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The following is an excerpt from a S-3/A SEC Filing, filed by RESOURCE AMERICA INC on 3/30/1998.
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RESOURCE AMERICA, INC. - S-3/A - 19980330 - BUSINESS

BUSINESS

General

The Company operates a specialty finance business focused on real estate finance and equipment leasing. The Company was organized as a Delaware corporation in 1966. For approximately 25 years prior to 1991, the Company was principally involved in the energy industry and it continues to conduct energy industry operations, including natural gas and oil production. Since 1991, the Company's business strategy has focused on locating and developing niche finance businesses in which the Company can realize attractive returns by targeting well-defined financial services markets and by developing specialized skills to service those markets on a cost-effective basis. To date, the Company has developed two main businesses: real estate finance and equipment leasing. Within its real estate finance business, the Company has developed a commercial mortgage loan acquisition and resolution business and a residential mortgage lending business. The Company has also sponsored RAIT, a real estate investment trust, and currently owns 15% of RAIT's common shares of beneficial interest. Within its equipment leasing business, the Company focuses primarily on small ticket equipment lease financing, although it also manages five publicly-owned equipment leasing partnerships and has a lease finance placement and advisory business.

Real Estate Finance

Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution Strategy

Identification and Acquisition of Troubled Commercial Mortgage Loans. The Company believes that the success to date of its commercial mortgage loan acquisition and resolution business has been due in large part to its ability to identify and acquire troubled commercial mortgage loans which, due to operational difficulties at the underlying properties, legal or factual disputes, or other problems, are unable fully to meet debt service requirements under the original loan terms and can be acquired at a discount from the unpaid principal and interest amounts of the loan and the estimated value of the underlying property. A principal part of this strategy is the Company's focus on acquiring commercial mortgage loans held by large private sector financial institutions and other entities. Due to the complexity of these loans and/or their comparatively small size relative to a large institution's total portfolio, the lender is often not able, or willing, to devote the managerial and other resources necessary to resolve the problems to which the loans are subject, and thus is sometimes willing to dispose of these loans at prices favorable to the Company. The Company, which offers to acquire a loan quickly and for immediate cash, provides a convenient way for an institution to dispose of these loans and to eliminate future work-out costs. The Company believes that the trend of consolidation in the banking industry, and the implementation of risk-based capital rules in the insurance industry, may cause an increase in the amount of smaller loans available for sale and provide the Company significant opportunities for growth.

Efficient Resolution of Loans. The Company believes that a further aspect of its success to date has been its ability to resolve problems surrounding loans it has identified for acquisition. The principal element of this strategy is the cost-effective use of management and third-party resources to negotiate and resolve disputes concerning a troubled loan or the property securing it, and to identify and resolve any existing operational or other problems at the property. To implement this strategy, the Company has taken advantage of the background and expertise of its management and has identified third-party subcontractors (such as property managers and legal counsel) familiar with the types of problems to which smaller commercial properties may be subject and who have, in the past, provided effective services to the Company.

Refinancing or Sale of Senior Lien Interests in Portfolio Loans. The Company seeks to reduce its invested capital and enhance its returns through sale, at a profit, of senior lien interests in its loans or through refinancing of the properties underlying its loans by borrowers. In so doing, the Company has in the past obtained, and in the future anticipates obtaining, a return of a substantial portion of its invested capital (and in some cases has obtained returns of amounts in excess of its invested capital), which it will typically seek to reinvest in further loans, while maintaining a significant continuing position in the original loan. See "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Sale of Senior Lien Interests and Refinancings." In addition, the Company has sold and anticipates further sales of whole loans and

39

senior lien interests to RAIT (see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Sponsorship of Real Estate Investment Trust"). The Company's strategic plan contemplates continued growth in its commercial mortgage loan portfolio, in part through the liquidity provided by such sales or refinancings.

Disposition of Loans. In the event a borrower does not repay a loan when due, the Company will seek to foreclose upon and sell the underlying property or otherwise liquidate the loan. In appropriate cases and for appropriate consideration, the Company may agree to forbear from the exercise of remedies available to it. See "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Forbearance Agreements" and "-- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Dissolution: Loan Status."

Market for Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution Services

Discounted loans acquired by the Company are, at the time of acquisition, secured by commercial properties (generally multi-family housing, office buildings, hotels or single-user retail properties) which, while income producing, are unable fully to meet the debt service requirements of the original loan terms. The loans are usually acquired from banks, insurance companies, investment banks, mortgage banks or other similar financial organizations.

The market for commercial mortgage loan acquisition and resolution services of the type provided by the Company is, the Company believes, relatively new. A major impetus to the creation of this market had been the sale of packages of under-performing and non-performing loans by government agencies, in particular the Resolution Trust Corporation ("RTC") and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). While the need for loan acquisition and resolution services by governmental agencies has declined in recent years (the RTC terminated its loan pool packaging and sales operations on December 31, 1995, and any RTC assets remaining to be sold at that time were transferred to the FDIC for sale), the Company believes that a permanent market for these services is emerging in the private sector as financial institutions and other entities realize that outside specialists may be able to resolve troubled loans more cost-efficiently than their internal staff. Moreover, the sale of loans provides selling institutions with a means of disposing of under-performing assets, thereby obtaining liquidity and improving their balance sheets. The trend has been reinforced, management believes, by consolidation within the banking industry, the implementation of risk-based capital rules within the insurance industry, and by the standardization of financing criteria by real estate conduits and other "securitization" outlets.

Acquisition and Administration Procedures for Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution Operations

Prior to acquiring any commercial mortgage loan, the Company conducts an acquisition review. This review includes an evaluation of the adequacy of the loan documentation (for example, the existence and adequacy of notes, mortgages, collateral assignments of rents and leases, and title policies ensuring first or other lien positions) and other available information (such as credit and collateral files). The value of the property securing the loan is estimated by the Company based upon a recent independent appraisal obtained by the borrower or seller of the loan, an independent appraisal obtained by the Company, or upon valuation information obtained by the Company and thereafter confirmed by an independent appraisal. One or more members of the Company's management makes an on-site inspection of the property and, where appropriate, the Company will require further inspections by engineers, architects or property management consultants. The Company may also retain environmental consultants to review potential environmental issues. The Company obtains and reviews available rental, expense, maintenance and other operational information regarding the property, prepares cash flow and debt service analyses and reviews all pertinent information relating to any legal or other disputes to which the property is subject. The amount of the Company's offer to purchase any such loan is based upon the foregoing evaluations and analyses.

The Company generally will not acquire a loan unless (i) current net cash flow from the property securing the loan is sufficient to yield a cash return on the Company's investment of not less than 10% per annum; (ii) the ratio of the Company's initial investment to the appraised value of the property underlying the loan (generally utilizing an appraisal dated within one year of acquisition) is less than 80%; (iii) there is the possibility of either prompt refinancing of the loan by the borrower after acquisition, or sale by the Company of a senior lien interest, that will result in an enhanced yield to the Company on its (reduced) funds still

40

outstanding (see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Sale of Senior Lien Interests and Refinancings"); and (iv) there is the possibility of a substantial increase in the value of the property underlying the loan over its appraised value, increasing the potential amount of the loan discount recoverable by the Company at loan termination. On occasion, the Company will acquire a loan that does not meet one or more of the criteria specified above if, in the Company's judgment, other factors make the loan an appropriate investment opportunity. As of December 31, 1997, the Company had in its portfolio 11 loans in which the ratio of the cost of investment to the appraised value of the underlying property (both at the time of acquisition and at the date of the most recent appraisal) exceeded 80%. The Company has a policy that appraisals of properties underlying loans be updated no less often than every three years. While the Company has historically acquired loans in the $1.0 million to $15.0 million range, it has recently shifted its focus to also include larger loans which meet its investment objectives. See also "Business -- Recent Developments -- Commercial Loan Purchase." The Company is not limited by regulation or contractual obligation as to the types of properties that secure the loans it may seek to acquire or the nature or priority of any lien or other encumbrance it may accept with respect to a property. The Company also does not have restrictions regarding whether, after sale of a senior lien interest or a refinancing, its interest in a particular loan must continue to be secured (although the Company will typically retain a subordinated lien position), the amount it may invest in any one loan, or the ratio of initial investment cost-to-appraised value of the underlying property.

As part of the acquisition process, the Company typically resolves disputes relating to the loans or the underlying properties. Through negotiations with the borrower and, as appropriate or necessary, with other creditors or parties in interest, the Company seeks to arrive at arrangements that reflect more closely the current operating conditions of the property and the present strategic position of the various interested parties. Where appropriate, the Company will offer concessions to assure that the Company's future control of the property's cash flow is free from dispute. These arrangements are normally reflected in an agreement (a "Forbearance Agreement") pursuant to which foreclosure or other action on the mortgage is deferred so long as the arrangements reflected in the Forbearance Agreement are met. The Company also seeks to resolve operational problems of the properties by appointment of a property manager acceptable to it (see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution:
Forbearance Agreements") and may advance funds for purposes of paying property improvement costs, unpaid taxes and similar items. Prior to loan acquisition, the Company includes in its pre-acquisition analysis of loan costs and yields an estimate of such advances. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Results of Operations -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution."

Upon acquisition of a loan, the Company typically requires that all revenues from the property underlying the loan be paid into an operating account on which the Company or its managing agent is the sole signatory. All expenditures with respect to a property (including debt service, taxes, operational expenses and maintenance costs) are paid from the Company's account and are reviewed and approved by a senior officer of the Company prior to payment. The Company further requires that its approval be obtained before any material contract or commercial lease with respect to the property is executed. To assist it in monitoring the loan, the Company requires that the borrower prepare a budget for the property not less than 60 days prior to the beginning of a year, which must be reviewed and approved by the Company, and submit both a monthly cash flow statement and a monthly occupancy report. The Company analyzes these reports in comparison with each other and with account activity in the operating account.

The Company may alter the foregoing procedures in appropriate circumstances. Where a borrower has refinanced a loan held by the Company (or where the Company has acquired a loan subject to existing senior debt), the Company may agree that the revenues be paid to an account controlled by the senior lienor, with the excess over amounts payable to the senior lienor being paid directly to the Company. Where the property is being managed by Brandywine Construction & Management, Inc. ("BCMI"), a property manager affiliated with the Company (see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Forbearance Agreements" and "Management -- Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions"), the Company may direct that property revenues be paid to BCMI, as the Company's managing agent. As of December 31, 1997, revenues are being paid to BCMI with respect to two loans (loans 25 and 30). Where the Company believes that operating problems with respect to an underlying property have been

41

substantially resolved, the Company may permit the borrower to retain revenues and pay property expenses directly. As of December 31, 1997, the Company permitted borrowers with respect to four loans (loans 24, 27, 37 and 41) to do so. (Loan number designations correspond to the designations set forth in the table included as part of "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Loan Status.")

Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Sale of Senior Lien Interests and Refinancings

In evaluating a potential commercial mortgage loan, the Company places significant emphasis on the likelihood of its being able to sell a senior lien interest on favorable terms after the acquisition and/or the borrower's likely ability, with or without the Company's assistance, to secure favorable refinancing. When a loan is refinanced, or a senior lien interest sold, the Company will obtain net sale or refinance proceeds in an amount representing a major portion of (and sometimes exceeding) the amount of its investment in the loan. After sale of a senior lien interest or refinancing, the Company will typically retain an interest in the loan, which is usually subordinated to the interest of the senior lienholder or refinance lender.

Where a senior lien interest is sold, the outstanding balance of the Company's loan at the time of sale remains outstanding, including as a part of that balance the amount of the senior lien interest. Thus, the Company's remaining interest effectively "wraps around" the senior lien interest. Typically, the interest rate on the senior lien interest is less than the stated rate on the Company's loan. As of December 31, 1997, senior lien interests with an aggregate balance of $12 million relating to seven of the Company's loans obligate the Company, in the event of a default on a loan, to replace such loan with a performing loan. These senior lien interests become due upon the expiration of their respective Forbearance Agreements (one in 1999, three in 2000, two in 2001 and one in 2016). Two other senior lien interests obligate the Company, upon their respective maturities (all in fiscal 2002), to repurchase the senior lien interest (if not theretofore paid off) at a price equal to the outstanding balance of the senior lien interest plus accrued interest ($1.6 million and $7.3 million, respectively, assuming all debt service payments have been made). See "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Loan Status."

Where a refinancing is effectuated, the Company reduces the amount outstanding on its loan by the amount of net refinancing proceeds received by it and either converts the outstanding balance of the original note (both principal and accrued interest, as well as accrued penalties) into the stated principal amount of an amended note on the same terms as the original note, or retains the original loan obligation as paid down by the amount of refinance proceeds received by the Company. As with senior lien interests, the interest rate on the refinancing is typically less than the interest rate on the Company's retained interest.

After sale of a senior lien interest or a refinancing, the Company's retained interest will usually be secured by a subordinate lien on the property. In certain situations, however, (including seven loans aggregating $7.7 million and constituting 6.6%, by book value, of the Company's loans as of December 31, 1997), the Company's retained interest may not be formally secured by a mortgage because of conditions imposed by the senior lender, although it may be protected by a judgment lien, an unrecorded deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, the borrower's covenant not to further encumber the property without the Company's consent, and/or a similar device.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Forbearance Agreements

Substantially all of the commercial mortgage loans acquired by the Company are subject to Forbearance Agreements with borrowers pursuant to which the holder of the loan (the Company, upon loan acquisition) (i) agrees, subject to receipt of specified minimum monthly payments, to defer the exercise of existing rights to proceed on the defaulted loan (including the right to foreclose), (ii) receives the rents from the underlying property (either directly or through a managing agent approved by the Company, subject to certain exceptions; see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Acquisition and Administration Procedures for Commercial Loan Acquisition and Resolution Operations") and (iii) requires the borrower to retain a property management firm acceptable to the holder. The Forbearance Agreements also provide that any cash flow from the property (after payment of Company-approved expenses and debt service on senior lien interests) above the minimum payments will be retained by the Company and applied to accrued but unpaid debt service on the loan. As a result of provision (iii), BCMI has assumed responsibility for supervisory and, in many cases, day to day

42

management of the underlying properties with respect to substantially all of the loans owned by the Company as of December 31, 1997. In ten instances, the President of BCMI (or an entity affiliated with him) has also acted as the general partner or trustee of the borrower; an entity affiliated with him is also the general partner of the sole limited partner of an eleventh borrower. See "Management -- Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions -- Relationship with BCMI." The minimum payments required under a Forbearance Agreement (generally related to anticipated cash flow from the property after operating expenses) are normally materially less than the debt service payments called for by the original terms of the loan. The difference between the minimum required payments under the Forbearance Agreement and the payments called for by the original loan terms continues to accrue, but (except for amounts recognized as an accretion of discount; see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Accounting for Discounted Loans") are not recognized as revenue to the Company until actually paid.

At the end of the term of a Forbearance Agreement, the borrower is required to pay the loan in full. The borrower's ability to do so, however, will be dependent upon a number of factors, including prevailing conditions at the underlying property, the state of real estate and financial markets (generally and as regards the particular property), and general economic conditions. In the event the borrower does not or cannot do so, the Company anticipates that it will seek to sell the property underlying the loan or otherwise liquidate the loan. Alternatively, the Company anticipates that it might, in appropriate cases, and for appropriate additional consideration, agree to further forbearance.

An existing Forbearance Agreement remains in effect without modification when the Company sells a senior lien interest in a loan. In such instance, the purchaser's interest in the loan is subject to the terms of the Forbearance Agreement. However, when a borrower refinances a loan, the Forbearance Agreement is amended to (i) reflect the pay down of the loan balance, (ii) acknowledge the existence of the refinancing and (iii) provide for the continued effectiveness of all provisions of the Forbearance Agreement for a term specified except that where specific provisions of the Forbearance Agreement are inconsistent with the terms of the refinancing, the terms of the refinancing have priority. In some refinancings, the refinance lender may require that the borrower issue an amended note (a "retained interest note") to reflect the reduction of the borrower's indebtedness to the Company and, where applicable, any other revised terms.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Loan Status

At December 31, 1997, the Company's loan portfolio consisted of 43 loans of which 33 loans were acquired as first mortgage liens and 10 loans were acquired as junior lien obligations. The Company's strategy has been to acquire loans in anticipation of selling a senior lien interest in the loan or in anticipation of the borrower's refinancing of the loan. As of that date, the Company had sold senior lien interests in 14 loans in its portfolio (including senior interests in six loans initially acquired by the Company as junior lien loans) and borrowers with respect to 12 of the Company's loans had obtained refinancing. After such sales and refinancings, the Company held subordinated interests in 30 loans of which seven interests, constituting approximately 6.6% of the book value of the Company's loan portfolio, are not collateralized by recorded mortgages (see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Sale of Senior Lien Interests and Refinancings").

During the second quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company sold 10 of its loans, and senior lien interests in two loans, to RAIT as indicated by Note (9) to the following table. For certain information regarding this sale see "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Sponsorship of Real Estate Investment Trust."

43

The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Company's investments in commercial mortgage loans as of December 31, 1997.

    Loan           Type of
   Number          Property           Location
------------  -----------------  ------------------
     001      Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     002(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     003      Multifamily        New Jersey
     004(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     005      Office             Pennsylvania
     006(9)   Office/Retail      Virginia
     007      Single User        Minnesota
                   (Retail)
     008(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     009(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     010(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     011      Office             Washington, D.C.
     012(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     013      Single User        California
               (Commercial)
     014      Office             Washington, D.C.
     015      Condo/             North Carolina
               Multifamily
     016      Single User        California
                   (Retail)
     017      Single User        West Virginia
                   (Retail)
     018      Single User        California
                   (Retail)
     019(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     020      Office             New Jersey
     021      Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     022      Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     023(9)   Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     024      Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     025      Hotel/             Georgia
               Commercial
     026      Office             Pennsylvania
     027(9)   Office             Pennsylvania
     028      Condo/             North Carolina
               Multifamily
     029      Commercial/        Pennsylvania
               Retail
     030      Hotel              Nebraska
     031      Multifamily        Connecticut
     032      Multifamily        New Jersey
     033      Single User        Virginia
                   (Retail)
     034      Multifamily        Pennsylvania
     035      Office             Pennsylvania
     036      Office             North Carolina
     037      Multifamily        Florida

              Sub Total


                                                             Loan           Outstanding      Appraised Value
    Loan                                                   Acquired            Loan            of Property
   Number                Seller/Originator              (Fiscal Year)      Receivable(1)     Securing Loan(2)
------------  ---------------------------------------  ---------------  ------------------  -----------------
     001      Alpha Petroleum Pension Fund                     1991        $ 8,537,276         $ 5,300,000
     002(9)   CoreStates Bank(10)                              1992          1,579,496             900,000
     003      RAM Enterprises/Glenn Industries                 1993          2,737,559           1,350,000
               Pension Plan
     004(9)   St. Paul Federal Bank for Savings(12)            1993          1,486,601           1,200,000
     005      Shawmut Bank(10)                                 1993          6,408,289           1,700,000
     006(9)   Nationsbank(10)                                  1993          5,804,115           2,800,000
     007      Prudential Insurance, Alpha                      1993          5,050,886           2,515,000
               Petroleum Pension Fund
     008(9)   Nomura/Cargill/Eastdil Realty(14)                1994          5,394,281           3,200,000
     009(9)   Mellon Bank(10)                                  1995          1,640,973           2,700,000
     010(9)   RIVA Financial                                   1994          1,600,713             800,000
     011      First Union Bank(10)                             1995          1,427,447           2,000,000
     012(9)   CoreStates Bank(10)(12)                          1995          3,037,884           2,200,000
     013      California Federal Bank, FSB                     1994          2,969,853           2,400,000
     014      Nomura/Cargill/Eastdil Realty(14)                1995         14,977,664          12,250,000
     015      First Bank/South Trust Bank(15)             1995/1997          3,553,137           3,702,000
     016      Mass Mutual/Alpha Petroleum                 1995/1996          6,992,873           3,000,000
               Pension Fund
     017      Triester Investments(10)(16)                     1996          1,453,966           1,900,000
     018      Emigrant Savings Bank/Walter                     1996          2,835,687           4,555,000
               R. Samuels and Jay Furman(19)
     019(9)   Summit Bancorp(10)                               1996          4,675,262           5,725,000
     020      Cargill/Eastdil Realty(13)                       1996          7,114,661           4,600,000
     021      Bruin Holdings/Berkeley Federal             1996/1997          9,260,609           4,222,000
               Savings Bank
     022      FirsTrust FSB                                    1996          4,655,151           4,110,000
     023(9)   Jefferson Bank                                   1996            718,848(24)         600,000
     024      U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban                    1996          3,427,028           3,250,000
               Development
     025      Bankers Trust Co.                                1997          5,975,639           8,500,000
     026      FirsTrust FSB/                                   1997          8,498,640           5,000,000
               The Metropolitan Fund
     027(9)   Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.                   1997         53,183,775          34,000,000
     028      First Bank/SouthTrust Bank(27)                   1997          1,703,755           1,773,000
     029      Castine Associates, L.P.(28)                     1997          7,127,386           4,025,000
     030      CNA Insurance                                    1997          7,274,234           4,000,000
     031      John Hancock Mutual Life                         1997         10,024,031           7,500,000
               Insurance Company
     032      John Hancock Mutual Life                         1997         12,260,126          12,425,000
               Insurance Company
     033      Brambilla, Ltd.                                  1997          4,015,686           2,650,000
     034      Resource America, Inc.(29)                       1997            398,697             450,000
     035      Jefferson Bank                                   1997          2,331,275           2,550,000
     036      Union Labor Life Insurance Co.                   1997          4,514,732           4,150,000
     037      Howe, Soloman & Hall                             1997          6,998,319           3,500,000
               Financial, Inc.                                            ------------        ------------
                                                                          $231,646,554        $167,502,000

44

                                             Proceeds from
                    Ratio of Cost           Refinancing or
    Cost of       of Investment to          Sale of Senior
 Investment(3)     Appraised Value          Lien Interests
---------------  ------------------  ----------------------------
  $ 4,704,540           89%               $     2,570,000(8)
      547,813           61%                             0(11)
    1,325,081           98%                       627,000
      862,356           72%                             0(11)
    1,229,417           72%                       940,000(13)
    2,391,040           85%                       840,000
    1,354,382           54%                     2,099,000
    1,614,174           50%                       934,300
    1,393,031           52%                       654,600
      457,356           57%                             0(11)
    1,180,030           59%                       660,000(13)
    1,296,565           59%                     1,079,000
    1,694,799           71%                     1,975,000(13)
   10,571,763           86%                     6,487,000
    2,787,774           75%                     2,558,000(8)
    2,114,520           70%                     2,375,000(13)
      895,113           47%                     1,000,000(17)(18)
    2,227,199           49%                     1,969,000(13)
    3,758,685           66%                     3,020,000
    3,225,589           70%                     2,562,000
    2,454,437           58%                     2,760,000(20)
    4,016,498           98%                     2,636,000(22)(23)
      480,643           80%                       450,000(25)
    2,740,093           84%                     2,318,750
    5,877,874           69%                             0
    2,484,966           50%                     2,240,000(26)
   19,243,749           57%                     7,920,000(22)
    1,028,143           58%                             0
    2,986,618           74%                     1,000,000(17)
    3,673,462           92%                             0
    4,760,894           63%                             0
    7,374,894           59%                             0
    2,003,684           76%                     1,383,705(8)
      400,000           89%                             0
    1,591,662           62%                     1,000,000(17)
    3,053,846           74%                             0
    2,772,641           79%                     2,096,000(11)(13)
 ------------                                 -----------
 $112,575,331                                 $56,154,355


