FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3) REGISTRATION NO. 333-38517 [LOGO OF IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.] DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND STOCK PURCHASE PLAN TO THE STOCKHOLDERS: Attached is the Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). This Plan provides the stockholders of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") a simple and convenient method of investing cash dividends in additional shares of Common Stock of the Company at a market discount or to make additional cash investments in new shares each month. Carefully read the attached Prospectus for more information about the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. PARTICIPATION IS EASY AND FLEXIBLE. You can reinvest all or just a portion of your dividend income each quarter. And you can make additional cash investments in Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Common Stock--from a minimum of $50 up to $10,000 each month (or more pursuant to the Company's consent)--whether or not you're currently reinvesting dividends. Either option is available once you enroll in the Plan. DISCOUNTED PURCHASE PRICES ARE AVAILABLE ON REINVESTED DIVIDENDS. Currently, common shares you purchase from Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. under this Plan with reinvested dividends that are newly issued will be priced at a 3% discount. Common shares you purchase with additional cash investments (that do not exceed $10,000) and that are purchased directly from the Company will be priced at 97.5% (subject to change) of the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock as reported on the American Stock Exchange for the three trading days immediately preceding the Investment Date (as described in the Plan). PURCHASES ARE FREE OF NORMAL TRADING COMMISSIONS AND FEES. As long as shares are issued by Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc., there will be no brokerage commissions to pay. Currently, brokerage commissions apply to open market transactions. THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR HANDLES ALL THE PAPER WORK SO RECORD-KEEPING IS EASY. Once you enroll, the Plan Administrator will send you regular account statements and provide free custodial services for all shares purchased under the Plan, protecting you against loss, theft or destruction of stock certificates. ENROLLING IN THE PLAN IS SIMPLE. This Prospectus provides a detailed description of the Plan and all of your participation options. If you are presently enrolled in the existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, then you will continue to be enrolled in the Plan unless you notify the Company otherwise. After reviewing the Plan, just complete the attached Authorization Form and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided, or, if your stock is registered in the name of a nominee, contact your bank or broker for further information. Your participation can begin with the Company's next dividend payment, as long as we receive your written authorization by the next Record Date (as described in the Plan). PROSPECTUS [LOGO OF IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.] DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND STOCK PURCHASE PLAN The Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") provides holders of record and beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") with a simple and convenient method of investing cash dividends in additional shares of stock at a current 3% discount (subject to change) from the market price (as determined in accordance with the Plan), to the extent shares are acquired directly from the Company. If the shares are acquired in open market transactions by the Plan Administrator (as defined in Question 4), the discount will not be available. Common Stock may also be purchased on a monthly basis with optional cash payments made by participants in the Plan at a current 2.5% discount (subject to change) from the market price (as determined in accordance with the Plan). Each of the discounts is subject to change (but will not vary from the range of 0% to 5%) from time to time or discontinuance at the Company's discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and the Company's current and projected capital needs. PARTICIPANTS MAY ASCERTAIN THE APPLICABLE DISCOUNT RATE BY CONTACTING THE COMPANY'S INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT (714) 438- 2100. Brokers and nominees may reinvest dividends and make optional cash payments on behalf of beneficial owners. Those holders of Common Stock who do not participate in the Plan will receive cash dividends, as declared, in the usual manner. To enroll in the Plan, simply complete the enclosed Authorization Form and return it in the envelope provided. Enrollment in the Plan is entirely voluntary and participants in the Plan may terminate their participation at any time. A broker, bank or other nominee may reinvest dividends and make optional cash payments on behalf of beneficial owners. Stockholders who are presently enrolled in the existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan will continue to be enrolled in the Plan unless you notify the Company otherwise. The Plan amends and restates in its entirety the existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. A participant in the Plan may obtain additional shares of Common Stock by (i) reinvesting dividends on all or part of the shares of Common Stock held by the participant, (ii) making optional cash payments of not less than $50 and up to $10,000 per month, whether or not dividends on shares held by the participant are being reinvested, and (iii) making optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 per month with the permission of the Company whether or not dividends on shares held by the participant are being reinvested. (Continued on next page) THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is November 3, 1997 (Continued from previous page) Optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 may be made only pursuant to an accepted request for waiver. It is expected that a portion of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be issued pursuant to such waivers. The price to be paid for shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan in excess of $10,000 pursuant to the optional cash payment feature of the Plan will be a price reflecting a discount of 0% to 5% (the "Waiver Discount") (see Question 18) from the applicable Market Price (as defined in Question 13). Currently, under the Plan, the price per share purchased in excess of $10,000 will be at a 2.5% discount and shares may be purchased either directly from the Company or on the open market. There is no pre- established maximum limit applicable to optional cash payments that may be made pursuant to accepted requests for waiver. Optional cash payments that do not exceed $10,000 and the reinvestment of dividends in additional shares of Common Stock will not be subject to the Waiver Discount. Participants in the Plan may request that any or all of their shares held in Plan accounts be sold by the Plan Administrator. See Question 28. To the extent that shares of Common Stock issued hereunder are authorized but previously unissued shares rather than shares acquired in the open market, the Plan will raise additional capital for the Company. The Company currently intends to issue such shares and, therefore, the Plan is expected to raise capital for the Company. Each month a portion of the shares available for issuance under the Plan may be purchased by owners of shares (including brokers or dealers) who, in connection with any resales of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). See "Plan of Distribution." These sales will be effected through the Company's ability to waive limits applicable to the amounts which participants may invest pursuant to the Plan's optional cash payment feature. From time to time, financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from the discount from market price of the Common Stock acquired through the reinvestment of dividends under the Plan. Such transactions may cause fluctuations in the trading volume of the Common Stock. Financial intermediaries which engage in positioning transactions may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. See "Plan of Distribution." This Prospectus relates to 1,376,430 shares of Common Stock offered hereby and registered for sale under the Plan. Participants should retain this Prospectus for future reference. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offering made hereby, and if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
AVAILABLE INFORMATION....................................................... 4 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE............................. 4 IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC...................................... 5 SUMMARY OF PLAN............................................................. 5 THE PLAN.................................................................... 7 PURPOSE..................................................................... 7 OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS........................................... 7 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES................................................ 8 ADMINISTRATION.............................................................. 9 PARTICIPATION............................................................... 9 PURCHASE AND PRICES OF SHARES............................................... 14 DIVIDENDS ON FRACTIONS...................................................... 20 CERTIFICATES FOR COMMON SHARES.............................................. 20 WITHDRAWALS AND TERMINATION................................................. 20 OTHER INFORMATION........................................................... 21 DIVIDENDS................................................................... 26 USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................. 26 PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION........................................................ 26 LEGAL OPINION............................................................... 27 EXPERTS..................................................................... 27 INDEMNIFICATION............................................................. 27 GLOSSARY.................................................................... 28 SCHEDULE A.................................................................. 30 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance therewith, files periodic reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can be inspected and copied, at prescribed rates, at the public reference facilities of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the following regional offices of the Commission: New York (Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048), and Chicago (Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661- 2511), and copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. Reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company also may be inspected at the offices of the American Stock Exchange where the Company's Common Stock is listed. This Prospectus does not contain all information set forth in the Registration Statement and Exhibits thereto which the Company has filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and to which reference is hereby made. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus: (1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996; (2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; (4) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997; (5) the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 1997; and (6) the section of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-11, filed with the Commission on October 25, 1996 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on November 4, 1996, entitled "Description of Securities." All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered hereby shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this Prospectus. Any person receiving a copy of this Prospectus may obtain without charge, upon request, a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference herein, except for the exhibits to such documents. Written requests should be addressed to Investor Relations, Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 20371 Irvine Avenue, Santa Ana Heights, California 92707. Telephone requests may be directed to Investor Relations at (714) 438-2100. 