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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 March 31, 2004
     
o   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
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  75-3078675
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
120 Corporate Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia
(Address of principal executive offices)
  23502
(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 o

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

YES x NO o

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 April 16, 2004
Common Stock, $0.01 par value   15,315,106

 


 

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.

INDEX

             
        Page(s)
PART I.
  FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
Item 1.
  Financial Statements        
 
  Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 (unaudited)     3  
 
  Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003     4  
 
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003     5  
 
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)     6-11  
Item 2.
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     12-25  
Item 3.
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk     26  
Item 4.
  Controls and Procedures     26  
PART II.
  OTHER INFORMATION        
Item 6.
  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K     27  
SIGNATURES
        28  

2


 

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003
(unaudited)

                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2004   2003
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 29,690,849     $ 24,911,841  
Finance receivables, net
    95,627,786       92,568,557  
Property and equipment, net
    5,877,918       5,166,380  
Deferred tax asset
          2,009,426  
Income tax receivable
    357,504       351,861  
Other assets
    1,475,899       1,385,706  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total assets
  $ 133,029,956     $ 126,393,771  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 655,623     $ 1,290,332  
Accrued expenses
    392,183       513,687  
Accrued payroll and bonuses
    1,696,613       3,233,409  
Deferred tax liability
    1,675,612        
Long-term debt
    2,296,023       1,656,972  
Obligations under capital lease
    755,551       551,325  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities
    7,471,605       7,245,725  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
               
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 - 15,315,106 at March 31, 2004, and 15,294,676 at December 31, 2003
    153,151       152,947  
Additional paid in capital
    96,516,925       96,117,932  
Retained earnings
    28,888,275       22,877,167  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    125,558,351       119,148,046  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 133,029,956     $ 126,393,771  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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

3


 

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003
(unaudited)

                 
    2004   2003
Revenues:
               
Income recognized on finance receivables
  $ 23,907,586     $ 17,617,823  
Commissions
    1,357,247       697,741  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total revenue
    25,264,833       18,315,564  
Operating expenses:
               
Compensation and employee services
    8,537,259       6,393,052  
Outside legal and other fees and services
    4,241,301       2,817,347  
Communications
    1,007,504       633,644  
Rent and occupancy
    428,998       244,950  
Other operating expenses
    690,651       473,318  
Depreciation
    447,678       300,164  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total operating expenses
    15,353,391       10,862,475  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Income from operations
    9,911,442       7,453,089  
Other income and (expense):
               
Interest income
    3,583       19,977  
Interest expense
    (69,387 )     (75,946 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Income before income taxes
    9,845,638       7,397,120  
Provision for income taxes
    3,834,530       2,898,871  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net income
  $ 6,011,108     $ 4,498,249  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net income per common share
               
Basic
  $ 0.39     $ 0.33  
Diluted
  $ 0.38     $ 0.29  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
               
Basic
    15,303,886       13,545,000  
Diluted
    15,774,487       15,590,346  

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

4


 

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 and 2003
(unaudited)

                 
    2004   2003
Operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 6,011,108     $ 4,498,249  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
Increase in equity from vested options and warrants
    124,916       88,023  
Income tax benefit from stock option exercises
    149,491       193,138  
Depreciation
    447,679       300,164  
Deferred tax expense
    3,685,038       80,701  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Other assets
    (90,193 )     (217,959 )
Accounts payable
    (634,709 )     (492,356 )
Income taxes
    (5,643 )     1,665,478  
Accrued expenses
    (121,504 )     (406,294 )
Accrued payroll and bonuses
    (1,536,796 )     (1,366,610 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    8,029,387       4,342,534  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (862,307 )     (1,308,456 )
Acquisition of finance receivables, net of buybacks
    (14,678,341 )     (17,649,590 )
Collections applied to principal on finance receivables
    11,619,112       8,757,604  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (3,921,536 )     (10,200,442 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Public offering costs
          (19,579 )
Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants
    124,790       126,000  
Proceeds from long-term debt
    750,000        
Payments on long-term debt
    (110,949 )     (40,739 )
Payments on capital lease obligations
    (92,684 )     (74,830 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
    671,157       (9,148 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    4,779,008       (5,867,056 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    24,911,841       17,938,730  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 29,690,849     $ 12,071,674  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 69,387     $ 73,736  
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 5,643     $ 959,554  
Noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Capital lease obligations incurred
    296,910       193,681  

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

5


 

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 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 either purchased from the sellers of finance receivables 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 with which the Company can undertake legal action in order to satisfy the outstanding debt.

