PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES INC - 10-Q Quarterly Report

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


[X]		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003

[ ]		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

		For the transition period from to

		Commission File Number: 000-50058

Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		75-3078675

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


120 Corporate Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia			23502

(Address of principal executive offices)			(zip code)

(888) 772-7326

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES [X] NO [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES [ ] NO [X]

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class	Outstanding as of October 27, 2003

Common Stock, $0.01 par value		15,208,761

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.

INDEX


		Page(s)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
	Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002 (unaudited)		3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002		4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002		5
	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		6-14
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			15-30
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk			31
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			31
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K			32
SIGNATURES			33
CERTIFICATIONS

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002
(unaudited)


					September 30,		December 31,
					2003		2002
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents					$	14,810,359	$	17,938,730
Finance receivables, net						89,836,418		65,526,235
Property and equipment, net						5,232,506		3,794,254
Deferred tax asset						5,414,082		—
Income tax receivable						1,856,297		—
Other assets						1,120,936		1,008,168

				Total assets	$	118,270,598	$	88,267,387

			Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
	Accounts payable				$	1,132,009	$	1,363,833
	Accrued expenses					598,819		745,754
	Income taxes payable					—		937,231
	Accrued payroll and bonuses					2,383,416		2,861,336
	Deferred tax liability					—		286,882
	Long-term debt					1,743,698		965,582
	Obligations under capital lease					633,525		499,151

		Total liabilities				6,491,467		7,659,769
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders’ equity:
	Preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized shares, 2,000,000, issued and outstanding shares - 0
	Common stock, par value $0.01, authorized shares, 30,000,000, issued and outstanding shares - 15,208,761 at September 30, 2003, and 13,520,000 at December 31, 2002					152,088		135,200
	Additional paid in capital					94,191,165		78,308,754
	Retained earnings					17,435,878		2,163,664

	Total stockholders’ equity					111,779,131		80,607,618

		Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			$	118,270,598	$	88,267,387

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OPERATIONS
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002
(unaudited)


					Three Months			Three Months			Nine Months			Nine Months
					Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended
					September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
					2003			2002			2003			2002
Revenues:
		Income recognized on finance receivables			$	21,388,674		$	14,703,904		$	59,624,690		$	38,721,711
		Commissions				784,411			520,618			2,266,998			1,337,055
		Net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables				—			—			—			100,156

				Total revenue		22,173,085			15,224,522			61,891,688			40,158,922
Operating expenses:
			Compensation and employee services			7,369,517			5,507,580			21,441,422			15,719,635
			Outside legal and other fees and services			3,885,920			2,197,040			9,979,781			5,438,622
			Communications			702,739			540,158			2,003,116			1,469,611
			Rent and occupancy			317,300			208,712			872,260			571,159
			Other operating expenses			392,872			323,877			1,321,832			999,448
			Depreciation			383,071			242,616			1,054,253			676,238

				Total operating expenses		13,051,419			9,019,983			36,672,664			24,874,713

				Income from operations		9,121,666			6,204,539			25,219,024			15,284,209
Other income and (expense):
		Interest income				586			—			28,811			1,699
		Interest expense				(83,989	)		(1,065,776	)		(243,226	)		(2,182,489	)

				Income before income taxes		9,038,263			5,138,763			25,004,609			13,103,419
				Provision for income taxes		3,509,070			—			9,732,395			—

				Net income	$	5,529,193		$	5,138,763		$	15,272,214		$	13,103,419

				Pro forma income taxes					1,986,387						5,065,566

				Pro forma net income				$	3,152,376					$	8,037,853

Net income/Pro forma net income per common share
	Basic				$	0.36		$	0.32		$	1.07		$	0.80
	Diluted				$	0.35		$	0.27		$	0.97		$	0.70
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
	Basic					15,148,978			10,000,000			14,311,587			10,000,000
	Diluted					15,751,532			11,496,385			15,697,825			11,489,580

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 and 2002
(unaudited)


					Nine Months			Nine Months
					Ended			Ended
					September 30,			September 30,
					2003			2002
Operating activities:
		Net income			$	15,272,214		$	13,103,419
		Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
		Increase in equity from vested options and warrants				302,380			—
		Tax benefit related to stock option exercise				15,397,882			—
		Depreciation				1,054,253			676,238
		Gain on sales of defaulted consumer receivables				—			(100,156	)
		Deferred income taxes				(5,700,964	)		—
		Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
			Other assets			(112,768	)		285,163
			Accounts payable			(231,824	)		439,738
			Income taxes			(2,793,528	)		—
			Accrued expenses			(146,935	)		31,650
			Accrued payroll and bonuses			(477,920	)		186,640

				Net cash provided by operating activities		22,562,790			14,622,692

Cash flows from investing activities:
	Purchases of property and equipment					(2,129,692	)		(924,879	)
	Acquisition of finance receivables, net of buybacks					(50,849,497	)		(26,214,185	)
	Collections applied to principal on finance receivables					26,539,314			19,167,807
	Proceeds from sale of finance receivables, net of allowances for returns					—			756

				Net cash used in investing activities		(26,439,875	)		(7,970,501	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
	Public offering costs					(386,963	)		—
	Proceeds from exercise of warrants					586,000			—
	Distribution of capital					—			(5,549,530	)
	Proceeds from long-term debt					975,000			500,000
	Payments on long-term debt					(196,884	)		(62,656	)
	Payments on capital lease obligations					(228,439	)		(282,098	)

				Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities		748,714			(5,394,284	)

				Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents		(3,128,371	)		1,257,907
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period						17,938,730			4,780,399

				Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	14,810,359		$	6,038,306

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
	Cash paid for interest				$	240,503		$	2,093,814
Noncash investing and financing activities:
	Capital lease obligations incurred					362,813			38,896

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

1. Organization and Business:

Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC (“PRA”) was formed March 20, 1996. Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (“PRA Inc”) was formed in August 2002. On November 8, 2002, PRA Inc completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of common stock. As a result, all of the membership units and warrants of PRA were exchanged on a one to one basis for warrants and shares of a single class of common stock of PRA Inc. PRA Inc now owns all outstanding membership units of PRA and PRA Receivables Management, LLC (d/b/a Anchor Receivables Management) (“Anchor”). PRA owns all of the membership units of PRA III, LLC, a special purpose borrowing entity (“PRA III”), PRA Funding, LLC, whose name was changed from PRA AG Funding, LLC in February 2003 (“PRA Funding”), and PRA Holding I, LLC, an entity established to hold real property (“PRA Holding I”). PRA Inc, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) purchases, collects and manages portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. The defaulted consumer receivables the Company collects are in substantially all cases either purchased from the credit originator or are collected on behalf of clients on a commission fee basis. This is primarily accomplished by maintaining a staff of highly skilled collectors whose purpose is to contact the customers and arrange payment of the debt. Secondarily, the Company has contracted with independent attorneys to allow the Company to undertake legal action to satisfy the outstanding debt.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of PRA Inc, PRA, PRA Funding, PRA Holding I, Anchor and PRA III.

The accompanying unaudited financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In the opinion of the Company, however, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2003, its results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, and its cash flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The results of operations of the Company for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 may not be indicative of future results. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed for the year ended December 31, 2002.

