receive stock, securities or assets with respect to or in exchange for Common
Stock, then provision is to be made whereby the Holders shall have the right to
purchase and receive such shares of stock, securities or assets as may be issued
or payable with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock. Adjustments in
the conversion price of less than $0.25 per share will not be required, but any
adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made will be taken into
account in the computation of any subsequent adjustment.  Fractional shares of
Common Stock are not to be issued or delivered upon conversion, but, in lieu
thereof, a cash adjustment will be paid based upon the then-current market price
of Common Stock.  (Supplement Sections 1.11 and 1.12)
    

    Subject to the foregoing, no payments or adjustments will be made upon
conversion on account of accrued interest on the Notes or for any dividends or
distributions on any shares of Common Stock delivered upon such conversion.

    Conversion price adjustments or omissions in making such adjustments may,
under certain circumstances, be deemed to be distributions that could be taxable
as dividends under the Code to holders of Notes or of Common Stock.

    In the event that the Company should merge with another company, become a
party to a


                                          57


<PAGE>

consolidation or sell or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to
another company, each Note then outstanding would, without the consent of any
Holder of Notes, become convertible only into the kind and amount of securities,
cash and other property receivable upon the merger, consolidation or transfer by
a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such Note might have
been converted immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or transfer.
Such a transaction, or the securities, cash or other property received in such a
transaction, could result in United States federal taxes being imposed on the
Holder of a Note at a time or in a manner not anticipated at the time such Note
was purchased by such Holder.


                                          58

<PAGE>

REDEMPTION AT OPTION OF THE COMPANY

   
    The Notes may not be redeemed at the Company's option prior to April ___,
2000.  The Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in
whole but not in part, at any time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice mailed to the person in whose name the Note is registered, commencing on
April ___, 2000 at the redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the
Notes.  The redemption price will be paid with interest accrued to and including
the date fixed for redemption.  After the redemption date, interest will cease
to accrue on the Notes. (Article 11 and Supplement Section 1.6)
    

HOLDERS' RIGHT TO REDEMPTION AFTER SPECIAL REDEMPTION EVENT

    In the event of any Special Redemption Event, each Holder will have the
right, at such Holder's option and subject to the terms and conditions, of the
Indenture, to require the Company to redeem such Holder's Notes, in whole, but
not in part, on the date that is 75 days after the occurrence of the Special
Redemption Event at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus
interest accrued to and including the date of redemption.  Neither the Board of
Directors of the Company nor the Trustee will have the ability to waive the
Company's obligation to redeem a Holder's Notes upon request in the event of a
Special Redemption Event. (Section 1303 and Supplement Section 1.7)

   
    If a Special Redemption Event occurs, the Company is obligated to provide
promptly, but in any event within three Business Days after expiration of a
40-day period following the occurrence of such event, notice to the Trustee, who
shall promptly (within five days after receipt of notice from the Company)
notify all Holders of the Special Redemption Event, which notice shall state
among other things, (i) the occurrence of such Special Redemption Event, (ii)
the date before which a Holder must notify the Trustee of such Holder's
intention to exercise the redemption option (which date shall be no more than
three Business Days prior to the date of redemption) , (iii) the procedure such
Holder must follow to exercise such right and (iv) that, if the Holder elects to
exercise such right, the Holder may convert 25% of the principal amount of such
Notes into Common Stock.  To exercise such right, the Holder must deliver to the
Trustee on or before the close of business on the date of redemption, written
notice of such Holder's redemption election and the Note(s) to be redeemed free
of liens or encumbrances.  (Section 1303)
    

    The definition of "Special Redemption Event" is forth herein under the
caption "Description of the Notes -- Certain Definitions."

    Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase
"substantially all," there is no precise established definition of the phrase
under applicable law.  Accordingly, the ability of a Holder to require the
Company to redeem such Notes as a result of a conveyance, transfer or lease of
less than all of the assets of the Company to another person may be uncertain.

    Except as described above with respect to a Special Redemption Event, the
Indenture does not contain any other provisions that permit the Holders to
require that the Company redeem the Notes in the event of a takeover or similar
transaction.  Moreover, a recapitalization of the Company or a transaction
entered into by the Company with management or their affiliates would not
necessarily be included within the definition of a "Special Redemption Event."
Accordingly, while such definition covers a wide variety of arrangements which
have traditionally been used to effect highly leveraged transactions, the
Indenture does not afford the Holders protection in all circumstances from
highly leveraged transactions, reorganizations, restructurings, mergers or
similar transactions involving the Company that may adversely affect Holders.

    The Special Redemption Event redemption feature of the Notes may, in
certain circumstances, make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the
company and thus removal of incumbent management.  The Special Redemption Event
redemption feature, however, is not the result of management's knowledge of any
specific effort to obtain control of the Company or part of a plan by management
to adopt a series of antitakeover provisions.  Rather, the terms of the Special
Redemption Event redemption feature are a result of negotiations between the
Company and the Underwriters.

    To the extent that the right of redemption by a Holder in the event of a
Special Redemption Event

                                          59

<PAGE>

constitutes a tender offer under Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder, the Company will comply with all applicable tender offer
rules.

SUBORDINATION

    The Notes will be subordinated, in the manner and to the extent set forth
in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company. (Article Fourteen)

    From and after the receipt by the Trustee of a written notice (a "Default
Notice") from the holder or holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of
the outstanding Senior Indebtness specifying that any payment default under any
Senior Indebtness has occurred (a "Senior Event of Default"), the Company may
not make any principal payments to the holders of the Notes and neither the
Trustee nor the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding notes may accelerate the maturity of the Notes until (i) such Senior
Event of Default is cured, (ii) such Senior Event of Default is waived by the
holders of such Senior Indebtness, or (iii) the expiration of 180 days after the
date the Default Notice is received by the Trustee, if the maturity of such
Senior Indebtness has not been accelerated at such time.

    Upon payment in full of the Senior Indebtness, payment of principal may be
made to the holders of the Notes.

   
    Upon a distribution of assets, dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization of the Company, upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or if the principal of the Notes has been declared due and payable and such
declaration has not been rescinded or annulled, then in any such instance all
Senior Indebtedness must be repaid in full before any payment of principal or
interest on the Notes can be made.  Any subordination will not prevent the
occurrence of an Event of Default under the Indenture.  See "-- Events of
Default; Notice and Waiver."
    

   
    As stated above, by reason of the subordination of the Notes, in the event
of liquidation of the Company, the Holders of the Notes will not receive payment
until the holders of Senior Indebtedness have been satisfied.  Also, by reason
of the subordination provisions, the Holders of the Notes may receive payments
less ratably than other creditors of the Company.  As of December 31, 1996, the
Company had $13.3 million of outstanding Senior Indebtedness.  Substantial
additional Senior Indebtedness may be issued or incurred in the future, subject
only to certain limitations on Indebtedness for Money Borrowed.  See "--
Limitations on Additional Indebtedness."
    

LIMITATIONS ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS

   
    The Indenture provides that the Company will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, guarantee or be liable with respect to any
Indebtedness for Money Borrowed (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) if,
immediately after giving effect thereto (including the retirement of any
existing indebtedness from the proceeds of such additional Indebtedness for
Money Borrowed), the aggregate amount of Indebtedness for Money Borrowed
outstanding would exceed six times the sum of the Company's Consolidated Net
Worth plus Subordinated Indebtedness.  For purposes of the limitation on
additional indebtedness set forth in this paragraph, Indebtedness for Borrowed
Money shall not include the "Warehouse Indebtedness," and in calculating the
Consolidated Net Worth, the Warehouse Indebtedness shall not be included as a
liability.  (Sections 101 and 1008) At December 31, 1996, the Company's
Consolidated Net Worth was $57.0 million and Indebtedness for Money Borrowed
other than Subordinated Indebtedness was $13.3 million and $23.0 million of
Subordinated Indebtedness was outstanding.
    

    The Indenture provides that the Company will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, guarantee or be liable with respect to any
Subordinated Indebtedness, if immediately after giving effect thereto (including
the retirement of any existing indebtedness from the proceeds of such
Subordinated Indebtedness), the aggregate amount of Subordinated Indebtedness
outstanding would exceed the Company's Consolidated Net Worth. (Section 1009)


                                          60

<PAGE>

LIMITATION ON RANKING OF FUTURE INDEBTEDNESS

    The Indenture provides that the Company may not, directly or indirectly,
incur, create, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed which is
not Senior Indebtedness other than Subordinated Indebtedness that is PARI PASSU
or subordinate in right of payment to the Notes). (Section 1014)

LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS

    The Indenture provides that the Company shall not (i) declare or pay any
dividend, either in cash or property, on any shares of its capital stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable solely in shares of capital stock of
the Company or warrants, options or other rights solely to acquire capital stock
of the Company) or (ii) purchase, redeem or retire any shares of its capital
stock or any warrants, rights or options to purchase or acquire any shares of
its capital stock (except from employees in connection with the termination of
their employment) or (iii) make any other payment or distribution, either
directly or indirectly through any Subsidiary, in respect of its capital stock
(such dividends, purchases, redemptions, retirements, payments and distributions
being herein collectively called "Restricted Payments") if, after giving effect
thereto,

    (1)  an Event of Default would have occurred; or

    (2)  (A) the sum of (i) such Restricted Payment plus (ii) the aggregate
amount of all Restricted Payments made during the period after September 30,
1996 would exceed (B) the sum of (i) $_____ million plus (ii) 50% of
Consolidated Net Income for the period commencing September 30, 1996 and ending
on the date of payment of such Restricted Payment, treated as one accounting
period plus (iii) 100% of the cumulative cash and non-cash proceeds received by
the Company from contributions to capital or the issuance or sale after
[September 30, 1996] of capital stock of the Company or of any warrants, rights
or other options to purchase or acquire its capital stock.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may make a previously declared
Restricted Payment if at the date of the declaration, such Restricted Payment
would have been permitted under this covenant.  For purposes of this covenant,
the amount of any Restricted Payment payable in property shall be deemed to be
the fair market value of such property as determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company. (Section 1007)

RESTRICTIONS ON SUBSIDIARIES

    The Indenture provides that the Company will not organize and own directly
or indirectly the Voting Stock of any Person that directly or indirectly owns or
holds finance receivables (with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $1.0
million) originated by the Company or any Subsidiary unless (i) the net income
and net worth of such Person is accounted for as a consolidated subsidiary of
the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (ii)
the Company owns directly or indirectly at least 80% of the outstanding Voting
Stock of such Person and (iii) the Company owns directly or indirectly stock or
equity interests in such Person having a value equal to at least 80% of the
total value of the stock or equity interests in such Person.  For purposes of
clause (iii), "stock" or "equity interests" shall not include preferred stock or
any similar equity interest which (A) is not entitled to vote except as required
by law, (B) is limited and preferred as to dividends or distributions and does
not participate in the economic growth of the Person to any significant extent,
(C) has, to the extent provided for, redemption rights and liquidation rights
which do not exceed the issue price of such stock or equity interests (except
for a reasonable redemption or liquidation premium), and (D) is not convertible
into another class of stock or equity interest.  (Section 1015)

LIMITATIONS ON TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

    The Indenture provides that the Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (or series
of related transactions), including, without limitation, any loan, advance,
guarantee or capital contribution to, or for the benefit of, or any sale,
purchase, lease,


                                         61

<PAGE>

exchange or other disposition of any property or the rendering of any service,
or any other direct or indirect payment, transfer or other disposition (a
"Transaction"), involving payments, with any Affiliate of the Company, on terms
and conditions less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may
be, than would be available at such time in a comparable Transaction in
arm's-length dealings with an unrelated Person as determined by the Board of
Directors, such approval to be evidenced by a Board Resolution.

    The provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph will not apply to:

    (i) Restricted Payments otherwise permitted pursuant to the Indenture; or

    (ii) fees and compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee
benefit plans) paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers,
directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary, as
determined by the Board of Directors or the senior management thereof in the
exercise of their reasonable business judgment; or

    (iii) payments for goods and services purchased in the ordinary course of
business on an arm's-length basis; or

    (iv) Transactions which do not exceed $200,000; or

    (v) Transactions between or among any of the Company and its wholly owned
subsidiaries.  (Section 1016)

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR TRANSFER

    The Indenture provides that except in connection with a sale, financing or
securitization of receivables or transfers made in the ordinary course of
business, the Company may not consolidate with, merge with or transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to another entity (other than a wholly owned
subsidiary) unless such other entity assumes the Company's obligations under the
Indenture and unless, after giving effect thereto, no event shall have occurred
and be continuing which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an Event of
Default. (Section 801)

BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM

    Upon issuance of the Notes to the Depositary, the Depositary will credit on
its book-entry registration and transfer system to the accounts of institutions
that have accounts with the Depositary or the Depositary's nominee (the
"Participants") the aggregate principal amounts of such Notes beneficially owned
by such Participants.  The accounts to be credited initially shall be designated
by the Underwriters.  Beneficial ownership of the Notes issued to the Depositary
will be limited to the Participants or persons holding interests through the
Participants.  The Participants' beneficial ownership of the Notes will be shown
on, and the transfer of such ownership interest will be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee.  Beneficial ownership of
the Notes by persons who hold through the Participants will be shown on, and the
transfer of such ownership interest will be effected only through, records
maintained by such Participant.  The laws of some jurisdictions require that
certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form.  Such laws and limits may impair a Holder's ability to transfer
beneficial ownership in the Notes.

    Except as set forth below, book-entry beneficial owners of the Notes will
not be entitled to have such book-entry beneficial ownership registered in their
names on the Security Register, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of the Notes beneficially owned by book-entry registration,
and will not be deemed to be the registered holders of the Notes under the
Indenture.

    Accordingly, such person holding a book-entry beneficial interest in the
Notes must rely upon the procedures of the Depositary and, if such person is not
a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such person
owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder of the Notes under the
Indenture.  The Indenture provides that the Depositary may grant proxies or
otherwise authorize Participants

                                          62
<PAGE>

to take any action which a registered holder of a Note under the Indenture is
entitled to take. (Section 104) The Company understands that under existing
industry practice, in the event that the Company requests any action of
registered holders of the Notes; under the Indenture or a book-entry beneficial
owner of such Notes desires to take any action which a registered holder of a
Note under the Indenture would be entitled to take, the Depositary would
authorize the Participants to take any such action and the Participants would
authorize the book-entry beneficial owners holding the Notes through such
Participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of
the book-entry beneficial owners holding the Notes through them.

    The total amount of any principal and/or interest due to book-entry
beneficial owners with regard to the Notes on any Interest Payment Date,
redemption date or upon maturity will be made available by the Company to the
Paying Agent on such date.  As soon as practicable thereafter, the Paying Agent
will make such payments available to the Depositary in accordance with
arrangements between the Paying Agent and the Depositary.  The Company expects
that the Depositary upon receipt of any payment of interest or principal in
respect of the Notes will credit immediately the Participants' book-entry
accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective book-entry beneficial
interests in the Notes as reflected on the records of the Depositary.  The
Company also expects that payments by the Participants to the book-entry owners
of beneficial interests in the Notes will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with any securities held for the
accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name."  Neither
the Company, the Paying Agent, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, Paying
Agent or Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
such payments to the book-entry accounts by the Depositary or the Participants
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to book-entry
beneficial interests in the Notes.

    Pursuant to the policies of the Depositary, the Notes held by the
Depositary may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a
nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary
or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or such nominee to a
successor depositary or its nominees.  Book-entry beneficial interests in the
Notes are exchangeable for Notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof and fully registered in such names as the Depositary directs
if: (i) the Depositary holding the Notes notifies the Company that the
Depositary is unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as Depositary for the
Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 60 days;
(ii) the Company, executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such
book-entry beneficial interests in the Notes be exchangeable for fully
registered Notes; or (iii) an Event of Default occurs and shall be continuing as
to the Notes.  Subject to the foregoing, the book-entry beneficial interests in
the Notes shall not otherwise be exchangeable for fully registered Notes.
(Section 305)

EVENTS OF DEFAULT, NOTICE AND WAIVER

    An Event of Default under the Indenture includes: (i) failure to pay the
principal on the Notes when due at Maturity, upon redemption or upon repayment,
as provided in the Indenture, or, with respect to any Securities issued under
the Indenture which provides for sinking fund payments, failure to deposit a
sinking fund payment and, in each case, which default continues for five days;
(ii) failure to pay any interest on the Notes when due, which default continues
for ten days; (iii)  failure to perform any other covenant set forth in the
Indenture for 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Trustee or
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities under
the Indenture specifying the default and requiring the Company to remedy such
default; (iv) default in the payment at stated maturity of any Indebtedness for
Money Borrowed of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary having an outstanding
principal amount greater than $1,000,000 and such default having continued for a
period of 30 days beyond any applicable grace period; (v) an event of default as
defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary shall have happened and resulted in indebtedness in a
principal amount in excess of $1,000,000 being accelerated, and such
acceleration having continued for a period of 30 days after notice has been
given to the Company by the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding Securities under the Indenture requesting such
acceleration be rescinded or annulled; (vi) certain events of insolvency,
receivership, or reorganization of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary,
and (vii) entry of a final judgment, decree or order against the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary for the payment of money in excess of $5,000,000 in
certain circumstances.  (Section 501)

                                          63
<PAGE>

    If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, in its
discretion may, and, at the written request of Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes and upon being indemnified
to its satisfaction shall, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the
rights of the Holders.  If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing,
subject to the subordination provisions of the Indenture, either the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes
may accelerate the maturity of all such outstanding Notes.  Prior to any
judgment or decree for the payment of money being obtained, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding Notes may waive an Event of
Default resulting in acceleration of such Notes but only if all Events of
Default have been remedied and all payments due, other than those due as a
result of acceleration, have been made.  (Sections 502, 503, 512 and 513)

    The Company must furnish annually to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating whether, to the best of the knowledge of the officers executing such
certificate, the Company is in default under any of the provisions of the
Indenture, and specifying all such defaults, and the nature thereof, of which
they have knowledge.  (Section 1012)

    A Holder will not have any right to institute any proceeding with respect
to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder shall have
previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default,
(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Notes shall have made a written request, and offered reasonable
indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceedings, (iii) the Trustee shall
have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days and (iv) the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request.
(Section 507) However, the Holder of any Note will have an absolute right to
receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Note on or after the
respective due dates and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payments. (Section 508)

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

    With certain limited exceptions which permit modification of the Indenture
by the Company and Trustee only and without the consent of any holders of the
Securities, the Indenture may be modified by the Company with the consent of
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes, if the Notes are affected thereby; provided, however, that no such
changes shall without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected thereby
(i) change the Maturity or the principal of, or the due date of any installment
of principal or interest on, any Note, (ii) reduce the principal of, or the rate
of interest on any Note, (iii) change the coin or currency it which any portion
of the principal of, or interest on, any Note is payable, (iv) impair the right
to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, (v) reduce the
above-stated percentage of Holders of the outstanding Notes necessary to modify
the Indenture, (vi) modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage
of outstanding Notes necessary to waive any past default, (vii) impair the
Special Redemption Event or any optional right to redemption or repayment
provided the Holders, or (viii) adversely affect a Holder's rights to convert
25% of the principal amount of its Notes into Common Stock.  (Sections 513, 901
and 902)

    The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Notes may waive compliance by the Company with certain restrictive provisions of
the Indenture.  (Section 1013)


                                          64

<PAGE>

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

    The Indenture provides that the Company may terminate its obligations under
the Indenture with respect to all Notes which have become due and payable, will
become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or are
redeemable at the option of the Company within one year, by delivering to the
Trustee, in trust for such purpose, money and/or Government Obligations which,
through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance
with their terms, will provide on the due dates of any payment of principal and
any premium, and interest with respect thereof, or a combination thereof, money
in an amount sufficient to discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes.
Defeasance of the Notes is subject to delivery to the Trustee of an opinion of
independent counsel that Holders of the outstanding Notes will not recognize
income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit
and termination and certain other conditions. (Sections 401 and 402)

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

    "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition,
"control", when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have the meanings correlative to
the foregoing.