                                          Company's Net     Maturity of Loan/
                                         Interest In        Expiration of
      Net            Book Value       Outstanding Loan       Forbearance
 Investment(4)    of Investment(5)     Receivables(6)       Agreement(7)
---------------  ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
  $ 2,134,540        $ 2,580,970         $ 5,967,276          12/31/02
      547,813            785,295           1,579,496          10/31/98
      698,081            731,656           2,103,068          01/01/03
      862,356          1,134,958           1,486,601          10/31/98
      289,417            784,776           5,568,289          02/07/01
    1,551,040          1,670,669           4,928,075          07/31/98
     (744,618)           567,169           2,919,116          12/31/14
      679,874          1,270,541           4,296,133          07/31/98
      738,431            564,876             755,711          11/01/99
      457,356            734,073           1,600,713          09/02/99
      520,030            685,655             742,447          09/30/99
      217,565            747,650           1,781,319          12/02/99
     (280,201)           325,972             969,853          05/01/01
    4,084,763          5,472,297           8,299,802          11/30/98
      229,774          3,553,137           1,218,418          08/25/00
     (260,480)           481,117           4,592,873          12/31/00
     (104,887)           465,347             453,966          12/31/16
      258,199            833,952             866,687          12/01/00
      738,685            992,855           1,496,823          12/29/00
      663,589          1,878,059           4,715,532          02/07/01
     (305,563)         1,034,292           6,500,609               (21)
    1,380,498            995,483           1,992,593          10/31/98
       30,643            128,642             271,107          03/28/01
      421,343            814,710             933,181          11/01/22
    5,877,874          6,102,863           5,975,639          12/31/15
      244,966          2,372,008           6,257,369          09/30/03
   11,323,749         17,253,179          45,209,204          01/01/02
    1,028,143          1,703,755           1,703,755          03/31/02
    1,986,618          2,312,861           6,127,386          07/01/02
    3,673,462          3,740,136           7,274,234          09/30/02
    4,760,894          4,951,443          10,024,031          09/01/05
    7,374,894          7,464,646          12,260,126          09/01/05
      619,979            633,604           2,653,184          02/01/21
      400,000            398,422             398,697          10/01/02
      591,662            928,445           1,331,275          09/25/02
    3,053,846          3,110,677           4,514,732          12/31/11
      676,641          1,162,202           4,902,319          07/01/00
  -----------        -----------        ------------
  $56,420,976        $81,368,392        $174,671,639

45

    Loan          Type of
   Number         Property        Location
------------  ---------------  --------------

     Balance Forward
     038(9)   Office/Retail    Pennsylvania
     039      Hotel            Georgia
     040      Retail           Virginia
     041      Multifamily      Connecticut
     042      Multifamily      Pennsylvania
     043      Multifamily      Pennsylvania

                                                           Loan            Outstanding         Appraised Value
    Loan                                                 Acquired             Loan               of Property
   Number               Seller/Originator             (Fiscal Year)       Receivable(1)        Securing Loan(2)
------------  -------------------------------------  ---------------  --------------------  ---------------------
                                                                         $ 231,646,554         $  167,502,000
     038(9)   Resource Asset Investment Trust(30)         1997               8,351,314             10,600,000
     039      Resource America, Inc.(29)                  1998                 342,691(31)          4,100,000
     040      Lehman Brothers Holdings                    1998              45,005,722             47,000,000
     041      J.E. Roberts Companies                      1998              26,695,085             18,500,000(32)
     042      Fannie Mae(33)                              1998               4,290,337              5,000,000(32)
     043      Downingtown National Bank/D, Ltd.           1998               1,957,557(34)          2,275,000
                                                                         ----------------      -----------------
              Balance as of December 31, 1997                            $ 318,289,260         $  254,977,000
                                                                         ================      =================



(1) Consists of the stated or face value of the obligation plus accrued interest and the amount of the senior lien interest at December 31, 1997.

(2) The Company generally obtains appraisals on each of its properties at least once every three years. Accordingly, appraisal dates range from 1994 to 1997.

(3) Consists of the original cost of the investment to the Company (including acquisition costs and the amount of any senior lien interest to which the property remained subject) plus subsequent advances, but excludes the proceeds to the Company from the sale of senior lien interests or borrower refinancings.

(4) Represents the unrecovered costs of the Company's calculated investment, calculated as the cash investment made in acquiring the loan plus subsequent advances less cash received from sale of a senior lien interest in or borrower refinancing of the loan. Negative amounts represent the receipt by the Company of proceeds from the sale of senior lien interests or borrower refinancings in excess of the Company's investment.

(5) Represents the cost of the investment carried on the books of the Company after accretion of discount and allocation of gains from the sale of a senior lien interest in, or borrower refinancing of the loan but excludes an allowance for possible losses of $452,000. For a discussion of accretion on discount and allocation of gains, see "Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Accounting for Discounted Loans."

(6) Consists of the amount set forth in the column "Outstanding Loan Receivable" less senior lien interests at December 31, 1997 (excluding one senior lien interest of $2,334,719 which is included in the cost of investment carried on the books of the Company relating to loan 17).

(7) With respect to loans 6, 7, 8, 14, 25, 27, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38 and 39, the date given is for the maturity of the Company's interest in the loan. For loan 43, the date given is the expiration date of the Forbearance Agreement with respect to the loan in the original principal amount of $404,026 (see note (34) below). For the remaining loans, the date given is the expiration date of the related Forbearance Agreement.

(8) Represents the amount of the senior lien in place on date of acquisition, except that, with respect to loan 40, it represents the amount of a senior lien interest sold contemporaneously with the Company's investment.

(9) Loans 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 19, 23, and one of the four loans (in the amount of $900,000) comprising loan 38 were sold to RAIT on January 23, 1998 (see note (30) below). In addition, senior lien interests in loans 27 and 38 were sold to RAIT on January 23, 1998. See "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Sponsorship of Real Estate Investment Trust."

(10) Successor by merger to the Seller.

(11) In December 1997, senior lien interests in loans 2, 4 and 10 were transferred to loan 37.

(12) Seller was a wholly-owned subsidiary of this institution.

(13) Senior lien interest sold subject to the right of the holder (Citation Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio), upon default, to require the Company to substitute a performing loan.

46

                                         Proceeds from
                    Ratio of Cost       Refinancing or
    Cost of       of Investment to      Sale of Senior
 Investment(3)     Appraised Value      Lien Interests
---------------  ------------------  --------------------
 $112,575,331                           $ 56,154,355
    8,580,000            81%                       0
      338,633             8%                       0
   43,154,886            92%              35,250,000(8)
   14,546,344            79%                       0
    4,234,556            85%                       0
    1,518,188            67%               1,000,000(35)
 ------------                           ------------
 $184,947,938                           $ 92,404,355
 ============                           ============

                                        Company's Net     Maturity of Loan/
                                         Interest In        Expiration of
      Net            Book Value       Outstanding Loan       Forbearance
 Investment(4)    of Investment(5)     Receivables(6)       Agreement(7)
---------------  ------------------  ------------------  ------------------
  $56,420,976       $ 81,368,392        $174,671,639
    8,580,000          8,351,314           8,351,314          12/31/02
      338,633            201,155             342,691          11/30/02
    7,904,886          8,081,017           9,806,748          12/01/02
   14,546,344         14,426,655          26,695,085          06/30/03
    4,234,556          4,262,517           4,290,337          12/31/02
      518,188            803,012             957,557          12/17/02
  -----------       ------------        ------------
  $92,543,583       $117,494,062        $225,115,371
  ===========       ============        ============



(14) Seller was a partnership of these entities.

(15) Original lending institutions. In March 1997, as a result of agreements among the borrower, the Company and a third party, Concord Investment, L.P. ("Concord"), the borrower's partnership interests were transferred to the Company which resold them to Concord for a mortgage note (which wrapped around certain senior indebtedness) and cash.

(16) The loan acquired consists of a series of notes becoming due yearly through December 31, 2016. The notes are being paid in accordance with their terms and, accordingly, a Forbearance Agreement was not required.

(17) Senior lien interest sold to Peoples Thrift Savings Bank.

(18) Original senior lien interest repaid by the Company in December 1997.

(19) Amounts advanced by the Company were used in part to directly repay the loan of Emigrant Savings Bank; the balance was applied to purchase a note held by Messrs. Samuels and Furman.

(20) Senior lien interest sold to People's Thrift Savings Bank in 17 individual condominium units in a single building.

(21) The loan acquired consists of 31 separate mortgage loans on 49 individual condominium units in a single building. Nine of such loans are due July 1, 2016, eighteen are due January 1, 2015, one is due October 1, 2007, one is due March 1, 2001 and two are due October 9, 2001.

(22) Two senior lien interests were sold to Commerce Bank, N.A. ("Commerce"), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Company has the obligation to repurchase these senior lien interests, at Commerce's option, on or after June 27, 2002 (loan 22) and September 29, 2002 (loan 27), if the senior lien interest is not repaid in accordance with its terms by the borrower.

(23) Junior lien interest sold to Crafts House Apartments Partners, L.P., a limited partnership in which officers and directors of the Company beneficially own a 21.3% interest.

(24) Includes a note for $14,948 which is payable to the Company on demand.

(25) Senior lien interest sold to Crusader Bank. The senior lien interest was paid off in connection with the acquisition of this loan by RAIT.

(26) Senior lien interest sold to CRC-Axewood Partners, L.P., a limited partnership in which officers and directors of the Company beneficially own an 18.3% interest.

(27) Original lending institutions. In connection with the transactions referred to in Note (14), Concord acquired other condominium units in the same building. These units secured a loan in the original principal amount of $910,000 held by the Company. As part of that acquisition, the Company made an additional mortgage loan to Concord of $797,675.

(28) From 1993 to October 1997, an officer of the Company served as the General Partner.

(29) Loan originated by the Company.

(30) Consists of three related loans to one borrower secured by two properties. A fourth related loan, in the amount of $100,000, was repaid in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. The loans were originated by RAIT and funded by the Company pending closing of RAIT's public offering. Upon completion of that offering in the second quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company sold one of the loans (in the principal amount of $900,000) and $4.9 million of senior lien interests in the two remaining loans to RAIT, at cost. See note (9) above.

(31) Construction loan with a maximum borrowing of $3,625,000.

(32) Company's estimate of the value of the property, pending completion of appraisal.

(33) Original lending institution.

(34) Consists of two related loans to one borrower secured by a single property in the original principal amounts of $1,600,000, due in October 2006, and $404,026 which is subject to a Forbearance Agreement expiring in December 2002.

(35) Senior lien interest sold to Washsquare Properties Partners, L.P., a limited partnership in which officers and directors of the Company beneficially own a 17.8% limited partnership interest.

47

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to monthly cash flow from the properties underlying the Company's commercial mortgage loans, monthly debt service payable to senior lienholders and refinance lenders, monthly payments with respect to the Company's retained interest and the ratio of cash flow from the properties to debt service payable on senior lien interests. It should be noted that monthly cash flow for loans 39 through 43 is based upon estimates or historical information different than the average cash flow for the three months ended December 31, 1997 utilized for all other loans.

                                             Monthly             Monthly          Debt Service
                      Monthly Cash       Debt Service on        Payment to       Coverage Ratio
Loan                   Flow from           Senior Lien        the Company's      on Senior Lien
Number               Property(1)(2)        Interests(3)          Interest          Interests
---------------   -------------------   -----------------   -----------------   ---------------
001                  $    41,717           $   26,425          $   15,292             1.58
002                        6,168                4,875               1,293             1.27
003                        6,874                6,058                 816             1.13
004                       10,949                7,280               3,669             1.50
005                       14,643                6,825               7,818             2.15
006                       28,504                8,021              20,483             3.55
007                       20,400               20,400                   0             1.00
008                       30,290               10,670              19,620             2.84
009                       26,012                7,359              18,653             3.53
010                        6,953                4,875               2,078             1.43
011                       11,179                5,566               5,613             2.01
012                       17,536               10,317               7,219             1.70
013                       20,011               15,833               4,178             1.26
014                       88,168               58,551              29,617             1.51
015 & 028(4)              27,492               26,113               1,379             1.05
016                       23,917               19,500               4,417             1.23
017                       10,690                9,190               1,500             1.16
018                       25,529(5)            15,998               9,531             1.60
019                       49,346               25,300              24,046             1.95
020                       39,742               19,527              20,215             2.04
021                       23,783               16,331               7,452             1.46
022                       26,767               24,365               2,402             1.10
023                        5,108                3,932               1,176             1.30
024                        6,435                    0               6,435             N/A
025                       48,838                    0              48,838             N/A
026                       37,357               10,800              26,557             3.46
027                      160,158               74,570              85,588(6)          2.15
029                       26,510                8,333(7)           18,177             3.18
030                       60,194                    0              60,194             N/A
031                       41,667                    0              41,667             N/A
032                      102,831                    0             102,831             N/A
033                       21,940               14,985               6,955             1.46
034                        5,112                    0               5,112             N/A
035                       27,954                8,333(7)           19,621             3.35
036                       23,950                    0              23,950             N/A
037                       25,000                    0              25,000             N/A
038                       69,013                    0              69,013(8)          N/A
                     -----------           ----------          ----------
                     $ 1,218,737(9)        $  470,332(9)       $  748,405(9)          2.59
                     -----------           ----------          ----------
039                  $     3,814(10)       $        0          $    3,814             N/A
040                      375,000(11)          249,497             125,503             1.50
041                      154,699(12)                0             154,699             N/A
042                       34,080(12)                0              34,080             N/A
043                       16,418(12)            8,333               8,085             1.97
                     -----------           ----------          ----------
                     $   584,011           $  257,830          $  326,181             2.27
                     -----------           ----------          ----------
Total (loans
1 through 43)        $ 1,802,748           $  728,162          $1,074,586             2.48
                     ===========           ==========          ==========

48


(1) "Cash Flow" as used in this table is that amount equal to the operating revenues from property operations less operating expenses, including real estate and other taxes pertaining to the property and its operations, and before depreciation, amortization and capital expenditures.

(2) Except as set forth in notes (4), (10), (11), and (12) monthly cash flow from each of the properties has been calculated as the average monthly amount during the three month period ended December 31, 1997.

(3) Monthly debt service consists of required payments of principal, interest and other regularly recurring charges payable to the holder of the refinanced loan or senior lien interest.

(4) Loans 15 and 28 represent different condominium units in the same property and are, accordingly combined for cash flow purposes.

(5) Includes one-twelfth of an annual payment of $110,000 received in December of each year.

(6) A senior lien interest of $4.9 million in loan 27 was sold to RAIT. (See note (9) to the previous table). As a result of this sale, the cash flow to the Company will decrease by $44,755 per month.

(7) Includes additional debt service of $2,083 per month attributable to a senior lien interest sold in December 1997.

(8) Loan 38 consisted of four related loans of which one was repaid in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. (See notes (9) and (30) to the previous table). One loan in the amount of $900,000 was sold to RAIT. In addition, RAIT acquired senior lien interests in two of the remaining loans in the amount of $4.9 million. As a result of these sales the cash flow to the Company will decrease by $48,180 per month.

(9) Excludes amounts attributable to loans 39 through 43, which are referred to in the table below.

(10) Monthly cash flow currently consists of interest only since loan 39 is a construction loan.

(11) Based upon average cash flow for the three months ended January 31, 1998.

(12) Estimate based on an historical analysis of the property's cash flow prior to the Company's purchase of the loan.

All of the Company's portfolio loans are currently performing in accordance with their respective repayment terms under Forbearance Agreements or retained interest notes.

Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Accounting for Discounted Loans

The difference between the Company's cost basis in a loan and the sum of projected cash flows from, and the appraised value of, the underlying property (up to the amount of the loan) is accreted into interest income over the estimated life of the loan using a method which approximates the level yield method. The projected cash flows from the property are reviewed on a quarterly basis and changes to the projected amounts reduce or increase the amounts accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loan on a method approximating the level yield method.

The Company records the investments in its commercial mortgage loan portfolio at cost, which is significantly discounted from the face value of, and accrued interest and penalties on, the notes. This discount to face value and accrued interest and penalties (as adjusted to give effect to refinancings and sales of senior lien interests) totaled $110.4 million, $86.3 million, $40.0 million and $16.1 million at December 31, 1997, and September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The cost basis in the various loans is periodically reviewed to determine that it is not greater than the sum of the projected cash flows and the appraised value of the underlying properties. If the cost basis were found to be greater, the Company would provide, through a charge to operations, an appropriate allowance. For the quarter ended December 31, 1997, the Company recorded a provision for possible losses of $52,000. For the year ended September 30, 1997, the Company recorded a provision for possible losses of $400,000 to reflect the increase in size of its commercial mortgage loan portfolio. As of December 31, 1997, the allowance for possible loan losses totalled $452,000. For the years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, no such provision was required.

Gains on the sale of a senior lien interest in a loan (or gains, if any, from the refinancing of a loan) are allocated between the portion of the loan sold or refinanced and the portion retained based upon the fair value of those respective portions on the date of such sale or refinancing. Any gain recognized on a sale of a senior lien interest or a refinancing is brought into income on the date of such sale or refinancing.

49

Residential Mortgage Loans

The Company's residential mortgage lending business provides first and second mortgage loans on one-to-four family residences to borrowers who typically do not conform to guidelines established by Fannie Mae because of past credit impairment or other reasons. Through its subsidiaries, FMF and Tri-Star (which was acquired in November 1997 and which, following regulatory approvals regarding transfer of mortgage lending licenses, the Company anticipates merging into FMF), the Company is licensed as a residential mortgage lender in 23 states and is currently originating loans in 11 states (Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia). The Company began its residential mortgage lending business during fiscal 1997 and commenced originating loans in the first quarter of fiscal 1998.

The Company's operational strategy is to concentrate on mid-size residential mortgage loans with a targeted average loan of approximately $50,000. Currently, the average loan size is approximately $44,000. Depending upon the credit qualification of a borrower, the Company may originate loans for its portfolio with a loan-to-value ratio of up to 60% (for the least qualified borrowers) to 90% (for the most qualified borrowers). The Company also originates "125 Loans," that is, loans with a cumulative loan-to-value ratio of up to 125%. FMF originates 125 Loans that have been approved for acquisition by third-party purchasers prior to funding. Tri-Star acts as a delegated underwriter of 125 Loans for one investor, originating loans which comply with such investor's underwriting criteria. During the quarter ended December 31, 1997, the Company originated $11.8 million in residential mortgage loans, of which $3.5 million were 125 Loans. Approximately 12% of the Company's residential mortgage loans for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 conform to Fannie Mae guidelines although the Company does not seek to originate these loans and does not expect to establish goals with respect to the aggregate percentage of conforming loans in its portfolio.

The Company typically originates residential mortgage loans directly with consumers rather than acquiring such loans in bulk from other originators. The Company primarily originates its loans through retail/consumer direct channels (principally direct mail) under the trade name USDirect Mortgage. Potential customers are identified using statistical models predicting consumer need and capacity for a mortgage loan. The Company also anticipates entering into "private label" arrangements with financial institutions and other entities to originate loans by providing loan underwriting, processing and other services to these institutions, under their names, for their non-conforming borrowers.

The Company reduces the time and costs related to underwriting, processing and funding residential mortgage loans, and attempts to increase the consistency of its loan underwriting, through an automated underwriting and processing system which incorporates a proprietary credit evaluation system developed from industry data and parameters established by FMF's management. The Company (through FMF) has arranged two warehouse lines of credit, with an aggregate credit amount of $35 million, to fund its lending operations. See "Business -- Sources of Funds."

The Company is approved as a loan seller to 16 investors. The Company's policy is to sell its loans for cash. During the first quarter of fiscal 1998, however, the Company engaged in a sale of a pool of loans for a note. See "Risk Factors -- Real Estate Finance Considerations -- Note Received in Sale of Certain Residential Loans." The Company's policy is generally to sell loans on a servicing-released basis, however, with respect to the sale of $6.9 million of originated and acquired loans, the sale was on a servicing-retained basis. The Company has subcontracted the servicing of these loans to Jefferson Bank. See "Risk Factors -- Real Estate Finance Considerations -- Note Received in Sale of Certain Residential Loans" and "Management -- Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions -- Jefferson Bank." As FMF and Tri-Star develop their operations and increase staffing, they may retain servicing for their own account and may retain certain loans for their portfolios.

Sponsorship of Real Estate Investment Trust

The Company is the sponsor of RAIT, a publicly-held real estate investment trust whose common shares of beneficial interest are listed on the American Stock Exchange. RAIT's primary business is to acquire or originate commercial mortgage loans in situations that, generally, do not conform to the underwriting standards of institutional lenders or sources that provide financing through securitization. Although RAIT may acquire

50

commercial mortgage loans at a discount, it seeks to acquire such loans where the workout process has been initiated and where, unlike the commercial mortgage loans acquired by the Company, there is no need for RAIT's active intervention. RAIT commenced operations on January 14, 1998.

As sponsor of RAIT, the Company acquired 15% of RAIT's common shares of beneficial interest upon completion of the offering of such shares, at a cost of approximately $7.0 million. So long as the Company owns 5% or more of RAIT's common shares, the Company will have the right to nominate one person to RAIT's board of trustees (the "Board of Trustees"). The Company sold 10 of its mortgage loans and senior lien interests in two other loans (representing a net investment by the Company at December 31, 1997 of $17.1 million, including $2.1 million of senior lien interests acquired by the Company in connection with the sale) to RAIT, as part of RAIT's initial investments, for $20.2 million. The Company may sell further loans to RAIT, to a maximum of 30% of RAIT's investments (on a cost basis), excluding the initial investments. Betsy Z. Cohen, spouse of the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Edward E. Cohen, and mother of Daniel G. Cohen, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FMF and an Executive Vice President and director of the Company, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RAIT. Jonathan Z. Cohen, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cohen and the Secretary and a director of Resource Energy, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company through which its energy operations are conducted ("Resource Energy"), is the Company's nominee to the Board of Trustees.

To limit conflicts between RAIT and the Company, it has been agreed that, for two years following the completion of the RAIT offering, (i) the Company will not sponsor another real estate investment trust with investment objectives and policies which are the same as, or substantially similar to, those of RAIT; (ii) if the Company originates a proposal to provide wraparound or other junior lien or subordinated financing (as opposed to acquiring existing financing) with respect to multifamily, office or other commercial properties to a borrower (other than to a borrower with an existing loan from the Company), the Company must first offer the opportunity to RAIT; and (iii) if the Company desires to sell any loan it has acquired that conforms to RAIT's investment objectives and policies with respect to acquired loans, it must first offer to sell it to RAIT. The Company anticipates that complying with these restrictions will not materially affect the Company's operations for the foreseeable future. The Company has also agreed that if, after the expiration of the two year period, the Company sponsors a real estate investment trust with investment objectives similar to those of RAIT, the Company's representative on the Board of Trustees (should the Company have a representative on the Board at that time) will recuse himself or herself from considering or voting upon matters relating to financings which may be deemed to be within the lending guidelines of both RAIT and the real estate investment trust then being sponsored by the Company.

