FirstCash Holdings, Inc. - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)

In addition, at December 31, 2009, the Company's 50% owned joint venture, Cash & Go, Ltd., operated a total of 39 staffed kiosks located inside convenience stores in the state of Texas, which are not included in the table above. These kiosks offer credit services and check cashing. During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company did not open or close any Cash & Go, Ltd. kiosks.

The Company's credit services operations also include an internet distribution channel for customers in the states of Maryland and Texas.

The Company maintains administrative offices in Texas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The typical Company pawn store is a freestanding building or part of a retail shopping center with adequate, well-lit parking. Management has established a standard store design intended to distinguish the Company's stores from the competition. The design consists of a well-illuminated exterior with distinctive signage and a layout similar to a contemporary specialty retailer. The Company's stores are typically open six to seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

The Company's computer system permits a store manager or clerk to rapidly recall the cost of an item in inventory and the date it was purchased, as well as the prior transaction history of a particular customer. It also facilitates the timely valuation of goods by showing values assigned to similar goods in the past. The Company has networked its stores to permit the Company's headquarters to more efficiently monitor each store's operations, including merchandise sales, service charge revenue, pawns written and redeemed, and changes in inventory.

The Company attempts to attract retail shoppers seeking value prices through the use of seasonal promotions, special discounts for regular customers, prominent display of impulse purchase items such as jewelry, electronics and tools, tent and sidewalk sales, and a layaway purchasing plan. The Company attempts to attract and retain pawn customers by lending a competitive percentage of the estimated sale value of items presented for pledge and by providing quick financing, renewal and redemption services in an appealing atmosphere.

Each pawnshop employs a manager, one or two assistant managers, and between one and eight sales personnel, depending upon the size, sales volume and location of the store. The store manager is responsible for supervising personnel and assuring that the store is managed in accordance with Company guidelines and established policies and procedures. Each manager reports to an area supervisor who typically oversees four to seven store managers. Area supervisors typically report to a regional market manager, who in turn reports to a Regional Operations Director. Regional Operations Directors report to a Vice-President of Operations and/or the Chief Operating Officer.

The Company believes that the profitability of its pawnshops is dependent, among other factors, upon its employees' ability to make pawns that achieve optimum redemption rates, to be effective sales people and to provide prompt and courteous service. Therefore, the Company trains its employees through direct instruction and on-the-job pawn and sales experience. The new employee is introduced to the business through an orientation and training program that includes on-the-job training in lending practices, layaways, merchandise valuation, and general administration of store operations. Certain experienced employees receive training and an introduction to the fundamentals of management to acquire the skills necessary to advance into management positions within the organization. Management training typically involves exposure to income maximization, recruitment, inventory control and cost efficiency. The Company maintains a performance-based compensation plan for all store employees based on sales, gross profit and special promotional contests.

The Company's credit services and short-term loan locations are typically part of a retail strip shopping center with good visibility from a major street and easy access to parking. Management has established a standard store design intended to distinguish the Company's stores from the competition. The design consists of a well-illuminated exterior with lighted signage. The interiors typically feature an ample lobby, separated from employee work areas by glass teller windows. The Company's stores are typically open six to seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Computer operating systems in the Company's credit services and short-term loan stores allow a store manager or clerk to rapidly recall customer check cashing histories, short-term loan histories, and other vital information. The Company attempts to attract customers primarily through the stores' visibility and television advertisements in certain markets.

Each store employs a manager and between one and eight tellers, depending upon the size, loan volume and location of the store. The store manager is responsible for supervising personnel and assuring that the store is managed in accordance with Company guidelines and established policies and procedures. Each store manager reports to an area supervisor who typically oversees two to five store managers. Area supervisors typically report to a regional market manager, who in turn reports to a Regional Operations Director. Regional Operations Directors report to the Chief Operating Officer.

The kiosks operated by the Cash & Go, Ltd. joint venture are located inside convenience stores. Each kiosk is a physically secured area with its own counter space within the convenience store. Each kiosk is typically staffed by one or two employees at any point in time.

The Company believes that the profitability of its credit services and short-term loan locations is dependent upon its employees' ability to make loans and extend credit services that achieve optimum loan performance, to manage credit loss expense and to provide excellent customer service.  Company employees are trained through direct instruction and on-the-job lending, collections and customer service experience.  The new employee is introduced to the business through a training program that includes on-the-job training in lending practices, collections efforts and general administration of store operations.  Certain experienced employees receive training and an introduction to the fundamentals of management, such as income maximization, recruitment and cost efficiency, to acquire the skills necessary to advance into management positions throughout the Company.  The Company maintains a performance-based compensation plan for all short-term loan and credit services store employees based on gross profit, net income and other seasonal contests.

The Company encounters significant competition in connection with all aspects of its business operations. These competitive conditions may adversely affect the Company's revenue, profitability and ability to expand.

The Company competes primarily with other pawn store operators and other specialty consumer finance operators. There are three large publicly-held pawnshop operators of which First Cash is the smallest. There are many public and privately held operators of short-term loan stores, some of which are significantly larger than the Company. There is also significant competition in the short-term loan and credit services industries from internet-based providers of such products, many of which have significantly larger operations than the Company's. In addition, the pawnshop and other specialty consumer finance industries are characterized by a large number of independent owner-operators, some of whom own and operate multiple locations. The Company believes that the primary elements of competition in these businesses are store location, the ability to lend competitive amounts on pawns and short-term loans, customer service, and management of store employees. In addition, the Company competes with financial institutions, such as banks and consumer finance companies, which generally lend on an unsecured as well as a secured basis. Other lenders may and do lend money on terms more favorable than those offered by the Company. Many of these competitors have greater financial resources than the Company.

In its retail operations, the Company's competitors include numerous retail and wholesale stores, including jewelry stores, rent-to-own stores, discount retail stores, consumer electronics stores, other specialty retailers, on-line retailers, on-line auction sites, on-line classified advertising sites and other pawnshops. Competitive factors in the Company's retail operations include the ability to provide the customer with a variety of merchandise items at attractive prices. Many retailers have significantly greater financial resources than the Company.

The Company is subject to extensive regulation of its pawn, credit services, short-term loan and check cashing operations in most jurisdictions in which it operates. These regulations are provided through numerous laws, ordinances and regulatory pronouncements from various federal, state and local governmental entities in the United States and Mexico. Many of these statutes and regulations prescribe, among other things, the terms of the Company's pawn and loan agreements, the maximum service fees and/or interest rates that may be charged and related customer disclosures and other operating practices. In many jurisdictions the Company must obtain and maintain regulatory operating licenses and permits. These regulatory agencies have broad discretionary authority. The Company is also subject to U.S. and Mexican federal and state regulations relating to the reporting and recording of certain currency transactions.