    "Capitalized Lease Obligations" means, as to any Person, the obligations of
such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement
conveying the right to use) real or personal property which obligations are
required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations on a
balance sheet of such Person under generally accepted accounting principles and,
for purposes of the Indenture, the amount of such obligations at any date shall
be the capitalized amount thereof at such date, determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

    "Consolidated Net Income" means the amount of net income (loss) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles; provided, however, that there shall not be included in
Consolidated Net Income any net income (loss) of any Person acquired or disposed
of in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the acquisition
thereof or subsequent to the disposition thereof.

    "Consolidated Net Worth" means the excess, as determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, after making appropriate deductions
for any minority interest in the net worth of Subsidiaries of (i) the assets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries over (ii) the liabilities of the Company and
its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that any write-up in the book value of any
assets owned subsequent to the date of the Indenture, other than as required for
and at the time of assets acquired in connection with the purchase of a Person
or business, shall not be taken into account.

    "Indebtedness for Money Borrowed" means any of the following obligations of
the Company or any Subsidiary which by its terms matures at or is extendable or
renewable at the sole option of the obligor without requiring the consent of the
obligee to a date more than twelve months after the date of the creation or
incurrence of such obligation: (i) any obligations, contingent or otherwise, for
borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property, assets,
securities, or services (including, without limitation, any interest accruing
subsequent to an Event of Default), (ii) all obligations (including the Notes)
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures, letters of credit, or other similar
instruments, (iii) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired (even
though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in
the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property),
except any such obligation that constitutes a trade payable and an accrued
liability arising in the ordinary course of business, if and to the extent any
of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (iv) all
Capitalized Lease Obligations, (v) all indebtedness of the type referred to in
clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above secured by (or for which the holder of
such indebtedness has an existing


                                          65

<PAGE>

right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any lien upon or in property
of the Company (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights),
even though the Company has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such
indebtedness, and (vi) any guaranty or endorsement (other than for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business) or discount with recourse of, or
other agreement, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise
acquire, to supply or advance funds, or become liable with respect to, any
indebtedness or any obligation of the type referred to in any of the foregoing
clauses (i) through (v), regardless of whether such obligation would appear on a
balance sheet; provided, however, that Indebtedness for Money Borrowed shall not
include (x) Interest Rate Swap Obligations with respect to any obligations
included in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi), or any guarantees of any
such Interest Rate Swap Obligations or (y) amounts due under or represented by
asset-backed securities or other interest-bearing certificates issued by trusts
formed by Subsidiaries in connection with the securitization of automobile
installment sale contracts or other receivables.

    "Interest Rate Swap Obligations" means the obligation of the Company or any
Subsidiary pursuant to any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar
agreement, forward rate agreement, interest rate cap insurance, option or
futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement, and any renewal or
extension thereof, designed to protect the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
against interest rate risk.

   
    

    "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal amount of, premium, if any, and
interest on (i) any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed whether outstanding as of
the date of the Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or
guaranteed, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing such Indebtedness
for Money Borrowed or pursuant to which such Indebtedness for Money Borrowed is
outstanding it is provided that such Indebtedness for Money Borrowed is
subordinate in right of payment or in rights upon liquidation to any other
Indebtedness for Money Borrowed of the Company and (ii) refundings, renewals,
extensions, modifications, restatements, and increases of any such indebtedness.

    "Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which accounted for more than
10% of the Company's Consolidated Net Worth or more than 10% of the Company's
consolidated revenue, in each case, as of the end of the Company's most recent
fiscal year.

    "Special Redemption Event" means the occurrence of any one or more of the
following: (i) (x) the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
Person, (y) the Company shall convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all
of its assets to any Person or (z) any Person shall consolidate with or merge
into the Company pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding common stock
of the Company is reclassified, changed or exchanged; provided that the
following shall be excluded from the operation of this clause (i): a transaction
which is part of a sale, financing or securitization of receivables, entered
into in the ordinary course of business; a transaction between the Company and
one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries; or a transaction of the type
described in clause (i) (x) or (i) (z) above unless immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, a Person or "group" (as such term is used for
purposes of Section 13 (d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any Person
who is a director of the Company or a "related Person" on the date of the
Indenture, is or becomes the "beneficial owner," directly or indirectly, of more
than 50% of the total voting power in the aggregate normally entitled to vote in
the election of directors; and (ii) any Person or "group" (as such term is used
for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) other than any
Person who is a director of the Company or a "related Person" on the date of the
Indenture, shall purchase or otherwise acquire in one or more transactions or
series of transactions beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the outstanding
common stock of the Company on the date immediately prior to the last such
purchase or other acquisition.  For purposes of this definition, "related
Person" means, in addition to such director, (a) any relative or spouse of such
director, or any relative of such spouse, (b) any trust or estate in which such
Person or any of the Persons specified in clause (a) collectively own 50% or
more of the total beneficial interest or (c) any corporation or other
organization (other than the Company) in which such director or any of the
Persons specified in clause (a) or (b) are the beneficial owners collectively of
50% or

                                          66

<PAGE>

more the voting power.

    "Subordinated Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed that
is not Senior Indebtedness.

    "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which at that time of determination
the Company or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly
more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock.

    "Voting Stock" means stock of a corporation of the class or classes having
general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority
of the board of directors, managers, or trustees of such corporation, provided
that, for the purposes hereof, stock which carries only the right to vote
conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Stock
whether or not such event shall have happened.

   
    "Warehouse Indebtedness" means Indebtedness for Money Borrowed under the
Warehouse Line of Credit and any replacement or additional facility under which
the Company borrows money against Contracts held for sale, pending their sale in
securitization transactions.
    

RATING

    The Notes are rated "______" by Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. ("Duff &
Phelps"), which is below investment grade.  Ratings are not a recommendation to
purchase, hold or sell the Notes, as ratings do not comment as to market price
or suitability for a particular investor.  The ratings are based on current
information furnished to Duff & Phelps by the Company and obtained from other
sources.  The ratings may be changed, suspended or withdrawn at any time as a
result of changes in, or unavailability of, such information.

THE TRUSTEE

    Bankers Trust Company is the Trustee under the Indenture.  Its principal
corporate trust office is located at ______________________________.

   
                             DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

    The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, except that holders
of Common Stock are entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of
directors if they comply with the provisions of the Company's Bylaws as to
cumulative voting.  In cumulative voting, each holder is permitted to cast such
number of votes in the aggregate as equals the number of shares of stock held
multiplied by the number of directors to be elected.  The holders may cast the
whole number of such votes for one nominee for director or distribute the votes
among two or more nominees as the holder sees fit.

    Holders of Common Stock are entitled to such dividends as the Company's
Board of Directors, in its discretion, may declare out of funds available
therefore, subject to the terms of any outstanding shares of preferred stock and
other restrictions.  In the event of liquidation of the Company, holders of the
Common Stock are entitled to receive, pro rata, all of the assets of the Company
available for distribution after payment of any liquidation preference to the
holders of any preferred stock then outstanding.  No shares of preferred stock
are presently outstanding.  Holders of the shares of Common Stock have no
conversion or preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock.  All of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Notes offered hereby will be, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
    


                                          67

<PAGE>


                                     UNDERWRITING

    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement
between the Company and the Underwriters named below, the Underwriters have
severally agreed to purchase from the Company the respective principal amounts
of the Notes set forth opposite their names below.

                                                         Principal
                  Underwriters                        Amount of Notes
                  ------------                        ---------------

         Piper Jaffray Inc.. . . . . . . . . . .         $
         Legg Mason Wood Walker Incorporated . .         $
         Dain Bosworth Incorporated. . . . . . .         $
                                                          ----------
              Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         $35,000,000
                                                         -----------
                                                         -----------

         The Purchase Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent set forth therein and
that the Underwriters must purchase all of the Notes if they purchase any Notes.

         The Underwriters have advised the Company that they propose initially
to offer the Notes to the public at the Price to Public and to selected dealers
at such price less a concession of not more than ___% of the principal amount of
the Notes.  The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow,
concessions not in excess of ___% of the principal amount of the Notes to
certain other brokers and dealers.  After the initial distribution of the Notes
has been completed, the Price to Public and other selling terms may be changed
by the Underwriters.

         The Offering of the Notes is made for delivery when, as and if
accepted by the Underwriters and subject to prior sale and to withdrawal,
cancellation or modification of the offer without notice.  The Underwriters
reserve the right to reject any order for the purchase of the Notes.

         The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within
30 days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional
$5,250,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the Price to Public less
the Underwriting Discount.  The Underwriters may exercise such option solely for
the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, incurred in the sale of the
Notes offered hereby.  To the extent that the Underwriters exercise this option,
each Underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase a
principal amount of Notes approximately proportionate to that Underwriter's
initial commitment, and the Company will be obligated, pursuant to the option,
to sell such Notes to the Underwriters.

         The Company has applied to have the Notes approved for listing on the
New York Stock Exchange.  The Underwriters have indicated an intention to make a
market in the Notes as permitted by applicable laws and regulations.  No
Underwriter, however, is obligated to make a market in the Notes, and any such
market making may be discontinued at any time at the sole discretion of such
Underwriter.  There can be no assurance that an active trading market for the
Notes will develop.  If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they
may trade at a discount from their principal amount.

   
         The Underwriters may engage in stabilizing, syndicate short covering
transactions, or any other transaction during the offering that may stabilize,
maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the Notes offered hereby.
    

         The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to
payments which the Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

         Piper Jaffray Inc. has provided certain investment banking services to
the Company from time to time and has received compensation customary for such
services.


                                          68

<PAGE>

                                    LEGAL MATTERS

         The legality of the Notes offered hereby is being passed upon for the
Company by Troy & Gould Professional Corporation, Los Angeles, California.
Certain legal matters in connection with the sale of the Notes offered hereby
will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP,
Washington, D.C.

                                       EXPERTS

   
         The consolidated financial statements of Consumer Portfolio Services,
Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for the year ended
December 31, 1996, the nine-month period ended December 31, 1995 and for the
year ended March 31, 1995 have been included herein and in the Registration
Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
    

                  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

         There are hereby incorporated by reference herein (i) the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the nine-month transition period ended December
31, 1995, (ii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter
ended March 31, 1996, (iii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for
the quarter ended June 30, 1996, (iv) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form
10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1996, (v) the Company's current
report on Form 8-K dated September 20, 1996, (vi) the Company's current report
on Form 8-K dated September 26, 1996, (vii) the Company's current report on Form
8-K dated December 11, 1996, (viii) the Company's current report on Form 8-K
dated December 19, 1996, and (ix) the description of the Common Stock contained
in the Company's registration statement on Form 8-A filed September 4, 1992, as
amended on October 21, 1992, and December 6, 1995.

         The Company will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference
(other than exhibits thereto, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference into the information that this Prospectus incorporates).  Written
or telephone requests for such copies should be directed to the Company's
principal office:  Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., 2 Ada, Suite 100, Irvine,
California  92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (714) 753-6800.

                                ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") a registration statement (as amended, the "Registration Statement") under
the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this Prospectus.
This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration Statement, does
not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement.  For
further information with respect to the Company and the securities offered
hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits
filed therewith, which may be inspected without charge at the principal office
of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of the
material contained therein may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of
applicable copying charges.  Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the
contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily
complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or
other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such
statement being qualified in all respects by such reference.

         The Company is subject to the reporting and other informational
requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports and
other information with the SEC.  Such reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the offices of the SEC at Room
1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
the SEC's regional offices at Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West


                                          69

<PAGE>

Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade
Center, New York, New York  10048.  The SEC also maintains a Web site on the
Internet that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding issuers, including the Company, that file electronically
with the SEC.  The address of such site is http://www.sec.gov.  Copies of such
materials can also be obtained by written request to the Public Reference
Section of the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates.


                                          70

<PAGE>
   
                      INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                                                                         Page
                                                                       Reference
                                                                       ---------


Independent Auditors' Report ............................................... F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 ............... F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended
  December 31, 1996, the nine-month period ended December 31,
  1995, and the year ended March 31, 1995................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the year ended
  December 31, 1996, the nine-month period ended
  December 31, 1995, and the year ended March 31, 1995...................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended
  December 31, 1996, the nine-month period ended
  December 31, 1995, and the year ended March 31, 1995.......................F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended
  December 31, 1996, the nine-month period ended
  December 31, 1995 and the year ended March 31, 1995........................F-6
    











                                          71
<PAGE>

   
                             INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


The Board of Directors 
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.

    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Consumer
Portfolio Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for the year ended December 31, 1996, for the nine-month period ended
December 31, 1995, and for the year ended March 31, 1995.  These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.  Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated 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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Consumer
Portfolio Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year ended December
31, 1996, for the nine-month period ended December 31, 1995, and for the year
ended March 31, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.


                                           KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                           

Orange County, California
February 14, 1997
    


                                         F-1

<PAGE>
   
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          December 31,        December 31,
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                              1996                1995    
                                                              ----                ----    
<S>                                                    <C>                 <C>            
ASSETS (NOTE 11)
Cash                                                   $       153,958     $    10,895,157
Contracts held for sale (notes 5 and 11)                    21,656,773          19,548,842
Servicing fees receivable                                    3,086,194           1,454,707
Investment in subordinated certificates                       --                 2,174,666
Investments in credit enhancements (note 2)                 43,597,472          30,477,793
Excess servicing receivables (note 7)                       23,654,461          11,108,251
Furniture and equipment, net (note 3)                          629,774             548,535
Taxes receivable                                               610,913            --      
Deferred financing costs (note 11)                             943,222           1,100,430
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate (note 4)              2,263,768            --      
Other assets (note 4)                                        5,349,885             569,944
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                       $   101,946,420     $    77,878,325
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                       ---------------     ---------------

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable & accrued expenses                    $     1,697,051     $     1,341,905
Warehouse line of credit (note 11)                          13,264,585           7,500,000
Taxes payable                                                 --                 2,912,084
Deferred tax liability (note 10)                             7,027,251           1,643,254
Notes payable (note 11)                                     20,000,000          20,000,000
Convertible subordinated debt (note 11)                      3,000,000           3,000,000
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                            44,988,887          36,397,243

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (NOTES 8 AND 11)
Preferred stock, $1 par value; authorized
5,000,000 shares; none issued                                 --                  --      
Series A preferred stock, $1 par value;
authorized 5,000,000 shares; 3,415,000
shares issued; none outstanding                               --                  --      
Common stock, no par value; authorized
30,000,000 shares; 13,779,242 and 13,298,642
shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively                    34,644,314          33,265,239
Retained earnings                                           22,313,219           8,215,843
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                            56,957,533          41,481,082


Commitments and contingencies (notes 4, 5, 6,
  8, 9 and 12)
Subsequent events (notes 9, 11 and 14)
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                       $   101,946,420     $    77,878,325
                                                       ---------------     ---------------
                                                       ---------------     ---------------

</TABLE>
    




See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

                                       F-2

<PAGE>
   
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                            Year Ended       Nine Months Ended      Year Ended
                                                           December 31,        December 31,          March 31,
                                                          --------------     -----------------     -------------
                                                               1996                1995                1995 
                                                               ----                ----                 ---
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>                   <C>         
REVENUES:
Net gain on sale of contracts (note 7)                    $  23,321,015        $  11,549,413       $  9,454,620
Servicing fees (note 6)                                      16,168,867            6,475,405          7,201,062
Interest                                                     11,703,921            6,229,895          5,849,154
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                             51,193,803           24,254,713         22,504,836
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

EXPENSES:
Employee costs                                                8,920,521            3,309,139          2,990,253
General and administrative                                    7,247,011            2,799,599          1,905,155
Interest                                                      5,780,529            2,724,403          3,407,598
Provision for credit losses (note 5)                          2,755,803              828,458            532,947
Marketing                                                     1,678,674            1,231,110          1,764,121
Occupancy                                                       768,521              267,641            254,845
Depreciation and amortization                                   275,348              174,555            153,355
Related party consulting fees (note 4)                           75,000              262,500            350,000
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                             27,501,407           11,597,405         11,358,274
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
Income before income taxes                                   23,692,396           12,657,308         11,146,562

Income taxes (note 10)                                        9,595,020            5,082,186          4,480,932

                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
Net income                                                $  14,097,376         $  7,575,122       $  6,665,630
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

Net income per common and common
 equivalent share                                         $        0.95        $        0.53       $       0.60
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

Weighted average number of common
  and common equivalent shares                               14,849,609           14,323,592         11,143,268
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

Fully diluted net income per common
  and common equivalent share                             $        0.93        $        0.52       $       0.56
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

Fully diluted weighted average number of
  common and common equivalent shares                        15,410,044           14,803,592         12,538,352
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------
                                                          --------------       --------------      -------------

</TABLE>
    



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

                                       F-3

<PAGE>
   
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                          RETAINED
                                                    SERIES A                                              EARNINGS
                                                 PREFERRED STOCK               COMMON STOCK           (ACCUMULATED
                                             SHARES       AMOUNT         SHARES         AMOUNT           DEFICIT)       TOTAL     
                                             ------       ------         ------         ------           --------       -----     
<S>                                          <C>         <C>             <C>         <C>             <C>             <C>          
Balance at March 31, 1994                    3,415,000   $  3,415,000    8,733,334   $  12,810,689   $  (6,024,909)  $  10,200,780

Common stock issued upon exercise
  of warrants                                 --             --             39,466         118,398        --               118,398
Common stock issued upon exercise
  of options                                  --             --             48,000         120,000        --               120,000
Common stock issuance, net (note 8)           --             --          2,000,000      13,304,550        --            13,304,550
Redemption of Preferred Stock (note 8)      (3,415,000)    (3,415,000)          --              --        --            (3,415,000)
Net income                                    --             --                 --              --       6,665,630       6,665,630
                                           -----------   ------------  -----------   -------------   -------------   -------------
Balance at March 31, 1995                     --         $   --         10,820,800   $  26,353,637      $  640,721   $  26,994,358

Common stock issued upon exercise
  of warrants                                 --             --            100,534         301,602        --               301,602
Common stock issued upon exercise
  of options                                  --             --          1,843,974       4,610,000        --             4,610,000
Common stock issued upon conversion
  of debt (note 11)                           --             --            533,334       2,000,000        --             2,000,000
Net income                                    --             --           --              --             7,575,122       7,575,122
                                           -----------   ------------  -----------   -------------   -------------   -------------
Balance at December 31, 1995                  --         $   --         13,298,642   $  33,265,239   $   8,215,843   $  41,481,082