2. Finance Receivables:

The Company accounts for its investment in finance receivables using the interest method under the guidance of Practice Bulletin 6, “Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans.” Static pools of relatively homogenous accounts are established. Once a static pool is established, the receivable accounts in the pool are not changed. Each static pool is recorded at cost, and is accounted for as a single unit for the recognition of income, principal payments and loss provision. Income on finance receivables is accrued monthly based on each static pool’s effective interest rate. This interest rate is estimated based on the timing and amount of anticipated cash flows using the Company’s proprietary collection models. Monthly cash flows greater than the interest accrual will reduce the carrying value of the static pool. Likewise, monthly cash flows that are less than the monthly accrual will accrete the carrying balance. Each pool is reviewed monthly and compared to the Company’s models to ensure complete amortization of the carrying balance at the end of each pool’s life.

In the event that cash collections would be inadequate to amortize the carrying balance, an impairment charge would be taken with a corresponding write-off of the receivable balance. Accordingly, we do not maintain an allowance for credit losses.

The agreements to purchase the aforementioned receivables include general representations and warranties from the sellers covering account holder death or bankruptcy, and accounts settled or disputed prior to sale. The representation and warranty period permitting the return of these accounts from the Company to the seller is typically 90 to 180 days.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

Changes in finance receivables for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 were as follows:


	Three Months			Three Months			Nine Months			Nine Months
	Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended
	September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
	2003			2002			2003			2002
Balance at beginning of period	$	86,688,557		$	51,055,102		$	65,526,235		$	47,986,744
Acquisitions of finance receivables, net of buybacks		11,978,443			10,082,648			50,849,497			26,314,185
Cash collections		(30,219,256	)		(20,708,532	)		(86,164,004	)		(57,889,518	)
Income recognized on finance receivables		21,388,674			14,703,904			59,624,690			38,721,711

Cash collections applied to principal		(8,830,582	)		(6,004,628	)		(26,539,314	)		(19,167,807	)

Cost of finance receivables sold, net of allowance for returns		—			(600	)		—			(600	)

Balance at end of period	$	89,836,418		$	55,132,522		$	89,836,418		$	55,132,522

Estimated Remaining Collections (“ERC”)⁽¹⁾	$	269,925,459		$	177,819,445		$	269,925,459		$	177,819,445

⁽¹⁾ Estimated Remaining Collections refers to the sum of all future projected cash collections on the Company’s owned portfolios. ERC is not a balance sheet item, however, it is provided here for informational purposes.

At the time of acquisition, the life of each pool is generally set at between 60 and 72 months based upon the proprietary models of the Company. As of September 30, 2003 the Company has $89,836,418 in finance receivables included in the Statement of Financial Position. Based upon current projections, cash collections applied to principal will be as follows for the twelve months in the periods ending:


September 30, 2004	$	31,443,021
September 30, 2005		27,846,052
September 30, 2006		19,676,936
September 30, 2007		8,043,478
September 30, 2008		2,028,164
September 30, 2009		798,767

3. Revolving Lines of Credit:

On September 18, 2001, PRA III arranged with a commercial lender to provide financing under a revolving line of credit of up to $40 million. The agreement was amended on December 18, 2002 to reduce the available credit to $25 million. The December 2002 amendment also allowed for a reduction in the borrowing spread and an increase in the unused line fee. This line of credit is collateralized by all receivables, collections on receivables and assets of PRA III along with a lien on Company assets excluding PRA Funding and certain other excluded assets. The agreement expires September 15, 2005. Interest is variable based on LIBOR. No amount was outstanding at September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002. Restrictive covenants under this agreement include:

• restrictions on monthly borrowings in excess of $4 million per month and quarterly borrowings in excess of $10 million;

• a maximum leverage ratio, defined as total liabilities less subordinated debt divided by tangible net worth plus subordinated debt, of not greater than 4 to 1 and quarterly net income of at least $0.01, calculated on a consolidated basis;

• a restriction on distributions in excess of 75% of annual net income;

• compliance with certain special purpose vehicle and corporate separateness covenants; and

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

• restrictions on change of control.

As of September 30, 2003 the Company is in compliance with all of the covenants of this agreement.

In addition, PRA Funding maintains a $2.5 million revolving line of credit with RBC Centura Bank. This line of credit had an expiration date of July 2003; however, in September 2003, this facility was extended and now expires on September 28, 2004. The line of credit bears interest at a spread over LIBOR. The terms of this agreement require that PRA maintain a current ratio of 1.6:1.0 or greater, the current ratio being defined to include finance receivables as a current asset and to include the credit facility in place as of September 30, 2003 as a current liability. The agreement further requires that PRA maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of 1.5:1.0 or less and a minimum balance sheet cash position at month end of $2 million. Distributions are limited under the terms of the facility to 75% of net income. As of September 30, 2003, the Company is in full compliance with these covenants. This $2.5 million facility had no amounts outstanding as of September 30, 2003 or December 31, 2002.

4. Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment, at cost, consist of the following as of the dates indicated:


		September 30,			December 31,
		2003			2002
Software		$	1,994,664		$	1,431,938
Computer equipment			2,129,802			1,435,795
Furniture and fixtures			1,323,575			942,178
Equipment			1,581,846			1,037,372
Leasehold improvements			641,347			343,329
Building and improvements			1,138,924			1,136,762
Land			100,515			100,515
	Less accumulated depreciation		(3,678,167	)		(2,633,635	)

Net property and equipment		$	5,232,506		$	3,794,254

5. Hedging Activity:

During 2001, the Company entered into an interest rate swap for the purpose of managing exposure to fluctuations in interest rates related to variable rate financing. The interest rate swap effectively fixed the interest rate on $10 million of the Company’s outstanding debt. The swap required payment or receipt of the difference between a fixed rate of 5.33% and a variable rate of interest based on 1-month LIBOR. The unrealized gains and losses associated with the change in market value of the interest rate swap are recognized as other comprehensive income. This swap transaction, which was to expire in May 2004, was paid in full and terminated in September 2002.

Expenses incurred related to the swap agreement were interest expenses of $616,954 and $792,047 for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2002. The net interest payments are a component of “Interest Expense” on the income statement and a reduction of net income in the cash flow statement.

6. Stock-Based Compensation:

The Company has a stock warrant plan and a stock option plan. Prior to 2002, the Company accounted for stock compensation issued under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in pro forma net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Effective January 1, 2002, the Company

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123 (“SFAS 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, prospectively to all employee awards granted, modified, or settled after January 1, 2002. Therefore, the cost related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for 2002 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards since the original effective date of SFAS 123. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the fair value based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in each period.


		Three Months			Three Months			Nine Months			Nine Months
		Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended
		September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
		2003			2002			2003			2002
Net income/Pro forma net income:
As reported		$	5,529,193		$	3,152,376		$	15,272,214		$	8,037,853
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects			72,068			—			187,413			—
Less: Total stock based compensation expense determined under intrinsic value method for all awards, net of related tax effects			(72,068	)		(6,788	)		(187,413	)		(12,095	)

Pro forma net income		$	5,529,193		$	3,145,588		$	15,272,214		$	8,025,758

Earnings per share:
	Basic - as reported	$	0.36		$	0.32		$	1.07		$	0.80
	Basic - pro forma	$	0.36		$	0.31		$	1.07		$	0.80
	Diluted - as reported	$	0.35		$	0.27		$	0.97		$	0.70
	Diluted - pro forma	$	0.35		$	0.27		$	0.97		$	0.70

Stock Warrants

The PRA management committee was authorized to issue warrants to partners, employees or vendors to purchase membership units. Generally, warrants granted had a term between 5 and 7 years and vested within 3 years. Warrants had been issued at or above the fair market value on the date of grant. Warrants vest and expire according to terms established at the grant date.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

The following summarizes all warrant related transactions from December 31, 1999 through September 30, 2003:


				Weighted
				Average
	Warrants			Exercise
	Outstanding			Price
December 31, 1999		2,325,000		$	4.17
Granted		65,000			4.20
Exercised		—			—
Cancelled		(230,000	)		4.20

December 31, 2000		2,160,000			4.17
Granted		155,000			4.20
Exercised		—			—
Cancelled		(120,000	)		4.20

December 31, 2001		2,195,000			4.17
Granted		50,000			10.00
Exercised		(50,000	)		4.20
Cancelled		(10,000	)		4.20

December 31, 2002		2,185,000		$	4.30
Granted		—			—
Exercised		(1,991,000	)		4.17
Cancelled		(51,500	)		9.72

September 30, 2003		142,500		$	4.20

At September 30, 2003, the Company had 142,500 exercisable warrants outstanding. All were issued to employees of the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, no warrants were issued. During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, 50,000 warrants were issued to an employee of the Company.

