UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-1004
---------------
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2002
Commission file number 1-12006
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada 88-0244792
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
733 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 599-8000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of exchange on which registered
------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.50 par value New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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 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. [ ]
The aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the Registrant held by non-
affiliates of the Registrant on October 16, 2002 was $538,889,492.00. The
aggregate market value was computed by reference to the closing price of the
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the prior day (which was $31.00
per share). For the purposes of this response, executive officers and
directors are deemed to be the affiliates of the Registrant and the holding by
non-affiliates was computed as 17,383,532 shares. The number of shares of
Registrant's Common Stock outstanding as of October 16, 2002 was 18,564,928
shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, to be held on December 10, 2002, which will be filed pursuant to
Regulation 14A within 120 days of the close of Registrant's fiscal year, is
incorporated by reference in answer to Part III of this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
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The Company, incorporated under the laws of Nevada in 1989, is a
nationwide independent financial services company with $1.5 billion of assets
at July 31, 2002. The Company finances industrial and commercial equipment
through installment sales and leasing programs for manufacturers, dealers and
end users of such equipment. The Company also makes capital loans to equipment
users, secured by the same types of equipment and other collateral. The
Company provides its services to middle-market businesses located throughout
the nation, generally with annual revenues of up to $25 million, in the general
construction, road and infrastructure construction and repair, road
transportation, manufacturing and waste disposal industries. The Company
focuses on financing a wide range of revenue-producing/essential-use equipment
of major manufacturers that is movable, has an economic life longer than the
term of the financing, is not subject to rapid technological obsolescence, has
applications in multiple industries and has a relatively broad resale market.
Equipment financed by the Company includes air compressors, bulldozers, buses,
cement mixers, compactors, crawler cranes, earth-movers, excavators,
generators, hydraulic truck cranes, loaders, machine tools, motor graders,
pavers, personnel and material lifts, recycling equipment, resurfacers, rough
terrain cranes, sanitation trucks, scrapers, trucks, truck tractors and
trailers. Virtually all of the Company's finance receivables are secured by a
first lien on such equipment collateral. The Company may expand the types of
equipment collateral it finances and leases.
The Company generates profits to the extent that its income from finance
receivables exceeds its cost of borrowed funds, operating and administrative
expenses and provision for possible losses. In addition, the Company may
generate profits from investing in operating leases, portfolios of loans and/or
leases, from acquiring full or partial ownership interests of private or public
companies in the finance, leasing and/or lending businesses, or from zero cost
warrants obtained in certain finance transactions.
Marketing
---------
The Company markets its finance and leasing services through marketing
personnel based in more than twenty domestic locations, including five full
service operations centers. In fiscal 2002, the Company merged its Georgia
operations center into its North Carolina operations center. The Company
originates finance receivables through its relationships with equipment dealers
and, to a lesser extent, manufacturers (collectively referred to as "vendors").
The Company also markets its financing and leasing services directly to
equipment users for the acquisition or use of equipment and for capital loans.
The Company's marketing personnel are full-time employees who are salaried
rather than commission-based and the majority participate in the Company's
stock option plans.
The Company's marketing activities are relationship and service oriented.
The Company focuses on providing prompt, responsive and customized service to
its customers and business prospects. The Company has a team of dedicated and
seasoned marketing and managerial personnel who solicit business from vendors
and end users of equipment. The Company's marketing and managerial personnel
have, on average, approximately twenty years of experience in the industries
they serve. Management believes that the experience, knowledge and
relationships of its executives and marketing personnel, related to the
Company's customer and prospect base, equipment values, resale markets, and
local economic and industry conditions, enable the Company to compete
effectively on the basis of prompt, responsive and customized service. The
Company's customer services include making prompt credit decisions, arranging
financing structures meeting customers' needs and the Company's underwriting
criteria, providing direct contact between customers and Company executives
with decision-making authority and providing prompt and knowledgeable responses
to customers' inquiries and temporary issues encountered in the ordinary course
of their business.
The Company obtains business in several ways. Dealers and, to a lesser
extent, manufacturers of equipment refer their customers (equipment users) to
the Company, or such customers directly approach the Company to finance
equipment purchases. The Company also purchases installment sale contracts,
leases and personal property security agreements from vendors who extend credit
to purchasers of their equipment and the Company makes capital loans to
equipment users. Customers seek capital loans to consolidate debt, provide
working capital, reduce monthly debt service, enhance bonding capacity
(generally in the case of road contractors) and acquire additional equipment or
other assets. In addition, the Company leases equipment to end users,
generally under noncancelable full-payout leases.
The Company has relationships with vendors that are generally mid-sized,
since larger vendors typically generate concentrations of business greater than
the Company presently services. The Company is not obligated to purchase any
finance receivables from vendors nor are vendors obligated to sell any finance
receivables to the Company. The Company's vendor relationships are
2
nonexclusive. The Company presently has more than 100 vendor relationships and
is not dependent on any single vendor. The Company independently approves the
credit of prospective obligors for all vendor-generated business and uses it
own documentation.
In order to expand its customer base and broaden its marketing coverage
geographically, the Company has purchased portfolios of finance receivables
from financial institutions, vendors and others generally in the range of $1.0
million to $15.0 million. These portfolios included finance receivables
secured by a broader range of equipment than that typically financed directly
by the Company.
Originating, Structuring and Underwriting of Finance Receivables
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The Company originates finance receivables generally ranging from $50,000
to $1.0 million with fixed or floating interest rates and terms of two to five
years. The Company's finance receivables provide for monthly payments and may
include prepayment premium provisions. The average transaction size of finance
receivables originated by the Company was $188,000 in fiscal 2002 and $172,000
in fiscal 2001 and 2000.
The Company's underwriting policies and procedures are designed to
maximize yields and minimize delinquencies and credit losses. Unlike many of
its competitors, the Company does not use credit scoring models but instead
relies upon the experience of its credit officers and management to assess the
creditworthiness of obligors and collateral values. Each credit submission,
regardless of size, requires the approval of at least two credit officers.
The Company attempts to structure transactions to meet the financial needs
of its customers. Transactions may be structured as installment sales, leases
or secured loans. Structuring transactions includes arranging terms and the
repayment schedule, determining rate and other fees and charges, identifying
the primary and any additional equipment collateral to be pledged, and
evaluating the need for additional credit support such as liens on accounts
receivable, inventory and/or real property, certificates of deposit, commercial
paper, payment guarantees, security deposits, delayed funding and full or
partial recourse to the selling vendor and/or the principals/affiliates of the
obligor. The Company has, in limited cases, entered into transactions that
included obtaining zero cost warrants where the other terms of the transactions
were not affected by the receipt of such warrants.
A vendor seeking to finance a sale of equipment through the Company or an
equipment user seeking to obtain financing directly from the Company must
submit a credit application. The credit application includes financial and
other information of the obligor and any guarantors and a description of the
collateral to be pledged or leased and its present or proposed use. The
Company's credit personnel analyze the credit application, investigate the
credit of the obligor and any guarantors, evaluate the primary collateral to be
pledged, investigate financial, trade and industry references and review the
obligor's payment history. The Company may also obtain reports from
independent credit reporting agencies and conduct lien, UCC, litigation,
judgement, bankruptcy and tax searches. If the credit application is approved
on terms acceptable to the vendor and/or the obligor, the Company either
purchases an installment sale contract or lease from the vendor or enters into
a finance or lease transaction directly with the equipment user. The Company
funds the transaction upon receiving all required documentation in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company and its legal department. Under the
Company's documentation, the obligor is responsible for all applicable sales,
use and property taxes.
The Company may obtain full or partial recourse on finance receivables
assigned to the Company by vendors obligating them to pay the Company in the
event of an obligor's default or a breach of warranty. The Company may also
withhold an agreed upon amount from a vendor or obligor or obtain cash
collateral as security.
The procedures used by the Company in purchasing a portfolio of finance
receivables include reviewing and analyzing the terms of the finance
receivables to be purchased, the credit of the related obligors, the
documentation relating to such finance receivables, the value of the related
pledged collateral, the payment history of the obligors and the implicit yield
to be earned by the Company.
Collection and Servicing
------------------------
Customer remittances of finance receivables are directed to bank
lockboxes. Collection efforts for delinquent accounts are performed by
collection personnel and managers in the respective operations centers in
conjunction with senior management and, if necessary, the Company's legal
department. Senior management reviews all past due accounts at least monthly.
Decisions regarding collateral repossession and the sale or other disposition
of repossessed collateral are made by the Company's senior management and legal
staff.
3
Competition
-----------
The Company's business is highly competitive. The Company competes with
banks, manufacturer-owned and other finance and leasing companies, and other
financial institutions. Some of the Company's competitors may be better
positioned than the Company to market their services and financing programs to
vendors and end users of equipment because of their ability to offer additional
services and products and more favorable rates and terms. Many of these
competitors have longer operating histories, possess greater financial and
other resources and have a lower cost of funds than the Company, enabling them
to provide financing at rates lower than the Company may be willing to provide.
The Company competes by emphasizing a high level of equipment and financial
expertise, customer service, flexibility in structuring financing transactions,
management involvement in customer relationships and by attracting and
retaining the services of dedicated and talented managerial, marketing and
administrative personnel. The Company's present strategy for attracting and
retaining such personnel is to offer a competitive salary, an equity interest
in the Company through participation in its stock option and restricted stock
plans, and enhanced career opportunities.
Employees
---------
At July 31, 2002, the Company had 237 employees. All of the Company's
employees and officers are salaried. The Company provides its employees with
group health and life insurance benefits, a qualified 401(k) plan and Section
125 cafeteria plans. The Company does not match employee contributions to the
401(k) plan. The Company does not have any collective bargaining, employment,
pension or incentive compensation arrangements with any of its employees other
than deferred compensation agreements, stock option agreements, restricted
stock agreements and the 2001 Management Incentive Plan and the 2002
Supplemental Retirement Benefit for the Company's Chief Executive Officer
containing, without limitation, non-disclosure and non-solicitation provisions.
The Company considers its relations with its employees to be satisfactory.
Regulation
----------
The Company's commercial financing, lending and leasing activities are
generally not subject to regulation, except that certain states may regulate
motor vehicle transactions, impose licensing, documentation and lien perfection
requirements, and/or restrict the amount of interest or finance rates and other
amounts the Company may charge. The Company's failure to comply with such
regulations, requirements or restrictions could result in loss of principal and
interest or finance charges, penalties and imposition of restrictions on future
business activities.
Executive Officers
------------------
Paul R. Sinsheimer, 55, has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since December 2000, as President of the
Company since September 1998, as an Executive Vice President of the Company
from its inception in 1989 to September 1998 and as a director of the Company
since its inception in 1989. From 1970 to 1989, Mr. Sinsheimer was employed by
Commercial Alliance Corporation, where he served in various positions including
Executive Vice President.
John V. Golio, 41, has served as an Executive Vice President of the
Company since October 2001, as a Senior Vice President of the Company from 1997
through October 2001 and as a Vice President of a subsidiary of the Company and
a Branch Manager since joining the Company in January 1996. Before joining the
Company, Mr. Golio was employed by Commercial Alliance Corporation and its
successors in various capacities, including branch operations manager.
