NowAuto Group, Inc. Announces Fiscal Third Quarter Results
15 Mai 2008 - 10:42PM
PR Newswire (US)
Company Initiatives Progress Despite Weakened Economy TEMPE, Ariz.,
May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NowAuto Group, Inc.
(OTC:NAUGOTC:andOTC:PinkOTC:Sheets:OTC:NWAU) (BULLETIN BOARD: NAUG
and Pink Sheets: NWAU) today announced results for its fiscal 2008
third quarter ended March 31, 2008. The Company reported revenue of
$1.3 million and a net loss of $0.03 per diluted share versus
revenue of approximately $1.6 million and a net loss of $0.08 per
diluted share in the prior year. During the quarter ended March 31,
2008 gross margin was 45% reflecting increased finance income and
higher margin sales. As previously stated, the switch from sales to
leases adversely impacted reported revenue as an increased portion
of lease revenue is recorded as deferred revenue. In addition, the
Company experienced lower volume during the quarter due to
significantly lower contract purchases, caused by lower credit
quality and sales volume. Charge-offs and defaults improved
significantly over the prior quarter and year in spite of
challenging economic conditions. Net Contract Receivables and
deferred revenue from leases increased 13% over the prior quarter.
Administrative and operating expenses were significantly lower than
the prior year by approximately 36% in spite of significantly
higher interest expense. "The present condition of the sub-prime
and below sub-prime auto market has continued to impact our
industry and our company," said CEO Scott Miller. "While our
emphasis is always on collections, our challenge in the current
environment is to aggressively work with our customers to maintain
active contracts. Efforts begun the last fall to maintain contracts
resulted in significantly improved bad debt charges over the prior
year. Our commitment to customers and shareholders alike remains;
NowAuto will do whatever it can to maintain productive contracts
without placing imprudent demands on our customers," Miller said.
"We are working diligently to adjust our business model to the
current economic environment. Arizona now has the 3rd highest
mortgage foreclosure rate in the nation. Many people will be
looking to repair their credit. With this in mind, we will begin
reporting our customers' payment history and credit status to the
credit bureau beginning in the June 2008 quarter. We are also
implementing programs to assist customers during periods of
unemployment or major illness," said Faith Forbis, CFO. "Concurrent
to working with existing customers, we have increased advertising
and initiated new customer incentive programs to increase sales
during this slower period," said Chief Operating Officer Tino
Valenzuela. "Our vehicle conditioning center was opened in December
2007. While our emphasis in this capacity is to provide the most
reliable vehicle possible for our customers, we do expect this part
of our business to be a profit center by the end of calendar 2008,"
Valenzuela said. "As previously announced, we have taken
significant strides in identifying an acquirer," stated Miller.
"While we hope to be in a position to make a public announcement in
coming months, it is more important that the best candidate and
completion of due diligence be done before any announcement is
made. Consummation of a transaction, if there indeed is one, will
not likely occur until later in 2008. Our goal is to find the
candidate that offers to our shareholders the best prospects for
the future," Miller added. About NowAuto Group, Inc. NowAuto Group,
Inc. operates three buy-here-pay-here used vehicle dealerships in
Arizona. The Company manages all of its installment finance
contracts and purchases installment finance contracts from a select
number of other independent used vehicle dealerships. Through its
subsidiary, NavicomGPS, Inc., the company markets GPS tracking
devices, primarily to independent used vehicle dealerships. 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:
NowAuto Group, Inc., +1-480-990-0007, Web site:
http://www.nowauto.com/
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