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

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 March 31, 2004, its results of operations for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, and its cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The results of operations of the Company for the three month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 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, 2003.

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, the Company does 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. Any funds received from the seller of finance receivables as a return of purchase price are referred to as buybacks. Buyback funds are simply applied against the finance receivable balance received. They are not included in the Company’s cash collections from operations nor are they included in the Company’s cash collections applied to principal amount.

6


 

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

Gains on sale of finance receivables, representing the difference between the sales price and the unamortized value of the finance receivables, are recognized when finance receivables are sold.

The Company applies a financial components approach that focuses on control when accounting and reporting for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities. Under that approach, after a transfer of financial assets, an entity recognizes the financial and servicing assets it controls and the liabilities it has incurred, eliminates financial assets when control has been surrendered, and eliminates liabilities when extinguished. This approach provides consistent standards for distinguishing transfers of financial assets that are sales from transfers that are secured borrowings. Importantly, these funds derived from sales are not included in our cash collections from finance receivables figure. They are reported separately under FASB Statement No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.”

Changes in finance receivables for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

                 
    Three Months   Three Months
    Ended   Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2004   2003
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 92,568,557     $ 65,526,235  
Acquisitions of finance receivables, net of buybacks
    14,678,341       17,649,590  
Cash collections
    (35,526,698 )     (26,375,427 )
Income recognized on finance receivables
    23,907,586       17,617,823  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash collections applied to principal
    (11,619,112 )     (8,757,604 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Balance at end of period
  $ 95,627,786     $ 74,418,221  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Estimated Remaining Collections (“ERC”)(1)
  $ 279,238,672     $ 237,557,760  
 
   
 
     
 
 

(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 84 months based upon the proprietary models of the Company. As of March 31, 2004 the Company has $95,627,786 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:

         
March 31, 2005
  $ 34,239,858  
March 31, 2006
    30,666,154  
March 31, 2007
    18,893,199  
March 31, 2008
    6,890,230  
March 31, 2009
    3,011,859  
March 31, 2010
    1,273,169  
March 31, 2011
    653,317  
 
   
 
 
 
  $ 95,627,786  
 
   
 
 

7


 

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

3. Revolving Lines of Credit:

The Company maintains a $25.0 million revolving line of credit pursuant to an agreement entered into on November 28, 2003. The credit facility bears interest at a spread over LIBOR and extends through November 28, 2004. The agreement calls for:

  restrictions on monthly borrowings are limited to 20% of Estimated Remaining Collections;
 
  a debt coverage ratio of a least 8.0 to 1.0 calculated on a rolling twelve-month average;
 
  a debt to tangible net worth ratio of less than 0.40 to 1.00;
 
  net income per quarter of at least $1.00, calculated on a consolidated basis, and;
 
  restrictions on change of control.

This facility had no amounts outstanding at March 31, 2004. As of March 31, 2004 the Company is in compliance with all of the covenants of this agreement.

4. Property and Equipment:

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

                 
    March 31,   December 31,
    2004   2003
Software
  $ 2,259,434     $ 2,030,403  
Computer equipment
    2,523,626       2,193,386  
Furniture and fixtures
    1,588,464       1,283,748  
Equipment
    1,694,061       1,602,547  
Leasehold improvements
    983,390       801,516  
Building and improvements
    1,138,924       1,138,924  
Land
    100,515       100,515  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (4,410,496 )     (3,984,659 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net property and equipment
  $ 5,877,918     $ 5,166,380  
 
   
 
     
 
 

5. Stock-Based Compensation:

The Company has a stock option plan. Also, in connection with the reorganization of the Company initial public offering, all existing PRA warrants that were owned by certain individuals and entities were exchanged for an equal number of PRA Inc warrants. Prior to 2002, the Company accounted for stock compensation issued under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 (“APB 25”), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related Interpretations.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company 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. All stock-based compensation measured under the provisions of APB 25 became fully vested during 2002. All stock-based compensation expense recognized thereafter was derived from stock-based compensation based on the fair value method prescribed in SFAS 123.