4 IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. is a specialty finance company which, together with its subsidiaries and related companies, operates three businesses: (1) the Long-Term Investment Operations, (2) the Conduit Operations, and (3) the Warehouse Lending Operations. The Long-Term Investment Operations invests primarily in non-conforming residential mortgage loans and securities backed by such loans. The Conduit Operations purchases and sells or securitizes primarily non-conforming mortgage loans, and the Warehouse Lending Operations provides warehouse and repurchase financing to originators of mortgage loans. The Company is organized as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for federal income tax purposes, which generally allows it to pass through qualified income to stockholders without federal income tax at the corporate level. The Company's principal executive office is located at 20371 Irvine Avenue, Santa Ana Heights, California 92707. SUMMARY OF PLAN The Plan provides owners of Common Stock with a convenient and attractive method of investing cash dividends (in some cases, at a discount from the Market Price (as defined in Question 13) and without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge), and investing optional cash payments in additional shares of Common Stock. See Question 22 regarding brokerage commissions. As of the date of this Prospectus, the price to be paid for shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan will be a price reflecting (i) a discount of 3% (subject to change) from the Market Price for the reinvestment of cash dividends to the extent shares are purchased directly from the Company, (ii) no discount (subject to change) from the market price for the reinvestment of cash dividends or the investment of optional cash payments, to the extent shares are purchased on the open market, (iii) a 0% to 5% discount, which is currently at 2.5%, (subject to change) from the Market Price for the investment of optional cash payments of up to $10,000, to the extent purchased directly from the Company, and (iv) a discount of 0% to 5% (the "Waiver Discount") from the Market Price for the investment of optional cash payments that exceed $10,000. Each of the discounts is subject to change (but will not vary from the range of 0% to 5%) from time to time or discontinuance at the Company's discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and the Company's current and projected capital needs. PARTICIPANTS MAY ASCERTAIN THE APPLICABLE DISCOUNT RATE BY CONTACTING THE COMPANY'S INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT (714) 438-2100. In addition, Participants are currently responsible for their share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with the purchase of shares on the open market. However, the Board of Directors may in the future determine that the Company will pay such brokerage commissions on behalf of Participants if, based on the advice of tax counsel or a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), it determines that the Company's payment of such expenses will not jeopardize the Company's status as a REIT. Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no minimum or maximum limitation on the amount of dividends a Participant may reinvest under the Plan. See Question 2. Participants electing to invest optional cash payments in additional shares of Common Stock are subject to a minimum per month purchase limit of $50 and a maximum per month purchase limit of $10,000 (subject to waiver). See Question 18. Optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 may be made only upon acceptance by the Company of a completed Request for Waiver form from a Participant. See Question 18. Each month, at least three business days prior to each record date (as defined in Question 19), the Company will establish the Waiver Discount (as defined in Question 18), applicable to optional cash payments that exceed $10,000. The Waiver Discount, which may vary each month, will be established in the Company's sole discretion after a review of 5 current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and the Company's current and projected capital needs. Optional cash payments that do not exceed $10,000 and the reinvestment of dividends in additional shares of Common Stock will not be subject to the Waiver Discount. Optional cash payments of less than $50 and that portion of any optional cash payment which exceeds the maximum monthly purchase limit of $10,000, unless such limit has been waived, are subject to return to the Participant without interest. Participants may request that any or all shares held in the Plan be sold by the Plan Administrator on behalf of such Participants. See Question 28. Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no total maximum number of shares that can be issued pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends and no pre-established maximum limit applies to optional cash payments that may be made pursuant to Requests for Waiver. As of the date hereof, 1,376,430 shares of Common Stock have been registered and are available for sale under the Plan. The Company expects to grant Requests for Waiver to financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, and other Participants in the future. Grants of Requests for Waiver will be made in the sole discretion of the Company based on a variety of factors, which may include: the Company's current and projected capital needs, the alternatives available to the Company to meet those needs, prevailing market prices for Common Stock, general economic and market conditions, expected aberrations in the price or trading volume of the Common Stock, the potential disruption of the price of the Common Stock by a financial intermediary, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Participant submitting the waiver request, the past actions of a Participant under the Plan, the aggregate amount of optional cash payments for which such waivers have been submitted and the administrative constraints associated with granting such waivers. If such Requests for Waiver are granted, a portion of the shares available for issuance under the Plan will be purchased by Participants (including brokers or dealers) who, in connection with any resales of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. See "Plan of Distribution." To the extent that Requests for Waiver are granted, it is expected that a greater number of shares will be issued under the optional cash payment feature of the Plan as opposed to the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan. Financial intermediaries may purchase a significant portion of the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the optional cash payment feature of the Plan. The Company does not have any formal or informal understanding with any such organizations and, therefore, the extent of such financial intermediaries' participation under the Plan cannot be estimated at this time. Participants that are financial intermediaries that acquire shares of Common Stock under the Plan with a view to distribution of such shares or that offer or sell Shares for the Company in connection with the Plan may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. From time to time, financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from the discount from the Market Price of the shares of Common Stock acquired through the reinvestment of dividends under the Plan. Such transactions may cause fluctuations in the trading volume of the Common Stock. Financial intermediaries which engage in positioning transactions may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Plan is intended for the benefit of investors in the Company and not for individuals or investors who engage in transactions which may cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of the Common Stock. 6 THE PLAN The existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the "Original Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") on February 14, 1997 and was amended and restated by the Board of Directors on October 21, 1997, including but not limited to authorizing additional shares to be issued under the Plan. Because the Company currently expects to continue the Plan indefinitely, it expects to authorize for issuance and register under the Securities Act additional shares from time to time as necessary for purposes of the Plan. The following questions and answers explain and constitute the Plan. Stockholders who do not participate in the Plan will receive cash dividends, as declared, and paid in the usual manner. A person participating in the Original Plan will be enrolled automatically in the Plan, unless the person gives written notice to the contrary. See Question 11. PURPOSE 1. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN? The primary purpose of the Plan is to provide eligible holders of shares of Common Stock of the Company with a convenient and simple method of increasing their investment in the Company by investing cash dividends in additional shares of Common Stock without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge and at a discount from the Market Price (as defined in Question 13), to the extent shares are purchased directly from the Company, and by investing optional cash payments in additional shares of Common Stock at a discount from the Market Price (and without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge, to the extent shares are purchased directly from the Company). See Question 5 for a description of the holders who are eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan may also be used by the Company to raise additional capital through the sale each month of a portion of the shares available for issuance under the Plan to owners of shares (including brokers or dealers) who, in connection with any resales of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriters. These sales will be effected through the Company's ability to waive limitations applicable to the amounts which Participants (as defined in Question 2) may invest pursuant to the Plan's optional cash payment feature. See Question 18 for information concerning limitations applicable to optional cash payments and certain of the factors considered by the Company in granting waivers. To the extent shares are purchased from the Company under the Plan, it will receive additional funds for general corporate purposes. The Plan is intended for the benefit of investors in the Company and not for individuals or investors who engage in transactions which may cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of Common Stock. From time to time, financial intermediaries may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from the discount from the Market Price of the shares of Common Stock acquired through the reinvestment of dividends under the Plan. Such transactions may cause fluctuations in the trading volume of the Common Stock. The Company reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the Plan by otherwise eligible holders of Common Stock in order to eliminate practices which are not consistent with the purposes of the Plan. OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPANTS 2. WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ENROLLED PARTICIPANTS? Dividend Reinvestment --------------------- Eligible holders of Common Stock who wish to participate in the Plan (each a "Participant") may elect to have cash dividends paid on all or a portion of their shares of Common Stock automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock. Cash dividends are paid on the Common Stock when and as declared by the Company's Board of Directors. Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no minimum limitation on the amount of dividends a Participant may reinvest under the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan. 7 Optional Cash Payments ---------------------- Each month, Participants may also elect to invest optional cash payments in additional shares of Common Stock, subject to a minimum per month purchase limit of $50 and a maximum per month purchase limit of $10,000, subject to waiver. See Question 18 for information concerning limitations applicable to optional cash payments and the availability of waivers with respect to such limitations. Participants may make optional cash payments each month even if dividends on their shares of Common Stock are not being reinvested and whether or not a dividend has been declared. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 3. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE PLAN? Advantages: ---------- (a) The Plan provides Participants with the opportunity to reinvest cash dividends paid on all or a portion of their shares of Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge and, as of the date of this Prospectus, at a 3% discount from the Market Price (subject to change), to the extent shares are purchased directly from the Company. (b) The Plan provides Participants with the opportunity to make monthly investments of optional cash payments, subject to minimum and maximum amounts, for the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock at, as of the date of this Prospectus, a 2.5% discount from the Market Price (subject to change) (and without payment of any brokerage commission or service charge, to the extent shares are purchased directly from the Company). (c) Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, all cash dividends paid on Participants' shares can be fully invested in additional shares of Common Stock because the Plan permits fractional shares to be credited to Plan accounts. Dividends on such fractional shares, as well as on whole shares, will also be reinvested in additional shares which will be credited to Plan accounts. (d) The Plan Administrator, at no charge to Participants, provides for the safekeeping of stock certificates for shares credited to each Plan account. (e) Periodic statements reflecting all current activity, including share purchases and latest Plan account balance, simplify Participants' record keeping. See Question 23 for information concerning reports to Participants. Disadvantages: ------------- (a) No interest will be paid by the Company or the Plan Administrator on dividends or optional cash payments held pending reinvestment or investment. See Question 12. (b) With respect to optional cash payments, the actual number of shares to be issued to a Participant's Plan account will not be determined until the end of the relevant Pricing Period. Therefore, during the Pricing Period Participants will not know the actual number of shares they have purchased. 