In both the U.S. and Mexico, governmental action to further restrict or even prohibit, in particular, pawn loans, payday advances and credit services products has been advocated over the past few years by elected officials, regulators, consumer advocacy groups and by media reports and stories. The consumer groups and media stories typically focus on the costs to a consumer for pawn and short-term loans, which are higher than the interest generally charged by banks, credit unions or credit card issuers to a more creditworthy consumer. The consumer groups and media stories often characterize pawn and short-term loan activities as abusive toward consumers. During the last few years, legislation has been introduced and/or enacted in the United States and Mexico federal legislative bodies, in certain state legislatures (in the U.S. and Mexico) and in various local jurisdictions (in the U.S. and Mexico) to prohibit or restrict pawn loans, short-term loans, credit services and the related service charges. There are several instances of this type of legislation currently pending at federal, state and local levels in both the U.S. and Mexico. In addition, regulatory authorities in various levels of government have proposed or publicly addressed, from time to time, the possibility of proposing new or expanded regulations that would prohibit or further restrict pawn or short-term loans.

There can be no assurance that additional local, state or federal statutes or regulations in either the United States or Mexico will not be enacted or that existing laws and regulations will not be amended at some future date that could inhibit the ability of the Company to offer pawn loans, short-term loans and credit services, significantly decrease the service fees for lending money, or prohibit or more stringently regulate the sale of certain goods, any of which could cause a significant, adverse effect on the Company's future results. If legislative or regulatory actions that had negative effects on the pawn, short-term loan or credit services industries were taken at a federal level in the United States or Mexico, or in certain U.S. or Mexican states or municipalities where the Company has a significant number of stores, those actions could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's pawn and short-term lending, credit services and retail activities and revenue. There can be no assurance that additional federal, state or local legislation in the U.S. or Mexico will not be enacted, or that existing laws and regulations will not be amended, which would have a materially adverse impact on the Company's operations and financial condition.

The U.S. government and its agencies have significant regulatory authority over consumer financial services activities. In recent years, further legislation and regulations have been enacted or proposed which would further increase such regulation of the consumer finance industry, which includes regulations and restrictions specific to pawn, credit services and short-term loan/payday advance operations.

For example, during 2006, the United States Congress enacted legislation that capped the annual percentage rate charged on short-term/payday advance loans made to active military personnel at 36%; this legislation became effective in October 2007. The Company does not have, nor does it intend to develop, any short-term/payday loan or credit services products bearing an effective interest and fee rate of 36% per annum or less, as the Company believes the losses and servicing costs associated with lending to the Company's traditional customer base would exceed the revenue produced at that rate. As a result, the Company does not have a loan product to offer active military personnel.

More recently, legislation has been proposed or introduced in the current session of the U.S. Congress that could, among other things, place a cap on the effective annual percentage rate ("APR") on all consumer loan transactions (which would encompass both the Company's short-term loan/payday advance, credit services and pawn businesses), place a cap on the dollar amount of fees that may be charged for consumer loans and credit services, ban rollovers (payment of a fee to extend the term of a consumer loan), require the Company to offer an extended payment plan, allow for minimal origination fees for consumer loans or credit services transactions originated over the internet, limit refinancings and the rates to be charged for refinancings and require lenders to be bonded. Additionally, proposed legislation to establish a consumer financial protection agency with broad regulatory powers specifically over consumer credit products has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the current session of the Congress. The Company cannot currently assess the likelihood of this or similar federal or state legislation or regulations being enacted. If this type of legislation is enacted, it could have a potentially materially adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. All of the Company's pawn loan, short-term loan and credit services products bear interest and fees of more than 36% per annum. Such products and services in the U.S. comprised approximately 25% of the Company's total revenue in 2009. There can be no assurance that additional restrictive legislative and regulatory activity at the federal level affecting all short-term loan and credit services products will not be introduced or enacted.

In connection with credit services/short-term loan transactions, the Company must comply with the various disclosure requirements under the Federal Truth in Lending Act (and Federal Reserve Regulation Z under that Act). These disclosures include, among other things, the total amount of the finance charges and annualized percentage rate of the finance charges associated with consumer loan and credit services transactions.

Under the Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the "Treasury Department") regulates transactions involving currency in an amount greater than $10,000 and the purchase of monetary instruments for cash in amounts from $3,000 to $10,000 must be recorded. In general, every financial institution, including the Company, must report each deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency or other payment or transfer, whether by, through or to the financial institution, that involves currency in an amount greater than $10,000. In addition, multiple currency transactions must be treated as single transactions if the financial institution has knowledge that the transactions are by, or on behalf of, any one person and result in either cash in or cash out totaling more than $10,000 during any one business day.

The Money Laundering Suppression Act of 1994 added a section to the Bank Secrecy Act requiring the registration of "money services businesses," like the Company, that engage in check cashing, currency exchange, money transmission, or the issuance or redemption of money orders, traveler's checks, and similar instruments. The purpose of the registration is to enable governmental authorities to better enforce laws prohibiting money laundering and other illegal activities. The regulations require money services businesses to register with the Treasury Department by filing a form, adopted by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Treasury Department ("FinCEN"), and to re-register at least every two years thereafter. The regulations also require that a money services business maintain a list of names and addresses of, and other information about, its agents and that the list be made available to any requesting law enforcement agency (through FinCEN). The agent list must be updated annually.

In March 2000, FinCEN adopted additional regulations, implementing the Bank Secrecy Act that also addresses money services businesses. These regulations require money services businesses, such as the Company, to report suspicious transactions involving at least $2,000 to FinCEN. The regulations generally describe three classes of reportable suspicious transactions - one or more related transactions that the money services business knows, suspects, or has reason to suspect (1) involve funds derived from illegal activity or are intended to hide or disguise such funds; (2) are designed to evade the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act; or (3) appear to serve no business or lawful purpose.

Under the USA PATRIOT Act passed by Congress in 2001 and revised in 2006, the Company is required to maintain an anti-money laundering compliance program. The program must include (1) the development of internal policies, procedures and controls; (2) the designation of a compliance officer; (3) an ongoing employee-training program; and (4) an independent audit function to test the program.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires the Company to generally protect the confidentiality of its customers' nonpublic personal information and to disclose to its customers its privacy policy and practices, including those regarding sharing the customers' nonpublic personal information with third parties. Such disclosure must be made to customers at the time the customer relationship is established, at least annually thereafter, and if there is a change in the Company's privacy policy. In addition, the Company adheres to strict document retention and destruction policies.

The federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act ("ECOA") prohibits discrimination against any credit applicant on the basis of any protected category, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age, and requires the Company to notify credit applicants of any action taken on the individual's credit application. The Company must provide a loan applicant a Notice of Adverse Action ("NOAA") when the Company denies an application for credit. The NOAA must inform the applicant of (1) the action taken regarding the credit application; (2) a statement of the ECOA's prohibition on discrimination; (3) the name and address of both the creditor and the federal agency that monitors compliance with the ECOA; and (4) the applicant's right to learn the specific reasons for the denial of credit and the contact information for the parties the applicant can contact to obtain those reasons. The Company provides NOAA letters and maintains records of all such letters as required by the ECOA and its regulations.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires the Company to provide certain information to customers whose credit applications are not approved on the basis of a report obtained from a consumer reporting agency and to respond to consumers who inquire regarding any adverse reporting submitted by the Company to the consumer reporting agencies.

The federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act ("FACTA") requires the Company to adopt written guidance and procedures for detecting, preventing, and responding appropriately to mitigate identity theft and to adopt various coworker policies, procedures, and provide coworker training and materials, that address the importance of protecting non-public personal information and aid the Company in detecting and responding to suspicious activity, including suspicious activity which may suggest a possible identity theft red flag, as appropriate. The Company plans to implement a program prior to the Federal Trade Commission's revised implementation date of June 1, 2010.

The Company operates pawn stores in seven U.S. states, all of which have licensing and/or fee regulations on pawnshop operations, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Missouri. The Company is licensed in each of the states in which a license is currently required for it to operate as a pawnbroker. The Company's fee structures are at or below the applicable rate ceilings adopted by each of these states. In addition, the Company is in compliance with the net asset requirements in states where it is required to maintain certain levels of liquid assets for each pawn store it operates in the applicable state.

Under some county and municipal ordinances, pawn stores must provide local law enforcement agencies with reports of all daily transactions involving pawns and over-the-counter merchandise purchases. These daily transaction reports are designed to provide local law enforcement officials with a detailed description of the merchandise involved, including serial numbers, if any, and the name and address of the owner obtained from a valid identification card. Goods held to secure pawns or goods purchased that are determined to belong to an owner other than the borrower or seller are subject to recovery by the rightful owners. Historically, the Company has not found the volume of the claims to have a materially adverse effect upon results of operations. The Company does not maintain insurance to cover the costs of returning merchandise to its rightful owners.

The Company offers a credit services product in the states of Texas and Maryland. In Texas, First Cash Credit, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, operates as a registered credit services organization as provided under Section 393 of the Texas Finance Code. As a credit services organization, First Cash Credit, Ltd. assists customers, for a fee, in obtaining a short-term loan from an independent lender. A credit services organization must provide the consumer with a disclosure statement and a credit services agreement that describe in detail, among other things, the services the credit services organization will provide to the consumer, the fees the consumer will be charged by the credit services organization for these services, the details of the surety bond and the availability of the surety bond if the consumer believes the credit services organization has violated the law, the consumer's right to review his or her file, the procedures a consumer may follow to dispute information contained in his or her file, and the availability of non-profit credit counseling services. The credit services organization must also give a consumer the right to cancel the credit services agreement without penalty within three days after the agreement is signed. In addition, under the provisions of the credit services statute, each First Cash Credit, Ltd. credit services location must be registered as a credit services organization and pay a registration fee. The Company has a wholly-owned subsidiary which operates as a registered credit services organization in Maryland, and which operates under a similar structure as described for Texas. Regulators in the state of Maryland have initiated actions to further scrutinize credit services operations.

Legislation relating to pawn loans, credit services, installment loans and other short-term loan products has been either proposed, is still pending or has been recently enacted in several state legislatures, including the states of Texas, Illinois, Maryland and South Carolina, where the Company has pawn, credit services and short-term loan operations.  In general, such legislation lowers the maximum allowable interest rates on loans and/or significantly restricts the ability of customers to obtain such loans by limiting the maximum number of consecutive loan transactions that may be provided to a customer and/or limiting the total loans a customer may have outstanding at any point in time. Any or all of these changes could make offering these products financially less profitable and could restrict or even eliminate the availability of short-term loan, pawn loan and credit services products in some or all of the states in which the Company offers such products.  For example, legislation was introduced in the 2009 session of the Texas legislature which would have severely restricted and/or prohibited the Company's ability to operate as a credit services organization in Texas, where it offers credit services in 110 short-term loan stores, 59 pawnshops and 39 Cash & Go, Ltd. kiosks which generated approximately $39,602,000 of revenue from credit services products in fiscal 2009. While no legislation affecting credit services operations was enacted in the 2009 session, there can be no assurance that additional legislative or regulatory initiatives will not be proposed in the next session in 2011 which would eliminate or restrict the Company's ability to operate as a credit services organization in the state of Texas. If such legislation or regulations were enacted, especially in Texas, it would have a materially adverse impact on the revenue and profitability of the Company, as the Company derived approximately $39,602,000 in revenue, which is 11% of total revenue, from its credit services product in Texas in fiscal 2009. In Maryland, legislation has recently been proposed which could restrict or prohibit credit services operations in the state, where the Company generated revenues of approximately $2,896,000 from credit services during fiscal 2009. In Illinois, legislation has been proposed from time to time which could restrict or prohibit certain consumer installment and payday lending products. The Company operates ten stores in Illinois which generated approximately $7,773,000 in revenue from consumer installment lending and payday loan products in fiscal 2009. In South Carolina, legislation became effective in 2010 which will further restrict customer access to payday advance products, where the Company generated approximately $253,000 in revenue from payday advance lending products in fiscal 2009. The Company cannot currently assess the likelihood that proposed legislation or regulations, such as described above, will be enacted; however, if such legislation or regulations were enacted in certain jurisdictions, it could have a materially adverse impact on the revenue and profitability of the Company. 

Many local government entities also prohibit or restrict pawn, other consumer finance and check cashing activities through zoning ordinances. Such ordinances can restrict the ability of the Company to move, expand, remodel or relocate store locations, and in some cases cause existing stores to be closed. In some jurisdictions, check cashing companies or money transmission agents are required to meet minimum bonding or capital requirements and are subject to record-keeping requirements.

The pawnshop and consumer finance industries in Mexico are subject to various general business regulations in the areas of tax compliance, customs, consumer protections, public safety and employment matters, among others, by various federal, state and local governmental agencies.  In addition, federal law in Mexico provides for administrative regulation of the pawnshop industry by PROFECO, the federal consumer protection agency. PROFECO regulates the form and terms of pawn loan contracts and many operating standards and procedures for pawnshops, including retail operations. The Company's unsecured short-term loan products in Mexico are regulated by CONDUSEF, the federal banking and financial services regulator. The Company's pawn and short-term lending operations in Mexico are also subject to federal regulations which require the Company to register its operations and loan contracts and provide that the Company disclose the interest rate and fees charged on pawn and short-term loan transactions. Certain state and local governmental entities in Mexico also regulate pawn and other consumer finance and retail operations through state laws and local zoning and permitting ordinances. These agencies often have authority to suspend store operations pending resolution of actual or alleged regulatory and licensing/permitting issues.