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

8


 

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

to terms established at the grant date. All outstanding warrants were issued to employees of the Company and are fully vested. During the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, no warrants were issued.

The following summarizes all warrant related transactions from December 31, 2000 through March 31, 2004:

                 
            Weighted
            Average
    Warrants   Exercise
    Outstanding   Price
December 31, 2000
    2,160,000     $ 4.17  
Granted
    155,000       4.20  
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  
Exercised
    (2,026,000 )     4.17  
Cancelled
    (51,500 )     9.72  
 
   
 
     
 
 
December 31, 2003
    107,500       4.20  
Exercised
    (16,000 )     4.20  
 
   
 
     
 
 
March 31, 2004
    91,500     $ 4.20  
 
   
 
     
 
 

The following information is as of March 31, 2004:

                                         
    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
    91,500       2.02     $ 4.20       91,500     $ 4.20  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total at March 31, 2004
    91,500       2.02     $ 4.20       91,500     $ 4.20  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Had compensation cost for granted warrants been determined pursuant to SFAS 123, the Company’s net income prior to 2003 would have decreased. Using a fair-value (minimum value calculation), the following assumptions were used:

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

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

9


 

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

weighted average fair value of employee warrants granted during the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 was $1.24 and $0.35, respectively.

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 January 16, 2011. Options granted to a single person cannot exceed 200,000 in a single year. As of March 31, 2004, 895,000 options have been granted under the Plan, of which 41,435 have been cancelled. Options are expensed under SFAS 123 and are included in operating expenses as a component of compensation. The Company issued 20,000 options to non-employee directors during the three months ended March 31, 2004. All of the stock options were issued to employees of the Company except for 40,000 which were issued to non-employee directors.

The following summarizes all option related transactions from December 31, 2001 through March 31, 2004:

                 
            Weighted
            Average
    Options   Exercise
    Outstanding   Price
December 31, 2001
        $  
Granted
    820,000       13.06  
Cancelled
    (12,150 )     13.00  
 
   
 
     
 
 
December 31, 2002
    807,850       13.06  
Granted
    55,000       27.88  
Exercised
    (50,915 )     13.00  
Cancelled
    (14,025 )     13.00  
 
   
 
     
 
 
December 31, 2003
    797,910       14.09  
Granted
    20,000       28.79  
Exercised
    (4,430 )     13.00  
Cancelled
    (15,260 )     13.00  
 
   
 
     
 
 
March 31, 2004
    798,220     $ 14.48  
 
   
 
     
 
 

The following information is as of March 31, 2004:

                                         
    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
    708,220       5.5     $ 13.00       100,500     $ 13.00  
$16.16
    15,000       5.6     $ 16.16       3,000     $ 16.16  
$26.81 - $29.79
    75,000       6.5     $ 28.12           $  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total at March 31, 2004
    798,220       5.6     $ 14.48       103,500     $ 13.09  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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

10


 

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

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:   2004   2003   2002
Weighted average fair value of options granted
  $2.85   $5.84   $2.73
Expected volatility
  13.26% - 13.55%   15.70% - 15.73%   15.70%
Risk-free interest rate
  3.16% - 3.37%   2.92% - 3.19%   2.92%
Expected dividend yield
  0.00%   0.00%   0.00%
Expected life (in years)
  5.00   5.00   5.00

Utilizing these assumptions, each employee stock option granted in 2002 is valued at $2.71 per share and each director stock option granted in 2002 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. Each director stock option granted in 2004 is valued between $2.62 and $2.92.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock shares are permitted to be issued as an incentive to attract new employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company issued 5,000 shares of restricted stock as inducements to such individuals becoming employed by the Company. 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. Restricted stock is expensed over its vesting period. The Company has issued 18,045 restricted stock shares as of March 31, 2004.

6. 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, 2005, December 31, 2005 or December 31, 2006. 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 $2,958,021. 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.

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.

11


 

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 sellers of consumer receivables 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.

