FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
FLANAGAN PATRICK J

(Last) (First) (Middle)
18400 VON KARMAN, SUITE 1000

(Street)
IRVINE CA 92612

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
NEW CENTURY FINANCIAL CORP [ NCEN ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/05/2004
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 04/05/2004 M 1,876 A $5.07 189,781 D
Common Stock 04/05/2004 M 1,835 A $7.53 191,616 D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $5.07(1) 04/05/2004 M 1,876(1) (2) 03/08/2010 Common Stock 1,876(1) (3) 13,126 D
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $7.53 04/05/2004 M 1,835 (4) 10/05/2011 Common Stock 1,835 (3) 48,912 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. This stock option grant was previously reported on a Form 3 dated February 18, 2002, as covering 25,000 shares at an exercise price of $7.61 per share. The reporting person subsequently exercised some of these options and reported such exercises on Form 4's. The options remaining under this stock option grant as of June 12, 2003, the record date of the company's 3-for-2 stock split, were adjusted on July 11, 2003, to reflect the stock split.
2. This stock option grant vested 20% on March 8, 2001, the first anniversary of the grant date, with an additional 5% vesting on the last day of each succeeding calendar quarter thereafter. The final 5% increment will vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The portion of this stock option grant exercised by the reporting person on April 5, 2004 vested on March 31, 2004.
3. This column is not applicable.
4. This stock option grant vested 20% on October 5, 2002, the first anniversary of the grant date, with an additional 5% vesting on the last day of each succeeding calendar quarter thereafter. The final 5% increment will vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date. The portion of this stock option grant exercised by the reporting person on April 5, 2004 vested on March 31, 2004.
Remarks:
Jennifer Jewett 04/07/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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