Equipment Leasing

General

The Company's equipment leasing business commenced in September 1995 with the acquisition of an equipment leasing subsidiary of a regional insurance company. Through this acquisition, the Company assumed the management of five publicly-held equipment leasing partnerships involving $49.8 million (original equipment cost) in leased assets at December 31, 1997. More importantly, through this acquisition the Company acquired an infrastructure of operating systems, computer hardware and proprietary software (generally referred to as a "platform"), as well as personnel, which the Company utilized in fiscal 1996 as a basis for the development of an equipment leasing business for its own account. As part of its development of this business, in early 1996 the Company hired a team of four experienced leasing executives, including the former chief executive officer of the U.S. leasing subsidiary of Tokai Bank, a major Japanese banking institution.

The Company conducts its leasing operations through three corporate divisions: Fidelity Leasing, Inc. ("FLI"), which conducts the Company's small ticket leasing operations; F.L. Partnership Management, Inc. ("FLPM"), which manages five public leasing partnerships; and FL Financial Services, Inc. ("FLFS"), which provides lease finance placement and advisory services. The Company's primary focus in its equipment leasing operations is on the development of FLI, which commenced small ticket leasing operations in August 1996. FLPM's operations will be reduced over the next several years as partnership assets are sold and cash is

51

distributed back to the investors. FLPM does not anticipate forming new limited partnerships in the future. FLFS will continue to operate its lease finance placement and advisory business which, while profitable, is not expected to constitute a material source of revenues for the Company.

Strategy

Focus on Small Ticket Leasing. The Company focuses on leasing equipment costing between $5,000 and $100,000 ("small ticket" leasing). By so doing, the Company takes advantage not only of the background and expertise of its leasing management team, but also of the servicing platform the Company has acquired and developed, which has the capacity to monitor the large amounts of equipment and related assets involved in a small ticket leasing operation. In addition, small ticket items represent a substantial portion of the equipment sought by small businesses thereby affording the Company a niche market with significant growth potential (see "Business -- Equipment Leasing -- Strategy -- Focus on Leasing to Small Businesses"). Moreover, the small size of a typical transaction relative to the Company's total lease portfolio reduces the Company's credit risk exposure from any particular transaction.

Focus on Vendor Programs. The significant majority of equipment leased to end-user customers by the Company will be purchased from manufacturers or regional distributors with whom the Company is establishing vendor programs. In so doing, the Company utilizes the manufacturer's or distributor's sales organization to gain access to the manufacturer's end-user base without incurring the costs of establishing independent customer relationships. The Company is actively pursuing the establishment of multiple vendor programs in an effort to reduce its reliance on any one vendor and, thus, to reduce the risk of tying the success of the Company's leasing operations to the continuation of a relationship with one (or a small group) of vendors. The Company has currently established programs with ten manufacturers or distributors. Two of such manufacturers (Minolta Corporation and Lucent Technologies) accounted for 21% and 8%, respectively, of the equipment (by cost) leased by the Company from the beginning of operations through December 31, 1997 (18% and 8%, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 1997).

Focus on Leasing to Small Businesses. The Company focuses its marketing programs and resources on lease programs for small business end-users (generally those with 500 or fewer employees). The Company has acquired and developed credit evaluation and scoring systems (based upon credit evaluation services provided by Dun & Bradstreet) which it believes significantly increases its ability to evaluate the credit risk in dealing with small business end-users (see "Business -- Equipment Leasing -- Small Ticket Leasing"). The Company also believes that small business end-users, while sensitive to the size of a monthly lease payment, are less sensitive than large end-users to the interest rate structure of a lease, allowing the Company to increase its yield by lengthening lease terms to lower monthly rent. The Company currently offers lease terms from one to five years to meet the needs of its end-users and will consider other lease terms in appropriate circumstances.

Focus on Full-Payout Leases. The Company seeks to reduce the financial risk associated with the lease transactions it originates through the use of full-payout leases. A "full-payout lease" is a lease under which the non-cancelable rental payments due during the initial lease term are at least sufficient to recover the purchase price of the equipment under the lease, related acquisition fees and, typically, a minimum return on the Company's invested capital. To the extent possible, the Company seeks to substantially increase this return through amounts received upon remarketing the equipment or through continued leasing of the equipment after expiration of the initial lease term.

Focus on Providing Service. The Company provides service and support to its small business customers and vendors by seeking to minimize the time required to respond to customer applications for lease financing and by providing sales training programs to its vendors and their sales staff (which it customizes to their particular needs) regarding the use of lease financing for marketing purposes to increase a vendor's equipment sales and market share. The Company has acquired and developed proprietary management systems to assist it in providing lease quotes and application decisions to its customers, generally within 4 hours after receipt of a request.

Focus on Lease Sales. The Company sells virtually all of its leases. In fiscal 1997, the Company effected four sales in which it sold discrete pools of leases and the equipment underlying the leases (including the residual interest) to Intermediate Purchasers which then sold interests in the leases to an institutional buyer.

52

In the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company entered into an arrangement with an Intermediate Purchaser and a group of institutional buyers to periodically sell leases originated by the Company, to a maximum of $50.0 million of leases. The Company has sold $14.4 million of leases under this arrangement. See "Business -- Sources of Funds -- Forward Sale Commitment." To date, the Company has retained the servicing rights on the leases it sells. The Company anticipates that in the future it will enter into sale arrangements similar to that concluded in the first quarter of fiscal 1998; however, the Company may retain the residual interest in the equipment in the future. Selling the leases allows the Company to recover a significant amount of its investment in the leased equipment, freeing capital for further leasing activity. See "Risk Factors -- Equipment Leasing Considerations -- Sale of Leases."

Small Ticket Leasing

The Company offers full-payout leases with options, exercisable by the lessee at the end of the lease term, either to purchase the equipment at fair market value, to purchase the equipment for a fixed price negotiated at the time the lease is signed, or to continue as a lessee on a month-to-month basis. The Company's leases have a provision which requires the lessee to make all lease payments under all circumstances. The leases are also net leases, requiring the lessee to pay (in addition to rent) any other expenses associated with the use of equipment, such as maintenance, casualty and liability insurance, sales or use taxes and personal property taxes. The Company offers lease terms from one to five years and will consider other lease terms in appropriate circumstances.

The equipment that the Company presently purchases for lease includes document processing and storage equipment, telecommunications systems, computer equipment, small manufacturing machines and office furniture. The table below sets forth the distribution of equipment purchased by the Company, by principal product type and percentage of dollar volume of equipment purchased, during the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 and fiscal years 1997 and 1996.

Equipment Volume by Product Type
(% by dollar volume of equipment purchased)

                                               Quarter Ended      Year Ended September
                                               December 31,               30,
                                            -------------------   -------------------
                                              1997       1996       1997       1996
                                            --------   --------   --------   --------
Document processing and storage .........       48%        68%        49%        73%
Telecommunications ......................       38%        19%        37%        21%
Computer systems ........................       10%        10%         8%         6%
Other ...................................        4%         3%         6%        --
                                                --         --         --         --
                                               100%       100%       100%       100%
                                               ===        ===        ===        ===

The Company has developed a credit evaluation system, known as the "Small Business Credit Scoring System," which is intended to respond to the inability of small businesses to supply standardized financial information for credit analysis (for example, audited financial statements). The system operates by assigning point amounts, or "scores," to various factors (such as business longevity, type of business, payment history, bank account balances and credit ratings) deemed relevant by the Company in determining whether an end-user is a creditworthy lessee. The scoring system declines approval of end-users with low scores, approves end-users with high scores and refers mid-range scores to credit analysts for further consideration and decision. Information is obtained from the end-user, from reports by standard credit reporting firms and from reports provided by consumer credit bureaus. The credit scoring system is also based upon industry data and the past experience of the Company and will be reviewed and modified as required in response to actual portfolio performance. Financial statements may be required for larger transactions (in the $30,000 to $100,000 range) as a complement to the scoring system.

The Company oversees its leasing program through lease administration and management systems which control invoicing, collection, sales and property taxes and financial and other reporting to management (including reports regarding regular payments, payment shortages, advance payments, security deposits,

53

insurance payments and late or finance charges). The Company has supplemented the system with an internal audit department (which evaluates the safeguarding of assets, reliability of financial information and compliance with the Company's credit policies) and a collection department.

The Company is marketing its leasing services primarily through the establishment of vendor programs. See "Business -- Equipment Leasing -- Strategy -- Focus on Vendor Programs." The Company has currently entered into vendor program relationships with eight vendors: Minolta Corporation (copiers), Celsis Incorporated (microbial testing systems), American Marbacom Communications (Teleco) (telephone systems), CSi (test equipment), Telrad Communications (telephone systems), ATI Communications (telephone systems), the National Association of College Stores (affinity program) and Millipore Corp. (test equipment). In addition, Lucent Technologies (telecommunications equipment) and Softmart (computer software) have designated the Company as an authorized lessor for their dealer distribution channels. Under a typical vendor program, the Company will work with the vendor and the lessee to structure the lease, finance the lease, purchase the related equipment and administer the lease, including providing all billing and collection services (except for private-label leasing, referred to below). At the end of the initial lease term, the Company and the vendor will typically coordinate the re-marketing of the equipment. The Company seeks to establish vendor relationships by (i) obtaining manufacturers' endorsements of the Company's finance programs, (ii) offering inventory financing credit lines to a manufacturer's vendors, (iii) developing customized sales training programs to offer to vendors and (iv) assisting the manufacturers and their vendors in establishing a sales package including the lease financing provided by the Company.

The Company also competes by establishing private-label leasing programs with its vendors. Private-label leasing involves the lease by a vendor of its own equipment on a lease form bearing the vendor's name as lessor (but otherwise identical to the Company's lease form), the sale of the lease and equipment to the Company, and the provision of basic administrative services by the vendor (such as billing and collecting rent). The Company will provide assistance, particularized rental payment structures and other customized lease terms, remarketing, customized invoicing and management information reports. The Company also seeks to develop programs marketing directly to end-user groups, primarily through small business affinity groups or associations, participations in trade shows and conventions, and media advertising.

Although there can be no assurance, it is anticipated that in the future the Company may retain the residual interest in leases sold by it and derive a significant portion of its leasing profits from residuals. Currently, repayment of notes received by the Company from Intermediate Purchasers of the Company's equipment leases depends, to a significant extent, on realization of residuals. See "Risk Factors -- Equipment Leasing Considerations -- Residuals" and "-- Sale of Leases," see also "Business -- Equipment Leasing -- Revenue Recognition and Lease Accounting." The Company anticipates that residuals will principally involve the original end-users; however, equipment not sold or re-leased to end-users will be disposed of in the secondary market. While residual realization is generally higher with original end-users than in the secondary market, the secondary market (essentially, networks of distributors and dealers in various equipment categories) is well developed in the product categories the Company currently pursues and transactions in these product categories have historically resulted in residual recoveries, on average, equal to the book value of the equipment. Equipment reacquired by the Company prior to lease termination (through lease default or otherwise) will be sold in the secondary market.

Revenue Recognition and Lease Accounting

General. The manner in which lease finance transactions are characterized and reported for accounting purposes has a major impact upon the Company's reported revenue, net earnings and the resulting financial measures. Lease accounting methods significant to the Company's leasing operations are discussed below.

Direct Financing Leases. The Company classifies its lease transactions, as required by the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13, Accounting for Leases ("FASB No. 13") as direct financing leases (as distinguished from sales-type or operating leases). Direct financing leases transfer substantially all benefits and risks of equipment ownership to the customer. A lease is a direct financing lease if the creditworthiness of the customer and the collectibility of lease payments are reasonably certain and it meets one of the following criteria: (i) the lease transfers ownership of the equipment to the customer by the end of the lease term; (ii) the

54

lease contains a bargain purchase option; (iii) the lease term at inception is at least 75% of the estimated economic life of the leased equipment; or (iv) the present value of the minimum lease payments is at least 90% of the fair market value of the leased equipment at inception of the lease. The Company's net investment in direct financing leases consists of the sum of the total future minimum lease payments receivable and the estimated unguaranteed residual value of leased equipment, less unearned income. Unearned lease income, which is recognized as revenue over the term of the lease by the effective interest method, represents the excess of the total future minimum lease payments plus the estimated unguaranteed residual value expected to be realized at the end of the lease term over the cost of the related equipment. Initial direct costs incurred in consummating a lease are capitalized as part of the investment in direct finance leases and amortized over the lease term as a reduction in the yield.

Residual Values. Unguaranteed residual value represents the estimated amount to be received at lease termination from lease extensions or disposition of the leased equipment financed under direct financing leases. The estimates are based upon available industry data and senior management's prior experience with respect to comparable equipment. The residual values are recorded as investment in direct financing leases, on a net present value basis. The estimated residual values will vary, both in amount and as a percentage of the original equipment cost depending upon several factors including the equipment type, market conditions and the term of the lease. Amounts to be realized at lease termination depend on the fair market value of the related equipment and may vary from the recorded estimate. Residual values are reviewed periodically to determine if the equipment's fair market value is below its recorded value. Any required changes are recorded in accordance with FASB No. 13. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, residual values can only be adjusted downward.

Sales of Leases. The Company sells a large percentage of the leases it originates (including residual values) through indirect securitization transactions and other structured finance techniques. In a securitization transaction, the Company sells and transfers a pool of leases to a bankruptcy remote Intermediate Purchaser unaffiliated with the Company. Typically, the Intermediate Purchaser will have no material assets apart from the leases sold to it. The Intermediate Purchaser in turn simultaneously sells and transfers its interest in the leases (excluding the residual value) to a financial institution in return for cash equal to a percentage of the aggregate present value of the finance lease receivables being sold. The consideration paid to the Company for the lease receivables and the residuals sold to the Intermediate Purchaser consists of the cash advanced by the financial institution and an interest bearing note from the Intermediate Purchaser.

Gains on the sale of leasing portfolios are recorded at the date of sale in the amount by which the sales price exceeds the book value of the underlying leases. Subsequent to a sale, the Company has no remaining interest in the pool of leases or equipment except (i) a security interest is retained in the pool when a note is received as part of the sale proceeds and (ii) under certain circumstances, the Company is obligated to replace non-performing leases in the pool. See "Risk Factors -- Equipment Leasing Considerations -- Sale of Leases" and "-- Potential Replacement of Leases" and "-- Residuals."

The Company maintains an allowance for possible losses in connection with payments due under lease contracts held in the Company's portfolio and its retained interest in leases securitized or sold. The allowance is determined by management's estimate of future uncollectible lease contracts based on the Company's historical loss experience, an analysis of delinquencies, economic conditions and trends and management's expectations of future trends, industry statistics and lease portfolio (including leases under the Company's management) characteristics and assumptions of future losses. The Company's policy is to charge off to the allowance those lease contracts which are delinquent for which management has determined in the probability of collection to be remote. Recoveries on leases previously charged off are restored to the allowance. For the quarter ended December 31, 1997, the Company recorded a provision for possible losses of $250,000 to reflect the increase in the number of its lease originations. For the year ended September 30, 1997, it recorded a provision for possible losses of $253,000. At December 31, 1997 the allowance for possible lease losses was $492,000 or approximately 1% of lease receivables under management.

To the extent that the Company determines to retain residuals for its own account, the Company's gain on sale from any pool of leases so sold may be materially reduced, although the Company's revenues in subsequent years from realization of residuals may be increased. For a discussion of certain risks relating to realization of residuals, see "Risk Factors -- Equipment Leasing Considerations -- Residuals."

55

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, the Company sold leases on a servicing retained basis, with a book value of approximately $30.2 million to Intermediate Purchasers in return for cash of $20.6 million and notes with a total face value of $13.3 million resulting in a gain of $3.7 million. During that fiscal year, $8.5 million of principal payments were made on these notes. In the first quarter of fiscal 1998 the Company sold leases with a book value of approximately $14.4 million to an Intermediate Purchaser in return for cash of $12.3 million and a note with a face value of $3.9 million.

The Company accounts for the sale and servicing of lease equipment in accordance with SFAS No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." See Note 2, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In calculating the gains on sale to Intermediate Purchasers noted above, the Company assumed that the cash flows on the underlying leases sold were discounted at rates ranging from 7.78% to 9.0% per annum. See "Risk Factors -- Equipment Leasing Considerations -- Sale of Leases" and "-- Potential Replacement of Leases."

Partnership Management

The Company acts as the general partner and manager of five public limited partnerships formed between 1986 and 1990 with total assets at December 31, 1997 of $36.1 million, including $18.5 million (book value) of equipment with an original cost of $49.8 million. The partnerships primarily lease computers and related peripheral equipment to investment grade, middle market, and capital intensive companies. The principal stated objective of each of the limited partnerships is to generate leasing revenues for distribution to the investors in the partnerships.

For its services as general partner, the Company receives management fees, an interest in partnership cash distributions and a reimbursement of specified expenses related to administration of the partnerships (including costs of non-executive personnel, legal, accounting and third-party contractor fees and costs, and costs of equipment used in a partnership's behalf). Management fees range from 3% to 6% of gross rents except that, if leases are full payout leases, management fees range from 1% to 3% of gross rents. In four of the partnerships, management fees are subordinated to the receipt by limited partners of a cumulative annual cash distribution of 11% (two partnerships) or 12% (two partnerships) of the limited partners' aggregate investment. The Company's interest, as general partner, in cash distributions from the partnerships is 3.5% (one partnership) and 1% (four partnerships).

Lease Finance Placement and Advisory Business

The Company also operates a lease finance placement and advisory business which focuses on two related types of leasing transactions: the origination of leases by others and the identification of third-party lease funding sources. Lease transactions generated by the division are typically full payout leases. The Company generally receives between 1% and 4% of the equipment cost at the time the transaction is closed for its services in arranging a transaction. In some of the transactions it generates, the Company also enters into a remarketing agreement that entitles it to fees upon residual sale. Lease finance placement and advisory services generated revenues of $252,000 and $300,000 during the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, and $657,000 and $650,000 during fiscal years 1997 and 1996, respectively.

Energy Operations

General

The Company produces natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil from locations principally in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. At December 31, 1997, the Company had (either directly or through partnerships and joint ventures managed by it) interests in 1,264 wells (including royalty or overriding interests with respect to 182 wells), of which the Company operates 908 wells, 590 miles of natural gas pipelines and 91,000 acres (net) of mineral rights. Natural gas produced from wells operated by the Company is collected in gas gathering pipeline systems owned by partnerships managed by the Company (and in which the Company also has an interest) and by systems directly owned by the Company, and is sold to a number of customers, such as gas brokers and local utilities, under a variety of contractual arrangements. Oil produced from wells operated by the Company is sold at the well site to regional oil refining companies at the prevailing spot price for

56

Appalachian crude oil. From time to time, the Company receives indications of interest in the acquisition of its energy operations, and continually pursues the increase of its reserve base through selective acquisition of producing properties and other assets. Within the past nine months, the Company has acquired the assets of two small energy companies. For further information, see Note 11 to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Well Operations

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 1997 regarding productive oil and gas wells in which the Company has a working interest:

Number of Productive

                             Wells
                      --------------------
                       Gross(1)     Net(1)
                      ----------   -------
Oil Wells .........        161        62
Gas Wells .........        921       612
                           ---       ---
                         1,082       674
                         =====       ===

------------

(1) Includes the Company's equity interest in wells owned by 64 partnerships and joint ventures. Does not include royalty or overriding interests with respect to 182 wells held by the Company.

The following table sets forth net quantities of oil and natural gas produced, average sales prices, and average production (lifting) costs per equivalent unit of production, for the periods indicated, including the Company's equity interests in the production of 64 partnerships and joint ventures, for the periods indicated.

                                                                              Average
                                                                              Lifting
                             Production             Average Sales Price       Cost per
                     --------------------------   -----------------------    Equivalent
 Fiscal Period(1)     Oil(bbls)      Gas(mcf)       per bbl      per mcf       mcf(2)
------------------   -----------   ------------   -----------   ---------   -----------
       1998             11,450        386,171       $ 17.52       $ 2.63      $ 1.14
       1997             35,811      1,227,887       $ 19.68       $ 2.59      $ 1.13
       1996             33,862      1,165,477       $ 18.53       $ 2.34      $ 1.04
       1995             36,420      1,198,245       $ 16.74       $ 2.31      $ 1.06


(1) All periods are fiscal years, except that 1998 is for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.
(2) Oil production is converted to mcf equivalents at the rate of six mcf per barrel.

Neither the Company nor the partnerships and joint ventures it manages are obligated to provide any fixed quantities of oil or gas in the future under existing contracts.

Exploration and Development

The following table sets forth information with respect to the number of wells completed in Ohio and New York (the only areas in which Company drilling activities occurred) at any time during the first quarter of fiscal year 1998 and fiscal years 1997, 1996, and 1995, regardless of when drilling was initiated.

                          Exploratory Wells                       Development Wells
                  ---------------------------------   -----------------------------------------
                    Productive            Dry             Productive                Dry
     Fiscal       ---------------   ---------------   -------------------   -------------------
   Period(1)       Gross     Net     Gross     Net     Gross       Net       Gross       Net
---------------   -------   -----   -------   -----   -------   ---------   -------   ---------
      1998          --       --       --       --       --         --          --         --
      1997          1.0      .50      --       --       --         --          --         --
      1996          3.0      .52      1.0      .29      2.0        1.50        --         --
      1995          3.0      .36      2.0      .36      1.0         .87        2.0        1.75


(1) All periods are fiscal years, except that 1998 is for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997.

All drilling has been on acreage held by the Company. The Company does not own its own drilling equipment; rather, it acts as a general contractor for well operations and subcontracts drilling and certain other work to third parties.

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Oil and Gas Reserve Information

An evaluation of the Company's estimated proved developed oil and gas reserves as of September 30, 1997, was verified by E.E. Templeton & Associates, Inc., an independent petroleum engineering firm. Such study showed, subject to the qualifications and reservations therein set forth, reserves of 15.2 million mcf of gas and 358,000 barrels of oil. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table sets forth information with respect to the Company's developed and undeveloped oil and gas acreage as of December 31, 1997. The information in this table includes the Company's equity interest in acreage owned by 64 partnerships and joint ventures.

                           Developed Acreage      Undeveloped Acreage
                         ---------------------   ---------------------
                           Gross        Net        Gross        Net
                         ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Arkansas .............      2,560        403          --          --
Kansas ...............        160         20          --          --
Louisiana ............      1,819        206          --          --
Mississippi ..........         40          3          --          --
New York .............     30,065     21,025      14,498      13,457
Ohio .................     61,224     36,652      18,489      17,450
Oklahoma .............      4,243        635          --          --
Pennsylvania .........      2,271      1,679          --          --
Texas ................      4,520        209          --          --
                           ------     ------      ------      ------
                          106,902     60,832      32,987      30,907
                          =======     ======      ======      ======

The terms of the oil and gas leases held by the Company for its own account and by its managed partnerships vary, depending upon the location of the leased premises and the minimum remaining terms of undeveloped leases, from less than one year to five years. Rentals of approximately $27,600 in fiscal 1997 and $16,400 for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 were paid to maintain leases on such acreage in force.

