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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

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

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED March 31, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

 

Commission file number 000-27437

 


 

PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   94-3227733

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5000 Sawgrass Village Circle Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(904) 285-0000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

 

The total number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2004: 116,396,478.

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Financial Statements     
     Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003    3
     Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003    4
     Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003    5
     Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    6

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    20

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    27

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    28
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    29

Item 2.

   Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds    29

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    29

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    29

Item 5.

   Other Information    29

Item 6.

   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    29

Signatures

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Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF MARCH 31, 2004 AND DECEMBER 31, 2003

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     2004

    2003 *

 
ASSETS:                 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 912     $ 552  

Fees receivable

     181       174  

Mortgage loans receivable held-for-sale, net

     13,716       23,245  

Office property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $344 and $285

     1,072       1,153  

Other notes and mortgages receivable

     84       136  

Available-for-sale securities

     13       995  

Goodwill

     6,054       8,636  

Prepaid and other assets

     835       771  
    


 


TOTAL ASSETS    $ 22,867     $ 35,662  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:                 

Warehouse lines of credit

   $ 13,700     $ 22,711  

Notes payable

     1,629       1,846  

Subordinated note payable – related party

     668       776  

Notes payable – related parties

     25       25  

Convertible debentures payable

     379       379  

Accounts payable

     883       831  

Accrued expenses – related parties

     59       59  

Accrued expenses – other

     895       856  

Derivative liability

     175       203  
    


 


Total liabilities      18,413       27,686  
    


 


Stockholders’ equity:                 

Preferred stock: Issuable in series, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized: Series E, $1,000 stated value; 2,459 and no shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.0001 par value. 400,000,000 shares authorized: 116,396,478 shares issued and outstanding

     11       11  

Additional paid-in capital

     11,779       11,779  

Retained deficit

     (7,315 )     (3,964 )

Unearned stock-based compensation

     (21 )     (52 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     —         202  
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     4,454       7,976  
    


 


TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY    $ 22,867     $ 35,662  
    


 



* Derived from audited consolidated financial statements filed in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 AND 2003

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     2004

    2003

 
Revenue:                 

Gain on sale of loans

   $ 1,441     $ 699  

Loan origination fees

     888       876  

Interest, dividends, and other income

     346       271  
    


 


Total revenue

     2,675       1,846  
    


 


Expenses:                 

Salaries, commissions, benefits, and stock-based compensation

     2,148       1,585  

Loan production costs

     208       247  

General and administrative expenses

     982       670  

Impairment charge

     2,582       —    

Interest expense

     293       259  

Realized loss on derivative

     40       25  

Unrealized gain on derivative

     (28 )     (17 )
    


 


Total expenses

     6,225       2,769  
    


 


Operating income      (3,550 )     (923 )
Other income      198       —    
    


 


Net loss    $ (3,352 )   $ (923 )
    


 


Basic and diluted loss per share    $ (0.03 )   $ (0.01 )
    


 


Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted      116,247       97,673  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 AND 2003

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     2004

    2003

 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                 

Net loss

   $ (3,352 )   $ (923 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by operating activities:

                

Impairment charge

     2,582       —    

Depreciation

     74       47  

Gain on sale of assets

     (198 )     —    

Provision for loan repurchases and premium recapture

     42       36  

Stock-based compensation

     31       —    

Funding of mortgage loans held-for-sale or as other notes and mortgages

     (66,790 )     (35,281 )

Proceeds from sale of mortgage loans held-for-sale

     76,330       45,828  

Decrease in credit facility financing

     (9,011 )     (9,584 )

Decrease in derivative liability

     (28 )     —    

(Increases) decrease in other assets

     16       (89 )

Increases in other liabilities

     5       (171 )
    


 


Cash used by operating activities

     (299 )     (137 )
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                 

Purchases of property and equipment

     (15 )     (149 )

Cash acquired in purchases of business

     —         343  

Proceeds from sale of assets

     999       13  

Purchases of marketable securities

     —         (83 )
    


 


Cash provided by investing activities

     984       124  
    


 


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                 

Proceeds from the issuance of warrants

     —         13  

Proceeds from the issuance of debentures

     —         231  

Repayments of loans from related party

     (108 )     —    

Repayments of promissory notes

     (217 )     (87 )
    


 


Cash provided (used) by financing activities

     (325 )     157  
    


 


Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     360       144  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     552       91  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 912     $ 235  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, PGNF Home Lending Corp. (formerly known as Mortgage Express, Inc. and referred to as “PGNF” in this Form 10-Q) and Paragon Homefunding, Inc. (referred to as “PHF” in this Form 10-Q). All material intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION – The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Paragon Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (sometimes referred to herein as “we”, “our” or the “Company”) are prepared in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules regarding interim financial statements, and therefore do not contain all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for annual financial statements. Reference is made to the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on net loss or stockholders’ equity.

