Cash Converters has recorded a record profit of $21.6 million for the 2010 financial year after buying 13 stores in Australia and the UK.
Cash Converters has recorded a record profit of $21.6 million for the 2010 financial year after buying 13 stores in Australia and the UK.
The result is up 34.2 per cent on the previous corresponding period.
The company's revenue also grew 34.8 per cent to $127.8 million in 2010 driven by an increase in personal loan interest income of $6 million and establishment fees of $2.5 million.
Cash Converters also hailed its foray into online business a success with over $1.3 million in sales through the online channel during 2010.
Cash Converters will pay a final fully franked dividend of 1.5 cents per share.
During 2011 the company plans to open 12 new stores in the UK.
In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, Cash Converters said the acquisition of franchised stores and increasing the funding capacity of the cash advance and personal loan products is an opportunity to transform the group into a significant store operating entity.
See company statement below:
The directors of Cash Converters International Limited ('Cash Converters') are pleased to report a record profit result of $21.6 million for the 2010 financial year. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Company has exceeded its forecast guidance number.
Highlights
- The 2010 financial year has been the most successful in the Company's history, with
a record net profit of $21.6 million, up 34.2% on the previous year.
- Revenue growth of 34.8% to $127.8 million. The major drivers for revenue growth
over the year included an increase in personal loan interest income received of $6.1
million and establishment fees of $2.5 million, an increase in corporate store revenue
of $16.9 million from the acquisition of 13 stores over the year and an increase in
financial services commission of $6.8 million.
- The UK operations contributed an EBIT of $2.1 million. This was down slightly from
last year in Australian Dollar terms as a result of a stronger dollar against the Pound.
The EBIT contribution in Pound Sterling terms was up 13% to £1.1 million for the
year. Store numbers (company owned and franchised) grew by a record 21 to 157.
- The Company owned store strategy has gained momentum with the acquisition this
year of 13 franchised stores, four in the UK and nine in Australia. In addition five new
Company owned stores were opened in the UK, taking total corporate store numbers
to 58.
- The corporate store network has seen revenues grow by 37.1% to $62.5 million
producing a combined EBIT of $6.8 million (up 27.4% on 2009) for the UK and
Australian owned stores, with only a part year contribution from the 13 stores
acquired.
- Safrock loan book growth of 80.9% to $38.7 million. The Safrock personal loans
business generated an EBIT of $15.4 million (2009 $9.7 million) which is 58.8% on
the previous year. Bad debt write offs were marginally up at 7.95%. Historically
7.5%.
- The MON-E business, which is the cash advance administration platform, generated
an EBIT of $9.1 million (2009 $7.5 million) which is up 21.3% on the previous year.
- The acquisition of the Quickdraw business in May 2010, which in a full year will add
$1.3 million of EBIT. Quickdraw administered the cash advance administration
platform that serviced South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Financial services
The launch of the financial service products, (cash advance and personal loans) in the UK in October 2009 has been an outstanding success. After an initial trial period through a limited number of corporate stores the products commenced rollout in May into the franchised and corporate store network. We expect to see strong take up of our financial services products in the UK during the 2011 financial year.
Collection levels across the UK financial services products are in line with our experience in Australia.
Some key Finance division statistics for the twelve months ending 30 June 2010:
Cash Advance - Australia
- Total principal loaned increased, by 25.4% to $156,173,824
- Average loan amount increased from $303 to $319
- Total customer numbers increased by 25.1% to 289,369
Personal Loans - Australia
- Total number of loans approved increased by 110.3% to 60,586
- Total number of active customers increased by 110.3% to 38,481
- Loan Book increased by 80.9% to $38.7 million
Cash advance - UK
- Total principal loaned £488,380
- Average loan amount £91.68
- Total customer numbers 2,634
Personal loans - UK
- Total number of loans approved 1,545
- Total number of active customers 1,341
- Loan book £593,026
Online
Cash Converters online presence allows us to present the business to a new audience of
potential customers at a low delivery cost.
