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NowAuto Group, Inc. Announces Fiscal Third Quarter Results
NowAuto Group, Inc. Announces Fiscal Third Quarter Results
TEMPE, Ariz., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NowAuto Group, Inc.
(OTC 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 inArizona. 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 www.nowauto.com .
SOURCE NowAuto Group, Inc.
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
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