Common stock issued upon exercise
  of warrants                                 --             --             86,000         258,000        --               258,000
Common stock issued upon exercise
  of options                                  --             --            394,600       1,121,075        --             1,121,075
Net income                                    --             --           --              --            14,097,376      14,097,376
                                           -----------   ------------  -----------   -------------   -------------   -------------
Balance at December 31, 1996                  --         $   --         13,779,242   $  34,644,314   $  22,313,219   $  56,957,533
                                           -----------   ------------  -----------   -------------   -------------   -------------
                                           -----------   ------------  -----------   -------------   -------------   -------------
</TABLE>
    



See accompanying  notes to consolidated financial statements     
                         
                                       F-4


<PAGE>
   
CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                            Year Ended     Nine Months Ended     Year Ended
                                                                           December 31,      December 31,         March 31,
                                                                             1996                1995               1995
                                                                             ----                ----               ----
<S>                                                                       <C>              <C>                  <C>         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 Net income                                                               $  14,097,376         $  7,575,122    $  6,665,630
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  used in operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization                                                 275,348              174,555         153,355
  Amortization of purchased and excess servicing receivables                  6,119,219            2,023,938       1,210,120
  Amortization of deferred financing costs                                      157,208                5,265        --      
  Provision for credit losses                                                 2,755,803              828,458         532,947
  Gain on sale of contracts from excess
   servicing receivables                                                    (18,665,429)          (7,977,828)     (4,065,899)
  Loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate                                595,352             --              --      
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
  Purchases of contracts held for sale                                     (351,350,070)        (160,150,781)   (164,263,577)
  Liquidation of contracts held for sale                                    346,486,336          156,890,700     142,472,028
  Servicing fees receivable                                                  (1,631,487)            (658,385)       (615,063)
  Prepaid related party expenses                                               --                   --               233,333
  Initial deposits to credit enhancement accounts                           (12,270,168)          (4,931,325)    (13,237,454)
  Excess servicing deposited to credit enhancement accounts                 (18,790,430)          (7,553,086)     (5,390,422)
  Release of cash from credit enhancement accounts                           17,940,919            7,693,839       5,923,201
  Deferred taxes                                                              5,383,997            2,199,068        (381,616)
  Other assets                                                               (3,361,654)            (425,695)          3,810
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                         355,146             (131,382)        528,256
  Warehouse line of credit                                                    5,764,585          (12,230,389)     19,730,389
  Taxes payable/receivable                                                   (3,522,997)          (1,865,464)      4,385,724
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
    Net cash used in operating activities:                                   (9,660,946)         (18,533,390)     (6,115,238)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from sale of subordinated certificates                              2,022,220             --              --      
 Investment in unconsolidated affiliate                                      (4,277,407)            --              --      
 Purchases of furniture and equipment                                          (356,587)            (263,496)       (334,458)
 Payments received on subordinated certificates                                 152,446              118,764        --      
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
    Net cash used in investing activities                                    (2,459,328)            (144,732)       (334,458)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Issuance of promissory notes                                                  --                  2,000,000       5,000,000
 Issuance of note to related party                                             --                  2,000,000        --      
 Issuance of long term notes                                                   --                 20,000,000        --      
 Payment of financing costs                                                    --                 (1,105,695)       --
 Repayment of promissory notes                                                 --                 (2,000,000)     (5,000,000)
 Repayment of note to related party                                            --                 (2,000,000)       --      
 Issuance of common stock                                                      --                   --            13,304,550
 Redemption of preferred stock                                                 --                   --            (3,415,000)
 Exercise of options and warrants                                             1,379,075            4,911,602         238,398
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
    Net cash provided by financing activities                                 1,379,075           23,805,907      10,127,948

                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
Increase (decrease) in cash                                                 (10,741,199)           5,127,785       3,678,252

Cash at beginning of period                                                  10,895,157            5,767,372       2,089,120
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
Cash at end of period                                                     $     153,958        $  10,895,157    $  5,767,372
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------
                                                                          -------------         ------------    ------------

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the period
    Interest                                                               $  5,213,912         $  2,542,718    $  3,288,848
    Income taxes                                                           $  6,679,000         $  4,759,050    $    523,000

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and
  financing activities:
    Issuance of common stock upon conversion of debt                       $   --               $  2,000,000    $   --      

</TABLE>
    



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

                                       F-5

<PAGE>

   
                          CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
        Year ended December 31, 1996, nine months ended December 31, 1995 and
                              year ended March 31, 1995

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. ("the Company") was incorporated in California
on March 8, 1991. The Company and its subsidiaries engage primarily in the
business of purchasing, selling and servicing retail automobile installment sale
contracts ("Contracts") originated by dealers located throughout the United
States.  The Company specializes in Contracts with borrowers who generally would
not be expected to qualify for traditional financing such as that provided by
commercial banks or automobile manufacturers' captive finance companies.  The
Company's operations are centralized in Irvine, California and it has purchased
Contracts from Dealers in California since its inception.  During the year ended
December 31, 1996, Contract purchases relating to borrowers who resided in
California totaled 25.8% of all contract purchases.  Moreover, at December 31,
1996, borrowers who resided in California made up 58.0% of the Servicing
Portfolio.  A significant adverse change in the economic climate in California
could result in fewer Contracts available for sale and potentially less gain on
sale and servicing fee revenue.

The automobile financing business is highly competitive.  The Company competes
with a number of national, local and regional finance companies with operations
similar to those of the Company.  In addition, competitors or potential
competitors include other types of financial services companies, such as
commercial banks, savings and loan associations, leasing companies, credit
unions providing retail loan financing and lease financing for new and used
vehicles, and captive finance companies affiliated with major automobile
manufacturers such as General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Ford Motor Credit
Corporation, Chrysler Credit Corporation and Nissan Motors Acceptance
Corporation.  Many of the Company's competitors and potential competitors
possess substantially greater financial, marketing, technical, personnel and
other resources than the Company.  Moreover, the Company's future profitability
will be directly related to the availability and cost of its capital in relation
to the availability and cost of capital to its competitors.  The Company's
competitors and potential competitors include far larger, more established
companies that have access to capital markets for unsecured commercial paper and
investment grade-rated debt instruments and to other funding sources which may
be unavailable to the Company. Many of these companies also have long-standing
relationships with dealers and may provide other financing to dealers, including
floor plan financing for the dealers' purchase of automobiles from
manufacturers, which is not offered by the Company.

The Company purchases Contracts with the intent to re-sell them to institutional
investors either as bulk sales or in the form of securities backed by the
Contracts.  Purchasers of the Contracts receive a pass through rate of interest
set at the time of the sale and the Company receives a base servicing fee for
its duties relating to the accounting for and collection of the Contracts.  In
addition, the Company is entitled to certain excess servicing fees which
represent collections on the Contracts in excess of those required to 
pay investor principal and interest, base servicing fees and any other expenses
of the trust. 

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Consumer Portfolio
Services, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Alton Receivables Corp.
("Alton") , CPS Receivables Corp. ("CPSRC") and CPS Funding Corp. ("CPSFC").
Alton, CPSRC and CPSFC are limited purpose corporations formed to accommodate
the structures under which the Company sells its Contracts.  The consolidated
financial statements also include the accounts of SAMCO Acceptance Corp. and
LINC Acceptance Company, LLC, both of which are 80% owned subsidiaries formed by
the Company in fiscal 1996.  All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  Investments in
unconsolidated affiliates which are not majority owned are reported using the
equity method.  The excess of the cost of the stock over the Company's share of
the net assets at the acquisition date ("goodwill") is being amortized over
fifteen years.
    



                                         F-6

<PAGE>


   
CONTRACTS HELD FOR SALE

The Contracts which the Company purchases from dealers provide for finance 
charges of approximately 20% per annum, in most cases.  Each Contract 
provides for full amortization, equal monthly payments and can be fully 
prepaid by the borrower at any time without penalty. The Company typically 
purchases the Contracts from dealers at a discount from the amount financed 
under the Contract with such discounts deferred and recognized as revenue 
upon sale of the related Contracts. Effective January 10, 1997, the Company 
began purchasing all Contracts without a percentage discount, charging 
dealers only a flat acquisition fee for each Contract purchased based on the 
perceived credit risk and, in some cases, the interest rate on the Contract.  
Contracts are generally sold to institutional investors at par.  In the case 
of whole loan sales, the investor withholds a portion of the purchase price 
as an initial credit enhancement.  In the case of Contracts sold in the form 
of asset backed securities, the Company pledges certain cash balances as an 
initial credit enhancement.  Contracts are generally sold by the Company 
within one to three months of their purchase, although they may be held 
longer.  

Contracts held for sale are stated at the lower of cost or market value.  Market
value is determined by purchase commitments from investors and prevailing market
prices.  Gains and losses are recorded as appropriate when Contracts are sold.

ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

The Company provides an allowance for credit losses which management believes
provides adequately for current and possible future losses that may develop in
the Contracts held for sale.  Management evaluates the adequacy of the allowance
by examining current delinquencies, the characteristics of the portfolio, the
value of underlying collateral, and general economic conditions and trends.

CONTRACT ACQUISITION FEES AND COSTS

The Company generally receives an acquisition fee from the dealer for each
Contract purchased.  Fee proceeds are used to offset the direct expenses
associated with the purchase of the Contracts, with any excess amount deferred
until the Contracts are sold at which time the deferred portions are recognized
as a component of the gain on sale.

INVESTMENTS

The Company determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt
securities at the time of purchase or creation.  Debt securities for which the
Company does not have the intent or ability to hold to maturity are classified
as available for sale.  Securities available for sale are carried at fair value,
with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in a separate component
of shareholders' equity.

The amortized cost of debt securities classified as available for sale is
adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, over the
estimated life of the security.  Such amortization and interest earned on the
debt securities are included in interest income.

GAIN ON SALE OF CONTRACTS

Gains or losses are determined based upon the difference between the sales
proceeds for the portion of Contracts sold and the Company's recorded investment
in the Contracts sold.  The Company allocates the recorded investment in the
Contracts between the portion of the Contracts sold and the portion retained
based on the relative fair values of those portions on the date of sale.  
    


                                         F-7


<PAGE>


   
EXCESS SERVICING RECEIVABLES

Excess servicing receivables ("ESR") result from the sale of Contracts on 
which the Company retains servicing rights and all, or a portion of, the 
excess cash flows.  ESRs are determined by computing the difference between 
the weighted average yield of the Contracts sold and the yield to the 
purchaser, adjusted for the normal servicing fee based on the agreements 
between the Company and the purchaser. The resulting differential is recorded 
as a gain at the time of the sale equal to the present value of the estimated 
cash flows, net of any portion of the excess that may be due to the purchaser 
and adjusted for anticipated prepayments, repossessions, liquidations and 
other losses.  The excess servicing cash flows are only available to the 
Company to the extent that there is no impairment of the credit enhancement 
that is established at the time the Contracts are sold to the purchaser.  The 
excess servicing cash flows over the estimated remaining life of the 
Contracts have been calculated for all applicable periods using estimates for 
prepayments, losses (charge-offs) and weighted average discount rates, which 
the Company expects market participants would use for similar instruments.  
Losses are discounted at an assumed risk free rate. The ESRs are amortized 
using the interest method and are offset against servicing fees.  To the 
extent that the actual future performance of the Contracts results in less 
excess cash flows than the Company estimated, the Company's ESRs will be 
adjusted at least quarterly, with corresponding charges recorded against 
income in the period in which the adjustment is made.  To the extent that the 
actual cash flows exceed the Company's estimates the Company will record 
additional servicing fees.

FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

Furniture and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation which
is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of
the assets.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the
estimated useful lives of the assets or the related lease term.

SERVICING

Servicing fees are reported as income when earned, net of related amortization
of purchased and excess servicing.  Servicing costs are charged to expense as
incurred.  

NET INCOME PER SHARE

The computation of net income per common and common equivalent share is based
upon the Treasury Stock Method using the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the period plus (in periods in which they have a
dilutive effect) the effect of common shares contingently issuable, primarily
from stock options and warrants.  The fully diluted net income per share
computation reflects the effect of common shares contingently issuable upon the
conversion of convertible debt in which such conversion would cause dilution. 
Fully diluted net income per common share also reflects additional dilution
related to stock options and warrants due to the use of the market price at the
end of the period, when higher than the average price for the period.
    




                                         F-8

<PAGE>

   
INCOME TAXES

The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated Federal income and combined
state franchise tax return on a fiscal year basis.  The Company utilizes the
asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under which deferred
income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets
and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  The
Company has accounted for income taxes in this manner since its inception.

STOCK SPLIT

On February 16, 1996, the Board of Directors authorized a two-for-one stock
split to be distributed on or about March 14, 1996, to shareholders of record on
March 7, 1996.  All references in the consolidated financial statements to
number of shares, per share amounts and market prices of the Company's common
stock have been retroactively restated to reflect the increased number of common
shares outstanding.

STOCK OPTION PLAN

Prior to January 1, 1996, the Company accounted for its stock option plan in
accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion
No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. 
As such, compensation expense would be recorded on the date of grant only if the
current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price.  On
January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation, which permits entities to recognize as expense over the vesting
period the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant. 
Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 also allows entities to continue to apply the
provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net income and pro forma
earnings per share disclosures for employee stock option grants made in 1995 and
future years as if the fair-value-based methods defined in SFAS No.123 had been
applied.  The Company has elected to continue to apply the provisions of APB
Opinion No. 25 and to provide the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No.
123.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF

The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of, on
January 1, 1996.  This Statement requires that long-lived assets and certain
identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected
to be generated by the asset.  If such assets are considered to be impaired, the
impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying
amount of the assets exceed the fair value of the assets.  Assets to be disposed
of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to
sell.  Adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on the
Company's financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
    




                                         F-9

<PAGE>

   
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 1996, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 125,
Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
of Liabilities.  SFAS No. 125 is effective for transfers and servicing of
financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after December 31,
1996 and is to be applied prospectively.  This Statement provides accounting and
reporting standards for transfers and servicing of financial assets and
extinguishments of liabilities based on consistent application of a
financial-components approach that focuses on control.  It distinguishes
transfers of financial assets that are sales from transfers that are secured
borrowings.  Management of the Company does not expect that adoption of SFAS No.
125 will have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of
operations or liquidity.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the
financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of income and expenses
during the reported periods.  Specifically, a number of estimates were made in
connection with the recording of the allowance for credit losses and excess
servicing receivables and the related gain.  Actual results could differ from
those estimates.

RECLASSIFICATION

Certain amounts for the prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the
current presentation.

(2)  INVESTMENTS

The Company is a party to various agreements with institutional investors and
investment banks for the sale of the Company's Contracts.  The agreements call
for the Company to sell Contracts to one of its special purpose corporation
subsidiaries, either Alton or CPSRC (the "SPCs"), which subsequently transfer
the Contracts to various grantor trusts (the "Trusts") which then issue interest
bearing certificates which are purchased by institutional investors.  The terms
of the agreements provide that simultaneous with each purchase of certificates
by the investor, the Company is required to provide a credit enhancement in the
form of a cash capital contribution to the SPC equal to a specified percentage
of the amount of the certificates purchased by the investor.  The SPC then
deposits the initial cash, and subsequent excess servicing cash flows as
required by the terms of the various agreements, to an account held by a trustee
(the "Spread Account") and pledges the cash to the Trust, which in turn invests
the cash in high quality liquid investment securities as defined by the various
agreements.  In the securitizations since June 1995, the Company altered the
credit enhancement mechanism to create a subordinated class of asset-backed
securities ("B Piece") in order to reduce the size of the required initial
deposit to the Spread Account.  All of the B Pieces through December 31, 1996,
had an initial principal balance equal to 5% of the aggregate principal balance
of the asset-backed securities.  As of December 31, 1996, all of the B Pieces
have been sold except the B Piece related to the June 1995 securitization.  In
the event that the cash flows generated by the Contracts transferred to the
Trust are insufficient to pay obligations of the Trust, including principal or
interest due to certificateholders or expenses of the Trust, the trustee will
draw an amount necessary from the Spread Accounts to pay the obligations of the
Trust.
    


                                         F-10

<PAGE>

   
The agreements provide that the Spread Accounts shall be maintained at a
specified percent of the principal balance of the certificates, which can be
increased in the event delinquencies and/or losses exceed certain specified
levels.  In the event delinquencies and/or losses on the Contracts serviced
exceed specified levels defined in certain of the Company's securitization
agreements, the terms of those securitizations may require the transfer of
servicing to another servicer.  Consequently, as principal payments are made to
the certificateholders, and if the Spread Accounts are in excess of the
specified percent of the principal balance of the certificates, the trustee
shall release to the SPC the portion of the pledged cash that is in excess of
the amount necessary to meet the specified percent of the principal balance of
the certificates.  Except for releases in this manner, the cash in the Spread
Accounts is restricted from use by the SPC or the Company.  Investments in 
credit enhancements were made up of the following components:



                                 December 31,     December 31,
                                --------------   ---------------
                                     1996             1995
                                     ----             ----
    Funds held by investor     $   1,263,660     $   2,211,363
    Investment in subordinated 
      certificates                 1,530,950         2,137,333
    US government securities      40,802,862        26,129,097
                              --------------    --------------
                               $  43,597,472     $  30,477,793
                              --------------    --------------
                              --------------    --------------
    
(3) FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

Furniture and equipment consists of the following:
  

                                      December 31,        December 31,
                                      ------------        ------------
                                          1996                1995
                                          ----                ----
    Furniture and fixtures             $  759,783          $  629,613
    Computer equipment                    875,870             682,541
    Leasehold improvements                 91,700              65,103
                                      -----------         -----------
                                        1,727,353           1,377,257
    Less accumulated depreciation
    and amortization                  (1,097,579)           (828,722)
                                      -----------         -----------
                                       $  629,774          $  548,535
                                      -----------         -----------
                                      -----------         -----------

(4) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

Prior to December 11, 1995, the Company was a majority-owned subsidiary of 
CPS Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation  ("Holdings").  In September 1995, 
the shareholders of the Company approved the merger of Holdings into the 
Company.  The merger was completed on December 11, 1995, and had no effect on 
the Company's consolidated financial statements.   Prior to the merger, 
Charles E. Bradley, Sr., the Company's Chairman of the Board, was the 
principal shareholder of Holdings.


The Company is a party to a consulting agreement with Stanwich Partners, Inc.
("SPI") that call for monthly payments of $6,250 through December 31, 1998. 
Included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations  for the year
ended December 31, 1996, for the nine months ended December 31, 1995, and for
the year ended March 31, 1995, is $75,000, $262,500 and $350,000, respectively,
of consulting expense related to this consulting agreement.  The Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Company is a principal shareholder of SPI.
    



                                         F-11

<PAGE>

   
During the year ended March 31, 1995, the Company advanced to Holdings $714,494,
pursuant to various notes which were to mature on or before July 1, 1995.  As of
March 31, 1995, all principal and interest under the notes had been paid in
full.