The following information is as of September 30, 2003:


		Warrants Outstanding						Warrants Exercisable

				Weighted-
				Average		Weighted-				Weighted-
				Remaining		Average				Average
Exercise		Number		Contractual		Exercise		Number		Exercise
Prices		Outstanding		Life		Price		Exercisable		Price
	$4.20		142,500		2.53	$	4.20		142,500	$	4.20

Total at September 30, 2003			142,500		2.53	$	4.20		142,500	$	4.20

Had compensation cost for granted warrants been determined pursuant to SFAS 123, the Company’s net income would have decreased. Using a fair-value (minimum value calculation), the following assumptions were used:


		2002			2001			2000
Warrants issue year:
Expected life from vest date (in years):
	Employees		3.00			4.00			0.00
	Operating members		0.00			0.00			5.00
Risk-free interest rates			4.53	%		4.66%-4.77	%		6.30	%
Volatility			N/A			N/A			N/A
Dividend yield			N/A			N/A			N/A

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

The fair value model utilizes the risk-free interest rate at grant with an expected exercise date sometime in the future generally assuming an exercise date in the first half of 2005. In addition, warrant valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected exercise date and risk-free interest rates. Prior to the IPO, the Company’s warrants had characteristics significantly different from those of traded warrants, and changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate. Based upon the above assumptions, the weighted average fair value of employee warrants granted during the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 was $1.24, $0.35, and $0.21, respectively.

Effective December 30, 1999, PRA’s management committee issued warrants to acquire 125,000 membership units to an affiliate of Angelo, Gordon & Co. The warrants immediately vested and were exercisable at $3.60 per unit. As these warrants are not issued as compensation to an employee or operating member of the Company, an expense of $0 and $12,801 was incurred and recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The value of the warrants was calculated using the fair value approach as designated by SFAS 123, which utilizes a comparison of the discounted value of the underlying units discounted using a risk-free interest rate at the date of grant. All warrants issued to AG 1999 have been exercised and none remain outstanding as of September 30, 2003.

Effective August 18, 1999, PRA’s management committee issued warrants to acquire 200,000 membership units to SMR Research Corporation (“SMR”). The warrants were to vest over a 60 month period and are exercisable at $4.20 per unit. The warrants vested as to 80,000 membership units and the remaining 120,000 membership units were cancelled upon the termination of an agreement between the Company and SMR Research Corporation. The value of the warrants was calculated using the intrinsic method and no expense was recognized on these warrants. The fair value approach was then applied, as designated by SFAS 123, which utilizes a comparison of the discounted value of the underlying units discounted using a risk-free interest rate at the date of grant. As a result, these warrants were shown to have a negative present value and as such no expense has been recorded. All warrants issued to SMR have been exercised and none remain outstanding as of September 30, 2003.

Stock Options

The Company created the 2002 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) on November 7, 2002. Up to 2,000,000 shares of common stock may be issued under this program. The Plan expires November 7, 2012. All options issued under the Plan vest ratably over 5 years. Granted options expire seven years from grant date. Expiration dates range between November 7, 2009 and July 31, 2010. No grant of options to a single person can exceed 200,000 in a single year. As of September 30, 2003, 875,000 options have been granted under the Plan of which 22,075 have been cancelled. These options are accounted for under SFAS 123 and all expense for 2003 and 2002 are included in earnings as a component of compensation. The Company issued 55,000 options during the three months ended September 30, 2003.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

The following summarizes all option related transactions from December 31, 2001 through September 30, 2003:


				Weighted
				Average
	Options			Exercise
	Outstanding			Price
December 31, 2001		—		$	—
Granted		820,000			13.06
Exercised		—			—
Cancelled		(12,150	)		13.00

December 31, 2002		807,850			13.06
Granted		55,000			28.87
Exercised		—			—
Cancelled		(9,925	)		13.00

September 30, 2003		852,925		$	14.01

The Company had total stock options outstanding of 852,925 at September 30, 2003, none of which were exercisable. All of the stock options were issued to employees of the Company except for 20,000 which were issued to the board of directors.

The following information is as of September 30, 2003:


		Options Outstanding						Options Exercisable

				Weighted-
				Average		Weighted-				Weighted-
				Remaining		Average				Average
Exercise		Number		Contractual		Exercise		Number		Exercise
Prices		Outstanding		Life		Price		Exercisable		Price
	$13.00		782,925		6.11	$	13.00		—	$	13.00
	$16.16		15,000		6.14	$	16.16		—	$	16.16
	$27.77		50,000		6.84	$	27.77		—	$	27.77
	$28.98		5,000		6.79	$	28.98		—	$	28.98

Total at September 30, 2003			852,925		6.16	$	14.01		—	$	—

The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the value of the stock options when granted. This model was developed to estimate the fair value of traded options, which have different characteristics than employee stock options. In addition, changes to the subjective input assumptions can result in materially different fair market value estimates. Therefore, the Black-Scholes model may not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of employee stock options.


Options issue year:	2003			2002
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	5.84		$	2.73
Expected volatility		15.70% - 15.73	%		15.70	%
Risk-free interest rate		2.92% - 3.19	%		2.92	%
Expected dividend yield		0.00	%		0.00	%
Expected life (in years)		5.00			5.00

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

Utilizing these assumptions, each employee stock option granted in 2002 is valued at $2.71 per share and each director stock option is valued at $3.37 per share. For stock options issued to employees in 2003, the per share values range between $5.80 and $6.25.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock shares are permitted to be issued as an incentive to attract new employees when the stock has traded for less than one year, as is the case for PRA Inc. During the three months ended September 30, 2003, the Company issued 12,545 shares of restricted stock. The terms are similar to the stock option plan where the shares are issued at or above market values and vest ratably over 5 years.

7. Commitments and Contingencies:

Employment Agreements:

The Company has employment agreements with all of its executive officers and with several members of its senior management group, the terms of which expire on March 31, 2004 or December 31, 2005. Such agreements provide for base salary payments as well as bonuses which are based on the attainment of specific management goals. Estimated remaining compensation under these agreements is approximately $2,509,543. The agreements also contain confidentiality and non-compete provisions.

Leases:

The Company is party to various operating and capital leases with respect to its facilities and equipment. Please refer to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for discussion of these leases. On June 27, 2003, the Company entered into a lease for an additional 25,000 square feet of office space at its Norfolk, VA headquarters. The lease is for a term of 10 years, beginning on January 1, 2004, at an annualized rent of $447,000.