 

THE COMPANY – Paragon Financial Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on August 27, 1999 under the name PRx Holdings, Inc. and operated as an online healthcare destination for commerce, content, and community. The Company closed its online health store in March 2001. Shortly thereafter, the Company began the process of liquidating its online health store and seeking a merger partner as an alternative to complete liquidation.

 

Paragon Homefunding, Inc. (“Paragon Delaware”), a privately-held, development-stage company based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was incorporated in Delaware on August 3, 2001, for the purpose of entering the financial services market through acquisitions. On May 31, 2002, the Company merged with Paragon Delaware.

 

Pursuant to the merger, the Company merged with and into Paragon Delaware, and issued 55,560,616 shares of common stock to the Paragon Delaware’s stockholders constituting 90% of the total shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after the merger. As a result of the merger, Paragon Delaware also assumed approximately $72 of the Company’s accrued liabilities, principally for legal services.

 

For financial reporting purposes, the merger has been accounted for as a recapitalization of Paragon Delaware with Paragon Delaware viewed as the accounting acquiror in what is commonly called a reverse acquisition. Accordingly, the financial statements presented before the merger are those of Paragon Delaware.

 

ACQUISITIONS - On January 31, 2003, the Company completed its merger with PGNF Home Lending Corp. (“PGNF”) (f/k/a Mortgage Express, Inc.), and as a result of the merger, PGNF became a wholly-owned subsidiary. PGNF has been in the business of originating residential mortgage loans since 1998. Subject to the terms of the merger agreement, at closing, all of the outstanding shares of PGNF’s common stock converted into 52,329,735 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $6.4 million (or approximately $0.122 per share), or approximately 45.5% of the then outstanding common stock after the consummation of the merger. Additionally, the Company issued a promissory note in the amount of $1.8 million to an entity wholly-owned by the sole shareholder of PGNF. The promissory note accrued interest at 4.92% and was payable on July 31, 2004. On March 26, 2003, the holder of this note agreed to convert the note and accrued interest into 1,800 shares of our Series E preferred stock with a face value of $1,000 per share, and a 4% stated dividend payable in cash or shares of common stock, at the Company’s option. This series of preferred stock does not provide for redemption and is non-voting.

 

On February 2, 2003 the Company completed its merger with Paragon Homefunding, Inc. (“PHF”). PHF has been in the business of originating residential mortgage loans since 1998. Subject to the terms of the merger agreement, at closing, all of the outstanding shares of PHF’s common stock converted into 1,224,000 of shares of the Company’s common stock valued at

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

$836 (approximately $0.6833 per share). Additionally, the Company issued promissory notes to the shareholders of PHF in the aggregate principal amount of $25. The promissory notes accrue interest at 4.92% and were payable on February 2, 2004. The former shareholders of PHF have agreed to extend the due date to June 30, 2004.

 

Both of these mergers were accounted for as acquisitions pursuant to SFAS No. 141, Accounting for Business Combinations (“SFAS 141”). Accordingly, the Company’s results of operations include the operating results of these companies from the effective date of these mergers, February 1, 2003.

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION - The consolidated financial statements and notes are representations of the Company’s management. The Company’s management is responsible for the integrity and objectivity of these financial statements. The Company prepares its financial statements using an unclassified balance sheet presentation as is customary in the mortgage banking industry.

 

USE OF ESTIMATES - In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that materially affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan repurchases and premium recapture. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

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Table of Contents

PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

The determination of the adequacy of the allowance for loan repurchases and premium recapture losses is based on estimates that may be affected by significant changes in the economic environment and market conditions. The Company has obtained insurance to mitigate some of this risk.

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less on their acquisition date to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and funds held in checking, money market, and savings accounts.

 

FEES RECEIVABLE - Fees receivable consist of fees due on loans closed prior to the balance sheet date. Fees receivable are typically collected within 30 to 60 days.

 

MORTGAGE LOANS RECEIVABLE HELD-FOR-SALE - - Mortgage loans receivable held-for-sale consist of loans made to individuals that are primarily collateralized by residential one to four unit family dwellings. Mortgage loans are recorded at the principal amount outstanding net of deferred origination costs and fees and any premium or discounts. These loans are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value as determined by outstanding commitments from investors or current investor-yield requirements, calculated on an aggregate basis. Interest on loans receivable held-for-sale is credited to income as earned. Interest is accrued only if deemed collectible.

 

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN REPURCHASES AND PREMIUM RECAPTURE - The allowance for loan repurchases and premium recapture relates to expenses incurred due to the potential repurchase of loans or indemnification of losses based on alleged violations of representations and warranties which are customary to the mortgage banking industry. Provisions for losses are charged to gain on sale of loans and credited to the allowance. The allowance represents the Company’s estimate of the total losses expected to occur and is considered to be adequate by management based upon the Company’s evaluation of the potential exposure related to the loan sale agreements over the life of the associated loans sold. The Company has purchased insurance to cover third party broker fraud, which mitigates some of the risks.