8 (c) Even if a Discount from the Market Price is in effect during the Pricing Period, the Market Price, as so discounted, may exceed the price at which shares of the Common Stock are trading on the Investment Date (as defined in Question 12) when the shares are issued or thereafter. (d) Because optional cash payments must be received by the Plan Administrator prior to the related Pricing Period, such payments may be exposed to changes in market conditions for a longer period of time than in the case of typical secondary market transactions. In addition, optional cash payments once received by the Plan Administrator will not be returned to Participants unless a written or telephonic request is directed to the Plan Administrator at least two business days prior to the commencement of the Pricing Period with respect to which optional cash payments have been delivered by such Participant. See Questions 19 and 21. (e) Resales of shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant's account under the Plan will involve a brokerage commission and any applicable stock transfer taxes on the resales. See Questions 22 and 28. ADMINISTRATION 4. WHO ADMINISTERS THE PLAN? The Company has retained Boston Equiserve, L.P. as plan administrator (the "Plan Administrator"), to administer the Plan, keep records, send statements of account activity to each Participant and perform other duties relating to the Plan. See Question 23 for information concerning reports to Participants. Shares purchased under the Plan and held by the Plan Administrator will be registered in the Plan Administrator's name or the name of its nominee for the benefit of the Participants. In the event that the Plan Administrator resigns or otherwise ceases to act as plan administrator, the Company will appoint a new plan administrator to administer the Plan. The Plan Administrator also acts as dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock. PARTICIPATION For purposes of this section, responses will generally be based upon the method by which the stockholder holds his or her shares of Common Stock. Generally, stockholders are either Record Owners or Beneficial Owners. A Record Owner is a stockholder who owns shares of Common Stock in his or her own name. A Beneficial Owner is a stockholder who beneficially owns shares of Common Stock that are registered in a name other than his or her own name (for example, the shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee). A Record Owner may participate directly in the Plan, whereas a Beneficial Owner will have to either become a Record Owner by having one or more shares transferred into his or her own name or coordinate his or her participation in the Plan through the broker, bank or other nominee in whose name the Beneficial Owner's shares are held. If a Beneficial Owner who desires to become a Participant encounters any difficulties in coordinating his or her participation in the Plan with his or her broker, bank or other nominee, he or she should call the Company's Investor Relations department at (714) 438-2100. 5. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE? All Record Owners or Beneficial Owners of at least one share of Common Stock are eligible to participate in the Plan. A Record Owner may participate directly in the Plan. A Beneficial Owner must either become a 9 Record Owner by having one or more shares transferred into his or her own name or arrange with the broker, bank or other nominee who is the record holder to participate on his or her behalf. See Question 6. To facilitate participation by Beneficial Owners, the Company has made arrangements with the Plan Administrator to reinvest dividends, on a per dividend basis, and accept optional cash payments under the Plan by record holders such as brokers, banks and other nominees, on behalf of Beneficial Owners. See Question 6. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Company reserves the right to exclude from participation in the Plan, at any time, persons or entities who attempt to circumvent the Plan's standard $10,000 per month maximum by accumulating accounts over which they have control or any other persons or entities, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company. See Question 1. Furthermore, the Company may terminate, by written notice, at any time any Participant's individual participation in the Plan if such participation would be in violation of the restrictions contained in the Charter or Bylaws of the Company. Because the Company expects to continue to qualify as a REIT, the Charter contains restrictions on the transfer of Common Stock which are intended to assist the Company in complying with these requirements. The Ownership Limit (as defined in the Charter) prohibits any person, subject to certain specified exceptions, from owning, actually or constructively, shares of Common Stock in excess of 9.5% (in value or in number, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. The constructive ownership rules are complex, and may cause shares of Common Stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be constructively owned by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.5% of the shares of Common Stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, shares of Common Stock) by an individual or entity, could nevertheless cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of 9.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and thus violate the Ownership Limit, or such other limit as provided in the Charter or as otherwise permitted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, but in no event will be required to, exempt a person from the Ownership Limit if it determines that such person's ownership of shares of Common Stock will not jeopardize the Company's status as a REIT. As a condition of such waiver, the Board of Directors may require a ruling from the IRS or opinion of counsel satisfactory to it and/or undertakings or representations from the applicant with respect to the Company's status as a REIT. Pursuant to the Charter, if any purported transfer of Common Stock or any other event would otherwise result in any person owning shares of Common Stock in excess of the Ownership Limit or otherwise cause the Company to fail to qualify as a REIT, then that number of shares of Common Stock the actual or constructive ownership of which otherwise would cause such person to violate such restrictions (rounded to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to a trustee as trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the intended transferee will not acquire any rights in such shares. 6. HOW DOES AN ELIGIBLE STOCKHOLDER PARTICIPATE? Stockholders who are presently enrolled in the existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan will continue to be enrolled in the Plan unless you notify the Company otherwise. The Plan amends and restates in its entirety the existing Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan. Stockholders who are not participants in the Plan and who do not want to become participants need do nothing and will continue to receive their cash dividend, if and when declared, as usual. 10 Record Owners ------------- Record Owners may join the Plan by completing and signing the Authorization Form included with the Plan and returning it to the Plan Administrator. A postage-paid envelope is provided for this purpose. If shares are registered in more than one name (e.g., joint tenants, trustees), all registered holders of such shares must sign the Authorization Form exactly as their names appear on the account registration. Authorization Forms may be obtained at any time by written request to: Boston Equiserve, L.P. Dividend Reinvestment Unit P.O. Box 8040 Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8040 Telephone: (617) 575-3120 Beneficial Owners ----------------- Beneficial Owners who wish to join the Plan must instruct their broker, bank or other nominee to complete and sign the Authorization Form. The broker, bank or other nominee will forward the completed Authorization Form to its securities depository and the securities depository will provide the Plan Administrator with the information necessary to allow the Beneficial Owner to participate in the Plan. See Question 8 for a discussion of the Broker and Nominee Form (the "B&N Form"), which is required to be used for optional cash payments of a Beneficial Owner whose broker, bank or other nominee holds the Beneficial Owner's shares in the name of a major securities depository. See also Question 17. Incomplete Forms ---------------- If a Record Owner or the broker, bank or other nominee on behalf of a Beneficial Owner submits a properly executed Authorization Form without electing an investment option, such Authorization Form will be deemed to indicate the intention of such Record Owner or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, to apply all cash dividends and optional cash payments, if applicable, toward the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. See Question 7 for investment options. 7. WHAT DOES THE AUTHORIZATION FORM PROVIDE? The Authorization Form appoints the Plan Administrator as agent for the Participant and directs the Company to pay to the Plan Administrator each Participant's cash dividends on all or a specified number of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant on the applicable record date ("Participating Shares"), as well as on all whole and fractional shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant's Plan account ("Plan Shares"). The Authorization Form directs the Plan Administrator to purchase on the Investment Date (as defined in Question 12) additional shares of Common Stock with such dividends and optional cash payments, if any, made by the Participant. See Question 8 for a discussion of the B&N Form which is required to be used for optional cash payments of a Beneficial Owner whose broker, bank or other nominee holds the Beneficial Owner's shares in the name of a major securities depository. The Authorization Form also directs the Plan Administrator to reinvest automatically all subsequent dividends on Plan Shares. Dividends will continue to be reinvested on the number of Participating Shares and on all Plan Shares until the Participant specifies otherwise by contacting the Plan Administrator, in writing, withdraws from the Plan (see Questions 27 and 28), or the Plan is terminated. See Question 6 for additional information about the Authorization Form. 11 The Authorization Form provides for the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock through the following investment options: (1) If "Full Dividend Reinvestment" is elected, the Plan Administrator will apply all cash dividends on all shares of Common Stock then or subsequently registered in the Participant's name, and all cash dividends on all Plan Shares, together with any optional cash payments, toward the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. (2) If "Partial Dividend Reinvestment" is elected, the Plan Administrator will apply all cash dividends on only the number of Participating Shares registered in the Participant's name and specified on the Authorization Form and all cash dividends on all Plan Shares, together with any optional cash payments, toward the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. (3) If "Optional Cash Payments Only" is elected, the Participant will continue to receive cash dividends on shares of Common Stock registered in that Participant's name in the usual manner. However, the Plan Administrator will apply all cash dividends on all Plan Shares, together with any optional cash payments received from the Participant, toward the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. See Question 8 for a discussion of the B&N Form which is required to be used for optional cash payments of a Beneficial Owner whose broker, bank or other nominee holds the Beneficial Owner's shares in the name of a major securities depository. Each Participant may select any one of these three options. In each case, dividends will be reinvested on all Participating Shares and on all Plan Shares held in the Plan account, including dividends on shares of Common Stock purchased with any optional cash payments, until a Participant specifies otherwise by contacting the Plan Administrator, in writing, or withdraws from the Plan altogether (see Questions 27 and 28), or until the Plan is terminated. If a Participant would prefer to receive cash payments of dividends paid on Plan Shares rather than reinvest such dividends, those shares must be withdrawn from the Plan by written notification to the Plan Administrator. See Questions 27 and 28 regarding withdrawal of Plan Shares. Participants may change their investment options at any time by requesting a new Authorization Form and returning it to the Plan Administrator at the address set forth in Question 38. See Question 12 for the effective date for any change in investment options. 