12


 

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
    Ended March 31,
    2004   2003
Revenues:
               
Income recognized on finance receivables
    94.6 %     96.2 %
Commissions
    5.4 %     3.8 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total revenue
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating expenses:
               
Compensation and employee services
    33.8 %     34.9 %
Outside legal and other fees and services
    16.8 %     15.4 %
Communications
    4.0 %     3.5 %
Rent and occupancy
    1.7 %     1.3 %
Other operating expenses
    2.7 %     2.6 %
Depreciation
    1.8 %     1.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total operating expenses
    60.8 %     59.3 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Income from operations
    39.2 %     40.7 %
Other income and (expense):
               
Interest income
    0.0 %     0.1 %
Interest expense
    -0.3 %     -0.4 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Income before income taxes
    39.0 %     40.4 %
Provision for income taxes
    15.2 %     15.8 %
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net income
    23.8 %     24.6 %
 
   
 
     
 
 

     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 March 31, 2004 Compared To Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

Revenue

     Total revenue was $25.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $7.0 million or 38.3% compared to total revenue of $18.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

Income Recognized on Finance Receivables

     Income recognized on finance receivables was $23.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $6.3 million or 35.8% compared to income recognized on finance receivables of $17.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The majority of the increase was due to an increase in the Company’s cash collections on its owned defaulted consumer receivables to $35.5 million from $26.4 million, an increase of 34.5%. The Company’s amortization rate on owned portfolio for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was 32.7% while for the three months ended March 31, 2003 it was 33.2%. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $613.1 million

13


 

at a cost of $15.0 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company acquired defaulted consumer receivable portfolios with an aggregate face value of $831.4 million at a cost of $17.7 million. The Company’s relative cost basis of acquiring defaulted consumer receivable portfolios increased from 2.13% of face value for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to 2.46% of face value for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

Commissions

     Commissions were $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $659,000 or 94.4% compared to commissions of $698,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. Commissions increased as a result of a growing inventory of accounts.

Operating Expenses

     Total operating expenses were $15.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $4.5 million or 41.3% compared to total operating expenses of $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. Total operating expenses, including compensation and employee services expenses, were 41.6% of cash receipts excluding sales for the three months ended March 31, 2004 compared with 40.1% for the same period in 2003.

Compensation and Employee Services

     Compensation and employee services expenses were $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $2.1 million or 32.8% compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. Compensation and employee services expenses increased as total employees grew to 814 at March 31, 2004 from 688 at March 31, 2003. In addition, with the seasonally strong quarter, incentive compensation and bonuses increased 22% over the prior period. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts excluding sales decreased to 23.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2004 from 23.6% of cash receipts excluding sales for the same period in 2003.

Outside Legal and Other Fees and Services

     Outside legal and other fees and services expenses were $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $1.4 million or 50.0% compared to outside legal and other fees and services expenses of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. 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 more unsuccessfully liquidated accounts that have an identified means of repayment but that are nearing their legal statute of limitations, than had been referred historically. Legal cash collections represented 26.3% of total cash collections for the three months ended March 31, 2003, up from 22.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2003. Total legal expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2004 were 34.5% of legal cash collections compared to 34.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2003.

Communications

     Communications expenses were $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $366,000 or 57.7% compared to communications expenses of $634,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. 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 88.4% of this increase, while the remaining 11.6% is attributable to higher telephone expenses.

Rent and Occupancy

     Rent and occupancy expenses were $429,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $184,000 or 75.1% compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $245,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The increase was attributable to increased leased space due to the opening of a call center in Hampton,

14


 

Virginia and the increased space at the Company’s new Norfolk, VA location. The Hampton call center accounted for $59,000 of the increase and the Norfolk facility accounted for $110,000 of the increase. The remaining increase was attributable to increased utility charges resulting from the increased space in Norfolk and Hampton.

Other Operating Expenses

     Other operating expenses were $691,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $218,000 or 46.1% compared to other operating expenses of $473,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The increase was due to increases in repairs and maintenance, taxes, fees and licenses, insurance expenses and miscellaneous expenses. Repairs and maintenance expenses increased by $40,000, taxes fees and licenses expenses increased by $28,000, insurance expenses increased by $132,000 and miscellaneous expenses increased by $18,000.

Depreciation

     Depreciation expenses were $448,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $148,000 or 49.3% compared to depreciation expenses of $300,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The increase was attributable to continued capital expenditures on equipment, software and computers related to the Company’s growth and systems upgrades.