Michael C. Palitz, 44, has served as an Executive Vice President of the
Company since July 1995 and as a director of the Company since July 1996. Mr.
Palitz served as a Senior Vice President of the Company from February 1992 to
July 1995 and served as a Vice President of the Company from its inception in
1989 to February 1992. Mr. Palitz has also served as Treasurer and Assistant
Secretary of the Company since its inception in 1989 and as Chief Financial
Officer from 1989 through September 2000. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Palitz was an
Assistant Vice President of Bankers Trust Company and, from 1980 to 1983, he
was an Assistant Secretary of Chemical Bank.
William M. Gallagher, 53, has served as a Senior Vice President of the
Company since 1990 and as a Vice President of the Company from its inception in
1989 to 1990. From 1973 to 1989, Mr. Gallagher was employed by Commercial
Alliance Corporation, where he held various positions including Vice President
and Branch Manager.
Troy H. Geisser, 41, has served as a Senior Vice President and Secretary
of the Company since February 1996. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Geisser held
several positions, including Vice President and Branch Manager. From 1986 to
1990, Mr. Geisser was employed by Commercial Alliance Corporation and its
successors, where he held several positions including Northern Division
Counsel.
4
Steven F. Groth, CFA, 50, has served as a Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer since joining the Company in September 2000. Before joining
the Company, Mr. Groth was Senior Banker and Managing Director of Specialty
Finance and Transportation with Fleet Bank since 1997 and, from 1985 to 1996,
he held several positions, including Division Head, with Fleet Bank and its
predecessor, NatWest Bank.
Thomas P. Kehrer, 50, has served as a Senior Vice President of the Company
since October 2001 and as the Director of Internal Audit since joining the
Company in July 2001. Before joining the Company, Mr. Kehrer was a Senior Vice
President of HSBC Bank USA and a member of its transition and integration team
for its acquisition of Republic National Bank of New York since 2000, and from
1985 through 1999, Mr. Kehrer was employed by Republic National Bank of New
York where he held several positions, including Managing Director of Internal
Audit.
David H. Hamm, CPA, 38, has served as a Vice President of the Company
since October 2001 and as Controller and an Assistant Treasurer since joining
the Company in 1996. From 1985 to 1996, Mr. Hamm was employed in the public
accounting profession, including eight years with Eisner & Lubin LLP as an
audit manager.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
----------
The Company's executive offices are located at 733 Third Avenue, New York,
New York and consist of approximately 5,000 square feet of space. At July 31,
2002, the Company had five full service operations centers (where credit
analysis and approval, collection and marketing functions are performed) in
Houston, Texas; Lisle (Chicago), Illinois; Teaneck (New York metropolitan
area), New Jersey; Charlotte, North Carolina and Irvine (Los Angeles),
California consisting of approximately 4,000 to 15,000 square feet of space and
are occupied pursuant to office leases terminating on various dates through
fiscal 2007. Management believes that the Company's existing facilities are
suitable and adequate for their present and proposed uses and that suitable and
adequate facilities should be available on reasonable terms for any additional
offices the Company may need to open.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
-----------------
There are no material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary
routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company is a party
or to which any of its property is subject.
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
---------------------------------------------------
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2002.
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company's Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "FIF." The quarterly high and low closing sales prices per share of the
Common Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange follow:
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Price Range
--------------------
High Low
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Fiscal year 2002
-------------------------------------
First Quarter ended October 31, 2001 $28.38 $23.74
Second Quarter ended January 31, 2002 $31.25 $24.25
Third Quarter ended April 30, 2002 $35.17 $29.25
Fourth Quarter ended July 31, 2002 $35.98 $25.99
Fiscal year 2001
-------------------------------------
First Quarter ended October 31, 2000 $24.19 $18.50
Second Quarter ended January 31, 2001 $27.50 $21.38
Third Quarter ended April 30, 2001 $29.60 $23.60
Fourth Quarter ended July 31, 2001 $28.99 $22.49
5
The Company has not paid or declared any cash dividends on its Common
Stock and the Company presently has no intention of paying cash dividends on
the Common Stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of cash dividends, if
any, will depend upon the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital
requirements, cash flow and long-range plans and such other factors as the
Board of Directors of the Company may deem relevant.
Number of Record Holders
There were 91 holders of record of the Company's Common Stock at October
16, 2002. This number included several nominees that hold the Company's Common
Stock on behalf of numerous other persons and institutions; these other persons
and institutions are not included in the above number as their shares are held
in "Street Name."
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
-----------------------
(In thousands, except per share data)
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For Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
==========================================================================================
Finance Receivables, net $1,436,086 $1,299,288 $1,118,087 $932,525 $759,097
Total Assets 1,447,846 1,313,663 1,127,785 942,185 766,108
Total Senior Debt 1,030,396 931,598 791,348 647,652 500,532
Stockholders' Equity 248,569 206,411 172,423 144,982 123,229
Finance Income 138,777 138,278 111,513 89,118 72,722
Interest Expense 51,007 64,397 52,205 39,169 32,552
Net Interest Margin 87,770 73,881 59,308 49,949 40,170
Net Earnings 37,068 31,616 26,722 22,598 17,032
Earnings Per Common
Share, Diluted 1.99 1.75 1.52 1.30 1.03
Earnings Per Common
Share, Basic 2.23 1.99 1.79 1.52 1.15
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
FINANCIAL CONDITION
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Financial Federal Corporation is an independent financial services company that
operates through its three wholly-owned subsidiaries, Financial Federal Credit
Inc. and Subsidiary, First Federal Commercial Inc. and Financial Federal
Commercial (collectively the "Company"). At July 31, 2002, Financial Federal
Credit Inc. held 99% of the Company's assets. The Company does not have any
unconsolidated subsidiaries, partnerships or joint ventures nor does it have any
off-balance sheet assets or liabilities. The Company has one fully consolidated
special purpose entity that it established for its asset securitization
facility.
The Company provides collateralized lending, financing and leasing services
nationwide to middle-market businesses in the general construction, road and
infrastructure construction and repair, road transportation, manufacturing and
waste disposal industries. The Company finances a wide range of
revenue-producing/essential-use equipment such as cranes, earth movers, machine
tools, personnel lifts, trailers and trucks. The Company obtains funds from
banks and insurance companies and by issuing commercial paper directly and
indirectly to money market funds and other investors.
Comparison of Fiscal 2002 to Fiscal 2001
Net earnings increased by 17% to $37.1 million in fiscal 2002 from $31.6 million
in fiscal 2001 primarily due to lower market interest rates and growth in
finance receivables, partially offset by the effects of higher net credit losses
and additional problem accounts.
Finance income increased by less than 1% to $138.8 million in fiscal 2002 from
$138.3 million in fiscal 2001. The increase was primarily due to the 12% ($151
million) increase in average finance receivables outstanding to $1.386 billion
in fiscal 2002 from $1.235 billion in fiscal 2001 offset by (i) the decrease in
the net yield of finance receivables as a result of the decline in market
6
interest rates since January 2001 and, to a lesser extent, (ii) an increase in
the level of non-performing assets in fiscal 2002. Finance receivables
originated in fiscal 2002 and in fiscal 2001 were $805 million and $736 million,
respectively.
Interest expense, incurred on borrowings used to fund finance receivables,
decreased by 21% to $51.0 million in fiscal 2002 from $64.4 million in fiscal
2001. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the Company's weighted
average cost of borrowed funds that resulted from significantly lower average
market interest rates in fiscal 2002, partially offset by the 11% ($102 million)
increase in average debt outstanding in fiscal 2002 from fiscal 2001.
Net finance income before provision for possible losses on finance receivables
increased by 19% to $87.8 million in fiscal 2002 from $73.9 million in fiscal
2001. Net finance income before provision for possible losses expressed as a
percentage of average finance receivables outstanding ("net interest margin")
increased to 6.3% in fiscal 2002 from 6.0% in fiscal 2001. The increase was
primarily due to the decline in market interest rates from January 2001 and, to
a lesser extent, the decrease in the Company's leverage to 4.5 at July 31, 2002
from 5.0 at July 31, 2001.
The provision for possible losses on finance receivables increased by 13% to
$5.6 million in fiscal 2002 from $5.0 million in fiscal 2001 primarily due to
the increase in net credit losses and the growth in finance receivables in
fiscal 2002. The provision for possible losses is determined by the amount
required to increase the allowance for possible losses to a level considered
appropriate by management. Management estimated the allowance based on various
factors as described in the Receivable Portfolio and Asset Quality section
herein.
Salaries and other expenses increased by 23% to $21.0 million in fiscal 2002
from $17.1 million in fiscal 2001. The increase was primarily due to the
increase in the number of marketing and administrative employees, salary
increases and additional costs incurred due to the increase in the level of
problem accounts in fiscal 2002 due to the weak economy. Problem accounts are
defined as customers that the Company has incurred legal and/or other costs in
its collections efforts.
The provision for income taxes increased to $24.0 million in fiscal 2002 from
$20.2 million in fiscal 2001 primarily due to the increase in earnings before
income taxes and, to a lesser extent, the increase in the Company's effective
tax rate to 39.4% in fiscal 2002 from 38.9% in fiscal 2001.
Diluted earnings per share increased by 14% to $1.99 per share in fiscal 2002
from $1.75 per share in fiscal 2001, and basic earnings per share increased by
12% to $2.23 per share in fiscal 2002 from $1.99 per share in fiscal 2001. The
percentage increase in diluted earnings per share was lower than the percentage
increase in net earnings primarily due to the effect that the convertible notes
have on the diluted earnings per share calculation and the 23% increase in the
average price of the Company's common stock in fiscal 2002. The percentage
increase in basic earnings per share was lower than the percentage increase in
net earnings primarily due to the increase in the number of outstanding shares
of the Company's common stock resulting from the exercise of the Company's 1.6
million warrants in the second quarter of fiscal 2001.
Comparison of Fiscal 2001 to Fiscal 2000
Finance income increased by 24% to $138.3 million in fiscal 2001 from $111.5
million in fiscal 2000. The increase was primarily due to the 20% ($207 million)
increase in average finance receivables outstanding to $1.235 billion in fiscal
2001 from $1.028 billion in fiscal 2000 and higher yields obtained on new
receivables as a result of increases in market interest rates during May 2000
through December 2000. Finance receivables originated in fiscal 2001 and in
fiscal 2000 were $736 million and $719 million, respectively.
Interest expense, incurred on borrowings used to fund finance receivables,
increased by 23% to $64.4 million in fiscal 2001 from $52.2 million in fiscal
2000. The increase was primarily due to the 21% increase in average debt
outstanding in fiscal 2001 from fiscal 2000 and, to a lesser extent, higher
interest rates incurred on the $145.0 million increase in fixed rate term debt
since April 30, 2000.
Net finance income before provision for possible losses on finance receivables
increased by 25% to $73.9 million in fiscal 2001 from $59.3 million in fiscal
2000. The net interest margin increased to 6.0% in fiscal 2001 from 5.8% in
fiscal 2000. The increase was primarily due to the increase in the yield on
finance receivables, partially offset by higher rates incurred on the additional
$145.0 million of fixed rate term debt.
The provision for possible losses on finance receivables increased by 44% to
$5.0 million in fiscal 2001 from $3.5 million in fiscal 2000. The provision for
possible losses is determined by the amount required to increase the allowance
for possible losses to a level considered appropriate by management.
