NowAuto Group, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2007 Results
02 Oktober 2007 - 8:37PM
PR Newswire (US)
Gross margin improvement demonstrates Company's initiative to
strengthen credit policies are working. TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 2
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NowAuto Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board:
NAUG.OB; Pink Sheets: NWAU.PK) today announced the results for
Fiscal 2007 ended June 30, 2007. Revenue in Fiscal 2007 was
$6,944,021 vs. $11,683,865, a decrease of approximately 40% of the
prior year's level due primarily to the previously announced
closure of the Company's unprofitable vehicle auction business and
lower retail sales caused by stricter underwriting and credit
criteria initiated during the fiscal year. Gross margin increased
to 39.4% in Fiscal 2007 from 31.6% in fiscal 2006 as a result of
increased finance income and higher margin vehicle sales. The
Company reported a net loss of ($0.23) per share for Fiscal 2007
vs. a loss of ($0.05). The net loss was caused primarily by two
factors: (1) the Company charged off approximately $1.5 million of
bad debt expense; and (2) the Company incurred a ten-fold increase
in interest expense over the prior year as a result of a full year
operating under a new credit facility initiated in March 2006.
Before interest expense and charge-offs, the Company experienced a
slight profit for Fiscal 2007. Current assets increased
approximately 27% in Fiscal 2007 while the Company achieved an
improved current ratio, both as a result of increased finance
contracts along with a 22% reduction in current liabilities.
"Fiscal 2007 was a demanding year for NowAuto as we made a hard,
but ultimately necessary decision to institute stricter
underwriting and contract management criteria and practices,
thereby causing the Company to purge accounts that did not meet the
new, stricter criteria," said CEO Scott Miller. "While such a move
significantly affected profitability, it created a more stable
portfolio for future quarters," said Miller. "We also made
significant strides in Fiscal 2007," said Miller. "Starting in the
fourth quarter of Fiscal 2007 NowAuto switched its retail emphasis
from sales to capital leases, a change that we believe will have
positive impact in the future." "Leasing has two advantages. 1)
Cash flow is improved because sales tax is due only on monies
received verses the full amount due immediately. 2) The vehicle is
titled differently making it a little easier should the Company
need to retake possession of the vehicle. Accounting for leases is
different though the results are similar. Instead of the principle
balance of the note being reflected as an asset, the balance in
Notes Receivable is the total of all remaining payments. This is
offset by a deferred revenue liability account which represents the
interest that will be recognized over the life of the lease. The
two netted together is the approximate equivalent of a principle
balance," said Faith Forbis, CFO. "While we are excited about the
move to capital leases, we are pleased more by the management we
now have at the store level," Miller stated. "We now have, for
perhaps the first time, highly experienced and trained management
at each of our stores. Since so much of our success depends upon
what happens at the store level, it is vitally important that
NowAuto have store managers experienced and trained not only in
sales and marketing, but in underwriting criteria as well. This is
a challenging combination to develop, but we believe we now have
such management in place." "Another integral aspect of our business
is the dollar amount NowAuto typically finances its customers,"
said COO Theodore Valenzuela. "For that reason, we have made a
concerted effort beginning in Fiscal 2008 to reduce the average
retail price of our vehicles. Our target for Fiscal 2008 is an
average price in Fiscal 2008 that is 15% lower than in prior years,
thereby reducing the customers' contract burden and our
per-contract exposure. The key of course is to accomplish this
without compromising the quality of the vehicles we offer. That is
why we have already begun to substantially upgrade our vehicle
reconditioning operations." "As difficult as Fiscal 2007 was, it
was also a year of improvement in all aspects of our business,"
said Miller. "Going forward, we at NowAuto believe the combination
of experienced and trained management along with better customer
pricing will improve sales. Our new emphasis on capital leases will
also benefit our customers as well as NowAuto. Enhanced
reconditioning operations will mean continuing to provide reliable
transportation to our customers. Improved quantitative criteria
combined with more proactive contract management processes should,
combined with all these other measures, result in a more stable and
growing portfolio and thereby more positive financial results." As
previously announced, NowAuto Group, Inc. (NAUG: OTCBB and NWAU.PK)
has continued to prepare its SB2 registration statement while
investigating numerous alternative strategies to benefit
shareholders, including sale or merger opportunities. "As we neared
completion of the SB2 originally planned for completion in April,
several opportunities to acquire, be acquired, or even to take the
company private have been presented to us. Our emphasis has been to
create value for our shareholders in each case. Inasmuch as these
opportunities would make the SB2 filing unnecessary, we have
delayed the filing while fully investigating each situation," said
CEO Scott Miller. "While we believe that some of the opportunities
that have been presented to us have merit, we cannot accurately
determine the probability that they will occur, or occur on a
timely basis. We will therefore pursue completion of the SB2 for
filing following completion of our fiscal 2007 audit due September
28, 2007." "One of our primary objectives is to create value for
our shareholders. Exploring strategic opportunities is in
everyone's best interests. Simultaneously, we strive to build the
business on a day-to-day basis and continue to refine the programs
we have in place as well as plan for complimentary programs for the
future," said CFO Faith Forbis. Note to Investors This press
release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created
by those sections. The forward-looking information is based upon
current information and expectations regarding NowAuto Group, Inc.
These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which
they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and involve
certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially
differ from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such
forward-looking statements. NowAuto Group, Inc. assumes no
obligation to update the information contained in this press
release. NowAuto Group, Inc.'s forward-looking statements in this
press release and future results may be materially impacted by any
number of factors, any or all of which could have a negative impact
on sales, operating results, financial and budgetary constraints.
NowAuto Group, Inc.'s future results may also be impacted by other
risk factors listed from time to time in its SEC filings,
including, but not limited to, the Company's Form-QSBs and its
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statements made herein are
independent statements of NowAuto Group, Inc. The inclusion, if
any, of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any
NowAuto Group, Inc. products or services by any such third party.
For further information contact NowAuto Group, Inc. or visit the
Company's Web site at http://www.nowauto.com/. DATASOURCE: NowAuto
Group, Inc. CONTACT: Randy Humphrey of NowAuto Group, Inc.,
+1-480-990-0007, +1-480-274-8885, cell, Web site:
http://www.nowauto.com/
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