On September 27, 1995, the Company borrowed $2 million through a promissory note
to Charles E. Bradley, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Interest
accrued at 11.5% and was payable on the maturity date, December 31, 1995, or
upon the exercise of an option by Holdings for the purchase of 1,800,000 shares
of the Company's common stock at $2.50 per share, whichever was earlier. On
December 6, 1995, Holdings exercised its option and the note was repaid in full.

Included in other assets at December 31, 1996, is a receivable for approximately
$100,000 from SPI related to investment banking services performed by the
Company in connection with the Company's January 2, 1997 acquisition of Stanwich
Leasing, Inc. ("SLI") (see note 14).

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate consists of a 38% interest in NAB Asset
Corporation ("NAB") that was acquired by the Company on June 6, 1996, for
approximately $4,300,000.  At the time of the acquisition, NAB had approximately
$3.5 million in cash and no significant operations.  The Company's investment in
NAB exceeded the Company's share of the net assets of NAB at the acquisition
date by approximately $1,418,000.  This amount, which is included in other
assets in the accompanying balance sheet, has been recorded by the Company as
goodwill.  Based on the closing price on the Nasdaq, the market value of the
investment in NAB was approximately $7.5 million at December 31, 1996.  Charles
E. Bradley, Sr., Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors and principal
shareholder and Charles E. Bradley, Jr., President, Chief Executive Officer and
a member of the Company's Board of Directors are both on the Board of Directors
of NAB.

Subsequent to the Company's investment in NAB, NAB purchased Mortgage Portfolio
Services, Inc. ("MPS") from the Company for $300,000.  MPS, formed by the
Company in April, 1996, is a mortgage broker-dealer based in Texas specializing
in "B" and "C" mortgages.  In July 1996, NAB formed CARSUSA, Inc. ("CARSUSA"),
which purchased, and now owns and operates, a Mitsubishi automobile dealership
in Southern California.  Included in general and administrative expenses for the
year ended December 31, 1996, is $595,352, which represents the Company's share
of NAB's loss since June 6, 1996.  Included in other assets at December 31,
1996, are amounts due from NAB amounting to $1,098,000.  Of this amount,
$800,000 relates to a flooring line of credit provided to CARSUSA and the
remainder relates to fees owed by MPS and CARSUSA for services rendered by the
Company in fiscal 1996.

During fiscal 1996, the Company sold 69 automobiles to CARSUSA and received
proceeds of $458,650.  Additionally, the Company purchased 39 contracts from
CARSUSA.  The aggregate principal balance of the Contracts purchased was
$517,264.
    


                                         F-12

<PAGE>

   
(5)  CONTRACTS HELD FOR SALE

The balance of Contracts held for sale was made up of the following components:



                                     December 31,        December 31, 
                                      -------------      --------------
                                         1996                 1995
                                         ----                 ----

Gross receivable balance            $  28,095,461       $  24,584,472

Unearned finance charges              (5,268,107)         (3,820,267)

Dealer discounts                        (509,266)          (944,284) 

Deferred loan origination costs
 (net of related fees)                     61,774            59,077  

Allowance for credit losses             (723,089)           (330,156)
                                    -------------       -------------
Net contracts held for sale         $  21,656,773       $  19,548,842
                                    -------------       -------------
                                    -------------       -------------

Activity in the allowance for credit losses consisted of the following:


                                                      Nine months
                                       Year ended       ended        Year ended
                                      December 31,  December 31,      March 31,
                                      ------------  ------------     -----------
                                          1996          1995           1995
                                          ----          ----           ----

Balance, beginning of period           $  330,156     $  323,631     $  50,169

Provisions                              2,755,803        828,458       532,947

Charge-offs                           (2,755,303)    (1,076,982)     (386,408)

Recoveries                                392,433        255,049       126,923
                                      -----------    -----------   -----------
Balance, end of period                 $  723,089     $  330,156    $  323,631
                                      -----------    -----------   -----------
                                      -----------    -----------  ------------

The Company is required to represent and warrant certain matters with respect to
the Contracts sold to the investors, which generally duplicate the substance of
the representations and warranties made by the dealers in connection with the
Company's purchase of the Contracts.  In the event of a breach by the Company of
any representation or warranty, the Company is obligated to repurchase the
Contracts from the investors at a price equal to the investors' purchase price
less the related credit enhancement and any principal payments received from the
borrower.  In most cases, the Company would then be entitled under the terms of
its agreements with its dealers to require the selling dealer to repurchase the
Contracts at the Company's purchase price less any principal payments received
from the borrower.

As of December 31, 1996, December 31, 1995, and March 31, 1995, the Company had
commitments to purchase $1,109,595, $910,325, and $706,720, respectively of
Contracts from Dealers in the ordinary course of business.
    


                                         F-13

<PAGE>

   
(6) SERVICING


Servicing fees are reported as income when earned, net of related amortization
of  purchased and excess servicing. Servicing costs are charged to expense as
incurred.  Servicing fees included the following components:


                                                    Nine months    
                                     Year ended   ended December    Year ended
                                     December 31,       31,         March 31,
                                   -------------  --------------  ------------
                                        1996           1995           1995
                                        ----           ----           ----
Gross loan servicing fees          $  22,288,086   $  8,499,343   $  8,411,182

Amortization of purchased servicing      --             --             (4,849)

Amortization of excess servicing     (6,119,219)    (2,023,938)    (1,205,271)
                                   -------------   ------------   ------------
Net Servicing fees                 $  16,168,867   $  6,475,405   $  7,201,062
                                   -------------   ------------   ------------
                                   -------------   ------------   ------------

The Company services Contracts and loans to borrowers residing in approximately
49 states, with the largest concentrations of loans in California, Florida,
Pennsylvania and Texas.  Servicing balances were made up of the following
components:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     December 31,              March 31,
                                           ------------------------------   -------------
                                                1996             1995            1995
                                                ----             ----            ----
<S>                                         <C>             <C>              <C>
Contracts held for sale                     $  22,827,354   $  20,764,205   $  23,469,223

Servicing subject to recourse provisions:
  Whole loan portfolios                        11,212,010      21,213,050      29,754,103
  Alton Receivables Corp.                      10,240,973      22,732,021      35,324,463
  CPS Receivables Corp.                       461,653,273     224,218,079     104,252,042
                                            -------------   -------------   -------------
                                            $ 505,933,610   $ 288,927,355   $ 192,799,831
                                            -------------   -------------   -------------
                                            -------------   -------------   -------------

</TABLE>


(7)  EXCESS SERVICING RECEIVABLES


The following table summarizes ESR activity :

                                  Year ended    Nine months ended  Year ended
                                 December 31,     December 31,      March 31,
                                ------------------------------    ------------
                                     1996             1995            1995
                                     ----             ----            ----
Balance, beginning of period    $  11,108,251    $   5,154,361    $  2,293,733
ESR gains recognized               18,665,429        7,977,828       4,065,899
Amortization of ESR               (6,119,219)      (2,023,938)     (1,205,271)
                                -------------     ------------    ------------
Balance, end of period          $  23,654,461    $  11,108,251    $  5,154,361
                                -------------     ------------    ------------
                                -------------     ------------    ------------
    


                                         F-14

<PAGE>

   
ESR balances were made up of the following components:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          December 31,                 March 31,
                                                -------------------------------     -------------
                                                    1996              1995              1995
                                                    ----              ----              ----
<S>                                             <C>              <C>                <C>
Present value of future cash flows              $   70,339,711   $   34,538,442     $  19,551,370

Discounted allowance for credit losses            (46,685,250)     (23,430,191)      (14,397,009)
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
Net ESR balance                                 $   23,654,461   $   11,108,251     $   5,154,361
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
Servicing subject to recourse provisions        $  483,106,256   $  268,163,150     $ 169,330,608
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
Discounted allowance as percentage of servicing
subject to recourse provisions                           9.66%            8.74%             8.50%
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------
                                                --------------   --------------     -------------

</TABLE>


Net gain on sale on Contracts was made up of the following components:

                                                   Nine months       Year
                                     Year ended       ended          ended
                                    December 31,   December 31,     March 31,
                                   -------------  -------------   ------------
                                        1996           1995            1995
                                        ----           ----            ----
Dealer discount                    $   8,271,777  $   5,573,371   $  6,750,955
ESR gains recognized                  18,665,429      7,977,828      4,065,899
Deferred acquisition fees (expenses) (1,381,436)      (528,870)        647,766
Expenses related to sales            (2,234,755)    (1,472,916)    (2,010,000)

                                   -------------  -------------   ------------
                                   $  23,321,015  $  11,549,413   $  9,454,620
                                   -------------  -------------   ------------
                                   -------------  -------------   ------------

(8) SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

PREFERRED STOCK

The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock were entitled to receive
non-cumulative annual dividends equal to 6% of par value, payable quarterly in
cash (or, at the option of the Company, in-kind in additional shares of Series A
Preferred Stock), when and as declared by the Board of Directors, after the
Company's cumulative net income from the date of the Company's initial public
offering reached $5,000,000.  No dividends or other distributions may be made
with respect ot the common stock until accrued dividends have been declared and
paid (or reserved for payment) on the Series A Preferred Stock.  Upon
liquidation, the Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive, in preference
to any payment on the common stock, an amount equal to par value plus any
accrued and unpaid dividends.  After March 31, 1994, the Series A Preferred
Stock was subject to redemption at the option of the Company at a price of $1.00
per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends.  On March 15, 1995, the Company
redeemed, for an aggregate price of $3.4 million, all of the outstanding Series
A Preferred Stock with proceeds from the March 7, 1995, public offering of
2,000,000 shares of its common stock.

COMMON STOCK

On March 7, 1995, the Company completed a second public offering of 2,000,000
shares of its common stock.  Net of related offering expenses of $1,445,450, the
Company raised $13,304,550 in this offering.

Holders of the common stock are entitled to such dividends as the Company's
Board of Directors, in its discretion, may declare out of funds available,
subject to the terms of any outstanding shares of preferred stock and other
restrictions.  In the event of liquidation of the Company, holders of common
stock are entitled to receive, pro rata, all of the assets of the Company
available for distribution, after payment of any liquidation preference to the
holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock.  Holders of the shares of
common stock
    



                                         F-15

<PAGE>
   
have no conversion or preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.

OPTIONS AND WARRANTS



In 1991, the Company adopted and gained sole shareholder approval of the 1991 
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to which the Company's Board of 
Directors may grant stock options to officers and key employees.  The Plan, 
as amended, authorizes grants of options to purchase up to 2,700,000 shares 
of authorized but unissued common stock.  Stock options are granted with an 
exercise price equal to the stock's fair market value at the date of grant. 
Stock options have terms that range from 7 to 10 years and vest over a range 
of 0 to 7 years.  In addition to the Plan, in fiscal 1995, the Company 
granted 60,000 options to certain directors of the Company that vest over 
three years and expire nine years from the grant date.


At December 31, 1996, there were 97,000 additional shares available for grant 
under the Plan.  Of the options outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1995 and 
March 31, 1995, 1,319,420, 1,296,786 and 1,191,872 were exercisable with 
weighted-average exercise prices of $4.02, $2.71 and $2.62, respectively.  
The per share weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during the 
year ended December 31, 1996 and the nine months ended December 31, 1995 was 
$4.99 and $4.17 at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing 
model with the following weighted average assumptions:

                                                      Nine months
                                  Year Ended            ended
                                 December 31,        December 31,
                             -----------------    -----------------
                                    1996                1995
                                    ----                ----

Expected life (years)               5.86                6.33
Risk-free interest rate            6.23%               6.80%
Volatility                        46.20%              46.20%
Expected dividend yield             --                  --
    

                                      F-16



<PAGE>
   
The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 in accounting for its plans and,
accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for its stock options in
the consolidated financial statements.  Had the Company determined compensation
cost based on the fair value at the grant date for its stock options under
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock Based
Compensation", the Company's net income and net income per share would have been
reduced to the pro forma amounts indicted below.

                                                                    Nine months
                                                 Year Ended           ended
                                                December 31,       December 31,
                                                   1996                 1995
                                                   ----                 ----
          Net income
           As reported                        $  14,097,376        $  7,575,122
           Pro forma                             13,550,000           7,505,000


          Net income per share
           As reported                        $        0.95        $       0.53
           Pro forma                          $        0.92        $       0.53


          Net income per fully-diluted share
           As reported                        $        0.93        $       0.52
           Pro forma                          $        0.90        $       0.52


Pro forma net income and net income per share reflects only options granted in
the year ended December 31, 1996 and the nine months ended December 31, 1995. 
Therefore, the full impact of calculating compensation cost for stock options
under SFAS No. 123 is not reflected in the pro forma net income amounts
presented above because compensation cost is reflected over the options' vesting
period and compensation cost for options granted prior to January 1, 1995 is not
considered.

Stock options activity during the periods indicated is as follows:

                                              Number of           Weighted-
                                                Shares            Average
                                                                Exercise Price
                                         --------------         --------------

          Balance at March 31, 1994           1,677,840              $ 2.63
            Granted                             415,200                5.54
            Exercised                            48,000                2.50
            Canceled                              --                    --
                                         --------------         --------------
          Balance at March 31, 1995           2,045,040                3.23
            Granted                             159,360                7.61
            Exercised                            44,000                2.50
            Canceled                              --                    --
                                         --------------         --------------
          Balance at December 31, 1995        2,160,400                3.56
            Granted                             513,400                9.60
            Exercised                           394,600                2.82
            Canceled                            124,800                5.23
                                         --------------         --------------
          Balance at December 31, 1996        2,154,400              $ 5.04
                                         --------------         --------------
                                         --------------         --------------
    

                                      F-17


<PAGE>
   
At December 31, 1996, the range of exercise prices, the number, 
weighted-average exercise price and weighted-average remaining term of 
options outstanding and the number and weighted-average price of options 
currently exercisable are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Weighted-      Weighted                     Weighted -
                                               Average        Average                       Average
                                Number        Remaining      Exercise        Number        Exercise
Range of Exercise Prices      Outstanding        Term         Price        Exercisable       Price
<S>                             <C>               <C>         <C>             <C>            <C>
$ 2.50 -- $ 2.50                874,920           1.80        $ 2.50          874,920        $ 2.50
$ 2.69 -- $ 2.69                228,920           4.96        $ 2.89           91,840        $ 2.69
$ 4.38 -- $ 4.38                 70,000           7.25        $ 4.38           34,000        $ 4.38
$ 5.38 -- $ 5.38                301,200           7.25        $ 5.38           27,200        $ 5.38
$ 6.78 -- $ 8.38                201,760           8.09        $ 7.42           57,700        $ 7.41
$ 8.63 -- $ 8.63                 15,000           9.53        $ 8.63            3,000        $ 8.63
$ 8.88 -- $ 8.88                326,400           9.25        $ 8.88          205,760        $ 8.88
$11.00 -- $11.00                 15,200           7.83        $11.00             --             --
$12.00 -- $12.00                119,000           9.82        $12.00           23,800        $12.00
$12.13 -- $12.13                  2,000           9.83        $12.13              400        $12.13
</TABLE>

In connection with the Company's initial public offering, the Company sold to
the underwriter of the offering, for an aggregate price of $120, warrants to
purchase up to 240,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price
of $3.00 per share. The warrants are exercisable during the four year period
commencing one year from the date of the offering.  The shares represented by
the warrants have been registered for public sale.  During the year ended
December 31, 1996, the nine months ended December 31, 1995, and the year ended
March 31, 1995, the underwriter exercised 86,000, 100,534, and 39,466 warrants,
respectively,  leaving a balance of 14,000 at December 31, 1996.

(9)  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEASES

The Company leases its facilities and certain computer equipment under non-
cancelable operating leases which expire through 2007.  Future minimum lease
payments at December 31, 1996, under these leases are as follows:


                    1997                   $   989,333 
                    1998                       874,539 
                    1999                       794,019 
                    2000                       670,497 
                    2001                        87,433 
                                         --------------
                                           $  3,415,821
                                         --------------
                                         --------------

Subsequent to December 31, 1996, the Company entered into a building lease for a
new collection facility in Chesapeake, Virginia.  The lease calls for 126
monthly payments of $21,722 for total minimum lease payments of $2,736,993.


Rent expense for the year ended December 31, 1996, the nine months ended
December 31, 1995, and the year ended March 31, 1995, was $463,592, $186,483 and
$219,835, respectively. The Company's facility lease contains certain rental
concessions and escalating rental payments which are recognized as adjustments
to rental expense and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of
the lease.
    


                                      F-18

<PAGE>
   
LITIGATION

The Company is subject to lawsuits which arise in the ordinary course of its
business. Management is of the opinion, based in part upon consultation with its
counsel, that the liability of the Company, if any, arising from existing and
threatened lawsuits would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial position and results of operations.

(10) INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  Year ended     Nine months ended
                                 December 31,       December 31,     Year ended March 31,
                              ---------------    -----------------   --------------------
                                     1996              1995                 1995
<S>                           <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Current
  Federal                      $    3,060,164        $  2,156,799      $   3,718,390  
  State                             1,150,859             726,319          1,144,158  
                              ---------------     ---------------     --------------- 
                                    4,211,023           2,883,118          4,862,548  
Deferred
  Federal                           4,565,383           1,683,960           (353,739)
  State                               818,614             515,108            (27,877)
                              ---------------     ---------------     ---------------

                                    5,383,997           2,199,068           (381,616)

                              ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
    Total tax expense            $  9,595,020        $  5,082,186      $   4,480,932 
                              ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
                              ---------------     ---------------     ---------------
</TABLE>

The Company's effective tax expense differs from the amount determined by
applying the statutory Federal rate of 35% for the year ended December 31, 1996,
and for the nine months ended December 31, 1995, and the year ended March 31,
1995, to income before income taxes as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Year ended      Nine months ended    Year ended March
                                                 December 31,         December 31,             31,
                                               --------------     -----------------    ----------------
                                                     1996                1995                 1995
                                                     ----                ----                 ----
<S>                                            <C>                <C>                   <C>
Expense at Federal tax rate                     $  8,292,338        $  4,430,058        $  3,901,297

California franchise tax, net of                   1,280,157
Federal income tax benefit                                               737,192             727,267
Other                                                 22,525            (85,064)           (147,632)
                                                ------------        ------------        ------------
                                                $  9,595,020        $  5,082,186        $  4,480,932
                                                ------------        ------------        ------------
                                                ------------        ------------        ------------
</TABLE>
    


                                      F-19


<PAGE>
   
The tax effected cumulative temporary differences that give rise to deferred tax
assets and liabilities as of December 31, 1996, and December 31, 1995, are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        December 31,            December 31,
                                       -------------          --------------
                                            1996                   1995
                                            ----                   ----
<S>                                   <C>                     <C>
Deferred Tax Assets:
  Accrued Liabilities                 $     13,670             $     77,716
  Furniture and equipment                   23,095                   52,938
  Provision for credit losses              301,357                   33,727
  State taxes                              508,219                  489,856
                                     -------------             ------------
                                           846,341                  654,237
  Valuation allowance                    --                       --       
                                     -------------             ------------
                                           846,341                  654,237
Deferred Tax Liabilities -
  Excess servicing receivables           7,873,592                2,297,491
                                     -------------             ------------
  Net deferred tax liability         $   7,027,251             $  1,643,254
                                     -------------             ------------
                                     -------------             ------------
</TABLE>


In determining the possible future realization of deferred tax assets, future
taxable income from the following sources are taken into account:  (a)  the
reversal of taxable temporary differences, (b) future operations exclusive of
reversing temporary differences and (c) tax planning strategies that, if
necessary, would be implemented to accelerate taxable income into years in which
net operating losses might otherwise expire.


