· Consolidated net revenues for the second quarter of 2014 amounted to SEK 1,301 M (1,152). · Operating earnings (EBIT) amounted to SEK 372 M (301). The operating earnings include positive revaluations of purchased debt portfolios amounting to SEK 23 M (6). · The operating margin was 29 percent (26), including revaluations of purchased debt portfolios. · Net earnings for the quarter amounted to SEK 252 M (206) and earnings per share were SEK 3.23 (2.57). · Disbursements for investments in purchased debt amounted to SEK 537 M (597). · Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 570 M (530).
Comment by President and CEO Lars Wollung
Intrum Justitia performed well during the second quarter 2014. Consolidated revenues rose by 13 percent and operating earnings, adjusted for revaluations of purchased debt portfolios and currency effects, increased by 14 percent compared with the year-earlier period. Earnings per share have risen 28 percent over the past 12-month period, which is well above our financial target of a 10-percent annual increase. In the second quarter we also strengthened our long-term financial flexibility by issuing bonds of SEK 1 billion, as well as by improving several of the terms for our bank financing.
As in the first quarter, the Western Europe and Central Europe regions experienced healthy growth in the second quarter. We are seeing a strong trend within purchased debt in Central Europe, while Western Europe has performed well primarily within Credit Management. Northern Europe has also improved its result compared with the year-earlier period, largely owing to revaluations of purchased debt and through enhanced cost efficiency.
Our Financial Services line continues to perform well as a consequence of increasing levels of investment for purchased debt over the past few years, with revenues excluding currency effects rising by 16 percent in the second quarter. Good collections and positive revaluations during Q2 generated a return on purchased debt of 21 percent. The level of investment for purchased debt totaled SEK 537 M for the second quarter. Investments for the first half of 2014 were 19 percent down on the year-earlier period, which was very strong. The Credit Management service line saw an improvement in revenues and profitability compared with the year-earlier period, chiefly due to contributions from acquired units and increased volumes from our own portfolios. Within Credit Management we focus our efforts on improving collection efficiency and boosting growth from external clients.
We are continuing to develop services involving financing solutions before receivables mature, or in connection with their maturing. This business is a small part of the Group at present, but has good long-term potential to grow and strengthen our existing business. Swedish and Finnish factoring operations developed as planned. Our initiative in the Netherlands to offer a financing solution for e-trade has had a disappointing performance and we are therefore investigating other alternatives for this operation. To improve cost efficiency and strengthen cooperation with our other organization we have also included the operations for financing solutions before an invoice matures within the existing regional organization.
Presentation of the Interim 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 listen in to the conference live, please dial +44 (0) 20 766 020 81 (UK) +46 (0) 8 519 993 65 (SE).
For further information, please contact
Lars Wollung, CEO & President Tel: +46 8 546 102 02
Erik Forsberg, CFO Tel: +46 8 546 102 02