Interest Income

     Interest income was $4,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, a decrease of $16,000 compared to interest income of $20,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. This decrease is the result of investing in auction rate certificates in 2003 versus maintaining funds in the Company’s depository bank and earning fee credit offsets in 2004.

Interest Expense

     Interest expense was $69,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004, a decrease of $7,000 or 9.2% compared to interest expense of $76,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The decrease is due to a lower unused line fee under the new revolving credit arrangement.

15


 

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 March 31, 2004.

($ 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     $ 9,048     $ 183     $ 9,231       300 %
1997
  $ 7,685     $ 21,690     $ 389     $ 22,079       287 %
1998
  $ 11,122     $ 29,632     $ 1,335     $ 30,967       278 %
1999
  $ 18,912     $ 49,428     $ 5,401     $ 54,829       290 %
2000
  $ 25,069     $ 66,873     $ 16,327     $ 83,200       332 %
2001
  $ 33,502     $ 82,423     $ 32,681     $ 115,104       344 %
2002
  $ 42,576     $ 60,534     $ 67,653     $ 128,187       301 %
2003
  $ 62,275     $ 36,511     $ 119,264     $ 155,775       250 %
2004
  $ 15,091     $ 595     $ 36,006     $ 36,601       243 %

(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.
 
(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 2.6 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.

16


 

     The following graph shows the Company’s purchase price in its owned portfolios by year beginning in 1996 and includes the year to date acquisition amount as of March 31, 2004. 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.

(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 March 31, 2004:

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
  2004
  Total
1996
  $ 3,080     $ 548     $ 2,484     $ 1,890     $ 1,348     $ 1,025     $ 730     $ 496     $ 398     $ 68     $ 8,987  
1997
    7,685             2,507       5,215       4,069       3,347       2,630       1,829       1,324       298     $ 21,219  
1998
    11,122                   3,776       6,807       6,398       5,152       3,948       2,797       691     $ 29,569  
1999
    18,912                         5,138       13,069       12,090       9,598       7,336       1,504     $ 48,735  
2000
    25,068                               6,894       19,498       19,478       16,628       3,914     $ 66,412  
2001
    33,502                                     13,048       28,820       28,003       7,051     $ 76,922  
2002
    42,576                                           15,084       36,258       9,203     $ 60,545  
2003
    62,275                                                 24,308       12,203     $ 36,511  
2004
    15,091                                                       595     $ 595  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 219,312     $ 548     $ 4,991     $ 10,881     $ 17,362     $ 30,733     $ 53,148     $ 79,253     $ 117,052     $ 35,527     $ 349,495  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

17


 

     When the Company acquires a new pool of finance receivables, a 60 - 84 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.

(CHART)

18


 

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
  12/31/03
  03/31/03
  03/31/04
One year + 1
    109       151       210       241       218       274  
Less than one year 2
    180       218       223       338       262       294  
Total 2
    289       369       433       579       480       568  

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
  12/31/03
  03/31/03
  03/31/04
One year + 2
  $ 14,081     $ 15,205     $ 16,927     $ 18,158     $ 18,897     $ 18,322  
Less than one year 3
    7,482       7,740       8,689       8,303       8,174       9,815  

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
  12/31/03
  03/31/03
  3/31/04
Total cash collections
  $ 64.37     $ 77.20     $ 96.37     $ 108.27     $ 114.41     $ 117.76  
Non-legal cash collections
  $ 53.31     $ 66.87     $ 77.72     $ 80.10     $ 87.55     $ 85.56  

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

19


 

     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.

(CHART)


       
 
(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.

(GRAPH)


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

20


 

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

                 
    Three Months   Three Months
    Ended   Ended
    March 31,   March 31,
    2004   2003
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 92,568,557     $ 65,526,235  
Acquisitions of finance receivables, net of buybacks (1)
    14,678,341       17,649,590  
Cash collections applied to principal (2)
    (11,619,112 )     (8,757,604 )
Cost of finance receivables sold, net
           
 
   
 
     
 
 
Balance at end of period
  $ 95,627,786     $ 74,418,221  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Estimated Remaining Collections (“ERC”)(3)
  $ 279,238,672     $ 237,557,760  
 
   
 
     
 
 