The Company believes that the deferred tax asset will more likely than not be
realized due to the reversal of the deferred tax liability and expected future
taxable income.


(11)  DEBT


In June 1995, the Company entered into two warehouse line of credit  agreements
(collectively the "Line").  The Line provides the Company with an interim
financing facility to hold Contracts for sale in greater numbers and for longer
periods of time prior to their sale to other institutional investors.  The
primary agreement provides for loans by Redwood Receivables Corporation
("Redwood") to the Company, to be funded by commercial paper issued by Redwood
and secured by Contracts pledged periodically by the Company.  The Redwood
facility provides for a maximum of $100.0 million of advances to the Company,
with interest at a variable rate tied to prevailing commercial paper rates
(6.99% at December 31, 1996).  When the Company wishes to securitize these
Contracts, a substantial part of the proceeds received from investors is paid to
Redwood, which simultaneously releases the pledged Contracts for transfer to a
pass-through securitization trust.  

The second agreement is a standby line of credit with General Electric Capital
Corporation ("GECC"), also with a $100.0 million maximum, which the Company may
use only if and to the extent that Redwood does not provide funding as described
above.  The GECC line is secured by Contracts and substantially all the other
assets of the Company.  Both agreements extend through November 30, 1998.


The two agreements are viewed as a single short-term warehouse line of credit,
with advances varying according to the amount of pledged Contracts.  The Company
is charged a non-utilization fee of .25% per annum on the unused portion of the
Line.
    


                                      F-20

<PAGE>
   
In December 1996, the Company entered into a overdraft financing facility with,
a bank that provides for maximum borrowings of $2.0 million.  Interest is
charged on the outstanding balance at the bank's reference rate (8.25% at
December 31, 1996) plus 1.75%.  There were no borrowings outstanding under this
facility at December 31, 1996.  The facility expires on June 1, 1998.  Both the
Line and the overdraft financing facility contain various restrictive and
financial covenants that the Company was in compliance with at December 31,
1996.

On December 20, 1995, the Company issued $20.0 million in rising interest
subordinated redeemable securities due January 1, 2006 (the "Notes").  The Notes
are unsecured general obligations of the Company.  Interest on the Notes is
payable on the first day of each month, commencing February 1, 1996, at an
interest rate of 10.0% per annum.  The interest rate increases 0.25% on each
January 1 for the first nine years and 0.50% in the last year.   In connection
with the issuance of the Notes, the Company incurred and capitalized issuance
costs of $1,105,695.  The Company recognizes interest and amortization expense
related to the Notes using a method which approximates the effective interest
method over the expected redemption period.   The Notes are subordinated to
certain existing and future indebtedness of the Company as defined in the
indenture agreement.  The Company is required to redeem, subject to certain
adjustments, $1.0 million of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes through
the operation of a sinking fund on each of January 1, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,
2004 and 2005.  The Notes are not redeemable at the option of the Company prior
to January 1, 1998.  The Company may at its option elect to redeem the Notes
from the registered holders of the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time, on
or after January 1, 1998, and prior to January 1, 1999, at 102% of their
principal amount, on or after January 1, 1999, and prior to January 1, 2000, at
101% of their principal amount, and on or after January 1, 2000, at 100% of
their principal amount, in each case plus accrued interest to and including the
date of redemption.

On March 12,  1993, the Company issued a $2 million five year convertible
subordinated note ("Note 1") to an institutional investor in conjunction with an
agreement by that investor to commit to purchase up to $50 million of the
Company's Contracts.  Interest accrued at 11% and was payable semi-annually.  On
July 5, 1995, the holder converted Note 1 to 533,334 shares of the Company's
common stock.  On November 16, 1993, the Company issued a $3 million five year
convertible subordinated note ("Note 2") to the same institutional investor in
conjunction with an agreement by that investor to commit to purchase an
additional $50 million of the Company's Contracts.  Interest accrued at 9.5% and
was payable semi-annually..  On January 17, 1997, the holder converted Note 2
into 480,000 shares of the Company's common stock.

On May 15, 1994, the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $2.0
million to the same institutional investor who held Note 2.  On October 25,
1994, the Company borrowed an additional $3.0 million under two new promissory
notes from two different institutional investors.  These promissory notes bore
interest at 400 basis points over the Citibank Base Rate and matured on February
28, 1995, with provisions for extensions to April 30, 1995, at the option of the
Company. The Company repaid each of these notes with the proceeds from its March
7, 1995, public common stock offering.

On July 6, 1995, the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $2.0
million to the same institutional investor who held Note 2.  The note bore
interest at 200 basis points over the Citibank Base Rate and matured on December
31, 1995.  On December 6, 1995, this note was repaid in full.
    

                                      F-21

<PAGE>
   
(12)  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS


The Company sponsors a pretax savings and profit sharing plan (the "401(K) 
Plan") under section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Under the 401(K) 
Plan, eligible employees are able to contribute up to to 15% of their 
compensation (subject to stricter limitation in the case of highly 
compensated employees). The Company matches 40% of employees' contributions 
up to $500 per employee per calendar year. The Company's contribution to the 
401(K) Plan was $63,801, $13,811, and $16,245 for the year ended December 31, 
1996, for the nine months ended December 31, 1995, and for the year ended 
March 31, 1995, respectively.


(13)  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The following summary presents a description of the methodologies and
assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Company's financial
instruments.  Much of the information used to determine fair value is highly
subjective.  When applicable, readily available market information has been
utilized.  However, for a significant portion of the Company's financial
instruments, active market values do not exist. Therefore, considerable
judgments were required in estimating fair value for certain items.  The
subjective factors include, among other things, the estimated timing and amount
of cash flows, risk characteristics, credit quality and interest rates, all of
which are subject to change.  Since the fair value is estimated as of December
31, 1996, the amounts that will actually be realized or paid at settlement or
maturity of the instruments could be significantly different.  The estimated
fair values of financial assets and liabilities at December 31, 1996, were as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                December 31,
                                       Carrying             Fair           Carrying            Fair
Financial Instrument                    Value              Value            Value              Value
- --------------------             ---------------   ---------------   ---------------   ---------------
                                                1996                                1995
                                                ----                                ----
<S>                              <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Cash                               $     153,958     $     153,958     $  10,895,157     $  10,895,157
Contracts held for sale               21,656,773        22,800,000        19,548,842        20,700,000
Investment in subordinated
 certificates                             --                --             2,174,666         2,174,666
Investment in credit
 enhancements                         43,597,472        43,597,472        30,477,793        30,477,793
Excess servicing receivable           23,654,461        23,654,461        11,108,251        11,108,251
Warehouse line of credit              13,264,585        13,264,585         7,500,000         7,500,000
Notes payable                         20,000,000        20,000,000        20,000,000        20,000,000
Convertible subordinated debt      $   3,000,000     $   3,000,000     $   3,000,000     $   3,000,000
</TABLE>

CASH

The carrying value equals fair value.

CONTRACTS HELD FOR SALE

The fair value of the Company's contracts held for sale is determined in the
aggregate based upon current investor yield requirements and by discounting the
future cash flows using the current credit and discount rates that the Company
believes reflect the estimated credit, interest rate and prepayment risks
associated with similar types of instruments.
    

                                      F-22

<PAGE>

   
INVESTMENTS IN SUBORDINATED CERTIFICATES

The fair value is estimated by discounting future cash flows using credit and
discount rates that the Company believes reflect the estimated credit, interest
rate and prepayment risks associated with similar types of instruments.


INVESTMENTS IN CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS

The fair value is estimated by discounting future cash flows using credit and
discount rates that the Company believes reflect the estimated credit, interest
rate and prepayment risks associated with similar types of instruments.

EXCESS SERVICING RECEIVABLES

The fair value is estimated by discounting future cash flows using credit and
discount rates that the Company believes reflect the estimated credit, interest
rate and prepayment risks associated with similar types of instruments. 

WAREHOUSE LINE OF CREDIT

The carrying value approximates fair value because the warehouse line of credit
is short-term in nature and the related interest rates are estimated to reflect
current market conditions for similar types of instruments.

NOTES PAYABLE

The fair value is estimated based on quoted market prices and on current rates
for similar debt with similar remaining maturities.

CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBT

The carrying value approximates fair value because the related interest rates
are estimated to reflect current market conditions for similar types of
instruments.

(14)SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In January 1997, the Company purchased 80% of the outstanding stock of SLI from
Charles E. Bradley, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Directors and principal
shareholder, and John G. Poole, a director of the Company, for a purchase price
of $100,000.  The transaction was considered and approved by the independent
members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

In February 1997, the Company filed a Form S-3 Registration Statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission to sell approximately $35 million in
unsecured Participating Equity Notes due in 2004.  Twenty- five percent of each
note is convertible into common stock of the Company at maturity or in
connection with redemption.  The notes will be subordinate to all existing and
future senior indebtedness.
    

                                      F-23

<PAGE>

   NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES
NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED
SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES, OR AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY, TO ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF
THIS PROSPECTUS.

                           --------------------------------

                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

Prospectus Summary.............................................................3
Risk Factors..................................................................11
Use of Proceeds...............................................................18
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy...............................18
Capitalization................................................................19
Selected Consolidated Financial Data..........................................21
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
 Financial Condition and Results of Operations................................24
Business......................................................................35
Management....................................................................50
Certain Transactions..........................................................53
Principal Shareholders........................................................54
Description of the Notes......................................................56
Description of Common Stock...................................................67
Underwriting..................................................................68
Legal Matters.................................................................69
Experts.......................................................................69
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.............................69
Additional Information........................................................69
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements....................................71


                                     $35,000,000


                                  CONSUMER PORTFOLIO
                                    SERVICES, INC.


                         ____% PARTICIPATING EQUITY NOTES-SM-
                                       DUE 2004
                                      "PENs-SM-"



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                  PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
                                LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER
                                     INCORPORATED
                                    DAIN BOSWORTH
                                     INCORPORATED


                                        , 1997

<PAGE>

                                       PART II
                      INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

         Set forth below are the expenses estimated in connection with the
issuance and distribution of the Company's securities, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions.  All expenses incurred with respect to the
distribution will be paid by the Company.  Except for the SEC registration fee,
the NASD filing fee, and the NYSE filing fee, all expenses are estimated and
assume that the Underwriters' over-allotment option is not exercised.



 SEC registration fee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $12,197
 NASD filing fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4,525
 NYSE filing fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          2,500
 Printing and engraving expenses . . . . . . . . . . .         70,000
 Accounting fees and expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . .         75,000
 Legal fees and expenses
  (not including blue sky) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         50,000
 Blue sky filing fees and expenses . . . . . . . . . .         10,000
 Rating agency fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         35,000
 Trustee fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5,000
 Miscellaneous expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5,878
                                                             --------
         Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       $270,000
                                                             --------
                                                             --------

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

    Under California law, a California corporation may eliminate or limit the
personal liability of a director to the corporation for monetary damages for
breach of the director's duty of care as a director, provided that the breach
does not involve certain enumerated actions, including, among other things,
intentional misconduct or knowing and culpable violation of the law, acts or
omissions which the director believes to be contrary to the best interests of
the corporation or its shareholders or which reflect an absence of good faith on
the director's part, the unlawful purchase or redemption of stock, payment of
unlawful dividends, and receipt of improper personal benefits.  The Company's
Board of Directors believes that such provisions have become commonplace among
major corporations and are beneficial in attracting and retaining qualified
directors, and the Company's Articles of Incorporation include such provisions.

    The Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws also impose a mandatory
obligation upon the Company to indemnify any director or officer to the fullest
extent authorized or permitted by law (as now or hereinafter in effect),
including under circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be at the
discretion of the Company.

    The Purchase Agreement to be entered into between the Company and the
Underwriters, the form of which is included as an exhibit to this Registration
Statement, includes the Company's agreement to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to
make with respect thereto.  The Purchase Agreement also includes certain
reciprocal indemnification rights in favor of the Company and its directors,
officers and control persons.


                                         II-1

<PAGE>

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

   (a) Exhibits.

   
 Exhibit
   No.    Description of Exhibit
 -------  ----------------------

     1.1  Form of Purchase Agreement.
     4.1  Form of Indenture.*

     4.2  Form of Participating Equity Note (included in Exhibit 4.3 herein).*

     4.3  Form of First Supplemental Indenture.*

     5.1  Opinion of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation.**
    12.1  Statement re: computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

    25.1  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.
    23.1  Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

    23.2  Consent of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation (contained in
          Exhibit 5.1).**

- ---------------
*   Previously filed.
**  To be filed by amendment.
    


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the
Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the Registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has already been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and shall be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

   
    

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

   
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
    the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
    registration statement in reliance upon rule 430A and contained in a form
    of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or
    497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
    registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
    

   
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
    1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
    shall be deemed to be a new registration statement


                                         II-2

<PAGE>

    relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
    securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
    offering thereof.
    


                                         II-3

<PAGE>

                                      SIGNATURES

   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in Irvine, California on March 3, 1997.
    

   
                                       CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
                                       By /s/ JEFFREY P. FRITZ
                                         --------------------------------------
                                          Jeffrey P. Fritz
                                          Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial
                                          Officer
    

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

   
             Signature                         Title                  Date

/s/ *                           President, Chief Executive        March 3, 1997
- -----------------------------   Officer (Principal Executive
Charles E. Bradley, Jr.         Officer) and Director

/s/ *                           Chairman of the Board             March 3, 1997
- -----------------------------
Charles E. Bradley, Sr.


/s/ JEFFREY P. FRITZ            Senior  Vice  President and       March 3, 1997
- -----------------------------   Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey P. Fritz                (Principal Financial and
                                Accounting Officer)

/s/ *                           Director                          March 3, 1997
- -----------------------------

/s/ *
- -----------------------------
John G. Poole                   Director                          March 3, 1997

/s/ **
- -----------------------------
Robert A. Simms                 Director                          March 3, 1997

/s/ **
- -----------------------------
Thomas L. Chrystie              Director                          March 3, 1997 

*   By Jeffrey P. Fritz, under power of attorney included in the initial filing
    of this registration statement
**  By Jeffrey P. Fritz, under power of attorney filed herewith.

/s/ JEFFREY P. FRITZ           March 3, 1997
- -----------------------------
Jeffrey P. Fritz, attorney-in-fact
    

<PAGE>

   
                                      SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Irvine, California on February 5, 1997.

                                       CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

                                       By
                                         --------------------------------------
                                            Charles E. Bradley, Jr.
                                            President and Chief Executive
                                            Officer

                                  POWER OF ATTORNEY

    Each person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Charles E.
Bradley, Jr. and Jeffrey P. Fritz his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each
with power to act alone, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


            Signature                        Title                  Date


                                President, Chief Executive
- -----------------------------   Officer (Principal Executive
Charles E. Bradley, Jr.         Officer) and Director


                                Chairman of the Board
- -----------------------------
Charles E. Bradley, Sr.


                                Senior Vice President and
- -----------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey P. Fritz                (Principal Financial and
                                Accounting Officer)


                                Director
- -----------------------------
William B. Roberts


                                Director
- -----------------------------
John G. Poole


 /s/ ROBERT A. SIMMS            Director                      February 5, 1997
- -----------------------------
Robert A. Simms


 /s/ THOMAS L. CHRYSTIE         Director                      February 5, 1997
- -----------------------------
Thomas L. Chrystie
    

<PAGE>

   
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX


 Exhibit
   No.    Description of Exhibit                                        Page No.
 -------  ----------------------                                        --------
    1.1   Form of Purchase Agreement.
    4.1   Form of Indenture.*
    4.2   Form of Participating Equity Note (included in Exhibit 4.3
          herein).*
    4.3   Form of First Supplemental Indenture.*
    5.1   Opinion of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation.**
   12.1   Statement re: computation of ratio of earnings to fixed
          charges.
   25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.
   23.1   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
   23.2   Consent of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation (contained
          in Exhibit 5.1).**

- ---------------
*   Previously filed
**  To be filed by amendment.
    


<PAGE>

                                     $35,000,OOO*

                          CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

                    ____ % PARTICIPATING EQUITY NOTES-SM- DUE 2004

                                  PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                                                __________, 1997

PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INCORPORATED
DAIN BOSWORTH INCORPORATED
c/o Piper Jaffray Inc.
Piper Jaffray Tower
222 South Ninth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    Pursuant to the terms of this Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement"), 
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), 
proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the 
"Underwriters"), an aggregate of $35,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 
its ____% Participating Equity Notes-SM- due 2004 (the "Firm Notes"). The 
Firm Notes are to be sold to the Underwriters, acting severally and not 
jointly in such amounts as are set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the 
name of such Underwriter. The Company also proposes to grant to the 
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $5,250,000 in 
aggregate principal amount of ____% Participating Equity Notes-SM- due 2004 of 
the Company as provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement (the "Option 
Notes"). The Firm Notes and the Option Notes purchased pursuant to this 
Agreement are herein collectively referred to as the "Notes."   The Notes are 
to be issued pursuant to an Indenture and a First Supplemental Indenture 
(collectively, the "Indenture"), to be dated as of __________, 1997, among 
the Company and Bankers Trust Company, New York, New York, as trustee (the 
"Trustee").

________________________

*   Plus an option to purchase up to an additional $5,250,000 aggregate
    principal amount to cover over-allotments.

<PAGE>

    The Company hereby confirms its agreement with respect to the purchase and
sale of the Notes:

    1.   REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Company has prepared and 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in 
conformity with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the 
"Act"), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_______), 
including a preliminary prospectus and a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 
with respect to the Trustee (File No. __________) pursuant to the Trust 
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), relating to 
the Notes; one or more amendments to such registration statement have also 
been so prepared and have been, or will be, so filed; and, if the Company has 
elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act to increase the size of the 
offering registered under the Act, the Company will prepare and file with the 
Commission a registration statement with respect to such increase pursuant to 
Rule 462(b). Copies of such registration statement(s) and amendments and 
each related preliminary prospectus have been delivered to you.