8. WHAT DOES THE B&N FORM PROVIDE? The B&N Form provides the only means by which a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares of a Beneficial Owner in the name of a major securities depository may invest optional cash payments on behalf of such Beneficial Owner. A B&N Form must be delivered to the Plan Administrator each time such broker, bank or other nominee transmits optional cash payments on behalf of a Beneficial Owner. The B&N Form must be executed by the broker, bank or other nominee for the Beneficial Owner. A broker, bank or other nominee holding shares for a Beneficial Owner in the name of a major securities depository may also participate in the Plan through the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). Currently, only the dividend reinvestment option is available through DTC. B&N Forms will be furnished at any time upon request to the Plan Administrator at: Boston EquiServe, L.P. Dividend Reinvestment Unit P.O. Box 8040 Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8040 Telephone: (617) 575-3120 PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THE B&N FORM, THE BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE FOR A BENEFICIAL OWNER MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETED AUTHORIZATION FORM ON BEHALF OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNER. SEE QUESTIONS 6 AND 7. 12 THE B & N FORM AND APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR NOT LATER THAN THE APPLICABLE RECORD DATE OR THE OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENT WILL NOT BE INVESTED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING INVESTMENT DATE. 9. IS PARTIAL PARTICIPATION POSSIBLE UNDER THE PLAN? Yes. Record Owners or the broker, bank or other nominee for Beneficial Owners may designate on the Authorization Form a number of shares for which dividends are to be reinvested. Dividends will thereafter be reinvested only on the number of shares specified, and the Record Owner or Beneficial Owner, as the case may be, will continue to receive cash dividends on the remainder of the shares. 10. WHEN MAY AN ELIGIBLE STOCKHOLDER JOIN THE PLAN? A Record Owner or a Beneficial Owner may join the Plan at any time. Once in the Plan, a Participant remains in the Plan until he or she withdraws from the Plan, the Company terminates his or her participation in the Plan or the Company terminates the Plan. See Question 28 regarding withdrawal from the Plan. 11. WILL A STOCKHOLDER PRESENTLY ENROLLED IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN CONTINUE TO BE ENROLLED IN THE PLAN? Yes. A stockholder enrolled in the Original Plan will continue to be enrolled in the Plan in accordance with the investment option chosen under the Original Plan, provided he or she is an eligible stockholder as set forth in Question 5, and thus entitled to participate in the Plan. If an eligible stockholder enrolled in the Original Plan does not wish to participate in the Plan, he or she should withdraw from the Plan in the manner described in Questions 27 and 28. If an eligible stockholder wishes to change the nature of his or her participation from that in the Original Plan, he or she should return an Authorization Form as described in Question 6. If an eligible stockholder enrolled in the Original Plan does not wish to withdraw or change the nature of his or her participation, he or she will continue to be enrolled in the Plan and the nature of his or her investment option will remain the same under the Plan. 12. WHEN WILL DIVIDENDS BE REINVESTED AND/OR OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS BE INVESTED? When shares are purchased from the Company, such purchases will be made on the "Investment Date" in each month. The Investment Date with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to a dividend reinvestment will be the dividend payment date declared by the Board of Directors (unless such date is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter) or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the dividend payment date. The Investment Date with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to an optional cash payment will generally be on or about the twenty-ninth day of each month or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the related Investment Date. In no event, however, will the Investment Date relating to dividend reinvestments be less than ten days from the Investment Date relating to optional cash payments. When open market purchases are made by the Plan Administrator, such purchases may be made on any securities exchange where the shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or by negotiated transactions, and may be subject to such terms with respect to price, delivery and other matters as agreed to by the Plan Administrator. Neither the Company nor any Participant shall have any authorization or power to direct the time 13 or price at which shares will be purchased or the selection of the broker or dealer through or from whom purchases are to be made by the Plan Administrator. However, when open market purchases are made by the Plan Administrator, the Plan Administrator shall use its best efforts to purchase the shares at the lowest possible price. If the Authorization Form is received prior to the record date for a dividend payment, the election to reinvest dividends will begin with that dividend payment. If the Authorization Form is received on or after any such record date, reinvestment of dividends will begin on the dividend payment date following the next record date if the Participant is still a stockholder of record. Record dates for payment of dividends normally precede payment dates by approximately two to three weeks. See Question 18 for information concerning limitations on the minimum and maximum amounts of optional cash payments that may be made each month and Question 19 for information as to when optional cash payments must be received to be invested on each Investment Date. Shares will be allocated and credited to Participants' accounts as follows: (1) shares purchased from the Company will be allocated and credited on the appropriate Investment Date; and (2) shares purchased in market transactions will be allocated and credited as of the date on which the Plan Administrator completes the purchases of the aggregate number of shares to be purchased on behalf of all Participants with dividends to be reinvested or optional cash payments, as the case may be, during the month. NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON CASH DIVIDENDS OR OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS PENDING INVESTMENT OR REINVESTMENT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE PLAN. SINCE NO INTEREST IS PAID ON CASH HELD BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR, IT NORMALLY WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A PARTICIPANT TO DEFER OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS UNTIL SHORTLY BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRICING PERIOD. PURCHASE AND PRICES OF SHARES 13. WHAT WILL BE THE PRICE TO PARTICIPANTS OF SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN? Dividend Reinvestment --------------------- With respect to reinvested dividends, the price per share of Common Stock acquired directly from the Company will be, as of the date of this Prospectus, 97% (subject to change) of the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock on the AMEX on the Investment Date (as defined in Question 12), or if no trading occurs in the Common Stock on the Investment Date, the average of the high and low sales prices for the first trading day immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported. No discount will be available for dividends reinvested in Common Stock acquired in open market purchases. See Question 16. The price per share of Common Stock acquired through open market purchases with reinvested dividends will be the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' reinvested dividends for the related quarter. Additionally, each Participant will be charged a pro rata portion of any brokerage commissions or other fees or charges paid by the Plan Administrator in connection with such open market purchases. (If a Participant desires to opt out of the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan when the Common Stock relating to dividend reinvestments will be purchased in the open market, a Participant must notify the Plan Administrator no later than the record date for the related dividend payment date. For information as to the source of the Common Stock to be purchased under the Plan see Question 16.) 14 Optional Cash Payments ---------------------- With respect to optional cash payments that do not exceed $10,000 (see Question 18 for a discussion of the discount applicable to optional cash payments in excess of $10,000), the price per share of Common Stock acquired directly from the Company will be, as of the date of this Prospectus, 97.5% (subject to change) of the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock as reported on the AMEX for the three Trading Days immediately preceding the relevant Investment Date (as defined in Question 12 above) or, if no trading occurs in the Common Stock on one or more of such Trading Days, for the three Trading Days immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported. A "Trading Day" means a day on which trades in the Common Stock are reported on the AMEX. With respect to all optional cash payments, regardless of the amount being invested, the period encompassing the three Trading Days which relate to an Investment Date constitutes the relevant "Pricing Period." The price per share of Common Stock acquired through open market purchases with optional cash payments will be 100% (subject to change) of the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' optional cash payments for the related month. The price per share of Common Stock purchased with dividends reinvested in Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and all optional cash payments, currently reflects a discount which is subject to change (but will not vary from the range of 0% to 5%) from time to time or discontinuance at the Company's discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan and the Company's current and projected capital needs. Each month, at least three business days prior to the applicable Record Date, the Company, in its sole discretion, may establish a discount from the Market Price that otherwise would be applicable for reinvested dividends, optional cash payments and optional cash payments pursuant to a Request for Waiver. Participants may ascertain the discount applicable to the next Pricing Period by contacting the Company's Investor Relations Department at (714) 438- 2100. Setting a discount for a particular month will not affect the setting of a discount for any subsequent month. Neither the Company nor any Participant shall have any authorization or power to direct the time or price at which shares will be purchased or the selection of the broker or dealer through or from whom purchases are to be made by the Plan Administrator. However, when open market purchases are made by the Plan Administrator, the Plan Administrator shall use its best efforts to purchase the shares at the lowest possible price. Market Price ------------ All references in the Plan to the "Market Price" when it relates to dividend reinvestments which will be reinvested in Common Stock acquired directly from the Company shall mean the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock on the AMEX on the Investment Date, or if no trading occurs in the Common Stock on the Investment Date, the average of the high and low sales prices for the first trading day immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported. With respect to dividend reinvestments which will be reinvested in Common Stock purchased in the open market, "Market Price" shall mean the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' reinvested dividends for the related 15 quarter. All references in the Plan to the "Market Price" for optional cash payments which will be invested in Common Stock acquired directly from the Company shall mean the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock as reported on the AMEX during the Pricing Period (as defined above). With respect to optional cash payments which will be reinvested in Common Stock purchased in the open market, "Market Price" shall mean the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' optional cash payments for the related month. 