In addition, the Company amended its existing lease for its Norfolk, VA headquarters to extend the term of that lease an additional 90 months. This lease now expires December 31, 2013. Beginning in 2004, annualized rental expense in conjunction with this lease will be $691,000.

Litigation:

The Company is from time to time subject to routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company believes that the results of any pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

8. Income Taxes

Prior to November 8, 2002, the Company was organized as a limited liability company, taxed as a partnership, and as such was not subject to federal or state income taxes. Immediately before the IPO, the Company was reorganized as a corporation and became subject to income taxes.

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)

The income tax expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 is composed of the following:


For the three months ended September 30, 2003:		Federal			State			Total
Current tax expense		$	(8,207,248	)		(1,484,374	)	$	(9,691,622	)
Deferred tax expense			11,174,551			2,026,141			13,200,692

	Total income tax expense	$	2,967,303		$	541,767		$	3,509,070


For the nine months ended September 30, 2003:		Federal			State			Total
Current tax expense		$	(3,174,793	)		(532,621	)	$	(3,707,414	)
Deferred tax expense			11,404,576			2,035,233			13,439,809

	Total income tax expense	$	8,229,783		$	1,502,612		$	9,732,395

The Company also recognized a net deferred tax asset of $5,414,082 as of September 30, 2003 and a net deferred tax liability of $286,882 as of December 31, 2002. The components of this net asset and liability are:


			September 30, 2003		December 31, 2002
Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss - tax		$	19,140,774	$	—
	FAS123 expense			114,039		47,997
	Deferred compensation			7,916		14,872

		Total deferred tax asset		19,262,729		62,869

Deferred tax liabilities:
	Cost recovery			13,160,515		—
	Depreciation			485,603		260,125
	Prepaid expenses			202,529		89,626

		Total deferred tax liability		13,848,647		349,751

	Net deferred tax asset/(liability)		$	5,414,082	$	(286,882	)

A valuation allowance has not provided at September 30, 2003 or December 31, 2002 since management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

The Company presented pro forma tax information assuming it has been a taxable corporation since inception and assuming tax rates equal to the rates that would have been in effect had it been required to report income tax expense in such years. A reconciliation of the Company’s statutory tax rates to the effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and the pro forma income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, consists of the following components:


	For the Three			For the Three		For the Nine		For the Nine
	Months Ended			Months Ended		Months Ended		Months Ended
	September 30,			September 30,		September 30,		September 30,
	2003			2002		2003		2002
Federal tax at statutory rates	$	3,162,774		$	1,774,659	$	8,751,613	$	4,525,233
State tax expense, net of federal benefit		352,149			206,748		976,914		525,910
Other		(5,853	)		4,980		3,868		14,423

Total income tax expense	$	3,509,070		$	1,986,387	$	9,732,395	$	5,065,566

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Cautionary Statements Pursuant to Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding overall trends, gross margin trends, operating cost trends, liquidity and capital needs and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above may include the following:

• changes in the business practices of credit originators in terms of selling defaulted consumer receivables or outsourcing defaulted consumer receivables to third-party contingent fee collection agencies;

• changes in government regulations that affect the Company’s ability to collect sufficient amounts on its acquired or serviced receivables;

• the Company’s ability to employ and retain qualified employees, especially collection personnel;

• changes in the credit or capital markets, which affect the Company’s ability to borrow money or raise capital to purchase or service defaulted consumer receivables;

• the degree and nature of the Company’s competition; and

• the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain operating data as a percentage of total revenue for the periods indicated:


					For the Three Months						For the Nine Months
					Ended September 30,						Ended September 30,
					2003			2002			2003			2002
Revenues:
	Income recognized on finance receivables					96.5	%		96.6	%		96.3	%		96.5	%
	Commissions					3.5	%		3.4	%		3.7	%		3.3	%
	Net gain on sales of defaulted consumer receivables					0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.2	%

			Total revenue			100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Operating expenses:
		Compensation and employee services				33.2	%		36.2	%		34.6	%		39.1	%
		Outside legal and other fees and services				17.5	%		14.4	%		16.1	%		13.5	%
		Communications				3.2	%		3.5	%		3.2	%		3.7	%
		Rent and occupancy				1.4	%		1.4	%		1.4	%		1.4	%
		Other operating expenses				1.8	%		2.1	%		2.1	%		2.5	%
		Depreciation				1.7	%		1.6	%		1.7	%		1.7	%

			Total operating expenses			58.9	%		59.2	%		59.3	%		61.9	%

				Income from operations		41.1	%		40.8	%		40.7	%		38.1	%
Other income and (expense):
	Interest income					0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Interest expense					-0.4	%		-7.0	%		-0.4	%		-5.4	%

				Income before income taxes		40.8	%		33.8	%		40.4	%		32.6	%
				Provision for income taxes		15.8	%		0.0	%		15.7	%		0.0	%

				Net income		24.9	%		33.8	%		24.7	%		32.6	%

				Pro forma income taxes					13.0	%					12.6	%

				Pro forma net income⁽¹⁾					20.7	%					20.0	%

(1) Until November 8, 2002, the Company was structured as a limited liability company. As a limited liability company the Company was not subject to Federal or state corporate income taxes. For comparison purposes, the Company has presented pro forma net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, which reflects income taxes assuming the Company had been a corporation since the time of its formation and assuming tax rates equal to the rates that would have been in effect had the Company been required to report tax expense in such years.

The Company uses the following terminology throughout its reports. “Cash Receipts” refers to all collections of cash, regardless of the source. “Cash Collections” refers to collections on the Company’s owned portfolios only, exclusive of commission income and sales of finance receivables. “Cash Sales of Finance Receivables” refers to the sales of the Company’s owned portfolios. “Commissions” refers to fee income generated from the Company’s wholly-owned contingent fee subsidiary.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 Compared To Three Months Ended September 30, 2002

Revenue

Total revenue was $22.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $7.0 million or 46.1% compared to total revenue of $15.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002.

Income Recognized on Finance Receivables

Income recognized on finance receivables was $21.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $6.7 million or 45.6% compared to income recognized on finance receivables of $14.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The majority of the increase was due to an increase in the Company’s cash collections on its owned defaulted consumer receivables to $30.2 million from $20.7 million, an increase of 45.9%.

The Company’s amortization rate on owned portfolio for the three months ended September 30, 2003 was 29.2% while for the three months ended September 30, 2002 it was 29.0%. During the three months ended September 30, 2003, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $323.4 million at a cost of $11.8 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2002, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivable portfolios with an aggregate face value of $342.1 million at a cost of $10.1 million. The Company’s relative cost basis of acquiring defaulted consumer receivable portfolios increased from 2.96% of face value for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to 3.65% of face value for the three months ended September 30, 2003.

Commissions

Commissions were $784,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $263,000 or 50.5% compared to commissions of $521,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Commissions increased as a result of a growing inventory of accounts.

Net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables

Net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables were $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were $13.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $4.1 million or 45.6% compared to total operating expenses of $9.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Total operating expenses, including compensation and employee services expenses, were 42.3% of cash receipts excluding sales for the three months ended September 30, 2003 compared with 42.5% for the same period in 2002.

Compensation and Employee Services

Compensation and employee services expenses were $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $1.9 million or 34.5% compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Compensation and employee services expenses increased as total employees grew to 747 at September 30, 2003 from 568 at September 30, 2002. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts excluding sales decreased to 23.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 from 25.9% of cash receipts excluding sales for the same period in 2002.