    If the Company has elected not to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules and 
Regulations, the Company has prepared and will promptly file an amendment to 
the registration statement and an amended prospectus (including a term sheet 
meeting the requirements of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations). If the 
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, it 
will prepare and file a prospectus (or a term sheet meeting the requirements 
of Rule 434) pursuant to Rule 424(b) that discloses the information 
previously omitted from the prospectus in reliance upon Rule 430A. Such 
registration statement as amended at the time it is or was declared effective 
by the Commission, and, in the event of any amendment thereto after the 
effective date and prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), such 
registration statement as so amended (but only from and after the 
effectiveness of such amendment), including a registration statement (if any) 
filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations increasing the 
size of the offering registered under the Act and information (if any) deemed 
to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness 
pursuant to Rules 430A(b) and 434(d) of the Rules and Regulations, is 
hereinafter called the "Registration Statement."  The prospectus included in 
the Registration Statement at the time it is or was declared effective by the 
Commission is hereinafter called the "Prospectus," except that if any 
prospectus (including any term sheet meeting the requirements of Rule 434 of 
the Rules and Regulations provided by the Company for use with a prospectus 
subject to completion within the meaning of Rule 434 in order to meet the 
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Rules and Regulations) filed by the 
Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (and Rule 434, if

                                       2

<PAGE>

applicable) of the Rules and Regulations or any other such prospectus 
provided to the Underwriters by the Company for use in connection with the 
offering of the Notes (whether or not required to be filed by the Company 
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations) 
differs from the prospectus on file at the time the Registration Statement is 
or was declared effective by the Commission, the term "Prospectus" shall 
refer to such differing prospectus (including any term sheet within the 
meaning of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) from and after the time 
such prospectus is filed with the Commission or transmitted to the Commission 
for filing pursuant to such Rule 424(b) (and Rule 434, if applicable) or from 
and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters by the Company 
for such use. The term "Preliminary Prospectus" as used herein means any 
preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the 
time it becomes or became effective under the Act and any prospectus subject 
to completion as described in Rule 430A or 434 of the Rules and Regulations. 
Any reference herein to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and 
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 
of Form S-3 under the Act as of the date of such Prospectus. Any reference 
to any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (including any supplement to 
the Prospectus) shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed 
after the date of such Prospectus under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated therein by reference.

    2.   AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE.

         (a)  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements 
of the Company herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions set 
forth herein, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the 
Underwriters, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to 
purchase from the Company, at the purchase price of $___ per $1,000 principal 
amount, the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite the 
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such aggregate principal 
amount of Firm Notes as such Underwriter shall be obligated to purchase 
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof).

         (b)  The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters and, on the 
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company set 
forth herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the 
Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, 
from the Company all or any portion of the Option Notes at the purchase price 
set forth above plus accrued interest upon delivery to the Company of the 
notice hereinafter referred to. Option Notes may be purchased solely for the 
purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of 
the Firm Notes. If any Option Notes are to be purchased, each Underwriter, 
severally and not jointly, agrees to

                                   3

<PAGE>

purchase from the Company the aggregate principal amount of Option Notes 
which bears the same proportion to the total aggregate principal amount of 
Option Notes to be purchased from the Company as the aggregate principal 
amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule I 
(or such aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes increased pursuant to the 
terms set forth in Section 9 hereof) bears to the total aggregate principal 
amount of Firm Notes.

    3.   TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company is advised by the 
Underwriters that the Underwriters have agreed to make a public offering of 
their respective portions of the Notes as soon after the Registration 
Statement has become effective and this Agreement has been executed as in the 
judgment of the Underwriters is advisable and to first offer the Notes upon 
the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

    4.   DELIVERY OF THE NOTES AND PAYMENT THEREFOR.

         (a)  The Firm Notes to be purchased by each Underwriter in 
book-entry form and in such authorized denominations and registered in the 
name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, shall be delivered by or 
on behalf of the Company through the facilities of The Depository Trust 
Company for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such 
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer 
or certified or official bank check or checks, in each case in New York 
Clearing House (next-day) funds, payable to the order of the Company or, at 
the option of the Underwriters, by wire transfer in federal (same-day) funds 
on which the Company will pay one day's interest at the broker call rate as 
reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, at 9:00 a.m., California time, on the 
third (or if the Firm Notes are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) 
under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on the date of this 
Agreement, the fourth) business day following the date of this Agreement, 
(the "Closing Date") at the offices of Troy & Gould Professional Corporation, 
1801 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA  90067. The place of the closing and 
the Closing Date may be varied by agreement among the Underwriters and the 
Company.

         (b)  The Option Notes to be purchased by each Underwriter in 
book-entry form and in such authorized denominations and registered in the 
name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, shall be delivered by or 
on behalf of the Company through the facilities of The Depository Trust 
Company for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such 
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor in the manner 
specified in clause (a) above, at the offices of Troy & Gould Professional 
Corporation at such time and on such date (the "Option Closing Date"), which 
may be the same as the Closing Date but shall in no event be earlier than the 
Closing Date nor earlier than three nor

                                   4

<PAGE>

later than ten business days after the giving of the notice hereinafter 
referred to, as shall be specified in written notice from the Underwriters to 
the Company of the determination to purchase Option Notes in such principal 
amount as specified in said notice. Said notice may be given at any time 
within 30 days after the date of the execution of this Agreement. The place 
of the option closing and the Option Closing Date may be varied by agreement 
between the Underwriters and the Company.

    5.   AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters as follows:

         (i) If the Registration Statement has not already been declared 
effective by the Commission, the Company will use its best efforts to cause 
the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto to 
become effective as promptly as possible; the Company will notify you 
promptly of the time when the Registration Statement or any post-effective 
amendment to the Registration Statement has become effective or any 
supplement to the Prospectus (including any term sheet within the meaning of 
Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) has been filed and of any request by 
the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement 
or Prospectus or additional information; if the Company has elected to rely 
on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will prepare and file 
a Prospectus (or term sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 of the Rules and 
Regulations) containing the information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 
430A of the Rules and Regulations with the Commission within the time period 
required by, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of, Rules 
424(b), 430A and 434, if applicable, of the Rules and Regulations; if the 
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations to 
increase the size of the offering registered under the Act, the Company will 
prepare and file a registration statement with respect to such increase with 
the Commission within the time period required by, and otherwise in 
accordance with the provisions of, Rule 462(b); the Company will prepare and 
file with the Commission, promptly upon your request, any amendments  or 
supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any term 
sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) that, in 
your opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the 
distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters; and the Company will not file 
any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus 
(including any term sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 of the Rules and 
Regulations) to which you shall reasonably object by notice to the Company 
after having been furnished a copy a reasonable time prior to the filing.

         (ii) The Company will advise you, promptly after it shall receive 
notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any 
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the

                                   5

<PAGE>

Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes 
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening 
of any proceeding for any such purpose; and the Company will promptly use its 
best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its 
withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.

         (iii) Within the time during which a prospectus (including any term 
sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations) relating 
to the Notes is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will 
comply as far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, 
as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time 
to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of 
or dealings in the Notes as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the 
Prospectus. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the 
Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to 
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light 
of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period 
it is necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the 
Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify you and 
will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (at the 
expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect 
such compliance.

         (iv) The Company will furnish to each of the Underwriters and their 
counsel, without charge, one signed copy of the Registration Statement and of 
each amendment thereto, including all exhibits thereto and documents 
incorporated therein by reference, and will also furnish to each of the 
Underwriters, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the 
Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto as each of the 
Underwriters may reasonably request.

         (v)  The Company will not file any amendment to the Registration 
Statement or make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus of which the 
Underwriters shall not previously have been advised or to which any of the 
Underwriters promptly after being so advised shall reasonably have objected 
in writing.

         (vi) Prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the 
Company will have delivered or will deliver to each Underwriter, without 
charge, copies of each form of preliminary prospectus in such quantities as 
such Underwriter has reasonably requested or may hereafter reasonably request 
for the purposes contemplated by the Act.

         (vii) On the effective date of the Registration Statement and 
thereafter from time to time during such period as in the opinion of counsel 
for the Underwriters a prospectus is

                                   6

<PAGE>

required by law to be delivered in connection with offers or sales of the 
Notes by an Underwriter or a dealer, the Company will deliver to each 
Underwriter and dealer, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (and 
of any amendment or supplement thereto) as they may reasonably request. 
During such period, if any event occurs which in the judgment of the Company, 
or in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, should be set forth in the 
Prospectus in order to ensure that no part of the Prospectus includes an 
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact 
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the 
circumstances at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not 
misleading, the Company will forthwith prepare, submit to the Underwriters, 
file with the Commission and deliver, without charge to the several 
Underwriters and dealers (whose names and addresses will be furnished by the 
Underwriters to the Company) to whom Notes have been sold by the Underwriters 
or to other dealers upon request, an amendment or supplement, as appropriate, 
to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus, as so amended or 
supplemented, will comply with the standards set forth in this sentence. The 
Company consents to the use of such Prospectus (and of any amendments or 
supplements thereto) in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with 
the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions described in the 
preliminary Blue Sky memorandum in which the Notes are lawfully offered by 
the several Underwriters and by all dealers to whom Notes may be sold, both 
in connection with the offering or sale of the Notes and for such period of 
time thereafter as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in 
connection therewith. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a 
Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) more than nine months 
after the first date upon which the Notes are offered to the public, the 
Company will, upon the request of the Underwriters but at the expense of such 
Underwriter, furnish such Underwriter with reasonable quantities of a 
Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.

         (viii)    The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and 
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or 
qualification of the Notes for offer and sale by the several Underwriters and 
by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the 
Underwriters may designate and will file such consents to service of process 
or other documents as may be necessary in order to effect such registration 
or qualification; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated 
(w) to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so 
qualified, (x) to file any general consent to service of process, (y) take 
any action that would subject it to income taxation in any jurisdiction where 
it is not so qualified or (z) to take any action to amend its Articles  of 
Incorporation in order to make the Company's securities eligible for 
registration or qualification in any state.

                                   7

<PAGE>

         (ix) The Company will make generally available to the holders of 
Notes an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries, which need 
not be audited, as soon as practicable but not later than 18 months after the 
effective date of the Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall 
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and 
regulations of the Commission thereunder (including Rule 158).

         (x)  For a period of five years after the date of this Agreement:

         (A)  the Company will furnish to the Underwriters (1) as soon as
    available, a copy of each report of the Company of general interest mailed
    to any class of its security holders, (2) copies of all annual, quarterly
    reports and current reports filed with the Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q
    and 8-K and any amendment thereto or such other similar forms as may be
    designated by the Commission or required to be filed by the Company
    pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the Exchange Act, which the Company
    agrees to timely file with the Commission for so long as may be required,
    (3) a copy of each report furnished to or filed with any securities
    exchange or the National Market of the National Association of Securities
    Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq National Market") and (4) from
    time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the
    Underwriters may reasonably request; and

         (B)  if at any time during such five-year period, the Company shall
    cease filing with the Commission the annual, quarterly reports and current
    reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K or other similar forms referred to in
    clause (A) above, the Company will forward to its stockholders generally
    and the Underwriters (1) as soon as practicable after the end of each
    fiscal year, copies of a balance sheet and statements of income and
    retained earnings of the Company as of the end of and for such fiscal year,
    audited by independent public accountants, and (2) as soon as practicable
    after the end of each quarterly fiscal period, except for the last
    quarterly fiscal period in each fiscal year, a summary statement (which
    need not be audited) of income and retained earnings of the Company for
    such period, which shall also be made publicly available.

If and so long as the Company shall have any subsidiaries, the financial 
statements referred to above shall be consolidated to the extent the accounts 
of the Company and such subsidiaries are consolidated, and separate financial 
statements shall be furnished for each significant subsidiary, as defined in 
Regulation S-X of the Commission, whose accounts are not so consolidated.

                                   8

<PAGE>

         (xi) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will issue no press 
release or other public communication directly or indirectly and hold no 
press conference with respect to the Company or any subsidiary or this 
offering, without the Underwriters' prior written consent.

         (xii)  The Company will pay, or reimburse if paid by the 
Underwriters, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are 
consummated or this Agreement is prevented from becoming effective under the 
provisions of Section 10 hereof or is terminated, all costs and expenses 
incident to the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement 
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (1) typesetting, 
printing, duplicating, and filing (and all preparation therefor) and 
distribution (including, without limitation, postage, air freight charges and 
charges for counting and packaging) of the original registration statement, 
the Registration Statement, each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, each 
amendment and/or supplement to any of the foregoing, and this Agreement and 
other underwriting documents and the Indenture, (2) all costs of furnishing 
to the several Underwriters and dealers copies of the foregoing materials 
(provided, however, that any such copies furnished by the Company more than 
nine months after the first date upon which the Notes are offered to the 
public shall be at the expense of the several Underwriters or dealers so 
requesting as provided in paragraph (vi) above), (3) the registrations or 
qualifications referred to in paragraph (viii) above (including reasonable 
fees and disbursements of counsel in connection therewith) and expenses of 
printing and delivering to the several Underwriters copies of the preliminary 
and final Blue Sky memorandum, (4) the review of the terms of the public 
offering of the Notes by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 
(the "NASD") (including the filing fees paid to the NASD in connection 
therewith) and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the 
Underwriters in connection therewith, (5) the performance by the Company of 
its other obligations under this Agreement, including the fees of the 
Company's counsel and accountants, (6) the issuance of the Notes and the 
preparation and printing of the certificates representing the Notes, (7) the 
fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and any 
transfer or paying agent for the Company, (8) all travel, lodging and 
reasonable living expenses incurred by the Company in connection with 
marketing, dealer and other meetings attended by the Company and the 
Underwriters in marketing the Notes, (9) listing fees, if any, (10) any fees 
charged by security rating services for rating the Notes and (11) furnishing 
to the several Underwriters copies of all reports and information required by 
paragraph (x) above, including costs of shipping and mailing.

         (xiii)    If the sale of the Notes provided for herein is not 
consummated by reason of action by the Company pursuant to

                                   9

<PAGE>

Section 10 hereof which prevents this Agreement from becoming effective, or 
by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to 
perform any agreement on its part to be performed, or because any other 
condition of the Underwriters' obligations hereunder required to be fulfilled 
by the Company is not fulfilled, the Company will reimburse the several 
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket disbursements (including fees and 
disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with 
their investigation, preparing to market and marketing the Notes or in 
contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder. The Company shall 
not in any event be liable to any of the Underwriters for loss of anticipated 
profits from the transactions covered by this Agreement.

         (xiv)     The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of 
the Notes to be sold by it under this Agreement for the purposes set forth in 
the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds."

         (xv) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in 
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 
92-198, AN ACT RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CUBA, and the 
Company further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the 
government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the 
date the Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with the 
Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the 
"Department"), whichever date is later, or if the information reported in the 
Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's business with Cuba or with any 
person or affiliate located in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company 
will provide the Department notice of such business or change, as 
appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department.

         (xvi)     The Company will comply (1) with all registration, filing 
and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act which may from time to time be 
applicable to the Company and (2) all provisions of all undertakings 
contained in the Registration Statement.

         (xvii)    The Company will not incur any liability for any finder's 
or broker's fee or agent's commission in connection with the execution and 
delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated hereby.

         (xviii)   The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or 
indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to 
cause or result in, or which has constituted, the stabilization or 
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the 
sale or resale of the Notes.

                                   10

<PAGE>

    6.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company 
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

         (i) [No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary 
Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and] each Preliminary Prospectus, 
at the time of filing thereof, did not contain an untrue statement of a 
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein 
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; except that the 
foregoing shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Preliminary 
Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished in 
writing to the Company by any Underwriter expressly for use in the Prospectus.

         (ii) As of the time the Registration Statement (or any 
post-effective amendment thereto) is or was declared effective by the 
Commission, upon the filing or first delivery to the Underwriters of the 
Prospectus (or any supplement to the Prospectus (including any term sheet 
meeting the requirements of Rule 434)) and at the Closing Date, (A) the 
Registration Statement and Prospectus (in each case, as so amended or 
supplemented) conformed or will conform in all material respects to the 
requirements of the Act and Regulations, (B) the Registration Statement (as 
so amended) did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material 
fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (C) the 
Prospectus (as so supplemented) did not or will not include an untrue 
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of 
the circumstances in which they are or were made, not misleading; except that 
the foregoing shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any such 
document in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information 
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use in the 
preparation thereof. The Registration Statement has been declared effective 
by the Commission; [no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 
Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceeding for that purpose 
has been initiated or to the Company's knowledge, threatened by the 
Commission.]

         (iii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, 
when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may 
be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the 
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission 
thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a 
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated 
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further 
documents so filed and incorporated by reference in

                                   11

<PAGE>

the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents 
become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will 
conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the 
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission 
thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or 
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to 
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they 
are made not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and 
warranty shall not apply to the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on 
Form T-1 filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement or to any 
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with 
information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter expressly 
for use in the Prospectus as supplemented to relate to the Notes.

         (iv) The Registration Statement and Prospectus conform, and any 
amendments or supplements thereto will conform, in all material respects to 
the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust 
Indenture Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder 
and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date in the case of 
the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable 
filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, 
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material 
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements 
therein not misleading, provided, however, that this representation and 
warranty shall not apply to the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on 
Form T-1 filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement or to any 
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with 
information furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter expressly 
for use in the Prospectus as supplemented to relate to the Securities.

         (v)  Any contract, agreement, instrument, lease, or license required 
to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus has been properly 
described therein. Any contract, agreement, instrument, lease, or license 
required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement has been 
filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

         (vi) KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, the Company's auditors, are independent 
public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act.

         (vii)     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the 
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and the financial information with 
respect to the subsidiaries of the Company included or incorporated by 
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the 
financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries 
(including,

                                   12

<PAGE>

without limitation, the reserves for credit losses) as of the dates 
indicated, and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in financial 
position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods 
specified. Such financial statements and schedules have been prepared in 
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a 
consistent basis throughout the entire period involved, except to the extent 
disclosed therein. No other financial statements are required to be included 
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

         (viii)    The Company has been duly organized and is validly 
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of 
California, has all requisite corporate power and corporate authority to own 
or lease its property and conduct its business as described in the 
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and is qualified to do business as 
a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or lease of 
its properties, or the conduct of its business, requires such qualification 
and in which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would have a 
material adverse effect on the financial condition, affairs, business or 
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries (defined below) considered as a 
whole. The Company does not own or lease property or transact business in 
any other jurisdiction where the ownership of such property or the 
transaction of such business would require it to qualify as a foreign 
corporation under the laws of such jurisdiction.

         (ix)      The Company has an authorized and outstanding 
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus and the Notes conform in all 
material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. 
All of the issued and outstanding shares of  capital stock of the Company and 
all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary 
have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and 
non-assessable and, in the case of the Subsidiaries, are owned of record and 
beneficially by the Company, and, except as set forth in the Registration 
Statement, are free and clear of any liens, claims, security interests, 
pledges, charges, encumbrances, shareholders' agreements, and voting trusts 
or rights of others. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no 
options, agreements, contracts, preemptive rights, or other rights in 
existence (i) to acquire from the Company any shares of capital stock or (ii) 
to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary any of the capital stock of any 
Subsidiary.

         (x)  The Company has no subsidiaries except for (G&A Financial 
Services, Inc., a California corporation, Alton Receivables Corp., a 
California corporation, CPS Funding Corporation, a California corporation, 
CPS Receivables Corp., a California corporation, Samco Acceptance Corp., a 
Texas Corporation, LINC Acceptance Corp., a Connecticut Corporation, and

                                   13

<PAGE>

Stanwich Leasing, Inc., a __________ Corporation) (individually, a 
"Subsidiary" and collectively, the "Subsidiaries"). Other than such 
subsidiaries of the Company and its ownership of [38%] of the outstanding 
stock of NAB Corp., the Company owns no capital stock or other equity or 
ownership or proprietary interest in any corporation, partnership, 
association, trust or other entity.

