The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
LM Funding America, Inc. (“LMFA” or the “Company”) was formed as a Delaware corporation on April 20, 2015. LMFA was formed for the purpose of completing a public offering and related transactions in order to carry on the business of LM Funding, LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Predecessor”). LMFA is the sole member of LM Funding, LLC and operates and controls all of its businesses and affairs.
LM Funding, LLC a Florida limited liability company organized in January 2008 under the terms of an Operating Agreement dated effective January 8, 2008 as amended, had two members: BRR Holding, LLC and CGR 63, LLC. The members contributed their equity interest to LMFA prior to the closing of its initial public offering.
The Company is a specialty finance company that provides funding principally to community associations that are almost exclusively located in Florida. The business of the Company is conducted pursuant to relevant state statutes (the “Statutes”), principally Florida Statute 718.116. The Statutes provide each community association lien rights to secure payment from unit owners (property owners) for assessments, interest, administrative late fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and collection costs. In addition, the lien rights granted under the Statutes are given a higher priority (a “Super Lien”) than all other lien holders except property tax liens. The Company provides funding to associations for their delinquent assessments from property owners in exchange for an assignment of the association’s right to collect proceeds pursuant to the Statutes. The Company derives its revenues from the proceeds of association collections.
The Statutes specify that the rate of interest an association (or its assignor) may charge on delinquent assessments is equal to the rate set forth in the association’s declaration or bylaws. In Florida if a rate is not specified, the statutory rate is equal to 18% but may not exceed the maximum rate allowed by law. Similarly, the Statutes in Florida also stipulate that administrative late fees cannot be charged on delinquent assessments unless so provided by the association’s declaration or bylaws and may not exceed the greater of $25 or 5% of each delinquent assessment.
The Statutes limit the liability of a first mortgage holder for unpaid assessments and related charges and fees (as set forth above) in the event of title transfer by foreclosure or acceptance of deed in lieu of foreclosure. This liability is limited to the lesser of twelve months of regular periodic assessments or one percent of the original mortgage debt on the unit (the “Super Lien Amount”).
Principles of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of LMFA and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: LM Funding, LLC; LMF October 2010 Fund, LLC; REO Management Holdings, LLC (including all 100% owned subsidiary limited liability companies); LM Funding of Colorado, LLC; LM Funding of Washington, LLC; LM Funding of Illinois, LLC; and LMF SPE #2, LLC and various single purpose limited liability corporations owned by REO Management Holdings, LLC which own various properties. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2018 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to provide a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017, is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal the year ended December 31, 2017.
6
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates include the evaluation of any probable losses on amounts funded under the Company’s
New Neighbor Guaranty
program as disclosed below, the evaluation of probable losses on balances due from a related party, the realization of deferred tax assets, the evaluation of contingent losses related to litigation and fair value estimates of real estate assets owned.
Revenue Recognition
Accounting Standards Codification
(“ASC”) 606 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) states
an entity needs to conclude at the inception of the contract that collectability of the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods and services that will be transferred to the customer is probable.
That is, in some circumstances, an entity may not need to assess its ability to collect all of the consideration in the contract.
The Company provides funding to community associations by purchasing their rights under delinquent accounts from unpaid assessments due from property owners (the “accounts”). Collections on the accounts may vary greatly in both the timing and amount ultimately recovered compared with the total revenues earned on the accounts because of a variety of economic and social
factors affecting the real estate environment in general. The Company’s contracts with its customers have very specific performance obligations. The Company has determined that the known amount of cash to be realized or realizable on its revenue generating activities cannot be reasonably estimated.
The Company classifies its finance receivables as nonaccrual and recognizes revenues in the accompanying statements of income on the cash basis or cost recovery method. The Company applies the cash basis method to its original product and the cost recovery method to its special product as follows:
Finance Receivables—Original Product
: Under the Company’s original product, delinquent assessments are funded only up to the Super Lien Amount as discussed above. Recoverability of funded amounts is generally assured because of the protection of the Super Lien Amount. As such, payments by unit owners on the Company’s original product are recorded to income when received in accordance with the provisions of the Florida Statute (718.116(3)) and the provisions of the purchase agreements entered into between the Company and community associations. Those provisions require that all payments be applied in the following order: first to interest, then to late fees, then to costs of collection, then to legal fees expended by the Company and then to assessments owed. In accordance with the cash basis method of recognizing revenue and the provisions of the statute, the Company records revenues for interest and late fees when cash is received. In the event the Company determines the ultimate collectability of amounts funded under its original product are in doubt, payments are applied to first reduce the funded or principal amount.
