S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2013

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Michigan   38-1999511

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

25505 West Twelve Mile Road

Southfield, Michigan

(248) 353-2700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Charles A. Pearce

Credit Acceptance Corporation

25505 West Twelve Mile Road

Southfield, Michigan

(248) 353-2700

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

Richard C. Witzel, Jr.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

155 North Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(312) 407-0700

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer    x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company    ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Amount

to be

Registered(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit(1)

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(2)

Common Stock, $.01 par value

  —     —     —     —  

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value

  —     —     —     —  

Debt Securities

  —     —     —     —  

Warrants

  —     —     —     —  

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Instruction II.D of Form S-3, not specified as to the securities to be registered. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price, principal amount or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.
(2) In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

Credit Acceptance Corporation

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, (i) shares of our common stock, (ii) shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iii) debt securities and (iv) warrants. This prospectus also relates to shares of our common stock that may be sold from time to time in one or more offerings by certain selling securityholders.

We will provide the specific terms of any offering and the offered securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus at the time of offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CACC.” Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, or directly to purchasers. Shares of our common stock may also be resold by selling securityholders. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” on page 14 of this prospectus.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks, including those described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus. You should carefully read and consider these risk factors and the risk factors included in our periodic reports, in any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities and in other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 8, 2013


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     ii   

CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION

     1   

RISK FACTORS

     2   

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

     3   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     5   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

     6   

DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

     9   

DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

     12   

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

     14   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     14   

LEGAL MATTERS

     15   

EXPERTS

     15   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     15   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, from time to time, an indeterminate amount of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer, which is not meant to be a complete description of each security. Each time that securities are sold, a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering will be provided, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered and the manner in which they will be offered. The prospectus supplement and any other offering material may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and any other offering material (including any free writing prospectus) prepared by or on behalf of us for a specific offering of securities, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 15 of this prospectus. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this prospectus, the terms “Credit Acceptance,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar terms each refer to Credit Acceptance Corporation and its subsidiaries.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date other than the date on the front cover of such documents or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement nor any distribution of securities pursuant to such documents shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION

This summary highlights information about Credit Acceptance. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read carefully this entire prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents that we incorporate herein and therein by reference, including the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and related notes. You may obtain a copy of the documents that we incorporate by reference without charge by following the instructions in the section below entitled “Where You Can Find More Information”

Since 1972, we have offered automobile dealers financing programs that enable them to sell vehicles to consumers, regardless of their credit history. Our financing programs are offered through a nationwide network of automobile dealers who benefit from sales of vehicles to consumers who otherwise could not obtain financing; from repeat and referral sales generated by these same customers; and from sales to customers responding to advertisements for our product, but who actually end up qualifying for traditional financing.

Without our financing programs, consumers are often unable to purchase a vehicle, or they purchase an unreliable one. Further, as we report to the three national credit reporting agencies, an important ancillary benefit of our programs is that we provide a significant number of our consumers with an opportunity to improve their lives by improving their credit score and move on to more traditional sources of financing.

Credit Acceptance was founded to collect retail installment contracts, which we refer to as Consumer Loans, originated by automobile dealerships owned by our Chairman, founder, and significant shareholder, Donald A. Foss. During the 1980s, we began to market this service to non-affiliated dealers and, at the same time, began to offer dealers a non-recourse cash payment, referred to as an advance, against anticipated future collections on Consumer Loans serviced for that dealer.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan. Our principal executive offices are located at 25505 West Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan 48034-8339, and our telephone number is (248) 353-2700. Our principal website is located at http://www.creditacceptance.com. The contents of our website are not a part of this prospectus.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risk. Before you decide whether to purchase any of our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by us subsequent to such Annual Report on Form 10-K, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein regarding, among other things, future financial results and performance, achievements and plans and objectives may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act.

Those statements include trend analyses and other information relative to markets for our services and trends in our operations or financial results as well as other statements that can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as “may,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “goals,” “objectives,” or other similar expressions. Our actual results, performance or achievements could be materially different from the results expressed in, or implied by, those forward-looking statements. Those statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the risks described in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein. We discuss those risks, uncertainties and other factors (i) in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 in Item 1A, “Risk Factors”; Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”; Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”; and Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” and elsewhere and (ii) in the other reports we file under the Exchange Act. When considering those forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks, uncertainties and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in our forward-looking statements include, without limitation:

 

   

Our inability to accurately forecast and estimate the amount and timing of future collections could have a material adverse effect on results of operations.

