{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"146199","rtpr_id":"nGNX4qn0sX-20260917","ticker":"ATLC","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["ATLC"],"title":"Atlanticus Completes Sale of CAR Auto Finance Operations","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-17T11:30:00.151Z","article_body":"ATLANTA, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanticus Holdings Corporation\n(NASDAQ: ATLC) (“Atlanticus,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or\n“us”), a financial technology company that enables its bank, retail and\nhealthcare partners to offer more inclusive financial services to millions of\neveryday Americans, today announced that it has completed the sale of its CAR\nAuto Finance operations (“CAR”) to an unaffiliated third party.\n\nCAR comprised 100% of the Company’s Auto Finance segment. Following the\ntransaction, Atlanticus will no longer operate an Auto Finance segment. Total\nconsideration to Atlanticus was approximately $71.2 million, consisting of\n$56.2 million in cash and a $15.0 million seller note. Approximately 154 team\nmembers associated with CAR are transitioning to the buyer in connection with\nthe transaction.\n\n“We are pleased to announce the completion of the sale of CAR,” said Jeff\nHoward, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanticus. “CAR has been a\nvaluable part of Atlanticus for many years, and I want to thank the entire CAR\nteam for their many contributions to our success. The transaction strengthens\nour balance sheet and allows us to concentrate our capital and management\nresources on the consumer credit products where we see the greatest\nopportunities for long-term value creation and growth.”\n\nAtlanticus expects to use the cash proceeds from the sale to reduce debt and\ninvest in higher-growth product lines.\n\nAbout Atlanticus Holdings Corporation\n\nEmpowering Better Financial Outcomes for Everyday Americans\n\nAtlanticus Holdings Corporation empowers better financial outcomes for\nEveryday Americans by enabling bank, retail, and healthcare partners to offer\nmore inclusive financial solutions to consumers. Leveraging proprietary\ntechnology and advanced analytics, Atlanticus applies more than 30 years of\noperating experience, servicing over 23 million customers and more than $53\nbillion in consumer loans, to support lenders across a broad range of consumer\ncredit products. These offerings span retail and healthcare private-label\ncredit and general purpose credit cards, through an omnichannel platform,\nincluding strategic partnerships.\n\nAtlanticus is guided by the principles of responsible lending, smart\ninnovation, and expanding access to credit for consumers working toward a\nstronger financial future.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the\nCompany’s current views regarding, among other things, the expected\ntransition of employees, the Company’s intended use of proceeds from the\ntransaction, capital allocation and future investment and growth\nopportunities. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties\nthat could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in\nthe forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those\nrisks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange\nCommission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which\nthey are made, and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws,\nthe Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement\nto reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is\nmade or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In light of these\nrisks and uncertainties, there is no assurance that the events or results\nsuggested by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and you should\nnot place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.\n\nContact:\nInvestor Relations, investors@atlanticus.com\nDan Mauch, daniel.mauch@atlanticus.com\nSara Savarino, sara.savarino@atlanticus.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94f3a565-f778-4679-939a-bcc1033d9903)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX4qn0sX-20260917","title":"Atlanticus Completes Sale of CAR Auto Finance Operations","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"ATLC","created":"2026-09-17T11:30:00.151Z","tickers":["ATLC"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"ATLANTA, Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanticus Holdings Corporation\n(NASDAQ: ATLC) (“Atlanticus,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or\n“us”), a financial technology company that enables its bank, retail and\nhealthcare partners to offer more inclusive financial services to millions of\neveryday Americans, today announced that it has completed the sale of its CAR\nAuto Finance operations (“CAR”) to an unaffiliated third party.\n\nCAR comprised 100% of the Company’s Auto Finance segment. Following the\ntransaction, Atlanticus will no longer operate an Auto Finance segment. Total\nconsideration to Atlanticus was approximately $71.2 million, consisting of\n$56.2 million in cash and a $15.0 million seller note. Approximately 154 team\nmembers associated with CAR are transitioning to the buyer in connection with\nthe transaction.\n\n“We are pleased to announce the completion of the sale of CAR,” said Jeff\nHoward, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlanticus. “CAR has been a\nvaluable part of Atlanticus for many years, and I want to thank the entire CAR\nteam for their many contributions to our success. The transaction strengthens\nour balance sheet and allows us to concentrate our capital and management\nresources on the consumer credit products where we see the greatest\nopportunities for long-term value creation and growth.”\n\nAtlanticus expects to use the cash proceeds from the sale to reduce debt and\ninvest in higher-growth product lines.\n\nAbout Atlanticus Holdings Corporation\n\nEmpowering Better Financial Outcomes for Everyday Americans\n\nAtlanticus Holdings Corporation empowers better financial outcomes for\nEveryday Americans by enabling bank, retail, and healthcare partners to offer\nmore inclusive financial solutions to consumers. Leveraging proprietary\ntechnology and advanced analytics, Atlanticus applies more than 30 years of\noperating experience, servicing over 23 million customers and more than $53\nbillion in consumer loans, to support lenders across a broad range of consumer\ncredit products. These offerings span retail and healthcare private-label\ncredit and general purpose credit cards, through an omnichannel platform,\nincluding strategic partnerships.\n\nAtlanticus is guided by the principles of responsible lending, smart\ninnovation, and expanding access to credit for consumers working toward a\nstronger financial future.