         (xi) Each Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing 
as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction 
of incorporation or charter, has all requisite corporate power and corporate 
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business 
as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus. Each Subsidiary 
is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good 
standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or lease of its 
properties, or the conduct of its business, requires such qualification and 
in which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would have a 
material adverse effect on the financial condition, affairs, business or 
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries as a whole.

         (xii)     Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has all necessary 
and material authorizations, approvals, licenses, certificates, permits and 
orders (collectively, "Permits") of and from all governmental regulatory 
officials and bodies to own its properties and to conduct its business as 
described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and is conducting its 
business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the 
jurisdictions in which it is conducting business including, but not limited 
to, all applicable federal and state laws and regulations that regulate or 
are concerned in any way with usury or consumer credit; except in any case 
where the failure to possess any such Permit would not have a material 
adverse effect on the financial condition, affairs, business or prospects of 
the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

         (xiii)    The Indenture, which will be substantially in the form 
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, has been duly authorized 
and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and when executed and 
delivered by the Company and the Trustee, the Indenture will have been duly 
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid 
and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company 
in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, 
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors' 
rights generally and to general principles of equity; and the Indenture 
conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the 
Prospectus.

         (xiv)     The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed and 
authenticated in accordance with the terms of the

                                   14

<PAGE>

Indenture and issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this 
Agreement against payment therefor, will have been duly authorized, executed, 
authenticated and delivered by the Company and will constitute valid and 
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, 
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as 
to such benefit and enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, 
moratorium and other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to 
general principles of equity; the Notes conform in all material respects to 
the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and will be substantially 
in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

         (xv) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in 
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated or 
contemplated therein, there has not been (A) any material adverse change in 
the condition (financial or otherwise), affairs, business or key personnel, 
property, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company or any 
Subsidiary, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) 
any material transaction entered into, or any material liability or 
obligation incurred, direct or contingent, by the Company or any Subsidiary, 
other than in the ordinary course of business, (C) any change in the capital 
stock (other than the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of 
options under the Company's stock option plans), or material increase in the 
short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any 
issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to 
purchase the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or (D) any 
dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on 
its capital stock.

         (xvi)     The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable 
title to all properties and assets described in the Prospectus as owned by 
them, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, 
except such as are referred to in the Prospectus or are not materially 
significant in relation to the financial condition, affairs, business or 
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole; all of 
the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company or under 
which the Company or any Subsidiary holds properties described in the 
Prospectus are in full force and effect; and neither the Company nor any 
Subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of any sort which has been 
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary as 
owner or as lessee or sublessee under any of the leases or subleases 
mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or the 
Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises 
under any such lease or sublease.

                                   15

<PAGE>

         (xvii)    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default nor 
will the performance of this Agreement or the issuance and sale of the Notes 
result in a default in the observance of any provision of its charter, 
certificate of incorporation or by-laws, or in the performance or observance 
of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any 
contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease, license or other 
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its 
respective properties are subject or may be bound, which would have a 
materially adverse effect on the financial condition, affairs, business or 
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole. No 
consent of any party to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, 
note, lease, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or 
any Subsidiary is a party, or by which it or any of its respective properties 
or assets are subject or may be bound, is required for the execution, 
delivery or performance of this Agreement, or the issuance and sale of the 
Notes, other than such consents which have been obtained.

         (xviii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and 
delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding 
obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except 
as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state 
securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by 
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights 
of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity. The 
Company has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to 
authorize, issue and sell the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement.

         (xix)     The execution and delivery by the Company of this 
Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and delivery of the Notes, the 
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration 
Statement and compliance with the terms of this Agreement have been duly 
authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any 
violation of the Articles of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company, and 
will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or 
provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or 
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of 
the Company or any Subsidiary under any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan 
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company 
or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary, or 
any of their respective properties, is bound, or any existing applicable law, 
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental 
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the 
Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties.

                                   16

<PAGE>

         (xx) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with 
any court, governmental authority or agency having jurisdiction over the 
Company or any Subsidiary is required in connection with the execution, 
delivery and performance of this Agreement or for the consummation of the 
transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance, sale and delivery 
of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the 
Indenture, except such as may be required under the Act, the Trust Indenture 
Act and state securities or Blue Sky laws.

         (xxi)      Neither the Commission nor the Blue Sky or securities 
authority of any jurisdiction has issued a stop order (a "Stop Order") 
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or 
suspending the use of any  Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the 
Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, refusing to 
permit the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, suspending the 
registration or qualification of the Notes, nor has any of such authorities 
instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to institute, any 
proceedings with respect to a Stop Order.

         (xxii)    Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no action, 
suit or proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body, 
domestic or foreign, or any arbitrator or arbitration panel, now pending or, 
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company 
or any Subsidiary which might result in any material adverse change in the 
financial condition, affairs, business, prospects, net worth or results of 
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole, or 
which might materially and adversely affect their properties or assets; and 
there is no decree, judgment or order of any kind in existence against or 
restraining the Company or any Subsidiary, or any of the officers, employees 
or directors of either, from taking any actions of any kind in connection 
with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

         (xxiii)   The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses 
or has obtained all material governmental licenses, permits, consents, 
orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to lease or own, as the 
case may be, and to operate its properties and to carry on its business as 
presently conducted, and the Company has not received any notice of 
proceedings related to revocation or modification of any such licenses, 
permits, consents, orders, approvals or authorizations which singly or in the 
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable ruling or finding, would have a 
materially adverse effect on the financial condition, affairs, business or 
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

                                   17

<PAGE>

         (xxiv)    The Company is and each of its Subsidiaries is in 
compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations 
that regulate or are concerned in any way with the business of the Company or 
its Subsidiaries, where the effect of the failure to comply would be 
materially adverse to the financial condition, affairs, business or prospects 
of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

         (xxv)     The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can 
acquire on reasonable terms, trademarks, service marks and trade names 
necessary to conduct the businesses now operated by them, and neither the 
Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or 
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, 
service marks or trade names which, singly or in the aggregate, if the 
subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially 
adversely effect the financial condition, affairs, business or prospects of 
the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

         (xxvi)    The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all 
necessary federal and state income and franchise tax returns and paid all 
taxes shown as due thereon. Except as is otherwise expressly stated in the 
Registration Statement, the Company has no knowledge of any tax deficiency 
which might be asserted against it which would have a material adverse effect 
on the financial condition, affairs, business or prospects of the Company and 
the Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

         (xxvii)   The Company is not and does not intend to conduct 
businesses in a manner which would cause it to be an "investment company" as 
defined in Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended 
(the "Investment Company Act").

         (xxviii)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, there are no 
affiliations between (i) any of the Company's officers, directors or 5% or 
greater security holders, and (ii) any Underwriter or NASD-registered broker 
or dealer except as set forth in the Registration Statement or as otherwise 
disclosed in writing to the Underwriters.

         (xxix)    The Notes have been duly authorized for listing by the New 
York Stock Exchange upon official notice of issuance.

         (xxx) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any 
prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and 
sale of the Notes other than any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or 
other materials permitted by the Act to be distributed by the Company.

                                   18

<PAGE>

         (xxxi)    The Company maintains a system of internal accounting 
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions 
are executed in accordance with management's general or specific 
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted 
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access 
to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or 
specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is 
compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action 
is taken with respect to any differences.

    7.   INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

         (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each 
Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or 
several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or 
otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is 
effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, 
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of 
or are based upon a untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a 
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the 
information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of 
effectiveness pursuant to Rules 430A and 434(d) under the Act, if applicable, 
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement 
thereto (including any term sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 under the 
Act), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to 
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to 
make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each 
Underwriter for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred 
by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, 
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be 
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, 
liability or action rises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or 
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the 
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any 
such amendment or supplement,  in reliance upon and in conformity with 
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically 
for use in the preparation thereof.

         In addition to their other obligations under this Section 6(a), the 
Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, 
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based 
upon any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, 
described in this Section 6(a), they will reimburse each Underwriter on a 
monthly basis for all reasonable legal fees or other out-of-pocket expenses 
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim,

                                   19

<PAGE>

action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the 
absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of 
the Company's obligation to reimburse the Underwriters for such expenses and 
the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper 
by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such payments 
might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent 
jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim reimbursement payment is 
so held to have been improper, the Underwriter that received such payment 
shall promptly return it to the party or parties that made such payment, 
together with interest, compounded daily, determined  on the basis of the 
prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest 
credit standing) announced from time to time by Norwest Bank Minnesota, 
National Association  (the "Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement 
payments which are not made to an Underwriter within 30 days of a request for 
reimbursement shall bear  interest a the Prime Rate from the date of such 
request. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liabilities 
which the Company may otherwise have.

         (b)  Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company 
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may 
become subject, under the Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any 
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such 
Underwriter), insofar such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions 
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or 
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration 
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or an amendment or 
supplement thereto (including any term sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 
under the Act, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged 
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or 
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the 
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue 
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration 
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any such amendment 
or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information 
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use in the 
preparation thereof, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other 
out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with 
investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or 
action.

         (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection 
(a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such 
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against 
the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party 
in writing of the commencement

                                   20

<PAGE>

thereof; provided, however, that the failure so to notify the indemnifying 
party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may 
have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially 
prejudiced by such failure and, provided further, that the failure to notify 
the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may 
have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case 
any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall 
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the  indemnifying 
party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall 
wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume 
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and 
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the 
indemnifying party's election so to assume the defense thereof, the 
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such 
subsection for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses subsequently 
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof 
other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in 
the sole judgment of the Underwriters, it is advisable for the Underwriters 
to be represented as a group by separate counsel, the Underwriters shall have 
the right to employ a single counsel to represent themselves, in which event 
the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by 
the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the Underwriters as 
incurred (in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in 
subsection (a) above). An indemnifying party shall not be obligated under 
any settlement agreement relating to any action under this Section 7 to which 
it has not agreed in writing.

         (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is 
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under 
subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to 
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the 
losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) 
above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative 
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the 
other from the offering of the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by 
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is 
appropriate to reflect only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) 
above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the 
Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that 
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other 
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the 
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to 
be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before 
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear

                                   21

<PAGE>

to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the 
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the 
Prospectus.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to among 
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material 
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to 
information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties' 
relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct 
or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the 
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions 
pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by PRO RATA allocation 
(even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by 
any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable 
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d).  The 
amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, 
damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection 
(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses 
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with 
investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject 
of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection 
(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of 
the amount by which the  total price at which the Notes underwritten by it 
and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount 
of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by 
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement of omission or alleged 
omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the 
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from 
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The 
Underwriters' obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in 
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

         (e)  The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall be in 
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall 
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who 
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations 
of the Underwriters under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any 
liability that the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall 
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company 
(including any person who, with his consent, is named in the Registration 
Statement as about to become a director of the Company), to each officer of 
the Company has signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, 
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

                                   22

<PAGE>

         8.   CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The several 
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Notes hereunder are 
subject to the following conditions:

         (a)  That the Registration Statement shall have become effective not 
later than 4:00 p.m., __________ time, on the date hereof, or at such later 
date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Underwriters, and, 
if the Underwriters and the Company have elected to rely upon Rule 430A under 
the Act, the price of the Notes and any price-related or other information 
previously omitted from the Registration Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A 
under the Act shall have been transmitted to the Commission for filing 
pursuant to Rule 424 (b) within the prescribed time period, and on or prior 
to the Closing Date, the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to 
the Underwriters of such timely filing, or a post-effective amendment 
providing such information shall have been promptly filed and declared 
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

         (b)  That subsequent to the effective date of the Registration 
Statement, (i) there shall not have occurred any change, or any material 
development involving a prospective change, in or affecting particularly the 
business or properties of the Company not contemplated by the Prospectus, 
which, in the Underwriters' opinion would materially adversely affect the 
market for the Notes or make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with 
the offering or the delivery of the Notes, as contemplated herein and in the 
Prospectus, or to attempt to enforce contracts for the purchase of the Notes, 
and (ii) the business and operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries 
shall not have been materially interfered with by strike, fire, flood, 
accident or other calamity (whether or not insured).

         (c)  That the Underwriters shall have received from Troy & Gould 
Professional Corporation, counsel for the Company, a favorable opinion dated 
the Closing Date and satisfactory to the Underwriters and the Underwriters' 
counsel to the effect that:

         (i)  Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has been duly organized
    and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
    its jurisdiction of incorporation; each has all requisite corporate power
    and corporate authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
    conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the
    Prospectus.  Each of the Subsidiaries is wholly-owned by the Company and
    the Subsidiaries are the Company's only subsidiaries.

         (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
    Prospectus.  Each outstanding share of capital

                                   23

<PAGE>

    stock of the Company and each outstanding share of capital stock of any   
    Subsidiary is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and 
    non-assessable, has not been issued and is not owned or held in violation of
    any preemptive right of shareholders.  Each outstanding share of capital  
    stock of a Subsidiary is owned of record and, to such counsel's knowledge, 
    beneficially by the Company and, except as disclosed in the Registration 
    Statement, to the knowledge of such counsel, is held free and clear of all 
    liens, claims, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, 
    shareholders' agreements, voting trusts or claims of others.  Except as set 
    forth in the Prospectus, neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor 
    any committee thereof has authorized or entered into any commitment or 
    arrangement to issue, and neither the Board of Directors nor any committee 
    thereof has authorized the issuance of any outstanding option, warrant or 
    other right calling for the issuance or sale of, any share of capital stock 
    of the Company or of any Subsidiary or any security or other instrument 
    which by its terms is convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable 
    for capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary.  Neither the Board 
    of Directors nor any committee thereof of any Subsidiary has authorized 
    any options, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase 
    or acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary any issued and outstanding 
    shares of the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary.

         (iii)     This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and 
delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding 
obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as 
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or 
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors, and by 
equitable principles, except that such counsel need express no opinion as to 
the enforceability of the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in 
Section 7 of this Agreement.

         (iv) The Notes have been duly and validly authorized, executed and 
delivered by the Company and when delivered and paid for pursuant hereto will 
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the 
benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with 
their terms, except (i) as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, 
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting the 
rights of creditors, and by equitable principles, and (ii) (a) the waiver 
contained in Section 514 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable and (b) 
the indemnification provisions contained in Section 607 of the Indenture may 
be deemed unenforceable.  The Notes conform in all material respects to the 
description thereof in the Prospectus.  For purposes of this opinion, such 
counsel 

                                   24

<PAGE>

shall be entitled to assume that New York law is the same as California law.

         (v)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered 
by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the 
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except 
(i) as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, 
reorganization or similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of 
creditors, and by equitable principles, and (ii) (a) the waiver contained in 
Section 514 of the Indenture may be deemed unenforceable and (b) the 
indemnification provisions contained in Section 607 of the Indenture may be 
deemed unenforceable.  The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the 
description thereof in the Prospectus and has been duly qualified under the 
Trust Indenture Act.  For purposes of this opinion, such counsel shall be 
entitled to assume that New York law is the same as California law.

         (vi) No authorization, approval or consent of any governmental 
authority is required for the execution, delivery, or performance by the 
Company of this Agreement, or for the issuance, sale, or delivery of the 
Notes, except such as have been received or as may be required under the Act, 
the Trust Indenture Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission 
thereunder or state securities laws.

         (vii)     The issuance and sale of the Notes, the execution, 
delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the Indenture by the Company 
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will 
not violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any of the provisions of, 
or constitute a default under (A) the Company's Articles of Incorporation or 
by-laws, (B) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument or 
agreement known to such counsel to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a 
party or by which the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or to which any of 
their properties is subject or (C) any order known to such counsel, rule or 
regulation applicable to the Company or a Subsidiary of any court or other 
governmental authority.

         (viii)    The Registration Statement has become effective under the 
Act, and, to the best of the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order 
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, 
nor has any proceeding for the issuance of such an order been initiated or, 
to the knowledge of such counsel, threatened.

         (ix) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any 
supplements or amendments thereto comply in all material respects as to form 
with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and 
regulations of the Commission 

                                   25

<PAGE>

thereunder, except in each case as to the financial statements, schedules, 
financial information, statistical data, pro forma and other financial data 
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the 
exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form T-1, as to which 
such counsel need not express any opinion.

         In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has 
participated in conferences with representatives of the Company, the 
Company's auditors, the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters at 
which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus 
and each preliminary prospectus and related matters were discussed, and 
although such counsel need not pass upon and need not assume any 
responsibilities for the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of the 
statements contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus and have not 
made any independent check or verification thereof, on the basis of the 
foregoing (relying as to materiality on the statements of officers and other 
representatives of the Company), nothing has come to the attention of such 
counsel that causes such counsel to believe that the Registration Statement, 
at the time it became effective and at the Closing Date, contained or 
contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state 
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the 
statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, at the date 
thereof and at the Closing Date, contained or contains any untrue statement 
of any material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary 
in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except in each case 
as to the financial statements, schedules, financial information, statistical 
data, pro forma and other financial data included or incorporated by 
reference in the Registration Statement or the exhibits to the Registration 
Statement, including the Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not express 
any opinion.

         (x)  The statements in the Prospectus in the sections captioned 
"Risk Factors -- Subordination of the Notes and Encumbrances on the Company's 
Assets," "-- Restrictions Imposed by the Terms of the Company's 
Indebtedness," "--Potential for Additional Senior Indebtedness," "-- Ability 
to Repay Notes Upon Accelerated Redemption," "-- Limited Covenants in the 
Indenture," "--Litigation," "-- Contractual Recourse by Purchasers of 
Contracts, and "--Government Regulation; "Description of the Notes," 
"Description of Common Stock," "Business--Government Regulation" and "Certain 
Transactions" included in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements 
constitute a summary of the documents referred to therein or matters of law, 
are accurate summaries and fairly and correctly present the information 
called for with respect to such documents and matters.

                                   26

<PAGE>

         (xi) Such counsel does not know of (A) any pending or threatened 
litigation which would prevent the consummation of the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, (B) any statutes or 
regulations or provisions of the laws of the State of California or any 
pending or threatened litigation or governmental proceedings against the 
Company or any Subsidiary required to be described in the Prospectus which 
are not so described, or (C) any contracts or documents required to be 
described in or filed as a part of the Registration Statement which are not 
so described or filed.

         (xii)     The Company is not an "investment company" or a person 
"controlled by" an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment 
Company Act.

         In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely as to matters of 
fact, to the extent they deem proper on certificates of responsible officers 
of the Company and the Subsidiaries and on certificates of public officials.

         (d)  That the Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a 
favorable opinion dated the Closing Date from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe 
LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, as to such matters as the Underwriters may 
reasonably require.

         (e)  That the Underwriters shall have received letters addressed to 
the Underwriters and dated the date hereof and the Closing Date and the 
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, 
independent public accountants for the Company, substantially in the forms 
heretofore approved by the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters.