 

   

We may be unable to execute our business strategy due to current economic conditions.

 

   

We may be unable to continue to access or renew funding sources and obtain capital needed to maintain and grow our business.

 

   

The terms of our debt limit how we conduct our business.

 

   

A violation of the terms of our asset-backed secured financing facilities or warehouse facilities could have a materially adverse impact on our operations.

 

   

The conditions of the U.S. and international capital markets may adversely affect lenders with which we have relationships, causing us to incur additional costs and reducing our sources of liquidity, which may adversely affect our financial position, liquidity and results of operations.

 

   

Our substantial debt could negatively impact our business, prevent us from satisfying our debt obligations and adversely affect our financial condition.

 

   

Due to competition from traditional financing sources and non-traditional lenders, we may not be able to compete successfully.

 

   

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding debt and fund operations and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under such debt.

 

   

Interest rate fluctuations may adversely affect our borrowing costs, profitability and liquidity.

 

   

Reduction in our credit rating could increase the cost of our funding from, and restrict our access to, the capital markets and adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

We may incur substantially more debt and other liabilities. This could exacerbate further the risks associated with our current debt levels.

 

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The regulation to which we are or may become subject could result in a material adverse effect on our business.

 

   

Adverse changes in economic conditions, the automobile or finance industries or the non-prime consumer market could adversely affect our financial position, liquidity and results of operations, the ability of key vendors that we depend on to supply us with services and our ability to enter into future financing transactions.

 

   

Litigation we are involved in from time to time may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

   

Changes in tax laws and the resolution of uncertain income tax matters could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows from operations.

 

   

Our dependence on technology could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

   

Reliance on third parties to administer our ancillary product offerings could adversely affect our business and financial results.

 

   

We are dependent on our senior management, and the loss of any of these individuals or an inability to hire additional team members could adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.

 

   

Our reputation is a key asset to our business, and our business may be affected by how we are perceived in the marketplace.

 

   

The concentration of our dealers in several states could adversely affect us.

 

   

Failure to properly safeguard confidential consumer information could subject us to liability, decrease our profitability and damage our reputation.

 

   

Reliance on our outsourced business functions could adversely affect our business.

 

   

Natural disasters, acts of war, terrorist attacks and threats or the escalation of military activity in response to these attacks or otherwise may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

A small number of our shareholders have the ability to significantly influence matters requiring shareholder approval and such shareholders have interests which may conflict with the interests of our other securityholders.

 

   

We may experience volatility in the market price of our common stock due to the low trading volume and limited public ownership of our common stock.

 

   

Future sales of our common stock by us or our existing shareholders could cause our stock price to decline.

 

   

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about us, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

 

   

We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

   

Our corporate documents and Michigan law contain provisions that may make it more difficult for us to be acquired.

 

   

Other risks identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as the same may be updated from time to time by our future filings under the Exchange Act, all of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Accordingly, we caution our readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in events or circumstances or in our expectations or results.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of our securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, repayment or refinancing of debt, stock repurchases and other business opportunities. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in an applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to the offered securities.

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds in the event that the securities are sold by a selling securityholder.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2012      2011      2010      2009      2008  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     6.4x         6.2x         6.3x         8.0x         3.5x   

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (i) earnings, defined as income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes plus fixed charges, by (ii) fixed charges, defined as interest expense and the interest portion of rental obligations.

We did not have any preferred stock outstanding for the periods presented, and therefore the ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends would be the same as the ratios of earnings to fixed charges presented above.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a summary of the material terms of Credit Acceptance’s capital stock and the provisions of Credit Acceptance’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which we refer to as “our capital stock,” “our Articles of Incorporation” and “our Bylaws,” respectively. It also summarizes relevant provisions of the Michigan Business Corporation Act, or MBCA. The summaries below are qualified in their entirety by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and the MBCA, and we therefore urge you to read the actual provisions of those documents and the MBCA.

