SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-K

☒   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016

or

☐   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number: 000-52589

 

   

     

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

  (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)  

 

Delaware		20-5456087
(State of jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification Number)
2700 North Military Trail, Ste. 200
Boca Raton, FL		33431
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:    (866) 950-6669

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:  Common Stock, $.0001 Par Value

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:  None 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes ☐  No  ☒ 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes  ☐  No  ☒ 

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  ☒  No  ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  ☒  No  ☐ 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☐ 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act: 

Large Accelerated Filer:	☐	Accelerated Filer:	☐
Non-accelerated Filer:	☐	Smaller Reporting Company:	☒
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  ☐  No  ☒  

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $31,412,000 (based on the closing price of the Registrant’s Common Stock on June 30, 2016 of $6.00 per share) 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, as of March 18, 2017, was 5,287,391.   

Documents incorporated by reference: The Registrant intends to file a definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Portions of such proxy statement are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. 

 

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-K by the foregoing cautionary statements.

 

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business

 

Introduction

 

FlexShopper, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” “FlexShopper” or the “Company”) is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. We were incorporated on August 16, 2006 under the laws of the State of Delaware as BTHC XI, Inc. On April 4, 2007, we changed our corporate name to Anchor Funding Services, Inc. On October 16, 2013, we changed our corporate name to FlexShopper, Inc. FlexShopper owns 100% of FlexShopper, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of North Carolina on June 24, 2013. Since the sale of the assets of Anchor Funding Services LLC, which sale was completed in a series of transactions between April and June 2014, FlexShopper is a holding corporation with no operations except for those conducted by FlexShopper, LLC. FlexShopper, LLC owns two wholly-owned Delaware subsidiaries, FlexShopper 1, LLC and FlexShopper 2, LLC. All references to the business operations of FlexShopper refer to FlexShopper, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

Overview

 

Since June 2013, FlexShopper, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, FlexShopper, LLC, has been engaged in the business of providing certain types of durable goods to consumers on a lease-to-own basis and providing lease-to-own (“LTO”) terms to consumers of third party retailers and e-tailers. FlexShopper generated revenues from this new line of business since December 2013. Management believes that the introduction of FlexShopper's lease-to-own programs support broad untapped expansion opportunities within the U.S. consumer e-commerce and retail marketplaces. FlexShopper and its online LTO products provide consumers the ability to acquire durable goods, including electronics, computers and furniture, on an affordable payment, lease basis. Concurrently, FlexShopper’s model provides e-tailers and retailers an opportunity to increase their sales by utilizing FlexShopper's online channels to connect with consumers that want to acquire products on an LTO basis.

 

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIES

 

FlexShopper believes there is significant opportunity to expand the LTO industry online and into mainstream retail and e-tail. The LTO industry currently serves approximately six million consumers annually, generating approximately $10.0 billion in sales primarily through approximately 10,000 LTO brick and mortar stores. Through its strategic sales channels, FlexShopper believes it can expand the LTO industry, also known as the rent-to-own or RTO industry. FlexShopper has successfully developed and is currently processing LTO transactions using its proprietary technology that automates the process of consumers receiving spending limits and entering into leases for durable goods generally within a few minutes. This technology is the basis for FlexShopper’s primary sales channels which provide consumers four distinct ways of obtaining brand name durable goods on an LTO basis: (1) at FlexShopper’s LTO e-commerce marketplace, www.flexshopper.com, where consumers can choose from over 80,000 different items including electronics, furniture, musical instruments, and equipment; (2) on third party e-commerce sites featuring FlexShopper’s LTO payment method, where consumers can activate FlexShopper’s payment button at checkout; (3) at FlexShopper’s automated kiosks located in certain retail locations; and (4) with the FlexShopper Wallet, a mobile application enabling consumers to get durable goods from major retailers with their smartphones.

 

 

FlexShopper launched its online LTO marketplace in March 2014 and FlexShopper launched its patent-pending LTO payment method in December 2014. Retailers and e-tailers that sell furniture, electronics, computers, appliances and other durable goods and partner with FlexShopper have three channels which provide an opportunity to increase their sales: (i) in the store, (ii) online and (iii) on our marketplace. FlexShopper aims to enable merchants to sell to more than 50 million consumers that do not have sufficient credit or cash to buy from them. In addition, FlexShopper pays the merchant 100% of the retail price. An excerpt of our marketing literature presented below depicts our offerings to retail merchants:

 

 

 

COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS

 

We believe the following competitive strengths differentiate us:

 

●

We currently address the LTO market through online channels which include our online marketplace and patent pending LTO payment method. These channels give us the ability to currently originate leases in forty-five states without the operating expenses associated with having physical store-fronts in those states.

 

●

We believe our three channels described above provide a compelling package for retailers to adopt to increase their sales with a vast customer base.

 

●

Our LTO online marketplace and patent pending LTO payment method offer consumers more choices in products and retailers than traditional brick and mortar LTO storefronts. Our digital channels provide consumers with a selection of over 80,000 items including brand name products from recognized retailers.

 

Key Benefits for Our Customers

 

Broad Selection and Choice: We offer consumers through our online marketplace a vast selection of over 80,000 durable goods, including electronics and furniture that they may acquire on an LTO basis. We believe our broad selection, often fulfilled by name brand retailers, is more appealing than in-store LTO options.

 

Easy, Online Access to LTO Programs: We believe that LTO consumers want to shop online like other consumers and our marketplace and LTO payment method provide such access, simply and quickly.

 

Key Benefits for Our Retail Partners

 

Incremental Sales from Our LTO Marketplace: Our retailer partners that provide products for our marketplace receive incremental sales with no risk and no acquisition cost.

 

“Saving the Sale” in-Store and at Checkout on their E-Commerce Site: Our financial and technology platform enables retailers to “save the sale” when consumers are declined for credit in-store and at checkout on their websites.

 

 

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

 

The lease-to-own industry offers customers an alternative to traditional methods of obtaining electronics, computers, home furnishings and appliances. In a typical industry lease-to-own transaction, the customer has the option to acquire merchandise over a fixed term, usually 12 to 24 months, normally by making weekly lease payments. The customers may cancel the agreement as prescribed in the lease agreement by returning the merchandise, generally with no further lease obligation if their account is current. If customers lease the item to the full term, they obtain ownership of the item, though they can choose to buy it at any time. FlexShopper’s current fixed term to acquire ownership is fifty-two weeks.

 

The lease-to-own concept is particularly popular with consumers who cannot pay the full purchase price for merchandise at once or who lack the credit to qualify under conventional financing programs. Lease-to-own is also popular with consumers who, despite good credit, do not wish to incur additional debt, have only a temporary need for the merchandise or want to try out a particular brand or model before buying it.

 

We believe that there is significant market opportunity to expand the LTO market beyond traditional brick and mortar stores by creating an online presence through an LTO e-commerce site and payment method. We believe that the segment of the population targeted by the industry comprises more than 50 million people in the United States and the needs of these consumers are generally underserved.

 

UNDERWRITING PROCESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

 

FlexShopper has developed a proprietary decision engine that automates the process of consumers receiving spending limits on LTO products and entering into leases for durable goods generally within a few minutes. Included in this determination of a consumer’s spending limit are factors such as income, frequency that such consumer overdraws his or her bank account, fraud reports, repayment history and charge-off history. The Company obtains such consumer data from multiple third party sources which are monitored and analyzed by our risk department. We continually update our underwriting models to manage risk of default. Our decision engine also includes fraud tools and information from third party data sources to combat online fraud. We are continuously developing and implementing improvements to reduce losses related to fraudulent activity. In 2016, the Company enhanced its risk department by hiring a Chief Risk Officer. See Key Employees in Part III.

  

CUSTOMERS

 

FlexShopper’s customers typically do not have sufficient cash or credit to obtain durable goods. These consumers find the short-term nature and affordable payments of lease-to-own attractive. The lease-to-own industry serves a highly diverse customer base. According to the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, approximately 74 percent of lease to-own customers have household incomes between $15,000 and $50,000 per year. We believe we can expand the LTO market beyond brick and mortar stores with our LTO e-commerce site and online payment method. These sales channels will enable us to serve and target more than 50 million people that we believe do not have sufficient cash or access to reasonable credit for durable goods.

 

SALES AND MARKETING

 

We promote our FlexShopper products and services through print and television advertisements, Internet sites and direct response marketing, all of which are designed to increase our lease transactions and name recognition. Our advertisements emphasize such features as instant spending limit and affordable weekly payments. We believe that as the FlexShopper name gains familiarity and national recognition through our advertising efforts, we will continue to educate our existing and potential customers about the lease-to-own payment alternative as well as solidify our reputation as a leading provider of high quality branded merchandise and services.

 

  

For each sales channel FlexShopper has a marketing strategy that includes the following:

 

Online LTO Marketplace		Patent Pending LTO Payment Method		In-store LTO Technology Platform
Search engine optimization; pay-per click		Direct to retailers/e-tailers		Direct to retailers/e-tailers
Online affiliate networks		Partnerships with payment aggregators		Consultants & strategic relationships
Direct response television campaigns		Consultants & strategic relationships
Direct mail

 

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

 

FlexShopper uses computer-based management information systems to facilitate its entire business model, including underwriting, processing transactions through its sales channels, managing collections and monitoring leased inventory. Through the use of our proprietary software developed in-house, each of our retail partners uses our online merchant portal that automates the process of consumers receiving spending limits and entering into leases for durable goods generally within a few minutes. The management information system generates reports which enable us to meet our financial reporting requirements.

 

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

 

The lease-to-own industry is regulated by and subject to the requirements of various federal, state and local laws and regulations, many of which are in place for consumer protection. In general such laws regulate, among other items, applications for leases, late fees, other finance rates, the form of disclosure statements, the substance and sequence of required disclosures, the content of advertising materials and certain collection procedures. Violations of certain provisions of these laws and regulations may result in penalties ranging from nominal amounts up to and including forfeiture of fees and other amounts due on leases. We are unable to predict the nature or effect on our operations or earnings of unknown future legislation, regulations and judicial decisions or future interpretations of existing and future legislation or regulations relating to our operations, and there can be no assurance that future laws, decisions or interpretations will not have a material adverse effect on our operations and earnings. In 2016, the Company enhanced its compliance department by hiring a Chief Compliance Counsel. See the section captioned “Risk Factors” below for more information with respect to governmental laws and regulations and their effect on our business.

 

COMPETITION

 

The lease-to-own industry is highly competitive. Our operation competes with other national, regional and local lease-to-own businesses, as well as with rental stores that do not offer their customers a purchase option. Some of these companies have, or may develop, systems that enable consumers to obtain through online facilities spending limits and payment terms and to enter into leases nearly instantaneously, in a manner similar to that provided by FlexShopper’s proprietary technology. Many of our competitors have substantially more resources and greater experience in the lease-to-own business than FlexShopper. With respect to customers desiring to purchase merchandise for cash or on credit, we also compete with retail stores. Competition is based primarily on store location, product selection and availability, customer service, and lease rates and terms. We believe that currently we do not have significant competition for our on-line LTO marketplace and patent pending LTO payment method, however, there is no assurance that other companies may not develop similar or competing concepts that could adversely impact the usage or value of our online LTO marketplace or our LTO payment method.

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

FlexShopper has two non-provisional patent applications pending in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for systems that enable consumers to obtain products on an LTO basis using mobile devices and tablets and for a lease-to-own method of payment at check-out on e-commerce sites. We can provide no assurances that FlexShopper will be granted any patents by the USPTO. We regard our pending patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technology, and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. In particular, we believe certain proprietary information, including but not limited to our underwriting model, and patent pending systems are central to our business model and we believe give us a key competitive advantage. We also rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection, and confidentiality, license and work product agreements with our employees, customers, and others to protect our proprietary rights. See the section captioned “Risk Factors” below for more information on and risk associated with respect to our intellectual property.

 

Operations and Employees of FlexShopper

 

Brad Bernstein, our Chief Executive Officer, manages our day-to-day operations and internal growth and oversees our growth strategy. FlexShopper’s management includes an Executive Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer with oversight of the Company’s development team, a Chief Marketing Officer, a Chief Compliance Counsel and a Chief Risk Officer. In addition, FlexShopper has a customer service and collections call center. As of December 31, 2016, FlexShopper had 125 employees, all of whom were full time. 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

You should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information presented in this Form 10-K, in evaluating us and our business.  Any of the following risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, could harm our business and financial results and cause the value of our securities to decline, which in turn could cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the following risks and other information contained in this Form 10-K before you decide whether to buy our common stock. If any of the events contemplated by the following discussion of risks should occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer significantly. As a result, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of the money you paid to buy our common stock. In addition, the risks described below are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are unaware or currently deem immaterial may also become important factors that may harm our business.