Finance Receivables—Special Product (New Neighbor Guaranty program)
: During 2012, the Company began offering associations an alternative product under the
New Neighbor Guaranty
program where the Company will fund amounts in excess of the Super Lien Amount. Under this special product, the Company purchases substantially all of the delinquent assessments owed to the association, in addition to all accrued interest and late fees, in exchange for payment by the Company of (i) a negotiated amount or (ii) on a going forward basis, all monthly assessments due for a period up to 48 months. Under these arrangements, the Company considers the collection of amounts funded is not assured and under the cost recovery method, cash collected is applied to first reduce the carrying value of the funded or principal amount with any remaining proceeds applied next to interest, late fees, legal fees, collection costs and any amounts due to the community association. Any excess proceeds still remaining are recognized as revenues. If the future proceeds collected are lower than the Company’s funded or principal amount, then a loss is recognized.
Cash
The Company maintains cash balances at several financial institutions that are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) Transition Account Guarantee Program. Balances with the financial institutions may exceed federally insured limits.
Finance Receivables
Finance receivables are recorded at the amount funded or cost (by unit). The Company evaluates its finance receivables at each period end for losses that are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated in accordance with ASC 450-20. As discussed above, recoverability of funded amounts under the Company’s original product is generally assured because of the protection of the Super Lien Amount. However, the Company did have an accrual at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 for an allowance for credit losses for this program of $180,000 and $194,000, respectively.
7
Under the
New Neighbor Guaranty
program (special product), the Company funds amounts in excess of the Super Lien Amount. When evaluating the carrying value of its finance receivables, the Company looks at
the likelihood of future cash flows based on
historical payoffs, the fair value of the underlying real estate, the general condition of the community association in which the unit exists, and the general economic real estate environment in the local area.
The Company estimated an allowance for credit losses for this program of $51,230 as of each of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 under ASC 450-20 related to its New Neighbor Guaranty program.
The Company will charge any receivable against the allowance for credit losses when management believes the collectability of the receivable is confirmed. The Company considers writing off a receivable when (i) a first mortgage holder who names the association in a foreclosure suit takes title and satisfies an estoppel letter for amounts owed which are less than amounts the Company funded to the association; (ii) a tax deed is issued with insufficient excess proceeds to pay amounts the Company funded to the association; (iii) an association settles an account for less than amounts the Company funded to the association or (iv) the association terminates its relationship with the Company’s designated legal counsel. Upon the occurrence of any of these events, the Company evaluates the potential recovery via a deficiency judgment against the prior owner and the ability to collect upon the deficiency judgment within the statute of limitations period or whether the deficiency judgment can be sold. If the Company determines that collection through a deficiency judgment or sale of a deficiency judgment is not feasible, the Company writes off the unrecoverable receivable amount. Any losses greater than the recorded allowance will be recognized as expenses. Under the Company’s revenue recognition policies, all finance receivables (original product and special product) are classified as nonaccrual.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, write offs charged against the allowance for credit losses were $14,105 and $73,770, respectively. Any losses greater than the recorded allowance will be recognized as expenses. Under the Company’s revenue recognition policies, all finance receivables (original product and special product) are classified as nonaccrual.
Real Estate Assets Owned
In the event collection of a delinquent assessment results in a unit being sold in a foreclosure auction, the Company has the right to bid (on behalf of the community association) for the delinquent unit as attorney in fact, applying any amounts owed for the delinquent assessment to the foreclosure price as well as any additional funds that the Company, in its sole discretion, decides to pay. If a delinquent unit becomes owned by the community association by acquiring title through an association lien foreclosure auction, by accepting a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or by any other way, the Company in its sole discretion may direct the community association to quitclaim title of the unit to the Company.
Properties quitclaimed to the Company are in most cases acquired subject to a first mortgage or other liens,and are recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets solely at costs incurred by the Company in excess of original funding. At times, the Company will acquire properties through foreclosure actions free and clear of any mortgages or liens. In these cases, the Company records the estimated fair value of the properties in accordance with ASC 820-10,
Fair Value Measurements
. Any real estate held for sale is adjusted to fair value less the cost to dispose in the event the carrying value of a unit or property exceeds its estimated net realizable value.
The Company capitalizes costs incurred to acquire real estate owned properties and any costs incurred to get the units in a condition to be rented. These costs include, but are not limited to, renovation/rehabilitation costs, legal costs, and delinquent taxes. These costs are depreciated over the estimated minimum time period the Company expects to maintain possession of the units. Costs incurred for unencumbered units are depreciated over 20 years and costs for units subject to a first mortgage are depreciated over 3 years. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, capitalized real estate costs, net of accumulated depreciation, were $124,586 and $196,707, respectively.
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, depreciation expense for real estate was $5,858 and $28,503, respectively for 2018 and $8,539 and $34,459, respectively for 2017.
If the Company elects to take a quitclaim title to a unit or property held for sale, the Company is responsible to pay all future assessments on a current basis, until a change of ownership occurs. The community association must allow the Company to lease or sell the unit to satisfy obligations for delinquent assessments of the original debt. All proceeds collected from any sale of the unit shall be first applied to all amounts due the Company plus any additional funds paid by the Company to purchase the unit, if applicable. Rental revenues and sales proceeds related to real estate assets held for sale are recognized when earned and realizable. Expenditures for current assessments owed to associations, repairs and maintenance, utilities, etc. are expensed when incurred.