7
Salaries and other expenses increased by 32% to $17.1 million in fiscal 2001
from $13.0 million in fiscal 2000. The increase was primarily due to the
increase in the number of marketing and administrative employees, salary
increases and, to a lesser extent, additional costs incurred relating to the
increased number of problem accounts. In addition, the Company relocated its
Phoenix, Arizona operations center to Irvine, California in fiscal 2001.
The provision for income taxes increased to $20.2 million in fiscal 2001 from
$16.9 million in fiscal 2000 primarily due to the increase in earnings before
income taxes.
Net earnings increased by 18% to $31.6 million in fiscal 2001 from $26.7 million
in fiscal 2000. Diluted earnings per share increased by 15% to $1.75 per share
in fiscal 2001 from $1.52 per share in fiscal 2000 and basic earnings per share
increased by 11% to $1.99 per share in fiscal 2001 from $1.79 per share in
fiscal 2000. The increase in diluted earnings per share was lower than the
increase in net earnings primarily due to the effect that the convertible notes
have on the diluted earnings per share calculation and the 23% increase in the
average price of the Company's common stock in fiscal 2001 from fiscal 2000. The
increase in basic earnings per share was lower than the increase in net earnings
primarily due to the increase in the number of outstanding shares of the
Company's common stock resulting from the exercise of the Company's 1.6 million
warrants in the second quarter of fiscal 2001.
In fiscal 2000, the Company repurchased $4.3 million principal amount of its
convertible subordinated notes for $3.5 million. Excluding the net after-tax
gain on this retirement of debt, net earnings increased by 21%, diluted earnings
per share increased by 17% and basic earnings per share increased by 13% in
fiscal 2001 from fiscal 2000.
RECEIVABLE PORTFOLIO AND ASSET QUALITY
Finance receivables outstanding increased by 11% ($139.0 million) to $1.460
billion at July 31, 2002 from $1.321 billion at July 31, 2001, as the amount of
finance receivables originated exceeded amounts collected. Finance receivables
comprise installment sale agreements and secured loans (collectively referred to
as "loans") and investments in direct financing leases. At July 31, 2002, loans
totaled $1.125 billion, or 77% of finance receivables, and leases totaled $335.0
million, or 23% of finance receivables.
The Company's leasing activities are similar in business terms to its lending
and financing activities, differing only in legal and tax treatment. A
transaction is documented as a lease based on management's evaluations of the
customer's credit and the equipment collateral, the customer's preference and
other factors. The types of equipment that the Company lends against, finances
and leases, and the ongoing operational treatment of a transaction, are
generally the same, regardless of the documentation used. The Company accounts
for all transactions as finance receivables.
The Company has an allowance for possible losses on finance receivables on its
balance sheet. The purpose of the allowance is to account for losses that have
been incurred at the balance sheet date. Losses are recorded when management has
reason to expect that all amounts contractually due will not be collected from
the combination of the obligor/lessee, any guarantor and the sale of any
collateral repossessed by the Company.
Management increased the allowance for possible losses in fiscal 2002 by 10%
($2.3 million) to $24.2 million at July 31, 2002 from $21.9 million at July 31,
2001 primarily due to the growth in finance receivables. The allowance level was
1.66% of finance receivables at July 31, 2002 and 2001. Management periodically
reviews the allowance to determine that it is at the appropriate level.
The allowance is a significant estimate that management determines based on
total finance receivables, net credit losses, the level of delinquencies and its
current assessments of the risks inherent in the Company's finance receivables
from national and regional economic conditions, industry conditions,
concentrations, the financial condition of counterparties (includes the
obligor/lessee and other parties the Company may have recourse to such as
equipment vendors/manufacturers and owners/affiliates of the obligor/lessee),
equipment collateral values and other factors. Changes in the level of the
allowance may be necessary based on unexpected changes in these factors.
The equipment collateral securing the Company's finance receivables generally
possess certain characteristics that have mitigated potential credit losses. The
equipment collateral typically has an economic life that exceeds the term of the
transaction, historically low levels of technological obsolescence, use in
multiple industries, ease of access and transporting, and a broad, established
8
resale market. The Company also does not finance high-risk, big-ticket items
such as aircraft and railcars nor does the Company finance "soft" collateral
such as computer related equipment, fixtures and telecommunications equipment.
Non-performing assets increased by 55% to $53.2 million (3.6% of total finance
receivables) at July 31, 2002 from $34.4 million (2.6% of total finance
receivables) at July 31, 2001. Non-performing assets at July 31, 2002 include
$29.4 million (2.0% of total finance receivables) of finance receivables
classified as non-accrual (income recognition has been suspended) and $23.8
million (1.6% of total finance receivables) of assets received to satisfy
finance receivables.
Delinquent finance receivables (transactions with a contractual payment more
than 60 days past due) increased by 30% to $32.4 million (2.2% of total finance
receivables) at July 31, 2002 from $24.8 million (1.9% of total finance
receivables) at July 31, 2001. At July 31, 2002, approximately half of the
Company's non-accruing finance receivables were not delinquent.
Net credit losses (write-downs of receivables less subsequent recoveries)
incurred on finance receivables increased by 62% to $3.4 million in fiscal 2002
from $2.1 million in fiscal 2001. Net credit losses, expressed as a percentage
of average finance receivables outstanding ("loss ratio"), increased to 0.24% in
fiscal 2002 from 0.17% in fiscal 2001.
Non-performing assets, delinquent finance receivables and net credit losses
increased during fiscal 2002 primarily due to the weak domestic economy. A weak
economy increases the possibility that customers will pay late, stop paying,
declare or be forced into bankruptcy or liquidate their businesses and also
causes collateral values to decline. Continued weakness in the economy could
result in additional increases in the levels of non-performing assets,
delinquent finance receivables and net credit losses. Increases in net credit
losses would have a negative effect on earnings through additional increases in
the provision for possible losses. Increases in non-performing assets would have
a negative effect on earnings by reducing revenue. Although non-performing
assets, delinquent receivables and net credit losses have increased and could
continue to increase, their current and expected levels are below current and
historical industry experience.
Finance receivables reflect certain industry and geographic concentrations of
credit risk. These concentrations arise from counterparties having similar
economic characteristics that could cause their ability to meet their
contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other
conditions. At July 31, 2002, the major industry concentrations are construction
related--38%, road transportation--29%, manufacturing--14% and waste
services--14%. The regional geographic concentrations are Southeast--31%,
Northeast--22%, Southwest--19%, West--16% and Central--12%.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's operations and growth are dependent upon the continued
availability of funds needed to originate or acquire finance receivables, to
purchase portfolios of finance receivables and to repay maturing debt. The
Company may obtain required funds from a variety of sources, including operating
cash flow, dealer placed and directly issued commercial paper, borrowings under
committed unsecured revolving credit facilities, private and public issuances of
term debt, conduit and term securitizations of finance receivables and sales of
common and preferred equity. Management believes that the Company's sources of
liquidity are well diversified. As such, the Company is not dependent on any
single funding source or on any single credit provider. Management believes, but
cannot assure, that sufficient liquidity is available to the Company to support
its future operations and growth.
The Company's bank credit facilities, asset securitization facility and senior
term notes were obtained through Financial Federal Credit Inc. ("Credit").
Credit's senior term notes are rated "BBB" by Fitch, Inc. ("Fitch") and Credit's
commercial paper is rated "F-2" by Fitch. These credit ratings provide the
Company with greater access to capital markets. Fitch reported in July 2002 that
its ratings outlook for the Company is stable. Credit's debt agreements contain
certain restrictive covenants including limitations on its indebtedness,
encumbrances, investments, dividends and other distributions to its parent,
sales of assets, mergers and other business combinations, capital expenditures,
interest coverage and net worth.
The Company has decreased its dependence on short-term unsecured debt during
fiscal 2002 and 2001. Short-term unsecured debt was 43%, 28% and 26% of total
debt at July 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively. This percentage should
decline further in fiscal 2003.
Total debt increased by $98.8 million, or 10%, to $1.124 billion at July 31,
2002 from $1.025 billion at July 31, 2001 and stockholders' equity increased by
$42.2 million, or 20%, to $248.6 million at July 31, 2002 from $206.4 million at
9
July 31, 2001. As a result, leverage (debt to equity ratio) decreased to 4.5 at
July 31, 2002 from 5.0 at July 31, 2001. The increases in debt and equity,
combined with increases in other liabilities, were used primarily to fund the
increase in finance receivables.
Senior Term Notes
In July 2002, the Company closed a $200.0 million private placement with ten
insurance companies. The Company received $100.0 million in July 2002 and
received the remaining $100.0 million in August 2002. The Company used the July
2002 proceeds to repay borrowings under bank credit facilities and used the
August 2002 proceeds to repay borrowings under bank credit facilities and
commercial paper. The placement includes $112.5 million of fixed rate and $88.5
million of floating rate unsecured senior notes due at maturity as follows:
$55.5 million in July and August 2005, $76.0 million in July and August 2006 and
$68.5 million in July and August 2007, respectively.
In September 2001, the Company repaid $55.0 million of term debt at maturity
with proceeds from borrowings under bank credit facilities.
At July 31, 2002, $97.0 million remained available for future issuances of term
notes under the Company's September 2000 Medium Term Note Program.
At July 31, 2002, the Company had $510.0 million of senior term notes
outstanding comprised of $420.0 million of private placements with insurance
companies and $90.0 million of bank term loans. The senior term notes, including
the $100.0 million received in August 2002, have a weighted average maturity of
2.2 years and are due as follows (in millions):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
================================================================================
$233.0 $102.0 $97.8 $65.7 $72.3 $39.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank Credit Facilities
At July 31, 2002, the Company had $425.0 million of committed unsecured
revolving credit facilities from thirteen banks (a decrease of $35.0 million
from July 31, 2001). Of this amount, $210.0 million had original terms ranging
from two to five years and $215.0 million had original terms of one year or
less. At July 31, 2002, $60.0 million and $8.2 million were outstanding under
the multi-year and one-year facilities, respectively, with maturities of one to
eight days. These facilities range in size from $5.0 million to $50.0 million.
The multi-year facilities expire as follows (in millions):
-------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal: 2003 2004 2005 2006
=======================================================
$25.0 $95.0 $75.0 $15.0
-------------------------------------------------------
During fiscal 2002, the Company obtained $65.0 million of additional credit
facilities from three banks and renewed $175.0 million of credit facilities with
seven banks. Also, $100.0 million of credit facilities from six banks expired in
fiscal 2002. At July 31, 2002, the Company had a commitment to obtain two new
credit facilities from a bank totaling $50.0 million.
These facilities provide the Company with a dependable, low-cost source of funds
and support for its commercial paper program. The Company can borrow the full
amount under each facility. None of the credit facilities are for commercial
paper back-up only.
Commercial Paper
The Company issues commercial paper directly and through Credit's $350.0 million
program. The Company's commercial paper is unsecured and matures within 270
days. The Company has not obtained commitments from any purchaser of its
commercial paper for additional or future purchases. Increases in commercial
paper are generally offset by decreases in bank and other borrowings, and vice
versa.