 

Business Risks

 

Limited operating history. FlexShopper, LLC, which was formed in June 2013 to enter the LTO business, has a limited operating history upon which investors may judge our performance. Our new FlexShopper business has generated revenues over a limited operating history and has incurred net losses. Our ability to achieve profitability in this business will depend upon many factors, including, without limitation, our ability to execute our growth strategy and technology development, obtain sufficient capital, develop relationships with third party retail partners, adapt to fluctuations in the economy and modify our strategy based on the degree and nature of competition. Our senior management team has limited experience in the lease-to-own industry. While we believe our FlexShopper business model will be successful, prior success of our senior management in other businesses should not viewed as an indication that we will be profitable. We can provide no assurances that our operations will ever be profitable.

 

We expect to require additional financing to achieve our business plans. We believe with our proprietary technology there is a significant market opportunity to expand the LTO market. However, the LTO market is subject to intense and increasing competition and rapidly evolving technologies. Accordingly, for our business plans to succeed we believe it will be important for us to move quickly to introduce our technology and capture market share. As a small company, we may be unable to successfully implement our ambitions of targeting very large markets in an intensely competitive industry segment without significantly increasing our resources. We do not currently have sufficient funds to fully implement our business plan. We expect that we will need to raise capital through new financings. Such financings could include equity financing, which may be dilutive to stockholders, or debt financing, which would likely restrict our ability to borrow from other sources. In addition, such securities may contain rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of the rights of our current stockholders. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available on terms attractive to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to curtail or reduce our operations. We could be forced to sell or dispose of our rights or assets. Any inability to raise adequate funds on commercially reasonable terms could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition, including the possibility that a lack of funds could cause our business to fail and liquidate with little or no return to investors.

 

 

Our business liquidity and capital resources are dependent upon our credit agreement with an institutional lender and our compliance with the terms thereof. On March 6, 2015, FlexShopper, through FlexShopper 2, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Borrower”), entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among FlexShopper 2, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, various Lenders from time to time party thereto and WE2014-1, LLC (the “Lender”). The Borrower is permitted to borrow funds under the Credit Agreement based on the Borrower’s cash on hand and the Amortized Order Value of the Borrower’s Eligible Leases (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) less certain deductions described in the Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, the Borrower may borrow up to $25,000,000 from the Lender for a term of two years; however, as of December 31, 2016, there was only approximately $14,211,792 in additional availability under the Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $10,788,208. The borrowing term may be extended for an additional twelve months in the sole discretion of the Lender. The Credit Agreement contemplates that the Lender may provide additional debt financing to the Borrower, up to $100 million in total, under two uncommitted accordions following satisfaction of certain covenants and other terms and conditions. The Lender will receive security interests in certain leases as collateral under the Credit Agreement. For the term of the Credit Agreement, FlexShopper and its subsidiaries may not incur additional indebtedness (other than certain indebtedness expressly permitted under the Credit Agreement) without the permission of the Lender. The Lender and its affiliates will have a right of first refusal on certain subsequent FlexShopper transactions involving leases or other financial products during the term of the Credit Agreement and up to three months following the termination thereof. The Credit Agreement includes customary events of default, including, among others, failures to make payment of principal and interest, breaches or defaults under the terms of the Credit Agreement and related agreements entered into with the Lender, breaches of representations, warranties or certifications made by or on behalf of the Borrower in the Credit Agreement and related documents (including certain financial and expense covenants), deficiencies in the borrowing base, certain judgments against the Borrower and bankruptcy events.

 

On March 29, 2016, the Borrower entered into a fourth amendment and waiver (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement pursuant to which the Lender waived the violation of the Equity Book Value covenant at December 31, 2015, as well as compliance with financial covenants (other than the unrestricted cash covenant) through the completion of FlexShopper’s raising at least $10 million in equity funding, which occurred upon the issuance of Series 2 Preferred Stock on June 10, 2016. In addition, the Fourth Amendment, among other things, provided that Borrower maintain Unrestricted Cash of at least $500,000 on each day and $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar month.

 

On January 27, 2017, the Borrower entered into a fifth amendment (the “Omnibus Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement. The Omnibus Amendment amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, extend the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement), require the Borrower to refinance the debt under the Credit Agreement upon a Permitted Change of Control (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and modify certain permitted debt and financial covenants.

 

FlexShopper LTO revenue and earnings growth depend on our ability to execute our growth strategies. Our primary growth strategies are the sale of our FlexShopper LTO online products to consumers and utilization by retailers of FlexShopper’s online channels to connect with customers that want to acquire products on a LTO basis. Effectively managing the development and growth can be challenging, particularly as we develop the management and operational systems necessary to develop this line of business. If we are unable to successfully execute these growth strategies, revenue from this line of business will grow slowly or not at all, and we may never achieve profitability.

 

Our LTO business depends on the success of our third-party retail partners and our continued relationships with them. Our LTO revenues depend in part on the ability of unaffiliated third-party retailers to attract customers. In addition, in most cases, our agreements with such third-party retailers may be terminated at the retailer's election. The failure of our third-party retail partners to maintain quality and consistency in their operations and their ability to continue to provide products and services, or the loss of the relationship with any of these third-party retailers and an inability to replace them, could cause our LTO business to lose customers, substantially decreasing the revenues and earnings growth in our LTO business.

 

Our growth will depend on our ability to develop our brands, and these efforts may be costly. Our ability to develop the FlexShopper brand will be critical to achieving widespread acceptance of our services, and will require a continued focus on active marketing efforts. We will need to continue to spend substantial amounts of money on, and devote substantial resources to, advertising, marketing, and other efforts to create and maintain brand loyalty among our customers. If we fail to promote and maintain our brand, or if we incur substantial expenses in an unsuccessful attempt to promote and maintain our brand, our business would be harmed.

 

 

Our LTO business will depend on the continued growth of online and mobile commerce. The business of selling goods over the Internet and mobile networks is dynamic and relatively new. Concerns about fraud, privacy and other problems may discourage additional consumers from adopting the Internet or mobile devices as modes of commerce, or may prompt consumers to offline channels. In order to expand our user base, we must appeal to and acquire consumers who historically have used traditional means of commerce to purchase goods and may prefer Internet analogues to such traditional retail means, such as the retailer's own website, to our offerings. If these consumers prove to be less active than we expect due to lower levels of willingness to use the Internet or mobile devices for commerce for any reason, including lack of access to high-speed communications equipment, traffic congestion on the Internet or mobile network outages or delays, disruptions or other damage to users' computers or mobile devices, and we are unable to gain efficiencies in our operating costs, including our cost of acquiring new users, our business could be adversely impacted.

 

The success of our business is dependent on factors affecting consumer spending that are not under our control. Consumer spending is affected by general economic conditions and other factors including levels of employment, disposable consumer income, prevailing interest rates, consumer debt and availability of credit, costs of fuel, inflation, recession and fears of recession, tax rates and rate increases, timing of receipt of tax refunds, consumer confidence in future economic conditions and political conditions, and consumer perceptions of personal well-being and security. Unfavorable changes in factors affecting discretionary spending could reduce demand for our products and services resulting in lower revenue and negatively impacting the business and its financial results.

 

Our customer base presents significant risk of default for non-payment. We bear the risk of non-payment or slow payment by our customers. The nature of our customer base makes it sensitive to adverse economic conditions and less likely to meet our prevailing underwriting standards, which may be more restrictive in an adverse economic environment. As a result, during such periods we may experience decreases in the growth of new customers, and we may curtail spending limits to existing customers, which may adversely affect our net sales and potential profitability.

 

Our customers can return merchandise without penalty.  When our customers acquire merchandise through the FlexShopper LTO program, we actually purchase the merchandise from the retailer and enter the lease-to-own relationship with the customer. Because our customers can return merchandise without penalty, there is risk that we may end up owning a significant amount of merchandise that is difficult to monetize. While we have factored customer returns into our business model, customer return volume may exceed the levels we expect, which could adversely impact our collections, revenues and our financial performance. Returns totaled 3.9% leased merchandise at December 31, 2016.

 

We rely on third party credit/debit card and ACH (Automated Clearing House) processors to process collections from customers on a weekly basis. Our ability to collect from customers could be impaired if these processors do not work with us. These third-party payment processors may consider our business a high risk since our customer base could have a high incidence of insufficient funds and rejected payments. This could cause a processor to discontinue its services to us, and we may not be able to find a replacement processor. If this occurred, we would have to collect from our customers using less efficient methods, which could adversely impact our collections, revenues and our financial performance.

 

We rely on internal models to manage risk, to provide accounting estimates and to make other business decisions. Our results could be adversely affected if those models do not provide reliable estimates or predictions of future activity.  The accurate modeling of risks is critical to our business, particularly with respect to managing underwriting and spending limits for our customers. Our expectations regarding customer repayment levels, as well as our allowances for doubtful accounts and other accounting estimates, are based in large part on internal modeling. We also rely heavily on internal models in making a variety of other decisions crucial to the successful operation of our business. It is therefore important that our models are accurate, and any failure in this regard could have a material adverse effect on our results. Models are inherently imperfect predictors of actual results because they are based on historical data available to us and our assumptions about factors such as demand, payment rates, default rates, delinquency rates and other factors that may overstate or understate future experience. Our models could produce unreliable results for a number of reasons, including the limitations or lack of historical data to predict results, invalid or incorrect assumptions underlying the models, the need for manual adjustments in response to rapid changes in economic conditions, incorrect coding of the models, incorrect data being used by the models or inappropriate application of a model to products or events outside of the model’s intended use. In particular, models are less dependable when the economic environment is outside of historical experience, as has been the case recently. Due to the factors described above, unanticipated and excessive default and charge-off experience can adversely affect our profitability and financial condition, breach covenants in future credit facilities, limit our ability to secure a credit facility and adversely affect our ability to finance our business.

 

 

Our operations are regulated by and subject to the requirements of various federal and state laws and regulations. These laws and regulations, which may be amended or supplemented or interpreted by the courts from time to time, could expose us to significant compliance costs or burdens or force us to change our business practices in a manner that may be materially adverse to our operations, prospects or financial condition. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia specifically regulate rent-to-own, lease-to-own transactions. At the present time, no federal law specifically regulates the rent-to-own industry, although federal legislation to regulate the industry has been proposed from time to time. Any adverse changes in existing laws, or the passage of new adverse legislation by states or the federal government could materially increase both our costs of complying with laws and the risk that we could be sued or be subject to government sanctions if we are not in compliance. In addition, new burdensome legislation might force us to change our business model and might reduce the economic potential of our sales and lease ownership operations. Most of the states that regulate rent-to-own transactions have enacted disclosure laws that require rent-to-own companies to disclose to their customers the total number of payments, total amount and timing of all payments to acquire ownership of any item, any other charges that may be imposed and miscellaneous other items. The more restrictive state lease purchase laws limit the total amount that a customer may be charged for an item, or regulate the "cost-of-rental" amount that rent-to-own companies may charge on rent-to-own transactions, generally defining "cost-of-rental" as lease fees paid in excess of the “retail” price of the goods. There has been increased legislative attention in the United States, at both the federal and state levels, on consumer debt transactions in general, which may result in an increase in legislative regulatory efforts directed at the rent-to-own industry. We cannot guarantee that the federal government or states will not enact additional or different legislation that would be disadvantageous or otherwise materially adverse to us. In addition to the risk of lawsuits related to the laws that regulate rent-to-own and consumer lease transactions, we could be subject to lawsuits alleging violations of federal and/or state laws and regulations and consumer tort law, including fraud, consumer protection, information security and privacy laws, because of the consumer-oriented nature of the rent-to-own industry. A large judgment against FlexShopper could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, an adverse outcome from a lawsuit, even one against one of our competitors, could result in changes in the way we and others in the industry do business, possibly leading to significant costs or decreased revenues or profitability.

 

FlexShopper’s lease-to-own business differs in some potentially significant respects from the risks of traditional store-based lease-to-own businesses. The risks could have a material negative effect on FlexShopper. FlexShopper offers its lease-to-own products directly to consumers through its e-commerce marketplace and through the stores and e-commerce sites of third party retailers. Potential risks include, among others:

 

	●	FlexShopper’s reliance on third party retailers over whom FlexShopper cannot exercise control and oversight of certain business functions, from advertising through assistance with lease transaction applications;
	●	possibly different regulatory risks due to the non-traditional, online nature of FlexShopper’s business that regulators may target and/or new regulations or legislation could be adopted (or existing laws and regulations may be interpreted) that negatively impact FlexShopper’s business; and
	●	reliance on automatic bank account drafts for lease payments, which may become disfavored as a payment method for these transactions by regulators.

