SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _________ TO _________. Commission File Number 333-39339-03 ----------------------- STERLING LENDING CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) South Carolina 57-1042033 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) P. O. Box 17526 Greenville, South Carolina 29606 (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 864-235-8056 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 report), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes _ No _X_ Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. Title of each Class: Outstanding at September 30, 1997 - ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- None None The registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB, as modified by grants of no-action relief to unrelated third parties, and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format. 1 STERLING LENDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY FORM 10-Q QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 INDEX PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page Item 1. Financial Statements Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996 4 Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996 5 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996 6 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition 8 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 11 Item 2. Changes in Securities 11 Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 11 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 11 Item 5. Other Information 11 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 11 2 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3 STERLING LENDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS September 30, December 31, --------------------- ------------------- 1997 1996 --------------------- ------------------- ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,073 $ 125,799 Other receivables -- 62,534 Property and equipment, net 1,388,513 361,578 Other assets 109,095 302,251 -------------------- ------------------ Total assets $ 1,562,681 $ 852,162 ==================== ================== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 169,830 $ 81,976 Subordinated debt to affiliates, due on demand 631,000 634,616 ----------------- ---------------- Total liabilities 800,830 716,592 Shareholders' equity: Common stock, no par value -- -- Additional paid-in capital 5,200,000 1,000,000 Accumulated deficit (4,438,149) (864,430) ----------------- ---------------- Total shareholders' equity 761,851 135,570 ----------------- ---------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 1,562,681 $ 852,162 ================= ================ See Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements 4 STERLING LENDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------- 1997 1996 1997 1996 ---------------- -------------- ----------------- -------------- REVENUES: Gain on sale of loans $ 498,874 $ -- $ 307,315 $ -- Loan fee income 1,177,469 -- 447,600 -- Other revenues 136,873 -- 71,447 -- ------------- ------------ ---------------- --------------- Total revenues 1,813,216 -- 826,362 -- ------------- ------------ ---------------- --------------- EXPENSES: Interest 62,118 -- 24,395 -- Salaries, wages and employee benefits 2,692,173 138,125 1,057,987 138,125 Management fee to Parent 585,000 50,000 195,000 50,000 Legal, audit, and professional fees 476,843 11,623 213,157 11,623 Rent and utilities 291,997 12,517 126,226 12,517 Telephone 220,688 2,419 82,740 2,419 Travel and entertainment 203,344 14,446 66,401 14,446 Business development costs 202,315 -- 28,432 -- Other general and administrative expenses 653,592 50,934 185,654 50,934 ------------- ------------ ---------------- --------------- Total expenses 5,388,070 280,064 1,979,992 280,064 ------------- ------------ ---------------- --------------- Loss before income taxes (3,574,854) (280,064) (1,153,630) (280,064) Provision (benefit) for income taxes (1,135) -- -- -- ------------- ------------ --------------- --------------- Net loss $ (3,573,719) $ (280,064) $ (1,153,630) $ (280,064) ============= ============ ============== =============== See Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements 5 STERLING LENDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Nine Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1997 1996 ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net loss $ (3,573,719) $ (280,064) $ (1,153,630) $ (280,064) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 308,924 25,962 84,005 25,962 Provision for deferred income taxes (1,135) -- -- -- Principal proceeds from loans sold and securitized 26,340,071 -- 14,646,351 -- Loans originated with intent to sell (26,340,071) -- (14,646,351) -- Changes in operating assets and 197,311 (500,421) (4,811) (500,421) liabilities ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- Net cash used in operating activities (3,068,619) (754,523) (1,074,436) (754,523) ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of property and equipment (1,188,491) (194,083) (44,897) (194,083) ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- Net cash used in investing activities (1,188,491) (194,083) (44,897) (194,083) ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Cash investment from Parent 4,200,000 1,000,000 1,600,000 1,000,000 Net cash received on intercompany borrowings (3,616) -- (527,000) -- ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- Net cash provided by financing activities 4,196,384 1,000,000 1,073,000 1,000,000 ------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (60,726) 51,394 (46,333) 51,394 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 125,799 -- 111,406 -- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------- ---------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 65,073 $ 51,394 $ 65,073 $ 51,394 =================== ================ ================== ================ See Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements 6 STERLING LENDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PREPARATION Sterling Lending Corporation ("Sterling Lending" or "the Company") is an 80% owned subsidiary of Emergent Group, Inc. ("Parent Company"). Sterling Lending was organized on March 6, 1996 as Emergent Lending Corp., and the name was changed to Sterling Lending Corporation on July 24, 1996. Operations began August 1, 1996. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sterling Lending and Sterling Insurance Agency (100% owned) and are prepared in accordance with the SEC's rules regarding interim financial statements, and therefore do not contain all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles for annual financial statements. The consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1997, and the consolidated statements of income for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month and three-month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, are unaudited and in the opinion of management contain all known adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position results of operations, and cash flows of the Company. All significant intercompany balances and transactions between Sterling Lending and its subsidiary have been eliminated in consolidation. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP previously examined and reported on the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1996, from which the consolidated balance sheet as of that date is derived. NOTE 2--CASH FLOW INFORMATION For the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997, the Company paid interest of $62,118. No interest was paid for the nine-month period ended September 30, 1996. For the three-month period ended September 30, 1997, the Company paid interest of $24,395. No interest was paid for the three-month period ended September 30, 1996. NOTE 3--CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS The Company considers all highly liquid investments readily convertible to known amounts of cash or having a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains its primary checking account with one bank. The amounts maintained in the checking account are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") up to $100,000. 7 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company appearing elsewhere herein. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in the financial discussion and analysis by management that reflect projections or expectations of future financial or economic performance of the Company, and statements of the Company's plans and objectives for future operations are "forward-looking" statements. No assurance can be given that actual results or events will not differ materially from those projected, estimated, assumed, or anticipated in any such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could result in such differences are many and include: lower origination volume due to market conditions, higher losses due to economic downturn or lower real estate values, adverse consequences of changes in interest rate environment, uncreditworthiness of borrowers and risk of default, limited operating history of retail lending operations, termination of strategic alliance agreements and mortgage banker relationships, general economic conditions in the Company's markets, including inflation, recession, interest rates, and other economic factors, loss of funding sources, loss of ability to sell loans, general lending risks, dependence on Federal programs, loss of operating loss carryforwards, impact of competition, regulation of lending activities, changes in the regulatory environment, and dependence on key executives. General Sterling Lending Corporation ("Sterling Lending"), a majority-owned subsidiary of Emergent Group, Inc. ("The Parent"), is a financial services company that is primarily engaged in the business of originating residential mortgage loans to sub-prime borrowers. The funds for these loans are obtained principally through affililated companies. HomeGold, Inc. (formerly Emergent Mortgage Corporation, Inc.) ("EMC"), an affiliated company, purchases the loans at closing. The Company, which began its operations in August 1996, is still in the start-up phase of operations. Because of this, the Company has generated significant losses since inception. The Company did not start originating loans until October 1996 and therefore had little activity in 1996. The Company has grown significantly since inception and as of September 30, 1997, operated from nine retail offices, mainly in the Southeast. Loan originations have grown to approximately $4.0-5.0 million a month by September 30, 1997. Total loan originations for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 1997 were $26.3 million and $14.6 million, respectively. Total loans sold for the nine months and three months ended 1997 were $26.3 million and $14.6 million, respectively. As the Company operates mainly as an originating source for EMC, the Company receives 100% of the origination fee income when produced and shares in the gain on sale of loans when sold by EMC to outside parties. Results of Operations Nine Months Ended September 30, 1997, Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 Total revenues were $1.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. No revenues were generated during the nine months ended September 30, 1996, as the Company did not begin originating loans until October 1996. Total revenues mainly include gain on sale of loans and loan fee income. Gain on sale of loans and loan fee income for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 were $499,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. Loan originations were $26.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. Loan fees as a percentage of production approximated 6.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. Gain on sale of loans approximated 2.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. Total expenses increased to $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 from $280,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. Total expenses are comprised of interest expense, salaries, wages and employee benefits, and other general and administrative expenses. 8 Interest expense was $62,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. Interest expense results mainly from borrowings from affiliated companies to fund accumulated losses. The Company did not need to borrow funds for the nine months ended September 30, 1996, and therefore incurred no interest expense. Average monthly borrowings for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 approximated $768,000. Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased to $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 from $138,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. This is a result of increased personnel due to the significant expansion occurring since 1996. The Company has expanded to nine retail offices at September 30, 1997 from one retail office at September 30, 1996 and total personnel has increased to 94 at September 30, 1997 from approximately 20 at September 30, 1996. Other general and administrative expenses increased to $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 from $142,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 1996. This is a result of the expansion of the Company in number of offices and number of people since September 1996 as discussed above. Three Months Ended September 30, 1997, Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 1996 Total revenues were $826,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1997. No revenues were generated during the three months ended September 30, 1996, as the Company did not begin originating loans until October 1996. Total revenues mainly include gain on sale of loans and loan fee income. Gain on sale of loans and loan fee income for the three months ended September 30, 1997 were $307,000 and 448,000, respectively. Loan originations were $14.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 1997. Loan fees as a percentage of production approximated 6.1% for the three months ended September 30, 1997. Gain on sale of loans approximated 3.4% for the three months ended September 30, 1997. Total expenses increased to $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 1997 from $280,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1996. Total expenses are comprised of interest expense, salaries, wages and employee benefits, and other general and administrative expenses. Interest expense was $24,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1997. Interest expense results mainly from borrowings from affiliated companies to fund accumulated losses. The Company did not need to borrow funds for the three months ended September 30, 1996, and therefore incurred no interest expense. Average monthly borrowings for the three months ended September 30, 1997 approximated $752,000. Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 1997 from $138,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1996. This is a result of increased personnel due to the significant expansion incurred since 1996. The Company has expanded to nine retail offices at September 30, 1997 from one retail office at September 30, 1996 and total personnel has increased to 94 at September 30, 1997 from approximately 20 at September 30, 1996. Other general and administrative expenses increased to $898,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1997 from $142,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1996. This is a result of the expansion of the Company in number of offices and number of people since September 1996 as discussed above. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Omitted pursuant to General Instruction H of Form 10-Q (the "Instruction"). 9 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 10 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings None Item 2. Changes in Securities Omitted pursuant to the Instruction. Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities Omitted pursuant to the Instruction. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders Omitted pursuant to the Instruction. Item 5. Other Information None Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K a) Exhibits 3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Company dated February 29, 1996: Incorporated by reference to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the "10-K"). 3.2 Bylaws of the Company: Incorporated by reference to the 10-K. 3.3 Articles of Amendment dated July 7, 1996: Incorporated by reference to the 10-K. 3.4 Articles of Amendment dated June 1, 1997: Incorporated by reference to the 10-K. b) Reports on Form 8-K None SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements 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. STERLING LENDING CORPORATION Date: May 13, 1998 By: \s\ Dennis W. Canupp --------------------------------------- Dennis W. Canupp, Chief Executive Officer Date: May 13, 1998 By: \s\ Kevin J. Mast --------------------------------------- Kevin J. Mast, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 11