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easyhome Ltd. Reports 2012 First Quarter Results

By: goeasy Ltd. |  1 Shares     78 Reads

Record Revenues and Improved Earnings in the 1st Quarter

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 7, 2012) - easyhome Ltd. (TSX:EH), Canada's largest merchandise leasing Company and a growing provider of financial services, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

easyhome delivered record revenues and improved earnings in the first quarter of 2011. Revenue for the quarter increased 7.8% to $49.8 million, driven primarily by the expansion of the easyfinancial Services business and the related growth of its consumer loans receivable portfolio. Net income for the quarter was $2.6 million, an increase of $0.2 million or 10.1% over the first quarter of 2011. Earnings per share for the quarter were 22 cents, up from 20 cents for the first quarter of 2011.

"Our results for the first quarter continue the trend of increased revenues and improved performance," said David Ingram, easyhome's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The increase in earnings is a direct result of the growth in easyfinancial Services which increased its operating income and more than offset the year-over-year investment in corporate infrastructure. During the quarter, the consumer loans receivable portfolio grew by $1.2 million to finish the quarter at $48.8 million and easyfinancial's operating margin for the quarter improved to over 34%."

First Quarter Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2012, easyhome generated revenues of $49.8 million, an increase from $46.2 million in the first quarter of 2011. At the store level, including easyfinancial, same store revenue growth for the quarter was 8.3% compared with growth of 7.2% for the first quarter of 2011.

On a segmented basis, easyfinancial Services revenues increased 80% to $8.2 million from $4.6 million for the same period last year. The improvement is a result of the increase in the consumer loans receivable portfolio from $29.9 million to $48.8 million. The Company's leasing operations recorded revenues of $41.2 million and franchising operations recorded revenues of $0.4 million, both relatively unchanged from the same period last year.

Operating income, which is income before interest expense and income taxes, increased 9.5% to $4.2 million from $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. Quarterly revenue increases and improved margins at easyfinancial more than offset a greater level of corporate costs to support sustainable growth and reduced margins within our leasing business. As a percentage of revenue, operating income was 8.4% compared to 8.3% in the first quarter of 2011.

Net income increased to $2.6 million for the first quarter of 2012, compared with net income of $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2011. On a per share basis, earnings were $0.22 compared with $0.20.

The Company continues to generate strong cash flows. Cash flow provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $12.4 million. Included in these cash flows was a net investment in the easyfinancial Services consumer loans receivable portfolio of $3.2 million. If this net investment in the loan portfolio was treated as cash flow from investing activities, cash flow from operating activities would be $15.6 million. This cash flow enabled the Company to invest in the portfolios to drive future revenue growth of all business units and maintain its total dividend payments for the quarter.

David Ingram concluded, "Given the challenging retail environment we are satisfied in our overall results for the quarter. We increased revenues and earnings. We have also begun to leverage the control and infrastructure enhancements we made last year. We are not, however, satisfied with the productivity gains and pace of change we have achieved in our leasing business. As such, in addition to the two stores that we closed in the first quarter, we plan on closing approximately 13 additional underperforming stores in the upcoming quarter. The majority of these stores have leases that expire in the next six months." These closures will result in an earnings per share charge of approximately $0.05 cents in the second quarter of 2012, but will be marginally accretive over the full fiscal year and positive to earnings in future years as a large portion of the lease portfolio at these closed locations will be migrated to other locations nearby.

Donald K. Johnson, Chairman of the Board, commented, "The Board is pleased with the Company's performance during the first quarter of the year. We are confident that the investment made last year to strengthening the Company's internal controls will support increasing returns in the periods to come. We believe that the objectives for each of the business segments are appropriate and will result in improved value for easyhome's shareholders."

The Board of Directors has approved a quarterly dividend payment of $0.085 per share payable on July 6, 2012 to the holders of common shares of record as at the close of business on June 27, 2012.