  

 

If we fail to protect the integrity and security of customer and employee information, we could be exposed to litigation or regulatory enforcement, and our business could be adversely impacted. We collect and store certain personal information provided to us by our customers and employees in the ordinary course of our business. Despite instituted safeguards for the protection of such information, we cannot be certain that all of our systems are entirely free from vulnerability to attack. Computer hackers may attempt to penetrate our network security and, if successful, misappropriate confidential customer or employee information. In addition, one of our employees, contractors or other third party with whom we do business may attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to obtain such information, or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information. Loss of customer or employee information could disrupt our operations, damage our reputation and expose us to claims from customers, employees, regulators and other persons, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the costs associated with information security, such as increased investment in technology, the costs of compliance with privacy laws and costs incurred to prevent or remediate information security breaches, could adversely impact our business.

  

The loss of any of our key personnel could harm our business. Our future financial performance will depend to a significant extent on our ability to motivate and retain key management personnel. Further, FlexShopper is seeking to hire additional qualified management for its FlexShopper business. Competition for qualified management personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to hire additional qualified management on terms satisfactory to FlexShopper. Further, in the event we experience turnover in our senior management positions, we cannot assure you that we will be able to recruit suitable replacements. We must also successfully integrate all new management and other key positions within our organization to achieve our operating objectives. Even if we are successful, turnover in key management positions may temporarily harm our financial performance and results of operations until new management becomes familiar with our business. At present, we do not maintain key-man life insurance on any of our executive officers, although we entered into an employment contract with Brad Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer and President. Our Board of Directors is responsible for approval of all future employment contracts with our executive officers. We can provide no assurances that said future employment contracts and/or their current compensation is or will be on commercially reasonable terms to us in order to retain our key personnel. The loss of any of our key personnel could harm our business.

  

Competition in the LTO business is intense. The lease-to-own industry is highly competitive. Our operation competes with other national, regional and local lease-to-own businesses, as well as with rental stores that do not offer their customers a purchase option. Some of these companies have, or may develop, systems that enable consumers to obtain through online facilities spending limits and payment terms and to enter into leases nearly instantaneously, in a manner similar to that provided by FlexShopper’s proprietary technology. Many of our competitors have substantially more resources and greater experience in the lease-to-own business of FlexShopper. With respect to customers desiring to purchase merchandise for cash or on credit, we also compete with retail stores. Competition is based primarily on store location, product selection and availability, customer service and lease rates and terms. We believe we do not currently have significant competition for our on-line LTO marketplace and patent pending LTO payment method. However, such competition is likely to develop over time, and we may be unable to successfully compete in our target markets. We can provide no assurances that we will be able to successfully compete in the LTO industry.

 

Changes in regulations or customer concerns, in particular as they relate to privacy and protection of customer data, could adversely affect our business.  Our business is subject to laws relating to the collection, use, retention, security and transfer of personally identifiable information about our customers. The interpretation and application of privacy and customer data protection laws are in a state of flux and may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. These laws may be interpreted and applied inconsistently and our current data protection policies and practices may not be consistent with those interpretations and applications. Complying with these varying requirements could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner adverse to our business. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our own privacy policies or with any regulatory requirements or orders or other privacy or consumer protection related laws and regulations could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, subject us to significant penalties and negative publicity and adversely affect our operating results.

 

 

System interruption and the lack of integration and redundancy in our order entry and online systems may adversely affect our net sales.  Customer access to our customer service center and websites is key to the continued flow of new orders. Anything that would hamper or interrupt such access could adversely affect our net sales, operating results and customer satisfaction. Examples of risks that could affect access include problems with the Internet or telecommunication infrastructure, limited web access by our customers, local or more systemic impairment of computer systems due to viruses or malware, or impaired access due to breaches of Internet security or denial of service attacks. Changes in the policies of service providers or others that increase the cost of telephone or Internet access could inhibit our ability to market our products or transact orders with customers. In addition, our ability to operate our business from day-to-day largely depends on the efficient operation of our computer hardware and software systems and communications systems. Our computer and communications systems and operations could be damaged or interrupted by fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, earthquakes, acts of war or terrorism, acts of God, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or denial of service attacks, improper operation by employees and similar events or disruptions. Any of these events could cause system interruption, delays and loss of critical data and could prevent us from accepting and fulfilling customer orders and providing services or threaten our relationships with our third-party retail customers, all of which would impair our operations. Certain of our systems are not redundant, and we have not fully implemented a disaster recovery plan. In addition, we may have inadequate insurance coverage to compensate us for any related losses. Interruptions to customer ordering, particularly if prolonged, could damage our reputation and be expensive to remedy and have significant adverse effects on our financial results.

 

We face risk related to the strength of our operational, technological and organizational infrastructure.  We are exposed to operational risks that can be manifested in many ways, such as errors related to failed or inadequate processes, faulty or disabled computer systems, fraud by employees, contractors or third parties and exposure to external events. In addition, we are heavily dependent on the strength and capability of our technology systems that we use to manage our internal financial, credit and other systems, interface with our customers and develop and implement effective marketing campaigns. Our ability to operate our business to meet the needs of our existing customers and attract new ones and to run our business in compliance with applicable laws and regulations depends on the functionality of our operational and technology systems. Any disruptions or failures of our operational and technology systems, including those associated with improvements or modifications to such systems, could cause us to be unable to market and manage our products and services and to report our financial results in a timely and accurate manner, all of which could have a negative impact on our results of operations. In some cases, we outsource delivery, maintenance and development of our operational and technological functionality to third parties. These third parties may experience errors or disruptions that could adversely impact us and over which we may have limited control. Any increase in the amount of our infrastructure that we outsource to third parties may increase our exposure to these risks.

 

If we do not respond to technological changes, our services could become obsolete, and we could lose customers.  To remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the functionality and features of our e-commerce websites and other technologies. We may face material delays in introducing new products and enhancements. If this happens, our customers may forego the use of our websites and use those of our competitors. The Internet and the online commerce industry are rapidly changing. If competitors introduce new products and services using new technologies or if new industry standards and practices emerge, our existing websites and our proprietary technology and systems may become obsolete. Our failure to respond to technological change or to adequately maintain, upgrade and develop our computer network and the systems used to process customers’ orders and payments could harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights or may be accused of infringing intellectual property rights of third parties.  We have filed two non-provisional patent applications for systems that enable consumers to buy products on a LTO basis using mobile devices and tablets and for a lease-to-own method of payment at check-out on e-commerce sites. We can provide no assurances that we will be granted any patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. We regard our pending patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technology, and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. In particular, we believe certain proprietary information, including but not limited to our underwriting model, and patent pending systems are central to our business model, and we believe give us a key competitive advantage. We rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection, and confidentiality, license and work product agreements with our employees, customers and others to protect our proprietary rights. We may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring trademarks, service marks and domain names that are similar to, infringe upon, or diminish the value of our trademarks and other proprietary rights. Failure to protect our domain names could affect adversely our reputation and brand, and make it more difficult for users to find our website. We may be unable to discover or determine the extent of any unauthorized use of our proprietary rights. The protection of our intellectual property may require the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. In addition, the steps we take to protect our intellectual property may not adequately protect our rights or prevent parties from infringing or misappropriating our proprietary rights. We can be at risk that others will independently develop or acquire equivalent or superior technology or other intellectual property rights. The use of our technology or similar technology by others could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage we have developed, cause us to lose sales or otherwise harm our business.

 

 

We cannot be certain that the intellectual property used in our business does not and will not infringe the intellectual property rights of others, and we are from time to time subject to third party infringement claims. Due to recent changes in patent law, we face the risk of a temporary increase in patent litigation due to new restrictions on including unrelated defendants in patent infringement lawsuits in the future particularly from entities that own patents but that do not make products or services covered by the patents. Any third party infringement claims against us, whether or not meritorious, may result in the expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources, injunctions against us or the payment of damages. Moreover, should we be found liable for infringement, we may be required to seek to enter into licensing agreements, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.

 

In deciding whether to provide a spending limit to customers, we rely on the accuracy and completeness of information furnished to us by or on behalf of our customers. If we and our systems are unable to detect any misrepresentations in this information, this could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In deciding whether to provide a customer with a spending amount, we rely heavily on information furnished to us by or on behalf of our customers and our ability to validate such information through third-party services, including personal financial information. If a significant percentage of our customers intentionally or negligently misrepresents any of this information, and we or our systems do not or did not detect such misrepresentations, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to effectively manage our risk, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

If we fail to timely contact delinquent customers, then the number of delinquent customer receivables eventually being charged off could increase.  We contact customers with delinquent account balances soon after the account becomes delinquent. During periods of increased delinquencies, it is important that we are proactive in dealing with these customers rather than simply allowing customer receivables to go to charge-off. During periods of increased delinquencies, it becomes extremely important that we are properly staffed and trained to assist customers in bringing the delinquent balance current and ultimately avoiding charge-off. If we do not properly staff and train our collections personnel, or if we incur any downtime or other issues with our information systems that assist us with our collection efforts, then the number of accounts in a delinquent status or charged-off could increase. In addition, managing a substantially higher volume of delinquent customer receivables typically increases our operational costs. A rise in delinquencies or charge-offs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

 

Our management information systems may not be adequate to meet our evolving business and emerging regulatory needs and the failure to successfully implement them could negatively impact the business and its financial results. We are investing significant capital in new information technology systems to support our growth plan. These investments include redundancies, and acquiring new systems and hardware with updated functionality. We are taking appropriate actions to ensure the successful implementation of these initiatives, including the testing of new systems, with minimal disruptions to the business. These efforts may take longer and may require greater financial and other resources than anticipated, may cause distraction of key personnel, may cause disruptions to our systems and our business, and may not provide the anticipated benefits. The disruption in our information technology systems, or our inability to improve, integrate or expand our systems to meet our evolving business and emerging regulatory requirements, could impair our ability to achieve critical strategic initiatives and could adversely impact our sales, collections efforts, cash flows and financial condition.

 

 

If we fail to maintain adequate systems and processes to detect and prevent fraudulent activity, our business could be adversely impacted. Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to engage in illegal activities such as paper instrument counterfeiting, fraudulent payment or refund schemes and identity theft. As we make more of our services available over the internet and other media we subject ourselves to consumer fraud risk. We use a variety of tools to protect against fraud; however, these tools may not always be successful.

 

Our failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls could result in inaccurate reporting of financial results and harm our business. We are required to comply with a variety of reporting, accounting and other rules and regulations. As such, we maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting, but there are limitations inherent in internal control systems. A control system can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. In addition, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefit of controls must be appropriate relative to their costs. Furthermore, compliance with existing requirements is expensive and we may need to implement additional finance and accounting and other systems, procedures and controls to satisfy our reporting requirements. If our internal control over financial reporting is determined to be ineffective, such failure could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, negatively affect the market price of our common stock, subject us to regulatory investigations and penalties, and adversely impact our business and financial condition.

 

Because of their significant stock ownership and ability to select nominees to our Board of Directors, certain beneficial owners of our stock, as well as our executive officers and directors, will be able to exert control over the Company and significant corporate decision. B2 FIE V LLC (“B2 FIE”), a holder of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock described under “Recent Financings” in Item 7 below, beneficially owns 31.8% of our outstanding Common Stock as of the filing date of this Form 10-K. Our secured lender described under this Item 1 and Item 7 and Item 13 below beneficially owns 27.5% of our outstanding Common Stock as of the filing date of this Form 10-K. Also, our executive officers and directors beneficially own an additional 12.1% of our Common Stock as of the same date. In the event that they act in concert on future stockholder matters, such persons may have the ability to affect the election of all of our directors and the outcome of all issues submitted to our stockholders. Such concentration of ownership could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of Common Stock and could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of us.

 

Additionally, pursuant to Investor Rights Agreements entered into in connection with their investments in the Company, each of B2 FIE and our secured lender currently has the right to designate on our Board of Directors two and one nominee, respectively. As a result, the presence of directors on our Board of Directors nominated by these investors enables such investors to influence and impact future actions taken by our Board of Directors.

 

The price of our Common Stock may fluctuate significantly. The market price for our Common Stock can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, including the factors listed above, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include: actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results; announcements of new services by our competitors or us; announcements relating to strategic relationships or acquisitions; changes in financial estimates or other statements by securities analysts; and other changes in general economic conditions. Because of this, we may fail to meet or exceed the expectations of our stockholders or others, and the market price for our Common Stock could fluctuate as a result. In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. 