Both federal and state legislation in Mexico has recently been proposed which would further regulate or potentially restrict the ability of the Company to provide pawn loans or other short-term loans. Such proposals typically contain restrictions on contract terms, interest rates and/or service fees, potentially restrict or eliminate the ability of "for profit" entities to offer these services and provide for greater overall regulatory oversight by PROFECO and/or CONDUSEF. The Company cannot currently assess the probability of such legislation being enacted nor the potential impact of such legislation. There can be no assurance that additional federal, state or local statutes or regulations in Mexico will not be enacted, or that existing laws and regulations will not be amended. In fiscal 2009, approximately 48% of the Company's revenue was derived from its Mexican operations. Legislation which significantly regulates contract terms, restricts service fees/rates or restricts customer access to the Company's pawn and consumer finance products could have a materially adverse impact on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.

The Company had approximately 4,200 employees as of March 11, 2010, including approximately 300 persons employed in executive, administrative and accounting functions. In addition, Cash & Go, Ltd. had approximately 80 employees as of March 11, 2010. None of the Company's employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company considers its employee relations to be satisfactory.

The Company's primary website is at www.firstcash.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, at its corporate website, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC.

The Company maintains property all-risk coverage and liability insurance for each of its locations in amounts management believes to be adequate. The Company maintains workers' compensation insurance in Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, South Carolina, Illinois, Washington, D.C., Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as excess employer's indemnification insurance in Texas. The Company is a non-subscriber under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.

Important risk factors that could cause results or events to differ from current expectations are described below. These factors are not intended to be an all-encompassing list of risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business.

Both pawn and other short-term consumer loan products have come under increased regulation and scrutiny. If changes in regulations affecting the Company's pawn, credit services and short-term loan businesses create increased restrictions, or have the effect of prohibiting loans in the countries and states where the Company offers these products, such regulations could materially impair or reduce the Company's pawn, credit services and short-term loan businesses and limit its expansion into new markets. The Company's products and services are subject to extensive regulation and supervision under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations in both the United States and Mexico. The Company faces the risk that restrictions or limitations on loan products, loan amounts, loan yields and customer acceptance of loan products resulting from the enactment, change, or interpretation of laws and regulations in the United States or Mexico could have a negative effect on the Company's business activities. Both pawn and short-term consumer loans, including payday advances, have come under increased scrutiny and increasingly restrictive regulation in recent years. Other enacted or recently proposed regulatory activity may limit the number of loans that customers may receive or have outstanding and regulations adopted by some states require that all borrowers of certain loan products be listed on a database, limit the yield on pawn or short-term loans and limit the number of such loans borrowers may have outstanding. Certain consumer advocacy groups and federal and state legislators have also asserted that laws and regulations should be tightened so as to severely limit, if not eliminate, the availability of the short-term loan and credit services products to consumers, despite the significant demand for such products. In Mexico, similar restrictions and regulations affecting the pawn and consumer loan industries, including licensing restrictions, disclosure requirements and limits on interest rates and/or loan service fees, have been and continue to be proposed from time to time. Adoption of such federal, state or local regulation or legislation in the United States and Mexico could restrict, or even eliminate, the availability of specialty consumer finance products at some or all of the Company's locations, which would adversely affect the Company's operations and financial condition. A more detailed discussion of the regulatory environment and current developments and risks to the Company is provided in Part I, Item 1.

Media reports and public perception of short-term consumer loans, such as payday advances or pawn loans, as being predatory or abusive could materially adversely affect the Company's short-term loan, credit services and pawn businesses. In recent years, consumer advocacy groups and some media reports, in both the United States and Mexico, have advocated governmental action to prohibit or place severe restrictions on short-term consumer loans. The consumer advocacy groups and media reports generally focus on the cost to a consumer for this type of loan, which is higher than the interest typically charged by banks to consumers with better credit histories. Though the consumer advocacy groups and media reports do not discuss the lack of viable alternatives for the Company's customers' borrowing needs, they do typically characterize these short-term consumer loans as predatory or abusive despite the large customer demand for these loans. If the negative characterization of these types of loans becomes increasingly accepted by consumers, demand for short-term loan products could significantly decrease, which could materially affect the Company's results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, if the negative characterization of these types of loans becomes increasingly accepted by legislators and regulators, the Company could become subject to more restrictive laws and regulations that could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

Adverse gold market fluctuations could negatively affect the Company's profits. A significant portion of the Company's pawn loans are collateralized with gold jewelry and the Company sells significant quantities of gold acquired through collateral forfeitures or direct purchases from customers. In addition to normal market risks associated with accepting gold as loan collateral and buying and selling gold, the global economic crisis has increased the volatility of commodity markets such as gold. A significant decline in gold prices could result in decreased merchandise sales and related margins, decreased inventory valuations and sub-standard collateralization of outstanding pawn loans. In addition, a significant decline in gold prices could result in a lower balance of pawn loans outstanding for the Company, as customers would receive lower loan amounts for individual pieces of jewelry.

Risks and uncertainties related to the Company's foreign operations could negatively impact the Company's operating results. The Company has over 330 store locations in Mexico, a country in which there are potential risks related to geo-political events, political instability, corruption, economic volatility, drug cartel and gang-related violence, social and ethnic unrest, enforcement of property rights, governmental regulations, public safety and security among others. As in many developing markets, there are also uncertainties in how local law is applied, including areas most relevant to commercial transactions and foreign investment. As a result, actions or events could occur in Mexico, which are beyond the Company's control, which could restrict or eliminate the Company's ability to operate some or all of its locations in Mexico or significantly reduce customer traffic, product demand and the expected profitability of such operations.

The Company's allowance for credit losses for credit services and short-term loans may not be sufficient to cover actual credit losses which could adversely affect its financial condition and operating results. Under the CSO program, the Company issues the Independent Lender a letter of credit to guarantee the repayment of the customer's loan. The Company is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the letters of credit. The Company records the estimated fair value of the liability under the letters of credit in accrued liabilities. The Company also has customer receivables arising from its short-term loan operations. The Company has to recognize losses resulting from the inability of credit services and short-term loan customers and/or borrowers to repay such receivables or loans and the insufficient realizable value of the collateral securing the loans. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses in an attempt to cover credit losses inherent in its short-term loan operations. Additional credit losses will likely occur in the future and may occur at a rate greater than the Company has experienced to date. The allowance for credit losses is based primarily upon historical credit loss experience, with consideration given to delinquency levels, collateral values, economic conditions and underwriting and collection practices. This evaluation is inherently subjective, as it requires estimates of material factors that may be susceptible to significant change. If the Company's assumptions and judgments prove to be incorrect, its current allowance may not be sufficient and adjustments may be necessary to allow for different economic conditions or adverse developments in its loan portfolio.