General

As of the date of this prospectus, Credit Acceptance’s authorized capital stock consisted of:

 

   

80 million shares of common stock, $.01 par value; and

 

   

1 million shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value.

As of March 21, 2013, there were 23,587,496 shares of our common stock outstanding, no shares of preferred stock outstanding and 159 holders of record of our common stock.

Common Stock

All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

Voting Rights. Each holder of our common stock, including holders of common stock subject to restricted stock awards, is entitled to cast one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of our common stock have no cumulative voting rights.

Dividends. Holders of our common stock, including holders of common stock subject to restricted stock awards, are entitled to receive dividends or other distributions declared by the board of directors. The right of the board of directors to declare dividends is subject to the right of any holders of Credit Acceptance’s preferred stock, to the extent that any preferred stock is authorized and issued, and the availability under the MBCA of sufficient funds to pay dividends. We have not issued any shares of preferred stock. The declaration and payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and depends on various factors, including our net income, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.

Liquidation Rights. If our company is dissolved, the holders of our common stock will share ratably in the distribution of all assets that remain after we pay all of our liabilities and satisfy our obligations to the holders of any of Credit Acceptance’s preferred stock, to the extent that any preferred stock is authorized and issued.

Preemptive and Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any stock or other securities of our company and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to our common stock.

Preferred Stock

Our Articles of Incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock, each series to bear a distinctive designation. Unless required by law or by any applicable stock exchange rule, the authorized shares of preferred stock will be available for issuance without further action by you. Our board of directors is authorized to determine the relative rights, powers, preferences, limitations and restrictions of each series of preferred stock, which shall be stated in the resolutions of the board of directors providing for the issuance of the series of preferred stock.

 

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Provisions That May Discourage Takeovers

The MBCA and our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that may have the effect of discouraging transactions involving an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions could protect the continuity of our directors and management and possibly deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than the prevailing market prices.

Availability of Authorized but Unissued Shares. Under the terms of our Articles of Incorporation, our board of directors may issue shares of authorized common stock without shareholder approval. However, the listing requirements of the NASDAQ, which would apply so long as our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ, require shareholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or then-outstanding number of shares of common stock. If our board of directors decides to issue shares to persons supportive of current management, this could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Authorized but unissued shares also could be used to dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of our company, including dilution through a shareholder rights plan of the type commonly known as a “poison pill,” which the board of directors could adopt without a shareholder vote.

Issuance of Preferred Stock. In addition, our board of directors could issue shares of preferred stock having voting rights that adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock, which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or impeding a change in control of our company.

No Cumulative Voting. Under the MBCA, shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights for the election of directors unless the Articles of Incorporation so provide. Our Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting.

Limitation on Calling Special Meetings of Shareholders. The MBCA allows the board of directors or officers, directors or shareholders authorized in our Bylaws to call special meetings of shareholders. Our Bylaws provide that a special meeting may be called by our board of directors, the chairperson of the board (if the office is filled) or president, and shall be called by the president or secretary at the written request of shareholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the proposed special meeting. Business to be transacted at a special meeting is limited by our Bylaws to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.

Action Without Meeting of Shareholders. Any action required or permitted by the MBCA to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, only if consent in writing to such action is signed by the holders of all of the outstanding capital stock.

Business Combinations and Change of Control. The MBCA contains statutes which regulate business combinations involving Michigan corporations. Chapter 7A of the MBCA provides that a business combination subject to Chapter 7A between a covered Michigan corporation or any of its subsidiaries and a beneficial owner of shares entitled to 10% or more of the voting power of such corporation generally requires the affirmative vote of 90% of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote, and not less than two thirds of the votes of each class of stock entitled to vote (excluding voting shares owned by such 10% or more owner), voting as a separate class. These requirements do not apply if (1) the corporation’s board of directors approves the transaction before the 10% or more owner becomes such or (2) the transaction satisfies certain fairness standards, certain other conditions are met and the 10% or more owner has been such for at least five years. Chapter 7A business combinations include, among other transactions, certain mergers, certain share exchanges, certain significant asset transfers, certain disproportionate issuances of shares to an interested shareholder, certain reclassifications and recapitalizations disproportionately favorable to such shareholder, and the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution in which such a shareholder would receive anything other than cash. Chapter 7A does not restrict the purchase of shares from other shareholders in the open market, through private transactions or acquired through a tender offer. We are currently not governed by the provisions of Chapter 7A but may opt in at any time by resolution of our board of directors.