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our Common Stock, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to fund the development and growth of our FlexShopper business. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be dependent upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, applicable contractual restrictions and other such factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

 

If we sell shares of our Common Stock or securities convertible into our Common Stock in future financings, the ownership interest of existing shareholders will be diluted and, as a result, our stock price may go down. We may from time to time issue additional shares of Common Stock at a discount from the current trading price of our Common Stock. As a result, our existing shareholders will experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our Common Stock sold at a discount. For example, in connection with the sale of Series 2 Preferred Stock, in June 2016 FlexShopper raised approximately $22.0 million in net proceeds through direct sales of 21,952 shares of FlexShopper Series 2 Preferred Stock, each share of which is convertible into 124 shares of Common Stock. As other capital raising opportunities present themselves, we may enter into financing or similar arrangements in the future. If we issue common stock or securities convertible into common stock, our shareholders will experience dilution and this dilution will be greater if we find it necessary to sell securities at a discount to prevailing market prices.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None

 

Item 2.  Properties

 

On August 1, 2013, FlexShopper entered into a 39 month lease for office space in Boca Raton, Florida to accommodate FlexShopper’s business and its employees. The monthly rent was approximately $6,800. This lease agreement was amended in January 2014 to reflect a 63 month term for a larger suite in an adjoining building. Upon commencement the monthly base rent including operating expenses for the first year was approximately $9,600 with annual three percent increases throughout the lease term.

 

On September 1, 2015, FlexShopper entered into a 48 month lease for additional office space in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to accommodate our call and customer service center. The monthly base rent including operating expenses is approximately $5,200 with annual three percent increases throughout the lease term.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

We are not currently a party to any material pending legal proceedings. To our knowledge, no governmental authority is contemplating commencing a legal proceeding in which we would be named as a party.

  

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Our Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FPAY.” The following table sets forth the range of high and low closing sale prices of our Common Stock for each full quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years. All prices in the table below reflect the 1 for 10 reverse stock split of our Common Stock effected in October 2016.

 

		High				Low
2015 - Quarter Ended
December 31		$	6.00			$	4.70
September 30			7.00				4.50
June 30			9.60				6.50
March 31			10.00				5.50
2016 - Quarter Ended
December 31		$	6.75			$	4.80
September 30			5.50				4.80
June 30			6.00				4.60
March 31			6.80				4.90

 

 

Holders of Record

 

As of December 31, 2016, there were 540 holders of record of shares of Common Stock and 64 holders of record of our Series 1 Preferred Stock. FlexShopper's transfer agent is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 17 Battery Place, New York, NY 10004.

  

Dividend Policy

 

The holders of our Series 1 Preferred Stock were entitled to receive dividends from issuance in 2007 through December 31, 2009 as more fully described below. We have not paid or declared any cash dividends on our Common Stock. We currently intend to retain any earnings for future growth and, therefore, do not expect to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Cumulative annual dividends were payable in shares of Series 1 Preferred Stock or, in certain instances in cash, at an annual rate of 8% ($.40 per share of Series 1 Preferred Stock), on December 31 of each year commencing December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2009. Shares of Series 2 Preferred Stock accrue dividends on the Stated Value (as defined in the Series 2 Preferred Stock’s Certificate of Designations) at an annual rate of 10% compounded annually.

 

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K.  

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

 

Executive Overview

 

The results of operations from continuing operations below principally reflect the operations of FlexShopper, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which provides certain types of durable goods to consumers on a lease-to-own basis and also provides lease-to-own terms to consumers of third party retailers and e-tailers. FlexShopper began generating revenues from this line of business in December 2013. Management believes that the introduction of FlexShopper's lease-to-own (“LTO”) programs support broad untapped expansion opportunities within the U.S. consumer e-commerce and retail marketplaces. FlexShopper and its online LTO platforms provide consumers the ability to acquire durable goods, including electronics, computers and furniture on an affordable payment, lease basis. Concurrently, e-tailers and retailers that work with FlexShopper may increase their sales by utilizing FlexShopper's online channels to connect with consumers that want to acquire products on an LTO basis. FlexShopper’s sales channels include: 1) serving as the financial and technology partner for durable goods retailers and e-tailers; 2) selling directly to consumers via the online FlexShopper LTO Marketplace featuring thousands of durable goods; and 3) utilizing FlexShopper’s patent pending LTO payment method at check out on e-commerce sites.

 

Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period.  On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to credit provisions, intangible assets, contingencies, litigation and income taxes.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience as well as various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, reflect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – FlexShopper seeks to collect amounts owed under its leases from each customer on a weekly basis by charging their bank accounts or credit cards. Accounts receivable are principally comprised of lease payments currently owed to FlexShopper which are past due as FlexShopper has been unable to successfully collect in the manner described above. Through June 30, 2016, an allowance for doubtful accounts was estimated by reserving all accounts in excess of four payments in arrears, adjusted for subsequent collections. Commencing in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the estimate was revised to provide for doubtful accounts based upon revenues and historical experience of balances charged off as a percentage of revenues. The accounts receivable balances consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Accounts receivable		$	11,690,495			$	5,479,437
Allowance for doubtful accounts			9,508,708				4,727,278
Accounts receivable, net		$	2,181,787			$	752,159

 

The allowance is a significant percentage of the balance because FlexShopper does not charge off any customer account until it has exhausted all collection efforts with respect to each account including attempts to repossess items. In addition, while collections are pursued, the same delinquent customers will continue to accrue weekly charges until they are charged off. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, $8,541,289 and $2,300,708 of accounts receivable balances respectively were charged off against the allowance.

 

 

Lease Merchandise – Until all payment obligations for ownership are satisfied under the lease agreement, the Company maintains ownership of the lease merchandise. Lease merchandise consists primarily of residential furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and household accessories and is recorded at cost net of accumulated depreciation. The Company depreciates leased merchandise using the straight line method over the applicable agreement period for a consumer to acquire ownership, generally twelve months with no salvage value. Upon transfer of ownership of merchandise to customers resulting from satisfaction of their lease obligations, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from lease merchandise. For lease merchandise returned or anticipated to be returned either voluntarily or through repossession, the Company provides an impairment reserve for the undepreciated balance of the merchandise net of any estimated salvage value with a corresponding charge to cost of lease revenue. The cost, accumulated depreciation and impairment reserve related to such merchandise are written off upon determination that no salvage value is obtainable. The impairment charge amounted to approximately $5,021,000 and $1,500,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively. The net leased merchandise balances consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

  

		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Lease merchandise at cost		$	33,264,810			$	19,504,645
Accumulated depreciation			11,578,267				7,473,363
Impairment reserve			3,116,083				827,146
Lease merchandise, net		$	18,570,460			$	11,204,136

 

Cost of lease merchandise sold represents the undepreciated cost of rental merchandise at the time of sale.

 

Stock Based Compensation - The fair value of transactions in which FlexShopper exchanges its equity instruments for employee services (share-based payment transactions) is recognized as an expense in the financial statements as services are performed. Compensation expense is determined by reference to the fair value of an award on the date of grant and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. We have elected to use the Black Scholes pricing model (BSM) to determine the fair value of all stock option awards.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table details the operating results from continuing operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

		2016				2015				$ Change				% Change
Total revenues		$	47,579,585			$	20,680,062			$	26,899,523				130.0
Cost of lease revenue and merchandise sold			23,422,544				11,067,484				12,355,060				111.6
Provision for doubtful accounts			13,281,242				5,647,084				7,634,158				135.2
Marketing			10,193,052				4,606,874				5,586,178				121.3
Salaries and benefits			5,946,401				4,190,606				1,755,795				41.8
Operating expenses			5,064,869				3,171,180				1,893,689				59.7
Operating loss			(10,328,523	)			(8,003,166	)			(2,325,357	)			(29.1	)
Interest expense			1,925,184				994,115				931,069				93.7
Income tax benefit			-				78,388				(78,388	)			-
Loss from continuing operations		$	(12,253,707	)		$	(8,918,893	)		$	(3,334,814	)			(37.4	)

 

Lease revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 were $47,579,585 compared to $20,680,062 for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing an increase of 130.0%. FlexShopper originated 76,496 leases in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to 38,731 leases in year ended December 31, 2015. The Company spent approximately $5,586,000 more on marketing in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the prior year and this increased marketing expense is primarily responsible for the increase in revenues and leases.

 

 

Cost of lease revenue and merchandise sold for the year ended December 31, 2016 was comprised of depreciation expense on lease merchandise of $21,163,590, the net book value of merchandise sold of $687,991 and a reserve for inventory impairment of $1,011,478. Cost of lease revenue and merchandise sold for the year ended December 31, 2015 was comprised of depreciation expense on lease merchandise of $10,452,587, the net book value of merchandise sold of $314,751 and a charge for inventory impairment of $300,146. As the Company’s lease revenues increase, the direct costs associated with them also increase. 

 

Provision for bad debts was $13,281,242 and $5,647,084 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. A factor that causes the provision to increase is that the Company does not charge off any customer accounts until it has exhausted all collection efforts including attempts to repossess items. While collection efforts are pursued, delinquent customers continue to accrue weekly charges resulting in a significant balance requiring a reserve. The Company anticipates continued improvement as it continues to refine its underwriting model, enhances its risk department and accumulates additional lease data. The Company has charged off $8,541,289 and $2,300,708 of customer accounts to the allowance for doubtful accounts in the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively, after it exhausted all collection efforts with respect to such accounts.   

 

Marketing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $10,193,052, compared to $4,606,874 in the same period of 2015 for an increase of $5,586,178. The increase in marketing expense is the primary driver for the increase in revenues and leases.

 

Salary and benefits expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $5,946,401, compared to $4,190,606 in the same period of 2015 for an increase of $1,755,795. The staff needed to support the increase in leases and revenue is the primary reason for the increase in salaries and benefits.

 

Operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $5,064,869 and $3,171,180 respectively. Key operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 included the following:

 

		Year ended				Year ended
		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Amortization and depreciation		$	1,566,507			$	1,073,041
Computer and internet expenses			265,505				538,812
Legal and professional fees			465,620				372,016
Merchant bank fees			612,260				254,056
Stock compensation expense			136,308				78,600
Total		$	3,046,200			$	2,316,525

 

The increased revenues were offset by the increase in expenses to scale the Company’s lease-to-own channels and support its growth resulting in a loss from continuing operations after income tax benefit of $12,253,707 and $8,918,893 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively. These losses were incurred in part by the increase in expenses required to scale the Company’s lease-to-own channels and support its continued growth. 

 

Plan of Operation

 

We plan to promote our FlexShopper products and services across all sales channels through strategic partnerships, direct response marketing, and affiliate and internet marketing, all of which are designed to increase our lease transactions and name recognition. Our advertisements emphasize such features as instant spending limit, and affordable weekly payments. We believe that as the FlexShopper name gains familiarity and national recognition through our advertising efforts, we will continue to educate our customers and potential customers about the lease-to-own payment alternative as well as solidify our reputation as a leading provider of high quality branded merchandise and services.

 

 

For each of our sales channels, FlexShopper has a marketing strategy that includes the following:

 

Online LTO Marketplace		Patent pending LTO Payment Method		In-store LTO technology platform
Search engine optimization; pay-per click		Direct to retailers/e-tailers		Direct to retailers/e-tailers
Online affiliate networks		Partnerships with payment aggregators		Consultants & strategic relationships
Direct response television campaigns		Consultants & strategic relationships
Direct mail

 

The Company believes it has a competitive advantage by providing all three channels as a bundled package. Management is anticipating a rapid development of the FlexShopper business as we are able to penetrate each of our sales channels. To support our anticipated growth, FlexShopper will need the availability of substantial capital resources. See the section captioned “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company had cash of $5,412,495 compared to $3,396,206 on the same date in 2015.

 

As of December 31, 2016, Company had accounts receivables of $11,690,494 net of an allowance of $9,508,708 totaling $2,181,787. Accounts receivable are principally comprised of lease payments owed to the Company. An allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based upon historical collection and delinquency percentages.

 

Recent Financings

 

Since January 1, 2015, FlexShopper completed the following transactions, each of which has provided liquidity and cash resources to FlexShopper.

 

1.

