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Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases [Abstract] 
Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases
 
(4)
Net Investment in Direct Finance Leases
 
The following table represents the components of the Company's net investment in direct finance leases (in thousands):
 
 
 
September 30,
2011
 
 
December 31,
2010
 
Gross finance lease receivables (1)
 
$
     49,131
 
 
$
15,290
 
Allowance on gross finance lease receivables (2)
 
 
           -
 
 
 
-
 
Gross finance lease receivables, net of allowance
 
 
      49,131
 
 
 
15,290
 
Unearned income (3)
 
 
       (14,331
 
 
(3,456
)
Net investment in finance leases
 
$
     34,800
 
 
$
11,834
 
 
 
(1)
At the inception of the lease, the Company records the total minimum lease payments, executory costs, if any, and unguaranteed residual value as gross finance lease receivables. The gross finance lease receivable is reduced as customer payments are received.  Approximately $6.0 million and $4.0 million of unguaranteed residual value at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, were included in gross finance lease receivables. There were no executory costs included in gross finance lease receivables as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
 
(2)
The Company evaluates potential losses in its finance lease portfolio by regularly reviewing the specific receivables in the portfolio and analyzing historical loss experience. For the period between 2004 and September 30, 2011, the Company's loss experience on its gross finance lease receivables, after considering equipment recoveries, was less than 2.0%.
 
 
 (3)
The difference between the gross finance lease receivable and the cost of the equipment or carrying amount at the lease inception is recorded as unearned income. Unearned income together with initial direct costs, are amortized to income over the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return. There were no unamortized initial direct costs as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
In order to estimate the allowance for losses contained in the gross finance lease receivables, the Company reviews the credit worthiness of its customers on an ongoing basis. The review includes monitoring credit quality indicators, the aging of customer receivables and general economic conditions.
 
The categories of gross finance lease receivables based on the Company's internal customer credit ratings can be described as follows:
 
Tier 1-These customers are typically large international shipping lines that have been in business for many years and have world-class operating capabilities and significant financial resources. In most cases, the Company has had a long commercial relationship with these customers and currently maintains regular communication with them at several levels of management which provides the Company with insight into the customer's current operating and financial performance. In the Company's view, these customers have the greatest ability to withstand cyclical down turns and would likely have greater access to needed capital than lower-rated customers. The Company views the risk of default for Tier 1 customers to range from minimal to modest.
 
Tier 2-These customers are typically either smaller shipping lines or freight forwarders with less operating scale or with a high degree of financial leverage, and accordingly the Company views these customers as subject to higher volatility in financial performance over the business cycle. The Company generally expects these customers to have less access to capital markets or other sources of financing during cyclical down turns. The Company views the risk of default for Tier 2 customers as moderate.
 
Tier 3-Customers in this category exhibit volatility in payments on a regular basis. The Company has initiated or implemented plans to recover equipment on lease to these customers and believes that default is likely, or has already occurred.
 
Based on the above categories, the Company's gross finance lease receivables were as follows (in thousands):
 
 
 
September 30,
2011
 
 
December 31,
2010
 
Tier 1
 
$
       6,706
 
 
$
       7,728
 
Tier 2
   
     42,425
     
     8,012
 
Tier 3
 
 
           -
 
 
 
-
 
 
 
$
     49,131
 
 
$
15,290
 
 
Contractual maturities of the Company's gross finance lease receivables subsequent to September 30, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
 
2011
 
$
9,241
 
2012
 
 
8,019
 
2013
 
 
6,246
 
2014
 
 
10,107
 
2015
 
 
5,925
 
2016 and thereafter
 
 
9,593
 
 
 
$
49,131