(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 March 31, 2004 into the major asset types and account types represented, respectively:

                                                 
                    Life to Date Purchased Face                
    No. of           Value of Defaulted           Finance Receivables, net as of    
Asset Type
  Accounts
  %
  Consumer Receivables
  %
  March 31, 2004
  %
Visa/MasterCard/Discover
    1,435,002       30.7 %   $ 4,564,065,943       54.4 %   $ 53,123,171       55.6 %
Consumer Finance
    2,116,106       45.3 %     1,785,813,612       21.3 %     12,010,725       12.6 %
Private Label Credit Cards
    1,073,756       23.0 %     1,746,593,273       20.8 %     28,535,656       29.8 %
Auto Deficiency
    46,639       1.0 %     294,980,546       3.5 %     1,958,234       2.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total:
    4,671,503       100.0 %   $ 8,391,453,373       100.0 %   $ 95,627,786       100.0 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

21


 

          As shown in the following chart, as of March 31, 2004 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.

                                                 
                    Life to Date Purchased Face                
                    Value of Defaulted           Finance Receivables, net as of    
Account Type
  No. of Accounts
  %
  Consumer Receivables
  %
  March 31, 2004
  %
Fresh
    171,741       3.7 %   $ 551,026,153       6.6 %   $ 6,939,116       7.3 %
Primary
    739,811       15.8 %     2,031,272,728       24.2 %     32,608,496       34.1 %
Secondary
    1,499,738       32.1 %     2,943,215,249       35.0 %     43,647,535       45.6 %
Tertiary
    1,988,605       42.6 %     1,792,152,209       21.4 %     9,819,778       10.3 %
Other
    271,608       5.8 %     1,073,787,034       12.8 %     2,612,861       2.7 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total:
    4,671,503       100.0 %   $ 8,391,453,373       100.0 %   $ 95,627,786       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 March 31, 2004 the Company’s overall portfolio of defaulted consumer receivables is generally balanced geographically.

                                 
                    Life to Date Purchased Face    
    No. of           Value of Defaulted    
Geographic Distribution
  Accounts
  %
  Consumer Receivables
  %
Texas
    1,250,119       27 %   $ 1,200,708,202       14 %
California
    360,673       8 %     898,037,291       11 %
Florida
    261,139       6 %     723,157,533       9 %
New York
    211,736       4 %     642,564,097       8 %
Pennsylvania
    118,921       3 %     307,738,980       4 %
North Carolina
    97,760       2 %     249,204,764       3 %
Illinois
    143,455       3 %     248,986,344       3 %
New Jersey
    84,043       2 %     248,610,762       3 %
Ohio
    132,753       3 %     238,291,338       3 %
Georgia
    86,627       2 %     215,618,311       2 %
Michigan
    138,419       3 %     211,478,570       2 %
Massachusetts
    82,034       2 %     206,588,349       2 %
Missouri
    220,055       5 %     177,077,718       2 %
South Carolina
    56,587       1 %     151,352,663       2 %
Arizona
    53,116       1 %     138,718,397       2 %
Virginia
    57,695       1 %     136,421,261       2 %
Tennessee
    59,272       1 %     136,418,396       2 %
Maryland
    48,907       1 %     130,459,009       2 %
Other
    1,208,192       25 %     2,130,021,387       24 %(1)
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total:
    4,671,503       100 %   $ 8,391,453,373       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.

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     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 $8.0 million and $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In these periods, cash from operations was generated primarily from net income earned through cash collections and commissions received for the period which increased from $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 to $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.

     The Company’s investing activities used cash of $3.9 million and $10.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, 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 $671,000 and used cash of $9,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash used in financing activities is primarily driven by payments on long term debt and capital lease obligations. During 2004, the Company completed a financing arrangement with its main depository institution to finance equipment purchases at its newly leased Norfolk facilty.

     Cash paid for interest expenses was $69,000 and $74,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The interest expenses were paid for capital lease obligations and other long-term debt.