If the community association elects (prior to the Company obtaining title through its own election) to maintain ownership and not quitclaim title to the Company, the community association must pay the Company all interest, late fees, collection costs, and legal fees expended, plus the original funding on the unit, which have accrued according to the purchase agreement entered into by the community association and the Company. In this event, the unit will be reassigned to the community association.
8
Fixed Assets
The Company capitalizes all acquisitions of fixed assets in excess of $500. Fixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Fixed assets are comprised of furniture, computer and office equipment with an assigned useful life of 3 to 5 years. Fixed assets also include capitalized software costs. Capitalized software costs include costs to develop software to be used solely to meet the Company’s internal needs, consist of employee salaries and benefits and fees paid to outside consultants during the application development stage, and are amortized over their estimated useful life of 5 years. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, capitalized software costs, net of accumulated amortization, was $27,766 and $45,210, respectively. Amortization expense for capitalized software costs for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $5,815 and $17,444, respectively for 2018, and $5,815 and $17,444, respectively for 2017.
Debt Issue Costs
The Company capitalizes all debt issue costs and amortizes them on a method that approximates the effective interest method over the remaining term of the note payable.
The Company capitalizes all debt issue costs and amortizes them on a method that approximates the effective interest method over the remaining term of the note payable. The Company incurred $91,760 of debt issuance costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Unamortized debt issue costs of $0 at September 30, 2018 and $0 at December 31, 2017 are presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as other assets until the loan proceeds are received which at that time will be reclassified as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability in accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03 (see below). The Company adopted this new standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position and had no impact on its consolidated income or cash flows. In addition, the amortization of debt issuance costs is to be reported as interest expense under
ASU 2015-03 (ASC 835-30-45-3). During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the amortization of debt issuance costs was $286,055 and $ 291,760
, respectively
for 2018 and $24,641 and $73,922
, respectively
for 2017.
Debt Discount
On April 2, 2018, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with a New York-based family office (“Investor”), which was subsequently amended (see
Note 8. Subsequent Events)
, pursuant to which the Company issued to Investor a Senior Convertible Promissory Note (“Note”) in the original principal amount of $500,000 in exchange for a purchase price of $500,000. The maturity date of the Note is six months after the date of issuance (subject to acceleration upon an event of default). The Note carries a 10.5% interest rate, with accrued but unpaid interest being payable on the Note’s maturity date. Investor was also issued pursuant to the SPA five- year warrants exercisable at the closing per share bid price on April 2, 2018 to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”) (see Note 5. Long Term Debt).
The 40,000 warrants were valued on the grant date at approximately $3.87 per warrant or a total of $154,676 using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: stock price of $7.40 per share (based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant), volatility of 100.6%, expected term of 5 years, and a risk-free interest rate of 2.55%. The fair value of the warrants ($154,676) was treated as a debt discount that is being amortized over 6 months. The amortization of the discount is recognized as interest expense of which $154,676 was recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Settlement Costs with Associations
Community associations working with the Company will at times incur costs in connection with litigation initiated by the Company against property owners and/or mortgage holders. These costs include settlement agreements whereby the community association agrees to pay some monetary compensation to the opposing party or judgments against the community associations for fees of opposing legal counsel or other damages awarded by the courts. The Company indemnifies the community association for these costs pursuant to the provisions of the agreement between the Company and the community association. Costs incurred by the Company for these indemnification obligations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $12,000 and $39,000, respectively for 2018 and $101,000 and $257,000, respectively for 2017. The Company does not limit its indemnification based on amounts ultimately collected from property owners.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the consolidated financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes resulting primarily from the tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
Under ASC 740-10-30-5,
Income Taxes
, deferred tax assets should be reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not (i.e., a likelihood of more than 50%) that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets
9
will not be realized. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence available in determining the potential realization of deferred tax assets including, primarily, the recent
history of taxable earnings or losses. Based on operating losses reported by the
Company during 2017 and 2016, the Company concluded there was not sufficient positive evidence to overcome this recent operating history. As a result, the Company believes tha
t a valuation allowance was necessary based on the more-likely-than-not threshold noted above. The Company recorded a valuation allowance of approximately of $3,620,000 during the year ended December 31, 2017 equal to its deferred tax asset as of December
31, 2017. The valuation allowance was subsequently reduced to reflect the decrease in deferred tax assets resulting from the tax act of 2017.
The Company incurred net income for the first nine months ended September 30, 2018, but no income tax expense was recorded because the net operating carryforward losses would offset the net income resulting in no current tax expense.