On March 6, 2015, FlexShopper, through its wholly owned indirect subsidiary, entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among FlexShopper 2, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, various Lenders from time to time party thereto and WE2014-1, LLC (the “Lender”). FlexShopper is permitted to borrow funds under the Credit Agreement based on FlexShopper’s cash on hand and the Amortized Order Value of its Eligible Leases (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) less certain deductions described in the Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, FlexShopper may borrow up to $25,000,000 from the Lender for a term of two years; however, as of the date hereof, there was only approximately $15,380,000 in additional availability under the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contemplates that the Lender may provide additional debt financing to FlexShopper, up to $100 million in total, under two uncommitted accordions following satisfaction of certain covenants and other terms and conditions. The Lender will receive security interests in certain leases as collateral under the Credit Agreement. In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement, on March 6, 2015, FlexShopper raised approximately $8.6 million in net proceeds through direct sales of 1.70 million shares of FlexShopper common stock to certain affiliates of the Lender and other accredited investors for a purchase price of $5.50 per share (as adjusted for the 1 for 10 reverse stock split).

 

2.	On February 11, 2016, FlexShopper entered into a secured promissory note with a principal stockholder for $1,000,000 at an interest rate of 15% per annum, payable upon demand, secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

 

3.	On March 29, 2016, we entered into a fourth amendment and waiver (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement. The Fourth Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things, increase the amount of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Credit Agreement) until the earlier of (i) April 1, 2017 and (ii) the successful raising by the Company of at least $10,000,000 in equity funding (the “Equity Raise”). The Fourth Amendment also includes a waiver of (i) breaches resulting from the Borrower’s non-compliance with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement that occurred prior to the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and (ii) compliance with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement for the period from the date of the Fourth Amendment through the earlier of April 1, 2017 or the completion of the Equity Raise. If we were not in compliance with the financial covenants under the Credit Agreement by the earlier of April 1, 2017 or the completion of the Equity Raise or we fail to maintain compliance with the covenants thereafter, the Lender would be able to accelerate the required repayment of amounts due under the Credit Agreement and, if they are not repaid, could foreclose upon our assets securing our obligations under the Credit Agreement.
4.	On June 10, 2016, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with B2 FIE V LLC, an entity affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, providing for the issuance and sale of 20,000 shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock for gross proceeds of $20.0 million. In addition, the Company sold an additional 1,950 shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock to certain other investors at a subsequent closing in June 2016 for gross proceeds of $1.95 million.
5.	On January 27, 2017, the Borrower entered into a fifth amendment (the "Omnibus Amendment") to the Credit Agreement. The Omnibus Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things, extend the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement ), require the Borrower to refinance the debt under the Credit Agreement upon a Permitted Change of Control (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and modify certain permitted debt and financial covenants.

 

Cash Flow Summary

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash used by operating activities was $17,372,429 for the year ended December 31, 2016 and was primarily due to the net loss for the period combined with cash used for the purchases of leased merchandise.

 

Net cash used by operating activities was $14,156,286 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and was primarily due to the net loss for the period combined with cash used for the purchases of leased merchandise.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash used in investing activities was $1,855,088 comprised of $81,514 for the purchase of property and equipment and $1,773,574 for capitalized software costs.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, net cash used in investing activities was $1,328,113 comprised of $185,191 for the purchase of property and equipment and $1,142,992 for capitalized software costs.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $21,243,806 for the year ended December 31, 2016 primarily due to the proceeds from the sale of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock of $21,952,000 offset by related costs of $1,519,339, funds drawn on the Credit Agreement of $5,341,359, offset by repayments of amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement of $4,172,714.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $15,997,256 for the year ended December 31, 2015 due to: (i) proceeds of $9,619,563 offset by $1,170,501 of related costs incurred by the Company’s entering into the Credit Agreement with the Lender, (ii) $9,350,000 of proceeds from the sale of the Company’s stock, offset by payments of $801,806 in issuance costs and (iii) a cost of $1,000,000 to repayment of a note held by a shareholder of the Company.

 

 

Capital Resources and Financial Condition

 

The funds derived from the sale of FlexShopper’s Common Stock and Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock and FlexShopper’s ability to borrow funds under the Credit Agreement have provided the liquidity and capital resources necessary for FlexShopper to purchase durable goods pursuant to lease-to-own transactions and to support FlexShopper’s current general working capital needs. Management believes that the financing transactions described in this section above provide sufficient liquidity and capital resources for our anticipated needs through at least March 31, 2018. However, unless we are able to increase our revenues and achieve profitability we will likely require additional investment capital thereafter to fund our operations.

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

During the three most recent fiscal years, inflation and changing prices have not had a material effect on our business and we do not expect that inflation or changing prices will materially affect our business in the foreseeable future.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company does not have any off balance sheet arrangements.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The information required by Item 7A is not required to be provided by issuers that satisfy the definition of "smaller reporting company" under SEC rules. 

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The reports of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules are set forth beginning on the following page.

 

 

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

 

CONTENTS

 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016 AND 2015		PAGE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015		F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations		F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity		F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows		F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		F-7

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

_______

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of

FlexShopper, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of FlexShopper, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of FlexShopper, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ EisnerAmper LLP

New York, New York

March 31, 2017

 

F-2

 

 

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31,

 

		2016				2015
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash		$	5,412,495			$	3,396,206
Accounts receivable, net			2,181,787				752,159
Prepaid expenses			361,777				237,069
Lease merchandise, net			18,570,460				11,204,136
Total current assets			26,526,519				15,589,570
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net			2,540,514				1,797,553
OTHER ASSETS:
Intangible assets, net			20,340				23,416
Security deposits			68,251				66,758
			88,591				90,174
		$	29,155,624			$	17,477,297
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable		$	3,917,747			$	1,783,929
Accrued payroll and related taxes			296,333				251,519
Accrued expenses			259,104				487,120
Total current liabilities			4,473,184				2,522,568
Loan payable under credit agreement to beneficial shareholder net of $631,488 in 2016 and $832,792 in 2015 of unamortized issuance costs			10,156,719				8,786,770
Total liabilities			14,629,903				11,309,338
COMMITMENTS (Note 12)
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Series 1 Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value- authorized 2,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 243,065 shares in 2016 and 328,197 in 2015 at $5.00 stated value			1,215,325				1,640,985
Series 2 Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value- authorized 25,000 shares, issued and outstanding 21,952 shares at $1,000 stated value			21,952,000				-
Common stock, $0.0001 par value- authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and Outstanding 5,287,391 shares in 2016 and 5,210,408 in 2015			529				521
Additional paid in capital			22,298,439				23,213,318
Accumulated deficit			(30,940,572	)			(18,686,865	)
			14,525,721				6,167,959
		$	29,155,624			$	17,477,297

 

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

 

F-3

 

 

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

		For the years ended
		December 31,
		2016				2015
Revenues:
Lease revenues and fees		$	46,513,235			$	20,131,063
Lease merchandise sold			1,066,350				548,999
Total revenues			47,579,585				20,680,062
Costs and expenses:
Cost of lease revenues, consisting of depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise			22,734,553				10,752,733
Cost of lease merchandise sold			687,991				314,751
Provision for doubtful accounts			13,281,242				5,647,084
Marketing			10,193,052				4,606,874
Salaries and benefits			5,946,401				4,190,606
Other operating expenses			5,064,869				3,171,180
Total costs and expenses			57,908,108				28,683,228
Operating loss			(10,328,523	)			(8,003,166	)
Interest expense including amortization of debt issuance costs			1,925,184				994,115
Loss from continuing operations, before income tax benefit			(12,253,707	)			(8,997,281	)
Income tax benefit			-				78,388
Loss from continuing operations			(12,253,707	)			(8,918,893	)
Income from discontinued operations consisting of gain from sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes			-				127,789
Net loss			(12,253,707	)			(8,791,104	)
Cumulative dividends on Series 2 Convertible Preferred Shares			1,211,964				-
Net loss attributable to common shareholders		$	(13,465,671	)		$	(8,791,104	)
Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share:
Loss from continuing operations		$	(2.57	)		$	(1.80	)
Income from discontinued operations			-				0.00
Net loss		$	(2.57	)		$	(1.80	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted			5,249,476				4,868,778

 

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

 

F-4

 

 

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

		Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock								Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock								Common Stock								Additional Paid in				Accumulated
		Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Shares				Amount				Capital				Deficit				Total
Balance, January 1, 2015			342,219			$	1,711,095				-				-				3,501,532			$	350			$	14,516,585			$	(9,895,761	)		$	6,332,269
Provision for compensation expense related to issued stock options			-				-				-				-				-				-				78,600				-				78,600
Sale of common stock			-				-				-				-				1,700,000				170				9,349,830				-				9,350,000
Costs related to sale of common stock			-				-				-				-				-				-				(801,806	)			-				(801,806	)
Conversion of preferred shares to common stock			(14,022	)			(70,110	)			-				-				8,876				1				70,109				-				-
Net loss																															(8,791,104	)			(8,791,104	)
Balance, December 31, 2015			328,197				1,640,985				-				-				5,210,408				521				23,213,318				(18,686,865	)			6,167,959
Sale of Series 2 Preferred Stock			-				-				21,952			$	21,952,000				-				-				-				-				21,952,000
Fair value of warrants issued to placement agent in conjunction with sale of Series 2 Preferred Stock			-				-				-				-				-				-				150,451				-				150,451
Costs related to sale of Series 2 Preferred Stock			-				-				-				-				-				-				(1,669,790	)			-				(1,669,790	)
Provision for compensation expense related to issued stock options			-				-				-				-				-				-				136,308				-				136,308
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock			(85,132	)			(425,660	)			-				-				51,983				5				425,655				-				-
Exercise of stock options			-				-				-				-				25,000				3				42,497				-				42,500
Net loss			-				-				-				-				-				-				-				(12,253,707	)			(12,253,707	)
Balance, December 31, 2016			243,065			$	1,215,325				21,952			$	21,952,000				5,287,391			$	529			$	22,298,439			$	(30,940,572	)		$	14,525,721

 

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

 

F-5

 

 

FLEXSHOPPER, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the years ended December 31,

 

		2016				2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss		$	(12,253,707	)		$	(8,791,104	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
(Income) from discontinued operation before income taxes			-				(206,176	)
Depreciation and impairment of lease merchandise			22,734,553				10,752,733
Other depreciation and amortization			1,566,507				1,073,041
Compensation expense related to issuance of stock options and warrants			136,308				78,600
Provision for uncollectible accounts			13,281,242				5,647,084
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) in accounts receivable			(14,710,870	)			(6,270,409	)
(Increase) in prepaid expenses and other			(124,707	)			(124,995	)
(Increase) in lease merchandise			(30,100,878	)			(17,714,951	)
(Increase) in security deposits			(1,493	)			(11,755	)
Increase in accounts payable			2,133,818				947,138
Increase in accrued payroll and related taxes			44,814				119,923
Increase in accrued expenses			(78,016	)			139,536
Net cash used in operating activities - continuing operations			(17,372,429	)			(14,361,335	)
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations			-				205,049
Net cash (used in) operating activities			(17,372,429	)			(14,156,286	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software costs			(1,855,088	)			(1,328,113	)
Net cash (used in) investing activities			(1,855,088	)			(1,328,113	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds of loans from shareholder			1,000,000				(1,000,000	)
Repayment of loans from shareholder			(1,000,000	)			-
Proceeds from loan payable under credit agreement, net of $400,000 and $1,170,501 of related costs in 2016 and 2015 respectively			4,941,359				8,449,062
Repayment of loan payable under credit agreement			(4,172,714	)
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of related costs of $801,806			-				8,548,194
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			42,500				-
Proceeds from sale of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock, net of related costs
of $1,519,339			20,432,661				-
Net cash provided by financing operations			21,243,806				15,997,256
INCREASE IN CASH			2,016,289				512,857
CASH, beginning of year			3,396,206				2,883,349
CASH, end of year		$	5,412,495			$	3,396,206
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid		$	1,459,756			$	443,360
Non-cash financing activities:
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		$	425,660			$	70,110
Fees payable to lender in connection with modification of credit agreement			-				150,000
Warrants issued to placement agent in conjunction with sale of Series 2 Preferred Stock		$	150,451				-

 

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

 

F-6

 

 

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements

 

December 31, 2016 and 2015

 

1. BUSINESS:

 

FlexShopper, Inc. (the “Company”) is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 16, 2006. The Company owns 100% of FlexShopper, LLC, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of North Carolina on June 24, 2013. Since the sale of the assets of Anchor Funding Services LLC (“Anchor”), which sale was completed in a series of transactions between April and June 2014, the Company is a holding corporation with no operations except for those conducted by FlexShopper LLC. FlexShopper LLC provides through e-commerce sites, certain types of durable goods to consumers on a lease-to-own basis (“LTO”) including consumers of third party retailers and e-tailers.