14. WHAT ARE THE RECORD DATES AND INVESTMENT DATES FOR DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT? For the reinvestment of dividends, the "Record Date" is the record date declared by the Board of Directors for such dividend. Likewise, the dividend payment date declared by the Board of Directors constitutes the Investment Date applicable to the reinvestment of such dividend with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company, except that if any such date is not a business day, the first business day immediately following such date shall be the Investment Date. The Investment Date with respect to Common Stock purchased in open market transactions will be no later than thirty business days following the dividend payment date. Dividends will be reinvested on the Investment Date using the applicable Market Price (as defined in Question 13). Generally, record dates for quarterly dividends on the Common Stock will precede the dividend payment dates by approximately two to three weeks. Please refer to Question 19 for a discussion of the Record Dates and Investment Dates applicable to optional cash payments. 15. HOW WILL THE NUMBER OF SHARES PURCHASED FOR A PARTICIPANT BE DETERMINED? A Participant's account in the Plan will be credited with the number of shares, including fractions computed to three decimal places, equal to the total amount to be invested on behalf of such Participant divided by the purchase price per share as calculated pursuant to the methods described in Question 13, as applicable. The total amount to be invested will depend on the amount of any dividends paid on the number of Participating Shares and Plan Shares in such Participant's Plan account and available for investment on the related Investment Date, or the amount of any optional cash payments made by such Participant and available for investment on the related Investment Date. Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no total maximum number of shares available for issuance pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends. 16. WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN? Plan Shares will be purchased either directly from the Company, in which event such shares will be authorized but unissued shares, or on the open market, at the option of the Company, after a review of current market conditions and the Company's current and projected capital needs. The Company will determine the source of the Common Stock to be purchased under the Plan at least three business days prior to the relevant Record Date, and will notify the Plan Administrator of the same. Neither the Company nor the Plan Administrator shall be required to provide any written notice to Participants as to the source of the Common Stock to be purchased under the Plan, but current information regarding the source of the Common Stock may be obtained by contacting the Company's Investor Relations at (714) 438-2100. 17. HOW DOES THE OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENT FEATURE OF THE PLAN WORK? All Record Holders who have timely submitted signed Authorization Forms indicating their intention to participate in this feature of the Plan, and all Beneficial Owners whose brokers, banks or other nominees have 16 timely submitted signed Authorization Forms indicating their intention to participate in this feature of the Plan (except for Beneficial Owners whose brokers, banks or other nominees hold the shares of the Beneficial Owners in the name of a major securities depository), are eligible to make optional cash payments during any month, whether or not a dividend is declared. If a broker, bank or other nominee holds shares of a Beneficial Owner in the name of a major securities depository, optional cash payments must be made through the use of the B&N Form. See Question 8. Optional cash payments must be accompanied by an Authorization Form or a B&N Form, as applicable. Each month the Plan Administrator will apply any optional cash payment received from a Participant no later than one business day prior to the commencement of that month's Pricing Period (as defined in Question 13) to the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock for the account of the Participant on the following Investment Date (as defined in Question 12). As of the date of this Prospectus, the discount from the Market Price applicable to optional cash payments will be 2.5% (subject to change) of the Market Price (as defined in Question 13). Refer to Question 18 for a discussion of the possible limitations on the purchase price applicable to the purchase of shares made with optional cash payments. 18. WHAT LIMITATIONS APPLY TO OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS? Optional Cash Payments up to $10,000 ------------------------------------ Each optional cash payment is subject to a minimum per month purchase limit of $50 and a maximum per month purchase limit of $10,000. For purposes of these limitations, all Plan accounts under the common control or management of a Participant will be aggregated. Generally, optional cash payments of less than $50 and that portion of any optional cash payment which exceeds the maximum monthly purchase limit of $10,000, unless such limit has been waived by the Company, will be promptly returned to Participants without interest at the end of the relevant Pricing Period. Requests for Waiver ------------------- Participants may make optional cash payments of up to $10,000 each month without the prior approval of the Company. Optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 may be made by a Participant only upon acceptance by the Company of a completed Request for Waiver form from such Participant. There is no pre- established maximum limit applicable to optional cash payments that may be made pursuant to accepted Requests for Waiver. A Request for Waiver form must be received and accepted by the Company each month no later than the Record Date (as defined in Question 19) for the applicable Investment Date. Request for Waiver forms will be furnished at any time upon request to the Plan Administrator at the address or telephone number specified in Question 38. Participants interested in obtaining further information about a Request for Waiver should contact the Company's Investor Relations Department at (714) 438-2100. The Company expects to grant Requests for Waiver to financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, and other Participants in the future. Waivers will be considered on the basis of a variety of factors, which may include the Company's current and projected capital needs, the alternatives available to the Company to meet those needs, prevailing market prices for Common Stock and other Company securities, general economic and market conditions, expected aberrations in the price or trading volume of the Common Stock, the potential disruption of the price of the Common Stock by a financial intermediary, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Participant submitting the waiver request, the past actions of a Participant under the Plan, the aggregate amount of optional cash payments for which such waivers have been submitted and the administrative constraints associated with granting such waivers. Grants of waivers will be made in the absolute discretion of the Company. 17 PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENT FEATURE OF THE PLAN AT ANY TIME. OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS NEED NOT BE IN THE SAME AMOUNT EACH MONTH. The Waiver Discount Each month, at least three business days prior to the applicable Record Date (as defined in Question 19), the Company will establish the discount from the Market Price applicable to optional cash payments made pursuant to Requests for Waiver and will notify the Plan Administrator of the same. Such discount (the "Waiver Discount") will be between 0% and 5% of the Market Price and may vary each month, but once established will apply uniformly to all optional cash payments made pursuant to Requests for Waiver during that month. The Waiver Discount will be established in the Company's sole discretion after advice from counsel, a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, and the Company's current and projected capital needs. The Waiver Discount applies only to optional cash payments made pursuant to Requests for Waiver and does not apply to other optional cash payments. NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN NOTICE TO PARTICIPANTS AS TO THE WAIVER DISCOUNT, BUT CURRENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE WAIVER DISCOUNT APPLICABLE TO THE NEXT INVESTMENT DATE MAY BE OBTAINED BY CONTACTING THE COMPANY'S INVESTOR RELATIONS AT (714) 438-2100. Setting a Waiver Discount applicable to the next Investment Date shall not affect the setting of a Waiver Discount for any subsequent Investment Date. The Waiver Discount feature discussed above applies only to optional cash payments made pursuant to Requests for Waiver and does not apply to the reinvestment of dividends. Shares acquired from optional cash payments in excess of $10,000 that are granted pursuant to a Request for Waiver may be acquired either directly from the Company or through open market purchases. See Question 13 for a description of the price per share in each case. ONLY OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS MADE PURSUANT TO REQUESTS FOR WAIVER WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE WAIVER DISCOUNT. ALL OTHER OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE AT A 2.5% (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) DISCOUNT FROM THE MARKET PRICE, WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY WAIVER DISCOUNT. 19. WHAT ARE THE RECORD DATES AND INVESTMENT DATES FOR OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS? Optional cash payments will be invested every month on the related Investment Date. The "Record Date" for optional cash payments is two business days prior to the related Pricing Period and the "Investment Date" is generally on or about the twenty-ninth day of each month or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the Investment Date. In no event, however, will the Investment Date relating to optional cash payments be less than ten days from the Investment Date relating to dividend reinvestments. Optional cash payments received by the Plan Administrator, and such funds have cleared, at least one business day prior to the commencement of a Pricing Period will be applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock on the Investment Date which relates to that Pricing Period. No interest will be paid by the Company or the Plan Administrator on optional cash payments held pending investment. Generally, optional cash payments received on or after the commencement of a Pricing Period will be promptly returned to Participants without interest at the end of the Pricing Period; such optional cash payments may be resubmitted by a Participant prior to the next or a later Pricing Period. For a schedule of expected Record Dates and Investment Dates in 1997 and 1998, see Schedule A. 18 20. WHEN MUST OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS BE RECEIVED BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR? Each month the Plan Administrator will apply any optional cash payment for which good funds are timely received to the purchase of shares of Common Stock for the account of the Participant on the next Investment Date. See Question 19. In order for funds to be invested on the next Investment Date, the Plan Administrator must have received a check, money order or wire transfer by the end of the business day immediately preceding the ensuing Pricing Period and such check, money order or wire transfer must have cleared on or before the end of the business day immediately preceding such ensuing Pricing Period. Wire transfers may be used only if approved verbally in advance by the Plan Administrator. Checks and money orders are accepted subject to timely collection as good funds and verification of compliance with the terms of the Plan. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Boston Equiserve-- Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. DRIP. Checks returned for any reason will not be resubmitted for collection. NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID BY THE COMPANY OR THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR ON OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS HELD PENDING INVESTMENT. SINCE NO INTEREST IS PAID ON CASH HELD BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR, IT NORMALLY WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF A PARTICIPANT TO DEFER OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS UNTIL SHORTLY BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PRICING PERIOD. In order for payments to be invested on the Investment Date, in addition to the receipt of good funds by the end of the business day immediately preceding the commencement of a Pricing Period, the Plan Administrator must be in receipt of an Authorization Form or a B&N Form, as appropriate, as of the same date. See Questions 6 and 8. 