Loss Per Share
On October 15, 2018, the Company effected a common share consolidation (“Reverse Stock Split”) by means of a one-for-ten (1:10) reverse split of its outstanding common stock, par value $0.001 per share which resulted in a decrease in outstanding common stock to 625,318 shares.
The Reverse Stock Split became effective, on October 16, 2018 and the Company’s common stock began trading on The Nasdaq Global Market on a split-adjusted basis on October 16, 2018.
The Company has restated all share amounts to reflect the Reverse Stock Split.
Basic loss per share is calculated as net loss to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share for the period equals basic loss per share as the effect of any stock based compensation awards or stock warrants would be anti-dilutive. The anti-dilutive stock based compensation awards consisted of:
|
|
|
|
As of September 30,
|
|
2018
|
2017
|
Stock Options
|
19,800
|
26,700
|
Stock Warrants
|
160,000
|
120,000
|
On April 2, 2018, the Company issued warrants that allowed for the right to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.605 per share. Due to the subsequent issuance of stock and warrants, these warrants now have the right to purchase 143,587 shares at an exercise price of $1.84 per share. These warrants have average remaining life of 4.50 years as of September 30, 2018. These warrants expire in the year 2023.
Stock-Based Compensation
The following is a summary of the stock option plan activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
Number of Options
|
|
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|
Options Outstanding at Beginning of the year
|
|
|
11,290
|
|
|
$
|
111.10
|
|
|
|
26,700
|
|
|
$
|
110.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
10.00
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Adjustment
|
|
|
1,010
|
|
|
|
125.00
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(2,500
|
)
|
|
|
125.00
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Outstanding at End of Period
|
|
|
19,800
|
|
|
$
|
62.13
|
|
|
|
26,700
|
|
|
$
|
110.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Exercisable at End of Period
|
|
|
3,790
|
|
|
$
|
107.64
|
|
|
|
3,790
|
|
|
$
|
100.00
|
|
10
The Company records all equity-based incentive grants to employees and non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors in operating expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Stat
ements of Operations based on their fair values determined on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation expense, reduced for estimated forfeitures, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally
the vesting term of the outstanding equity awards.
The Company recognized stock compensation expense after forfeitures for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 of $16,270 and $21,799 respectively.
On May 29, 2018 the Company granted a total of 10,000 stock options to our employees at an exercise price of $10.00 per share. These awards will vest evenly over a three year period.
The maximum term of an option is 10 years from the date of grant
. The grant date fair value of the options granted was $3.50.
The 10,000 options granted in May 2018 were valued on the grant date at approximately $3.50 per option or a total of $35,100 using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: stock price of $6.00 per share (based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant), volatility of 108.0%, expected term of 6 years, and a risk-free interest rate of 2.65%. The Company expensed $3,972 of these awards as of September 30, 2018 and has $31,128 remaining to be expensed over the next 3 years.
Contingencies
The Company accrues for contingent obligations, including estimated legal costs, when the obligation is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. As facts concerning contingencies become known, the Company reassesses its position and makes appropriate adjustments to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates that are particularly sensitive to future changes include those related to tax, legal and other regulatory matters.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
FASB ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet. The Company engages a third-party valuation firm to assist in estimating the fair value of its finance receivables.
Risks and Uncertainties
Funding amounts are secured by a priority lien position provided under Florida law (see discussion above regarding Florida Statute 718.116). However, in the event the first mortgage holder takes title to the property, the amount payable by the mortgagee to satisfy the priority lien is capped under this same statute and would generally only be sufficient to reimburse the Company for funding amounts noted above for delinquent assessments. Amounts paid by the mortgagee would not generally reimburse the Company for interest, administrative late fees and collection costs. Even though the Company does not recognize these charges as revenues until collected, its business model and long-term viability is dependent on its ability to collect these charges.
In the event a delinquent unit owner files for bankruptcy protection, the Company may at its option be reimbursed by the association for the amounts funded (i.e., purchase price) and all collection rights are re-assigned to the association.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting," which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting pursuant to Topic 718. ASU 2017-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update are required to be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. This standard became effective for the Company as of January 1, 2018. The impact this standard will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures will be dependent on the terms and conditions of any modifications made to share-based awards after January 1, 2018.
11
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)."
This ASU creates a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. The model is based on changes in contract assets (rights to receive consideration) and liabilities (obligations to provide a good or service). Revenue will
be recognized based on the satisfaction of performance obligations, which occurs when control of a good or service transfers to a customer and enhanced disclosures will be required regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash f
lows arising from an entity's contracts with customers. Either a retrospective or cumulative effect transition method, referred to as the modified retrospective method, is permitted. The impact from the adoption of this standard
was
immaterial to the consolidated financial statements for the full fiscal year 2018.
The Company adopt
ed
ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method by recognizing the cumulative effect of initially applying the new standard as an
increase to the opening balance of
retained earnings.