Outside Legal and Other Fees and Services

Outside legal and other fees and services expenses were $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $1.7 million or 77.3% compared to outside legal and other fees and services expenses of $2.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to the increased cash collections resulting from the increased number of accounts referred to independent contingent fee attorneys. This increase is consistent with the growth the Company experienced in its portfolio of defaulted consumer receivables, and a portfolio management strategy shift implemented in mid 2002. This strategy resulted in the Company referring to the legal suit process previously unsuccessfully liquidated accounts that have an identified means of repayment but that are nearing their legal statute of limitations.

Communications

Communications expenses were $703,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $163,000 or 30.2% compared to communications expenses of $540,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to growth in mailings and higher telephone expenses incurred to collect on a greater number of defaulted consumer receivables owned and serviced. Mailings were responsible for 41.2% of this increase, while the remaining 58.8% is attributable to higher telephone expenses.

Rent and Occupancy

Rent and occupancy expenses were $317,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $108,000 or 51.7% compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $209,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to increased leased space due to the opening of a call center in Hampton, Virginia, a storage facility, an off-site administrative and mail handling site and contractual increases in annual rental rates. The Hampton call center accounted for $88,000 of the increase, the new storage facility accounted for $8,000 of the increase and the administrative/mail site accounted for $3,000 of the increase. The remaining increase was attributable to contractual increases in annual rental rates.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses were $393,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $69,000 or 21.3% compared to other operating expenses of $324,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was due to increases in repairs and maintenance, hiring and insurance expenses and offset in part by decreases in taxes, fees and licenses and miscellaneous expenses. Repairs and maintenance expenses increased by $64,000, hiring expenses increased by $33,000, and insurance expenses increased by $51,000, taxes, fees and licenses decreased by $86,000, and miscellaneous expenses increased by $7,000.

Depreciation

Depreciation expenses were $383,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $140,000 or 57.6% compared to depreciation expenses of $243,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to continued capital expenditures on equipment, software and computers related to the Company’s growth and systems upgrades. Of the increase in depreciation expenses, 62.9% is the result of the March 2003 opening of its new Hampton office and an associated $1.2 million in equipment purchases. The remaining increase of 37.1% was the result of system upgrades.

Interest Income

Interest income was $1,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $1,000 compared to interest income of $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. This increase is the result of investing in overnight repo funds as compared to keeping cash in the Company’s depository bank and earning fee credit offsets in 2002.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $84,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, a decrease of $982,000 or 92.1% compared to interest expense of $1,066,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002. This decrease is primarily the result of the termination of the interest rate swap agreement in September 2002 and having no outstanding debt on the revolving line of credit. The interest rate swap expense for the three months ended September 30, 2002 was $617,000 and other debt related expenses for the same time period were $449,000.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 Compared To Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002

Revenue

Total revenue was $61.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $21.7 million or 54.0% compared to total revenue of $40.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

Income Recognized on Finance Receivables

Income recognized on finance receivables was $59.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $20.9 million or 54.0% compared to income recognized on finance receivables of $38.7 million for the

nine months ended September 30, 2002. The majority of the increase was due to an increase in the Company’s cash collections on its owned defaulted consumer receivables to $86.2 million from $57.9 million, an increase of 48.9%. The Company’s amortization rate on owned portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was 30.8% while for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 it was 33.1%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $1,853.1 million at a cost of $50.3 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivable portfolios with an aggregate face value of $930.1 million at a cost of $26.4 million. The Company’s relative cost basis of acquiring defaulted consumer receivable portfolios decreased from 2.84% of face value for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 to 2.71% of face value for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

Commissions

Commissions were $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $930,000 or 71.5% compared to commissions of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Commissions increased as a result of a growing inventory of accounts.

Net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables

Net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables were $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, a decrease of $100,000 compared to net gain on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables of $100,000 for nine months ended September 30, 2002. The Company completed one small sale transaction in June 2002.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were $36.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $11.8 million or 47.4% compared to total operating expenses of $24.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Total operating expenses, including compensation and employee services expenses, were 41.1% of cash receipts excluding sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 compared with 42.1% for the same period in 2002.

Compensation and Employee Services

Compensation and employee services expenses were $21.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $5.7 million or 36.3% compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $15.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Compensation and employee services expenses increased as total employees grew to 747 at September 30, 2003 from 568 at September 30, 2002. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts excluding sales decreased to 24.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 26.5% of cash receipts excluding sales for the same period in 2002.

Outside Legal and Other Fees and Services

Outside legal and other fees and services expenses were $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $4.6 million or 85.2% compared to outside legal and other fees and services expenses of $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to the increased cash collections resulting from the increased number of accounts referred to independent contingent fee attorneys. This increase is consistent with the growth the Company experienced in its portfolio of defaulted consumer receivables, and a portfolio management strategy shift implemented in mid 2002. This strategy resulted in the Company referring to the legal suit process previously unsuccessfully liquidated accounts that have an identified means of repayment but that are nearing their legal statute of limitations.

Communications

Communications expenses were $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $500,000 or 33.3% compared to communications expenses of $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to growth in mailings and higher telephone expenses incurred to collect on a

greater number of defaulted consumer receivables owned and serviced. Mailings were responsible for 46.2% of this increase, while the remaining 53.8% is attributable to higher telephone expenses.

Rent and Occupancy

Rent and occupancy expenses were $872,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $301,000 or 52.7% compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $571,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to increased leased space due to the opening of a call center in Hampton, Virginia, a storage facility, an off-site administrative and mail handling site and contractual increases in annual rental rates. The Hampton call center accounted for $205,000 of the increase, the new storage facility accounted for $24,000 of the increase and the administrative/mail site accounted for $19,000 of the increase. The remaining increase was attributable to contractual increases in annual rental rates.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses were $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $300,000 or 30.0% compared to other operating expenses of $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase was due to changes in repairs and maintenance, travel and meals, hiring, insurance and miscellaneous expenses. Repairs and maintenance increased by $87,000, travel and meals increased by $35,000, hiring expenses increased by $60,000, insurance expenses increased by $149,000 and miscellaneous expenses decreased by $31,000.

Depreciation

Depreciation expenses were $1,054,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $378,000 or 55.9% compared to depreciation expenses of $676,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2002. The increase was attributable to growth and systems upgrades. Of the increase in depreciation expenses, 48.1% is the result of the March 2003 opening of its new Hampton office and an associated $1.2 million in equipment purchases. The remaining increase of 51.9% was the result of system upgrades.

Interest Income

Interest income was $29,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $27,000 or 1350.0% compared to interest income of $2,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. This increase is the result of investing in short term federally tax-exempt Auction Rate Certificates in 2003, as compared to keeping cash in the Company’s depository bank and earning fee credit offsets in 2002.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $243,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, a decrease of $1,957,000 or 89.0% compared to interest expense of $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. This decrease is primarily the result of the termination of the interest rate swap agreement in September 2002 and having no outstanding debt on the revolving line of credit in 2003. The interest rate swap expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 was $792,000 and other debt related expenses for the same time period were $1,408,000.

Supplemental Performance Data

Owned Portfolio Performance:

The following table shows the Company’s portfolio buying activity by year, setting forth, among other things, the purchase price, actual cash collections and estimated remaining cash collections as of September 30, 2003.