21. MAY OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS BE RETURNED? Upon telephone or written request to the Plan Administrator received at least two business days prior to the commencement of the Pricing Period with respect to which optional cash payments have been delivered to the Plan Administrator, such optional cash payments will be returned to the Participant as soon as practicable. Requests received less than two business days prior to such date will not be returned but instead will be invested on the next related Investment Date. Also, each optional cash payment, to the extent that it does not either conform to the limitations described in Question 19 or clear within the time limit described in Question 20, will be subject to return to the Participant as soon as practicable. 22. ARE THERE ANY EXPENSES TO PARTICIPANTS IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR PARTICIPATION UNDER THE PLAN? Participants will have to pay brokerage fees or commissions on shares of Common Stock purchased with reinvested dividends and optional cash payments on the open market, which sums are not expected to exceed $.15 per share (subject to change) and which will be first deducted before determining the number of shares to be purchased. However, the Board of Directors may in the future determine that the Company will pay such brokerage fees or commissions. The Plan Administrator will effect open market purchases and sales of shares for the Plan through itself and it will not receive a commission for effecting such transactions. Participants will incur no brokerage commissions or service charges in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and optional cash purchases when shares of Common Stock are acquired directly from the Company. The Company will pay all other costs of administration of the Plan. However, Participants that request that the Plan Administrator sell all or any portion of their shares (see Question 28) must pay any related brokerage commissions and applicable stock transfer taxes. 19 23. WHAT KIND OF REPORTS WILL BE SENT TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN? Each Participant in the Plan will receive a statement of his or her account following each purchase of additional shares. These statements are Participants' continuing record of the cost of their purchases and should be retained for income tax purposes. In addition, Participants will receive copies of other communications sent to holders of the Common Stock, including the Company's annual report to its Stockholders, the notice of annual meeting and proxy statement in connection with its annual meeting of Stockholders and Internal Revenue Service information for reporting dividends paid. DIVIDENDS ON FRACTIONS 24. WILL PARTICIPANTS BE CREDITED WITH DIVIDENDS ON FRACTIONS OF SHARES? Yes. CERTIFICATES FOR COMMON SHARES 25. WILL CERTIFICATES BE ISSUED FOR SHARES PURCHASED? No. Common Stock purchased for Participants will be held in the name of the Plan Administrator or its nominee. No certificates will be issued to Participants for shares in the Plan unless a Participant submits a written request to the Plan Administrator or until participation in the Plan is terminated. At any time, a Participant may request the Plan Administrator to send a certificate for some or all of the whole shares credited to a Participant's account. This request should be mailed to the Plan Administrator at the address set forth in the answer to Question 38. Any remaining whole shares and any fractions of shares will remain credited to the Plan account. Certificates for fractional shares will not be issued under any circumstances. 26. IN WHOSE NAME WILL CERTIFICATES BE REGISTERED WHEN ISSUED? Each Plan account is maintained in the name in which the related Participant's certificates were registered at the time of enrollment in the Plan. Stock certificates for whole shares purchased under the Plan will be similarly registered when issued upon a Participant's request. If a Participant is a Beneficial Owner, such request should be placed through such Participant's banker, broker or other nominee. See Question 6. A Participant who wishes to pledge shares credited to such Participant's Plan account must first withdraw such shares from the account. WITHDRAWALS AND TERMINATION 27. WHEN MAY PARTICIPANTS WITHDRAW FROM THE PLAN? Participants may withdraw from the Plan with respect to all or a portion of the shares held in his or her account in the Plan at any time. If the request to withdraw is received prior to a dividend record date set by the Board of Directors for determining stockholders of record entitled to receive a dividend, the request will be processed on the day following receipt of the request by the Plan Administrator. If the request to withdraw is received by the Plan Administrator on or after a dividend record date, but before payment date, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may either pay such dividend in cash or 20 reinvest it in shares for the Participant's account. The request for withdrawal will then be processed as promptly as possible following such dividend payment date. All dividends subsequent to such dividend payment date or Investment Date will be paid in cash unless a stockholder re-enrolls in the Plan, which may be done at any time. Any optional cash payments which have been sent to the Plan Administrator prior to a request for withdrawal will also be invested on the next Investment Date unless a Participant expressly requests return of that payment in the request for withdrawal, and the request for withdrawal is received by the Plan Administrator at least two business days prior to the commencement of the Pricing Period. 28. HOW DOES A PARTICIPANT WITHDRAW FROM THE PLAN? A Participant who wishes to withdraw from the Plan with respect to all or a portion of the shares held in his or her account in the Plan must notify the Plan Administrator in writing at its address set forth in the answer to Question 38. Upon a Participant's withdrawal from the Plan or termination of the Plan by the Company, certificates for the appropriate number of whole shares credited to his or her account under the Plan will be issued. A cash payment will be made for any fraction of a share. Upon withdrawal from the Plan, a Participant may also request in writing that the Plan Administrator sell all or part of the shares credited to his or her account in the Plan. The Plan Administrator will sell the shares as requested within ten business days after processing the request for withdrawal. The Participant will receive the proceeds of the sale, less any brokerage fees or commissions and any applicable stock transfer taxes, generally within five business days of the sale. 29. ARE THERE ANY AUTOMATIC TERMINATION PROVISIONS? Participation in the Plan will be terminated if the Plan Administrator receives written notice of the death or adjudicated incompetency of a Participant, together with satisfactory supporting documentation of the appointment of a legal representative, at least five business days before the next Record Date for purchases made through the reinvestment of dividends or optional cash payments, as applicable. In the event written notice of death or adjudicated incompetency and such supporting documentation is received by the Plan Administrator less than five business days before the next Record Date for purchases made through the reinvestment of dividends or optional cash payments, as applicable, shares will be purchased for the Participant with the related cash dividend or optional cash payment and participation in the Plan will not terminate until after such dividend or payment has been reinvested. Thereafter, no additional purchase of shares will be made for the Participant's account and the Participant's shares and any cash dividends paid thereon will be forwarded to such Participant's legal representative. OTHER INFORMATION 30. WHAT HAPPENS IF A PARTICIPANT SELLS OR TRANSFERS ALL OF THE SHARES REGISTERED IN THE PARTICIPANT'S NAME? If a Participant disposes of all shares registered in his or her name, and is not shown as a Record Owner on a dividend record date, the Participant may be terminated from the Plan as of such date and such termination treated as though a withdrawal notice had been received prior to the record date. 31. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COMPANY DECLARES A DIVIDEND PAYABLE IN SHARES OR DECLARES A STOCK SPLIT? Any dividend payable in shares and any additional shares distributed by the Company in connection with a stock split in respect of shares credited to a Participant's Plan account will be added to that account. Stock 21 dividends or split shares which are attributable to shares registered in a Participant's own name and not in his or her Plan account will be mailed directly to the Participant as in the case of stockholders not participating in the Plan. 32. HOW WILL SHARES HELD BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR BE VOTED AT MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS? If the Participant is a Record Owner, the Participant will receive a proxy card covering both directly held shares and shares held in the Plan. If the Participant is a Beneficial Owner, the Participant will receive a proxy covering shares held in the Plan through his or her broker, bank or other nominee. If a proxy is returned properly signed and marked for voting, all the shares covered by the proxy will be voted as marked. If a proxy is returned properly signed but no voting instructions are given, all of the Participant's shares will be voted in accordance with recommendations of the Board of Directors of the Company, unless applicable laws require otherwise. If the proxy is not returned, or if it is returned unexecuted or improperly executed, shares registered in a Participant's name may be voted only by the Participant in person. 33. WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR UNDER THE PLAN? The Company and the Plan Administrator will not be liable in administering the Plan for any act done in good faith or required by applicable law or for any good faith omission to act including, without limitation, any claim of liability arising out of failure to terminate a Participant's account upon his or her death, with respect to the prices at which shares are purchased and/or the times when such purchases are made or with respect to any fluctuation in the market value before or after purchase or sale of shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in the Plan limits the Company's liability with respect to alleged violations of federal securities laws. The Company and the Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on completed forms and the proof of due authority to participate in the Plan, without further responsibility of investigation or inquiry. 34. MAY THE PLAN BE CHANGED OR DISCONTINUED? Yes. The Company may suspend, terminate, or amend the Plan at any time. Notice will be sent to Participants of any suspension or termination, or of any amendment that alters the Plan terms and conditions, as soon as practicable after such action by the Company. The Company may substitute another administrator or agent in place of the Plan Administrator at any time; Participants will be promptly informed of any such substitution. Any questions of interpretation arising under the Plan will be determined by the Company and any such determination will be final. 35. WHAT ARE THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN? The following summary of certain federal income tax considerations regarding the Plan is based on current law, is for general information only, and is not tax advice. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their personal investment circumstances, or to certain types of investors subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws, including, without limitation, life insurance companies, certain financial institutions, dealers in securities or currencies, stockholders 22 holding Common Stock as part of a conversion transaction, as part of a hedge or hedging transaction, or as a position in a straddle for tax purposes, tax- exempt organizations, or foreign corporations, foreign partnerships or persons who are not citizens or residents of the United States. In addition, the summary below does not consider the effect of any foreign, state, local or other tax laws that may be applicable to prospective Participants. EACH PROSPECTIVE PARTICIPANT IS ADVISED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO HIM OR HER THAT MAY RESULT FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE PLAN AND DISPOSING OF SHARES ACQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE PLAN, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PARTICIPATION AND DISPOSITION AND OF POTENTIAL CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS. Dividend Reinvestment. Dividends paid with respect to Common Stock that a Participant reinvests in Common Stock that is acquired directly from the Company will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having been received by the Participant in the form of a taxable stock distribution. In that case, an amount equal to the fair market value on the date of purchase of the Common Stock acquired directly from the Company will be treated as a dividend to the extent the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes. For federal income tax purposes, the Company intends to take the position that the fair market value of the shares acquired directly from the Company with reinvested dividends under the Plan will be equal to the average of the high and low sale prices of shares on the related Investment Date. Alternatively, dividends paid with respect to Common Stock that a Participant reinvests in Common Stock through purchases by the Plan Administrator in the open market will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having been received by the Participant in the form of a taxable cash distribution. The amount of the cash distribution, plus the amount of any discount, will be treated as a dividend to the extent the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits for federal income tax purposes. Distributions in excess of the Company's current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a Participant to the extent that such distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the Participant's shares. To the extent such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a Participant's shares, they will be included in income as capital gain. In addition, in the event that the Company designates a part or all of the amount so distributed as a capital gain dividend, such amount may be treated by the Participant as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset held for more than one year, without regard to the period for which the Participant has held its Common Stock. It is not clear whether such amounts will be taxable at mid-term capital gain rates (applicable to gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than one year but not more than eighteen months), long-term capital gain rates (applicable to gains from the sale of capital assets held for more than eighteen months), or some other rate. This uncertainty may be clarified by future legislation or regulations. Participants' statements of account will show the fair market value on the date of purchase of the Common Stock purchased with reinvested dividends, and a Form 1099-DIV mailed to Participants at year-end will show total dividend income, the amount of any return of capital distribution and the amount of any capital gain dividend. The IRS has ruled in private letter rulings that brokerage commissions paid by a corporation with respect to open market purchases on behalf of participants in a dividend reinvestment plan were to be treated as constructive distributions to such participants. Such constructive distributions were subject to income tax in the same manner as distributions and includible in the Participants' cost basis of the shares purchased. Accordingly, in the event the Board of Directors determines that the Company will pay brokerage commissions with respect to any open market purchases made by the Plan Administrator, the Company intends to take the position that 23 Participants received their proportionate amount of such commissions as additional distributions. While the matter is not free from doubt, the Company intends to take the position that administrative expenses of the Plan paid by the Company are not constructive distributions to Participants. The tax basis of newly issued Common Stock purchased directly from the Company for a Participant under the Plan by reinvestment of dividends will be equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the relevant Investment Date. The tax basis of Common Stock purchased in the open market pursuant to the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan will be equal to the amount paid for such shares, plus the amount of any income recognized by the Participant upon such purchase as a result of any discount or the Company's payment of the Participant's share of brokerage commissions, if any. The holding period of Common Stock acquired under the Plan will begin on the day following the Investment Date. A Participant in the Plan will not realize any taxable income when the Participant receives certificates for whole shares of Common Stock credited to the Participant's account, either upon a Participant's request for such certificates or upon withdrawal from or termination of the Plan. However, a Participant will recognize gain or loss when whole shares of Common Stock or rights applicable to Common Stock acquired under the Plan are sold or exchanged. A Participant will also recognize gain or loss when the Participant receives a cash payment for a fractional share of Common Stock credited to the Participant's account upon withdrawal from or termination of the Plan. The amount of such gain or loss will be the difference between (i) the amount received for the Participant's shares or fractional shares of Common Stock or rights applicable to Common Stock and (ii) the tax basis thereof. Optional Cash Purchases. To the extent the Company offers Common Stock at a discount from the fair market value of such shares on the Investment Date, or pays brokerage commissions with respect to the purchase of such shares, pursuant to the optional cash purchase feature of the Plan, the tax treatment of such activities is unclear. The Company presently intends to take the position that any such discount or payment of brokerage commissions does not constitute a distribution from the Company to Participants in the optional cash payment feature of the Plan. However, it is possible that Participants will be treated as having received a distribution from the Company, upon the purchase of Common Stock with an optional cash payment, in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares on the Investment Date over the amount of the optional cash payment, plus the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Company, if any. The Company may take this position in future reports to Participants or the I.R.S. Participants are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any such actions. Shares acquired under the optional cash payment feature of the Plan will have a tax basis equal to the amount of the optional cash payment plus the income, if any, recognized by the Participant upon such acquisition. Participants will recognize gain or loss when shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to optional cash purchases are sold or exchanged. The amount of such gain or loss will be the difference between the amount received for the Participant's shares and the tax basis thereof. 36. HOW ARE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING PROVISIONS APPLIED TO STOCKHOLDERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN? If a Participant fails to provide certain federal income tax certifications in the manner required by law, dividends on shares of Common Stock, proceeds from the sale of fractional shares and proceeds from the sale of shares held for a Participant's account will be subject to federal income tax withholding at the rate of 31%. If withholding is required for any reason, the appropriate amount of tax will be withheld. Certain stockholders (including most corporations) are, however, exempt from the above withholding requirements. 24 Participants which are foreign stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of participation in the Plan. In general, if a Participant is a foreign stockholder, the appropriate amount will be withheld and the balance in shares will be credited to such Participant's account. 37. WHO BEARS THE RISK OF MARKET FLUCTUATIONS IN THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK? A Participant's investment in shares held in the Plan account is no different from his or her investment in directly held shares. The Participant bears the risk of any loss and enjoys the benefits of any gain from market price changes with respect to such shares. 38. WHO SHOULD BE CONTACTED WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN? All correspondence regarding the Plan should be directed to: BOSTON EQUISERVE, L.P. DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT UNIT P.O. BOX 8040 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02266-8040 TELEPHONE: (617) 575-3120 Please mention Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and this Plan in all correspondence. 39. HOW IS THE PLAN INTERPRETED? Any question of interpretation arising under the Plan will be determined by the Company and any such determination will be final. The Company may adopt rules and regulations to facilitate the administration of the Plan. The terms and conditions of the Plan and its operation will be governed by the laws of the State of California. 40. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE PLAN? Plan Shares are subject to escheat to the state in which the Participant resides in the event that such shares are deemed, under such state's laws, to have been abandoned by the Participant. Participants, therefore, should notify the Plan Administrator promptly in writing of any change of address. Account statements and other communications to Participants will be addressed to them at the last address of record provided by Participants to the Plan Administrator. Participants will have no right to draw checks or drafts against their Plan accounts or to instruct the Plan Administrator with respect to any shares of Common Stock or cash held by the Plan Administrator except as expressly provided herein. 25 DIVIDENDS The Company has paid dividends since its incorporation. In order to accommodate the provisions of this Plan, the Company anticipates that dividends will be payable on or about the fifteenth business day of January, April, July and October. However, the actual dates may vary and will be determined at the discretion of the Board of Directors. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company does not know either the number of shares of Common Stock that will be ultimately sold pursuant to the Plan or the prices at which such shares will be sold. However, the Company proposes to use the net proceeds from the sale of newly issued shares of Common Stock for general corporate purposes. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Except to the extent the Plan Administrator purchases Common Stock in open market transactions, the Common Stock acquired under the Plan will be sold directly by the Company through the Plan. The Company may sell Common Stock to owners of shares (including brokers or dealers) who, in connection with any resales of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriters. Such shares, including shares acquired pursuant to waivers granted with respect to the optional cash payment feature of the Plan, may be resold in market transactions (including coverage of short positions) on any national securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock trade or in privately negotiated transactions. The Common Stock is currently listed on the American Stock Exchange. Under certain circumstances, it is expected that a portion of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan will be issued pursuant to such waivers. The difference between the price such owners pay to the Company for shares of Common Stock acquired under the Plan, after deduction of the applicable discount from the Market Price, if any, and the price at which such shares are resold, may be deemed to constitute underwriting commissions received by such owners in connection with such transactions. Subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock registered for issuance under the Plan, there is no total maximum number of shares that can be issued pursuant to the reinvestment of dividends. From time to time, financial intermediaries may engage in positioning transactions in order to benefit from the discount from the Market Price of Common Stock acquired through the reinvestment of dividends under the Plan. Except with respect to open market purchases of Common Stock, the Company will pay any and all brokerage commissions and related expenses incurred in connection with purchases of Common Stock under the Plan. Upon withdrawal by a Participant from the Plan by the sale of Common Stock held under the Plan, the Participant will receive the proceeds of such sale less any related brokerage commissions and any applicable transfer taxes. Common Stock may not be available under the Plan in all states. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any Common Stock or other securities in any state or any other jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer in such jurisdiction. 