The Company believes that the partnership, joint venture and Company properties have satisfactory title. The developed oil and gas properties are subject to customary royalty interests generally contracted for in connection with the acquisition of the properties, burdens incident to operating agreements, current taxes and easements and restrictions (collectively, "Burdens"). Presently, the partnerships, joint ventures and the Company are current with respect to all such Burdens.

At December 31, 1997, the Company had no individual interests in any oil and gas property that accounted for more than 10% of the Company's proved developed oil and gas reserves, including the Company's interest in reserves owned by 64 partnerships and joint ventures.

Pipeline Operation

The Company operates, on behalf of three limited partnerships of which it is both a general and limited partner (in which it owns 20%, 46% and 25% interests), and for its own account, various gas gathering pipeline systems totaling approximately 590 miles in length. The pipeline systems are located in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.

Well Services

The Company provides a variety of well services to wells of which it is the operator and to wells operated by independent third party operators. These services include well operations, petroleum engineering, well maintenance and well workover and are provided at rates in conformity with general industry standards.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

The Company contracts for drilling rigs and purchases tubular goods necessary for the drilling and completion of wells from a substantial number of drillers and suppliers, none of which supplies a significant portion of the Company's annual needs. During fiscal 1997, and 1996, the Company faced no shortage of such goods and services. The duration of the current supply and demand situation cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty due to numerous factors affecting the oil and gas industry, including selling prices, demand for oil and gas, and governmental regulations.

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Major Customers

The Company's natural gas and oil is sold to various purchasers. In fiscal 1998 through January 31, 1998, gas and oil sales to three purchasers accounted for 36%, 14% and 11%, respectively, of the Company's total production revenues. For the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, gas sales to two purchasers accounted for 29% and 12%, and 29% and 13%, respectively, of the Company's total production revenues. Gas sales to one purchaser individually accounted for approximately 15% of total revenues from energy production for fiscal 1995.

Competition

The oil and gas business is intensely competitive in all of its aspects. The oil and gas industry also competes with other industries in supplying the energy and fuel requirements of industrial, commercial and individual customers. Domestic oil and gas sales are also subject to competition from foreign sources. Moreover, competition is intense for the acquisition of leases considered favorable for the development of oil and gas in commercial quantities. The Company's competitors include other independent oil and gas companies, individual proprietors and partnerships. Many of these entities possess greater financial resources than the Company. While it is impossible for the Company to accurately determine its comparative industry position with respect to its provision of products and services, the Company does not consider its oil and gas operations to be a significant factor in the industry.

Markets

The availability of a ready market for oil and gas produced by the Company, and the price obtained therefor, will depend upon numerous factors beyond the Company's control including the extent of domestic production, import of foreign natural gas and/or oil, political instability in oil and gas producing countries and regions, market demands, the effect of federal regulation on the sale of natural gas and/or oil in interstate commerce, other governmental regulation of the production and transportation of natural gas and/or oil and the proximity, availability and capacity of pipelines and other required facilities. Currently, the supply of both crude oil and natural gas is more than sufficient to meet projected demand in the United States. These conditions have had, and may continue to have, a negative impact on the Company through depressed prices for its oil and gas reserves.

Governmental Regulation

The exploration, production and sale of oil and natural gas are subject to numerous state and federal laws and regulations. Compliance with the laws and regulations affecting the oil and gas industry generally increases the Company's costs of doing business in, and the profitability of its energy operations. Inasmuch as such regulations are frequently changing, the Company is unable to predict the future cost or impact of complying with such regulations. The Company is not aware of any pending or threatened matter involving a claim that it has violated environmental regulations which would have a material effect on its operations or financial position.

Sources of Funds

Historically, the Company has relied upon internally generated funds to finance its growth. During fiscal 1997, the Company augmented its internally generated funds by a $5.0 million credit facility (increased to $20.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1998) for its residential mortgage lending operations and a $5.0 million credit facility for oil and gas asset acquisitions and completed two capital markets transactions: a public offering of its Common Stock resulting in $19.5 million in net proceeds to the Company, and a private placement of $115.0 million of the Senior Notes due 2004 to a small group of institutional investors, resulting in $109.7 million of net proceeds to the Company. In addition, during fiscal 1997 the Company entered into an initial $20.0 million credit facility for its equipment leasing operations. In the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company entered into a $50.0 million forward sales commitment and an additional $15.0 million warehouse credit facility for its residential mortgage lending operations. See Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements. See also "Business -- Recent Developments."

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Senior Notes. The Senior Notes are unsecured general obligations of the Company, payable interest only until maturity on August 1, 2004. The Senior Notes are not subject to mandatory redemption except upon a change in control of the Company, as defined in the indenture (the "Indenture") pursuant to which the Senior Notes were issued, when the Noteholders have the right to require the Company to redeem the Senior Notes at 101% of principal amount plus accrued interest. No sinking fund has been established for the Senior Notes. At the Company's option, the Senior Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part on or after August 1, 2002 at a price of 106% of principal amount (through July 31, 2003) and 103% of principal amount (through July 31, 2004), plus accrued interest to the date of redemption. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, (i) require the Company to maintain certain levels of net worth (generally, an amount equal to $50 million plus a cumulative 25% of the Company's consolidated net income) and liquid assets (generally, an amount equal to 100% of required interest payments for the next succeeding interest payment date); and (ii) limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to (a) incur indebtedness (not including secured indebtedness used to acquire or refinance the acquisition of loans, equipment leases or other assets), (b) pay dividends or make other distributions in excess of 25% of aggregate consolidated net income (offset by 100% of any deficit) on a cumulative basis,
(c) engage in certain transactions with affiliates, (d) dispose of certain subsidiaries, (e) create liens and guarantees with respect to pari passu or junior indebtedness and (f) enter into any arrangement that would impose restrictions on the ability of subsidiaries to make dividend and other payments to the Company. The Indenture also restricts the Company's ability to merge, consolidate or sell all or substantially all of its assets and prohibits the Company from incurring additional indebtedness if the Company's "leverage ratio" exceeds 2.0 to 1.0. As defined by the Indenture, the leverage ratio is the ratio of all indebtedness (excluding debt used to acquire assets, obligations of the Company to repurchase loans or other financial assets sold by the Company, guarantees of either of the foregoing, non-recourse debt and certain securities issued by securitization entities, as defined in the Indenture), to the consolidated net worth of the Company. The Indenture also prohibits the Company from incurring pari passu or junior indebtedness with a maturity date prior to that of the Senior Notes.

Lease Financing Credit Facility. FLI maintains a $20.0 million revolving credit facility with term loan availability with CoreStates Bank and First Union Bank for its equipment leasing operations. The facility has, in addition to customary covenants, the following principal terms: (i) revolving credit loans bear interest at adjusted LIBOR rate plus 175 basis points, while term loans bear interest at adjusted LIBOR plus 225 basis points; (ii) the loans are secured by a first lien on the equipment leases being financed (and on the underlying equipment), a guaranty by the Company and a pledge of the capital stock of FLI and Resource Leasing, Inc. (the direct parent of FLI and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company); (iii) revolving credit loans may be converted to term loans (with terms of 18, 24, or 36 months), provided that term loans must be in increments of $2.0 million and no more than five term loans may be outstanding at any time; (iv) adjustable rate term loans may, at the option of FLI, be converted into fixed rate term loans at then quoted rates; (v) FLI will be required to maintain a debt (excluding non-recourse debt) to "worth" ratio of 4.5 to 1.0, a minimum tangible net worth equal to $5.0 million plus 75% of FLI's net income, and specified ratios of cash flow to the sum of debt service plus 25% of outstanding obligations under the revolving line of credit plus mandatory principal payments; and (vi) the Company will be required to maintain minimum stockholders' equity of $40.0 million. The facility expires on May 29, 1998 but may be renewed annually by the lenders. The Company is currently negotiating with the lenders for a renewal of the facility and believes that the facility will be renewed on similar terms. There can, however, be no assurance that the facility will be renewed or that the renewal terms will be similar to the existing terms. See "Risk Factors -- General -- Ability to Generate Funding for Growth." During fiscal 1997, the maximum borrowing by the Company under this facility was $7.1 million, all of which was repaid prior to fiscal year end. As of December 31, 1997 there were no borrowings under this line.

Forward Sale Commitment. In December 1997, the Company, through FLI, entered into an arrangement (the "Commitment") with SW Leasing Portfolio IV, Inc. ("SW"), as the Intermediate Purchaser, and First Union National Bank ("First Union") and Variable Funding Capital Corporation ("VFCC"), as the ultimate investors, pursuant to which (1) SW will purchase equipment leases (meeting specific eligibility requirements) and the underlying equipment from FLI for a purchase price equal to the sum of the present value of scheduled payments (the "Discounted Contract Balance") as of the date of sale and the residual value of the equipment (the "Residual Value"), (2) First Union and VFCC will purchase, for a price equal to the product of .88

60

multiplied by the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances on the date of sale, up to $50.0 million of equipment leases from SW from time to time on or before December 17, 1998 and (3) FLI acts as servicing agent for the equipment leases purchased by First Union and VFCC from SW. SW uses the cash received by it from First Union and VFCC to pay a portion of the purchase price of the leases and pays the balance with a promissory note in an original principal amount equal to the aggregate Residual Value and the non-advanced portion of the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances. Lease collections in excess of fees associated with the leases and a return to First Union and VFCC (equivalent to LIBOR, the First Union prime rate, or the federal funds rate plus 1%, depending on the circumstances) may be reinvested in eligible leases (unless the capital limit (the product of the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances multiplied by .88) has been exceeded, in which event the amount of such excess must be paid to First Union and VFCC) or paid to SW in order to pay down the promissory note to FLI. Under the Commitment, FLI is obligated to provide a substitute equipment lease to First Union and VFCC in the event a lease is terminated or prepaid in full prior to its scheduled expiration date and the prepayment amount is less than the Discounted Contract Balance on the date of prepayment plus any outstanding servicer advances. In addition, SW and FLI are obligated to accept re-transfer of, or provide a substitute lease for, any lease which does not meet the eligibility requirements. The Commitment is subject to early termination under certain circumstances, including (i) if the ratio of the average Discounted Contract Balances (for each of the previous three months) for all leases delinquent in payments by 60 days or more to the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances (for each of the previous three months) for all non-delinquent leases exceeds 3% or (ii) if the ratio of the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances (for each of the preceding six months) for all defaulted leases (i.e., leases which the Company has determined are not collectible or subject to repossession or which are delinquent in payments by 120 days or more) to the aggregate Discounted Contract Balances (for each of the preceding six months) for all non-defaulted leases exceeds 2.75%. In the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company sold to SW equipment leases with an aggregate book value of $14.4 million in return for cash of $12.3 million and a promissory note for $3.9 million.

Residential Mortgage Loan Credit Facilities. FMF maintains a $20.0 million credit facility with CoreStates Bank, bearing interest at either (i) the CoreStates prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 250 basis points, or
(iii) an adjusted LIBOR plus 150 basis points, with the rate to be elected by FMF, and with the right in FMF to elect different rate formulas for separate draws under the credit facility. The credit facility will be secured by a first lien interest in the loans being financed by facility draws. Under the facility, FMF is required to maintain a minimum tangible net worth of $1.0 million, and a debt to tangible net worth ratio of 5.0 to 1.0 (where debt includes the unused portion of any financing commitment but excludes subordinated debt). The facility expires on September 22, 1998 unless renewed by the parties. As of December 31, 1997, the Company had no borrowings under this facility.

FMF has also established a $15.0 million warehouse credit facility with Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital, Inc., bearing interest at LIBOR or, if unavailable, the interbank eurodollars market rate plus 90 basis points. The facility is secured by a first lien interest in the loans being financed by facility draws. Under the credit facility, FMF is required to maintain tangible net worth (capital and subordinated debt minus advances to affiliates and intangible assets representing start up costs in excess of $1.0 million), and a ratio of total indebtedness to tangible net worth of 10.0 to 1.0. The facility expires on October 16, 1998. There were $4.4 million of borrowings outstanding under this facility at December 31, 1997.

Oil and Gas Credit Facility. In October 1997, the Company obtained a $5.0 million credit facility from KeyBank for purposes of acquiring oil and gas assets. The credit facility permits draws based on a percentage of reserves of oil and gas properties pledged as security for the facility. Draws under the facility bear interest at KeyBank's prime rate plus 25 basis points. The facility requires the Company to maintain a tangible net worth in excess of $31.0 million, a 2.0 to 1.0 ratio of current assets to current liabilities, a 1.5 to 1.0 ratio of cash flow to maturities of long-term debt coming due within the calculation period and a ratio of adjusted debt to tangible net worth of not more than 2.0 to 1.0. The facility terminates on June 30, 1999. As of December 31, 1997, there were no borrowings outstanding under this line.

Employees

As of December 31, 1997, the Company employed 226 persons, including 8 in general corporate, 112 in real estate finance, 80 in equipment leasing and 26 in energy.

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Properties

The Company's executive office is located in Philadelphia, and is leased under an agreement providing for rents of $65,000 per year through May 2000. The Company's small ticket equipment leasing and residential mortgage loan headquarters are located in Ambler, Pennsylvania, and are leased by the Company under agreements providing for rents of $355,000 per year (including space leased beginning July 1, 1997). The agreements terminate on June 30, 1998 and June 30, 2007. The Company leases space for management operations with respect to its five public leasing partnerships in Philadelphia for $87,000 per year. That lease expires on January 24, 2003. The Company owns a 9,600 square foot office building and related land in Akron, Ohio, housing its energy and accounting operations. The Company also maintains two energy field offices in Ohio and New York, as month to month tenancies, for which aggregate rent for fiscal 1997 was $24,000. The Company also maintains a brokerage office in California for which the rent is $25,000 per year through July 1999. Aggregate rent for all of the Company's offices was $238,600 for fiscal 1997.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to various routine legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its business. Management believes that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the Company.

Recent Developments

Commercial Loan Purchase. On March 13, 1998, the Company and RAIT jointly purchased the Loan, in the original principal amount of $80.0 million (plus accrued fees, restructuring charges, interest and costs), for a purchase price of $85.5 million. The Company contributed $75.5 million of the purchase price and RAIT contributed $10.0 million. The rights and interests of the Company and RAIT with respect to the Loan are set forth in a Participation Agreement, the terms of which are described below. The Company holds legal title to the Loan. There can be no assurance that the Company will realize the full outstanding amount of the Loan. See "Business -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Accounting for Discounted Loans."

The Loan is secured by a first priority mortgage lien on an office building known as the "Evening Star Building" located at 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. (the "Property"). The Property has been valued by an independent valuation firm at not less than $90.0 million. Such valuation is only an estimate of value and should not be relied upon as a precise measure of market value. As part of the purchase of its interest in the Loan, the Company received an assignment of all of the seller's rights against the borrower under the Loan (the "Bankruptcy Rights") pursuant to the bankruptcy plan of reorganization (the "Plan") governing the Property. The Bankruptcy Rights include the right to appoint a liquidating agent to manage, control and take possession of the Property; the right to receive all net cash flow from the Property, the right to approve leases and all other material contracts related to the Property; and the right, but not the obligation, to cause title to the Property to be transferred on or before June 30, 1998.

In addition to paying its portion of the purchase price of the Loan, the Company incurred closing costs of approximately $3.0 million, comprised of certain expenses that the Plan required the holder of the Loan to pay. Approximately $1.5 million of these closing costs was paid into an escrow account. In the event title is transferred, the $1.5 million will be delivered to the borrower pursuant to the Plan.

Financing for the Company's purchase of its interest in the Loan was provided by a loan, in the principal amount of $55.0 million, from Merrill Lynch Capital Mortgage Inc. (the "Senior Financing"). The Senior Financing bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.5% until September 9, 1998, and at LIBOR plus 4.0% from September 10, 1998 until July 1, 1999, when the Senior Financing matures. The Company is currently seeking 10-year, fixed rate financing to replace the Senior Financing, and anticipates (although there can be no assurance) closing on such financing before September 10, 1998. The Company incurred fees and expenses of approximately $950,000 in connection with the Senior Financing.

RAIT's participation interest in the Loan entitles it to receive (i) distributions from the monthly net cash flow of the Property, after monthly debt service payments on the Senior Financing, in an amount sufficient to pay interest on its $10.0 million investment at 10% per annum and (ii) the first $10.0 million of principal payments from the Loan after the prior repayment of the Senior Financing. In addition, RAIT received advance interest of approximately $510,000.

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Commercial Mortgage Loan Credit Facility. In March 1998, the Company, through certain operating subsidiaries, established an $18.0 million revolving credit facility with Jefferson Bank for its commercial mortgage loan operations. The credit facility bears interest at the prime rate reported in the Wall Street Journal plus .75%, and is secured by the borrowers' interests in certain commercial loans and by a pledge of their outstanding capital stock. In addition, repayment of the credit facility is guaranteed by the Company. The facility expires on April 1, 1999. No borrowings have been made under this facility to date. See "Management -- Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions."

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MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

The following sets forth certain information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company:

                 Name                    Age                  Position with the Company
-------------------------------------   -----   -----------------------------------------------------
Edward E. Cohen(1) ..................    59     Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Chief
                                                 Executive Officer and Director
Daniel G. Cohen(2) ..................    28     Executive Vice President and Director
Scott F. Schaeffer(1) ...............    35     Executive Vice President and Director
Steven J. Kessler ...................    55     Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Freddie M. Kotek ....................    42     Senior Vice President
Michael L. Staines(2) ...............    48     Senior Vice President, Secretary and Director
Nancy J. McGurk .....................    42     Vice President-Finance and Treasurer
Carlos C. Campbell(1) ...............    59     Director
Andrew M. Lubin(3) ..................    50     Director
Alan D. Schreiber, M.D.(3) ..........    55     Director
John S. White(2) ....................    56     Director


(1) Term as director expires in 1999.

(2) Term as director expires in 2000.

(3) Term as director expires in 1998.

Edward E. Cohen has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since 1990, its Chief Executive Officer and a director since 1988 and its President since 1995. He is Chairman of the Board of Directors and a director of BCMI, a real estate construction and management company. See "Management - Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions." Since 1981, Mr. Cohen has been Chairman of the Executive Committee and a director of JeffBanks, Inc. (a bank holding company with total assets of approximately $1.2 billion). From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Cohen was affiliated with Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., most recently in an of counsel capacity. See "Legal Matters." From 1969 through 1989, Mr. Cohen was Chairman of the Board or Chairman of the Executive Committee of State National Bank of Maryland (now First Union Bank of Maryland) and/or its holding company. Mr. Cohen is the father of Daniel G. Cohen.

Daniel G. Cohen has been an Executive Vice President and Director of the Company since July, 1997. Prior thereto, since 1995, Mr. Cohen had been a Senior Vice President of the Company. Mr. Cohen is also Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of FMF, the residential mortgage loan origination subsidiary of the Company. Prior to joining the Company in November 1995, Mr. Cohen was principally engaged in graduate studies. Mr. Cohen is the son of Edward E. Cohen.

Scott F. Schaeffer has been an Executive Vice President and Director of the Company since July, 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Schaeffer had been, since 1995, a Senior Vice President of the Company. Mr. Schaeffer has been President of Resource Properties, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) since 1992.

Steven J. Kessler has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since August 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Kessler was Vice President (Finance and Acquisitions) at Kravco Company (a national shopping center developer and operator) from March 1994 until joining the Company. From 1983 through March of 1994, he was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Strouse Greenberg & Co., Inc., a regional full service real estate company, and Vice President (Finance) and Chief Accounting Officer at its successor, The Rubin Organization. Prior thereto, he was a partner at the international accounting and consulting firm of Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte & Touche LLP), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Freddie M. Kotek has been a Senior Vice President of the Company since 1995 and an Executive Vice President of Resource Properties, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company) since 1993. Prior thereto, he was a First Vice President of Royal Alliance Associates (an investment banking and brokerage firm) from 1991 to 1993, and a Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Paine Webber Properties (a real estate investment firm) from 1990 to 1991.

Michael L. Staines has been Senior Vice President, Secretary and a director of the Company since 1989 and President and a director of Resource Energy since its organization in 1993.

Nancy J. McGurk has been Vice President-Finance of the Company since 1992 and Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company since 1984.

Carlos C. Campbell has been a director of the Company since 1990. He is President of C.C. Campbell and Company (a management consulting firm), Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Computer Dynamics, Inc. (a computer services corporation) and a director of Sensys, Inc. (a telecommunication/asset management corporation).

Andrew M. Lubin has been a director of the Company since 1994. He has been President of Delaware Financial Group, Inc. (a private investment firm) since 1984.

Alan D. Schreiber, M.D. has been a director of the Company since 1994. Dr. Schreiber has been a Professor of Medicine and Assistant Dean for Research and Research Training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine since 1973 and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Inkine Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. since 1997. From 1993 to 1997, Dr. Schreiber was Chief Scientific Officer of CorBec Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Company he founded.

John S. White has been a director of the Company since 1993. He has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of DCC Securities Corporation (a securities brokerage firm) since 1990.

Other Significant Employees

The following sets forth certain information regarding other significant employees of the Company:

Abraham Bernstein, age 64, is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the small ticket equipment leasing subsidiary of the Company. From 1982 to 1993, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tokai Financial Services, Inc., the equipment leasing subsidiary of Tokai Bank of Japan. From 1993 to 1995, the contractual period during which Mr. Bernstein's restrictive covenant with Tokai was in effect, Mr. Bernstein was a Managing Director of the Rittenhouse Consulting Group (a financial consulting company).

Crit DeMent, age 44, is the Executive Vice President of FLI. Prior thereto, from 1983 through 1996 he was Vice President-Marketing and Leasing Associate-Senior Account Representative for Tokai Financial Services, Inc.

Joseph T. Ellis, Jr., age 36, is the Director of Vendor Services for FLI. Prior thereto, from 1985 through February 1996, he held various marketing and sales positions with Tokai Financial Services, Inc., most recently as the Director of Program Management and Strategic Market Development.

Frank V. Pellegrini, age 50, has been the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Tri-Star since 1993. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President of Home American Financial Services, Inc. (now known as Upland Mortgage Corporation), a residential mortgage lender.

Kathy B. Schauer, age 46, has served since February 1997 as the President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of FMF. Immediately prior to joining FMF, Ms. Schauer served as Director of Business and Product Development at Standard & Poors Rating Services (where she was involved in the development and implementation of credit scoring and pricing models for the residential mortgage market), and, prior thereto, served in executive capacities with Smith Barney, Meridian Bancorp and J.P. Morgan. From 1985 to 1993, Ms. Schauer was a Vice President (Mortgage Products Group) of CS First Boston.

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Bruce R. Schmidt, age 40, is Senior Vice President of FMF. From 1993 until March 1997, Mr. Schmidt was Director of Marketing for Advanta Corp., a national consumer home equity lender. Prior thereto, from 1988 to 1993, he was Vice President, Marketing, for Nutri/System, Inc., a national weight loss program company.