Commercial paper outstanding at July 31, 2002 was $227.2 million, an increase of
$83.3 million from the $143.8 million outstanding at July 31, 2001. The
Company's current policy is to maintain committed revolving credit facilities
from banks so that the aggregate amount available thereunder exceeds commercial
paper outstanding.
Information on the combined amounts of commercial paper and bank borrowings
follows (in millions):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal: 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Maximum outstanding during the year $ 376.9 $ 459.3 $ 399.3
Average outstanding during the year 317.7 408.0 348.5
Outstanding at year end 295.4 287.9 379.7
10
Asset Securitization Financings
In December 2001, the Company obtained $100.0 million from the second
transaction under its asset securitization facility established in July 2001.
The Company used the proceeds to repay borrowings under bank credit facilities.
The Company structured the terms of the facility so that any securitization
proceeds obtained would be classified as debt by the Company and not as sales of
receivables for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, the Company has not
recorded any gains on sales of securitized receivables. At July 31, 2002, the
Company had $225.0 million of asset securitization financings accounted for as
secured borrowings that are included in senior debt in its July 31, 2002
Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The terms of the securitization facility limit the amount that the Company can
borrow to a minimum level of securitized receivables. When borrowings exceed the
minimum level, the Company has the option to repay the excess or to securitize
additional receivables. The Company can securitize additional receivables during
the term of the facility. The facility expires January 31, 2003. The Company
currently intends to renew the facility for another year. Upon the expiration of
the facility, the Company has the option to repay borrowings outstanding or to
convert them into term debt. The term debt would be repaid monthly in amounts
equal to the collections of securitized receivables. Currently, the Company
would exercise the conversion option. Based on the contractual payments of
securitized receivables at July 31, 2002, the term debt would be fully repaid by
November 2004.
Credit's unsecured senior debt agreements limit the amount of finance
receivables that it can securitize to 40% of its finance receivables
outstanding. At July 31, 2002, Credit could securitize $578.0 million, or an
additional $313.0 million. The amount that Credit can borrow under the
securitization facility is limited to 94% of securitized receivables.
In August 2002, the Company completed its third asset securitization financing
transaction obtaining $100.0 million. The Company used the proceeds to repay
borrowings under bank credit facilities and commercial paper.
Convertible Notes
In July 2002, the Company called all $91.2 million of its 4.5% convertible notes
for redemption. The Company called the notes because they were an expensive form
of financing considering their dilution and their cost relative to current
market interest rates. The Company also had the resources to do so from the
aforementioned recent debt transactions.
The redemption was completed in August 2002; $56.2 million of the notes were
redeemed for cash (with proceeds from borrowings under bank credit facilities)
and $35.0 million of the notes were converted into 1.16 million shares of the
Company's common stock at the stated conversion price of $30.15625 per share.
The Company paid a $1.1 million prepayment premium equal to 1.93% of the notes
redeemed for cash.
The redemption of the notes will have a positive impact on the diluted earnings
per share calculation resulting from the elimination of their dilutive effect
and the conversion of the notes will have a negative impact on the basic
earnings per share calculation resulting from the increase in the number of
shares of common stock outstanding. Also, leverage will decline to below 4.0 as
a result of the conversion.
Composition of Debt
July 31, 2002
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS DEPICTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
Senior term notes 46%
Asset securitization financings 20%
Commercial paper 20%
Borrowings under bank credit facilities 6%
Subordinated debt 8%
Composition of Debt
(as adjusted to reflect August 2002 transactions)
[THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS DEPICTED AS A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]
Senior term notes 56%
Asset securitization financings 30%
Commercial paper 13%
Borrowings under bank credit facilities 1%
11
MARKET INTEREST RATE RISK AND SENSITIVITY
The Company's earnings are sensitive to fluctuations in market interest rates
(includes LIBOR, rates on U.S. Treasury securities, money market rates and the
prime rate). Changes in these rates affect the Company's finance income and
interest expense. Generally, based on the current mix of fixed rate and floating
rate finance receivables and debt, increases in rates would have a negative
impact on earnings, and decreases in rates would have a positive impact on
earnings because the Company has more floating rate and short-term debt than
fixed rate term debt, and more fixed rate finance receivables than floating rate
finance receivables. As a result, when market interest rates rise, the Company's
borrowing costs would increase faster than the yield on its finance receivables.
Conversely, when market interest rates decline, the Company's borrowing costs
would decrease faster than the yield on its finance receivables. These broad
statements do not take into account the effects of other economic conditions
that could accompany interest rate fluctuations.
The Company monitors and manages its exposure to market interest rate
fluctuations through risk management procedures that may include using certain
derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps and changing the
proportion of its fixed rate term debt versus its floating rate and short-term
debt. The Company may use certain derivative financial instruments to hedge its
exposure to interest rate risk on certain debt obligations. The Company does not
use derivatives for speculation and the Company does not trade derivatives. The
Company did not have any derivative positions at July 31, 2002, although the
Company may enter into interest rate swaps and locks and other derivative
financial instruments in the future.
The net yield of finance receivables less the weighted average cost of borrowed
funds represents the net interest spread, an important measure of a finance
company's profitability. The net interest spread for the last three fiscal years
follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Net yield of finance receivables 10.0% 11.2% 10.8%
Weighted average cost of borrowed funds 4.8 6.7 6.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest spread 5.2% 4.5% 4.3%
================================================================================
The increase in the net interest spread in fiscal 2002 and 2001 resulted from
the precipitous decline in market interest rates starting in January 2001,
leaving rates at their lowest levels in over forty years at July 31, 2002. The
net interest spread, 5.2% at July 31, 2002, should decline in fiscal 2003 as
older fixed rate finance receivables, with rates above current market rates,
continue to be collected and new finance receivables are booked at current lower
rates.
[LINE GRAPH OMITTED]
At July 31, 2002, $1.355 billion, or 93%, of finance receivables were fixed rate
and $105.5 million, or 7%, of finance receivables were indexed to the prime
rate. Finance receivables generally have original maturities ranging from two to
five years and provide for monthly installments. The Company experiences some
prepayments on its finance receivables that accelerate the scheduled maturities.
At July 31, 2002, $465.5 million of fixed rate finance receivables are scheduled
to mature within one year and the weighted average remaining maturity of fixed
rate finance receivables is 1.9 years.
At July 31, 2002, fixed rate term debt totaled $461.0 million (excludes the
$56.2 million of convertible notes that were redeemed for cash in August 2002),
or 41% of total debt outstanding. The Company's other debt at July 31, 2002,
12
comprising commercial paper, bank borrowings, asset securitization financings
and floating rate term loans, reprices as follows: $458.0 million, or 75%,
within one month, $144.2 million, or 24%, within the following two months and
the remainder, $4.5 million, or 1%, within the following six months.
Fixed rate term debt of $461.0 million and stockholders' equity of $248.6
million totaled $709.6 million at July 31, 2002. Due to the significant amount
of fixed rate finance receivables above this amount, the net interest spread
would be affected by fluctuations in market interest rates. The Company does not
match the maturities of its debt to its finance receivables.
Management periodically calculates the effect on net earnings of a hypothetical,
immediate 100 basis point (1.0%) increase in market interest rates. At July 31,
2002, such a hypothetical increase in rates would reduce annual net earnings by
approximately $1.9 million (5%) and would reduce the net interest spread by
approximately 35 basis points (0.35%) to 4.9%. The 100 basis point increase is
45% of the weighted average interest rate on the Company's short-term and
floating rate debt at July 31, 2002.
The calculated reduction in net earnings assumes the occurrence of an adverse
change in market interest rates. Actual future changes in market interest rates
may differ materially and their effect on net earnings may also differ
materially due to changes in finance receivable and debt repricing structures.
The calculation also does not take into account other factors that may accompany
an actual immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD
In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 145, "Rescission of FASB Statements
No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical
Corrections." The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 145 in the first quarter
of fiscal 2003. SFAS No. 4, "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of
Debt," required that gains and losses from extinguishment of debt be classified
as an extraordinary item. As a result of the rescission of SFAS No. 4, the $1.7
million loss that the Company incurred on the redemption of its convertible
notes in August 2002 will be reported as a separate line item included in
operating income instead of an extraordinary item net of income taxes. The
fiscal 2000 $764,000 gain on debt retirement was not classified as an
extraordinary item and therefore did not need to be reclassified as a result of
the adoption of SFAS No. 145.
CHANGES IN ACCOUNTANTS
On June 6, 2002, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Audit
Committee, appointed the firm of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent public
accountants for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2002 and dismissed Arthur
Andersen LLP ("Andersen"). Andersen's report on the financial statements of the
Company for fiscal 2001 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of
opinion nor was it in any way qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope or accounting principles. The Company's financial statements for the year
ended July 31, 2000 were audited by Eisner & Lubin LLP.
The decision to change accountants was recommended by management and approved by
the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as well as the full Board.
During fiscal 2001, and the interim period preceding the dismissal, there were
not any disagreements between the Company and Andersen on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or audit
scope or procedure. The Company has never been advised by Andersen that internal
controls necessary for the Company to develop reliable financial statements do
not exist or that any information has come to the attention of Andersen which
would have caused it not to be able to rely on management's representations or
that has made Andersen unwilling to be associated with the financial statements
prepared by management. Andersen has not advised the Company of any need to
significantly expand the scope of its audit or that information has come to
their attention that upon further investigation may materially impact on the
fairness or reliability of a previously issued audit report or financial
statements issued or to be issued or which would cause them to be unwilling to
rely on management's representations or be associated with the Company's
financial statements.
Andersen has not advised the Company of any information which they concluded
materially impacts upon the fairness or reliability of either a previously
issued audit report, underlying financial statements or the financial statements
issued or to be issued since the last financial statements covered by an audit
report.
13
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this document may include the words or phrases "can be,"
"expects," "may," "may affect," "may depend," "believe," "estimate," "intend,"
"could," "should," "would," "if" and similar words and phrases that constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and
uncertainties and the Company cautions you that any forward-looking information
provided by or on its behalf is not a guarantee of future performance. The
Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such
forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond
the Company's control, including, without limitation, (i) the ability to obtain
funding on acceptable terms, (ii) changes in the risks inherent in the Company's
receivables portfolio and the adequacy of the Company's reserves, (iii) changes
in market interest rates, (iv) changes in economic, financial, and market
conditions, (v) changes in competitive conditions and (vi) the loss of key
executives or personnel. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date
made and the Company is not required to update forward-looking statements for
subsequent or unanticipated events or circumstances.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
----------------------------------------------------------
See Item 7, Market Interest Rate Risk and Sensitivity.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
-------------------------------------------
Independent Auditors' Report
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Financial Federal Corporation:
We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Financial Federal
Corporation and subsidiaries as of July 31, 2002, and the related
consolidated statements of stockholders' equity, income and cash flows for
the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. The consolidated
balance sheet of Financial Federal Corporation and subsidiaries as of July
31, 2001 and the related consolidated statements of stockholders' equity,
income and cash flows for the year ended July 31, 2001 were audited by other
auditors who have ceased operations. Those auditors expressed an unqualified
opinion on those financial statements in their report dated August 31, 2001.