The failure of third-parties who provide products, services or support to the Company to maintain their products, services or support could disrupt Company operations or result in a loss of revenue. The Company's credit services operations depend in part on the willingness and ability of an unaffiliated third-party lender to make loans to its customers. The loss of the relationship with this lender, and an inability to replace it with a new lender or lenders, or the failure of the lender to fund new loans and to maintain volumes, quality and consistency in its loan programs could cause the Company to lose customers and substantially decrease the revenue and earnings of the Company's credit services business. In addition, the Company's lending and retail operations are dependent upon the Company's ability to maintain retail banking relationships with commercial banks. The Company also relies significantly on outside vendors to provide services such as utilities, store security, armored transport, data and voice networks and other information technology products and services.

The Company's growth is subject to external factors and other circumstances over which the Company has limited control or that are beyond the Company's control. These factors and circumstances could adversely affect the Company's ability to grow through the opening of new store locations. The success of this strategy is subject to numerous external factors, such as the availability of sites with favorable customer demographics, limited competition, acceptable regulatory restrictions and suitable lease terms, the Company's ability to attract, train and retain qualified unit associates and management personnel and the ability to obtain required government permits and licenses. Some of these factors are beyond the Company's control. The failure to execute this expansion strategy would adversely affect the Company's ability to expand its business and could materially adversely affect its business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

Increased competition from banks, savings and loans, internet-based lenders, other short-term consumer lenders, and other entities offering similar financial services, as well as retail businesses that offer products and services offered by the Company, could adversely affect the Company's results of operations. The Company has many competitors to its core lending and merchandise sales operations. The Company's principal competitors are other pawnshops, short-term loan companies, internet-based lenders, consumer finance companies and other financial institutions that serve the Company's primary customer base. Many other financial institutions or other businesses that do not now offer products or services directed toward the Company's traditional customer base, many of whom may be much larger than the Company, could begin doing so. Significant increases in the number and size of competitors for the Company's business could result in a decrease in the number of short-term loans or pawn loans that the Company writes, resulting in lower levels of revenue and earnings in these categories. Furthermore, the Company has many competitors to its retail operations, such as retailers of new merchandise, retailers of pre-owned merchandise, other pawnshops, thrift shops, online retailers, on-line classified advertising sites and online auction sites. Increased competition or aggressive marketing and pricing practices by these competitors could result in decreased revenue, margins and turnover rates in the Company's retail operations. In Mexico, the Company competes directly with certain pawn stores owned by government sponsored non-profit foundations. The government could take actions that would harm the Company's ability to compete in the Mexico market. In addition, the Company's two largest U.S.-based pawn competitors, both of whom are larger than the Company, have launched significant acquisition expansion programs in Mexico.

A sustained deterioration of economic conditions or an economic crisis could reduce demand or profitability for the Company's products and services and increase credit losses which would result in reduced earnings. In addition, business and financial results may be adversely impacted by unfavorable economic conditions associated with a global or regional economic crisis which include adverse changes in interest or tax rates, effects of government initiatives to manage economic conditions and increased volatility of commodity markets and foreign currency exchange rates. Specifically, a rapid or sustained deterioration in the economy could cause deterioration in the performance of the Company's loan portfolios and in consumer or market demand for pre-owned merchandise or gold such as that sold in the Company's pawnshops.  While the credit risk for much of the Company's pawn lending is mitigated by the collateralized nature of pawn lending, a sustained deterioration in the economy could reduce the demand and resale value of pre-owned merchandise and reduce the amount that the Company could effectively lend on an item of collateral.  Such reductions could adversely affect pawn loan balances, pawn loan redemption rates, inventory balances, inventory mixes, sales volumes and gross profit margins.  An economic slowdown could result in a decrease in loan demand and an increase in loan defaults on short-term loan and credit services products.  During such a slowdown, the Company could be required to tighten its underwriting standards, which would reduce short-term loan balances and related revenue and credit services fees, and could face more difficulty in collecting defaulted short-term loans, which could lead to an increase in loan losses.  As short-term loans and credit services customers generally have to be employed to qualify for a loan, an increase in the unemployment rate would reduce the number of potential customers.

The Company's financial position and results of operations may fluctuate significantly due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates in Mexico. During the current global economic crises, the volatility of the exchange rate of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar has increased. The Company derives significant revenue, earnings and cash flow from operations in Mexico. The Company's exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations results primarily from the translation exposure associated with the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as from transaction exposure associated with transactions in currencies other than an entity's functional currency. While the Consolidated Financial Statements are reported in U.S. dollars, the financial statements of the Company's Mexican subsidiaries are prepared using the Mexican peso as the functional currency and translated into U.S. dollars by applying appropriate exchange rates. As a result, fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar relative to the Mexican peso could cause significant fluctuations in the Company's results. In addition, while expenses with respect to foreign operations are generally denominated in the same currency as corresponding sales, the Company has transaction exposure to the extent receipts and expenditures are not offsetting in the subsidiary's functional currency. In addition, changes in currency could negatively affect customer demand, especially in Mexico and in U.S. stores located along the Mexican border. In addition, the Company's Mexican-based subsidiaries experience foreign currency exposure to the extent monetary assets and liabilities, including debt, are in U.S. dollars, rather than the subsidiaries' functional currency, which is the Mexican peso. Moreover, the costs of doing business abroad may increase as a result of adverse exchange rate fluctuations.

A decreased demand for the Company's products and services and failure of the Company to adapt to such decreases could adversely affect results. Although the Company's products and services are a staple of its customer base, the demand for a particular product or service may decrease due to a variety of factors, such as the availability of competing products, changes in customers' financial conditions, or regulatory restrictions that reduce customer access to particular products. Should the Company fail to adapt to a significant change in its customers' demand for, or access to, its products, the Company's revenue could decrease significantly. Even if the Company does make adaptations, customers may resist or may reject products whose adaptations make them less attractive or less available. In any event, the effect of any product change on the results of the Company's business may not be fully ascertainable until the change has been in effect for some time. In particular, the Company has changed, and will continue to change, some of the short-term loan products and services it offers due to regulatory developments.

Changes in the capital markets or the Company's financial condition could reduce available capital. Although the Company currently has no outstanding balance on its bank line of credit, which expires in April 2010, the Company has in the past accessed the debt capital markets to refinance existing debt obligations and to obtain capital to finance growth. Efficient access to these markets is critical to the Company's ongoing financial success; however, the Company's future access to the debt capital markets could become restricted due to a variety of factors, including a deterioration of the Company's earnings, cash flows, balance sheet quality, regulatory restrictions or overall business or industry prospects, a significant deterioration in the state of the capital markets or a negative bias toward the Company's industry by market participants. Inability to access the credit markets on acceptable terms, if at all, would have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial condition.

