Springleaf

For the type of spring, see leaf spring.
Springleaf
Public
Traded as NYSE: OMF
Industry Financial Services
Headquarters Evansville, IN
Key people
 Jay Levine; William Kandel
Revenue IncreaseUS$2.8 billion (FY 2014)
IncreaseUS$505 million (FY 2014)
Total assets IncreaseUS$11 billion (FY 2014)
Total equity IncreaseUS$2.02 billion (FY 2014)
Number of employees
 8,000
Website Springleaf.com

Springleaf Financial Services, previously known as American General Finance, is a company whose primary business is consumer lending, credit insurance, and other credit related products. Its corporate headquarters are in Evansville, Indiana.[1] Following an announced acquisition of OneMain Financial, the combined company (to be called "OneMain Financial") will have $13.96 billion in core consumer net finance receivables and nearly 2,000 branches across 43 states. Springleaf is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "LEAF";[2] AIG and Fortress Investment Group remain majority owners of the company.

History

The company began in 1920 in Evansville, Indiana as Interstate Finance Corporation to underwrite the sales of trucks and other vehicles. By 1929 the company had expanded to write credit-related insurance and start providing services outside of the Evansville area. In 1934 the company expanded across state lines by opening branches in Owensboro, Kentucky and Henderson, Kentucky.

Throughout the next couple of decades the company continued to grow and expand. In 1960 it went public on the Over-The-Counter Market. Three years later, in 1963, it started operating under the names of CrediThrift of America and CreditWay of America, and also began construction on a new headquarters building in Evansville. In 1969 the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, though it later de-listed and was re-listed again in 2013.

In 1982 the company was acquired by American General Corporation (now known as AIG), and acquired General Finance with 350 branches in 16 states. Five years later, in 1988, the company acquired Manufacturers Hanover Consumer Services, which expanded the company to more than 1,400 branch offices in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. That same year the company began operating under the name of American General Finance. In 2006, with continued growth, the company announced yet another expansion of its Evansville headquarters building and continued acquisitions of other financial services companies.

The 2007–2012 global financial crisis and the 2008–2012 global recession substantially hurt the company's financial performance. As of June 30, 2008, about 83 percent, or $7.7 billion, of its real estate loans were held by subprime borrowers. For 2008, American General Finance reported a loss of $1.3 billion.[3] As a result, over the next two years the company closed over 500 local branches and cut 500 positions, including 140 of their Evansville headquartered employees.[4][5]

In August 2010, Fortress Investment Group acquired 80% of the company and, in 2011, changed its name to Springleaf Financial Services.[3] In 2013 Springleaf went public and returned to the New York Stock Exchange in October of that year, although AIG and Fortress remained majority owners of the company.

In March 2015, the company entered into an agreement to acquire OneMain Financial from Citigroup for $4.25 billion.[6] The combined company would have $13.96 billion in core consumer net finance receivables and nearly 2,000 branches across 43 states. The combined company is to be led by Springleaf CEO Jay Levine with the continuation of both the Springleaf and OneMain brands until migrating to the OneMain brand beginning in mid-2016. The combined company is to be run from Springleaf's executive office in Connecticut, but will maintain significant presences in Evansville and Baltimore, Maryland.

Services

Springleaf employs an estimated 4,600 people (about 900 of which are at its Evansville headquarters).[7] Following the merger with OneMain Financial, the company will employ approximately 8,000 people. Part of its services focuses on originating secured and unsecured consumer loans. This "branch network" segment purchases retail sales finance contracts, and provides revolving retail sales financing services. Through this, the company finances retail sales of consumer goods and services by retail merchants.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.springleaf.com/about-us/
  2. ↑ Springleaf Holdings Celebrates IPO on the NYSE, New York Stock Exchange, retrieved February 2, 2014
  3. 1 2 "American General Finance sold to Fortress Investment Group". Courier & Press. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Shaw, Dan (12 November 2008). "American General Finance closes S. Green River branch". Courier & Press. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Shaw, Dan (6 May 2009). "Evansville's American General Finance cutting over 600 jobs, 150 offices". Indiana Economic Digest. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Springleaf Financial to Acquire OneMain Financial". Springleaf Financial Services. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ↑ https://www.springleaf.com/about-us
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