There was no
impact from the cumulative effect adjustment
for the nine months ended September 30,
2018.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," which requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liability, initially measured at present value of the lease payments, on its balance sheet for leases with terms longer than 12 months and classified as either financing or operating leases. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified retrospective transition approach for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, and provides certain practical expedients that companies may elect including those contained in ASU 2018-01, "Leases (Topic 842): Lease Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842". This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13,
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses
which establishes a new approach for credit impairment based on an expected loss model rather than an incurred loss model. The standard requires the consideration of all available relevant information when estimating expected credit losses, including past events, current conditions and forecasts and their implications for expected credit losses. The guidance is effective January 1, 2020 with a one-year early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the new guidance.
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07 " Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting". The standard simplified the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services, therefore guidance on such payments to nonemployees would be mostly aligned with the requirements for share-based payments granted to employees. ASU 2018-07 will be effective for us beginning October 1, 2019, but early adoption is permitted (but no earlier than the adoption date of Topic 606). We are currently evaluating the impact of implementation of this standard on our financial statements.
Recent accounting guidance not discussed above is not applicable, did not have, or is not expected to have a material impact to the Company.
Reclassifications
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
12
Note 2. Finance Receivables – Original Product
The Company’s original funding product provides financing to community associations only up to the secured or “Super Lien Amount” as discussed in Note 1. Finance receivables for the original product based on the year of funding are approximately as follows:
|
|
September 30, 2018
|
|
|
December 31, 2017 (Audited)
|
|
Funded during the current year
|
|
$
|
45,000
|
|
|
$
|
118,000
|
|
1-2 years outstanding
|
|
|
51,000
|
|
|
|
38,000
|
|
2-3 years outstanding
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
3-4 years outstanding
|
|
|
8,000
|
|
|
|
24,000
|
|
Greater than 4 years outstanding
|
|
|
516,000
|
|
|
|
640,000
|
|
|
|
|
645,000
|
|
|
|
832,000
|
|
Reserve for credit losses
|
|
|
(180,000
|
)
|
|
|
(194,000
|
)
|
|
|
$
|
465,000
|
|
|
$
|
638,000
|
|
Number of active units with delinquent assessments
|
|
|
896
|
|
|
|
1,162
|
|
Amount of outstanding interest and late fees on
active units
|
|
$
|
13,264,000
|
|
|
$
|
14,600,000
|
|
Note 3. Finance Receivables – Special Product (New Neighbor Guaranty program)
The Company typically funds amounts equal to or less than the “Super Lien Amount”. During 2012, the Company began offering Associations an alternative product under the New Neighbor Guaranty program where the Company funds amounts in excess of the “Super Lien Amount”.
Under this special product, the Company purchases substantially all of the outstanding past due assessments due from delinquent property owners, in addition to all interest, late fees and other charges in exchange for the Company’s commitment to pay monthly assessments on a going forward basis up to 48 months.
As of September 30, 2018, maximum future contingent payments under these arrangements was approximately $269,000.
Delinquent assessments and accrued charges under these arrangements are as follows:
|
|
September 30, 2018
|
|
|
December 31, 2017 (Audited)
|
|
Finance receivables, net
|
|
$
|
264,000
|
|
|
$
|
339,000
|
|
Delinquent assessments
|
|
|
799,000
|
|
|
|
1,200,000
|
|
Accrued interest and late fees
|
|
|
515,000
|
|
|
|
728,000
|
|
Number of active units with delinquent assessments
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
97
|
|
Allowance for credit losses are recorded for losses that are considered “probable” and can be “reasonably estimated” in accordance with ASC 450-20. Recoverability of the Company’s Original Product is generally assured because of the protection of the Super Lien under Florida statute and as such no allowance is recorded.
Credit losses on the New Neighbor Guaranty product were estimated by the Company based on analyzing the investment in each unit and comparing that balance to the average payout for completed units for the past 12 months. The allowance for losses based on these analyses, had a remaining balance of $51,000 as of each of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
Note 4. Due to Related Party
Legal services for the Company associated with the collection of delinquent assessments from property owners are performed by a law firm (Business Law Group or “BLG”) which was owned solely by Bruce M. Rodgers, the Chief Executive Officer of LMFA until and through the date of the initial public offering. Following the offering, Mr. Rodgers transferred his interest in BLG to other attorneys at the firm through a redemption of his interest in the firm, and BLG is now under control of those lawyers.
The law firm has historically performed collection work primarily on a deferred billing basis wherein the law firm receives payment for services rendered upon collection from the property owners or at amounts ultimately subject to negotiations with the Company.
13
During 2016, the Company experienced a decline in collection events that affected revenues both to the Company and BLG. That resulted in an increase in the related party receivable and reflects the decision by the Company to advance funds to BLG based on
the amount of their unpaid legal fees due from property owners. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company entered into a new services agreement with BLG which partially alters the traditional deferred billing arrangement noted above.