 

In January 2015, in connection with the credit agreement entered into in March 2015, (see Note 7) FlexShopper 1 LLC and FlexShopper 2 LLC were organized as wholly owned Delaware subsidiaries of FlexShopper LLC to conduct operations. FlexShopper LLC together with its subsidiaries is hereafter referred to as “FlexShopper.”

 

During 2013, the Company decided to concentrate its efforts on the operations of FlexShopper and subsequently, an agreement was entered into with a financial institution to sell substantially all of the operating assets of Anchor which provided accounts receivable funding to businesses located throughout the United States. The sale was finalized in June 2014 (see Note 3). The consolidated statements of operations and cash flows reflect the historical operations of Anchor as discontinued operations. We have generally presented the notes to our consolidated financial statements on the basis of continuing operations.

 

2. REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

 

On October 14, 2016, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its certificate of incorporation, which Certificate of Amendment effectuated as of October 24, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (the “Effective Time”) a reverse split of the Company’s common stock by a ratio of one-for-10 (the “Reverse Split”). At the Effective Time, 52,870,398 outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock were exchanged for 5,287,040 shares of the Company’s common stock. All per share amounts and number of shares in the consolidated financial statements and related notes have been retroactively restated to reflect the Reverse Split resulting in the transfer of $3,152 from common stock to additional paid in capital at January 1, 2015. No fractional shares were, or shall be, issued in connection with the Reverse Split. A stockholder who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share of common stock is entitled to receive the fractional share rounded up to the next whole share. The Reverse Split did not change the number of shares of common or preferred stock that the Company is authorized to issue, or the par value of the Company’s common or preferred stock.

 

The Reverse Split resulted in a proportionate adjustment to the per share conversion or exercise price and the number of shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of outstanding preferred stock, stock options and warrants, as well as the number of shares of common stock eligible for issuance under the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan and 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan.

 

3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany balances and transactions.

 

Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

F-7

 

 

Revenue Recognition - Merchandise is leased to customers pursuant to lease purchase agreements which provide for weekly lease terms with non-refundable lease payments. Generally the customer has the right to acquire title either through a 90 day same as cash option, an early purchase option, or through payments of all required lease payments, generally 52 weeks, for ownership. On any current lease, customers have the option to cancel the agreement in accordance with lease terms and return the merchandise. Accordingly, customer agreements are accounted for as operating leases with lease revenues recognized in the month they are due on the accrual basis of accounting. Merchandise sales revenue is recognized when the customer exercises the purchase option and pays the purchase price. Revenue from processing fees earned upon exercise by the customer of the 90 day purchase option is recorded upon recognition of the related merchandise sales. Commencing in the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company discontinued charging a separate fee upon exercise of such option. Revenue for lease payments received prior to their due date is deferred and recognized as revenue in the period to which the payments relate. Revenues from leases and sales are reported net of sales taxes.

 

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – FlexShopper seeks to collect amounts owed under its leases from each customer on a weekly basis by charging their bank accounts or credit cards. Accounts receivable are principally comprised of lease payments currently owed to FlexShopper which are past due as FlexShopper has been unable to successfully collect in the manner described above. Through June 30, 2016, an allowance for doubtful accounts was estimated by reserving all accounts in excess of four payments in arrears, adjusted for subsequent collections. Commencing in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the estimate was revised to provide for doubtful accounts based upon revenues and historical experience of balances charged off as a percentage of revenues. The accounts receivable balances consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:

 

		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Accounts receivable		$	11,690,495			$	5,479,437
Allowance for doubtful accounts			9,508,708				4,727,278
Accounts receivable, net		$	2,181,787			$	752,159

  

The allowance is a significant percentage of the balance because FlexShopper does not charge off any customer account until it has exhausted all collection efforts with respect to each account including attempts to repossess items. In addition, while collections are pursued, the same delinquent customers will continue to accrue weekly charges until they are charged off. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, $8,541,289 and $2,300,708 of accounts receivable balances respectively were charged off against the allowance.

 

Lease Merchandise – Until all payment obligations for ownership are satisfied under the lease agreement, the Company maintains ownership of the lease merchandise. Lease merchandise consists primarily of residential furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and household accessories and is recorded at cost net of accumulated depreciation. The Company depreciates leased merchandise using the straight line method over the applicable agreement period for a consumer to acquire ownership, generally twelve months with no salvage value. Upon transfer of ownership of merchandise to customers resulting from satisfaction of their lease obligations, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from lease merchandise. For lease merchandise returned or anticipated to be returned either voluntarily or through repossession, the Company provides an impairment reserve for the undepreciated balance of the merchandise net of any estimated salvage value with a corresponding charge to cost of lease revenue. The cost, accumulated depreciation and impairment reserve related to such merchandise are written off upon determination that no salvage value is obtainable. The impairment charge amounted to approximately $5,021,000 and $1,500,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively. The net leased merchandise balances consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and 2015:

  

		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Lease merchandise at cost		$	33,264,810			$	19,504,645
Accumulated depreciation			11,578,267				7,473,363
Impairment reserve			3,116,083				827,146
Lease merchandise, net		$	18,570,460			$	11,204,136

 

F-8

 

 

Cost of lease merchandise sold represents the undepreciated cost of rental merchandise at the time of sale.

 

Deferred Debt Issuance Costs – Debt issuance costs incurred in conjunction with the Credit Agreement entered into on March 6, 2015 (see Note 7) are offset against the outstanding balance of the loan payable and are amortized using the straight line method over the remaining term of the credit facility. Amortization for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $451,304 and $487,709 respectively.

 

Intangible Assets – Intangible assets consist of pending patents on the Company’s LTO payment method at check-out for third party e-commerce sites. Patents are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Patent costs are amortized by using the straight line method over the legal life, or if shorter, the useful life of the patent which has been estimated to be 10 years. The net patent cost balances consisted of the following as of December 31, 2016 and 2015: 

 

		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Patent costs		$	30,760			$	30,760
Accumulated amortization			10,420				7,344
Patent costs, net		$	20,340			$	23,416

 

Software Costs - Costs related to developing or obtaining internal-use software incurred during the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of an internal use software project are expensed as incurred and certain costs incurred in the project’s application development stage are capitalized as property and equipment.  The Company expenses costs related to the planning and operating stages of a website. Costs associated with minor enhancements and maintenance for the website are included in expenses as incurred. Direct costs incurred in the website’s development stage are capitalized as property and equipment. Capitalized software costs amounted to $1,773,574 and $1,142,922 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 respectively.

 

Operating Expenses – Operating expenses include corporate overhead expenses such as, stock based compensation, insurance, occupancy, and other administrative expenses. 

 

Marketing costs which primarily consist of advertising are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Per Share Data – Per share data is computed by use of the two-class method as a result of outstanding Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock which participates in dividends with the common stock and accordingly has participation rights in undistributed earnings as if all such earnings had been distributed during the period (see Note 8). Under such method income available to common shareholders is computed by deducting both dividends declared or, if not declared, accumulated on Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock from income from continuing operations and from net income. Loss attributable to common shareholders is computed by increasing loss from continuing operations and net loss by such dividends. Where the Company has undistributed net income available to common shareholders, basic earnings per common share is computed based on the total of any dividends paid or declared per common share plus undistributed income per common share determined by dividing net income available to common shareholders reduced by any dividends paid or declared on common and participating Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock by the total of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the weighted average number of common shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding participating Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock during the period. Where the Company has a net loss, basic per share data (including income from continuing operations) is computed based solely on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. As the convertible participating preferred stock has no contractual obligation to share in the losses of the Company, common shares issuable upon conversion of such preferred stock are not included in such computations.

 

F-9

 

 

Diluted earnings per share is based on the more dilutive of the if-converted method (which assumes conversion of the participating preferred stock as of the beginning of the period) or the two-class method (which assumes that the participating preferred stock is not converted) plus the potential impact of dilutive non-participating Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock, options and warrants. The dilutive effect of stock options and warrants is computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes the repurchase of common shares at the average market price during the period. Under the treasury stock method, options and warrants will have a dilutive effect when the average price of common stock during the period exceeds the exercise price of options or warrants.  When there is a loss from continuing operations, potential common shares are not included in the computation of diluted loss per share, since they have an anti-dilutive effect.

  

In computing diluted loss per share, no effect has been given to the issuance of common stock upon conversion or exercise of the following securities as their effect is anti-dilutive:

 

		Year ended December 31,
		2016				2015
Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock			147,417				207,749
Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock			2,711,072				-
Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants			54,217				-
Options			411,600				406,700
Warrants			511,553				511,553
			3,835,859				1,126,002

 

Stock Based Compensation - The fair value of transactions in which the Company exchanges its equity instruments for employee services (share-based payment transactions) is recognized as an expense in the financial statements as services are performed.

 

Compensation expense is determined by reference to the fair value of an award on the date of grant and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. We have elected to use the Black-Scholes-Merton (BSM) pricing model to determine the fair value of all stock option awards. See Note 9.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The carrying value of loans payable under the Credit Agreement increased by unamortized issuance costs (see Note 7) approximates fair value.  

 

Income Taxes – Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the estimated future tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards and temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their respective financial reporting amounts measured at the current enacted tax rates. The Company records a valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets when management concludes that it is not more likely than not that such assets will be recognized.

 

The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has not recorded any unrecognized tax benefits.

 

Interest and penalties related to liabilities for uncertain tax positions will be charged to interest and operating expenses, respectively.

 

Reclassifications - Certain amounts have been reclassified in the 2015 financial statements to conform to the 2016 presentation.

 

F-10

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements –

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, on revenue recognition. The new standard provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers as well as requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date of the standard. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance including method of adoption and related financial statement disclosures, but preliminarily does not anticipate a material impact on its financial statements as a majority of the Company’s revenue generating activities are leasing arrangements which are outside the scope of the guidance.

  

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in 2016 which had no effect on the financial statements.

 

In August 2014 the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 2015-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. In connection with preparing financial statements for each annual and interim reporting period, an entity’s management should evaluate whether there are any conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management’s evaluation should be based on relevant conditions and events that are known and reasonably knowable at the date that the financial statements are issued. Substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. The term probable is used consistently with its use in Topic 450, Contingencies. The amendments in this Update are effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. This guidance which was adopted in 2016, had no effect on the financial statements.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015 and for interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2015-03 during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. In the accompanying balance sheet at December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company offset $631,488 and $832,792 respectively, of unamortized debt issuance costs related to debt issued under the Credit Agreement in March 2015 against the outstanding balance of loans payable under the Credit Agreement.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. The amendments in this Update provide guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change GAAP for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. In addition, the guidance in this update supersedes paragraph 350-40-25-16. Consequently, all software licenses within the scope of Subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets. The amendments in this guidance which are effective for the annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and for interim periods therein, were adopted by the Company in the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and had no effect on the financial statements.

 

F-11

 

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes- Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. 

 

To simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes, the amendments in this ASU require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments in this update apply to all entities that present a classified statement of financial position. The amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize for all leases at the commencement date a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease measured on a discounted basis, and a right-to-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use or control the use of a specified asset for the lease term. Lessor guidance is largely unchanged. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on its financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including tax consequences, classification of awards, the option to recognize stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures as they occur, and the classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on its financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides guidance on the treatment of cash receipts and cash payments for certain types of cash transactions, to eliminate diversity in practice in the presentation of the cash flow statement. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 will be required for on a retrospective basis beginning January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that this new guidance will have on its presentation of cash flows.

 

4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

 

In June 2014, Anchor sold to a bank substantially all of its assets (the “Anchor Assets”), consisting primarily of its factoring portfolio. The purchase price for the Anchor Assets included an amount equal to 50% of the factoring fee and interest income earned by Anchor’s factoring portfolio during the 12 month period following acquisition (“Earnout Payments”). The Earnout Payments totaled $206,177 for the year ended December 31, 2015. In the year ended December 31, 2015, Anchor recorded a gain of $127,789 net of an income tax provision of $78,388, for the Earnout Payments received during such period, which is included in income from discontinued operations. 

 

F-12

 

 

5.  PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:

 

Property and equipment consist of the following:

 

		Estimated Useful Lives		December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
Furniture and fixtures		2-5 years		$	98,564			$	85,513
Website and internal use software		3 years			3,933,600				2,160,025
Computers and software		3-7 years			619,477				551,015
					4,651,641				2,796,553
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization					(2,111,127	)			(999,000	)
				$	2,540,514			$	1,797,553

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,112,127 and $582,257 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

6.  LOANS PAYABLE SHAREHOLDERS:

 

On December 8, 2014, upon approval of the Board of Directors, FlexShopper entered into a promissory note for $1,000,000, with a shareholder and executive of the Company. The note is payable on demand. The note was funded in increments of $500,000 on December 8^th and 18^th and earned interest at 15% per annum. The Promissory Note was to assist FlexShopper in purchasing merchandise for lease and was paid in full with interest amounting to $36,250 on March 11, 2015. See Note 7 regarding the loan entered into in 2016.