The consolidated statements of stockholders' equity, income and cash flows of
Financial Federal Corporation and subsidiaries for the year ended July 31,
2000 were audited by other auditors. Those auditors expressed an unqualified
opinion on those financial statements in their report dated August 31, 2000.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. 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
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Financial
Federal Corporation and subsidiaries as of July 31, 2002, and the results of
their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ KPMG LLP
New York, New York
September 27, 2002
14
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
=============================================================================================================================
ASSETS
Finance receivables $ 1,460,257 $ 1,321,226
Allowance for possible losses (24,171) (21,938)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance receivables--net 1,436,086 1,299,288
Cash 7,092 10,251
Other assets 4,668 4,124
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,477,846 $ 1,313,663
=============================================================================================================================
LIABILITIES
Senior debt:
Long-term ($10,856 at July 31, 2002 and $15,622 at July 31, 2001 due to related parties) $ 577,841 $ 703,584
Short-term 452,555 228,014
Subordinated debt ($2,231 at July 31, 2002 and $2,951 at July 31, 2001 due to related parties) 93,478 93,485
Accrued interest, taxes and other liabilities 44,848 53,082
Deferred income taxes 30,555 29,087
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 1,199,277 1,107,252
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock--$1 par value, authorized 5,000 shares -- --
Common stock--$.50 par value, authorized 100,000 shares, shares issued and outstanding
(net of 137 treasury shares): 17,372 at July 31, 2002 and 16,540 at July 31, 2001 8,686 8,270
Additional paid-in capital 67,595 62,921
Retained earnings 172,288 135,220
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 248,569 206,411
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,447,846 $ 1,313,663
=============================================================================================================================
The notes to consolidated financial statements are made a part hereof.
15
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(In thousands)
Common Stock--$.50 Par Value
--------------------------------------
Number Additional
of Paid-in Retained
Shares Par Value Capital Warrants Earnings
================================================================================================================================
Balance at August 1, 1999 14,860 $ 7,430 $ 58,115 $ 29 $ 79,408
Exercise of stock options 98 49 653
Other 17
Net earnings 26,722
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 2000 14,958 7,479 58,785 29 106,130
Exercise of warrants 1,607 803 3,723 (29)
Shares issued under employee stock plans 112 56 1,003
Common stock received in connection
with exercise of warrants (held in treasury) (137) (68) (789) (2,526)
Compensation recognized under employee stock plans 76
Other 123
Net earnings 31,616
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 2001 16,540 8,270 62,921 0 135,220
Shares issued under employee stock plans 832 416 2,809
Compensation recognized under employee stock plans 1,473
Tax benefit from stock options 369
Other 23
Net earnings 37,068
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE AT JULY 31, 2002 17,372 $ 8,686 $ 67,595 $ 0 $172,288
================================================================================================================================
The notes to consolidated financial statements are made a part hereof.
16
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
=========================================================================================================================
Finance income $ 138,777 $ 138,278 $ 111,513
Interest expense 51,007 64,397 52,205
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net finance income before provision for possible losses on finance receivables 87,770 73,881 59,308
Provision for possible losses on finance receivables 5,600 4,975 3,450
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net finance income 82,170 68,906 55,858
Gain on debt retirement -- -- 764
Salaries and other expenses (21,028) (17,139) (12,990)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before income taxes 61,142 51,767 43,632
Provision for income taxes 24,074 20,151 16,910
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET EARNINGS $ 37,068 $ 31,616 $ 26,722
=========================================================================================================================
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:
Diluted $ 1.99 $ 1.75 $ 1.52
=========================================================================================================================
Basic $ 2.23 $ 1.99 $ 1.79
=========================================================================================================================
The notes to consolidated financial statements are made a part hereof.
17
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
===================================================================================================================
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings $ 37,068 $ 31,616 $ 26,722
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Provision for possible losses on finance receivables 5,600 4,975 3,450
Depreciation and amortization 13,934 9,487 7,419
Deferred income taxes 1,468 2,118 4,708
Gain on debt retirement -- -- (764)
(Increase) decrease in other assets (596) (304) 587
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest, taxes and other liabilities (8,234) 9,527 14,055
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 49,240 57,419 56,177
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Finance receivables originated (804,779) (735,705) (719,194)
Finance receivables collected 650,400 540,533 523,111
Other (412) (605) (449)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (154,791) (195,777) (196,532)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Commercial paper--maturities 90 days or less (net) 81,101 (185,479) 62,628
Commercial paper--maturities greater than 90 days:
Proceeds 70,485 143,330 87,762
Repayments (68,237) (149,870) (98,044)
Bank borrowings--net proceeds (repayments) (90,830) 100,210 (22,150)
Proceeds from asset securitization financings 100,000 125,000 --
Repurchases of convertible subordinated notes -- -- (3,536)
Proceeds from senior term notes 105,000 143,000 132,000
Repayments of senior term notes (80,000) (35,000) (25,000)
Variable rate senior notes--net proceeds (repayments) (18,721) (941) 6,500
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 3,225 1,059 702
Proceeds from exercise of warrants -- 1,114 --
Other 369 118 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 102,392 142,541 140,879
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH (3,159) 4,183 524
Cash--beginning of year 10,251 6,068 5,544
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH--END OF YEAR $ 7,092 $ 10,251 $ 6,068
===================================================================================================================
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid $ 52,781 $ 61,778 $ 49,544
===================================================================================================================
Income taxes paid $ 22,177 $ 19,096 $ 9,648
===================================================================================================================
The notes to consolidated financial statements are made a part hereof.
18
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
NOTE 1--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business
The Company provides collateralized lending, financing and leasing services
nationwide to middle-market businesses in the general construction, road and
infrastructure construction and repair, road transportation, manufacturing and
waste disposal industries. The Company lends against, finances and leases a wide
range of revenue-producing/essential-use equipment such as cranes, earth movers,
machine tools, personnel lifts, trailers and trucks.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Financial Federal
Corporation ("Financial") and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Financial Federal
Credit Inc. and Subsidiary ("Credit"), First Federal Commercial Inc. and
Financial Federal Commercial Inc. (collectively the "Company"). Intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Finance Receivables
Finance receivables comprise loans and other financings and noncancelable
leases. All leases are accounted for as direct financing leases, where total
lease payments, plus any residual values, less the cost of the leased equipment
is recorded as unearned finance income. Residual values are recorded at the
lowest of (i) any stated purchase option, (ii) the present value at the end of
the initial lease term of rentals due under any renewal options or (iii) the
estimated fair value of the equipment at the end of the lease.
Income Recognition
Finance income is recognized over the term of receivables using the interest
method. Income recognition is suspended on finance receivables that are
considered impaired (full collection of principal and interest being doubtful)
by management. This typically occurs when (i) a contractual payment is more than
120 days past due, (ii) the counterparty becomes the subject of a bankruptcy
proceeding or (iii) the underlying collateral is being liquidated. Impaired
receivables are written down to the current estimated net liquidation value of
the underlying collateral (if less than the recorded amount). Income recognition
may be resumed when management believes that full collection of all amounts
contractually due is probable. Any collections on impaired receivables are first
applied to the recorded investment.
Allowance for Possible Losses
A general provision for possible losses on finance receivables is charged
against income in an amount to increase the allowance for possible losses to a
level that management considers appropriate. Write-downs of impaired receivables
are charged against the allowance for possible losses and subsequent recoveries
of write-downs are credited to the allowance. The allowance is a significant
estimate that management determines based on total finance receivables, net
credit losses, the level of delinquencies and its current assessments of the
risks inherent in the Company's finance receivables from national and regional
economic conditions, industry conditions, concentrations, the financial
condition of counterparties (includes the obligor/lessee and other parties the
Company may have recourse to such as equipment vendors/manufacturers and
owners/affiliates of the obligor/lessee), equipment collateral values and other
factors. Changes in the level of the allowance may be necessary based on
unexpected changes in these factors.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
The Company adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation," and therefore applies Accounting Principles Board Opinion ("APB")
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations
in accounting for its stock plans. Under APB 25, compensation expense is not
required to be recorded if the exercise price of stock options granted is at
least equal to the market price of the stock on the grant date.
19
Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per share is net earnings divided by the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is
net earnings plus the after-tax interest cost of dilutive convertible debt,
divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the
period plus potential common shares from the assumed conversion of dilutive
securities outstanding during the period. Dilutive securities comprise stock
options, restricted stock, convertible notes and warrants.
Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax
effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax return
bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. Deferred tax expense
represents the net change in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the
year.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Derivative financial instruments have been used by the Company to hedge its
exposure to the effects of fluctuations in market interest rates on its debt.
The Company does not use derivatives for speculation and the Company does not
trade derivatives. Derivatives used were interest rate swaps and locks. The
Company did not enter into any derivative financial instruments in 2002 and 2001
and did not have any derivative financial instruments at July 31, 2002 and 2001.
New Accounting Standards
In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 145,
"Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement
No. 13, and Technical Corrections." The Company is required to adopt SFAS No.
145 in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. SFAS No. 4, "Reporting Gains and Losses
from Extinguishment of Debt," required that gains and losses from extinguishment
of debt be classified as an extraordinary item. As a result of the rescission of
SFAS No. 4, the $1,736 million loss that the Company incurred on the redemption
of its convertible notes in August 2002 (see Note 3) will be reported as a
separate line item included in operating income instead of an extraordinary item
net of income taxes. The $764 gain on debt retirement in 2000 was not classified
as an extraordinary item and therefore did not need to be reclassified as a
result of the adoption of SFAS No. 145.
Use of Estimates
The consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto were prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which require
significant estimates and assumptions to be made by management that affect the
amounts reported therein. Actual results could differ significantly from those
estimates.
NOTE 2--FINANCE RECEIVABLES
Finance receivables comprise installment sale agreements and secured loans
(including line of credit arrangements), collectively referred to as loans, with
fixed or floating (indexed to the prime rate) interest rates, and investments in
direct financing leases, as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
================================================================================
Loans:
Fixed rate $1,024,190 $ 842,745
Floating rate 101,083 118,038
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total loans 1,125,273 960,783
Direct financing leases 334,984 360,443
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance receivables $1,460,257 $1,321,226
================================================================================
The approximate weighted average interest rates on fixed rate loans were 9.6%
and 10.7% at July 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
20
Direct financing leases comprised the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
================================================================================
Minimum lease payments
receivable $ 342,729 $ 369,950
Residual values 57,432 62,743
Unearned finance income (65,177) (72,250)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct financing leases $ 334,984 $ 360,443
================================================================================
Finance receivables generally provide for monthly installments of equal or
varying amounts with terms ranging from two to five years. Annual contractual
maturities of finance receivables at July 31, 2002 are as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct
Fixed Floating Financing
Year Due: Rate Loans Rate Loans Leases
================================================================================
2003 $ 356,439 $ 39,601 $128,231
2004 287,082 27,643 96,793
2005 206,297 20,125 64,423
2006 105,504 11,042 35,370
2007 44,380 2,672 13,805
Thereafter 24,488 -- 4,107
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $1,024,190 $101,083 $342,729
================================================================================
The activity of the allowance for possible losses is summarized as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Beginning balance $ 21,938 $ 19,048 $ 16,202
Provision 5,600 4,975 3,450
Write-downs (6,546) (4,170) (2,342)
Recoveries 3,179 2,085 1,738
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ending balance $ 24,171 $ 21,938 $ 19,048
================================================================================
Percentage of finance
receivables 1.66% 1.66% 1.68%
================================================================================
Net credit losses* $ 3,367 $ 2,085 $ 604
================================================================================
Loss ratio** 0.24% 0.17% 0.06%
================================================================================
* write-downs less recoveries
** net credit losses over average finance receivables
Non-performing assets were $53,162 at July 31, 2002 and $34,389 at July 31,
2001. Non-performing assets comprised finance receivables classified as
non-accrual (income recognition has been suspended), $29,374 at July 31, 2002
and $24,966 at July 31, 2001, and assets received to satisfy finance
receivables, $23,788 at July 31, 2002 and $9,423 at July 31, 2001. Non-accruing
finance receivables included impaired loans (excludes direct financing leases)
of $19,108 at July 31, 2002 and $19,420 at July 31, 2001. The average recorded
investment in impaired loans was $20,471 in 2002, $12,192 in 2001 and $5,417 in
2000.