Under the new agreement, the Company pays BLG a fixed monthly fee of $82,000 per month for services rendered. The Company will continue to pay BLG a minimum per unit fee of $700 in any case where there is a collection event and BLG receives no payment from the property owner. This provision has been expanded to also include any unit where the Company has taken title to the unit or where the association has terminated its contract with either BLG or the Company.
Amounts expensed by the Company to BLG for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $246,000 and $738,000, respectively for 2018 and $246,000 and $738,000, respectively for 2017. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, receivables from property owners for charges ultimately payable to BLG approximate $2,986,000 and $3,657,000, respectively.
Under the related party agreement with BLG in effect during 2017 and 2018, the Company pays all costs (lien filing fees, process and serve costs) incurred in connection with the collection of amounts due from property owners. Any recovery of these collection costs is accounted for as a reduction in expense incurred.
The Company incurred expenses related to these types of costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 of $75,000 and $248,000, respectively for 2018 and $128,000 and $394,000, respectively for 2017.
Recoveries during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, related to those costs were approximately $66,000 and $208,000, respectively for 2018 and $91,000 and $258,000, respectively for 2017.
The Company also shares office space and related common expenses with BLG. All shared expenses, including rent, are charged to the legal firm based on an estimate of actual usage. Any expenses of BLG paid by the Company that have not been reimbursed or settled against other amounts are reflected as due from related parties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
The Company assessed the collectability of the amount due from BLG as of December 31, 2017 and concluded that even though BLG had repaid $252,771 during the year, it did not have the ability to repay the remaining balance and as such took a reserve of approximately $1.4 million for the balance due as of December 31, 2017.
Amounts receivable from (payable to) BLG as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were approximately $(46,000) and $0, respectively.
Note 5. Long-Term Debt and Other Financing Arrangements
|
|
September 30, 2018
|
|
|
December 31, 2017 (Audited)
|
|
Financing agreement with FlatIron capital that is unsecured. Down payment of $16,500 was required upfront and equal installment payments of $9,610 were made over a 10 month period. The note matured May 31, 2018. Annualized interest rate was 5.25%
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
39,028
|
|
Financing agreement with FlatIron capital that is unsecured. Down payment of $28,125 was required upfront and equal installment payments of $8,701 to be made over a 10 month period. The note matures May 1, 2019. Annualized interest is 5.99%
|
|
$
|
69,610
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Senior secured convertible promissory note issued to Esousa Holdings LLC bearing interest at 10.5% that matures October 2, 2018. The interest is payable upon maturity. The note is secured by a lien on all of the assets of the Company.
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
569,610
|
|
|
|
39,028
|
|
Less: debt issuance costs
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
debt discount
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
569,610
|
|
|
$
|
39,028
|
|
On April 2, 2018, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with a New York-based family office (“Investor”), which was subsequently amended on July 23, 2018, pursuant to which the Company issued to Investor a Senior Convertible Promissory Note (“Note”) in the original principal amount of $500,000 in exchange for a purchase price of $500,000. The maturity date of the Note is nine months after the date of issuance (subject to acceleration upon an event of default). The Note carries a 10.5% interest rate, with accrued but unpaid interest being payable on the Note’s maturity date (see
Note 8. Subsequent
14
Events)
. Investor was also issued pursuant to the SPA five- year warrants exercisable at
a per-share exercise price of $6
.
6
05
to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”)
(see
section entitled “Debt Discount” under
Note 1
.
)
.
Due to the subsequent issuance of stock and warrants, these warrants now h
a
ve the right to purchase 143,587 shares at an exercise price of $1.84 per share
(See Note 8 Subsequent Events).
The Note originally allowed the Investor the option at any time on or after the maturity date to convert all or any part of the outstanding and unpaid principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest of the Note into fully paid and non-assessable shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), at a conversion price equal to 85% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock in the 10 trading days immediately prior to conversion. This conversion feature was removed upon a subsequent amendment on July 23, 2018.
On April 2, 2018, the Company also entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with Investor
relating to the purchase by Investor from the Company up to $5,000,000 of the Company’s Common Stock. The Purchase Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Investor has committed to purchase up to $5,000,000 worth of the Company’s Common Stock (“Purchase Shares”) over a 2-year period beginning on the date on which a registration statement relating to the resale of the Purchase Shares (the “Registration Statement”) is first declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).
The Purchase Agreement requires the Company to pay the Investor a commitment fee equal to $200,000 on the earlier of the first draw on the Purchase Agreement or October 3, 2018 which was unpaid as of September 30, 2018. This amount was expensed as interest expense as of September 30, 2018 since the Company cancelled this Purchase Agreement on October 5, 2018.
As contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, on April 2, 2018, the Company entered into registration rights agreement with the Investor (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement, as amended on July 23, 2018,
requires that an initial registration statement for the Purchase Shares be filed by August 13, 2018 (the “Filing Deadline”) and be declared effective by September 13, 2018 (the “Effectiveness Deadline”).