 

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Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

As permitted by the MBCA, our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws generally limit the personal liability of our directors to us and our shareholders for breach of their fiduciary duty and require us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the MBCA. Specifically, our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws require us to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including actual and reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, penalties, fines, excise taxes and settlements actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding in actions and proceedings other than those by or in the right of Credit Acceptance, and against expenses and settlements in actions by or in the right of Credit Acceptance, in each case brought against a director or officer by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer of Credit Acceptance or, while serving as a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Credit Acceptance as a director, officer, member, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of another enterprise to the maximum extent permitted by, and in accordance with the procedures and requirements specified in, the MBCA. Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that indemnification is a contractual right between us and the officer or director, who may not be adversely affected by a repeal of the indemnification provisions of our Bylaws.

The MBCA and our Bylaws authorize us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Credit Acceptance or who serves at the request of Credit Acceptance as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another enterprise, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify him or her under our Bylaws or the laws of the State of Michigan. Credit Acceptance maintains directors and officers insurance policies. The policies insure directors and officers against unindemnified losses from certain wrongful acts in their capacities as directors and officers of Credit Acceptance and its subsidiaries, and in similar capacities for other entities at which they serve at the request of Credit Acceptance.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to officers and directors pursuant to the provisions described above or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CACC.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer debt securities in one or more series which may be senior, subordinated or junior subordinated, and which may be convertible into another security. In this “Description of Our Debt Securities” section, the words “we,” “us” and “our” each refer to Credit Acceptance Corporation and not to any subsidiary of Credit Acceptance Corporation.

The following description briefly sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to the debt securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture to be entered into between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. A form of the indenture is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The terms of the debt securities will include those set forth in the indenture and the applicable indenture supplement, if any, and those made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”). You should read the summary below, the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the indenture and the applicable indenture supplement, if any, in their entirety before investing in our debt securities.

The aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under the indenture is unlimited. The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the debt securities. These terms may include the following:

 

   

the title and aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be senior, subordinated or junior subordinated;

 

   

any applicable subordination provisions for any subordinated debt securities;

 

   

the maturity date(s) or method for determining same;

 

   

the interest rate(s) or the method for determining same;

 

   

the dates on which interest will accrue or the method for determining dates on which interest will accrue and dates on which interest will be payable and whether interest shall be payable in cash or additional securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are convertible or exchangeable into other securities and any related terms and conditions;

 

   

redemption or early repayment provisions;

 

   

authorized denominations;

 

   

if other than the principal amount, the principal amount of debt securities payable upon acceleration;

 

   

place(s) where payment of principal and interest may be made, where debt securities may be presented and where notices or demands upon us may be made;

 

   

whether such debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and the date as of which the securities are dated if other than the date of original issuance;

 

   

amount of discount or premium, if any, with which such debt securities will be issued;

 

   

any covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

 

   

any additions or changes in the defaults and events of default applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

 

   

the guarantors, if any, of the debt securities and the terms of the guarantors’ guarantees of the debt securities (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination and release of the guarantees), if any;

 

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the currency, currencies or currency units in which the purchase price for, the principal of and any premium and any interest on, such debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the time period within which, the manner in which and the terms and conditions upon which the holders of the debt securities or we can select the payment currency;

 

   

our obligation or right to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities under a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision;

 

   

any restriction or conditions on the transferability of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured and, if the debt securities are to be secured, the terms on which the debt securities will be so secured;

 

   

provisions granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon occurrence of specified events;

 

   

additions or changes relating to compensation or reimbursement of the trustee of the series of debt securities;

 

   

additions or changes to the provisions for the defeasance of the debt securities or to provisions related to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;

 

   

provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture and the execution of supplemental indentures for such series; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of the indenture with respect to such series debt securities).

General

We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at par or at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series or any other series outstanding at the time of issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of securities under the indenture.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars. In addition, debt securities may be issued where the amount of principal and/or interest payable is determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such securities may receive a principal amount or a payment of interest that is greater than or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value of the applicable currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors. Information as to the methods for determining the amount of principal or interest, if any, payable on any date, the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on such date is linked.