The Company's business depends on the uninterrupted operation of the Company's facilities, systems and business functions, including its information technology and other business systems. The Company's business depends highly upon its employees' ability to perform, in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, necessary business functions such as internet support, call centers, and processing and making cash advances. Additionally, the Company's storefront operations depend on the efficiency and reliability of the Company's point-of-sale system. A shut-down of or inability to access the facilities in which the Company's online operations, storefront point-of-sale system and other technology infrastructure are based, such as a power outage, a failure of one or more of its information technology, telecommunications or other systems, or sustained or repeated disruptions of such systems could significantly impair its ability to perform such functions on a timely basis and could result in a deterioration of the Company's ability to perform efficient storefront lending and merchandise disposition activities, provide customer service, perform collections activities, or perform other necessary business functions.

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

The Company is subject to intangible-asset impairment risk. At December 31, 2009, the Company had goodwill and identified intangible assets totaling $69,731,000 and $521,000, respectively, on its Consolidated Balance Sheet, all of which represent assets capitalized in connection with the Company's acquisitions and business combinations. Accounting for intangible assets requires significant management estimates and judgment. The Company may not realize the value of these intangible assets. Management performs periodic reviews of the carrying values of the intangible assets to determine whether events and circumstances indicate that an impairment in value may have occurred. A variety of factors could cause the carrying value of an intangible asset to become impaired. Should a review indicate impairment, a write-down of the carrying value of the intangible asset would occur, resulting in a non-cash charge, which could adversely affect the Company's results of operations.

The Company depends on its senior management and may not be able to retain those employees or recruit additional qualified personnel. The Company depends on its senior management. The loss of services of any of the members of the Company's senior management could adversely affect the Company's business until a suitable replacement can be found. There may be a limited number of persons with the requisite skills to serve in these positions, and the Company cannot ensure that it would be able to identify or employ such qualified personnel on acceptable terms.

The inability to successfully integrate acquisitions could adversely affect results. The success of an acquisition is subject to numerous internal and external factors, such as the ability to consolidate data processing and accounting functions, the management of additional sales, administrative, operations and management personnel, overall management of a larger organization, competitive market forces, and general economic factors. Failure to successfully integrate an acquisition would have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

Adverse real estate market fluctuations and/or the inability to renew and extend store operating leases could affect the Company's profits. The Company leases most of its locations. A significant rise in real estate prices or real property taxes could result in an increase in store lease costs as the Company opens new locations and renews leases for existing locations, thereby negatively impacting the Company's results of operations. The Company also holds certain developed and undeveloped real estate which could be impacted by adverse market fluctuations. In addition, the inability of the Company to renew, extend or replace expiring store leases could negatively impact the results of operations.

Inclement weather can adversely impact the Company's operating results. The occurrence of weather events such as rain, cold weather, snow, wind, storms, hurricanes, or other natural disasters, adversely affecting consumer traffic and collection activities at the Company's stores could negatively impact the Company's operating results.

The Company's business may be impacted by the outbreak of certain public health issues, including epidemics, pandemics and other contagious diseases such as the H1N1 influenza. In the event of such an outbreak, regulatory and/or public health officials could restrict store operating hours, product offerings and/or the number of customers allowed in a store at one time, which could adversely affect the Company's financial results. In addition, to the extent that the Company's customers become infected by such diseases, or feel uncomfortable visiting public locations due to a perceived risk of exposure to contagious diseases, the Company could experience a reduction in customer traffic which could adversely affect the Company's financial results.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had no unresolved SEC staff comments.

The Company owns the real estate and buildings for eight of its pawn stores. The Company leases 550 store locations that are currently open or are in the process of opening. Leased facilities are generally leased for a term of three to five years with one or more options to renew. The Company's existing leases expire on dates ranging between 2010 and 2019. All current store leases provide for specified periodic rental payments ranging from approximately $635 to $11,150 per month.

The Company also currently owns six other parcels of real estate. Three of the parcels are leased to a buy-here/pay-here car lot operation, one is held for sale and the remaining two parcels are being held for possible development for future pawnshop operations.

The Company currently leases approximately 19,500 square feet of office space in Arlington, Texas for its corporate offices. The lease, which expires May 31, 2015, currently provides for monthly rental payments of approximately $26,000. The Company leases approximately 16,500 square feet of office space in Monterrey, Mexico for its Mexico administrative offices. The lease, which expires May 31, 2014, currently provides for monthly rental payments of approximately $4,000. The Company also leases approximately 12,000 square feet of office space in Euless, Texas for its short-term loan collections and internet-based credit services operations. The lease, which expires February 28, 2013, currently provides for monthly rental payments of approximately $6,200.

The Company's 50% owned joint venture, Cash & Go, Ltd., leases its kiosk locations under operating leases generally with terms ranging from one to five years, with renewal options for certain locations. The joint venture's existing leases expire on dates ranging between 2010 and 2014. All current Cash & Go, Ltd. leases provide for specified periodic rental payments ranging from approximately $1,300 to $1,900 per month.

Most leases require the Company to maintain the property and pay the cost of insurance and property taxes. The Company believes that termination of any particular lease would not have a materially adverse effect on the Company's operations. The Company's strategy is generally to lease, rather than purchase, space for its pawnshop and short-term loan locations, unless the Company finds what it believes is a superior location at an attractive price. The Company believes that the facilities currently owned and leased by it as pawn stores and short-term loan stores are suitable for such purposes. The Company considers its equipment, furniture and fixtures to be in good condition.

The Company is from time to time a defendant (actual or threatened) in certain lawsuits and arbitration claims encountered in the ordinary course of its business, the resolution of which, in the opinion of management, should not have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

The Company's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "FCFS." The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low closing sales prices per share for the common stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market:

On March 11, 2010, the closing sales price for the common stock as reported by the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $21.96 per share. On March 11, 2010, there were approximately 59 stockholders of record of the common stock.

No cash dividends have been paid by the Company on its common stock. The dividend and earnings retention policies are reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Company from time to time in light of, among other things, the Company's earnings, cash flows, and financial position. The Company's revolving credit facility contains provisions that allow the Company to pay cash dividends within certain parameters.

During the period from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Company issued 286,000 shares of common stock relating to the exercise of outstanding stock options for an aggregate exercise price of $2,541,000 (including income tax benefit). During the period from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Company issued 312,000 shares of common stock relating to the exercise of outstanding stock warrants for an aggregate exercise price of $2,337,000 (including income tax benefit). During 2008, the Company granted a total of 15,000 shares of restricted stock to the outside directors of the Company and these shares were issued upon satisfaction of appropriate vesting requirements in 2009. The issuance of these stock options, warrants and restricted stock to officers and employees was exempt under Section 4(2) of the Act, and all holders had access to and/or reviewed copies of Exchange Act filings. No sales commissions were paid with respect to these issuances.

In March 2008, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an amendment to the 2007-authorized program which allows the Company to repurchase up to 3,000,000 shares of its common stock. There are 1,360,000 total remaining shares available for repurchase under the currently authorized plan. Under this share repurchase program, the Company can purchase common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions with independent third-parties. The number of shares to be purchased and the timing of the purchases are based on the level of cash balances, available credit facilities, general business conditions and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. No time limit was set for completion of repurchases under the original or amended authorization. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, the Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock.