If the Company fails to meet the Filing Deadline or the Effectivness Deadline, subject to certain terms provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will be required to pay liquidated damages to the Investor. The Registration Rights Agreement also provides for customary indemnification and contribution provisions. This Agreement was cancelled at the same time the Purchase Agreement was cancelled on October 5, 2018.
Note 6. Management’s Plans
On August 27, 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-05,
Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s ability to Continue as a Going Concern
, which requires management to assess a company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from financial statement issuance and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances.
The Company has experienced significant operating losses over the past 2 years (2016 and 2017) and generated a net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. These losses resulted in the usage of all cash proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering in 2015. The Company successfully raised $5.4 million through a secondary public offering on October 30, 2018.
We believe that we have enough cash to mitigate the substantial doubt raised by our recent operating losses and satisfy our estimated liquidity needs for the 12 months from the issuance of these financial statements and avoid any substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as defined by ASU 2014-05. However, we cannot predict, with certainty, the outcome of our actions to generate liquidity, including the availability of additional debt financing, or whether such actions would generate the expected liquidity as currently planned. Additionally, a failure to generate additional liquidity could negatively impact our ability to acquire units.
15
Note
7
. Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
The Company leases its office under an operating lease beginning March 1, 2014 and ending July 31, 2019.
Future minimum lease payments due under this lease as of September 30, 2018 are as follows:
Years Ending
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
86,000
|
|
2019
|
|
|
101,000
|
|
|
|
$
|
187,000
|
|
The Company shares this space and the related costs associated with this operating lease with a related party which generates $168,000 of annual rental income (see Note 4) that also performs legal services associated with the collection of delinquent assessments. The Company’s sub-lease to an unrelated party usually generates $71,000 of annual rental income, however they are currently in default on their sub-lease.
Legal Proceedings
Other than the lawsuit described below, we are not currently a party to material litigation proceedings. However, we frequently become party to litigation in the ordinary course of business, including either the prosecution or defense of claims arising from contracts by and between us and client Associations. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of prosecution, defense, and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
The Company accrues for contingent obligations, including estimated legal costs, when the obligation is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. As facts concerning contingencies become known, the Company reassesses its position and makes appropriate adjustments to the consolidated financial statements. Estimates that are particularly sensitive to future changes include those related to tax, legal, and other regulatory matters.
We were a defendant in an action entitled
Solaris at Brickell Bay Condominium Association, Inc. v. LM Funding, LLC
, which was brought before the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade Civil Division on July 31, 2014. In this matter, which was initially preliminarily settled in August 2017, the plaintiff (an association under contract with us) alleged claims such as a usurious loan transaction, state and federal civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act claims, Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUTPA”) violations, and other related claims, and the plaintiff requested rescission of their agreement with us, forfeiture of all amounts lent by us to the plaintiff, a declaratory judgment that we have violated FDUTPA, other damages for breach of contract and violations of FDUTPA, and attorneys’ fees. On August 4, 2017, an order by the court was entered on Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement Agreement. In the order, the motion of the Plaintiff, Solaris at Brickell Bay Condominium Association, Inc., individually and on behalf of the certified plaintiff class (“Plaintiffs”), for approval of the Class Action Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Defendant LM Funding, LLC was granted. Despite our belief that we are not liable for the claims asserted and that we have good defenses thereto, we nevertheless agreed to enter into the Settlement Agreement in order to: (1) avoid any further expense, inconvenience, and distraction of burdensome and protracted litigation and its consequential negative financial effects to our operations; (2) obtain the releases, orders, and final judgment contemplated by the Settlement Agreement; and (3) put to rest and terminate with finality all claims that had been or could have been asserted against us by the Plaintiffs arising from the facts alleged in the lawsuit. Pursuant to the agreement subsequently reached between counsel, all required actions and deadlines set forth in the Settlement Agreement are currently stayed. On March 1, 2018 a continuation of the abatement was granted until April 2, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had accrued costs of $505,000 as part of the Settlement Agreement. The settlement amount was contingent upon the Company obtaining sufficient financing within the allotted timeframe of the Settlement Agreement. On April 2, 2018, the Plaintiffs withdrew from the Settlement Agreement. On August 14, 2018, the parties to the Solaris class action litigation entered into a revised settlement in which the Plaintiffs amended their complaint (the Fourth Amended Complaint) to reflect no demand for damages and only a claim for declarative and injunctive relief and amended the class definition to reflect a requirement that class members must have active units still under contract with LMF under a “Traditional Model” waterfall in the Allocation of Collection Proceeds. This was submitted to the court who approved the amended Complaint and Class Action Settlement Agreement. On November 6, 2018, the court entered an order granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement. The New Settlement Agreement will also reimburse the Plaintiff’s opposing counsel $99,000 plus an administrative fee.