 

7. LOAN PAYABLE UNDER CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

On March 6, 2015, FlexShopper entered into a credit agreement (as amended from time to time, and including the Fee Letter (as defined therein), the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as paying agent, various lenders from time to time party thereto and WE 2014-1, LLC as administrative agent and lender (the “Lender”). FlexShopper is permitted to borrow, repay and reborrow funds under the Credit Agreement based on FlexShopper’s cash on hand and the Amortized Order Value of its Eligible Leases (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) less certain deductions described in the Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, FlexShopper may borrow up to $25,000,000 from the Lender for a term of two years from the date of the Credit Agreement. The borrowing term may be extended in the sole discretion of the Lender. The Credit Agreement contemplates that the Lender may provide additional debt financing to FlexShopper, up to $100 million in total, under two uncommitted accordions following satisfaction of certain covenants and other terms and conditions. The Lender receives security interests in certain leases as collateral under the Credit Agreement. Amounts borrowed bear interest at the rate of LIBOR plus 15% per annum and a small non-usage fee is assessed on any undrawn amount if the facility is less than 80% drawn on average in any given measurement period commencing three months after closing of the facility. Interest is payable monthly on the outstanding balance of amounts borrowed and, prior to the amendment referred to below, commencing on and after May 6, 2017, principal together with interest thereon was payable periodically through May 6, 2018, the maturity date of the loan. In January 2017 the Credit Agreement was amended to extend the Commitment Termination Date from May 6, 2017 to April 1, 2018 (See Note 13). Accordingly, commencing on or after April 1, 2018 principal together with the interest thereon is payable periodically through April 1, 2019, the amended maturity date of the loan. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 has been adjusted to reflect the revised payment terms. As the Company anticipates that it will maintain through December 31, 2017 no less than the Amortized Order Value of its Eligible Leases and cash on hand attained at December 31, 2016, and thereby not require any repayment of principal through December 31, 2017, amounts payable under the credit Agreement are classified as non-current in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016. Interest expense incurred under the Credit Agreement for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $1,422,630 and $407,110 respectively. As of December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $10,788,208. The Company repaid $4,172,174 to the Lender in 2016 resulting primarily from the repayment of the Bridge Loan Amount upon the Equity Raise as described in the fourth amendment to the Credit Agreement.

 

F-13

 

 

The Credit Agreement provides that FlexShopper may not incur additional indebtedness (other than expressly permitted indebtedness) without the permission of the Lender and also prohibits dividends on common stock. The Credit Agreement includes customary events of default, including, among others, failures to make payment of principal and interest, breaches or defaults under the terms of the Credit Agreement and related agreements entered into with the Lender, breaches of representations, warranties or certifications made by or on behalf of FlexShopper in the Credit Agreement and related documents (including certain financial and expense covenants), deficiencies in the borrowing base, certain judgments against FlexShopper and bankruptcy events.

  

The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants requiring the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain as of the last day of each fiscal quarter during the term of the agreement minimum amounts of Unrestricted Cash and Equity Book Value and to achieve Adjusted Operating Cash Flow of not less than certain amounts during such quarters (all such terms as defined in the Credit Agreement). As of December 31, 2015, the Company was in violation of the covenant requiring an Equity Book Value of at least $7.0 million as of such date. Under the fourth amendment to the Credit Agreement described below, the Lender waived this violation. The covenant also requires the Company and its subsidiaries to maintain an Equity Book Value of at least $7 million at each of June 30, September 30 and December 31, 2016 increasing to $10 million at the end of each quarter from March 31 through December 31, 2017 (see Note 13).

 

On February 11, 2016, FlexShopper entered into a third amendment, (the “Third Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement which amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, add a new financial covenant requiring FlexShopper to maintain at least $1,500,000 in Unrestricted Cash at all times.

 

The Third Amendment also includes a consent by the Lender to a $1,000,000 promissory note (the “Promissory Note”) in favor of Marc Malaga, FlexShopper’s Executive Vice President of Operations. Interest on the Promissory Note accrued at the rate of 15.0% per annum and all outstanding principal and accrued interest was payable on demand by Mr. Malaga. The Promissory Note which was issued in February 2016, was secured by substantially all of FlexShopper’s assets. The Promissory Note was paid in full with interest amounting to $51,250 on June 13, 2016.

 

On March 29, 2016, FlexShopper entered into a fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement whereby the Lender waived the violation of the Equity Book Value covenant at December 31, 2015, as well as compliance with financial covenants (other than the unrestricted cash covenant) through the earlier of April 1, 2017 or the completion of the raising of at least $10,000,000 in equity funding (the “Equity Raise”), which occurred upon the issuance of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock on June 10, 2016 described in Note 9. In addition, the Fourth Amendment, among other things, provided that FlexShopper maintain Unrestricted Cash of at least $500,000 on each day and $1,000,000 at the end of each calendar month. As of December 31, 2016, FlexShopper was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Credit Agreement.

 

In consideration of the Fourth Amendment, FlexShopper was required to pay to the administrative agent a bridge fee of $20,000 per week until (i) the current amount of such bridge fee equals $400,000 or (ii) the completion of the Equity Raise, whichever event occurred sooner, provided that such bridge fee amounted to at least $250,000. Accordingly, the Company recorded $250,000 of deferred debt issuance costs with a corresponding amount of accrued expenses. On June 10, 2016, the Company completed an equity raise in excess of $20 million providing for the issuance and sale of shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the total of the Bridge Fee and second amendment fee totaling $400,000 was paid by the Company.

 

F-14

 

 

8. CAPITAL STRUCTURE:

  

The Company’s capital structure consists of preferred and common stock as described below:

 

The Company is authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of $.001 par value preferred stock. The Company’s Board of Directors determines the rights and preferences of the Company’s preferred stock.

 

Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock – On January 31, 2007, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of Delaware. Effective with this filing, 2,000,000 preferred shares became Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock. Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock ranks senior to common stock.

  

As of December 31, 2015, each share of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock was convertible into 0.633 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain anti-dilution rights. As a result of the Company entering into the Subscription Agreement referred to below, each share of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock became convertible into approximately 0.606 shares of the Company’s common stock. The holders of the Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock has the option to convert the shares to common stock at any time. Upon conversion, all accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any, will be paid as additional shares of common stock. The holders of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock have the same dividend rights as holders of common stock, as if the Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock had been converted to common stock.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, 14,022 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 8,876 shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2016, 85,132 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 51,632 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2016, there were 243,065 shares of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding which are convertible into 147,417 shares of common stock.

 

Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock – On June 10, 2016, the Company entered into a Subscription Agreement with B2 FIE V LLC (the “Investor”), an entity affiliated with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, providing for the issuance and sale of 20,000 shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock for gross proceeds of $20.0 million. The Company sold an additional 1,952 shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock for gross proceeds of $1.95 million at a subsequent closing. 

 

Pursuant to the authority expressly granted to the Board of Directors by the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Company created and designated 25,000 shares of Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share (“Series 2 Preferred Shares”), by filing a Certificate of Designations with the Delaware Division of Corporations (the “Series 2 Certificate of Designations”). The Series 2 Preferred Shares were sold for $1,000 per share (the “Stated Value”) and accrue dividends on the Stated Value at an annual rate of 10% compounded annually. Each Series 2 Preferred Share is convertible at a conversion price of $8.10 into approximately 124 shares of common stock; provided, the conversion price is subject to reduction pursuant to a weighted average anti-dilution provision contained in the Series 2 Certificate of Designations. Beginning 45 days following the date of issuance of the Series 2 Preferred Shares (the “Initial Period”), the holders of the Series 2 Preferred Shares have the option to convert such shares into shares of common stock and have the right to vote with holders of common stock on an as-converted basis. If, during the two year period commencing on the date of issuance, the average closing price during any 45 consecutive trading day period equals or exceeds $17.50 per common share, or a change of control transaction (as defined in the Series 2 Certificate of Designations) values the Company’s common stock at $17.50 per share or greater; or after this two year period the average closing price during any 45 day consecutive trading day period or change of control transaction values the common stock at a price equal to or greater than $23.00 per share, then conversion shall be automatic. Upon a Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event (each as defined in the Series 2 Certificate of Designations), holders of Series 2 Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company prior to and in preference to the common stock and Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock an amount equal to the greater of (1) the Stated Value, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, and (2) the amount per share as would have been payable had all Series 2 Preferred Shares been converted to common stock immediately before the Liquidation Event or Deemed Liquidation Event. 

 

Common Stock – The Company, which was authorized to issue 65,000,000 shares of $.0001 par value common stock, after obtaining stockholder approval and filing an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, increased its authorized shares to 100,000,000 in September 2015. Each share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote at all stockholder meetings.

 

F-15

 

 

In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement on March 6, 2015, the Company raised approximately $8.6 million in net proceeds through direct sales of 1.7 million shares of its common stock to certain affiliates of the Lender and other accredited investors for a purchase price of $5.50 per share. As a result of the sale to certain affiliates, the Lender is considered a beneficial shareholder of the Company.

 

On March 17, 2016, the Company’s stockholders, acting by written consent, approved an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock. On October 14, 2016, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its certificate of incorporation, which Certificate of Amendment effectuated as of October 24, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (the “Effective Time”) the Reverse Split by a ratio of one-for-10 (see Note 4). 

 

9. STOCK OPTIONS

  

On January 31, 2007, the Board of Directors adopted our 2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2007 Plan”), with 210,000 common shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. In October 2009, the Company’s stockholders approved an increase in the number of shares covered by the Plan to 420,000 shares. On March 26, 2015, the Board adopted our 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2015 Plan”), with 400,000 common shares authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan, which was ratified by the Company’s stockholders on September 15, 2015. The 2007 Plan and 2015 Plan are collectively referred to as the “Plans.” Grants under the Plans may consist of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, stock unit awards, dividend equivalents and other stock based awards. Employees, directors and consultants and other service providers are eligible to participate in the Plans. Options granted under the Plans vest over periods ranging from immediately upon grant to a three year period and expire ten years from date of grant. Employees, directors and consultants and other service providers are eligible to participate in the Plan. Options granted under the plan vest over periods ranging from immediately upon grant to a three year period and expire ten years from date of grant.

 

Activity in stock options for the year ended December 31, 2016 follows: 

 

		Number of shares				Weighted average exercise price				Weighted average contractual term (years)				Aggregate intrinsic value
Outstanding at January 1, 2016			406,700			$	8.50
Granted			70,700				5.70
Canceled			(40,800	)			6.70
Exercised			(25,000	)			1.70
Outstanding at December 31, 2016			411,600			$	8.63				3.64			$	171,860
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2016			348,101			$	9.16				3.64			$	146,203
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2016 and expected to vest thereafter			406,300			$	8.63				4.48			$	171,860

 

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during 2015 and 2016 was $1.49 and $1.66 per share respectively. The Company measured the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black Scholes option pricing model (BSM) with the following assumptions:

 

		2015				2016
Exercise price		$	6.00 to $9.00			$	4.90 to $6.60
Expected life			6 years				5.5 years
Expected volatility			35	%			38	%
Dividend yield			0	%			0	%
Risk-free interest rate			1.35% to 2.70	%			1.13% to 1.73	%

  

F-16

 

 

The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical dividend yield. The expected volatility was based on the average of historical volatilities for a period comparable to the expected life of the options of certain entities considered to be similar to the Company. The expected life is based on the simplified expected term calculation permitted by the SEC which defines the expected life as the average of the contractual term of the options and the weighted-average vesting period for all option tranches. The risk-free interest rate is based on the annual yield on the grant date of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond the maturity of which equals the option’s expected life.

 

The value of stock options is recognized as compensation expense by the straight line method over the vesting period. Compensation expense recorded for options in the statements of operations was $136,308 and $78,600 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options at December 31, 2016 amounted to $90,122 which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.57 years.

 

10. WARRANTS: 

 

On June 24, 2016, the Company granted warrants to one of the Company’s placement agents to purchase 439 shares of the Company’s Series 2 Convertible Preferred Stock at an initial exercise price of $1,250 per share. The exercise price and aggregate number of shares are subject to adjustment as set forth in the agreement.

 

The following information was input into the Black Scholes pricing model to compute a fair value of $342.71 for each warrant for a total fair value of $150,451.