Jeffrey C. Simmons, age 39, has been Executive Vice President and a director of Resource Energy since 1997. From 1994 to 1997 he was Vice President-Exploration of the Company and from 1988 to 1994 he was Director of Well Services of the Company.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

In the ordinary course of its business operations, the Company has ongoing relationships with several related entities, primarily a property management firm, a bank and RAIT. As particular opportunities have arisen, the Company has purchased commercial mortgage loans from, or involving borrowers which are, affiliated with officers of the Company. In three instances (excluding sales to RAIT) the Company has sold senior or junior lien interests in commercial loans to purchasers affiliated with officers of the Company. At December 31, 1997, loans held with respect to related borrowers or acquired from related lenders constitute 7% ($8.2 million), by book value, of the Company's commercial loan portfolio, while the senior lien interests sold to related purchasers constituted 4% ($4.1 million) of all senior lien interests with respect to the Company's commercial loan portfolio. Transactions with affiliates must be approved by the Company's Board of Directors, including a majority of the disinterested directors. In addition, acquisitions of commercial mortgage loans must be approved by the Investment Committee of the Board of Directors (which consists of two disinterested directors). The Company believes that the terms of its transactions with related parties are no less favorable than those available from unrelated third parties. A more detailed description of these relationships and transactions is set forth below.

Relationship with BCMI. The Company holds commercial mortgage loans of borrowers whose underlying properties are managed by BCMI, a firm of which Edward E. Cohen is Chairman of the Board of Directors and a minority stockholder (approximately 8%). The Company has advanced funds to certain of these borrowers for improvements on their properties, which have been performed by BCMI. The President of BCMI (or an entity affiliated with him) has also acted as the general partner or trustee of ten of the borrowers; an entity affiliated with him is the general partner of the sole limited partner of an eleventh borrower. BCMI has agreed to subordinate its management fees to receipt by the Company of minimum required debt service payments under the obligations held by the Company.

Relationship with Jefferson Bank. The Company maintains normal banking and borrowing relationships with Jefferson Bank, a subsidiary of JeffBanks, Inc. See also "Business -- Recent Developments -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Credit Facility." The Company anticipates that it may effect other borrowings in the future from Jefferson Bank. The Company, through FMF, subcontracts any residential mortgage loan servicing duties to Jefferson Bank. See "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Residential Mortgage Loans." Edward E. Cohen and his spouse are officers and directors of JeffBanks, Inc. (and his spouse is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jefferson Bank and JeffBanks, Inc.), and are principal stockholders thereof. Daniel G. Cohen is a director of Jefferson Bank. Jefferson Bank is also a tenant at two properties which secure loans held by the Company and, at one of such properties, subleases space to RAIT.

Relationship with RAIT. The Company sponsored the formation and public offering of common shares of beneficial interest of RAIT. See "Business -- Real Estate Finance Sponsorship of Real Estate Investment Trust." RAIT raised $49.3 million (including the Company's investment) in the offering which was completed in January 1998. The Company acquired 15% of RAIT's outstanding shares for an investment of approximately $7.0 million. Edward E. Cohen's spouse, Betsy Z. Cohen, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RAIT. The Company has the right to nominate one person for election to the Board of Trustees until such time as its ownership of RAIT's outstanding common shares is less than 5%. One of the current trustees, Jonathan Z. Cohen, is serving as the Company's nominee. Jonathan Z. Cohen is the son of Edward E. Cohen (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company), the brother of Daniel G. Cohen (Executive Vice President and director of the Company and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FMF), and is the Secretary and a director of Resource Energy. The Company had advanced funds to RAIT for legal, accounting

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and filing fees and expenses, salaries of RAIT's executive officers, rent and other organizational expenses and for the expenses incurred by the Company in sponsoring RAIT including an allocation of compensation of Company employees. These advances were without interest and were repaid from the proceeds of RAIT offering.

In connection with RAIT's offering, the Company, through its subsidiaries, sold ten loans and senior lien interests in two additional loans to RAIT (the "Initial Investments") at an aggregate purchase price of $20.2 million (including $2.1 million attributable to senior lien interests acquired by the Company in connection with the sales to RAIT). Two of the Initial Investments were originated for RAIT; one was sold to RAIT at cost and RAIT purchased a senior lien interest in the other at cost. The Company realized a gain on the sale of the Initial Investments of $3.1 million. See also "Business -- Recent Developments -- Commercial Loan Purchase." The Company anticipates that, subject to certain limitations, it will sell additional investments to RAIT.

Relationships with Certain Borrowers. The Company has from time to time purchased loans in which affiliates of the Company are affiliates of the borrowers, as discussed in the following paragraphs. (Loan numbers are as set forth in the table of loans in "Business -- Real Estate Finance -- Commercial Mortgage Loan Acquisition and Resolution: Loan Status.")

In August 1997, the Company, through a subsidiary, acquired a loan (loan 35) with a face amount of $2.3 million from Jefferson Bank at a cost of $1.6 million. The loan is secured by a property owned by a partnership in which Mr. Schaeffer, the Company's executive vice president and a director, is the general partner and Edward E. Cohen, together with his spouse, are limited partners. The Company leases its headquarters space at such property. The lease provides for rents of $65,000 per year through May 2000. Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., a law firm which provides legal services to the Company, and BCMI are also tenants at such property.

In June 1997, the Company acquired a loan (loan 29) with a face amount of $7.0 million from a partnership in which Mr. Schaeffer and Edward E. Cohen, together with his wife, are limited partners. Mr. Schaeffer was previously the general partner of such partnership. The Company acquired such loan at a cost of $3.0 million.

In December 1994, the Company acquired a loan (loan 13) with a face amount of $3.0 million from California Federal Bank, FSB at a cost of $1.7 million. The loan is secured by a property owned by a borrower whose general partner is the President of BCMI. Edward E. Cohen, together with his wife, is a limited partner in such partnership. The borrower refinanced the Company's loan in September 1995, applying $2.0 million of the proceeds to the repayment of the Company's loan. As a result, the Company obtained a gain on its investment of $303,000, while maintaining a continuing interest in the loan of approximately $1.0 million.

In August 1994, the Company acquired from third parties a loan (loan 8), in the original principal amount of $ 3.4 million (and with a then-outstanding balance of $4.4 million), for an investment of $1.6 million. The borrower is a limited partnership of which Mr. Lubin, a director of the Company, is currently the general partner. Mr. Lubin assumed such position after the Company's acquisition of the loan. Previously, the general partner had been the President of BCMI. The borrower subsequently refinanced the loan with another third party and repaid the Company $934,000, leaving the Company with a net investment of $419,000. This loan was sold to RAIT in January 1998.

Relationships with Certain Lienholders. The Company has sold two senior lien interests and one junior lien interest in its commercial loans to entities in which officers of the Company have minority interests as discussed in the following paragraphs.

In December 1997, the Company purchased from third parties, for an aggregate of $1.52 million, two loans (loan 43) in the aggregate original principal amount of $2.0 million and with an aggregate outstanding balance at the time of purchase of $1.96 million. The loans are secured by an apartment building. The Company sold to a limited partnership in which Edward E. Cohen and Scott F. Schaeffer beneficially own a 17.8% interest a senior lien interest in one of the loans for $1.0 million, reducing the Company's net investment to $518,000 and leaving the Company with a retained interest in outstanding loan receivables of $1.0 million (at a book value of $803,000).

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From November 1996 to June 1997 the Company acquired from third parties loans (loan 26) relating to one property in the aggregate original principal amount of $5.8 million (and with aggregate outstanding balances at the respective times of purchase of $7.6 million) for an investment of $2.5 million. The Company sold a senior lien interest in the loan for $2.2 million reducing the Company's net investment to $235,000 and leaving the Company with a retained interest in outstanding loan receivables of $5.9 million (at a book value of $2.3 million). The purchaser was a limited partnership in which Edward E. Cohen and Scott F. Schaeffer beneficially own an 18.3% limited partnership interest.

In June 1996, for an investment of $2.4 million the Company acquired from third parties a loan (loan 22), in the original principal amount of $3.3 million (and with a then-outstanding balance of $3.3 million). The Company sold a junior lien interest in the loan for $875,000, leaving the Company with a net investment of $1.5 million, to a limited partnership in which Messrs. Edward E. Cohen and Scott F. Schaeffer beneficially own a 21.3% limited partnership interest.

Relationship with Financing Institution. The Company has in the past obtained material amounts of financing from Physicians Insurance Company of Ohio ("PICO") by the sale to PICO, in May 1994, of an $8 million principal amount 9.5% senior note and by the sale to PICO, in fiscal years 1995 and 1996, of $12 million of senior lien interests in seven of the Company's portfolio loans, together with warrants to purchase 983,150 shares of Common Stock. In July 1997, the Company repaid the senior note in full and PICO exercised, and subsequently sold, the common shares underlying the warrants to institutional investors in private transactions pursuant to which the Company granted certain registration rights. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale." Following such transactions, John R. Hart, an executive officer and director of PICO who had become a director of the Company in connection with the PICO financings, resigned from the Board of Directors of the Company.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth the number and percentage of shares of Common Stock owned, as of March 25, 1998, by (a) each person who, to the knowledge of the Company, is the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (b) each of the Company's present directors, (c) each of the Company's executive officers, and (d) all of the Company's present executive officers and directors as a group. This information is reported in accordance with the beneficial ownership rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission under which a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power or investment power with respect to such security or has the right to acquire such ownership within 60 days. Shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of the person or group holding such options or warrants but are not deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage of any other person. See note (2) below, for information concerning outstanding options.

                                                                     Common Stock
                                                ------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Amount and Nature of              Percent of
               Beneficial Owner                           Beneficial Ownership                Class
---------------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------   -----------
Directors(1)
Carlos C. Campbell ..........................                        160                       *
Daniel G. Cohen .............................                      6,368(2)                    *
Edward E. Cohen .............................                    426,657(2)(3)(4)(6)        8.89%
Andrew M. Lubin .............................                        280                       *
Scott F. Schaeffer ..........................                    100,371(2)(3)(4)(5)        2.11%
Alan D. Schreiber, M.D. .....................                      5,370                       *
Michael L. Staines ..........................                     44,390(2)(3)(4)              *
John S. White ...............................                          0                       *
Executive Officers(1)
Steven J. Kessler ...........................                          0                       *
Freddie M. Kotek ............................                     26,401(2)(3)(4)              *
Nancy J. McGurk .............................                     24,914(2)(3)(4)              *
All present officers and directors as a group
 (11 persons) ...............................                    580,178(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)    11.98%
Other owners of 5% or More of Outstanding
 Shares(7)
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment
 Management, Inc. ...........................                    314,005                    6.61%
Keefe Managers, Inc. ........................                    450,000                    9.47%
Kramer Spellman L.P. ........................                    536,800                   11.30%
Wellington Management Company, LLP. .........                    548,500                   11.55%


* Less than 1%

(1) The address for each director and executive officer is 1521 Locust Street, Fourth Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102.

(2) Includes shares allocated under the Resource America, Inc. Employee Savings Plan (the Company's 401(k) plan) in the amounts of: Mr. E. Cohen -- 3,199 shares; Mr. Kotek -- 1,568 shares; Ms. McGurk -- 4,718 shares; Mr. Schaeffer -- 876 shares; Mr. Staines -- 558 shares; and Mr. D. Cohen -- 750 shares, as to which each has voting power.

(3) Includes shares issuable on exercise of options granted in 1993 and 1995 under the 1989 Key Employee Stock Option Plan in the amounts of: Mr. E. Cohen -- 47,753 shares; Mr. Schaeffer -- 5,618 shares; Mr. Staines -- 22,472 shares; Mr. Kotek -- 9,832 shares; and Ms. McGurk -- 5,618 shares.

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(4) Includes shares allocated under the 1989 Employee Stock Ownership Plan in the amounts of: Mr. E. Cohen -- 20,089 shares; Mr. Staines -- 13,624 shares; Mr. Schaeffer -- 7,047 shares; Mr. Kotek -- 5,170 shares; and Ms. McGurk -- 8,960 shares, as to which each has voting power.

(5) Includes 60,815 shares held by a limited partnership, of which Mr. Schaeffer is the general partner and in which he has a 10% interest.

(6) Includes Mr. Cohen's proportionate interest (aggregating 54,733 shares) in shares held by a limited partnership in which Mr. Cohen is the limited partner.

(7) Includes shares held by entities managed by the named persons. The address for Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment Management, Inc., an affiliate of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., is 1001 19th Street North, 18th Floor, Arlington, Virginia 22209; the address for Keefe Managers, Inc. is 375 Park Avenue, Suite 3108, New York, New York 10152; the address for Kramer Spellman L.P. is 2050 Center Avenue, Suite 300, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024; and the address for Wellington Management Company, LLP. is 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 49,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Preferred Stock"). As of March 25, 1998, there were 4,750,717 shares of Common Stock outstanding and no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. The Company intends, during the 1998 fiscal year, to issue a stock dividend of two shares of Common Stock for each outstanding Share of Common Stock (the "Stock Dividend"). There can be no assurance that the Stock Dividend will be declared by the Board of Directors.

Common Stock

Holders of Common Stock are entitled to dividends when, as and if declared by the Company's Board of Directors and in such amounts as the Board of Directors may deem advisable. See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy." In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock are entitled, after payment or provision for payment of the debts or other liabilities of the Company, and subject to the prior rights of holders of any Preferred Stock which may then be outstanding, to share ratably in the remaining assets of the Company. Shares of Common Stock do not possess preemptive rights. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. For a description of certain provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Delaware law which affect the voting rights of stockholders of the Company and provide for a classified board of directors, see "Description of Capital Stock -- Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law" and " -- Classes of Directors."

Preferred Stock

Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series and the Board of Directors, without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix the dividend rights and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, sinking funds and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each such series of Preferred Stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely affect the voting power of the holders of Common Stock and, under certain circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of the Company. The Company has no current plan to issue any Preferred Stock.

Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law

The Company is a Delaware corporation and consequently is subject to certain anti-takeover provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Delaware Law"). Under the business combination provision contained in Section 203 of the Delaware Law ("Section 203"), a Delaware corporation may not engage in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (i) prior to such date the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or (ii) upon completion of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced (excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, (a) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans, in certain instances), or (iii) on or subsequent to such date the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. Section 203 defines an interested stockholder of a corporation to be any person (other than the corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation) who (i) owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or
(ii) is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any

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time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person (and the affiliates and the associates of such person) is an interested stockholder. Section 203 defines business combinations to include certain mergers, consolidations, asset sales, transfers and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.

The restrictions imposed by Section 203 will not apply to a corporation if
(i) the corporation's original certificate of incorporation contains a provision expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 or (ii) the corporation, by the action of stockholders holding a majority of outstanding voting stock, adopts an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 (such amendment will not be effective until 12 months after adoption and shall not apply to any business combination between such corporation and any person who became an interested stockholder of such corporation on or prior to such adoption). The Company has not opted out of Section 203. Section 203 could under certain circumstances make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of the Company, deny stockholders the receipt of a premium on their Common Stock and have a depressive effect on the market price of the Common Stock.

Classes of Directors

The Board of Directors is currently classified into three classes. One class of directors is elected each year and the members of such class hold office for a three-year term or until each of their successors is duly elected and qualified. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to change the composition of the Board of Directors without the support of the incumbent Board. At least two annual stockholder meetings, instead of one, will be required to effect a change in the control of the Board, unless stockholders remove directors for cause.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 49,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock. Upon completion of this offering, there will be outstanding 6,250,717 shares of Common Stock (assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option).

The 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold in this offering (1,725,000 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be available to the public without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by affiliates of the Company (in general, any person who has a control relationship with the Company), which shares will be subject to the resale limitations of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"). The Company, its executive officers and directors, and Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment Management, Inc. have agreed not to offer, sell or contract to sell or otherwise dispose of Common Stock without the prior consent of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. ("FBR") or, in the case of sale by Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment Management, Inc., the Company, for a period of 120 days following the conclusion of the Offering. See "Underwriting".

In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, any person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned shares for at least one year is entitled to sell, within any three month period, a number of shares which does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then outstanding shares of the Common Stock or the average weekly trading volume of the Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the Commission. Sales under Rule 144 may also be subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about the Company. Any person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of the Company at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned shares within the definition of "restricted securities" under Rule 144 for at least two years, is entitled to sell such shares under Rule 144(k) without regard to the volume limitation, manner of sale provisions, public information requirements or notice requirements.

Pursuant to a contractual obligation, the Company has filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Commission in order to register the resale of an aggregate of 983,150 shares of Common Stock by certain selling stockholders. All of the shares included in the registration statement may be sold to the public without restriction, at the discretion of the selling stockholders. The Company has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until March 20, 2000.

There are currently outstanding options held by officers and directors to purchase 262,431 shares of Common Stock.

The Company has reserved an additional 207,795 shares of Common Stock for future option grants.

No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares of Common Stock or availability of such shares for future sale will have on the market price of the Common Stock prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock (including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options), or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock.

73

UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), through Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., BancAmerica Robertson Stephens and Janney Montgomery Scott Inc., as their representatives (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed to purchase from the Company the following respective number of shares of Common Stock at the offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus:

Underwriter                                    Number of Shares
-----------                                    ----------------
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc ......
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens .............
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. ...............
  Total ....................................       1,500,000
                                                   =========

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriters will purchase all of the shares offered hereby (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below), if any of such shares are purchased.

The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $________ per share. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $_______ per share to certain other dealers. After the initial offering, the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the Representatives.

The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable not later than 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 225,000 additional shares of Common Stock at the initial offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each of the Underwriters will have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same percentage thereof that the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by it shown in the above table bears to 1,500,000, and the Company will be obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell such shares to the Underwriters. The Underwriters may exercise such option only to cover over-allotments made in connection with the sale of Common Stock offered hereby. If purchased, the Underwriters will offer such additional shares on the same terms as those on which the 1,500,000 shares are being offered.

The Company, its executive officers and directors, and entities affiliated with FBR have agreed not to offer, sell or contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock without the prior consent of FBR or, in the case of sale by affiliates of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment Management, Inc., the Company, for a period of 120 days following the conclusion of the Offering.

The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities including liabilities under the Securities Act.

In connection with this offering, the Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Common Stock. Such transactions may include stabilization transactions pursuant to which the Representatives may bid for or purchase Common Stock for the purpose of stabilizing its market price. The Underwriters also may create a short position for the account of the Underwriters by selling more Common Stock in connection with this offering than they are committed to purchase from the Company and in such case the Representatives may purchase Common Stock in the open market following completion of this offering to cover all or a portion of such short position. The Underwriters may also cover all or a portion of such short position by exercising the Underwriters' over-allotment option referred to above. In addition, the Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, may impose "penalty bids" under contractual arrangements with the Underwriters whereby they may reclaim from an Underwriter (or dealer participating in this offering), for the account of other Underwriters, the selling concession with respect to Common Stock that is distributed in this offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the Underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph may result in the

74

maintenance of the price of the Common Stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid might also affect the price of the Common Stock to the extent that it could discourage resales of the security. Neither the Company nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Common Stock. In addition, neither the Company nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation that the Underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The Underwriters and dealers may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Stock in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M promulgated by the Commission. In general, a passive market maker may not bid for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price that exceeds the highest independent bid. In addition, the net daily purchases made by any passive market maker generally may not exceed 30% of its average daily trading volume in the Common Stock during a specified two-month prior period, or 200 shares, whichever is greater. A passive market maker must identify passive market making bids as such on the Nasdaq electronic inter-dealer reporting system. Passive market making may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Stock above independent market levels. Underwriters and dealers are not required to engage in passive market making and may end passive market making activities at any time.

The Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the Common Stock offered hereby to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.

As of March 25, 1998, Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Investment Management, Inc., an affiliate of FBR, was the beneficial owner of 314,005 shares of the Common Stock, representing 6.6% of all Common Stock issued and outstanding.

LEGAL MATTERS

The legality of the Common Stock offered hereby is being passed upon by Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Silver, Freedman & Taff, L.L.P., Washington, D.C.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

75

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants

Stockholders and Board of Directors
RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Resource America, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Resource America, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Grant Thornton LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
November 6, 1997, except for
Earnings Per Share disclosures
in Footnote 2 to the financial
statements for which the date is
February 19, 1998

F-1

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

                                                                                            September 30,
                                                                     December 31,    ---------------------------
                                                                         1997            1997           1996
                                                                    --------------   ------------   ------------
                                                                      (Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets
 Cash and cash equivalents ......................................     $  28,086       $  69,279      $   4,154
 Accounts and notes receivable ..................................         5,309           2,414          1,479
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets ......................           948             576            473
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
   Total current assets .........................................        34,343          72,269          6,106
Investments in Real Estate Loans (less allowance for possible
 losses of $468, $400, and $0) ..................................       128,884          88,816         21,798
Notes Secured by Equipment Leases ...............................         9,008           4,761             --
Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases (less allowance for
 possible losses of $492, $248 and $7) ..........................         4,206           3,391            729
Property and Equipment
 Oil and gas properties and equipment (successful efforts) ......        25,967          24,939         24,035
 Gas gathering and transmission facilities ......................         1,609           1,606          1,536
 Other ..........................................................         3,652           2,874          1,666
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
                                                                         31,228          29,419         27,237
 Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization .....       (16,073)        (15,793)       (14,857)
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
                                                                         15,155          13,626         12,380
Other Assets (less accumulated amortization of $1,307, $1,014
 and $885) ......................................................        16,323          12,256          2,946
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
                                                                      $ 207,919       $ 195,119      $  43,959
                                                                      =========       =========      =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 Current maturities of long-term debt ...........................     $   5,100       $     708      $     105
 Accounts payable ...............................................         1,754           1,339            585
 Accrued interest ...............................................         6,180           2,734            253
 Accrued liabilities ............................................         2,884           1,967            344
 Estimated income taxes .........................................           772           4,093            377
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
   Total current liabilities ....................................        16,690          10,841          1,664
Long-Term Debt, less current maturities .........................       118,116         118,786          8,966
Other Long-Term Liabilities .....................................         1,830             663             --
Deferred Income Taxes ...........................................           826              --          2,206
Commitments and Contingencies ...................................            --              --             --
Stockholders' Equity
 Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 authorized shares               --              --             --
 Common Stock, $.01 par value; 8,000,000 authorized shares ......            55              54             20
 Additional paid-in capital .....................................        59,343          56,787         21,761
 Retained earnings ..............................................        25,486          22,005         12,458
 Less treasury stock, at cost ...................................       (14,074)        (13,664)        (2,699)
 Less loan receivable from Employee Stock Ownership Plan
   ("ESOP") .....................................................          (353)           (353)          (417)
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
   Total stockholders' equity ...................................        70,457          64,829         31,123
                                                                      ---------       ---------      ---------
                                                                      $ 207,919       $ 195,119      $  43,959
                                                                      =========       =========      =========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-2

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)