As such, the Company adjusted the class action accrual to $100,000 and recorded a $405,000 class action reversal to the statement of operations. The amount was paid in the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.
16
The Company
received a $200,000 insurance reimbursement for a previously resolved case that is reflected as a reduction of professional fees for the three and
nine
months ended
September 30,
2018
.
Note
8. Subsequent Events
On October 5, 2018, the Company exercised its right to terminate the Purchase Agreement originally entered into on April 2, 2018 with the Investor. The Company also repaid the $500,000 note and accrued interest on October 5, 2018. The Company paid the $200,000 Commitment Fee on November 2, 2018 (see Note 5. Long-Term Debt).
On October 30, 2018, LM Funding America, Inc. (the
“
Company
”
) entered into an underwriting agreement (the
“
Underwriting Agreement
”
) with Maxim Group LLC (the
“
Underwriter
”
) with respect to the issuance and sale, in an underwritten public offering (the “
Offering
”), of (i) 1,005,000 units (the “
Units
”), with each Unit being comprised of one share of Company common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“
Common Stock
”), and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “
Common Warrants
”), (ii) 1,495,000 pre-funded units (the “
Pre-Funded Units
”), with each Pre-Funded Unit being comprised of one pre-funded warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share (the “
Pre-Funded Warrants
”) and one Common Warrant. Each Unit was sold for a price of $2.40 per Unit, and each Pre-Funded Unit was sold for a price of $2.39 per Unit. The shares of Common Stock and Common Warrants included in the Units, and the Common Warrants and Pre-Funded Warrants included in the Pre-Funded Units, were offered together, but the securities included in the Units and Pre-Funded Units are issued separately.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has granted the Underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 375,000 shares of Common Stock and/or Common Warrants and/or Pre-Funded Warrants at price of $2.399999 per shares of Common Stock, $0.000001 per Common Warrant, and $2.389999 per Pre-Funded Unit (the
“
Over-Allotment
”
).
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the Underwriter warrants (the
“
Underwriter Warrant
”
) to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to an aggregate of 5% of the total number of shares of Common Stock sold in the Offering at an exercise price of $2.64 per share, which is 110% of the public offering price. The Underwriter Warrant is exercisable for a three-year period beginning six months following the closing of the Offering. The Underwriter received an underwriting discount equal to 8.0% of the offer price of the aggregate number of Units and Pre-Funded Units sold in the Offering and Over-Allotment. The Company also agreed to reimburse the Underwriter for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the Offering, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriter, up to $90,000.
The Common Warrants are immediately exercisable at a price of $2.40 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The Common Warrants contain a full-ratchet anti-dilution exercise price adjustment upon the issuance of any Common Stock, securities convertible into Common Stock or certain other issuances at a price below the then-existing exercise price of the Common Warrants, with certain exceptions.
The Offering closed on November 1, 2018.
A registration statement on Form S-1 relating to the Offering (File No. 333-227203) was
declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 29, 2018. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement. S
imultaneously with the closing, the Company sold additional Common Warrants to purchase up to 375,000 shares of Common Stock in connection with the partial exercise of the Over-Allotment.
The net proceeds of the Offering are approximately $5.4 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses and assuming no exercise of the Common Warrants or Underwriter Warrant. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital and payment of a past-due $200,000 financing fee to a third-party. As a result of the Offering, the Company’s stockholders’ equity will exceed $2.5 million and its publicly held shares (i.e., shares not held directly or indirectly by an officer, director, or greater-than-10% of the total shares outstanding) will be approximately 1.1 million shares.
On April 2, 2018, the Company issued warrants that allowed for the right to purchase of 40,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.605 per share. Due to the subsequent issuance of stock and warrants resulting from the Underwriting Agreement, these warrants now have the right to purchase 143,587 shares at an exercise price of $1.84 per share. These warrants have average remaining life of 4.50 years as of September 30, 2018. These warrants expire in the year 2023.
On November 2, 2018, the Company invested part of the proceeds by purchasing a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “IIU SPA”) from IIU Inc. (“IIU”), a possible synergistic Virginia based travel insurance brokerage company controlled by Craven House N.A. (which owns approximately 27% of the Company’s outstanding stock as of November 13, 2018), pursuant to which IIU issued to the Company a Senior Convertible Promissory Note (“IIU Note”) in the original principal amount of $1,500,000 in exchange for a
17
purchase price of $1,500,000. The maturity date of the Note is 360 dates after the date of issuance (subject to acceleration upon an event of default). The Note carries a 3.0% in
terest rate, with accrued but unpaid interest being payable on the Note’s maturity date.
The IIU Note allows the Company the right on or after the maturity date to convert any unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid interest of the IIU Note into shares of IIU based on a conversion amount which is the fair value of the common shares of IIU at the time. The conversion price will be reset if IIU issues or sells common shares, convertibles securities or options at a price per share that is less than the conversion price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale of such dilutive issuance.