($ in thousands)


					Estimated		Total		Total Estimated
			Actual Cash Collections		Remaining		Estimated		Collections to
Purchase Period	Purchase Price(1)		Including Cash Sales		Collections(2)		Collections(3)		Purchase Price(4)
1996	$	3,080	$	8,859	$	268	$	9,127		296	%
1997	$	7,685	$	21,111	$	795	$	21,906		285	%
1998	$	11,122	$	28,311	$	2,085	$	30,396		273	%
1999	$	18,912	$	46,240	$	7,884	$	54,124		286	%
2000	$	25,069	$	59,127	$	20,119	$	79,246		316	%
2001	$	33,540	$	68,844	$	41,820	$	110,664		330	%
2002	$	42,655	$	42,804	$	81,660	$	124,465		292	%
2003	$	51,122	$	15,022	$	115,296	$	130,318		255	%

(1) Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire defaulted consumer receivables, plus certain capitalized expenses, less the purchase price refunded by the seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks). Non-compliant refers to the contractual representations and warranties provided for in the purchase and sale contract between the seller and the Company. These representations and warranties from the sellers generally cover account holders’ death or bankruptcy and accounts settled or disputed prior to sale. The seller can replace or repurchase these accounts. The Company refers to repurchased accounts as buybacks.

(2) Estimated remaining collections refers to the sum of all future projected cash collections on our owned portfolios.

(3) Total estimated collections refers to the actual cash collections, including cash sales, plus estimated remaining collections.

(4) Total estimated collections to purchase price refers to the total estimated collections divided by the purchase price.

When the Company acquires a portfolio of defaulted accounts, it generally does so with a forecast of future total estimated collections to purchase price paid of no more than 2.4 to 2.6 times. Only after the portfolio has established probable and estimable performance in excess of that projection will estimated remaining collections be increased. If actual cash collections are less than the original forecast, the Company moves aggressively to lower estimated remaining collections to appropriate levels.

The following graph shows the Company’s purchase price in its owned portfolios by year beginning in 1996 and includes the year to date as of September 30, 2003 acquisition amount. This purchase price number represents the cash paid to the seller to acquire defaulted consumer receivables, plus certain capitalized expenses, less the purchase price refunded by the seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts.

(PORTFOLIO PURCHASES GRAPH)

The Company utilizes a long-term approach to collecting its owned pools of receivables. This approach has historically caused the Company to realize significant cash collections and revenues from purchased pools of finance receivables years after they are originally acquired. As a result, the Company has in the past been able to reduce its level of current period acquisitions without a corresponding negative current period impact on cash collections and revenue.

The following table, which excludes any proceeds from cash sales of finance receivables, demonstrates the Company’s ability to realize significant multi-year cash collection streams on its owned pools as of September 30, 2003.

Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase

($ in thousands)


Purchase	Purchase		Cash Collection Period
Period	Price		1996		1997		1998		1999		2000		2001		2002		2003		Total

1996	$	3,080	$	548	$	2,484	$	1,890	$	1,347	$	1,025	$	730	$	496	$	277	$	8,797
1997		7,685		—		2,507		5,215		4,069		3,347		2,630		1,829		1,056		20,653
1998		11,122		—		—		3,776		6,807		6,398		5,152		3,948		2,154		28,235
1999		18,912		—		—		—		5,139		13,069		12,090		9,598		5,653		45,550
2000		25,069		—		—		—		—		6,894		19,498		19,478		12,796		58,666
2001		33,540		—		—		—		—		—		13,047		28,833		21,475		63,356
2002		42,655		—		—		—		—		—		—		15,072		27,732		42,804
2003		51,122		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		15,021		15,021

Total	$	193,185	$	548	$	4,991	$	10,881	$	17,362	$	30,733	$	53,148	$	79,254	$	86,164	$	283,082

When the Company acquires a new pool of finance receivables, a 60 to 72 month projection of cash collections is created. The following chart shows the Company’s historical cash collections (including cash sales of finance receivables) in relation to the aggregate of the total estimated collection projections made at the time of each respective pool purchase.

(ACTUAL CASH COLLECTIONS GRAPH)

Owned Portfolio Personnel Performance:

The Company measures the productivity of each collector each month, breaking results into groups of similarly tenured collectors. The following three tables display various productivity measures tracked by the Company.

Collector by Tenure


Collector FTE at:	12/31/00		12/31/01		12/31/02		09/30/03

One year + ¹		109		151		210		233
Less than one year ²		180		218		223		301
Total ²		289		369		433		534

¹ Calculated based on actual employees (collectors) with one year of service or more.

² Calculated using total hours worked by all collectors, including those in training to produce a full time equivalent “FTE”.

Monthly Cash Collections by Tenure ¹


Average performance YTD	12/31/00		12/31/01		12/31/02		9/30/03

One year + ²	$	14,081	$	15,205	$	16,927	$	18,425
Less than one year ³		7,482		7,740		8,689		8,494

¹ Cash collection numbers include only accounts assigned to collectors. Significant cash collections do occur on “unassigned” accounts.

² Calculated using average YTD monthly cash collections of all collectors with one year or more of tenure.

³ Calculated using weighted average YTD monthly cash collections of all collectors with less than one year of tenure, including those in training.

YTD Cash Collections per Hour Paid ¹


Average performance YTD	12/31/00		12/31/01		12/31/02		9/30/03

Total cash collections	$	64.37	$	77.20	$	96.37	$	110.77
Non-legal cash collections	$	53.31	$	66.87	$	77.72	$	83.36

¹ Cash collections (assigned and unassigned) divided by total hours paid ( including holiday, vacation and sick time) to all collectors (including those in training).

Cash collections have substantially exceeded revenue in each quarter since the Company’s formation. The following chart illustrates the consistent excess of the Company’s cash collections on its owned portfolios over the income recognized on finance receivables on a quarterly basis. The difference between cash collections and income recognized is referred to as Payments Applied to Principal. It is also referred to as Amortization. This amortization is the portion of cash collections that is used to recover the cost of the portfolio investment represented on the Statement of Financial Position.

(CASH COLLECTIONS VS. INCOME GRAPH)

(1)

Includes cash collections on finance receivables only. Excludes commission fees and cash proceeds from sales of defaulted consumer receivables.

Seasonality

The Company depends on the ability to collect on its owned and serviced defaulted consumer receivables. Collections tend to be higher in the first and second quarters of the year and lower in the third and fourth quarters of the year, due to consumer payment patterns in connection with seasonal employment trends, income tax refunds, and holiday spending habits. Due to the Company’s historical quarterly increases in cash collections, its growth has partially masked the impact of this seasonality.

(QUARTERLY CASH COLLECTIONS GRAPH)

(1)

Includes cash collections on finance receivables only. Excludes commission fees and cash proceeds from sales of defaulted consumer receivables.

The following table shows the changes in finance receivables, including the amounts paid to acquire new portfolios.


	Three Months			Three Months			Nine Months			Nine Months
	Ended			Ended			Ended			Ended
	September 30,			September 30,			September 30,			September 30,
	2003			2002			2003			2002
Balance at beginning of period	$	86,688,557		$	51,055,102		$	65,526,235		$	47,986,744
Acquisitions of finance receivables, net of buybacks⁽¹⁾		11,978,443			10,082,648			50,849,497			26,314,185
Cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables⁽²⁾		(8,830,582	)		(6,004,628	)		(26,539,314	)		(19,167,807	)
Cost of finance receivables sold, net of allowance for returns		—			(600	)		—			(600	)

Balance at end of period	$	89,836,418		$	55,132,522		$	89,836,418		$	55,132,522

Estimated Remaining Collections (“ERC”) ⁽³⁾	$	269,925,459		$	177,819,445		$	269,925,459		$	177,819,445

(1)		Agreements to purchase receivables typically include general representations and warranties from the sellers covering account holders’ death or bankruptcy and accounts settled or disputed prior to sale. The seller can replace or repurchase these accounts. The Company refers to repurchased accounts as buybacks.