          The Company maintains a $25.0 million revolving line of credit with RBC Centura Bank (“RBC”) pursuant to an agreement entered into on November 28, 2003. The Company, as well as Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, PRA Receivables Management LLC (d/b/a Anchor Receivables Management) and PRA Holding I, LLC (all of 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 November 28, 2004. The agreement provides for:

    restrictions on monthly borrowings are limited to 20% of Estimated Remaining Collections;
 
    a debt coverage ratio of at least 8.0 to 1.0 calculated on a rolling twelve-month average;
 
    a debt to tangible net worth ratio of less than 0.40 to 1.00;
 
    net income per quarter of at least $1.00, calculated on a consolidated basis; and
 
    restrictions on change of control.

     This facility had no amounts outstanding at March 31, 2004.

          As of March 31, 2004 there are five loans outstanding. On July 20, 2000, PRA Holding I, entered into a credit facility 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 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 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 in the amount of $975,000 to finance equipment purchases for its Hampton, Virginia location. This

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loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.25% and matures on May 1, 2008. On January 9, 2004, the Company entered into a commercial loan agreement in the amount of $750,000 to finance equipment purchases at its newly leased Norfolk facility. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.45% and matures on January 1, 2009.

Contractual Obligations

Obligations of the Company that exist as of March 31, 2004 are as follows:

                                         
            Payments due by period    
            Less                   More
            than 1   1 - 3   3 - 5   than 5
Contractual Obligations
  Total
  year
  years
  years
  years
Operating Leases
  $ 14,078,940     $ 1,421,429     $ 2,961,477     $ 3,102,941     $ 6,593,093  
Long-Term Debt
    2,519,962       596,751       1,923,211              
Capital Lease Obligations
    831,760       266,021       354,385       211,353        
Forward Flow Contract
    412,500       412,500                    
Purchase Commitments
    1,599,000       1,599,000                    
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 19,442,162     $ 4,295,701     $ 5,239,074     $ 3,314,294     $ 6,593,093  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

     The Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements as defined by regulation S-K 303(a)(4).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     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 investor’s 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 effective for loans acquired in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004. The SOP would limit the revenue that may be accrued to the excess of the estimate of expected future cash flows over a portfolio’s initial cost of accounts receivable acquired. The SOP would require that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue, expense, or on the balance sheet. The SOP would freeze the internal rate of return, referred to as IRR, originally estimated when the accounts receivable are purchased for subsequent impairment testing. Rather than lower the estimated IRR if the original collection estimates are not received, the carrying value of a portfolio would be written down to maintain the original IRR. Increases in expected future cash flows would be recognized prospectively through adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. The SOP provides that previously issued annual financial statements would not need to be restated. Management is in the process of evaluating the application of this SOP.

     In March 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Exposure Draft on “Share-Based Payment, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95.” This proposed Statement would neither change the accounting in FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” for transactions in which an enterprise exchanges its equity instruments for services of parties other than employees nor change the accounting for stock ownership plans, which are subject to AICPA Statement of Position 93-6, “Employer’s Accounting for Employee Stock Ownership Plans.” The Board intends to reconsider the accounting for those transactions and plan in a later phase of its project on equity-based compensation. In this proposed Statement, the Board believes that employee services received in exchange for equity instruments give rise to recognizable compensation cost as the services are used in the issuing entity’s operations. In addition, the proposed Statement would require that public companies measure the compensation cost related to employee services received in exchange for equity instruments issued based on the grant-date fair value of those instruments. The Board will also consider other items such as streamlining volatility assumptions and addressing the fair value measurement models. Management will continue

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to assess the potential impact this statement will have on the Company; however, the Company has adopted SFAS 123 and currently expenses all equity-based compensation in the current period.

Critical Accounting Policy

     The Company utilizes the interest method under guidance provided by Practice Bulletin 6, “Amortization of Discounts on Certain Acquired Loans,” 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.

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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. As of March 31, 2004, 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.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

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

  (a)   Exhibits.

  31.1   Section 302 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
 
  31.2   Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

  (b)   Reports on Form 8-K.
 
      Filed February 9, 2004, issuance of a quarterly earnings press release for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2003.

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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: April 21, 2004
  By:   /s/ Steven D. Fredrickson
     
 
      Steven D. Fredrickson
      Chief Executive Officer, President and
      Chairman of the Board of Directors
      (Principal Executive Officer)
 
       
Date: April 21, 2004
  By:   /s/ Kevin P. Stevenson
     
 
      Kevin P. Stevenson
      Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President,
      Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
      (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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