The Company also provides commitments to extend credit. These commitments
contain off-balance sheet risk. The Company uses the same credit policies and
procedures in making these commitments as it does for finance receivables, as
the credit risks are substantially the same. At July 31, 2002 and 2001, the
unused portion of these commitments was $5,636 and $4,086, respectively.
The Company manages its exposure to the credit risk associated with its finance
receivables through established credit policies and procedures that include
obtaining a first lien on the primary equipment collateral. The Company focuses
on lending against, financing and leasing equipment that has an economic life
exceeding the term of the receivable, is not subject to rapid technological
obsolescence, has applications in multiple industries, is easily accessible and
movable and has a broad, established resale market. The Company may also obtain
additional equipment or other collateral, third-party guarantees, advanced
payments and/or hold back a portion of the amount financed.
21
The Company's finance receivables have certain concentrations of credit risk.
Concentrations of credit risk arise when counterparties have similar economic
characteristics that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations
to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions. The Company
does not have a significant concentration of credit risk with any counterparty.
The major concentrations of credit risk, grouped by the industries and
geographic regions of counterparties, expressed as a percentage of finance
receivables, follow:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
================================================================================
Industry:
Construction related 38% 39%
Road transportation 29 28
Manufacturing 14 12
Waste services 14 14
Geographic region:
Southeast 31% 32%
Northeast 22 21
Southwest 19 18
West 16 15
Central 12 14
NOTE 3--DEBT
Debt is summarized as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
================================================================================
Senior debt:
Fixed rate term notes:
5.48%-6.98% due 2003-2008 $ 148,750 $ 170,000
7.05%-7.73% due 2003-2004 170,000 170,000
8.50%-8.89% due 2003-2005 105,000 105,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total fixed rate term notes 423,750 445,000
Floating rate term notes
due 2003-2007 86,250 73,721
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total term notes 510,000 518,721
Commercial paper 227,166 143,817
Bank borrowings 68,230 144,060
Asset securitization financings 225,000 125,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total senior debt 1,030,396 931,598
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subordinated debt:
4.5% convertible subordinated
notes (redeemed August 2002) 91,188 91,195
8.0% subordinated debentures
due 2003 2,290 2,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total subordinated debt 93,478 93,485
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total debt $1,123,874 $1,025,083
================================================================================
Senior Term Notes
In July 2002, the Company closed a $200,000 private placement of fixed and
floating rate unsecured senior notes. The Company received $100,000 in July 2002
and received the remaining $100,000 in August 2002. The placement includes
$112,500 of notes with fixed interest rates ranging from 5.48% to 6.23% and
$88,500 of notes with interest rates indexed to three-, four- and five-year
LIBOR ranging from 3.17% to 3.24% at July 31, 2002. The notes are due at
maturity as follows: $55,500 in three years, $76,000 in four years and $68,500
in five years.
The senior term notes were issued by Credit. Interest on fixed rate notes is
generally payable semi-annually. Interest rates on floating rate notes are
indexed to either LIBOR or domestic money market rates and generally change
every thirty to ninety days. Prepayments of the fixed rate notes are generally
subject to a premium based on yield maintenance formulas. The weighted average
22
interest rates on fixed rate notes were 7.3% at July 31, 2002 and 2001. The
weighted average interest rates on floating rate notes were 2.9% at July 31,
2002 and 4.4% at July 31, 2001.
At July 31, 2002, $97,000 remained available for future issuances of term notes
under the Company's September 2000 Medium Term Note Program.
Commercial Paper
The Company issues commercial paper with a maximum term of 270 days. The
weighted average interest rates on commercial paper outstanding at July 31, 2002
and 2001 were 2.2% and 4.2%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates
on commercial paper outstanding during the years ended July 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000 were 2.7%, 6.3% and 6.1%, respectively.
Bank Borrowings
At July 31, 2002, Credit had $425,000 of committed unsecured revolving credit
facilities with various banks expiring as follows: $240,000 within one year and
$185,000 on various dates from August 2003 through April 2006. Credit generally
incurs a fee on the unused portion of these facilities. Borrowings under these
credit facilities generally mature between one and ninety days and bear interest
based on domestic money market rates or LIBOR, at Credit's option. The weighted
average interest rates on borrowings outstanding at July 31, 2002 and 2001 were
2.4% and 4.4%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates on borrowings
outstanding during the years ended July 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were 2.8%, 6.0%
and 6.3%, respectively.
Asset Securitization Financings
Credit established an asset securitization facility in July 2001. The Company
structured the terms of the facility so that securitization proceeds would be
recorded as secured borrowings on its consolidated balance sheets and not as
sales of receivables. Therefore, no gains on sales of securitized receivables
would be recorded. The Company borrowed $125,000 in July 2001 and $100,000 in
December 2001 under the facility. The Company borrowed another $100,000 in
August 2002. The secured borrowings are without recourse to the Company.
The terms of the facility limit the amount that the Company can borrow to a
minimum level of securitized receivables. When borrowings exceed the minimum
level, the Company has the option to repay the excess or to securitize more
receivables. The Company can securitize more receivables during the term of the
facility. The facility expires January 31, 2003 subject to renewal. Upon the
expiration of the facility, the Company has the option to repay borrowings
outstanding or to convert them into term debt. The term debt would be repaid
monthly in amounts equal to the collections of securitized receivables.
Currently, the Company would exercise the conversion option. Based on the
contractual payments of securitized receivables at July 31, 2002, the term debt
would be fully repaid by November 2004.
Credit's unsecured senior debt agreements limit the amount of finance
receivables that it can securitize to 40% of its finance receivables
outstanding, approximately $578,000 at July 31, 2002. Based on this amount,
Credit could securitize an additional $312,699 of finance receivables. The
amount that Credit can borrow under the securitization facility is limited to
94% of securitized receivables.
Finance receivables in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets include
$265,301 and $166,580 of securitized receivables at July 31, 2002 and 2001,
respectively. The weighted average interest rates on borrowings outstanding at
July 31, 2002 and 2001 were 1.8% and 4.0%, respectively. The weighted average
interest rates on borrowings outstanding during the years ended July 31, 2002
and 2001 were 2.2% and 4.0%, respectively. The interest rate changes monthly.
Subordinated Debt
The 4.5% convertible subordinated notes were issued by Financial with an
original maturity of May 2005. The Company called the notes for redemption in
July 2002. The redemption was completed in August 2002; $56,223 of the notes
were redeemed for cash and $34,965 of the notes were converted into 1,159,000
shares of the Company's common stock at the stated conversion price of $30.15625
per share.
The Company paid a $1,085 prepayment premium equal to 1.93% of the notes
redeemed for cash. The premium, combined with the expensing of unamortized
deferred debt issuance costs (which were being amortized over the term of the
notes), resulted in a $1,736 non-recurring, pre-tax charge that will be recorded
in the Company's first quarter of 2003.
23
Note holders also converted $7 and $5 of these notes into the Company's common
stock in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company repurchased $4,300 principal
amount of the notes in 2000 for $3,536 and $4,500 principal amount of these
notes in 1999 for $3,815.
The 8.0% subordinated debentures mature March 1, 2003 with interest payable
semi-annually. The debentures are subordinated to senior debt and other debt
designated by the Board of Directors and to certain other liabilities as
provided for in the debentures.
Other
Credit's debt agreements contain certain restrictive covenants including
limitations on its indebtedness, encumbrances, dividends and other distributions
to its parent, capital expenditures, net worth, interest coverage and sales of
assets.
Long-term senior debt of $577,841 at July 31, 2002 comprised $277,000 of term
notes, $55,000 of borrowings under bank credit facilities that expire after July
31, 2003, $13,230 of borrowings under bank credit facilities that expire before
July 31, 2003 and $116,770 of commercial paper (that were both supported by
credit facilities that expire after July 31, 2003) and $115,841 of the asset
securitization financings. Long-term senior debt at July 31, 2002 is due as
follows: $289,181 in 2004, $196,410 in 2005, $53,000 in 2006, $34,250 in 2007
and $5,000 in 2008. Long-term senior debt of $703,584 at July 31, 2001 comprised
$425,084 of term notes, $86,060 of borrowings under bank credit facilities that
expire after July 31, 2002, $58,000 of borrowings under bank credit facilities
that expired before July 31, 2002 and $40,940 of commercial paper (that were
both supported by credit facilities that expire after July 31, 2002) and
$93,500 of the asset securitization financing.
NOTE 4--STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
The Company established a common stock repurchase program in August 1996 and
expanded the program in August 1998 to include repurchases of its convertible
subordinated notes. Through July 31, 2002, the Company has repurchased (and
retired) 360,000 shares of common stock (423,000 shares as adjusted for stock
splits) at a total cost of $6,734, and $8,800 principal amount of convertible
notes at a total cost of $7,151. In 2002, the Company increased the amount
available under the program by $13,383. There were no repurchases made in 2002.
At July 31, 2002, $20,000 was available for future repurchases under the
program.
In 2001, the Company and the majority of its warrant holders amended the warrant
agreements for the purchase of the Company's common stock. The amendment
permitted the warrant holders to exercise their warrants with previously owned
common stock of the Company in lieu of cash.
In 2001, after the amendment, all of the Company's 1,607,000 outstanding
warrants were exercised. The total proceeds to the Company were $4,497
(1,125,000 warrants at an exercise price of $2.83 per warrant and 482,000
warrants at an exercise price of $2.72 per warrant). The Company received $1,114
and 137,000 shares of its common stock at an average market value of $24.70 per
share. These shares were held in treasury at July 31, 2002.
NOTE 5--STOCK PLANS
The Company's 1998 Stock Option/Restricted Stock Plan (the "1998 Plan") was
approved by the Company's stockholders in December 1998. The 1998 Plan, as
amended in February 2002 to include grants of restricted stock, provides for
2,500,000 incentive or non-qualified stock options or restricted stock to be
granted to the Company's officers, other employees and directors. The 1998 Plan
expires in September 2008. The Company's prior stock option plan expired in
September 1999. Under both plans, the exercise price of an incentive stock
option may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the
date granted and the term of an incentive stock option is limited to ten years.
Options outstanding at July 31, 2002 were generally granted with terms of five
or six years and generally vest (become exercisable) over periods of three to
five years. At July 31, 2002, 811,000 shares of common stock were available for
future grants of stock options and restricted stock.