United States federal income tax consequences and special considerations, if any, applicable to any such series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form without coupons. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture and in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities that are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the designated corporate trust office of the trustee, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

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Global Securities

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Concerning the Trustee

We anticipate appointing U.S. Bank National Association as the trustee under the indenture under which any of the debt securities would be issued and also as the paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian with regard to the debt securities. U.S. Bank National Association or its affiliates currently provide, and may in the future provide, banking, trust and other services to us in the ordinary course of their respective businesses. There may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our warrants that we may issue from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrant agreements and the warrants issuable thereunder. If any particular terms of the warrants described in the prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by that prospectus supplement.

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from the other securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, as detailed in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation, or agency or trust relationship, with you. We will file a copy of the warrant and warrant agreement with the SEC each time we issue a series of warrants, and these warrants and warrant agreements will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A holder of our warrants should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and prospectus supplement for more specific information.

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of those warrants, including, when applicable:

 

   

the offering price;

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of the warrants may be payable;

 

   

the number of warrants offered;

 

   

the securities underlying the warrants, including the securities of third parties or other rights, if any, to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the exercise price and the amount of securities you will receive upon exercise;

 

   

the procedure for exercise of the warrants and the circumstances, if any, that will cause the warrants to be automatically exercised;

 

   

the rights, if any, we have to redeem the warrants;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the warrants will expire;

 

   

the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;

 

   

the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

U.S. federal income tax consequences;

 

   

the name of the warrant agent; and

 

   

any other material terms of the warrants.

After your warrants expire they will become void. All warrants will be issued in registered form. The prospectus supplement may provide for the adjustment of the exercise price of the warrants.

 

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Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.

The applicable warrant agreement may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants to which it applies to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of warrants will not be effective unless the holders of at least a majority of the applicable warrants then outstanding approve the amendment. Every holder of an outstanding warrant at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the warrant, will be bound by the applicable warrant agreement as amended. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of warrants may provide that certain provisions of the warrants, including the securities for which they may be exercisable, the exercise price and the expiration date, may not be altered without the consent of the holder of each warrant.

 

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

If the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is used by selling securityholders for the resale of any securities thereunder pursuant to a registration rights agreement or otherwise, information about such selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act which are incorporated by reference.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or a selling securityholder, as applicable, may sell the securities in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

   

to underwriters for resale to purchasers;

 

   

directly to purchasers; or

 

   

through agents or dealers to purchasers.

In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell the applicable securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third parties may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation, in a prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago, Illinois, and Dykema Gossett PLLC, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Counsel for any underwriter or agent will be noted in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of the registration statement. Statements contained in the prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC, we refer you to the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document is qualified in all respects by reference to the contract or document to which it refers. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC at its principal office at 100 F Street NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are accessible through the Internet at that website. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with the SEC, at our website at www.creditacceptance.com. The content of our website is not a part of this prospectus.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that (i) we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents and (ii) those documents are considered part of this prospectus. The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (including portions of our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders incorporated therein by reference);

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2013, March 13, 2013, April 5, 2013 and April 8, 2013; and

 

   

the description of our common stock which is contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 12, 1992, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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We also incorporate by reference all documents we may subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the termination of the offering (other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules). The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus, commencing on the date on which the document is filed.

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost to the requestor. To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents, call or write:

Credit Acceptance Corporation

25505 West Twelve Mile Road

Southfield, Michigan 48034-8339

Attention: Investor Relations

Tel: (248) 353-2700

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth estimated expenses relating to the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by the registrant.

 

     Amount
To Be Paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $   *   

Trustee and transfer agent fees

         **   

Legal fees and expenses

         **   

Accounting fees and expenses

         **   

Rating agency and listing fees

         **   

Printing and engraving fees and expenses

         **   

Miscellaneous

         **   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $     **   
  

 

 

 

 

* To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) under the Securities Act and calculated in connection with an offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.
** These fees cannot be estimated at this time as they are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Credit Acceptance is organized under the Michigan Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”) which, in general, empowers Michigan corporations to indemnify a person who is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, whether for profit or not, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders, and with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, if the person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of an action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders, and, with respect to a criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

The MBCA also empowers Michigan corporations to provide similar indemnity to such a person for expenses, including attorneys’ fees, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the action or suit, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders, except in respect of any claim, issue, or matter in which the person has been found liable to the corporation, unless the court determines that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all relevant circumstances, in which case indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses incurred.