 

Exercise price		$	1,250
Expected life			7 years
Expected volatility			38	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Risk-free interest rate			1.35	%

 

The following table summarizes information about outstanding stock warrants as of December 31, 2016, all of which are exercisable:

 

								Series 2 Preferred				Weighted Average
Exercise				Common Stock Warrants				Stock Warrants				Remaining
Price				Outstanding				Outstanding				Contractual Life
$	11.00				134,250							2 years
$	10.00				200,000							4 years
$	5.50				177,303							5 years
$	1,250				-				439			7 years
					511,553				439

 

F-17

 

 

11. INCOME TAXES:

 

For the year ended December 31, 2015, the income tax benefit allocated to continuing operations represents the tax benefit from utilizing the loss from continuing operations to offset income from discontinued operations. A corresponding tax provision was charged to discontinued operations.

 

Reconciliation of the benefit for income taxes from continuing operations recorded in the consolidated statement of operations with the amounts computed at the statutory federal tax rate of 34% as follows:

 

		2016				2015
Federal tax benefit at statutory rate		$	(4,167,000	)		$	(3,059,000	)
State tax benefit, net of federal tax			(293,000	)			(436,000	)
Permanent differences			43,000				(14,000
Change in statutory rate			216,000				(133,000
Increase in valuation allowance			4,075,000				3,564,000
Other			126,000				-
Benefit for income taxes		$	-			$	(78,000	)

 

Tax affected components of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 

		2016				2015
Deferred tax assets:
Equity based compensation		$	254,000			$	266,000
Allowance for doubtful accounts			3,462,000				1,844,000
Lease merchandise			813,000				1,139,000
Fixed assets			11,000				-
Lease Impairment			1,135,000				12,000
Net operating loss carry-forwards			4,668,000				3,354,000
State loss carry forward			338,000
Gross deferred tax assets			10,681,000				6,615,000
Valuation allowance			(10,681,000	)			(6,606,000	)
Net deferred tax assets			-				9,000
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets			-				(9,000	)
		$	-			$	-

 

Based on consideration of the available evidence including historical losses a valuation allowance has been recognized to offset deferred tax assets, as management was unable to conclude that realization of deferred tax assets were more likely than not.

 

As of December 31, 2016, the Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $13,731,000 and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $9,275,000 available to offset future taxable income which expire from 2023 to 2036.

 

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes a limitation on a corporation's ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) if it experiences an “ownership change.” In general, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholders in the stock of a corporation by more than 50 percentage points over a three-year period. The Company has performed a formal Section 382 study and determined an ownership change has occurred. 

 

F-18

 

 

The Company files tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states.  At December 31, 2016, federal tax returns remained open for Internal Revenue Service review for tax years after 2013, while state tax returns remain open for review by state taxing authorities for tax years after 2012. There were no federal or state income tax audits being conducted as of December 31, 2016.

 

12. COMMITMENTS:

 

Lease Commitments

 

On August 1, 2013, FlexShopper entered into a 39 month lease of office space providing for monthly rent of approximately $6,800. This lease agreement was amended in January 2014 to reflect a 63 month term for a larger suite in an adjoining building. Upon commencement, the monthly base rent for the first year approximated $9,600 with annual three percent increases throughout the lease term.

 

On September 1, 2015, FlexShopper entered into a 48 month lease for additional office space in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to accommodate our call and customer service center. The monthly base rent including operating expenses is approximately $5,200 with annual three percent increases throughout the lease term.

 

The rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was approximately $274,300 and $222,600, respectively. At December 31, 2016, the future minimum annual lease payments are approximately as follows:

 

2017		$	190,200
2018			195,900
2019			122,400
		$	508,500

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENT:

 

On January 27, 2017, FlexShopper, Inc. through a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, entered into the fifth amendment (the Omnibus Amendment) to the Credit Agreement originally entered into on March 6, 2015 by and among the Borrower and WE 2014-1, LLC, an affiliate of Waterfall Asset Management, LLC, and certain other lenders thereunder from time to time. The Omnibus Amendment amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, (1) extend the Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) from May 6, 2017 to April 1, 2018 (with a one-time right of extension by the lenders up to August 31, 2018), (2) require the Borrower to refinance the debt under the Credit Agreement upon a Permitted Change of Control (as defined in the Credit Agreement), subject to the payment of an early termination fee, and (3) modify certain permitted debt and financial covenants. These modified covenants consist of a reduction of Equity Book Value to not be less than the sum of $6 million and 20% of any additional equity capital invested into the Company after December 31, 2016; maintaining at least $1.5 million in Unrestricted cash; and to have the ratio of Consolidated Total Debt to Equity Book Value not exceed 4.75:1.

 

F-19

 

 

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.A Controls and Procedures.

 

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2016 to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and that material information relating to the Company is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. 

 

Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board of directors regarding the reliability of our financial reporting for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: maintain records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; provide reasonable assurance that our receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and provide reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Company assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our consolidated financial statements would be prevented or detected. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2016. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Our independent auditors have not audited and are not required to audit this assessment of our internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Item 9.B.  Other Information.

 

Reverse Stock Split Approved 

 

On March 17, 2016, our stockholders, acting by written consent, approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock between a range of no less than one-for-5 and no more than one-for-10 with such ratio to be determined by the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and with the reverse split to be effective at such time and date, if at all, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. The consent approving the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation was approved by stockholders holding approximately 50.3% of our outstanding voting stock.

 

21

 

 

Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement and Waiver

 

On March 29, 2016, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Borrower”), entered into a fourth amendment and waiver (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement originally entered into on March 6, 2015 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Borrower and WE 2014-1, LLC, an affiliate of Waterfall Asset Management, LLC, and certain other lenders thereunder from time to time. The Fourth Amendment amends the Credit Agreement to, among other things, increase the amount of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the Credit Agreement) until the earlier of (i) April 1, 2017 and (ii) the successful raising by the Company of at least $10,000,000 in equity funding (the “Equity Raise”).

 

The Fourth Amendment also includes a waiver of (i) breaches resulting from the Borrower’s non-compliance with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement that occurred prior to the effectiveness of the Fourth Amendment and (ii) compliance with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement for the period from the date of the Fourth Amendment through the earlier of April 1, 2017 or the completion of the Equity Raise.

 

Additionally, the Fourth Amendment (i) reduces the amount of unrestricted cash that the Borrower must maintain from $1,500,000 to $500,000 at any time and $1,000,000 as of the end of each calendar month, (ii) increases the rate of default interest from 2% to 4% per annum and (iii) extends the outside date within which the lenders are committed to make loans to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement from March 6, 2017 to May 6, 2017 with the lenders having a unilateral right to extend further to October 6, 2017 by giving written notice to the Company of the lenders’ election to extend no later than January 6, 2017.

 

Finally, in consideration of the Fourth Amendment, the Company will pay to the administrative agent a bridge fee of $20,000 per week until (i) the accrued amount of such bridge fee equals $400,000 or (ii) the completion of the Equity Raise, whichever even occurs sooner, provided that such bridge fee shall amount to at least $250,000.

 

A copy of the Fourth Amendment is filed with this report as Exhibit 10.19 and is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The foregoing description of the Fourth Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such document.

 

22

 

 

PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

  

The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the following sections of our proxy statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “Information Concerning Directors and Nominees for Director,” “Information Concerning Executive Officers,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters,” and “The Board of Directors and Its Committees.”

 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation.

 

The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the following sections of our proxy statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “Compensation and Other Information Concerning Directors and Officers,” “The Board of Directors and Its Committees,” and “Report of The Compensation Committee.” 

 

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the following sections of our proxy statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “Equity Compensation Plan Information” and “Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence.

 

The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the following sections of our proxy statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters.”

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the following sections of our proxy statement for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders: “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.” 

 

23

 

 

PART IV

 

Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)       The following documents are filed as part of this Form 10-K:

 

(1)       Financial Statements (see “Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” at Item 8 and incorporated herein by reference).

(2)       Financial Statement Schedules (Schedules to the Financial Statements have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the accompanying Financial Statements or notes thereto).

(3)       Exhibits (The exhibits required to be filed as a part of this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index).

 

 Item 16.   Form 10-K Summary

 

Note applicable

 

24

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

	FLEXSHOPPER, INC.
Dated:  March 31, 2017	By:	/s/ Brad Bernstein
		Brad Bernstein President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signatures		Title		Date
/s/ Brad Bernstein		President, Chief Executive		March 31, 2017
Brad Bernstein		Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman of the Board
/s/ James D. Allen		Director		March 31, 2017
James D. Allen
/s/ Daniel Ballen		Director		March 31, 2017
Daniel Ballen
/s/ T. Scott King		Director		March 31, 2017
T. Scott King
/s/ Carl Pradelli		Director		March 31, 2017
Carl Pradelli
/s/ Katherine Verner		Director		March 31, 2017
Katherine Verner
/s/ Philip M. Gitler		Director		March 31, 2017
Philip M. Gitler
/s/ Russ Heiser		Chief Financial Officer		March 31, 2017
Russ Heiser		(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

25

 

 

Exhibit Index to Annual Report on Form 10-K

 

Exhibit Number		Description
3.1		Restated Certificate of Incorporation of FlexShopper, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
3.2		Designation of Rights Preferences of Series 1 Convertible Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s General Form of Registration on Form 10-SB filed on April 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference)
3.3		Amended and Restated Bylaws (previously filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.1		Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated October 9, 2014, issued by FlexShopper, Inc. to Fordham Financial Management, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201644) and incorporated herein by reference)
4.2		Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated October 9, 2014, issued by FlexShopper, Inc. to Paulson Investment Company, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201644) and incorporated herein by reference)
4.3		Common Stock Purchase Warrant, dated October 9, 2014, issued by FlexShopper, Inc. to Spartan Capital Securities, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-201644) and incorporated herein by reference)
10.01		Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated April 30, 2014, by and between Anchor Funding Services, LLC and Transportation Alliance Bank Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.30 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.02		Agreement of Lease between the Oakland Commerce Center, LLC and FlexShopper, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.02 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.03		First Amendment to Lease Agreement, dated January 2014, by and between Fountain Square Acquisition Company LLC and FlexShopper, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.34 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.04+		Executive Employment Agreement, dated January 31, 2007, by and between BTHC XI, Inc. and Brad Bernstein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s General Form of Registration om Form 10-SB filed on April 30, 2007and incorporated herein by reference)
10.05		Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2015, among FlexShopper 2, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., various Lenders from time to time party thereto and WE 2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.06		Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2015, by and among FlexShopper, Inc., the Management Stockholders and affiliates of Waterfall (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.07		Form of Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2015, by and among FlexShopper, Inc. and the Investors party thereto (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.08+		Executive Employment Agreement, dated August 11, 2015, by and between FlexShopper, Inc. and Marc Malaga (previously filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.09		Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated November 6, 2015, among FlexShopper 2, LLC and WE 2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.10		Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, dated November 6, 2015, among FlexShopper 2, LLC and WE 2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.11+		Executive Employment Agreement, dated December 1, 2015, by and between FlexShopper, Inc. and Russ Heiser (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 7, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.12		Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, Consent and Temporary Waiver, dated February 11, 2016, among FlexShopper 2, LLC and WE-2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.13		Promissory Note, dated February 11, 2016, issued by FlexShopper, LLC to Marc Malaga (previously filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.14+		2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s General Form of Registration on Form 10-SB filed on April 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.15+		Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant issuable under 2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s General Form of Registration on Form 10-SB filed on April 30, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference)

 

26

 

 

Exhibit Number		Description
10.16+		First Amendment to 2007 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.17+		2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 21, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.18+		Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable under 2015 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.19		Amendment No. 4 to the Credit Agreement and Waiver dated March 29, 2016, among FlexShopper 2, LLC and WE-2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.20		Omnibus Amendment dated January 27, 2017, among FlexShopper 2, LLC, FlexShopper, LLC and WE 2014-1, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
14.1		Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (previously filed as Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)
21.0		Subsidiaries of Registrant*
23.1		Consent of EisnerAmper LLP *
31.1		Rule 13a-14(a) Certification – Principal Executive Officer *
31.2		Rule 13a-14(a) Certification – Principal Financial Officer *
32.1		Section 1350 Certification – Principal Executive Officer *
32.2		Section 1350 Certification – Principal Financial Officer *
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document,XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema *
101.SCH		Document, XBRL Taxonomy Extension *
101.CAL		Calculation Linkbase, XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition *
101.DEF		Linkbase,XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels *
101.LAB		Linkbase, XBRL Taxonomy Extension *
101.PRE		Presentation Linkbase *

 

+ Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan contract or arrangement.

* Filed herewith.

 

27