24
Stock option activity and related information is summarized as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Weighted
Options Average
(in thousands) Exercise Price
================================================================================
Outstanding at July 31, 1999 802 $15.00
Granted 350 18.63
Exercised (98) 7.16
Canceled (14) 18.32
-------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at July 31, 2000 1,040 16.92
Granted 661 23.32
Exercised (135) 11.75
Canceled (8) 19.46
-------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at July 31, 2001 1,558 20.06
Granted 517 26.09
Exercised (242) 14.58
Canceled (81) 22.44
-------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at July 31, 2002 1,752 22.49
=============================================================
Exercisable at July 31:
2002 352 $19.10
2001 375 17.05
2000 360 15.66
The exercise prices of options outstanding at July 31, 2002 ranged from $7.89 to
$28.85. Additional information by price range follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price Range
----------------------------------------
Over $23 $18-$23 Under $12
================================================================================
Outstanding:
Number (in thousands) 1,069 633 50
Weighted average
exercise price $24.85 $19.53 $ 9.71
Weighted average
remaining contractual
life (in years) 5.3 4.0 0.9
Exercisable:
Number (in thousands) 13 311 28
Weighted average
exercise price $26.54 $19.50 $11.17
Pro forma amounts of net earnings and earnings per share, determined as if
compensation expense attributable to stock options had been recognized using the
fair value method under SFAS No. 123, follow:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Net earnings:
As reported $37,068 $31,616 $26,722
Pro forma 34,865 29,825 25,394
Diluted earnings per share:
As reported $ 1.99 $ 1.75 $ 1.52
Pro forma 1.90 1.67 1.46
Basic earnings per share:
As reported $ 2.23 $ 1.99 $ 1.79
Pro forma 2.09 1.88 1.70
25
The Company estimated the following weighted average grant date fair values for
options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the
following assumptions:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Weighted average grant
date fair value $8.89 $8.88 $7.46
Assumptions:
Weighted average risk-
free interest rate 3.3% 4.8% 5.9%
Expected stock price
volatility rate 37% 37% 35%
Weighted average expected
life of options granted
(in years) 4.2 4.5 4.8
In 2002, the Company established a Supplemental Retirement Benefit ("SERP") for
its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). Under the SERP, the Company's CEO was
granted 100,000 stock units (representing an equivalent number of shares of
common stock) that will vest evenly over eight years, subject to certain
forfeiture provisions.
In 2001, the Company established a Management Incentive Plan ("MIP") for its
CEO. The MIP was approved by the Company's stockholders in December 2001. Under
the MIP, the CEO can be awarded shares of restricted stock, in addition to a
cash bonus, if the Company achieves certain performance goals for given fiscal
periods. The total number of shares of restricted stock that can be awarded
under the MIP is 500,000. The CEO received 50,000 shares of restricted stock in
2002 and 30,000 shares of restricted stock in 2001. In 2002, the CEO was also
awarded 50,000 shares of restricted stock subject to the Company achieving
certain performance goals for 2003. At July 31, 2002, 370,000 shares of
restricted stock were available for future awards.
The Company also awarded 445,000 and 26,000 shares of restricted stock under
the 1998 Plan to certain of its officers in 2002 and 2001, respectively. These
shares, and the shares awarded under the MIP, vest evenly over eight years for
the 2002 awards and over four years for the 2001 awards.
The restricted stock agreements and the SERP provide for full acceleration of
vesting upon the occurrence of certain events including a sale of the Company,
death or disability and qualifying terminations of employment. The expense from
these awards is recognized over their respective vesting periods on a
straight-line basis. The Company recorded compensation expense of $1,473 in 2002
and $76 in 2001 for the restricted stock awards and the SERP.
NOTE 6--EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Earnings per common share was calculated as follows (in thousands, except per
share amounts):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Net earnings (used for
basic earnings per share) $37,068 $31,616 $26,722
Effect of convertible
securities 2,894 2,883 2,948
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted net earnings
(used for diluted
earnings per share) $39,962 $34,499 $29,670
================================================================================
Weighted average common
shares outstanding
(used for basic earnings
per share) 16,645 15,895 14,895
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible notes 3,024 3,024 3,095
Stock options 424 302 206
Restricted stock 27 -- --
Warrants -- 542 1,375
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted weighted average
common shares and
assumed conversions
(used for diluted
earnings per share) 20,120 19,763 19,571
================================================================================
Net earnings per common share:
Diluted $ 1.99 $ 1.75 $ 1.52
================================================================================
Basic $ 2.23 $ 1.99 $ 1.79
================================================================================
26
NOTE 7--INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes comprised the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Currently payable:
Federal $18,788 $15,223 $10,563
State 3,818 2,810 1,639
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 22,606 18,033 12,202
Deferred 1,468 2,118 4,708
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provision for
income taxes $24,074 $20,151 $16,910
================================================================================
Income taxes computed at statutory federal rates are reconciled to the provision
for income taxes as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Federal at statutory rates $21,400 $18,118 $15,271
State taxes (net of federal
tax benefit) 2,480 2,033 1,639
Other 194 -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Provision for
income taxes $24,074 $20,151 $16,910
================================================================================
Deferred income taxes comprised the tax effect of the following temporary
differences:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2002 2001
================================================================================
Deferred tax liabilities:
Leasing transactions $ 35,039 $ 34,013
Finance income and other 6,611 5,323
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 41,650 39,336
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for possible losses (9,338) (8,505)
Other (1,757) (1,744)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total (11,095) (10,249)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred income taxes $ 30,555 $ 29,087
================================================================================
NOTE 8--SALARIES AND OTHER EXPENSES
Salaries and other expenses comprised the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Years Ended July 31, 2002 2001 2000
================================================================================
Salaries and employee benefits $11,716 $ 9,714 $ 7,836
Other expenses 9,312 7,425 5,154
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $21,028 $17,139 $12,990
================================================================================
NOTE 9--LEASE COMMITMENTS
The Company occupies office space under leases expiring through 2007. At July
31, 2002, minimum future annual rentals due under these leases are $1,038 in
2003, $929 in 2004, $752 in 2005, $695 in 2006 and $325 in 2007. Office rent
expense was $1,446 in 2002, $1,208 in 2001 and $1,012 in 2000.
NOTE 10--FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company's financial instruments comprise cash, finance receivables
(excluding leases), commitments to extend credit and debt. The following methods
were used to estimate the fair value of these financial instruments.
The carrying values of cash, commercial paper, bank borrowings and asset
securitization financings approximated their fair values based on their
short-term maturities.
27
The fair value of the senior term notes was approximately $521,900 and $524,800
at July 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. These amounts were computed based on
the future cash flows of the notes discounted at current interest rates for debt
with similar terms and maturities.
The fair value of the 4.5% convertible notes was $92,947 at July 31, 2002, equal
to their principal amount plus the call premium. At July 31, 2001, the carrying
value of the notes approximated their fair value based on their quoted market
price. The carrying values of the 8.0% subordinated debentures were estimated to
approximate their fair value at July 31, 2002 and 2001 based on their future
cash flows discounted at current rates for debt with a similar term and
maturity.
It is not practicable for the Company to estimate the fair value of its finance
receivables and commitments to extend credit. These financial instruments
comprise a substantial number of transactions with commercial obligors in
numerous industries, are secured by liens on various types of equipment and may
be guaranteed by third parties. Any difference between the carrying value and
the fair value of each transaction would be affected by a potential buyer's
assessment of the transaction's credit quality, collateral value, third-party
guarantee(s), payment history, yield, maturity, documentation and other legal
matters, and many other subjective considerations of the buyer. In addition, the
value received in a fair market sale of a transaction would be based on the
terms of the sale, the documentation governing such sale, the Company's and the
buyer's views of general economic conditions, industry dynamics, the Company's
and the buyer's tax considerations, and numerous other factors. Information
pertinent to estimating the fair value of finance receivables is presented in
Note 2.
NOTE 11--SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per Share
Net ------------------
Revenues Earnings Diluted Basic
================================================================================
Fiscal 2002, three months ended:
October 31, 2001 $34,633 $8,832 $0.48 $0.53
January 31, 2002 34,589 9,222 0.50 0.56
April 30, 2002 34,188 9,406 0.50 0.56
July 31, 2002 35,367 9,608 0.51 0.57
Fiscal 2001, three months ended:
October 31, 2000 $33,093 $7,272 $0.41 $0.49
January 31, 2001 34,760 7,730 0.43 0.49
April 30, 2001 34,825 8,010 0.44 0.49
July 31, 2001 35,600 8,604 0.47 0.52
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
---------------------------------------------------------------
The Company changed accountants in each of the last two fiscal years. The
second change was the result of the problems encountered by Arthur Andersen
LLP.
On June 6, 2002, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the
Audit Committee, appointed the firm of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent
public accountants for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2002 and dismissed
Arthur Andersen LLP ("Andersen"). Andersen's report on the financial
statements of the Company for fiscal 2001 did not contain any adverse opinion
or disclaimer of opinion nor was it in any way qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The Company's financial
statements for the year ended July 31, 2000 were audited by Eisner & Lubin LLP.
The decision to change accountants was recommended by management and
approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as well as the full
Board.
During fiscal 2001, and the interim period preceding the dismissal, there
were not any disagreements between the Company and Andersen on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or audit
28
scope or procedure. The Company has never been advised by Andersen that
internal controls necessary for the Company to develop reliable financial
statements do not exist or that any information has come to the attention of
Andersen which would have caused it not to be able to rely on management's
representations or that has made Andersen unwilling to be associated with the
financial statements prepared by management. Andersen has not advised the
Company of any need to significantly expand the scope of its audit or that
information has come to their attention that upon further investigation may
materially impact on the fairness or reliability of a previously issued audit
report or financial statements issued or to be issued or which would cause them
to be unwilling to rely on management's representations or be associated with
the Company's financial statements.
Andersen has not advised the Company of any information which they
concluded materially impacts upon the fairness or reliability of either a
previously issued audit report, underlying financial statements or the
financial statements issued or to be issued since the last financial statements
covered by an audit report.
On October 19, 2000, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the
Audit Committee, appointed the firm of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2001 and
dismissed Eisner & Lubin LLP ("Eisner & Lubin"). Eisner & Lubin's report on
the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years 1999 and 2000 did
not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion nor was it in any way
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
The decision to change accountants was recommended by management and
approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors as well as the full
Board.
During fiscal years 1999 and 2000, and the interim period preceding the
dismissal, there have been no disagreements between the Company and Eisner &
Lubin on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure or audit scope or procedure. The Company has never been advised by
Eisner & Lubin that internal controls necessary for the Company to develop
reliable financial statements do not exist or that any information has come to
the attention of Eisner & Lubin which would have caused it not to be able to
rely on management's representations or that has made Eisner & Lubin unwilling
to be associated with the financial statements prepared by management. Eisner
& Lubin has not advised the Company of any need to significantly expand the
scope of its audit or that information has come to their attention that upon
further investigation may materially impact on the fairness or reliability of a
previously issued audit report or financial statements issued or to be issued
or which would cause them to be unwilling to rely on management's
representations or be associated with the Company's financial statements.
