Accredited Home Lenders (ticker: LEND, exchange: NASDAQ Global Market (.O))
News Release -
23-Jan-2002
Aames Financial Corporation Completes $235.0 Million Securitization; Plans Commencement of Rights Offering and Retains Financial AdvisorLOS ANGELES, Jan 23, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aames Financial Corporation
(OTCBB:AMSF), a leader in subprime home equity lending, announced today the
successful completion of a $235.0 million asset backed securitization of
mortgage loans during the three months ended December 31, 2001, the planned
commencement of its previously announced rights offering and the retention of
UBS Warburg as a financial advisor.
Securitization
Aames closed a $235.0 million securitization transaction of fixed rate mortgage
loans during the three months ended Dec. 31, 2001. At Dec. 31, 2001, Aames had
retained the residual interest created in the securitization transaction. Aames
sold for cash the servicing rights and prepayment penalties related to the
mortgage loans in the securitization transaction to an independent third party
mortgage loan servicing company.
"The December 2001 securitization transaction was our sixth consecutive
quarterly securitization and demonstrates our commitment to pursuing a
diversified loan disposition strategy by accessing both the whole loan sale and
securitization markets," said A. Jay Meyerson, Aames' Chief Executive Officer.
Rights Offering
Aames plans to commence on January 29, 2002 its previously announced rights
offering to record holders of its common stock. Aames has set a record date for
this offering as of January 22, 2002. The rights offering grants holders of
common stock on the record date the right to purchase 2.56 shares of Aames
Series D convertible preferred stock at $0.85 per share for each share of Aames
common stock owned. Aames anticipates the rights offering will expire February
12, 2002. Please refer to Aames' registration statement on Form S-3 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission for more information.
Financial Advisor
Aames has retained UBS Warburg as a financial advisor to explore options for a
possible restructuring of Aames' outstanding 9.125% senior notes due November
2003 and its 5.5% convertible subordinated debentures due March 2006. There can
be no assurance that any such restructuring can be successfully completed.
Aames is a leading home equity lender and at December 31, 2001 operated 100
retail Aames Home Loan branches, five wholesale loan centers and two National
Loan Centers throughout the United States.
From time to time Aames may publish forward-looking statements relating to such
matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects and similar
matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe
harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the
safe harbor, Aames notes that a variety of factors could cause its actual
results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or
other expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements. The risks and
uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of Aames'
business include the following: negative cash flow and continued access to
outside sources of cash to fund operations; dependence on funding sources; third
party rights to terminate mortgage servicing; high delinquencies and losses in
its securitization trusts; prepayment risk; changes in interest rates; basis
risk; prolonged interruptions or reductions in the secondary market for mortgage
loans; timing of loan sales; dependence on broker network; competition;
concentration of operations in California and Florida; economic conditions;
contingent risks on loans sold; government regulation; changes in federal income
tax laws; ability to pay dividends and the concentrated ownership of its
controlling stockholder. For a more complete discussion of these risks and
uncertainties, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Risk Factors" in Aames' Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001 and "Item 2. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001, and subsequent filings with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Aames Financial Corporation
Ronald J. Nicolas, Jr., 323/210-5311
Investor Relations Department
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
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