Fourth quarter 2014
· Consolidated net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014 amounted to SEK
1,370 M (1,231).
· Operating earnings (EBIT) amounted to SEK 360 M (340). Operating earnings
include revaluations of purchased debt portfolios amounting to SEK 7 M (7), and
items affecting comparability amounting to a negative net of SEK 35 M (0). The
operating margin excluding revaluations and items affecting comparability was 28
percent (27).
· Net earnings for the quarter amounted to SEK 294 M (236) and earnings per
share were SEK 3.85 (3.00).
· Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 784 M (664).
· The carrying amount of purchased debt has increased by 15 percent compared
with the fourth quarter 2013. Disbursements in the quarter for investments in
purchased debt amounted to SEK 454 M (266).
Full-year 2014
· Consolidated revenues during the 2014 full-year amounted to SEK 5,184 M
(4,566).
· Operating earnings (EBIT) amounted to SEK 1,430 M (1,207). Operating
earnings include revaluations of purchased debt portfolios amounting to SEK 35 M
(7), and items affecting comparability of net –SEK 35 M (0). The operating
margin excluding revaluations and items affecting comparability was 28 percent
(26).
· Net earnings for the year amounted to SEK 1,041 M (819) and earnings per
share totaled SEK 13.48 (10.30).
· Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 2,672 M (2,305).
· The carrying amount of purchased debt has increased by 15 percent compared
with the year-end 2013. Disbursements during the year for investments in
purchased debt amounted to SEK 1,950 M (2,475).
· The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 7.00 (5.75) per share,
totaling SEK 517 M calculated on the number of shares outstanding as per
December 31, 2014 (445).
Comment by President and CEO Lars Wollung
Intrum Justitia’s strong performance continued into the fourth quarter.
Consolidated income rose by 8 percent and operating earnings increased by 13
percent compared with the yearearlier period, adjusted for currency effects,
revaluations of purchased debt portfolios and items affecting comparability. It
is mainly the Central Europe and Western Europe regions that are contributing to
growth and the improvement in earnings. We are retaining a high level of
profitability in Northern Europe, but the performance remains relatively
unchanged compared with the year-earlier period. For our service lines, both
Financial Services and Credit Management contributed to the improvement in
earnings in the fourth quarter.
Investments in purchased debt in the fourth quarter totaled SEK 454 M, which
contributed to a healthy increase of 15 percent in the carrying amount of
purchased debt since the end of 2013. Moreover, the fourth quarter has seen a
solid return for purchased debt of 21 percent excluding items affecting
comparability. The supply of purchased debt has been relatively good in several
countries, but we have also seen persistently high price competition in a number
of markets.
We can look back on a very positive financial development for the full-year
2014. In relation to our financial objectives, we are achieving an increase in
earnings per share of 31 percent, which is well above our target of a minimum 10
percent increase, and a return on purchased debt of 20 percent, which exceeds
our target of a return of at least 15 percent. For our third objective regarding
debt (net debt in relation to operating earnings before depreciation and
amortization), we report a ratio of 1.9, which is just short of our target of a
minimum of 2.0.
Intrum Justitia is well positioned to achieve continued healthy growth during
the coming years. We have an effective business model, with credit management
services and financial services combining to provide mutual support. Our
organization has a strong focus on constant improvements, with continual
development and follow up of a vast number of change management projects in all
countries. Over the next few years, we therefore see good opportunities for
profitable growth, mainly through increased operational efficiency, growth
within purchased debt, acquisitions within Credit Management and development of
new services for financing before an invoice has fallen due.
Presentation of the year-end report
The interim report and presentation material are available at
www.intrum.com/Investor relations. President & CEO Lars Wollung and Chief
Financial Officer Erik Forsberg will comment on the report at a teleconference
today, starting at 9:00 a.m. CET. The presentation can be followed at
www.intrum.com and/or www.financialhearings.com. To participate by phone, +44
(0) 203 428 1434 (UK) or +46 (0) 8 566 426 92 (SE).
For further information, please contact:
Erik Forsberg, CFO
Tel: +46 8 546 102 02
Intrum Justitia is Europe’s leading Credit Management Services (CMS) group,
offering comprehensive services, including purchase of receivables, designed to
measurably improve clients’ cash flows and long-term profitability. Founded in
1923, Intrum Justitia has some 3,600 employees in 20 markets. Consolidated
revenues amounted to about SEK 4.6 billion in 2013. Intrum Justitia AB is listed
on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm since 2002. For further information, please visit
www.intrum.com