Eisner & Lubin has not advised the Company of any information which they
concluded materially impacts upon the fairness or reliability of either a
previously issued audit report, underlying financial statements or the
financial statements issued or to be issued since the last financial statements
covered by an audit report. Nor has Eisner & Lubin advised that they would be
prevented from rendering an unqualified audit report on any such financial
statements.
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
--------------------------------------------------
The information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference from the
information in the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held December
10, 2002, except as to biographical information on Executive Officers that is
contained in Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
----------------------
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the
information in the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant
to Regulation 14A for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held December
10, 2002.
29
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------
Equity Compensation Plan Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of securities
Number of Weighted- remaining available for
securities to average future issuance under
be issued upon exercise equity compensation
exercise of price of plans (excluding
outstanding outstanding securities reflected in
Plan category options (a) options (b) column (a)) (c)
==============================================================================
Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders 1,752,170 $22.49 1,181,200 (1)
Equity compensation
plans not approved
by security holders - - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1,752,170 $22.49 1,181,200
==============================================================================
(1) Amount includes 811,200 stock options or shares of restricted stock
available for future issuance under the Company's Amended and
Restated 1998 Stock Option/Restricted Stock Plan and 370,000 shares
of restricted stock available for future issuance under the
Company's 2001 Management Incentive Plan.
Other information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference from
the information in the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
December 10, 2002.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
----------------------------------------------
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference from
the information in the Registrant's Definitive Proxy statement to be filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
December 10, 2002.
PART IV
Item 14. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
-----------------------
This disclosure is not applicable for the current filing period.
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
----------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Documents filed as part of this report:
1. Index to financial statements filed as part of this report: Page
----
Independent Auditors' Report 14
Consolidated Balance Sheets as at July 31, 2002 and 2001 15
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
fiscal years ended July 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 16
Consolidated Income Statements for the fiscal years ended
July 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 17
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years
ended July 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 18
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 19-28
The reports of the Company's two predecessor accountants,
Arthur Andersen LLP and Eisner & Lubin LLP, set forth below,
are hereby filed with and made a part of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K.
30
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Financial Federal Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Financial
Federal Corporation and subsidiaries as of July 31, 2001 and the related
consolidated statements of stockholders' equity, operations and cash flows for
the year 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 audit. The consolidated balance sheet of
Financial Federal Corporation as of July 31, 2000 and the related statements of
stockholders' equity, operations and cash flows for each of the two years in
the period ended July 31, 2000 were audited by other auditors whose report
dated August 31, 2000 expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the 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. 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 audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Financial Federal Corporation
and subsidiaries as of July 31, 2001 and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
---------------------------------------------------
New York, New York
August 31, 2001
The above report is a copy of the previously issued Andersen accountants'
report. This report has not been re-issued by Andersen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Auditors' Report
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Financial Federal Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of stockholders'
equity, income and cash flows of Financial Federal Corporation and
Subsidiaries for the year ended July 31, 2000. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our
audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated operating results
and cash flows of Financial Federal Corporation and Subsidiaries for the year
ended July 31, 2000, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
/s/ Eisner & Lubin LLP
---------------------------------------------------
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
New York, New York
August 31, 2000
31
2. Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 (a) Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant
3.2 (a) By-laws of the Registrant
3.3 (a) Form of Restated and Amended By-laws of the Registrant
3.4 (g) Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation dated
December 9, 1998
3.5 (g) Restated By-laws of the Registrant as amended through
December 30, 1998
3.6 (h) Restated By-laws of the Registrant as amended through March
7, 2000
4.8 (d) Indenture dated January 14, 1998 for Credit's Rule 144A
Medium Term Note Program
4.9 (e) Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1998, between Registrant
and First National Bank of Chicago for Registrant's $100
million 4.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005
4.10 (e) Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 24, 1998,
between Registrant and BancAmerica Robertson Stephens,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation,
Piper Jaffray Inc., CIBC Oppenheimer Corporation, Friedman,
Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Schroder & Co. Inc., and
Wheat, First Securities, Inc. for Registrant's $100 million
4.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005
4.11 (e) Specimen 4.5% Convertible Subordinated Note Due 2005
4.12 (e) Specimen Common Stock Certificate
4.13 (i) Indenture dated September 20, 2000 for Financial Federal
Credit Inc.'s $200 million Rule 144A Medium Term Note program
10.8 (a) Form of Commercial Paper Note issued by the Registrant
10.9 (a) Form of Commercial Paper Note issued by Credit
10.10 (a) Stock Option Plan of the Registrant and forms of related
stock option agreements
10.17 (b) Deferred Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 1995
between Credit and Bernard G. Palitz.
10.21 (c) Form of Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement of Credit
10.22 (c) Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement with certain
officers as filed under the Top Hat Plan with the Department
of Labor
10.25 (f) Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option/Restricted Stock Plan
of the Registrant
10.26 (h) Deferred Compensation Agreement dated March 7, 2000 between
the Registrant and Clarence Y. Palitz, Jr.
10.27 (i) 2001 Management Incentive Plan for the Chief Executive
Officer of the Registrant
10.28 (i) Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 27, 2001
between the Registrant and its Chief Executive Officer
10.29 (i) Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated February 27, 2001
between the Registrant and certain of its senior officers
10.30 (k) Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated March 1, 2002
between the Registrant and its Chief Executive Officer
10.31 (k) Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated March 1, 2002
between the Registrant and certain of its senior officers
10.32 * Supplemental Retirement Benefit dated June 4, 2002 between
the Registrant and its Chief Executive Officer
12.1 * Computation of Debt-To-Equity Ratio
16.1 (j) Letter of Eisner & Lubin LLP regarding change in
Registrant's certifying accountants
16.2 (l) Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and
Exchange Commission dated June 6, 2002 pursuant to Item
304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K
21.1 * Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23.1 * Independent Auditors' consent from KPMG LLP
23.2 * Disclosure in lieu of consent from Arthur Andersen LLP
23.3 * Consent of Certified Public Accountants from Eisner & Lubin LLP
____________
* Filed herewith.
(a) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 33-46662).
(b) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1995.
(c) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31,
1996.
32
(d) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1998.
(e) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
(Registration No. 333-56651).
(f) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
(Registration No. 333-50962).
(g) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 1999.
(h) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2000.
(i) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2001.
(j) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K/A filed on December 11, 2000.
(k) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to one of the Company's Forms 10-Q for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2002.
(l) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Company's Form 8-K filed on June 6, 2002.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2002 reporting,
under Item 4, the announcement of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the
Company's independent auditors.
The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated July 2, 2002 reporting,
under Item 5, the announcement of its $200 million institutional
unsecured term financing.
The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2002 reporting,
under Item 5, the announcement of the call of its 4.5% convertible
subordinated notes for redemption.
The Company filed a report on Form 8-K dated August 19, 2002
reporting, under Item 5, the announcement of the results of the call
of its 4.5% convertible subordinated notes for redemption.
33
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
-----------------------------
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Paul R. Sinsheimer
-----------------------------
Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer and President
October 25, 2002
----------------
Date
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.
/s/ Lawrence B. Fisher October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Director Date
/s/ William C. MacMillen, Jr. October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Director Date
/s/ Thomas F. Robards October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Director Date
/s/ H. E. Timanus, Jr. October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Director Date
/s/ Stephen D. Weinroth October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Director Date
/s/ Michael C. Palitz October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Director Date
/s/ Steven F. Groth October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ David H. Hamm October 25, 2002
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Date
Officer)
34
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Paul R. Sinsheimer, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Financial Federal
Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
this annual report; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual
report.
Date: October 25, 2002
----------------
/s/ Paul R. Sinsheimer
-------------------------------------
Paul R. Sinsheimer
Chief Executive Officer and President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I, Steven F. Groth, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Financial Federal
Corporation;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
this annual report; and
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual
report.
Date: October 25, 2002
----------------
/s/ Steven F. Groth
-------------------------------------
Steven F. Groth
Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President
35
Section 906 Certification
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Financial Federal Corporation for the year ended July 31, 2002, each of the
undersigned officers, being the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer, respectively, of Financial Federal Corporation, hereby certify
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) such Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2002
fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended July 31, 2002 fairly presents, in all material respects, the
financial condition and results of operations of Financial Federal
Corporation.
October 25, 2002 /s/ Paul R. Sinsheimer
--------------- -------------------------------------
Date Paul R. Sinsheimer
Chief Executive Officer and President
October 25, 2002 /s/ Steven F. Groth
---------------- -------------------------------------
Date Steven F. Groth
Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President
36
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit Page No.
----------- ---------------------- --------
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant *
3.2 By-laws of the Registrant *
3.3 Form of Restated and Amended By-laws of the Registrant *
3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
dated December 9, 1998 *
3.5 Restated By-laws of the Registrant as amended through
December 30, 1998 *
3.6 Restated By-laws of the Registrant as amended through
March 7, 2000 *
4.8 Indenture dated January 14, 1998 for Credit's Rule 144A
Medium Term Note Program *
4.9 Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1998, between Registrant
and First National Bank of Chicago for Registrant's $100
million 4.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 *
4.10 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 24, 1998,
between Registrant and BancAmerica Robertson Stephens,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Piper
Jaffray Inc., CIBC Oppenheimer Corporation, Friedman,
Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc., Schroder & Co. Inc., and
Wheat, First Securities, Inc. for Registrant's $100
million 4.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 *
4.11 Specimen 4.5% Convertible Subordinated Note Due 2005 *
4.12 Specimen Common Stock Certificate *
4.13 Indenture dated September 20, 2000 for Financial Federal
Credit Inc.'s $200 million Rule 144A Medium Term Note
program *
10.8 Form of Commercial Paper Note issued by the Registrant *
10.9 Form of Commercial Paper Note issued by Credit *
10.10 Stock Option Plan of the Registrant and forms of related
stock option agreements *
10.17 Deferred Compensation Agreement dated January 1, 1995
between Credit and Bernard G. Palitz. *
10.21 Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement, dated April 23, 1996,
between Credit and BA Securities, Inc. *
10.22 Form of Deferred Compensation Agreement with certain
officers as filed under the Top Hat Plan with the
Department of Labor *
10.25 Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option/Restricted Stock
Plan of the Registrant *
10.26 Deferred Compensation Agreement dated March 7, 2000 between
the Registrant and Clarence Y. Palitz, Jr. *
10.27 2001 Management Incentive Plan for the Chief Executive
Officer of the Registrant *
10.28 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between the Registrant
and its Chief Executive Officer *
10.29 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between the Registrant
and certain senior officers *
10.30 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated March 1, 2002
between the Registrant and its Chief Executive Officer *
10.31 Form of Restricted Stock Agreement dated March 1, 2002
between the Registrant and certain of its senior officers *
10.32 Supplemental Retirement Benefit dated June 4, 2002 between
the Registrant and its Chief Executive Officer 38
12.1 Computation of Debt-To-Equity Ratio 41
16.1 Letter of Eisner & Lubin LLP regarding change in
Registrant's certifying accountants *
16.2 Letter of Arthur Andersen LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission dated June 6, 2002 pursuant to Item 304(a)(3) of
Regulation S-K *
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant 42
23.1 Independent Auditors' consent from KPMG LLP 43
23.2 Disclosure in lieu of consent from Arthur Andersen LLP 44
23.3 Consent of Certified Public Accountants from Eisner &
Lubin LLP 45
____________
*Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit.
37