                                                      Quarter Ended
                                                      December 31,                   Years Ended September 30,
                                               ---------------------------   -----------------------------------------
                                                   1997           1996          1997          1996            1995
                                               ------------   ------------   ----------   ------------   -------------
                                                       (Unaudited)
REVENUES
Real Estate Finance ........................     $  9,392       $  3,219      $19,144       $  7,171        $6,114
Equipment Leasing ..........................        3,172          1,202        7,162          4,466            --
Energy: Production .........................        1,232            950        3,936          3,421         3,452
    Services ...............................          583            389        1,672          1,736         1,879
Interest on Corporate Investments ..........          698             84          930            197           149
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
                                                   15,077          5,844       32,844         16,991        11,594
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Real Estate Finance ........................        1,523            163        1,069            852           801
Equipment Leasing ..........................        1,325            883        3,822          2,339            --
Energy: Exploration and Production .........          574            412        1,823          1,582         1,733
    Services ...............................          309            224          909            869         1,026
General and Administrative .................          927            592        2,851          1,756         2,265
Depreciation, Depletion and
 Amortization ..............................          508            379        1,614          1,368         1,335
Interest ...................................        3,870            409        5,273            872         1,091
Provision for Possible Losses ..............          318             10          653              7            --
Other -- Net ...............................           --             --          (27)            --             (2)
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
                                                    9,354          3,072       17,987          9,645         8,249
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
    Income from Operations .................        5,723          2,772       14,857          7,346         3,345
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property ............            3             88           74              7             (1)
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
Income Before Income Taxes .................        5,726          2,860       14,931          7,353         3,344
Provision for Income Taxes .................        1,775            575        3,980          2,206           630
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        ------
Net Income .................................     $  3,951       $  2,285      $10,951       $  5,147        $2,714
                                                 ========       ========      =======       ========        =======
Net Income Per Common Share -- Basic             $    .83       $    .91      $  3.15       $   2.72        $ 1.43
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        -------
Weighted Average Common Shares
 Outstanding ...............................        4,733          2,507        3,478          1,890         1,904
                                                 ========       ========      =======       ========        ========
Net Income Per Common Share --
 Diluted ...................................     $    .81       $    .66      $  2.51       $   1.88        $  1.23
                                                 --------       --------      -------       --------        --------
Weighted Average Common Shares .............        4,906          3,476        4,358          2,757          2,235
                                                 ========       ========      =======       ========        ========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-3

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

                                                Common Stock        Additional
                                           ----------------------     Paid-In      Retained
                                              Shares      Amount      Capital      Earnings
                                           ------------  --------  ------------  -----------
Balance, October 1, 1994 ................     817,912       $ 8      $ 19,136     $  7,979
Treasury shares acquired ................
Cash dividends ($.09 per share)..........                                             (161)
Warrants issued .........................                                  78
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................
Net income ..............................                                            2,714
                                            ---------       ---      --------     --------
Balance, September 30, 1995 .............     817,912       $ 8      $ 19,214     $ 10,532
Treasury shares issued ..................                                 (24)
6% stock dividends ......................      82,688         1         2,453       (2,453)
5 for 2 stock split effected in the
 form of a 150% stock
 dividend................................   1,136,609        11                        (11)
Issuance of common stock ................      10,000                      77
Treasury shares acquired ................
Cash dividends ($.38 per share)..........                                             (757)
Warrants issued .........................                                  41
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................
Net income ..............................                                            5,147
                                            ---------       ---      --------     --------
Balance, September 30, 1996 .............   2,047,209       $20      $ 21,761     $ 12,458
Treasury shares issued ..................                                 (34)
Issuance of common stock ................   3,363,436        34        35,060
Treasury shares acquired ................
Cash dividends ($.40 per share)..........                                           (1,404)
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................
Net income ..............................                                           10,951
                                            ---------       ---      --------     --------
Balance, September 30, 1997 .............   5,410,645       $54      $ 56,787     $ 22,005
(Unaudited)
Treasury shares issued ..................                                  34
Issuance of common stock ................      49,956         1         2,522
Treasury shares acquired ................
Cash dividends ($.10 per share)..........                                             (470)
Net Income ..............................                                            3,951
                                            ---------       ---      --------     --------
Balance, December 31, 1997 ..............   5,460,601       $55      $ 59,343     $ 25,486
                                            =========       ===      ========     ========


                                                  Treasury Stock             ESOP           Total
                                           ----------------------------      Loan       Stockholders'
                                               Shares         Amount      Receivable       Equity
                                           -------------  -------------  ------------  --------------
Balance, October 1, 1994 ................     (131,402)     $  (2,437)      $ (546)      $   24,140
Treasury shares acquired ................      (21,298)          (284)                         (284)
Cash dividends ($.09 per share)..........                                                      (161)
Warrants issued .........................                                                        78
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................                                       64               64
Net income ..............................                                                     2,714
                                              --------      ---------       ------       ----------
Balance, September 30, 1995 .............     (152,700)     $  (2,721)      $ (482)      $   26,551
Treasury shares issued ..................        1,889             39                            15
6% stock dividends ......................                                                         1
5 for 2 stock split effected in the
 form of a 150% stock
 dividend................................
Issuance of common stock ................                                                        77
Treasury shares acquired ................       (1,637)           (17)                          (17)
Cash dividends ($.38 per share)..........                                                      (757)
Warrants issued .........................                                                        41
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................                                       65               65
Net income ..............................                                                     5,147
                                              --------      ---------       ------       ----------
Balance, September 30, 1996 .............     (152,448)     $  (2,699)      $ (417)      $   31,123
Treasury shares issued ..................       23,023            483                           449
Issuance of common stock ................                                                    35,094
Treasury shares acquired ................     (579,623)       (11,448)                      (11,448)
Cash dividends ($.40 per share)..........                                                    (1,404)
Repayment of ESOP loan ..................                                       64               64
Net income ..............................                                                    10,951
                                              --------      ---------       ------       ----------
Balance, September 30, 1997 .............     (709,048)     $ (13,664)      $ (353)      $   64,829
(Unaudited)
Treasury shares issued ..................        1,366             30                            64
Issuance of common stock ................                                                     2,523
Treasury shares acquired ................      (10,000)          (440)                         (440)
Cash dividends ($.10 per share)..........                                                      (470)
Net Income ..............................                                                     3,951
                                              --------      ---------       ------       ----------
Balance, December 31, 1997 ..............     (717,682)     $ (14,074)      $ (353)      $   70,457
                                              ========      =========       ======       ==========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

F-4

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

                                                                 Quarter Ended
                                                                  December 31,                 Years Ended September 30,
                                                           --------------------------  -----------------------------------------
                                                               1997          1996          1997          1996           1995
                                                           ------------  ------------  -----------  --------------  ------------
                                                                  (Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income ..............................................   $   3,951     $   2,285     $  10,951     $  5,147       $   2,714
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 provided by operating activities:
 Depreciation and amortization ..........................         508           379         1,614        1,368           1,335
 Amortization of discount on senior note and
   deferred finance costs ...............................         208            24           657           75              74
 Provision for possible losses ..........................         318            10           653            7              --
 Deferred income taxes ..................................         826           382        (2,206)       1,059             473
 Accretion of discount ..................................      (1,666)         (793)       (4,124)        (954)         (1,176)
 Gain on asset dispositions .............................      (4,740)         (785)      (11,375)      (3,650)         (1,727)
 Property impairments and abandonments ..................          --            --            38           71              56
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 Net of effects from purchase of subsidiaries ...........
 (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable .............      (3,086)          316          (935)        (175)             81
 (Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other
   current assets .......................................        (372)          236          (103)        (310)             88
 Increase (decrease) in accounts payable ................         367           377           754         (137)           (291)
 Increase (decrease) in accrued income taxes ............          --            --         3,716          377            (100)
 Increase in other liabilities ..........................       1,043           409         4,451           81              51
                                                            ---------     ---------     ---------     --------       ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities .....      (2,643)        2,840         4,091        2,959           1,578
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of business, less cash acquired .............        (997)           --        (1,226)          --            (877)
Cost of equipment acquired for lease ....................     (15,972)       (4,411)      (34,567)        (731)             --
Capital expenditures ....................................      (1,811)         (130)       (1,791)      (1,097)           (817)
Principal payments on notes receivable ..................          --            --         8,514           --              --
Proceeds from sale or refinancings of assets ............      56,305         2,323        37,713       18,577          10,348
Increase in notes receivable ............................        (355)           --            --           --              --
Increase in other assets. ...............................        (974)       (1,536)       (3,319)        (152)            (59)
Investments in real estate loans ........................     (79,232)      (28,881)      (69,857)     (17,650)        (14,708)
Increase in other long-term liabilities .................       1,168            --            --           --              --
Payments received (revenue recognized) in excess of
 revenue recognized (cash received) on leases ...........         437            76         1,394             (7)           --
                                                            ---------     ---------     ---------     -----------    ---------
Net cash used in investing activities ...................     (41,431)      (32,559)      (63,139)      (1,060)         (6,113)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Long-term borrowings. ...................................          --        15,570       129,320          536           2,000
Short-term borrowings ...................................       6,670          (110)           --           --           2,500
Dividends paid ..........................................        (470)         (190)       (1,404)        (756)           (161)
(Increase) decrease in other assets .....................         (15)           --        (5,376)         (31)          4,864
Principal payments on long-term borrowing ...............        (704)       (2,043)      (22,148)         (27)         (4,524)
Principal payments on short-term borrowing ..............      (2,245)           --            --           --              --
Purchase of treasury stock ..............................        (440)           --            --          (17)           (284)
Proceeds from issuance of stock .........................          85        19,659        23,781           93              --
                                                            ---------     ---------     ---------     ----------     ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .....       2,881        32,886       124,173         (202)          4,395
                                                            ---------     ---------     ---------     ----------     ---------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ........     (41,193)        3,167        65,125        1,697            (140)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period ........      69,279         4,154         4,154        2,457           2,597
                                                            ---------     ---------     ---------     ----------     ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ..............   $  28,086     $   7,321     $  69,279     $  4,154       $   2,457
                                                            =========     =========     =========     ==========     =========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

F-5

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 1--NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Resource America, Inc. (the "Company") is a specialty finance company engaged in three lines of business: (1) the financing of mortgage loans, including the acquisition and resolution of commercial real estate loans and, beginning in the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, the origination, acquisition and sale of residential loans; (2) commercial equipment leasing, and (3) energy operations, including natural oil and gas production. Based on net assets and net income, the financing of mortgage loans is the dominant current business line.

The markets for the Company's business lines are as follows: in the financing of mortgage loans, the Company obtains its commercial mortgage loans on properties located throughout the United States from various financial institutions and other organizations, while its residential mortgage loans will be obtained through direct mail supported by outbound telemarketing and several wholesale channels to potential borrowers throughout the United States; in commercial equipment leasing, the Company markets its equipment leasing products nationwide through equipment manufacturers, regional distributors and other vendors; and in energy, gas is sold to a number of customers such as gas brokers and local utilities; oil is sold at the well site to regional oil refining companies in the Appalachian basin.

The Company's ability to acquire and resolve commercial mortgage loans, obtain residential mortgage loans and to fund equipment lease transactions will be dependent on the continued availability of funds. The availability of third-party financing for each of these specialty finance businesses will be dependent upon a number of factors over which the Company has limited or no control, including general conditions in the credit markets, the size and liquidity of the market for the types of real estate loans or equipment leases in the Company's portfolio and the respective financial performance of the loans and equipment leases in the Company's portfolio.

The Company's growth will also depend on its continued ability to generate attractive opportunities for acquiring commercial mortgage loans at a discount and to originate equipment leases. The availability of loans for acquisition on terms acceptable to the Company will be dependent upon a number of factors over which the Company has no control, including economic conditions, interest rates, the market for and value of properties securing loans which the Company may seek to acquire, and the willingness of financial institutions to dispose of troubled or under-performing loans in their portfolios.

Mortgage loans and equipment leases are subject to the risk of default in payment by borrowers and lessees. Mortgage loans are further subject to the risk that declines in real estate values could result in the Company being unable to realize the property values projected.

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, and its wholly owned subsidiaries and its pro rata share of the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of the oil and gas partnerships in which the Company has an interest. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated. All per share amounts and references to numbers of shares give effect to 6% stock dividends paid in both January and April 1996 and a five-for-two stock split (effected in the form of a 150% stock dividend) in May 1996.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

F-6

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (Continued)

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normally recurring accruals) necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the interim period included herein have been made.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an asset's estimated future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the carrying amount for that asset to its estimated fair value.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company adopted the disclosure only option under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, effective January 1, 1997. As such, the Company recognizes compensation expense with respect to stock option grants to employees using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25. Accordingly, SFAS No. 123 had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations (see Note 9).

Transfers of Financial Assets

The Company adopted SFAS No. 125, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities effective January 1, 1997. This statement is effective for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after December 31, 1996, and is to be applied prospectively. Earlier or retroactive application was not permitted. The adoption of SFAS 125 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

Oil and Gas Properties

The Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting. Accordingly, property acquisition costs, costs of successful exploratory wells, all development costs, and the cost of support equipment and facilities are capitalized. Costs of unsuccessful exploratory wells are expensed when such wells are determined to be nonproductive. The costs associated with drilling and equipping wells not yet completed are capitalized as uncompleted wells, equipment, and facilities. Geological and geophysical costs and the costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped properties, including delay rentals, are expensed as incurred.

Production costs, overhead, and all exploration costs other than costs of exploratory drilling are charged to expense as incurred.

Unproved properties are assessed periodically to determine whether there has been a decline in value and, if such decline is indicated, a loss is recognized. The Company compares the carrying value of its oil and gas producing properties to the estimated future cash flow, net of applicable income taxes, from such properties in order to determine whether their carrying values should be reduced. No adjustment was necessary during the fiscal years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 or 1995.

On an annual basis, the Company estimates the costs of future dismantlement, restoration, reclamation, and abandonment of its gas and oil producing properties. Additionally, the Company evaluates the estimated salvage value of equipment recoverable upon abandonment. At September 30, 1997 and 1996 the Company's evaluation of equipment salvage values was greater than or equal to the estimated costs of future dismantlement, restoration, reclamation, and abandonment.

F-7

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (Continued)

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Proved developed oil and gas properties, which include intangible drilling and development costs, tangible well equipment, and leasehold costs, are amortized on the unit-of-production method using the ratio of current production to the estimated aggregate proved developed oil and gas reserves.

Depreciation of property and equipment, other than oil and gas properties, is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives, which range from 3 to 25 years.

Other Assets

Included in other assets are intangible assets that consist primarily of contracts acquired through acquisitions recorded at fair value on their acquisition dates, the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets of a business acquired (goodwill) and deferred financing costs. The contracts acquired are being amortized on a declining balance method over their respective estimated lives, ranging from five to thirteen years, goodwill is being amortized on a straight-line basis over fifteen years, deferred financing costs are being amortized over the terms of the related loans (two to seven years) and other costs are being amortized over varying periods of up to five years.

Other assets at December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997 and 1996 were:

                                                                        September 30,
                                                    December 31,    ---------------------
                                                        1997           1997        1996
                                                   --------------   ---------   ---------
                                                     (Unaudited)
                                                               (in thousands)
Contracts acquired .............................       $ 1,712       $ 1,636     $  549
Goodwill .......................................         4,061           709        518
Deferred financing costs .......................         5,092         5,240        512
Investment in real estate partnerships .........         1,827         1,827         22
Restricted cash ................................           854         1,052        935
Other ..........................................         2,777         1,792        410
                                                       -------       -------     ------
                                                       $16,323       $12,256     $2,946
                                                       =======       =======     ======

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair value.

For cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables, the carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. For long-term debt, including current maturities, the fair value of the Company's long-term debt approximates historically recorded cost since interest rates approximate market.

Based upon available market information and appropriate valuation methods, the Company believes the carrying cost of investments in direct financing leases approximates fair value.

For investments in real estate loans, the Company believes the carrying amounts of the loans are reasonable estimates of their fair value considering the nature of the loans and the estimated yield relative to the risks involved.

F-8

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (Continued)

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of periodic temporary investments of excess cash. The Company places its temporary excess cash investments in high quality short-term money market instruments, principally at Jefferson Bank (see Note 3), and other high quality financial institutions. The amounts of these instruments may at times be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. At December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, the Company had $27.9 million and $67.7 million, respectively, in deposits at Jefferson Bank, of which $26.9 million and $66.6 million, respectively, were over the FDIC insurance limit. No losses have been experienced on such investments.

Revenue Recognition

Real Estate Finance

The difference between the Company's cost basis in a loan and the sum of projected cash flows from, and the appraised value of, the underlying property (up to the amount of the loan) is accreted into interest income over the estimated life of the loan using a method which approximates the level interest method. Projected cash flows and appraised values of the property are reviewed on a regular basis and changes to the projected amounts reduce or increase the amounts accreted into interest income over the remaining life of the loan.

Gains on the sale of a senior lien interest in a loan (or gains, if any, from the refinancing of a loan) are recognized based on an allocation of the Company's cost basis between the portion of the loan sold or refinanced and the portion retained based upon the fair value of those respective portions on the date of sale or refinance. Any gain recognized on a sale of a senior lien interest or a refinancing is brought into income at the time of such sale or refinancing.

Equipment Leasing

Direct finance leases, as defined by SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, are accounted for by recording on the balance sheet the total future minimum lease payments receivable plus the estimated unguaranteed residual value of leased equipment less the unearned lease income. Unearned lease income represents the excess of the total future minimum lease payments plus the estimated unguaranteed residual value expected to be realized at the end of the lease term over the cost of the related equipment. Unearned lease income is recognized as revenue over the term of the lease by the effective interest method. Initial direct costs incurred in consummating a lease are capitalized as part of the investment in direct finance leases and amortized over the lease term as a reduction in the yield.

Gains arising from the sale of direct financing leases and notes secured by equipment leases occur when the Company obtains permanent funding through the sale of a pool of leases to a third party. Subsequent to a sale, the Company has no remaining interest in the pool of leases or equipment except (i) if a note is delivered as part of the sale proceeds, a security interest in the pool, and (ii) the obligation of the Company under certain circumstances to replace non-performing leases in the pool. Upon consummation of the sale transaction, the Company records a provision for anticipated losses under its guaranty. At December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, the Company had guaranteed approximately $4.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of lease receivables with respect to leases sold.

Equipment leasing revenues also consist of management fees, brokerage fees and a share of net income from partnerships in which a subsidiary of the Company serves as general partner. Management fees are earned for management services provided to the partnerships. Such fees are recognized as earned (see Limited Partnerships, below).

F-9

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (Continued)

Energy Operations

Working interest, royalties and override revenues are recognized as production and delivery takes place. Well service income is recognized as revenue as services are performed.

Cash Flow Statements

The Company considers temporary investments with a maturity at the date of acquisition of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                                                                      Quarter Ended                  Years Ended
                                                                      December 31,                  September 30,
                                                                 -----------------------   --------------------------------
                                                                     1997         1996         1997       1996       1995
                                                                 -----------   ---------   -----------   ------   ---------
                                                                       (Unaudited)
                                                                                       (in thousands)
Cash paid during the periods for:
 Interest ....................................................    $    173      $  575       $ 2,727      $797     $1,104
 Income taxes ................................................       4,180         450         2,094       770        255
Non-cash activities include the following:
 Notes received in exchange for -
   Sales of leases ...........................................    $  3,891      $3,260       $13,275      $ --     $   --
   Sale of mortgages .........................................       8,093          --            --        --         --
 Debt assumed upon acquisition of real estate loan ...........          --          --         2,381        --         --
 Receipt of note in satisfaction of real estate sale .........       1,000          --         3,500        --         --
 Note payable issued in acquisition ..........................                                   925        --         --
 Stock issued in acquisition .................................       2,500          --           315        --         --
Details of acquisition:
 Fair value of assets acquired ...............................    $  3,545      $   --       $ 2,466      $ --     $1,189
 Debt issued .................................................          --          --          (925)       --         --
 Stock issued ................................................      (2,500)         --          (315)       --         --
Liabilities assumed ..........................................         (48)         --            --        --       (312)
                                                                  --------      ------       -------      ----     ------
Net cash paid ................................................    $    997      $   --       $ 1,226      $ --     $  877
                                                                  ========      ======       =======      ====     ======

Limited Partnerships

The Company conducts certain energy and leasing activities through, and a portion of its revenues and are attributable to, limited partnerships ("Partnerships"). The Company serves as general partner of the Partnerships and assumes customary rights and obligations for the Partnerships. As the general partner, the Company is liable for Partnership liabilities and can be liable to limited partners if it breaches its responsibilities with respect to the operations of the Partnerships.

The Company is entitled to receive management fees, reimbursement for administrative costs incurred, and to share in the Partnerships' revenue and costs and expenses, according to the respective Partnership agreements. Such fees and reimbursements are recognized as income and are included in energy services and equipment leasing revenue. Amounts reimbursed for costs incurred as operator of certain oil and gas partnership properties and as the general partner in certain equipment leasing partnerships for the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 was $880,000 and $673,000, respectively, and for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996, and 1995 approximated $1.8 million, $1.6 million, and $.5 million, respectively. The Company includes in its operations the portion of the oil and gas Partnerships' revenues and expenses applicable to its interests therein.

F-10

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (Continued)

Income Taxes

The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities, as appropriate, to account for the estimated future tax effects attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the value at currently enacted tax rates, of operating loss carryforwards. The deferred tax provision or benefit each year represents the net change during that year in the deferred tax asset and liability balances.

Earnings Per Share

In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 128 "Earnings per Share." This statement is effective for financial statements issued for periods ending after December 15, 1997; earnings per share data included herein have been restated to reflect the new standard. Under this statement the previous calculation of primary earnings per share ("EPS") is changed to exclude the dilutive effect of stock options and is referred to as Basic EPS.

Earnings per share-basic are determined by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Earnings per share - diluted are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares include shares issuable under the terms of various stock option and warrant agreements net of the number of such shares that could have been reacquired (at the weighted average price of the Company's Common Stock during the period) with the proceeds received from the exercise of the options and warrants (see Notes 8 and 9).

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 to conform with the presentation for the quarter ended December 31, 1997. In addition, certain reclassifications have been made to the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1996 and 1995 to conform with the presentation for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997.

NOTE 3--TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

Until April 1996, the Chairman of the Company was of counsel to Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. ("LLF") which provides legal services to the Company. LLF was paid $803,000, $402,000 and $562,000 during fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, for legal services rendered to the Company. The Chairman of the Company receives certain debt service payments from LLF related to the termination of his affiliation with such firm and its redemption of his interest therein.

The Company holds commercial real estate loans of borrowers whose underlying properties are managed by Brandywine Construction & Management, Inc. ("BCMI"). The Chairman of the Company is Chairman of the Board of Directors and a minority stockholder (approximately 8%) of BCMI. The Company has advanced funds to certain of these borrowers for improvements on their properties which have been performed by BCMI. In several instances, the President of BCMI has also acted as the general partner of the borrower or as an officer of a corporate general partner. BCMI has subordinated receipt of its management fees to receipt by the Company from the properties of minimum debt service payments required under the obligations held by the Company.

The Company also maintains normal banking and borrowing relationships with Jefferson Bank, a subsidiary of JeffBanks, Inc. The Chairman of the Company is an officer and director of JeffBanks, Inc. and, together with his spouse, is a principal stockholder thereof; his spouse is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

F-11

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 3--TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES -- (Continued)

of Jefferson Bank. Another officer and director of the Company is a director of Jefferson Bank. The Company anticipates that it may, in the future, effect borrowings from Jefferson Bank; it anticipates that any such borrowings will be on terms similar to those which could be obtained by an unrelated borrower. Jefferson Bank is also a tenant at two properties which secure loans held by the Company. Management believes that the terms of the leases with Jefferson Bank are typical of similar leases for similar space.