\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the\nCompany’s current views regarding, among other things, the expected\ntransition of employees, the Company’s intended use of proceeds from the\ntransaction, capital allocation and future investment and growth\nopportunities. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties\nthat could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in\nthe forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those\nrisks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange\nCommission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which\nthey are made, and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws,\nthe Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement\nto reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is\nmade or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In light of these\nrisks and uncertainties, there is no assurance that the events or results\nsuggested by the forward-looking statements will in fact occur, and you should\nnot place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.\n\nContact:\nInvestor Relations, investors@atlanticus.com\nDan Mauch, daniel.mauch@atlanticus.com\nSara Savarino, sara.savarino@atlanticus.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94f3a565-f778-4679-939a-bcc1033d9903)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-17T11:30:00.21936507Z","server_sent_at_ms":1789644600219},"received_at":"2026-09-17T11:30:00.361Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"135041","press_release_id":"146199","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Consumer Finance","sector":"Financials"},"redFlags":["Buyer is an undisclosed 'unaffiliated third party' -- counterparty quality and valuation benchmark cannot be verified","$15.0 million of the $71.2 million consideration is a seller note, creating collectability/credit risk","Sale eliminates the entire Auto Finance segment, shrinking Atlanticus's revenue base"],"eventType":"m_and_a","narrative":"Atlanticus has completed the sale of its CAR Auto Finance operations to an unaffiliated third party, exiting the Auto Finance segment entirely.\n\nTotal consideration was approximately $71.2 million, consisting of $56.2 million in cash and a $15.0 million seller note, and roughly 154 CAR team members are transitioning to the buyer.\n\nCEO Jeff Howard said the transaction strengthens the balance sheet and allows Atlanticus to concentrate capital and management resources on the consumer credit products with the greatest long-term value creation and growth opportunities.\n\nThe company expects to use the cash proceeds to reduce debt and invest in higher-growth product lines.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"Atlanticus exits auto finance entirely -- $71.2M completed sale funds debt paydown and a pivot to core consumer credit growth."},"keyFigures":{"dealValueUsd":71200000,"customDimensions":{"seller_note":"$15.0 million","cash_portion":"$56.2 million","customers_serviced":"over 23 million","segment_share_sold":"100% of Auto Finance segment","consumer_loans_serviced":"$53 billion","team_members_transitioning":154}},"quotedText":"The transaction strengthens\nour balance sheet and allows us to concentrate our capital and management\nresources on the consumer credit products where we see the greatest\nopportunities for long-term value creation and growth.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Jeff Howard","role":"President and Chief Executive Officer"}],"products":["CAR Auto Finance operations"],"companies":[{"name":"Atlanticus Holdings Corporation","ticker":"ATLC","relationship":"filer/seller"},{"name":"Unaffiliated third party (buyer, not named in release)","relationship":"acquirer"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$71.2 million","context":"total consideration for sale of CAR Auto Finance operations"},{"amount":"$56.2 million","context":"cash portion of the consideration"},{"amount":"$15.0 million","context":"seller note portion of the consideration"},{"amount":"$53 billion","context":"consumer loans serviced company-wide (per release boilerplate)"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"Atlanticus completed the divestiture of its entire Auto Finance segment (CAR) for approximately $71.2 million, a material portfolio change for a company of this size. It is not market-moving, but it eliminates a whole business line and shifts the balance sheet via debt paydown."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"ATLC"},"globalImportance":30,"audienceRelevance":18,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small/mid-cap","dealValueUsd":71200000,"eventGravity":"completed divestiture of entire Auto Finance segment","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0}},"event_type":"m_and_a","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"Atlanticus has completed the sale of its CAR Auto Finance operations to an unaffiliated third party, exiting the Auto Finance segment entirely.\n\nTotal consideration was approximately $71.2 million, consisting of $56.2 million in cash and a $15.0 million seller note, and roughly 154 CAR team members are transitioning to the buyer.\n\nCEO Jeff Howard said the transaction strengthens the balance sheet and allows Atlanticus to concentrate capital and management resources on the consumer credit products with the greatest long-term value creation and growth opportunities.\n\nThe company expects to use the cash proceeds to reduce debt and invest in higher-growth product lines.","key_figures":{"dealValueUsd":71200000,"customDimensions":{"seller_note":"$15.0 million","cash_portion":"$56.2 million","customers_serviced":"over 23 million","segment_share_sold":"100% of Auto Finance segment","consumer_loans_serviced":"$53 billion","team_members_transitioning":154}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Jeff Howard","role":"President and Chief Executive Officer"}],"products":["CAR Auto Finance operations"],"companies":[{"name":"Atlanticus Holdings Corporation","ticker":"ATLC","relationship":"filer/seller"},{"name":"Unaffiliated third party (buyer, not named in release)","relationship":"acquirer"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$71.2 million","context":"total consideration for sale of CAR Auto Finance operations"},{"amount":"$56.2 million","context":"cash portion of the consideration"},{"amount":"$15.0 million","context":"seller note portion of the consideration"},{"amount":"$53 billion","context":"consumer loans serviced company-wide (per release boilerplate)"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flash","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-17T11:30:46.426Z","global_importance":30,"audience_relevance":18,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small/mid-cap","dealValueUsd":71200000,"eventGravity":"completed divestiture of entire Auto Finance segment","issuerAuthored":true,"householdBrandBoost":0,"retailFavoriteBoost":0}},"durationMs":46041,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}