The Stock Price Performance Graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the common stock of the Company for the period from December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2009, with the cumulative total return on the Nasdaq Composite Index and a peer group index (whose returns are weighted according to their respective market capitalizations) over the same period (assuming the investment of $100 in the Company's common stock, the Nasdaq Composite Index, and the peer group). The 2009 peer group selected by the Company includes Cash America International, Inc., EZCORP, Inc., World Acceptance Corporation, Rent-A-Center, Inc., and Aaron Rents, Inc.

The information below should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Item 7 and the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto required by Item 8. The information below has been audited for balance sheet dates December 31, 2009 and 2008 and statement of operations for the years ending December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

The Company generates most of its revenue from its pawn store operations, as they produced 85% of the Company's revenue during fiscal 2009. The Company's pawn revenue is derived primarily from service fees on pawns and merchandise sales of forfeited pawn collateral and used goods purchased directly from the general public. The Company accrues pawn service charge revenue on a constant-yield basis over the life of the pawn loan for all pawns that the Company deems collection to be probable based on historical pawn redemption statistics. If a pawn loan is not repaid prior to the expiration of the automatic extension period, if applicable, the property is forfeited to the Company and transferred to inventory at a value equal to the principal amount of the loan, exclusive of accrued interest.

The Company also offers a fee-based credit services organization program ("CSO program") to assist consumers, primarily in Texas markets, in obtaining credit. The Company's credit services fees contributed approximately 12% of fiscal 2009 consolidated revenue. Under the CSO program, the Company assists customers in applying for a short-term loan from an independent, non-bank, consumer lending company (the "Independent Lender") and issues the Independent Lender a letter of credit to guarantee the repayment of the loan. The Company recognizes credit services fees ratably over the life of the loan made by the Independent Lender. The loans made by the Independent Lender to credit services customers of the Company have terms of 7 to 180 days. The Company records a liability for the estimated fair value of the liability under the letters of credit. The credit loss provision is based primarily upon historical credit loss experience, with consideration given to recent credit loss trends, delinquency rates, economic conditions and management's expectations of future credit losses. See additional discussion of the credit loss provision, and related allowances/accruals, in the section titled Results of Continuing Operations.

The Company's short-term consumer loan revenue is approximately 3% of fiscal 2009 consolidated revenue, which is derived primarily from fees on short-term loans. The Company recognizes service fee income on short-term loans on a constant-yield basis over the life of the loan, which is generally 31 days or less. The net defaults on short-term loans and changes in the short-term loan valuation reserve are charged to the short-term loan loss provision. The credit loss provision is based primarily upon historical credit loss experience, with consideration given to recent credit loss trends, delinquency rates, economic conditions and management's expectations of future credit losses. See additional discussion of the credit loss provision, and related allowances/accruals, in the section titled Results of Continuing Operations.

In December 2009, the Company reached an agreement to sell its payday lending and check cashing operations located in California, Washington and Oregon ("West Coast stores"). The Company elected to discontinue its short-term loan operations in Michigan effective March 2009. In addition, certain Texas short-term loan/credit services stores were classified as discontinued operations in both the first and second quarters of 2009. The Company discontinued its Auto Master buy-here/pay-here operation, effective September 2008. The Company discontinued its short-term loan operations in the Washington, D.C. market, effective December 2007. See discussion of discontinued operations below and in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Effective in January 2010, the Company discontinued its payday lending product offered in its three pawn stores located in Oklahoma. The Company generated revenues of approximately $20,000 from payday loan products in these stores during fiscal 2009.

The following table details selected operating metrics regarding the Company's loan products, inventories, and store locations:

Stores included in the same-store revenue calculations are those stores that were opened prior to the beginning of the prior year comparative fiscal period and are still open. Also included are stores that were relocated during the year within a specified distance serving the same market, where there is not a significant change in store size and where there is not a significant overlap or gap in timing between the opening of the new store and the closing of the existing store. Non-retail sales of scrap jewelry are included in same-store revenue calculations.

While the Company has had significant increases in revenue due to new store openings and acquisitions, the Company has also incurred increases in operating expenses attributable to the additional locations. Operating expenses consist of all items directly related to the operation of the Company's stores, including salaries and related payroll costs, rent, utilities, equipment, advertising, property taxes, licenses, supplies and security. Administrative expenses consist of items relating to the operation of the corporate offices, including the compensation and benefit costs of corporate management, area supervisors and other operations management personnel, collections operations and personnel, accounting and administrative costs, information technology costs, liability and casualty insurance, outside legal and accounting fees and stockholder-related expenses.

In December 2009, the Company reached an agreement to sell all 22 of its West Coast stores to privately-held California Check Cashing Stores, LLC. The Company recorded a gain of $901,000, or $0.03 per share, net of tax, from the sale of these stores in fiscal 2009. The after tax earnings from operations for all of the West Coast stores were $1,376,000, or $0.05 per share in fiscal 2009, $1,716,000, or $0.06 per share in 2008 and $2,165,000, or $0.06 per share in 2007. In addition, the Company discontinued its short-term loan operations in Michigan effective March 2009, and certain Texas short-term loan/credit services stores were discontinued in both the first and second quarters of 2009. Associated with these store closings, the Company recorded year-to-date after tax charges in fiscal 2009 of $1,111,000, or $0.04 per share, $924,000, or $0.03 per share in 2008 and $787,000, or $0.02 per share in 2007. All revenue, expenses and income reported in these financial statements have been adjusted to reflect reclassification of these discontinued operations.

The Company discontinued its Auto Master buy-here/pay-here automotive operation in the third quarter of 2008 and subsequently sold the inventory and retail operations to a third party. Under a related services agreement, the purchaser is collecting the Company's outstanding Auto Master customer notes receivable, which are being reported by the Company as a discontinued asset. After-tax net income from the discontinued Auto Master operation during fiscal 2009 was $6,747,000, or $0.22 per share. The earnings per share of $0.22 realized in fiscal 2009 reflect the excess of the amounts collected in the current year over anticipated collections based on the assumed liquidation fair value methodology utilized in the Company's write-down of these same assets. A non-cash charge of $1.70 per share, or $51,302,000, net of tax, was included as a component of discontinued operations for the year ending December 31, 2008. All revenue, expenses and income from continuing operations reported in this report exclude gains and losses of the discontinued Auto Master operation.