In August 1997, the Company, through a subsidiary, acquired a loan with a face amount of $2.3 million from Jefferson Bank at a cost of $1.6 million. The loan is secured by a property owned by a partnership in which an officer of the Company and the Chairman of the Company, together with his wife, are limited partners. The Company leases its headquarters space at such property. LLF and BCMI are also tenants at such property (see Note 10). In September 1997, the Company sold a senior lien interest in this loan to an unrelated party, recognizing a gain of $224,000.

In June 1997, the Company acquired two loans with an aggregate face amount of $7.0 million from a partnership in which an officer of the Company and the Chairman of the Company, together with his wife, are limited partners. The officer of the Company was previously the general partner of such partnership. The Company acquired such loan at a cost of $3.0 million. In September 1997, the Company sold a senior lien interest in one loan to an unrelated third party and was paid off with respect to the other loan, recognizing an aggregate gain of $804,000.

In June 1997 the Company sold two senior lien interests to two different limited partnerships for $875,000 and $2.25 million, realizing gains of $310,000 and $811,000, respectively. Officers and directors of the Company hold beneficial interests in these partnerships totalling 21.3% and 18.3%, respectively.

In December 1996, the Company, through a subsidiary, acquired a loan with a face amount of $52.7 million from an unaffiliated third party at a cost of $19.3 million. The property securing such loan is owned by two partnerships:
1845 Walnut Associates (the "Building Partnership"), which owns the office building and Mutual Associates Ltd. (the "Garage Partnership"), which owns the parking garage. Pursuant to a 1993 loan restructuring agreement, an affiliate of the holder of the loan is required to hold, as additional security for the loan, general partnership interests in both the Building Partnership and the Garage Partnership. As part of the loan purchase transaction, a partnership interest in the Building Partnership was assigned by an affiliate of the loan Seller to a limited partnership of which subsidiaries of the Company are the general and limited partners. Similarly, a partnership interest in the Garage Partnership was assigned to a limited partnership of which a third subsidiary of the Company is general partner and RPI Partnership is limited partner. RPI Partnership is a limited partnership in which officers of the Company, including the Chairman, are limited partners. Although the Company does not anticipate any economic benefit to RPI Partnership, any which may be received will be assigned and transferred to the Company.

In December 1997 the Company sold a senior lien interest to a limited partnership for $1,000,000 in the form of an interest bearing note, realizing a gain of $267,000. The note was repaid in February 1998. Officers and directors of the Company hold an aggregate beneficial interest in the partnership of 17.8%.

Management believes that any other such commercial real estate transactions and balances involving parties that may be considered to be related parties are not material.

The Company administers the activities of certain energy partnerships that it sponsors (see Note 2). Energy service revenues primarily represent services provided to Partnerships and joint ventures managed by the Company. In accordance with industry practice, the Company charges each producing well in the Partnerships and joint ventures a fixed monthly overhead fee and a proportionate share of certain lease operating expenses. These charges are to reimburse the Company for certain operating and general and administrative expenses.

F-12

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 4--INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE LOANS

The Company has focused its real estate activities on the purchase of income producing mortgages at a discount from both the face value of such mortgages and the appraised value of the properties underlying the mortgages. Cash received by the Company for payment on each mortgage is allocated between principal and interest with the interest portion of the cash received being recorded as income to the Company. Additionally, the Company records as income the accretion of a portion of the discount to the underlying collateral value. For the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, the accretion of discount amounted to $1.7 millon and $793,000, respectively. This accretion of discount amounted to $4.1 million and $1.0 million during the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively. As the Company sells senior lien interests or receives funds from refinancings in such mortgages, a portion of the cash received is utilized to reduce the cumulative accretion of discount included in the carrying value of the Company's investment in real estate loans.

At December 31, 1997 and at September 30, 1997 and 1996, the Company held real estate loans having aggregate face values of $330.1 million, $233.7 million and $100.5 million, respectively, which were being carried at aggregate costs of $128.9 million, $88.8 million and $21.8 million, including cumulative accretion. Amounts receivable, net of senior lien interests, were $236.9 million, $178.1 million, $61.8 million at December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

The following is a summary of the changes in the carrying value of the Company's investments in real estate loans for the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996:

                                             Quarter Ended          Year Ended
                                                                   September 30,
                                              December 31,    -----------------------
                                                  1997           1997         1996
                                            ---------------   ----------   ----------
                                              (Unaudited)
                                                         (in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period ............      $  88,816       $ 21,798     $ 17,991
New loans ...............................         63,648         71,720       15,127
Additions to existing loans .............          1,998          1,860        2,564
Reserve for possible losses .............            (52)          (400)          --
Accretion of discount ...................          1,666          4,124          954
Collections of principal ................        (35,250)          (517)      (9,377)
Cost of loans sold ......................         (3,784)        (9,769)      (5,461)
Investment in residential loans .........         11,842             --           --
                                               ---------       --------     --------
Balance, end of period ..................      $ 128,884       $ 88,816     $ 21,798
                                               =========       ========     ========

A summary of activity in the Company's allowance for possible losses related to real estate loans for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and for the year ended September 30, 1997 is as follows:

                                           Quarter Ended      Year Ended
                                            December 31,     September 30,
                                                1997             1997
                                          ---------------   --------------
                                            (Unaudited)
                                                   (in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period ..........         $400             $ --
Provision for possible losses .........           68              400
Writeoffs .............................           --               --
                                                ----             ----
Balance, end of period ................         $468             $400
                                                ====             ====

F-13

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 5 -- INVESTMENT IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

Components of the net investment in direct financing leases as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and September 30, 1997 and 1996, as well as future minimum lease payments receivable, including residual values, are as follows:

                                                                                 September 30,
                                                            December 31,    -----------------------
                                                                1997           1997         1996
                                                           --------------   ---------   -----------
                                                             (Unaudited)
                                                                        (in thousands)
Total future minimum lease payments receivable .........      $  5,383       $4,186       $ 847
Initial direct costs, net of amortization ..............            95           75          67
Unguaranteed residual ..................................           425          310          75
Unearned lease income ..................................        (1,205)        (932)       (253)
Allowance for possible losses ..........................          (492)        (248)         (7)
                                                              --------       ------       --------
Net investment in direct financing leases ..............      $  4,206       $3,391       $ 729
                                                              ========       ======       =======

At September 30, 1997, minimum lease payments for each of the five succeeding fiscal years are as follows: 1998 -- $1.4 million; 1999 -- $1.0 million; 2000 -- $914,000; 2001 -- $502,000; and 2002 -- $365,000.

A summary of activity in the Company's allowance for possible losses related to direct financing leases for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 are as follows:

                                           Quarter Ended       Year Ended
                                                             September 30,
                                            December 31,    ----------------
                                                1997          1997      1996
                                          ---------------   --------   -----
                                            (Unaudited)
                                                    (in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period ..........        $248          $   7      $--
Provision for possible losses .........        250             253        7
Write offs ............................           (6)          (12)      --
                                               ------        -----      ---
Balance, end of period ................        $492          $ 248      $ 7
                                               =====         =====      ===

Unguaranteed residual value represents the estimated amount to be received at contract termination from the disposition of equipment financed under direct financing leases. Amounts to be realized at contract termination depend on fair market value of the related equipment and may vary from the recorded estimate. Residual values are reviewed periodically to determine if the equipment's fair market is below its recorded value.

Certain of the leases include options to purchase the underlying equipment at the end of the lease term at fair value or the stated residual which is not less that the book value at termination.

F-14

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 6 -- LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following:

                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                   December 31,    ------------------------
                                                                       1997            1997         1996
                                                                  --------------   -----------   ----------
                                                                    (Unaudited)
                                                                               (in thousands)
12% senior unsecured notes payable, interest due semi-
 annually, principal due August 2004 ..........................      $115,000       $115,000      $    --
9.5% senior secured note payable, repaid in July 1997 .........            --             --        7,902
Loan payable to a bank, secured by a certificate of
 deposit, 20 equal semiannual installments of $32,143
 through February 2003, and quarterly payments of
 interest at 1/2% above the prime rate through 2003 (See
 Note 9) ......................................................           353            353          418
Secured warehouse credit facility at 0.9% above LIBOR
 (6.62% at December 31, 1997) .................................         4,425             --           --
Unsecured loan, monthly installments of approximately
 $5,200 including interest at 2.25% above the prime rate
 (but not less than 7% nor greater than 14.25%) through
 April 2004 at which time the unpaid balance is due.
 This loan was refinanced in December 1996 ....................            --             --          536
Loans payable, secured by real estate, monthly
 installments totaling approximately $39,000 including
 interest ranging from prime (8.5% at September 30,
 1997) to 10.25%, due at various times from December
 2001 through January 2019 ....................................         2,513          3,216          215
Unsecured note payable, due in two equal annual
 Installments of principal and interest beginning March
 1998, interest at LIBOR (6 9/32% at September 30, 1997)                  925            925           --
                                                                     --------       --------      -------
                                                                      123,216         19,494        9,071
Less current maturities .......................................         5,100            708          105
                                                                     --------       --------      -------
                                                                     $118,786       $118,786      $ 8,966
                                                                     ========       ========      =======

As of September 30, 1997 the long-term debt maturing over the next five fiscal years is as follows: 1998 -- $708,000; 1999 -- $727,000; 2000 -- $285,000; 2001 -- $309,000; and 2002 -- $712,000.

In July 1997, the Company issued $115 million of 12% Senior Unsecured Notes (the "12% Notes") due August 2004 in a private placement. Provisions of the 12% Notes limit dividend payments, mergers and indebtedness, place restrictions on liens and guarantees and require the maintenance of certain financial ratios.

F-15

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 6 -- LONG-TERM DEBT -- (Continued)

At September 30, 1997, the Company was in compliance with such provisions. In November 1997, the Company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission offering to exchange the privately placed 12% Notes with a like amount of fully registered 12% Notes.

In May 1994, the Company privately placed with an insurance company a 9.5% senior secured note in the principal amount of $8 million together with an immediately exercisable detachable warrant to purchase, at any time through May 24, 2004, 449,440 shares, subject to adjustment, of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $3.38 per share. The value assigned to the warrant ($100,000) was accounted for as paid-in capital, resulting in a discount which was being amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the note. The senior note was collateralized by substantially all of the Company's oil and gas properties and certain of the Company's real estate loans. This note was paid in full in July 1997 from proceeds of the offering of the 12% Notes. The warrants were exercised in July 1997. (See Note 8.)

In December 1996, FLI, the Company's equipment leasing subsidiary, entered into a secured revolving credit and term loan facility with a maximum borrowing limit of $20 million with two banking institutions. Interest on the revolving credit and term loan borrowings is payable at a rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 1.75% and LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum, respectively. The credit facility expires on March 31, 1998 and is renewable annually at the lenders' discretion. A commitment fee of 3/8% per annum is assessed on the unused portion of the borrowing limit. Borrowings under this facility are collateralized by the leases and the underlying equipment being financed and are guaranteed by the Company. The agreement contains certain covenants pertaining to FLI and the Company including the maintenance of certain financial ratios and restrictions on changes in the FLI's ownership and a key management position. During fiscal 1997, the maximum borrowing under this facility was $7.1 million, all of which was repaid prior to fiscal year end. There were no borrowings under this facility during the quarter ended December 31, 1997.

In September 1997, FMF, the Company's residential mortgage lending business, entered into a secured credit facility with a maximum borrowing limit of $5 million with a banking institution. In December 1997, the limit was raised to $20 million. Interest on each draw under this facility is payable at FMF's election, at either the institution's prime rate, or at the federal funds rate plus 2.5%, or at an adjusted LIBOR plus 1.5%. The credit facility expires in September 1998 unless renewed by the parties. Borrowings under this facility are collateralized by the mortgage loans and the underlying property being financed. The agreement contains certain covenants pertaining to FMF and the Company including the maintenance of certain financial ratios. During fiscal 1997 there were no borrowings under this facility.

In October 1997, FMF established a $15 million warehouse credit facility with a financial institution, bearing interest at LIBOR or, if unavailable, the interbank eurodollars market rate, plus 90 basis points. The facility is collateralized by a first lien interest in the loans being financed by facility draws. The facility expires in October 1998. The agreement contains certain covenants pertaining to FMF, including the maintenance of certain financial ratios. In the quarter ended December 31, 1997, borrowings under this facility were $6.7 million of which $2.3 million was repaid prior to December 31, 1997.

In October 1997, the Company obtained a $5 million credit facility from a banking institution for purposes of acquiring oil and gas assets. The credit facility permits draws based on a percentage of reserves of oil and gas properties pledged as security for the facility. Draws under the facility bear interest at this institutions prime rate plus 25 basis points. The facility terminates in June 1999. The agreement contains certain covenants pertaining to the Company, including the maintenance of certain financial ratios.

F-16

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 7 -- INCOME TAXES

The following table details the components of the Company's income tax expense for the fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995.

                                        Year Ended September 30,
                                    ---------------------------------
                                        1997         1996       1995
                                    -----------   ---------   -------
                                             (in thousands)
Provision for Federal income tax:
  Current .......................    $  6,186      $1,147      $157
  Deferred ......................      (2,206)      1,059       473
                                     --------      ------      ----
                                     $  3,980      $2,206      $630
                                     ========      ======      ====

A reconciliation between the statutory Federal income tax rate and the Company's effective Federal income tax rate is as follows:

                                                         Year Ended September 30,
                                                     ---------------------------------
                                                        1997        1996        1995
                                                     ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                              (in thousands)
Statutory tax rate ...............................      34%         34%         34%
Statutory depletion ..............................        (2)         (4)         (4)
Non-conventional fuel and low-income housing
  credits ........................................        (3)       --            (1)
Tax-exempt interest ..............................        (2)       --          --
Adjustment to valuation allowance for deferred tax
  assets .........................................      --          --            (7)
Other ............................................      --          --            (3)
                                                        ----        ----        -----
                                                        27%         30%         19%
                                                        ====        ====        ====

The components of the net deferred tax liability are as follows:

                                                                  September 30,
                                                            -------------------------
                                                                1997          1996
                                                            -----------   -----------
                                                                 (in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
   Tax credit carryforwards .............................    $    507      $     --
   Alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards .........          --            61
   Interest receivable ..................................       1,490            45
   Net operating loss carryforwards .....................         357            --
   Provision for possible losses ........................         220            --
                                                             --------      --------
                                                                2,574           106
Deferred tax liabilities:
   Depreciation .........................................      (2,290)       (2,160)
   ESOP benefits ........................................        (120)         (140)
   Other items, net .....................................        (164)          (12)
                                                             --------      --------
                                                               (2,574)       (2,312)
                                                             --------      --------
   Net deferred tax liability ...........................    $     --      $ (2,206)
                                                             ========      ========

F-17

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 8 -- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

In July 1997, the Company issued 983,150 unregistered shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants held by the holder of the Company's 9.5% senior secured note payable due 2004, realizing proceeds of $3.66 million. The 983,150 shares were subsequently sold by the holder in a separate private placement to a small group of institutional investors.

In December 1996, the Company closed a public offering of 1.66 million shares of its Common Stock. The Company received proceeds from the offering of $19.99 million, before offering expenses of $515,000.

In September 1996, the Company's stockholders authorized an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to increase the total authorized capital stock to 9 million shares, of which 8 million shares were Common Stock and 1 million shares were Preferred Stock.

On December 20, 1995 and March 12, 1996, the Board of Directors declared 6% stock dividends on the Common Stock. Furthermore, on May 9, 1996 the Board of Directors authorized a five-for-two stock split effected in the form of a 150% stock dividend. These stock dividends resulted in the issuance of 1.2 million additional shares of Common Stock. Earnings per share and weighted average shares outstanding reflect the above transactions.

NOTE 9 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

The Company sponsors an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), which is a qualified non-contributory retirement plan established to acquire shares of the Company's Common Stock for the benefit of all employees who are 21 years of age or older and have completed 1,000 hours of service for the Company. Contributions to the ESOP are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The ESOP has borrowed funds to purchase shares from the Company, which borrowed the funds for the loan to the ESOP from a bank.

The Common Stock purchased by the ESOP with the money borrowed is held by the ESOP trustee in a suspense account. On an annual basis, a portion of the Common Stock is released from the suspense account and allocated to participating employees. Any dividends on ESOP shares are used to pay principal and interest on the loan. As of September 30, 1997, there were 113,930 shares allocated to participants which constitute substantially all shares in the plan. Compensation expense related to the plan was $12,600 for both quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996. Compensation expense related to the plan amounted to $50,400, $50,300 and $91,000 for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

The loan from the bank to the Company is payable in semiannual installments through February 1, 2003. The loan from the Company to the ESOP was fully repaid in August 1996. Both the loan obligation and the unearned benefits expense (a reduction in stockholders' equity) will be reduced by the amount of any loan principal payments made by the Company.

Employee Savings Plan

The Company sponsors an Employee Retirement Savings Plan and Trust under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code which allows employees to defer up to 10% of their income (subject to certain limitations) on a pretax basis through contributions to the savings plan. The Company matches up to 100% of each employee's contribution. Included in general and administrative expenses are $67,900 and $17,100 for the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Included in general and administrative expenses are $131,900, $44,700 and $28,100 for the Company's contributions for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

F-18

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 9 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (Continued)

Stock Options

The Company has three employee stock option plans, those of 1984, 1989 and 1997. The 1984 and 1989 plans authorize the granting of up to 56,180 and 589,890 (as amended during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996) shares, respectively, of the Company's common stock in the form of incentive stock options ("ISO's"), non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights ("SAR's"). No further grants may be made under these two plans.

In April 1997, the stockholders approved the Resource America, Inc., 1997 Key Employee Stock Option Plan ("Employee Plan"). This plan, for which 275,000 shares were reserved, provides for the issuance of ISO's and non-qualified stock options. In the first quarter of fiscal 1998 and in fiscal 1997, options for 42,205 and 25,000 shares, respectively, were issued under this plan.

Options under the 1984, 1989 and 1997 plans become exercisable as to 25% of the optioned shares each year after the date of grant, and expire not later than ten years after grant. The Company received $506,400 from the exercise of stock options in fiscal 1997.

Transactions for all three stock option plans are as follows:

                                                                    Year Ended September 30,
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1997                            1996                          1995
                                   ------------------------------  ------------------------------  --------------------------
                                                      Weighted                       Weighted                     Weighted
                                                      Average                         Average                     Average
                                       Shares      ExercisePrice      Shares      Exercise Price     Shares    Exercise Price
                                   -------------  ---------------  ------------  ----------------  ---------  ---------------
Outstanding -- beginning of
 year ...........................      348,316       $   6.21         202,248    $ 2.88             202,248       $ 2.88
   Granted ......................       25,000       $  39.50         202,248    $ 8.58                  --       $   --
   Exercised ....................     (144,663)      $   3.50         (28,090)   $ 2.76                  --       $   --
   Cancelled ....................           --       $     --         (28,090)   $ 2.76                  --       $   --
                                      --------                        -------                       -------
Outstanding -- end of year ......      228,653       $  11.56         348,316    $ 6.21             202,248       $ 2.88
                                      ========                        =======                       =======
Exercisable, at end of year .....       63,554       $   7.06         109,551    $ 2.92             101,124       $ 2.88
                                      --------                        -------                       -------
Available for grant .............      250,000                             --                         5,618
                                      ========                        =======                       =======
Weighted average fair value
 per share of options
 granted during the year ........   $    35.93                      $    6.51                            --
                                    ==========                      =========                       =======

                                     Exercisable                            Exercisable
                    ----------------------------------------------   --------------------------
                                    Weighted
                                     Average          Weighted                      Weighted
Range of                           Contractual         Average                      Average
Exercise Prices       Shares      Life (Years)     Exercise Price     Shares     Exercise Price
-----------------   ----------   --------------   ----------------   --------   ---------------
 $2.76 - $3.04        16,854     5.56                $   2.76         16,854       $   2.76
 $8.19 - $9.01       186,799     5.66                $   8.61         46,700       $   8.61
$39.50 - $39.50       25,000     9.91                $  39.50             --       $  39.50
                     -------                                          ------
                     228,653                                          63,554
                     =======                                          ======

F-19

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 9 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (Continued)

In addition, a key employee of Fidelity Leasing, Inc. ("FLI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has received options to purchase 10% of the common stock of FLI (1 million shares) at an aggregate price of $220,000 and, should FLI declare a dividend, will receive payments on the options in an amount equal to the dividends that would have been paid on the shares subject to the options had they been issued. In the event that, prior to becoming a public company, FLI issues stock to anyone other than the Company or the key employee, the employee is entitled to receive such additional options as will allow him to maintain a 10% equity position in FLI upon exercise of all options held by such employee (excluding shares issuable pursuant to the employee option plan referred to below), at an exercise price equal to the price paid or value received in the additional issuance. FLI does not anticipate making any such issuances.

The options issued to the key employee vest 25% per year beginning in March 1997 (becoming fully invested in March 2000), and terminate in March 2005. The options become fully vested and immediately exercisable in the event of a change in control of FLI. The key employee has certain rights, commencing after March 5, 2000, to require FLI to register his option shares under the Securities Act of 1933. In the event FLI does not become a public company by March 5, 2001, the key employee may require that FLI thereafter buy, for cash, FLI shares subject to his options at a price equal to ten times FLI's net earnings (as defined in the agreement) per share for the fiscal year ended immediately prior to the giving of notice of his exercise of this right. FLI is required to purchase 25% of such employee's shares in each year following such employee's exercise of this right.

FLI has also established another option plan providing for the granting of options, at the discretion of FLI's board of directors, for up to 500,000 shares of common stock to other employees of FLI. As of September 30, 1997, options for 393,000 shares had been issued to certain employees.

Transactions for both FLI stock option plans are as follows:

                                                               Year Ended September 30,
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       1997                                1996
                                         ---------------------------------   --------------------------------
                                                              Weighted                            Weighted
                                                               Average                            Average
                                             Shares        Exercise Price        Shares        Exercise Price
                                         --------------   ----------------   --------------   ---------------
Outstanding -- beginning of year .....      1,000,000          $ .22                   --          $   -
   Granted ...........................        393,000          $ .22            1,000,000          $ .22
   Exercised .........................             --          $  --                   --          $  --
   Cancelled .........................             --          $  --                   --          $  --
                                            ---------                           ---------
Outstanding -- end of year ...........      1,393,000          $  --            1,000,000          $ .22
                                            =========                           =========
Exercisable, at end of year ..........        250,000          $ .22                   --          $  --
                                            =========                           =========
Available for grant ..................        107,000                             500,000
                                            =========                           =========
Weighted average fair value per
  share of options granted during
  the year ...........................    $       .11                         $       .10
                                          ===========                         ===========

F-20

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 9 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (Continued)

                                      Outstanding                             Exercisable
                    -----------------------------------------------   ---------------------------
                                     Weighted
                                      Average          Weighted                       Weighted
Range of                            Contractual         Average                       Average
Exercise Prices        Shares      Life (Years)     Exercise Price      Shares     Exercise Price
-----------------   -----------   --------------   ----------------   ---------   ---------------
   $.22 - $.22      1,393,000           8.79            $ .22         250,000          $ .22
                    =========                                         =======

Fidelity Mortgage Funding, Inc. ("FMF"), another wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (and in which the Company owns 17 million shares of common stock), has established an option plan pursuant to which 3 million shares of FMF's common stock (representing 15% of FMF's common stock on a fully-diluted basis) have been reserved for options which may be issued to key employees. Under the program, a director and officer of the Company who is also the Chairman of FMF has received options to purchase 2 million shares (representing 10% of FMF's common stock on a fully-diluted basis) at an aggregate price of $235,294 ($.118 per share) and, should FMF declare a dividend, will receive payments on the options in an amount equal to the dividends that would have been paid on the shares subject to the options had they been issued. The options generally will have the same terms as those relating to the FLI options, except that (i) the option term and vesting period commenced in April 1997 and (ii) the period during which the officer/director may sell FMF shares to FMF will commence in April 2002. The options become fully vested and immediately exercisable in the event of a change in control or potential change in control of FMF or the Company. In addition, as part of the program, at September 30, 1997, FMF had granted options to (i) its President and Chief Operating Officer to purchase 800,000 shares at an aggregate price of $100,000 ($.125 per share) (representing 4% of FMF's common stock on a fully-diluted basis), and (ii) to certain other of its employees to purchase 145,000 shares at an aggregate price of $18,125 ($.125 per share), leaving 55,000 shares reserved for issuance of options under the plan at September 30, 1997.