About easyhome

As at March 31, 2012, easyhome Ltd. operated 216 easyhome leasing stores (including 5 consolidated franchises), 90 easyfinancial locations and had 44 franchise locations.

easyhome Ltd. is Canada's largest merchandise leasing Company and the third largest in North America, offering top quality, brand-name household furnishings, appliances and home electronic products to consumers under weekly or monthly leasing agreements through both corporate and franchise stores. In addition, the Company offers a variety of financial services, including loans, prepaid cards and cheque cashing through its easyfinancial services business. easyhome Ltd. is listed on the TSX under the symbol 'EH'. For more information, visit www.easyhome.ca.

The above analysis refers to certain financial measures that are not determined in accordance with international financial reporting standards ("IFRS"). These measures do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Although measures such as operating income and same store revenue growth do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, these measures are defined in our management discussion and analysis which is available on SEDAR or on the Company's website at www.easyhome.ca or can be determined by reference to our financial statements. We discuss these measures because we believe that they facilitate the understanding of the results of our operations and financial position

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Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements about easyhome Ltd. including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends', 'plans', 'believes' or negative versions thereof and similar expressions. In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including revenue, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects about future events is also a forward-looking statement. Forward- looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations and business prospects and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us, due to, but not limited to important factors such as our ability to enter into new lease and/or financing agreements, collect on existing lease and/or financing agreements, open new locations on favourable terms, secure new franchised locations, purchase products which appeal to our customers at a competitive rate, cope with changes in legislation, raise capital under favourable terms, manage the impact of litigation, control costs at all levels of the organization and maintain and enhance our system of internal controls. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which may not be appropriate for other purposes. We are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

easyhome Ltd.

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(Unaudited)

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

	As at		As at
	March 31,		December 31,
	2012		2011
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash	826		1,019
Amounts receivable	4,004		5,893
Income taxes recoverable	-		600
Consumer loans receivable (note 4)	32,246		32,619
Prepaid expenses	1,302		1,316
Total current assets	38,378		41,447
Amounts receivable	1,418		1,365
Consumer loans receivable (note 4)	13,889		12,319
Lease assets	65,295		66,996
Property and equipment (note 5)	12,156		12,612
Deferred tax assets (note 9)	2,751		2,933
Intangible assets	4,245		4,126
Goodwill	17,325		17,325
TOTAL ASSETS	155,457		159,123
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Bank revolving credit facility (note 6)	33,164		33,123
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	13,923		19,504
Income taxes payable	416		-
Dividends payable (note 7)	1,009		1,007
Deferred lease inducements	580		598
Unearned revenue	4,510		4,562
Provisions	34		24
Total current liabilities	53,636		58,818
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	947		727
Deferred lease inducements	1,924		1,959
Provisions	72		77
Total liabilities	56,579		61,581
Contingencies (note 12)
Shareholders' equity
Share capital (note 7)	60,452		60,207
Contributed surplus	2,884		3,171
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(288	)	(52	)
Retained earnings	35,830		34,216
Total shareholders' equity	98,878		97,542
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	155,457		159,123

See accompanying notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements

easyhome Ltd.

INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except earnings per share)

		Three months ended
		March 31,	March 31,
		2012	2011
REVENUE
Lease revenue		40,239	40,782
Interest income		5,240	2,843
Other		4,308	2,578
		49,787	46,203
EXPENSES BEFORE DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Salaries and benefits (note 8)		16,465	14,690
Advertising and promotion		1,853	1,594
Bad debts		2,001	1,124
Occupancy		6,663	6,457
Distribution and travel		1,781	1,881
Other		3,537	3,212
		32,300	28,958
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation of lease assets		12,076	12,451
Depreciation of property and equipment		975	846
Amortization of intangible assets		114	106
Impairment (net) (note 5)		116	-
		13,281	13,403
Total operating expenses		45,581	42,361
Operating income		4,206	3,842
Interest expense		484	297
Income before income taxes		3,722	3,545
Income tax expense (note 9)
	Current	917	332
	Deferred	182	831
		1,099	1,163
Net income		2,623	2,382
Basic earnings per share (note 10)		0.22	0.20
Diluted earnings per share (note 10)		0.22	0.20

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