Effective December 2007, the Company discontinued its short-term loan operations in the District of Columbia ("D.C."). This was the result of legislation enacted in the fourth quarter of 2007 to cap the maximum annual percentage rate charged on short-term loans at 24%, which made the short-term loan product financially unviable; therefore, the Company closed its seven short-term loan stores in D.C. All revenue, expenses and income reported in this report have been adjusted to reflect reclassification of the discontinued D.C. operations. Associated with these store closings, the Company recorded an after tax charge of $808,000, or $0.02 per share in 2007. The after tax earnings from operations for the D.C. stores were $3,386,000, or $0.10 per share in 2007, and $243,000, or $0.01 per share in 2008.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related revenue and expenses, and disclosure of gain and loss contingencies at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's estimates. The significant accounting policies that the Company believes are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating its reported financial results include the following:

Principles of consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company is a 50% partner in Cash & Go, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, and in accordance with ASC 810-10-10-1, which establishes standards for the consolidation of variable interest entities, the consolidated operating results include those of Cash & Go, Ltd. On June 17, 2009, the Company acquired two pawn stores located in Dallas, Texas. The results of operations for the acquired stores have been consolidated with the Company's results of operations since the acquisition on June 17, 2009. On December 5, 2008, the Company acquired Central America Capital, S.A. de C.V. (a Mexican corporation using the trade name "Presta Max"). Accordingly, the operating results of Presta Max are not included in consolidated operating results prior to December 5, 2008. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Receivables and revenue recognition - Receivables on the balance sheet consist of pawn receivables, short-term loan receivables and receivables from discontinued operations. Pawn loan receivables are collateralized by pledged tangible personal property. The Company accrues pawn service fee revenue on a constant-yield basis over the life of the pawn for all pawns that the Company deems collection to be probable based on historical pawn redemption statistics. The typical pawn loan has an initial term of 30 days, which, depending on state law, can generally be extended from 15 to 60 days. If the pawn is not repaid, the principal amount pawned becomes the carrying value of the forfeited collateral (inventory), which is held for sale.

The Company recognizes credit services fees ratably over the life of the loan made by the Independent Lender. The loans made by the Independent Lender to credit services customers have terms of 7 to 180 days. The Company records a liability for collected, but unearned, credit services fees received from its customers. The Company accrues short-term loan service fees on a constant-yield basis over the term of the short-term loan. Short-term loans have terms that range from 7 to 180 days.

The outstanding customer notes receivable from the discontinued Auto Master operation are collected by a third party according to the terms of a collections service agreement. All principal amounts, finance charges and related fees collected by the purchaser, as well as any proceeds from sales of repossessed vehicles, are remitted to the Company as collected, net of a collection management fee, based on a calculation provided in the collections agreement. Net principal and interest payments collected are applied to the recorded receivable balance. See Note 6 regarding the Company's valuation of the fair value of these notes receivable.

Credit services and short-term loan loss provision - Under the CSO program, letters of credit issued by the Company to the Independent Lender constitute a guarantee for which the Company is required to recognize, at the inception of the guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the letters of credit. The Independent Lender may present the letter of credit to the Company for payment if the customer fails to repay the full amount of the loan and accrued interest after the due date of the loan. Each letter of credit expires approximately 30 days after the due date of the loan. The Company's maximum loss exposure under all of the outstanding letters of credit issued on behalf of its customers to the Independent Lender as of December 31, 2009 was $15,217,000. According to the letter of credit, if the borrower defaults on the loan, the Company will pay the Independent Lender the principal, accrued interest, insufficient funds fees, and late fees, all of which the Company records in the short-term loan and credit services loss provision. The Company is entitled to seek recovery directly from its customers for amounts it pays the Independent Lender in performing under the letters of credit. The Company records the estimated fair value of the liability under the letters of credit in accrued liabilities.

An allowance is provided for losses on active short-term loans and service fees receivable based upon expected default rates, net of estimated future recoveries of previously defaulted short-term loans and service fees receivable. The Company considers short-term loans to be in default if they are not repaid on the due date, and writes off the principal amount and service fees receivable as of the default date, leaving only active advances in the reported balance. Net defaults and changes in the short-term loan allowance are charged to the short-term loan loss provision.

Inventories - Pawn inventories represent merchandise acquired from forfeited pawns and merchandise purchased directly from the public. Inventories from forfeited pawns are recorded at the amount of the pawn principal on the unredeemed goods, exclusive of accrued interest. Inventories purchased directly from customers are recorded at cost. The cost of pawn inventories is determined on the specific identification method. Pawn inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market; accordingly, inventory valuation allowances are established, if necessary, when inventory carrying values are in excess of estimated selling prices, net of direct costs of disposal. Management has evaluated inventories and determined that a valuation allowance is not necessary. The Company presents merchandise sales net of any sales taxes collected.

Long-lived assets - Property and equipment and non-current assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net book value of the asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and before interest) from the use of the asset is less than the net book value of the asset. Generally, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value of the asset and the estimated fair value of the related asset. Other than disclosed in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, management does not believe any of these assets have been impaired at December 31, 2009 or 2008. Goodwill and identified intangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment based upon their fair value, or more frequently if certain indicators arise. Other than disclosed in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, management has determined that goodwill and identified intangible assets have not been impaired at December 31, 2009 or 2008.

Stock-based compensation - Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted ASC 718-10-10-01, which establishes standards for the accounting of transactions under share-based payment arrangements. See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Guarantees - In accordance with the provisions of ASC 460-10, "Guarantees," the Company has determined that the letters of credit issued by the Company to the Independent Lender as part of the CSO program constitute a guarantee for which the Company is required to recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken by issuing the letters of credit. Each letter of credit is issued at the time that the Company's credit services customer enters into a loan agreement with the Independent Lender. The Independent Lender may present the letter of credit to the Company for payment if the customer fails to repay the full amount of the loan and accrued interest after the due date of the loan. Each letter of credit expires approximately 30 days after the due date of the loan. The Company is entitled to seek recovery directly from its customers for amounts it pays the Independent Lender in performing under the letters of credit. The Company records the estimated fair value of the liabilities under the letters of credit in accrued liabilities.

Foreign Currency Transactions - The Company has significant operations in Mexico, where the functional currency for the Company's Mexican subsidiaries is the Mexican peso. In accordance with the provisions of ASC 830-10-45-07, which establishes standards for the changes in a functional currency, the assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date, and the resulting adjustments are accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders' equity. Revenue and expenses are translated at the monthly average exchange rates occurring during each year. Prior to translation, any U.S. dollar-denominated transactions of the Mexican-based subsidiaries are re-measured into Mexican pesos using current rates of exchange for monetary assets and liabilities and historical rates of exchange for non-monetary assets and liabilities. Gains and losses from re-measurement of dollar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities in Mexico are included in store operating expenses. See additional discussion of constant currency operating results provided in the section titled "Non-GAAP Financial Information."

The following table details the components of revenue for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, as compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (in thousands). Constant currency results exclude the effects of foreign currency translation and are calculated by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. The average exchange rate of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar changed from 11.2 to 1 for fiscal 2008 to 13.5 to 1 for fiscal 2009. The Company's management reviews and analyzes business results on a constant currency basis because the Company believes this better represents the Company's underlying business trends.