FirstPlus Is Not for Sale, CEO Says

The chief executive of FirstPlus Financial Group, a leading high-loan- to-value lender, is denying reports that the company is for sale.

Takeover talk has swirled around the Dallas company and other firms that specialize in subprime loans since a rash of accounting changes last year that forced them to restate past earnings and reduce earnings projections.

But chief executive Daniel Phillips said there is no plan to sell his company.

One published report identified GMAC/Residential Funding, the Bloomington, Minn., subsidiary of General Motors Corp., as a potential buyer.

Mr. Phillips acknowledged that he has been in touch with GMAC but said a sale of FirstPlus was not discussed. "We have talked about selling some B and C loans to Residential Funding," he said.

FirstPlus' stock was trading Tuesday at TK, up from Friday's close of $32.875 a share.

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