Transactions for the FMF stock option plan are as follows:

                                                    Year Ended September 30, 1997
                                                   --------------------------------
                                                                        Weighted
                                                                    ---------------
                                                                        Average
                                                       Shares        Exercise Price
                                                   --------------   ---------------
Outstanding -- beginning of year ...............             --             --
   Granted .....................................      2,945,000          $ .12
   Exercised ...................................             --             --
   Cancelled ...................................             --             --
                                                      ---------
Outstanding -- end of year .....................      2,945,000          $ .12
Exercisable, at end of year ....................             --             --
                                                      =========
Available for grant ............................         55,000
                                                      =========
Weighted average fair value per share of options
  granted during the year ......................    $       .06
                                                    ===========

F-21

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 9 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS -- (Continued)

                                      Outstanding                            Exercisable
                    -----------------------------------------------   --------------------------
                                     Weighted
                                      Average          Weighted                      Weighted
Range of                            Contractual         Average                      Average
Exercise Prices        Shares      Life (Years)     Exercise Price     Shares     Exercise Price
-----------------   -----------   --------------   ----------------   --------   ---------------
 $.118 - $.125      2,945,000           9.63            $ .12           --             --
                    =========                                         ========

As discussed in Note 2, the Company accounts for its stock-based awards using the intrinsic value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related interpretations. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized in the financial statements for these employee stock arrangements.

SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, requires the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share as if the Company had adopted the fair value method for stock options granted after June 30, 1996. No such options were granted in fiscal 1996. Under SFAS No. 123, the fair value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated through the use of option pricing models, even though such models were developed to estimate the fair value of freely tradable, fully transferable options without vesting restrictions, which significantly differ from the Company's stock option awards. These models also require subjective assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values. The Company's calculations were made using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: expected life, 5 or 10 years following vesting; stock volatility, 96%, 87% and 144% in 1997, 1996 and 1995 respectively; risk free interest rate, 6.6%, 6.0% and 6.0% in 1997, 1996 and 1995 respectively; and no dividends during the expected term. The Company's calculations are based on a multiple option valuation approach and forfeitures are recognized as they occur. If the computed fair values of the awards had been amortized to expense over the vesting period of the awards, pro forma net income would have been $10.5 million ($3.02 per share -- basic; $2.40 per share -- diluted) in fiscal 1997.

In addition to the various stock option plans, in May 1997 the stockholders approved the Resource America, Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock and Defined Compensation Plan (the "Director Plan") for which 25,000 shares were reserved for issuance. Each director vests in shares granted under the Director Plan on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant. If a director terminates service prior to such fifth anniversary, all of the shares granted are forfeited. In May 1997, 1,000 shares were granted under the Director Plan to each of the Company's four non-employee directors. The fair value of the grants ($22.50 per share, $90,000 in total) is being charged to operations over the five year vesting period.

NOTE 10--COMMITMENTS

The Company leases office space under leases with varying expiration dates through 2002 (see Note 3). Rental expense was $238,600, $188,900 and $60,500 for the years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Future minimum rental commitments for the next five fiscal years were as follows:

                         December 31, 1997    September 30, 1997
                        -------------------  -------------------
                            (Unaudited)
1998 .................        $506,801             $445,300
1999 .................         523,825              437,000
2000 .................         523,825              437,000
2001 .................         501,925              415,100
2002 .................         486,625              399,800

F-22

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 10--COMMITMENTS -- (Continued)

As of December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, the Company had outstanding commitments to fund the purchase of equipment which it intends to lease, with an aggregate cost of $4.1 million and $11.4 millon, respectively. The Company believes, based on its past experience, that approximately $1.8 million and $4.0 millon, respectively, will be funded.

As of December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, subsidiaries of the Company had four and two warehouse lines of credit which allow them to borrow up to $60 million and $25 millon, respectively. As of December 31, 1997, $4.4 million was outstanding with respect to these lines of credit. No borrowings were outstanding at September 30, 1997.

The Company has an employment agreement with its Chairman pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide him with a supplemental employment retirement plan ("SERP") and with certain financial benefits upon termination of his employment. Under the SERP, he will be paid an annual benefit of 75% of his Average Income after he has reached Retirement Age (each as defined in the employment agreement). Upon termination, he is entitled to receive lump sum payments in various amounts of between 25% and five times Average Compensation (depending upon the reason for termination) and, for termination due to disability, a monthly benefit equal to the SERP benefit (which will terminate upon commencement of payments under the SERP). During the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company accrued $87,000 with respect to these commitments. During fiscal 1997, the Company accrued $240,000 with respect to these commitments.

NOTE 11--ACQUISITIONS

In June 1997, the Company acquired equity interests in 288 wells (representing 78 wells net to the Company's interest) and operating rights to an additional 62 wells, together with 220 miles of natural gas pipelines and 21,830 gross acres (9,340 net acres) of mineral rights, for $1.25 million in cash, $925,000 by a note and 17,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the assets and liabilities acquired have been recorded at their estimated fair market values at the date of acquisition. The purchase price resulted in an excess of costs over net assets acquired (goodwill) of approximately $400,000, which is being amortized on a straight line basis over 15 years.

In April 1997, the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of Bryn Mawr Resources, Inc. ("BMR") for 579,623 shares of common stock. BMR's only asset was 579,623 shares of the Company's Common Stock held by subsidiaries of BMR (excluding 3,807 shares of the Company's Common Stock attributable to minority interests held by third parties in BMR's subsidiaries).

In December 1997, the Company acquired equity interests in approximately 135 wells (representing approximately 88 net wells, together with 60 miles of natural gas pipelines and 17,000 gross acres of mineral rights, for $900,000 in cash. This acquisition was recorded as a purchase.

These acquisitions were immaterial to the results of operations of the Company, and therefore pro forma information is excluded.

F-23

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 12--INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS

The Company operates in three principal industry segments - real estate, leasing and energy. Segment data for the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for years ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:

                                                                    As of and for the
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Quarter Ended                       Year Ended
                                                   December 31,                      September 30,
                                            --------------------------   -------------------------------------
                                                1997           1996          1997         1996         1995
                                            ------------   -----------   -----------   ----------   ----------
                                                   (Unaudited)
                                                                      (in thousands)
Revenue:
 Real estate ............................     $  9,392       $ 3,219      $ 19,144      $  7,171     $  6,114
 Leasing ................................        3,172         1,202         7,162         4,466           --
 Energy .................................        1,815         1,339         5,608         5,157        5,332
 Corporate ..............................          698            84           930           197          148
                                              --------       -------      --------      --------     --------
                                              $ 15,077       $ 5,844      $ 32,844      $ 16,991     $ 11,594
                                              ========       =======      ========      ========     ========
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
 Real estate ............................     $    158       $    10      $     36      $     38     $     37
 Leasing ................................          138            81           398           204           --
 Energy .................................          239           288         1,202         1,061        1,254
 Corporate ..............................          (27)           --           (22)           65           44
                                              --------       -------      --------      --------     --------
                                              $    508       $   379      $  1,614      $  1,368     $  1,335
                                              ========       =======      ========      ========     ========
Operating Profit (Loss):
 Real estate ............................     $  7,467       $ 2,865      $ 16,546      $  6,281     $  5,276
 Leasing ................................        1,430           214         2,457         1,916           --
 Energy .................................          518           372         1,699         1,646        1,317
 Corporate ..............................       (3,692)         (679)       (5,845)       (2,497)      (3,248)
                                              --------       -------      --------      --------     --------
                                              $  5,723       $ 2,772      $ 14,857      $  7,346     $  3,345
                                              ========       =======      ========      ========     ========
Identifiable Assets:
 Real estate ............................     $140,280       $51,518      $ 92,287      $ 22,087     $ 18,225
 Leasing ................................       16,251         7,192        10,647         3,019          991
 Energy .................................       16,242        12,895        15,016        12,675       13,790
 Corporate ..............................       35,146         8,806        77,169         6,178        4,544
                                              --------       -------      --------      --------     --------
                                              $207,919       $80,411      $195,119      $ 43,959     $ 37,550
                                              ========       =======      ========      ========     ========
Capital Expenditures:
 Real Estate ............................     $    561       $     5      $     59      $     17     $    172
 Leasing ................................          174            54           585           531           --
 Energy .................................        1,239            71         1,513           501          637
 Corporate ..............................           --            --           507            48            8
                                              --------       -------      --------      --------     --------
                                              $  1,974       $   130      $  2,664      $  1,097     $    817
                                              ========       =======      ========      ========     ========

F-24

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 12--INDUSTRY SEGMENT INFORMATION AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS -- (Continued)

Operating profit (loss) represents total revenue less costs attributable thereto, including interest and provision for possible losses, and less depreciation, depletion and amortization, excluding general corporate expenses.

The Company's natural gas is sold under contract to various purchasers. For the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, gas sales to two purchasers accounted for 29% and 12% and 29% and 13% of the Company's total production revenues, respectively. Gas sales to one purchaser individually accounted for 15% of total revenues for the year ended September 30, 1995.

In commercial mortgage loan acquisition and resolution, interest and fees earned from a single borrower in the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 approximated 20%, while for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 interest and fees from a (different) single borrower approximated 24% of total revenues. No single borrower generated revenues in excess of 10% in fiscal 1995.

NOTE 13--SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

Results of operations for oil and gas producing activities:

                                               Quarter Ended
                                                December 31,              Year Ended September 30,
                                            --------------------   ---------------------------------------
                                               1997       1996         1997          1996          1995
                                            ---------   --------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                (Unaudited)
                                                                    (in thousands)
Revenues ................................    $1,232      $  950     $  3,936      $  3,421      $  3,452
Production costs ........................      (519)       (366)      (1,636)       (1,421)       (1,502)
Exploration expenses ....................       (56)        (46)        (187)         (161)         (230)
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization      (185)       (198)        (712)         (781)         (922)
Income taxes ............................      (146)       (134)        (197)          (96)           --
                                             ------      ------     --------      --------      --------
Results of operations for producing
 activities .............................    $  326      $  206     $  1,204      $    962      $    798
                                             ======      ======     ========      ========      ========

Capitalized Costs Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities

The components of capitalized costs related to the Company's oil and gas producing activities (less impairment reserve of $28,000, $22,000, and $30,000 at September 30, 1997, 1996, and 1995, respectively and $29,000 at December 31, 1997), are as follows:

                                              December 31,                  September 30,
                                             --------------   ------------------------------------------
                                                  1997            1997           1996           1995
                                             --------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
                                               (Unaudited)
                                                                   (in thousands)
Proved properties ........................     $  24,142       $  23,254      $  22,549      $  22,416
Unproved properties ......................           974             846            482            650
Pipelines, equipment and other interests .         2,460           2,445          2,540          2,488
                                               ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
                                                  27,576          26,545         25,571         25,554
Accumulated depreciation, depletion and
 amortization ............................       (15,198)        (15,145)       (14,306)       (13,590)
                                               ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------
   Net capitalized costs .................     $  12,378       $  11,400      $  11,265      $  11,964
                                               =========       =========      =========      =========

F-25

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 13--SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS INFORMATION -- (Continued)

Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Producing Activities

The costs incurred by the Company in its oil and gas activities during the quarters ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, and during the fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:

                                  Quarter Ended           Year Ended
                                  December 31,          September 30,
                                 ---------------   ------------------------
                                  1997     1996     1997     1996     1995
                                 ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
                                   (Unaudited)
                                               (in thousands)
Property acquisition costs:
 Unproved properties .........    $  5     $ 1      $321     $  2     $  5
 Proved properties ...........     990      38       782      157      388
Exploration costs ............     185      44       238      317      317
Development costs ............      73       7       144      176      211

Oil and Gas Reserve Information (unaudited)

The Company's estimates of net proved developed oil and gas reserves and the present value thereof have been verified by E.E. Templeton & Associates, Inc., an independent petroleum engineering firm. The Company does not estimate the value of its proven undeveloped reserves.

The Company's oil and gas reserves are located within the United States. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future net revenues and the timing of development expenditures. The reserve data presented represent estimates only and should not be construed as being exact. In addition, the standardized measures of discounted future net cash flows may not represent the fair market value of the Company's oil and gas reserves or the present value of future cash flows of equivalent reserves, due to anticipated future changes in oil and gas prices and in production and development costs and other factors for which effects have not been provided.

F-26

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 13--SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS INFORMATION -- (Continued)

The standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows is information provided for the financial statement user as a common base for comparing oil and gas reserves of enterprises in the industry.

                                                  Gas              Oil
                                                 (mcf)           (bbls)
                                            ---------------   ------------
Balance at September 30, 1994 ...........      12,112,116        296,859
Purchases of reserves in-place. .........         893,104         23,284
Current additions .......................         430,330          3,641
Sales of reserves in-place. .............         (79,294)          (628)
Revisions to previous estimates .........         624,471         14,423
Production. .............................      (1,198,245)       (36,420)
                                               ----------        -------
Balance at September 30, 1995 ...........      12,782,482        301,159
Purchase of reserves in-place ...........         293,602          8,880
Current additions .......................         237,070            726
Sales of reserves in-place ..............         (18,645)        (1,885)
Revision to previous estimates ..........         723,242         35,002
Production ..............................      (1,165,477)       (33,862)
                                               ----------        -------
Balance at September 30, 1996 ...........      12,852,274        310,020
Purchase of reserves in-place ...........       1,903,853         45,150
Current additions .......................          15,984              0
Sales of reserves in-place ..............          (1,393)             0
Revision to previous estimates ..........       1,614,704         38,654
Production ..............................      (1,227,887)       (35,811)
                                               ----------        -------
Balance at September 30, 1997 ...........      15,157,535        358,013
                                               ==========        =======

Presented below is the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes therein relating to proved developed oil and gas reserves. The estimated future production is priced at year-end prices. The resulting estimated future cash inflows are reduced by estimated future costs to develop and produce the proved developed reserves based on year-end cost levels. The future net cash flows are reduced to present value amounts by applying a 10% discount factor.

                                                             Year Ended September 30,
                                                     ----------------------------------------
                                                         1997           1996          1995
                                                     ------------   -----------   -----------
                                                                  (in thousands)
Future cash inflows ..............................    $  42,634      $  34,516     $  30,257
Future production and development costs ..........      (21,585)       (16,764)      (15,200)
Future income tax expense ........................       (2,740)        (2,732)       (1,260)
                                                      ---------      ---------     ---------
Future net cash flows ............................       18,309         15,020        13,797
Less 10% annual discount for estimated timing of
 cash flows ......................................       (8,186)        (6,671)       (5,987)
                                                      ---------      ---------     ---------
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash
 flows ...........................................    $  10,123      $   8,349     $   7,810
                                                      =========      =========     =========

F-27

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)

(information as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended March, 31, 1997 and 1996 is unaudited)

NOTE 13--SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS INFORMATION -- (Continued)

The following table summarizes the changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from estimated production of proved developed oil and gas reserves after income taxes.

                                                                  Year Ended September 30,
                                                          -----------------------------------------
                                                               1997           1996          1995
                                                          -------------   -----------   -----------
                                                                       (in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year ............................     $ 8,349        $  7,810      $  7,961
Increase (decrease) in discounted future net cash
 flows:
Sales and transfers of oil and gas net of related costs      (2,411)         (1,928)       (1,870)
Net changes in prices and production costs ............         512           1,392          (187)
Revisions of previous quantity estimates ..............       2,483             697           418
Extensions, discoveries, and improved recovery less
 related costs ........................................          10             145           253
Purchases of reserves in-place ........................       1,474             242           612
Sales of reserves in-place, net of tax effect .........          (1)            (26)          (46)
Accretion of discount .................................         997             851           842
Net change in future income taxes .....................         (14)           (924)         (240)
Other .................................................      (1,276)             90            67
                                                            ---------      --------      --------
Balance, end of year ..................................     $10,123        $  8,349      $  7,810
                                                            =========      ========      ========

NOTE 14--EVENT (UNAUDITED) SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Company is the sponsor of Resource Asset Investment Trust ("RAIT"), a recently formed real estate investment trust which commenced operations in January 1998. RAIT has been formed to acquire and provide mortgage financing in situations that generally do not conform to the debt underwriting standards of institutional lenders or sources that provide financing through securitization.

The chairman of RAIT is the spouse of the chairman of the Company; their son, who is not otherwise an officer or director of the Company, is the Company's representative on RAIT's board of trustees.

In January 1998, the Company sold 10 loans and senior lien interests in two other loans. The aggregate price paid by RAIT for the loans and the senior lien interests was $20.1 million (including $2.0 million attributable to senior lien interests acquired by the Company and sold to RAIT, at cost, in connection with such purchase. The Company realized a gain on such sale of $3.0 million. The Company anticipates selling further loans to RAIT.

F-28



No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus and any information or representation not contained herein must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or any Underwriter. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer of any securities other than the securities to which it relates or an offer to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer would be unlawful. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                Page
                                               ------
Available Information ........................    2
Additional Information .......................    2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
   Reference .................................    3
Prospectus Summary ...........................    4
Risk Factors .................................   11
Price Range of Common Stock and
   Dividend Policy ...........................   23
Capitalization ...............................   24
Selected Consolidated Financial Data .........   25
Use of Proceeds ..............................   27
Management's Discussion and Analysis
   of Financial Condition and Results of
   Operations ................................   27
Business .....................................   39
Management ...................................   64
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
   Owners and Management .....................   69
Description of Capital Stock .................   71
Shares Eligible for Future Sale ..............   73
Underwriting .................................   74
Legal Matters ................................   75
Independent Auditors .........................   75
Consolidated Financial Statements ............   F-1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




1,500,000 Shares

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

Common Stock


PROSPECTUS
FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY
& CO., INC.

BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON
STEPHENS

JANNEY MONTGOMERY
SCOTT INC.

____________, 1998




PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

Registration and Filing Fees:

   Securities and Exchange Commission .........    $ 23,981
   NASD .......................................      17,500
                                                   --------
   Total Registration and Filing Fees .........    $ 41,481

Printing and Engraving* .......................    $ 70,000
Legal* ........................................     400,000
Blue Sky* .....................................      10,000
Accounting* ...................................      80,000
Transfer Agent ................................          --
Total Other Expenses* .........................    $198,519
                                                   --------
Total Expenses ................................    $800,000
                                                   ========

------------

* Estimate

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, relating to prohibited dividends or distributions or the repurchase or redemption of stock, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. In addition, the Company's By-laws provide for indemnification of the Company's officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

The Company maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance against any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect or breach of duty by any director or officer, excluding certain matters including fraudulent, dishonest or criminal acts or self-dealing.

II-1


Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

a. Exhibits.

 1.*      Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 2.       Agreement and Plan of Merger among Tri-Star Financial Services, Inc. Frank
          Pellegrini, Resource Tri-Star Acquisition Corp. and the Registrant(1)
 3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.(2)
 3.2      Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended.(2)
 4.       Form of certificate for Common Stock.(2)
 4.2      Indenture with respect to 12% senior notes due 2004 (including form of note).(3)
 5.*      Opinion of Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C., as to the legality of the securities being
          registered (including consent).
10.1      Receivables Purchase Agreement (lease sales)(4)
10.2      Purchase and Sale Agreement (lease sales)(4)
12.       Statement regarding computation of ratios.(1)
23.1      Consent of E. E. Templeton & Associates, Inc.(4)
23.2      Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
23.3      Consent of Ledgewood Law Firm, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5)
24.       Power of Attorney (included as part of signature pages to this registration
          statement).


* To be filed by amendment.

(1) Filed previously as an Exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997.

(2) Filed previously as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-13905) and by this reference incorporated herein.

(3) Filed previously as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-40231) and by this reference incorporated herein.

(4) Filed previously as an Exhibit to this Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on or about March 5, 1998.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions of registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws 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 Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the

II-2


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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant undertakes that:

1. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

2. For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.

II-3


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 Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on March 30, 1998.

RESOURCE AMERICA, INC.

By: /s/ Edward E. Cohen
  ------------------------------------
   Edward E. Cohen, Chairman of the
   Board of Directors, Chief Executive
   Officer and President

II-4


POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below in so signing also makes, constitutes and appoints Edward E. Cohen, Steven J. Kessler, Michael L. Staines, and each of them acting alone, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities to execute and cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney-in-fact or said attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

SIGNATURES

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.

EDWARD E. COHEN, Chairman of                          Date: March 30, 1998
the Board of Directors,
Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
(Chief Executive Officer)

CARLOS C. CAMPBELL, Director                          Date: March 30, 1998

DANIEL G. COHEN, Executive Vice                       Date: March 30, 1998
President and Director

ANDREW M. LUBIN, Director                             Date: March 30, 1998

SCOTT F. SCHAEFFER, Executive Vice                    Date: March 30, 1998
President and Director

ALAN D. SCHREIBER, M.D.,                              Date: March 30, 1998
Director

MICHAEL L. STAINES, Senior                            Date: March 30, 1998
Vice President, Secretary
and Director

JOHN S. WHITE, Director                               Date: March 30, 1998

STEVEN J. KESSLER, Senior Vice President              Date: March 30, 1998
-- Finance and Chief Financial Officer

NANCY J. MCGURK, Vice                                 Date: March 30, 1998
President -- Finance
(Chief Accounting Officer)

By: /s/ Steven J. Kessler
   ---------------------------------
   STEVEN J. KESSLER,
   as attorney-in-fact for each such
   person pursuant to power of
   attorney heretofore filed as part

II-5


Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

We have issued our reports dated November 6, 1997 accompanying the consolidated financial statements and schedules of Resource America, Inc. and subsidiaries included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1997, which form is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement; we have also issued our reports dated November 6, 1997, except for the earnings per share disclosures in footnote 2 for which the date is February 19, 1998, accompanying the consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997, which financial statements are included in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference and the use in the Registration Statement of the aforementioned reports and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption "Experts."

/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
----------------------

Cleveland, Ohio
March 30, 1998

BROKERAGE PARTNERS