 

OFFICE PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET - Office property and equipment, net, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the asset.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income. Realized gains (losses) on securities available-for-sale are included in other income and, when applicable, are reported as a reclassification adjustment, net of tax, in other comprehensive income. Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on the specific-identification method.

 

The Company does not purchase, sell, or utilize off-balance sheet derivative financial instruments or derivative commodity instruments.

 

GOODWILL - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a purchase business combination. Goodwill and other intangible assets are stated on the basis of cost. See also “Impairment” which follows.

 

IMPAIRMENT - Long-lived assets, including certain identifiable intangibles and goodwill, are reviewed for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset in question may not be recoverable including, but not limited to, a deterioration of profits for a business segment that has long-lived assets, and when other changes occur which might impair recovery of long-lived assets.

 

Recently, the residential mortgage market began experiencing increasing interest rates. During this increase in mortgage rates, large competitors in the subprime wholesale business have held the coupon rate constant on home mortgages they offer. The Company has determined that it must maintain the interest rate charged on its loans at similar levels. This has eroded the margin the Company receives upon the subsequent sale of loans thereby significantly eroding the profitability of the Company’s PGNF subsidiary. These large competitors have distribution channels other than loan sales that are not currently available to the Company. Further, these competitors have significant amounts of capital to offset any lost profitability on loan sales. Given the amount of capital these large competitors have, management has viewed this reduction in profitability as other than temporary.

 

Based upon this, management has reviewed the Company’s long-lived assets and has taken an impairment charge of $2,582 in the three months ended March 31, 2004, to reduce the carrying value of PGNF to estimated realizable value. The method used to determine the existence of an impairment would be generally measured by discounting operating cash flows over the remaining useful lives of the related long-lived assets. Impairment is measured as the difference between fair value and unamortized cost at the date impairment is determined.

 

GAIN ON SALES OF LOANS - Gains or losses resulting from sales of mortgage loans are recognized at the date of settlement and are based on the difference between the selling price of the mortgage loans sold and the carrying value of the related loans sold. Nonrefundable fees and direct costs associated with the origination of mortgage loans are deferred and recognized when the loans are sold. Loan sales are accounted for as sales when control of the loans is surrendered, to the extent that consideration other than beneficial interests in the loans transferred is received in the exchange.

 

ORIGINATION FEES - Origination fees are comprised of points and other fees charged on mortgage loans originated by the retail segment of the Company. Points and fees are primarily a function of the volume of mortgage loans originated by our retail segment. Origination fees on loans originated by the Company that are subsequently sold are deferred and recognized as part of the gain on sale of loans.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

INCOME TAXES - The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under the asset and liability method specified thereunder, deferred taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax liabilities are offset by deferred tax assets relating to net operating loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences.

 

ADVERTISING - The Company’s advertising costs are expensed as incurred.

 

RECLASSIFICATIONS - Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 financial statements in order to conform to the presentation adopted for 2004. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or retained earnings.

 

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Financial instruments of the Company consist of cash and cash equivalents, receivables for fees, mortgage loans, notes receivable, securities, accounts payable, notes payable, convertible debentures payable, warehouse lines of credit, and derivatives. The carrying amount of financial instruments approximates fair value.

 

CONCENTRATIONS OF RISKS - The Company is required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 105 to disclose concentrations of credit risk regardless of the degree of such risk. The Company’s operations are concentrated in single-family first mortgage residential real estate market. The Company operates in a heavily regulated environment. The operations of the Company are subject to changes in laws, administrative directives and rules and regulations of federal, state, and local governments and regulatory agencies. Such changes may occur with little notice of time for compliance. Further, the Company performs credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition, performs its operations under contracts and requires deposits when deemed necessary. Historically, the Company has not incurred any significant credit losses.

 

The Company’s ability to continue to originate loans is dependent, in part, upon the ability to sell loans in the secondary market in order to generate cash proceeds for new originations. The value of and market for our loans is dependent upon a number of factors, including general economic conditions, interest rates, and governmental regulations. Adverse changes in such factors may affect the Company’s ability to sell loans for acceptable prices within reasonable periods of time.

 

The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts at high credit-quality financial institutions. At times during the period ended March 31, 2004, the Company’s cash balances exceeded the federally-insured limit. Management believes this policy will not adversely affect the Company.

 

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PARAGON FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

NOTE 1. PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION, BASIS OF PRESENTATION, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION – The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), and related interpretations, in accounting for employee stock options rather than the alternative fair value accounting allowed by FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). APB 25 provides that compensation expense relative to the Company’s employee stock options is recorded on the date of grant only if the current market pric