REG - S & U PLC - AGM Statement and Trading Update

S&UAnnouncement

26/05/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 8234M  S & U PLC  26 May 2022

 

26(th) May 2022

S&U plc

("S&U" or "the Group")

 

AGM Statement and Trading Update

 

 

 

S &U PLC, the specialist motor finance and property bridging lender,
issues a trading statement for the period 1(st) February 2022 to the 25th May
2022, prior to its AGM today. As the country recovers from Covid S&U is
pleased, for the first time in two years, to invite its shareholders to its
AGM in Solihull.

 

Following the Group's "resounding results" announced in S&U's annual
report and our "quiet but determined confidence" in building on them even in
uncertain times, we are pleased to report further steady progress. Group
profit before tax for the period was above budget for both Advantage Finance
("Advantage"), our motor finance division, and Aspen Bridging ("Aspen"), our
property bridging division.  Current Group net receivables stand at £340m,
(19 May 2021: £295m) and are also above budget. Furthermore, despite actual
and anticipated pressure on household budgets due to cost of living and tax
increases, credit quality remains very good.  Strong cash generation has
allowed S&U's loan book growth to be accommodated within current
borrowings of £125m, well within medium term facilities of £180m.

 

As price inflation in the UK reaches 9% per annum, consumer confidence shrinks
to a near 50 year low and geopolitical hostilities mount in Ukraine and
elsewhere, S&U's "steady progress "is inevitably marked by prudence and
caution. Although demand for both housing and motor vehicles, and their
resulting values, remains strong and with unemployment rates the lowest levels
since 1975, rising prices, particularly for energy and interest rates, may
persist. Hence, although we currently expect to meet growth targets for this
year, S&U remains focused above all on maintaining the excellent quality
of its own books and service to its customers. This will ensure a firm base
for faster expansion when the macroeconomic skies brighten. That balance
between quality and growth has always served S&U well.

 

Advantage Finance

 

As the used-car market which it serves remains supply constrained but values
remain strong, Advantage has seen sales volumes growing steadily, so that
current net receivables are £268m (19 May 2021: £243m). Collection quality,
which like sales is monitored on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis, remains
excellent at 93.7% of due. Payment arrears are both below budget and falling.
For the first time, Advantage's live collections have averaged over £13m per
month in the quarter.

 

Nevertheless, prudence dictates that potential pressures on customer incomes
are reflected in Advantage's historically conservative underwriting standards.
Credit score cards are continually reviewed, and affordability buffers have
been put in place to help ensure that new customers will continue to
comfortably make the repayments. At the same time, the quarter has seen major
strides in the development of Advantage's marketing strategy. This means that
we will be able to more accurately identify customer profiles, and thereby
make our partnerships with introducer brokers, aggregators and digital
partners even more effective and efficient.

 

Advantage's performance during the period is reflected in its income, gross
margin, cost control and profitability which have all beaten budget.

 

Aspen Bridging

 

Following record results for the year ended January 2022, Aspen continues its
steady but prudent and sustainable progress. Current net receivables now stand
at £72m against £64m at the previous year end 31 January 2022, reflecting
10% more loans on its book. Repayment quality continues to be good. Aspen's
new bridge-to-let product is proving increasingly popular with small
developers and investors, and this has made a small contribution to record
fees and total income for the period.

 

Book quality has seen repayment and recovery collections at over £20m for the
second successive quarter as 25 facilities have been repaid. Happily, reports
of the demise of the residential property market in the UK are proving grossly
exaggerated. Supply remains restricted, prices remain strong and, despite
higher interest rates, re-financing remains readily available. In response to
this and to service its record pipeline of new deals, Aspen has recruited
additional staff who will prove themselves necessary in providing excellent
customer service as the business grows.

 

Treasury

 

As usual, S&U's careful and prudent treasury policy has resulted in good
funding headroom for our anticipated growth. Current borrowings stand at
£125m against £180m of medium-term facilities. These facilities will be
augmented as necessary. Group gearing currently stands at 59% against 60% on
19 May last year.

 

Commenting on S&U's trading Outlook, Anthony Coombs, S&U chairman,
said:

 

"In the light of the war in Ukraine and its effect on the world economy, we
are all learning the value, both militarily and economically, of the old Roman
saying "If you would have peace, prepare for war". In febrile and volatile
times at home and abroad, S&U's experienced, prudent but positive approach
will continue, both literally and metaphorically, to pay dividends".

 

 

 

 

 Enquiries                                        S&U plc        c/o SEC Newgate

 Anthony Coombs

 Financial Public Relations                       SEC Newgate    020 7653 9848

 Bob Huxford, Molly Gretton

 Broker                                           Peel Hunt LLP  020 7418 8900

 Adrian Trimmings, Andrew Buchanan, Sam Milford

 

 

 

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