26 LEGAL OPINION The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon by Freshman, Marantz, Orlanski, Cooper & Klein, Beverly Hills, California, counsel to the Company and certain legal matters with respect to Maryland law by Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Baltimore, Maryland. EXPERTS The financial statements of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and ICI Funding Corporation incorporated in the Prospectus by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been so incorporated by reference therein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. Each of the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the December 31, 1996 financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph that states the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 122, "Accounting for Mortgage Servicing Rights" for the year ended December 31, 1995. INDEMNIFICATION The Company's Charter contains a provision which limits the liability of its directors and officers to the Company and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Company's Charter and Bylaws also provide that the Company shall indemnify directors and officers under certain circumstances for liabilities and expenses incurred by reason of their actions in such capacities. In addition, the Company maintains an insurance policy that indemnifies directors and officers against certain liabilities. 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, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in said Act and is therefore unenforceable. 27 GLOSSARY "AMEX" means the American Stock Exchange. "Beneficial Owners" means stockholders who beneficially own shares of Common Stock that are registered in a name other than their own (for example, in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee). "B&N Form" means a Broker and Nominee form. "business day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which the AMEX is closed or a day on which the Plan Administrator is authorized or obligated by law to close. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Common Stock" means the common stock, $.01 par value, of the Company. "Company" means Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "IRS" means Internal Revenue Service. "Investment Date" means, with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to a dividend reinvestment, the dividend payment date declared by the Board of Directors (unless such date is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter) or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the dividend payment date; and with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to an optional cash payment, generally on or about the twenty-ninth day of each month; or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the Investment Date. In no event, however, will the Investment Date relating to dividend reinvestments be less than ten days from the Investment Date relating to optional cash payments. "Market Price" means, with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to a dividend reinvestment, the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock on the AMEX on the Investment Date, or if no trading occurs in the Common Stock on the Investment Date, the average of the high and low sales prices for the first trading day immediately preceding the Investment Date for which trades are reported. With respect to dividend reinvestments which will be reinvested in Common Stock purchased in the open market, "Market Price" shall mean the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' reinvested dividends for the related quarter. With respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to optional cash payments, "Market Price" shall mean the average of the high and low sales prices, computed to three decimal places, of the Common Stock as reported on the AMEX during the Pricing Period. With respect to optional cash payments which will be reinvested in Common Stock purchased in the open market, "Market Price" shall mean the weighted average of the actual prices paid, computed to three decimal places, for all of the Common Stock purchased by the Plan Administrator with all Participants' optional cash payments for the related month. "Original Plan" means the Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan as approved by the Company's Board of Directors on February 14, 1997. "Participant" means an eligible holder of Common Stock who wishes to participate in the Plan. 28 "Participating Shares" means shares of Common Stock owned by a Participant on the applicable record date as to which such Participant has directed the Company to pay the related cash dividends to the Plan Administrator. "Plan" means the Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan which amended and restated the Original Plan. "Plan Administrator" means a plan administrator that administers the Plan, keeps records, sends statements of account to each Participant and performs other duties related to the Plan. Boston Equiserve, L.P. currently serves as Plan Administrator of the Plan. "Plan Shares" means all whole and fractional shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant's Plan account. "Pricing Period" means the period encompassing the three Trading Days preceding the relevant optional cash payment Investment Date. "REIT" means real estate investment trust. "Record Date" means, with respect to reinvestments of dividends, the record date declared by the Board of Directors for such dividend; and with respect to optional cash payments, two business days prior to the commencement of the Pricing Period. "Record Owners" means stockholders who own shares of Common Stock in their own names. "Requests for Waiver" means a written request from a Participant to make optional cash payments in excess of $10,000. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "Trading Day" means a day on which trades in the Common Stock are reported on the AMEX. "Waiver Discount" means the discount from the Market Price applicable to optional cash payments made pursuant to Requests for Waiver. Such discount will vary between 0% and 5% of the Market Price and may vary each month. 29 SCHEDULE A OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS The following table sets forth the applicable dates for optional cash payments for 1997 and 1998. The Company will typically set these dates two months before the end of each year and they will be available from Investor Relations at (714) 438-2100 on the 1st of December of each year. SUMMARY DATE INFORMATION . The Investment Date is, with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to a dividend reinvestment, the dividend payment date declared by the Board of Directors (unless such date is not a business day in which case it is the first business day immediately thereafter) or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than thirty business days following the dividend payment date; and with respect to Common Stock acquired directly from the Company and relating to an optional cash payment, generally on or about the twenty-ninth day of each month; or, in the case of open market purchases, no later than the thirty business days following the Investment Date. In no event, however, will the Investment Date relating to dividend reinvestments be less than ten days from the Investment Date relating to optional cash payments. . The Pricing Period for optional cash payments which are invested in Common Stock acquired directly from the Company is the three Trading Days preceding the relevant Investment Date. . Optional cash payments must be received by the Plan Administrator by the end of the business day immediately preceding the commencement of the relevant Pricing Period. . The Record Date for dividends is set by the Board of Directors. The Record Date for optional cash payments is two business days prior to the related Pricing Period. . The Waiver Discount is set three business days prior to the applicable Record Date. 30
WAIVER DISCOUNT OPTIONAL CASH PRICING PERIOD INVESTMENT SET DATE RECORD DATE PAYMENT DUE DATE COMMENCE DATE DATE ----------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ ------------------ November 14, 1997 November 19, 1997 November 20, 1997 November 21, 1997 November 26, 1997 December 16, 1997 December 19, 1997 December 22, 1997 December 23, 1997 December 29, 1997 January 19, 1998 January 22, 1998 January 23, 1998 January 26, 1998 January 29, 1998 February 17, 1998 February 20, 1998 February 23, 1998 February 24, 1998 February 27, 1998 March 18, 1998 March 23, 1998 March 24, 1998 March 25, 1998 March 30, 1998 April 17, 1998 April 22, 1998 April 23, 1998 April 24, 1998 April 29, 1998 May 19, 1998 May 22, 1998 May 25, 1998 May 26, 1998 May 29, 1998 June 17, 1998 June 22, 1998 June 23, 1998 June 24, 1998 June 29, 1998 July 17, 1998 July 22, 1998 July 23, 1998 July 24, 1998 July 29, 1998 August 18, 1998 August 21, 1998 August 24, 1998 August 25, 1998 August 28, 1998 September 17, 1998 September 22, 1998 September 23, 1998 September 24, 1998 September 29, 1998 October 19, 1998 October 22, 1998 October 23, 1998 October 26, 1998 October 29, 1998 November 16, 1998 November 19, 1998 November 20, 1998 November 23, 1998 November 30, 1998 December 16, 1998 December 21, 1998 December 22, 1998 December 23, 1998 December 29, 1998 BROKER AND NOMINEE FORM TO BE USED ONLY BY STOCKHOLDERS ALL OF WHOSE SHARES ARE IN NOMINEE OR STREET NAME AND WISH TO MAKE OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS Name of Broker or Nominee Holding Shares for Stockholder: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares held by Broker or Nominee_____________________________________ I wish to make optional cash payments to the Plan. My check in the amount of $____ is enclosed. My Plan account is to be maintained as follows (PLEASE PRINT): - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name Street City State Zip Code - ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Social Security/Tax I.D. No. Date I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I AM THE OWNER OF THE SHARES OF IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. INDICATED ABOVE. ------------------------------------- Signature (To be executed by broker, bank or other nominee for Beneficial Owner) IF ADDRESS IS NOT PROPERLY SHOWN, PLEASE CORRECT BEFORE RETURNING. THIS IS NOT A PROXY. AUTHORIZATION FORM IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND STOCK PURCHASE PLAN Record Owners and Beneficial Owners who select either or both the Dividend Reinvestment and/or the Optional Cash Payment feature of the Plan need to complete an Authorization Form. Beneficial Owners need to instruct their broker, bank or other nominee to complete the Authorization Form. Beneficial Owners whose shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee in the name of a major securities depository and who select the Optional Cash Payment feature of the Plan need to instruct their broker, bank or other nominee to also complete a Broker and Nominee Form. I hereby appoint Boston EquiServe, L.P. (or any successor) (the "Plan Administrator") as my agent to receive cash dividends that may hereafter become payable to me on shares of Common Stock of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") registered in my name as set forth below, and authorize the Plan Administrator to apply such dividends, together with any optional cash payments I may properly make, to the purchase of full shares and fractional interests in shares of the Company's Common Stock. I wish to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan for the purchase of whole and fractional shares of Common Stock ("Shares") of Imperial Credit Mortgage Holdings, Inc. as follows: Indicate selection by placing an "X" in the appropriate box(es) (note: you cannot select both the first and second boxes) [_] FULL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT. I want to reinvest dividends on all Shares now or hereafter registered in my name and on all Shares held for me by the Plan Administrator. I may also make optional cash deposits. [_] PARTIAL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT. I want to reinvest cash dividends on only _______ Shares registered in my name and want my cash dividends on the rest of my Shares. I understand that dividends on all Shares held for me by the Plan Administrator will be reinvested. I may also make optional cash deposits. [_] OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS ONLY. I want to make an optional cash deposit. I understand that dividends on all Shares held for me by the Plan Administrator will be reinvested. My check in the amount of $ is enclosed. My participation is subject to the provisions of the Plan as set forth in the Prospectus relating to the Shares offered pursuant to the Plan and I may revoke this authorization by notifying the Plan Administrator, in writing, of my termination. - ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Social Security or Tax I.D. No. Date - ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Print Name(s) of Registered Owners Signature(s) of Registered Owners Make checks payable to: BOSTON EQUISERVE-IMPERIAL CREDIT MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. DRIP Mailing Address: Boston Equiserve, L.P. Dividend Reinvestment Unit P.O. Box 8040 Boston, Massachusetts 02266-8040 1443-DRP-98