(2)		Cash collections applied to principal (also referred to as amortization) on finance receivables consists of cash collections less income recognized on finance receivables.

(3)		Estimated Remaining Collections refers to the sum of all future projected cash collections on the Company’s owned portfolios. ERC is not a balance sheet item, however, it is provided here for informational purposes.

The following tables categorize the Company’s owned portfolios as of September 30, 2003 into the major asset types and account types represented, respectively:


		No. of					Face Value of Defaulted					Finance Receivables, net as of
Asset Type		Accounts		%			Consumer Receivables		%			September 30, 2003		%

Visa/MasterCard/Discover			1,018,637		26.3	%	$	3,780,209,048		51.1	%	$	42,398,246		47.2	%
Consumer Finance			1,735,920		44.8	%		1,581,002,568		21.4	%		9,850,903		11.0	%
Private Label Credit Cards			1,073,405		27.7	%		1,745,615,640		23.5	%		35,151,269		39.1	%
Auto Deficiency			46,639		1.2	%		294,980,546		4.0	%		2,435,999		2.7	%

	Total:		3,874,601		100.0	%	$	7,401,807,802		100.0	%	$	89,836,418		100.0	%

As shown in the following chart, as of September 30, 2003 a majority of the Company’s portfolios are secondary and tertiary accounts but it purchases or services accounts at any point in the delinquency cycle.


							Face Value of Defaulted					Finance Receivables, net as of
Account Type		No. of Accounts		%			Consumer Receivables		%			September 30, 2003		%

Fresh			148,398		3.8	%	$	518,792,324		7.0	%	$	6,807,832		7.6	%
Primary			467,142		12.1	%		1,725,238,479		23.3	%		25,151,813		28.0	%
Secondary			1,268,781		32.7	%		2,701,924,616		36.5	%		45,813,193		51.0	%
Tertiary			1,778,551		45.9	%		1,608,073,609		21.7	%		9,096,866		10.1	%
Other			211,729		5.5	%		847,778,773		11.5	%		2,966,713		3.3	%

	Total:		3,874,601		100.0	%	$	7,401,807,802		100.0	%	$	89,836,418		100.0	%

The Company also reviews the geographic distribution of accounts within a portfolio because it has found that certain states have more debtor-friendly laws than others and, therefore, are less desirable from a collectibility perspective. In addition, economic factors and bankruptcy trends vary regionally and are factored into the Company’s maximum purchase price equation.

As the following chart illustrates, as of September 30, 2003 the Company’s overall portfolio of defaulted consumer receivables is generally balanced geographically.


							Face Value of Defaulted
Geographic Distribution		No. of Accounts		%			Consumer Receivables		%

Texas			1,211,013		31	%	$	1,143,722,056		15	%
California			315,027		8	%		818,495,488		11	%
Florida			229,486		6	%		670,024,554		9	%
New York			185,261		4	%		593,664,542		8	%
Pennsylvania			105,498		3	%		281,467,035		4	%
North Carolina			85,580		2	%		230,517,713		3	%
New Jersey			71,711		2	%		219,582,495		3	%
Illinois			85,049		2	%		207,783,336		3	%
Ohio			83,765		2	%		203,029,210		3	%
Georgia			72,161		2	%		194,958,737		2	%
Massachusetts			69,342		2	%		182,248,528		2	%
Michigan			67,956		2	%		171,237,713		2	%
Missouri			176,375		5	%		159,809,392		2	%
South Carolina			42,677		1	%		136,452,468		2	%
Arizona			45,482		1	%		125,491,084		2	%
Virginia			51,386		1	%		124,323,724		2	%
Tennessee			49,484		1	%		123,570,550		2	%
Maryland			42,718		1	%		120,163,174		2	%
Other			884,630		23	%		1,695,266,001		22	%(1)

	Total:		3,874,601		100	%	$	7,401,807,802		100	%

(1) Each state included in “Other” represents under 2% of the face value of total defaulted consumer receivables.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Historically, the Company’s primary sources of cash have been cash flows from operations, bank borrowings, and equity offerings. Cash has been used for acquisitions of finance receivables, repayments of bank borrowings, purchases of property and equipment, and working capital to support the Company’s growth.

The Company believes that funds generated from operations, together with existing cash and available borrowings under its credit agreement will be sufficient to finance its current operations, planned capital expenditure requirements, and internal growth at least through the next twelve months. However, the Company could require additional debt or equity financing if it were to make any other significant acquisitions requiring cash during that period.

Cash generated from operations is dependent upon the Company’s ability to collect on its defaulted consumer receivables. Many factors, including the economy and the Company’s ability to hire and retain qualified collectors and managers, are essential to its ability to generate cash flows. Fluctuations in these factors that cause a negative impact on the Company’s business could have a material impact on its expected future cash flows.

The Company’s operating activities provided cash of $22.6 million and $14.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In these periods, cash from operations was generated primarily from net income earned through cash collections, commissions received and gains on cash sales of defaulted consumer receivables for the period which increased from $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 to $15.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

The Company’s investing activities used cash of $26.4 million and $8.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Cash used in investing activities is primarily driven by acquisitions of defaulted consumer receivables, net of cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables.

The Company’s financing activities provided cash of $749,000 and used cash of $5.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Cash used in financing activities is primarily driven by distributions of capital and payments on long term debt and capital lease obligations. During 2003, the Company completed a financing arrangement with its main depository institution to finance equipment purchases at its new location in Hampton, VA.

Cash paid for interest expenses was $241,000 and $2.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The majority of interest expenses were paid for lines of credit used to finance acquisitions of defaulted consumer receivable portfolios, capital lease obligations and other long-term debt. In addition in 2002, the interest rate swap agreement was paid in full in September for $542,000.

PRA III, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, maintains a $25.0 million revolving line of credit with Westside Funding Corporation (“Westside”) pursuant to an agreement entered into on September 18, 2001 and amended on December 18, 2002. The Company, excluding PRA Funding, as well as Anchor and PRA Holding I, which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company are guarantors to this agreement. The credit facility bears interest at a spread over LIBOR and extends through September 15, 2005. The agreement provides for:

• restrictions on monthly borrowings in excess of $4 million per month and quarterly borrowings in excess of $10 million;

• a maximum leverage ratio, defined as total liabilities less subordinated debt divided by tangible net worth plus subordinated debt, of not greater than 4.0 to 1.0 and quarterly net income of at least $0.01, calculated on a consolidated basis;

• a restriction on distributions in excess of 75% of the Company’s net income for any year;

• compliance with certain special purpose vehicle and corporate separateness covenants; and

• restrictions on change of control.

The facility had no amounts outstanding at September 30, 2003.

In addition, PRA Funding maintains a $2.5 million revolving line of credit, pursuant to an agreement entered into with RBC Centura Bank on June 30, 2002. The credit facility, bearing interest at a spread over LIBOR, which was due to expire in July, 2003, was extended in September, 2003 and now expires on September 28, 2004. The agreement provides:

• that the Company maintain a current ratio of 1.6 to 1.0 (the current ratio being defined to include finance receivables as a current asset and to include the outstanding balance of the credit facility with Westside as a current liability);

• that the Company maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of not more than 1.5 to 1.0;

• for a minimum balance sheet cash position at month end of $2 million; and

• a restriction on distributions by the Company to 75% of net income.