The MBCA further requires Credit Acceptance to indemnify officers and directors against actual and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, whose defense on the merits or otherwise has been successful.

As permitted by the MBCA, Credit Acceptance’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws generally limit the personal liability of Credit Acceptance’s directors to Credit Acceptance and its shareholders for breach of their fiduciary duty and require Credit Acceptance to indemnify Credit Acceptance’s directors and officers to the fullest

 

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extent permitted by the MBCA. Specifically, Credit Acceptance’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws require Credit Acceptance to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including actual and reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, penalties, fines, excise taxes and settlements actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding in actions and proceedings other than those by or in the right of Credit Acceptance, and against expenses and settlements in actions by or in the right of Credit Acceptance, in each case brought against a director or officer by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer of Credit Acceptance or, while serving as a director or officer, is or was serving at the request of Credit Acceptance as a director, officer, member, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of another enterprise to the maximum extent permitted by, and in accordance with the procedures and requirements specified in, the MBCA. Credit Acceptance’s Articles of Incorporation and bylaws also provide that indemnification is a contractual right between Credit Acceptance and the officer or director, who may not be adversely affected by a repeal of the indemnification provisions of Credit Acceptance’s bylaws.

The MBCA also permits a Michigan corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify him or her against liability. Credit Acceptance maintains directors and officers insurance policies. The policies insure directors and officers against unindemnified losses from certain wrongful acts in their capacities as directors and officers of Credit Acceptance and its subsidiaries, and in similar capacities for other entities at which they serve at the request of Credit Acceptance.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Document

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3.1    Articles of Incorporation, as amended July 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997 (File No. 000-20202)).
  3.2    Articles of Amendment with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder.*
  3.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, February 24, 2005 (incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 000-20202)).
  4.1    Indenture to be entered into between Credit Acceptance Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”).
  4.2    Form of certificate representing shares of Credit Acceptance Corporation preferred stock.*
  4.3    Form of debt security.*
  4.4    Form of warrant agreement (including form of warrant certificate).*
  5.1    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
  5.2    Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC.
12.1    Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1    Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
23.2    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3    Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1    Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto).
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture.

 

* To be filed, if necessary, after the effectiveness of this registration statement as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment hereto or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Southfield, State of Michigan, on April 8, 2013.

 

CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION
By:  

    /s/ Kenneth S. Booth

Name:   Kenneth S. Booth
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Brett A. Roberts and Kenneth S. Booth, and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Brett A. Roberts

Brett A. Roberts

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  April 8, 2013

/s/ Kenneth S. Booth

Kenneth S. Booth

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

  April 8, 2013

/s/ Donald A. Foss

Donald A. Foss

   Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director   April 8, 2013

/s/ Glenda J. Flanagan

Glenda J. Flanagan

   Director   April 8, 2013

/s/ Thomas N. Tryforos

Thomas N. Tryforos

   Director   April 8, 2013

/s/ Scott J. Vassalluzzo

Scott J. Vassalluzzo

   Director   April 8, 2013


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Document

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3.1    Articles of Incorporation, as amended July 1, 1997 (incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 1997 (File No. 000-20202)).
  3.2    Articles of Amendment with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder.*
  3.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, February 24, 2005 (incorporated by reference to an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (File No. 000-20202)).
  4.1    Indenture to be entered into between Credit Acceptance Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”).
  4.2    Form of certificate representing shares of Credit Acceptance Corporation preferred stock.*
  4.3    Form of debt security.*
  4.4    Form of warrant agreement (including form of warrant certificate).*
  5.1    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
  5.2    Opinion of Dykema Gossett PLLC.
12.1    Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1    Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
23.2    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3    Consent of Dykema Gossett PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1    Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto).
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee under the Indenture.

 

* To be filed, if necessary, after the effectiveness of this registration statement as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment hereto or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.