| Fri 21 May 2021, 17:30 | | FINBOND GROUP LIMITED - Trading Update - year ended 28 February 2021 |
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Trading Update - year ended 28 February 2021
Finbond Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 2001/015761/06)
Share code: FGL ISIN: ZAE00013895
(“Finbond” or “the Company” or “the Group”)
TRADING UPDATE – YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2021
In terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, companies are required to publish a trading
statement as soon as they become reasonably certain that the financial results for the next period to
be reported on will differ by more than 20% from that of the previous corresponding period.
In the Trading Update released by the Company on the Stock Exchange News Service (“SENS”) on 26
February 2021, the board of directors (“Board”) advised that Headline Earnings per Share will decrease
to at most 0.0 cents per share and Earnings per Share will decrease to at most 0.0 cents per share for
the year ending 28 February 2019 representing a percentage decrease of at least 100%.
Further to that announcement, the Board is satisfied that it now has the reasonable degree of
certainty required to provide further guidance with regard to the financial results of the Group for the
period under review as follows:
• Headline Earnings per share will decrease to a loss of between 22.6 cents and 24.7 cents per
share, representing a percentage decrease of at least 100% compared to the profit of 10.3
cents per share reported for the prior year; and
• Earnings per share will decrease to a loss of between 32.7 cents and 34.8 cents per share,
representing a percentage decrease of at least 100% compared to the profit of 10.6 cents per
share reported for the prior year.
The expected decrease in Headline Earnings per Share was a direct reflection of the COVID-19
pandemic:
1. COVID-19 related restrictions on economic activity in Finbond’s various countries of
operations continued to have an adverse impact on results for the year under review resulting
in Loans advanced decreasing by 33% to R3.99 billion from R5.91 billion last year.
2. Cash, cash equivalents & liquid assets remain at healthy levels and increased by 17% to R1.60
billion from R1.36 billion last year. The significant drop in Loans advanced resulted in less Loan
capital being granted, but with Collections holding firm, this led to an increase in Cash as
Unsecured loans and advances were essentially converted to Cash. We are starting to see this
trend reverse slowly as Sales volumes increase as the COVID-19 recovery progresses, although
it is uncertain how long it will take for consumer spending and credit markets to return to
more “normal” or “new normal” levels.
3. We continue to monitor this dynamic situation daily and adjust our response accordingly.
4. Stress testing (updated and monitored monthly) continues to show that Finbond remains
sufficiently capitalised with appropriate liquidity levels in both mild and severe stress
scenarios.
5. We remain confident that the benefits of our geographically diversified business, strong
balance sheet relative to the size and scope of operations, as well as cash generating ability
will continue to stand us in good stead. Finbond will continue to invest in its businesses to
position them for the continued recovery period and growth beyond.
6. Importantly, Finbond believes that it faces this challenging period from a position of relative
financial strength, with sufficient liquidity to both navigate the changing environment and
seek out new opportunities.
The expected decrease in Earnings per Share is similarly COVID-19 related:
1. Please refer to the description under Headline Earnings above.
2. In addition, Earnings per Share was also affected by a R78.5 million Goodwill impairment
caused by COVID-19 impacting value in use numbers in the short term. Notable that goodwill
adjustments are non-cash flow.
The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed or reported
on by Finbond’s auditors. Finbond’s audited results for the period ended 28 February 2021 are
expected to be released on SENS on or before 31 May 2021.
Pretoria
21 May 2021
SPONSOR:
GRINDROD BANK LIMITED
Date: 21-05-2021 05:30:00
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