We have seen new customers visit stores and purchase products after their first contact with the brand commenced with their online search. We are also beginning to see commercial quantities of product sales, with over $1.3 million in sales through the online channel during 2010.
The online software platform has been further developed to allow all store inventories to be listed automatically on the Australian 'Webshop' channel. It will allow customers to not only purchase product that is listed with a photo but to search by category and email the store for more detail, including a photo of any item of interest from the balance of the store's inventory.
The Company receives a commission based on an agreed percentage of sales for providing the 'Webshop' online service to its franchisees.
After a successful 12 month trial of the online lead generation system for personal loans and cash advance, the Company launched, in June 2010, a fully integrated online personal loan system. This will allow a customer to complete an application, sign contracts and receive funds without visiting a store.
It is expected that this will lift the conversion from application to loan rate, from a very low 17%, as customers will no longer be required to visit the store and will therefore benefit from the convenience of an end to end application.
EZCORP Inc subscribes further funds to accelerate growth
In May 2010, the Company issued 16,200,000 additional ordinary shares at an issue of price of 60 cents per share to EZCORP Inc to raise $9,720,000. Following completion of the issue, EZCORP Inc shareholding increased to 124,418,000 shares (representing 32.8% of Cash Converters) from 108,218,000 shares (29.8%). The 3% increase was permitted under the provisions of item 9 of section 611 of the Corporations Act.
These additional funds will be allocated to fast tracking the Company's growth strategies.
Subsequent events
The Company announced in July the acquisition of four franchised stores in the northern UK towns of Halifax, Dewsbury and Scunthorpe. These stores were purchased from existing franchisees for a total price of £1.9 million, including assets of £550,000.
The acquisition was based on an EBIT multiple of 4.7 times and is anticipated to increase the Group's EBIT by approximately £400,000 during the first full year of ownership.
The Company announced in August that it had contracted to acquire 13 franchised stores in Australia, comprising eight in Queensland, two in New South Wales, two in South Australia and one in Victoria.
The 13 stores were purchased from existing franchisees for a total price of $21.9 million, which included tangible assets of $6.3million.
The acquisition price represents an EBIT multiple of 3.7 times.
The acquisition of these stores is anticipated to increase the Company's EBIT by approximately $5.8 million in the first full year of ownership.
These acquisitions take the total number of stores owned by the Company to 71 stores - 39 in Australia and 32 in the UK.
Dividend
The directors have declared a fully franked final dividend of 1.5 cents per share. The
dividend will be paid on 30 September 2010 to those shareholders on the register at the close of business on 16 September 2010. This will take the total dividend payment for the year to 3.0 cents per share, fully franked. This represents a payout ratio of approximately 51.4% of after tax profit.
Guidance for the 2011 Financial Year
Cash Converters is targeting NPAT for 2011 financial year in the range of $27-$27.5 million, which represents an increase of approximately 27% on this year's result.
The Company expects earnings growth in 2011 from;
- The full year impact of;
o Store acquisitions in 2010;
o The acquisition of the Quickdraw business in May 2010. Quickdraw
administered the cash advance administration platform that serviced South
Australia and the Northern Territory;
o The significant growth in the Safrock loan book this financial year;
o The growth of the financial services launched in the UK in October 2009;
- The acquisition of 13 franchised stores in Australia in the first quarter of the 2011
financial year.
Outlook
Cash Converters is very well positioned to fast-track the execution of its stated strategy of opening new company stores in the UK and Australia, as well as further acquisitions of
franchised stores in the 2011 financial year. The Company plans to open 12 new Company owned stores in the UK in the 2011 financial year.
The Company sees the acquisition of franchised stores and increasing the funding capacity of the cash advance and personal loan products as a real opportunity to transform the group into a significant store operating entity.
The staff, management and franchisees are to be congratulated for their contributions to the strong financial result this year.