This $2.5 million facility had no amounts outstanding at September 30, 2003. In addition, on February 20, 2003, the name of PRA AG Funding, LLC was changed to PRA Funding, LLC. No changes were made with regards to the terms of the facility agreement.

As of September 30, 2003 there are four loans outstanding. On July 20, 2000, PRA Holding I, entered into a credit facility with Bank of America, N.A., for a $550,000 loan, for the purpose of purchasing a building and land in Hutchinson, Kansas. The loan bears interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR and consists of monthly principal payments for 60 months and a final installment of unpaid principal and accrued interest payable on July 21, 2005. On February 9, 2001, the Company entered into a commercial loan agreement with Bank of America, N.A. in the amount of $107,000 in order to purchase equipment for its Norfolk, Virginia location. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.9% and matures on February 1, 2006. On February 20, 2002, PRA Holding I entered into an additional arrangement with Bank of America, N.A. for a $500,000 commercial loan in order to finance construction of a parking lot at the Company’s Norfolk, Virginia location. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 6.47% and matures on September 1, 2007. On May 1, 2003, the Company entered into a commercial loan agreement with RBC Centura Bank in the amount of $975,000 to finance equipment purchases for its Hampton, Virginia location. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.25% and matures on May 1, 2008.

Contractual Obligations

Obligations of the Company that exist as of September 30, 2003 are as follows:


	Payments due by period
			Less						More
			than 1		1 - 3		3 - 5		than 5
Contractual Obligations	Total		year		years		years		years

Long-Term Debt	$	1,925,244	$	430,442	$	1,043,207	$	451,595	$	—
Capital Lease Obligations		692,059		299,626		260,664		131,769		—
Operating Leases		14,709,996		1,361,292		2,960,973		3,043,474		7,344,257

Total	$	17,327,299	$	2,091,360	$	4,264,844	$	3,626,838	$	7,344,257

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. FIN No. 46 is an interpretation of ARB No. 51 and addresses consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities (“VIEs”). This interpretation is based on the theory that an enterprise controlling another entity through interests other than voting interests should consolidate the controlled entity. Business enterprises are required under the provisions of this interpretation to identify VIEs, based on specified characteristics, and then determine whether they should be consolidated. An enterprise that holds a majority of the variable interests is considered the primary beneficiary, the enterprise that should consolidate the VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is also required to include various disclosures in interim and annual financial statements. Additionally, an enterprise that holds a significant variable interest in a VIE, but that is not the primary beneficiary, is also required to make certain disclosures. This interpretation is effective for all enterprises with variable interest in VIEs created after January 31, 2003. A public entity with variable interests in a VIE created before February 1, 2003, is required to apply the provisions of this interpretation to that entity by the end of the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after December 15, 2003. The adoption of this interpretation is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or the results of operations.

In October 2003, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position (“SOP”) 03-03, “Accounting for Loans or Certain Securities Acquired in a Transfer.” This SOP proposes guidance on accounting for differences between contractual and expected cash flows from an investors initial investment in loans or debt securities acquired in a transfer if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality. This SOP is currently under review by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. If this SOP becomes effective, it will have an effective date for companies whose fiscal years end on or after December 15, 2004. Management is in the process of evaluating this statement’s impact on the Company.

Critical Accounting Policy

The Company utilizes the interest method under guidance provided by Practice Bulletin 6 to determine income recognized on finance receivables. Under this method, each static pool of receivables it acquires is statistically modeled to determine its projected cash flows. A yield is then established which, when applied to the outstanding balance of the receivables, results in the recognition of income at a constant yield relative to the remaining balance in the pool. Each pool is analyzed monthly to assess the actual performance to that expected by the model. If differences are noted, the yield is adjusted prospectively to reflect the estimate of cash flows.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.

The Company’s exposure to market risk relates to interest rate risk with its variable rate credit line. The Company terminated its only derivative financial instrument to manage or reduce market risk in September 2002. As of September 30, 2003, the Company had no variable rate debt outstanding on its revolving credit lines. The Company did have variable rate debt outstanding on its long-term debt collateralized by the Kansas real estate. A 10% change in future interest rates on the variable rate credit line would not lead to a material decrease in future earnings assuming all other factors remained constant.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

Within 90 days prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based on the foregoing, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely alerting the Company’s management to material information relating to the Company required to be included in the Company’s Exchange Act reports.

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the internal controls subsequent to the date the Company completed its evaluation.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)

Exhibits.

10.22

Second Amendment to Business Loan Agreement, dated September 5, 2003, by and between PRA Funding, LLC and RBC Centura Bank.

10.23

First Lease Amendment to Riverside Commerce Center Office Lease, dated June 27, 2003, by and between Riverside Crossing, L.C. and Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

10.24

Fourth Lease Amendment to Riverside Commerce Center Office Lease, dated February 12, 1999, by and between Riverside Crossing, L.C. and Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

31.1

Section 302 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

32.1

Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K.

Filed October 27, 2003, issuance of a quarterly earnings press release for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC. (Registrant)

Date: October 28, 2003	By:	/s/ Steven D. Fredrickson

		Steven D. Fredrickson Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: October 28, 2003	By:	/s/ Kevin P. Stevenson

		Kevin P. Stevenson Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

	•		restrictions on monthly borrowings in excess of $4 million per month and quarterly borrowings in excess of $10 million;

	•		a maximum leverage ratio, defined as total liabilities less subordinated debt divided by tangible net worth plus subordinated debt, of not greater than 4 to 1 and quarterly net income of at least $0.01, calculated on a consolidated basis;

	•		a restriction on distributions in excess of 75% of annual net income;

	•		compliance with certain special purpose vehicle and corporate separateness covenants; and

	•		changes in the business practices of credit originators in terms of selling defaulted consumer receivables or outsourcing defaulted consumer receivables to third-party contingent fee collection agencies;

	•		changes in government regulations that affect the Company’s ability to collect sufficient amounts on its acquired or serviced receivables;

	•		the Company’s ability to employ and retain qualified employees, especially collection personnel;

	•		changes in the credit or capital markets, which affect the Company’s ability to borrow money or raise capital to purchase or service defaulted consumer receivables;

	•		the degree and nature of the Company’s competition; and

	•		the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1)		Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire defaulted consumer receivables, plus certain capitalized expenses, less the purchase price refunded by the seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts (also defined as buybacks). Non-compliant refers to the contractual representations and warranties provided for in the purchase and sale contract between the seller and the Company. These representations and warranties from the sellers generally cover account holders’ death or bankruptcy and accounts settled or disputed prior to sale. The seller can replace or repurchase these accounts. The Company refers to repurchased accounts as buybacks.

(2)		Estimated remaining collections refers to the sum of all future projected cash collections on our owned portfolios.

(3)		Total estimated collections refers to the actual cash collections, including cash sales, plus estimated remaining collections.

(4)		Total estimated collections to purchase price refers to the total estimated collections divided by the purchase price.

	•		that the Company maintain a current ratio of 1.6 to 1.0 (the current ratio being defined to include finance receivables as a current asset and to include the outstanding balance of the credit facility with Westside as a current liability);

	•		that the Company maintain a debt to tangible net worth ratio of not more than 1.5 to 1.0;

	•		for a minimum balance sheet cash position at month end of $2 million; and

	•		a restriction on distributions by the Company to 75% of net income.