         (f)  That (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that 
purpose shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be 
contemplated by the Commission at or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) there 
shall not have been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any 
Subsidiary nor any material increase in the short or long-term debt of the 
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from that set forth or 
contemplated in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (iii) the Company 
and its Subsidiaries shall not have incurred any material liabilities or 
obligations, direct or contingent (whether or not in the ordinary course of 
business), other than those reflected in or contemplated by the Registration 
Statement and Prospectus; and (iv) all of the representations and warranties 
of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all 
material respects on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing 
Date as if made on and as of each such date, and the Underwriters shall have 
received a certificate, dated the Closing 

                                   27

<PAGE>

Date and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters 
signed by the President or a Vice President and the Secretary of the Company 
(or such other officers as are acceptable to the Underwriters) to the effect 
set forth in this Section 8(f) and in Section 8(h) hereof.

         (g)  The Notes shall have been qualified for sale or exempted from 
such qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the 
Underwriters shall have designated prior to the time of execution of this 
Agreement and such qualification or exemption shall continue in effect to and 
including the Closing Date.

         (h)  That the Company shall not have failed at or prior to the 
Closing Date to have performed or complied in all material respects with any 
of the agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied 
with by it at or prior to the Closing Date.

         (i)  That the Notes shall not have received from Duff Phelps Credit 
Rating Co. a credit rating lower than ___.

         The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Option Notes 
hereunder are subject to the satisfaction on and as of the Option Closing 
Date of the conditions set forth in paragraphs(a) through (i); except that 
the opinions called for in paragraphs (c) and (d) shall be revised to reflect 
the sale of Option Notes and shall be dated the Option Closing Date, if 
different from the Closing Date.

         9.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT.

         (a)  If the Registration Statement has not yet been declared 
effective, this Agreement shall become effective contemporaneously with the 
effectiveness of the Registration Statement.  Until such time as this 
Agreement shall have become effective, it may be terminated by the Company by 
notifying the Underwriters, or by the Underwriters by notifying the Company.

         (b)  If any Underwriter shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Notes 
which it has agreed to purchase under this Agreement and the aggregate 
principal amount of Firm Notes which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but 
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate 
principal amount of Firm Notes, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, 
PRO RATA to purchase the Firm Notes which the defaulting Underwriter agreed 
but failed or refused to purchase.  If any Underwriter shall fail or refuse 
to purchase Firm Notes and the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes with 
respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate 
principal amount of Firm Notes and arrangements satisfactory to the 
non-defaulting Underwriters and 

                                   28

<PAGE>

the Company for the purchase of such Firm Notes are not made within 36 hours 
after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the 
part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company.  In any such case 
which does not result in termination of this Agreement, either the 
non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company shall have the right to postpone 
the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that 
the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the 
Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  Any 
action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting 
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default under this Agreement.

         (c)  Any notice under this Section 9 may be made by telecopy or 
telephone but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

    10.  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.  The Underwriters shall have the right to 
terminate this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing Date (and with 
respect to the Option Notes, the Option Closing Date) by notice to the 
Company from the Underwriters, without liability (other than with respect to 
Section 7) on the Underwriters' part to the Company if, on or prior to such 
date, (i) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform in 
any material respect any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder, 
(ii) any other condition to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder as 
provided in Section 8 is not fulfilled when and as required in any material 
respect, (iii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock 
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the NASD Automated Quotation System 
shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum prices shall have 
been established on such exchange or system by the Commission, or by such 
exchange or system or other regulatory body or governmental authority having 
jurisdiction, (iv) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by 
Federal, California or New York State authorities, (v) there is an outbreak 
or material escalation of armed hostilities involving the United States on or 
after the date hereof, or there has been a declaration by the United States 
of a national emergency or war, the effect of which shall be, in the 
Underwriters' reasonable judgment, to make it inadvisable or impracticable to 
proceed with the public offering or delivery of the Notes on the terms and in 
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as supplemented or amended prior to 
the occurrence of such event, (vi) in the Underwriters' reasonable opinion 
any material adverse change shall have occurred since the respective dates as 
of which information is given in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus 
(as supplemented or amended prior to the occurrence of such event) in the 
condition (financial or other) of the Company whether or not arising in the 
ordinary course of business other than as set forth in the Prospectus as 
supplemented or amended prior to the occurrence of such event, or (vii) there 

                                   29

<PAGE>

shall have been such a material adverse change in general economic, political 
or financial conditions or if the effect of international conditions on the 
financial markets in the United States shall be such as, in the Underwriters' 
reasonable opinion, makes it inadvisable or impracticable to proceed with the 
delivery of the Notes as contemplated hereby.  Notice of such cancellation 
shall be given to the Company by telecopy or telephone but shall be 
subsequently confirmed by letter.

    11.  MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a)  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9 and 10 hereof, 
notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in 
writing and shall be delivered (i) if to the Company, at the office of the 
Company at 2 Ada Street, Irvine, California 92618, Attention:  President and 
Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to William J. Feis, Esq., Troy & Gould a 
Professional Corporation, 1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, 
California 90067, or (ii) if to the Underwriters, at the offices of Piper 
Jaffray Inc., Piper Jaffray Tower, 222 South Ninth Street, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota  55402, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, with a copy to  
David S. Katz, Esq., Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Washington Harbour, 
3050 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C.  20007, or in any case to such other 
address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing.

         (b)  This Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the several 
Underwriters, the Company, their directors and officers and other controlling 
persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and their respective successors and 
assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by 
virtue of this Agreement.  The term "successors and assigns" as used in this 
Agreement shall not include a purchaser from any of the several Underwriters 
of any of the Notes in his status as such purchaser.

    12.  APPLICABLE LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed 
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California.

    13.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts 
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                   30

<PAGE>

         Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement 
among the Company and the Underwriters.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.


                                       By: 
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

Accepted and delivered as of
the date first written above

PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
DAIN BOSWORTH, INC.
By: PIPER JAFFRAY INC.

By: 
    ------------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:

                                       31

<PAGE>

                       CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.

                                  SCHEDULE I

                                 UNDERWRITERS

                                                                Principal Amount
Name                                                              of Firm Notes
- ----                                                            ----------------

Piper Jaffray Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
                                                                     ----------
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
                                                                     ----------
Dain Bosworth Incorporated.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
                                                                     ----------
    TOTAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$
                                                                     ----------
                                                                     ----------

                                   32

<PAGE>

                        Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.
                    Statement Regarding Computation of Ratios
                                   Exhibit 12

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                   Nine Month
                                                   Transition
                                  Year Ended      Period Ended
                                 December 31,     December 31,                             Year Ended March 31,
                                -------------    -------------   -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1996             1995            1995            1994              1993             1992
                                      ----             ----            ----            ----              ----             ----
<S>                             <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>
Income (loss) before taxes      $  23,692,396    $  12,657,308   $  11,146,562    $  (1,288,043)    $  (1,502,272)   $  (2,526,473)

Interest component of
rent expense                          154,531           99,861         115,710          118,358           148,361          114,466

Interest (1)                        5,780,529        2,724,403       3,407,598          446,402            25,609           46,943
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
Income (loss) before
taxes and fixed charges            29,627,456       15,481,572      14,669,870         (723,283)       (1,328,302)      (2,365,064)
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------


Fixed charges:

Interest component of
rent expense                          154,331           99,861         115,710          118,358           148,361          114,466

Interest                            4,780,529        2,724,403       3,407,598          446,402            25,609           46,943
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------


Fixed charges                       5,934,860        2,824,264       3,523,308          564,760           173,970          161,409
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------

Ratio of income (loss) to
fixed charges                             5.0              5.5             4.2             (1.3)             (7.6)           (14.7)
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------


Coverage deficiency                  --              --               --             (1,288,043)       (1,502,272)      (2,526,473)
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
                                -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------     -------------    -------------
</TABLE>


(1) Includes amortization of financing costs and discount on subordinated debt.



<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.


We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.


                                       KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP


   
Orange County, California
March 3, 1997      
    


<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                            --------------------

                                   FORM T-1

    STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

    CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT
    TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ___________

                            --------------------

                           BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
          (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                13-4941247
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or                       (I.R.S. Employer
organization if not a U.S. national bank)               Identification no.)

FOUR ALBANY STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                           10006
(Address of principal                                        (Zip Code)
executive offices)
                                       
                              BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                              LEGAL DEPARTMENT
                              130 LIBERTY STREET, 31st FLOOR
                              NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10006
                              (212) 250-2201
              (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)


              ---------------------------------------------------------
                          CONSUMER PORTFOLIO SERVICES, INC.
                 (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

    CALIFORNIA                                             33-0459135
    (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. employer
    Incorporation or organization)                         Identification no.)

    2 ADA
    IRVINE, CALIFORNIA                                          92618
    (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)


              ---------------------------------------------------------
                         PARTICIPATING EQUITY NOTES DUE 2004
                          (Title of the indenture securities)

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

ITEM   1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
                 Furnish the following information as to the trustee.
    

ITEM   1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
                 Furnish the following information as to the trustee.
    
                (a)      Name and address of each examining or supervising
                         authority to which it is subject.
    
    NAME                                             ADDRESS
    ----                                             -------

    Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District)              New York, NY
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation            Washington, D.C.
    New York State Banking Department                Albany, NY

    (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

         Yes.

ITEM   2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

              If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such
              affiliation.

              None.

ITEM   3.-15. NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM  16.     LIST OF EXHIBITS.

            EXHIBIT 1 -    Restated Organization Certificate of Bankers Trust 
                           Company dated August 7, 1990, Certificate of 
                           Amendment of the Organization Certificate of Bankers
                           Trust Company dated June 21, 1995 - Incorporated
                           herein by reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1
                           Statement, Registration No. 33-65171, and 
                           Certificate of Amendment of the Organization 
                           Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated 
                           March 20, 1996, copy attached.

            EXHIBIT 2 -    Certificate of Authority to commence 
                           business - Incorporated herein by reference to 
                           Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, 
                           Registration No. 33-21047.


            EXHIBIT 3 -    Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate 
                           trust powers - Incorporated herein by reference to 
                           Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement, 
                           Registration No. 33-21047.

            EXHIBIT 4 -    Existing By-Laws of Bankers Trust Company, as 
                           amended on September 17, 1996 - Incorporated herein 
                           by reference to Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 
                           Statement, Registration No. 333-15263.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

            EXHIBIT 5 -    Not applicable.

            EXHIBIT 6 -    Consent of Bankers Trust Company required by Section
                           321(b) of the Act. - Incorporated herein by reference
                           to Exhibit 4 filed with Form T-1 Statement, 
                           Registration No. 22-18864.

            EXHIBIT 7 -    A copy of the latest report of condition of Bankers 
                           Trust Company dated as of December 31, 1996.

            EXHIBIT 8 -    Not Applicable.

            EXHIBIT 9 -    Not Applicable.





                                       -3-
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Bankers Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement
of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 28th day
of February, 1997.

                                       BANKERS TRUST COMPANY


                                       By: Susan Johnson
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Susan Johnson
                                           Assistant Vice President






                                       -4-
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Bankers Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement
of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 28th day
of February, 1997.

                                       BANKERS TRUST COMPANY


                                       By: Susan Johnson
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Susan Johnson
                                           Assistant Vice President





                                       -5-
<PAGE>

Legal Title of Bank:    Bankers Trust Company    Call Date: 12/31/96 
Address:                130 Liberty Street       Vendor ID: D    
City, State    ZIP:     New York, NY  10006                    
FDIC Certificate No.:      0    0    6    2    3

ST-BK: 36-4840    FFIEC 031          
CERT:  00623      Page RC-1 
                  11                


CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS DECEMBER 31, 1996

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, reported the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the 
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                C400
                                  Dollar Amounts in Thousands                                         RCFD      Bil Mil Thou
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                   <C>        <C>         <C>
ASSETS
  1.    Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):                                                 
         a.   Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1) ............................       0081       1,545,000  1.a.
         b.   Interest-bearing balances(2) .....................................................       0071       2,494,000  1.b.

  2.    Securities:
         a.   Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B, column A) .......................       1754               0  2.a.
         b.   Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)......................       1773       4,368,000  2.b.

  3    Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices                                
       of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:                                                      
        a.   Federal funds sold .................................................................      0276       3,651,000  3.a.
        b.   Securities purchased under agreements to resell ....................................      0277       3,230,000  3.b.

  4.   Loans and lease financing receivables:
        a.   Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule RC-C)     RCFD 2122    27,239,000                       4.a.
        b.   LESS:   Allowance for loan and lease losses.......................RCFD  3123      917,000                       4.b.
        c.   LESS:   Allocated transfer risk reserve ..........................RCFD  3128            0                       4.c.
        d.   Loans and leases, net of unearned income,                                                                           
             allowance, and reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)................................       2125      28,889,000  4.d.

  5.   Assets held in trading accounts .........................................................       3545      38,272,000  5.
  6.   Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ................................       2145         914,000  6.
  7.   Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M) ............................................       2150         213,000  7.
  8.   Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies (from Schedule RC-M)        2130         184,000  8.
  9.   Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ............................       2155         597,000  9.

 10.   Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M) ..................................................       2143          17,000  10.
 11.   Other assets (from Schedule RC-F) .......................................................       2160       6,056,000  11.
 12.   Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11) ................................................       2170      90,430,000  12.
</TABLE>

- -------------------
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held in trading accounts.

<PAGE>

Legal Title of Bank:    Bankers Trust Company    Call Date: 12/31/96 
Address:                130 Liberty Street       Vendor ID: D   
City, State   Zip:      New York, NY  10006
FDIC Certificate No.:      0    0    6    2    3

ST-BK: 36-4840        FFIEC  031
CERT:  00623          Page  RC-2
                      12        

SCHEDULE RC--CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Dollar Amounts in Thousands                       Bil Mil Thou 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>        <C>          <C>          <C> 
LIABILITIES 
13.    Deposits:
         a.   In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C from Schedule RC-E, part I)  RCON 2200    11,985,000   13.a.
              (1)   Noninterest-bearing(1) ............................RCON 6631      2,734,000.........                   13.a.(1)
              (2)  Interest-bearing ...................................RCON 6636      6,657,000.........                   13.a.(2)
         b.   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E
              part II)                                                                           RCFN 2200    21,619,000   13.b.
              (1)   Noninterest-bearing ...............................RCFN 6631        654,000                            13.b.(1)
              (2)   Interest-bearing ..................................RCFN 6636     22,731,000                            13.b.(2)

14.    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in
       domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
         a.   Federal funds purchased ...................................................        RCFD 0278     6,560,000   14.a.
         b.   Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ............................        RCFD 0279       120,000   14.b.

15.      a.   Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ..................................        RCON 2840             0   15.a.
         b.   Trading liabilities .......................................................        RCFD 3548    19,172,000   15.b.

16.    Other borrowed money:                                                                                       
         a.   With original maturity of one year or less ................................        RCFD 2332    15,909,000   16.a.
         b.   With original maturity of more than one year ..............................        RCFD 2333     3,097,000   16.b.

17.    Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases ...................        RCFD 2910        31,000   17.
18.    Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .........................        RCFD 2920       597,000   18.
19.    Subordinated notes and debentures ................................................        RCFD 3200     1,229,000   19.
20.    Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G) ...........................................        RCFD 2930     5,235,000   20.
21.    Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20) ...................................        RCFD 2948    85,554,000   21.
22.    Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus .................................        RCFD 3282             0   22.

EQUITY CAPITAL
23.    Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ....................................        RCFD 3838       600,000   23.
24.    Common stock .....................................................................        RCFD 3230     1,001,000   24.
25.    Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) .........................        RCFD 3839       540,000   25.

26.    a.   Undivided profits and capital reserves ......................................        RCFD 3632     3,131,000   26.a.
       b.   Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities ......        RCFD 8434       (14,000)  26.b.

27.    Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ..............................        RCFD 3284      (382,000)  27.
28.    Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27) ................................        RCFD 3210     4,876,000   28.
29.    Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22,                                 
       and 28) ..........................................................................        RCFD 3300    90,430,000   29.
</TABLE>

Memorandum
To be  reported only with the March Report of Condition.
   1.    Indicate in the box at the right the number of the 
         statement below that best describes the most 
         comprehensive level of auditing work performed               Number
         for the bank by independent external auditors                ------
         as of any date during 1995.......................  RCFD  6724  N/A  M.1

1  =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance with generally 
      accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting firm 
      which submits a report on the bank
2  =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company conducted in 
      accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified 
      public accounting firm which submits a report on the consolidated 
      holding company (but not on the bank separately)
3  =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in accordance with 
      generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting 
      firm (may be required by state chartering authority)
4  =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other external 
      auditors (may be required by state chartering authority) 
5  =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external auditors 
6  =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external auditors
7  =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
8  =  No external audit work

- ----------------------
(1) Including total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.

<PAGE>

                              State of New York,
                                       
                              Banking Department


     I, PETER M. PHILBIN, Deputy Superintendent of Bank of the State of New
York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled "CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY UNDER SECTION
8005 OF THE BANKING LAW," dated March 20, 1996, providing for an increase in
authorized capital stock from $1,351,666,670 consisting of 85,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a
par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to
$1,501,666,670 consisting of 100,166,667 shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each
designated as Series Preferred Stock.

WITNESS, MY HAND AND OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE BANKING DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY OF NEW
YORK,

             THIS 21st DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
             ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX.


                                       Peter M. Philbin
                                       -----------------------------------
                                       DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF BANKS

<PAGE>

                              CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

                                       OF THE

                             ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE

                                 OF BANKERS TRUST

                     Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law

                         -----------------------------


    We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing
Director and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:

    1.   The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.

    2.   The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the
Superintendent of Banks on the 5th of march, 1903.

    3.   The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended
to increase the aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have
authority to issue and to increase the amount of its authorized capital stock in
conformity therewith.

    4.   Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the
authorized capital stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock
shall be divided, the par value of the shares and the capital stock outstanding,
which reads as follows:

    "III.   The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter
    to have is One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty One Million, Six Hundred
    Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($1,351,666,670),
    divided into Eighty-Five Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six
    Hundred Sixty-Seven (85,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
    designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of One
    Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
    Stock."

is hereby amended to read as follows:

    "III.   The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter
    to have is One Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six 
    Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($1,501,666,670), divided
    into One Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty Six Thousand, Six Hundred
    Sixty-Seven (100,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
    designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of One
    Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
    Stock."

<PAGE>

    6.   The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was authorized
by unanimous written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding shares
entitled to vote thereon.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this 20th
day of March __, 1996.


                                       James T. Byrne, Jr.
                                       ------------------------------
                                       James T. Byrne, Jr.
                                       Managing Director


                                       Lea Lahtinen
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Lea Lahtinen
                                       Assistant Secretary

State of New York  )
                   )  ss:
County of New York )

    Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is an Assistant
Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the foregoing
certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the contents
thereof, and that the statements herein contained are true.

                                       Lea Lahtinen
                                       ------------------------------
                                       Lea Lahtinen

Sworn to before me this 20th day
of March, 1996.


    SANDRA L. WEST 
- ------------------------------
    Notary Public


          SANDRA L. WEST
  Notary Public State of New York               Counterpart filed in the       
          No. 31-4942101                        Office of the Superintendent of
    Qualified in New York County                Banks, State of New York,      
Commission Expires September 19, 1996           This 21st day of March, 1996   



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