Trading Statement

RNS Number : 9946K

S & U PLC

06 August 2013

 

S&U Trading Statement

6^th August 2013

S&U PLC ("S&U" or "the company")

Trading Update and Notice of Results

S&U, Britain's foremost specialist Motor Finance and Home Credit provider, today issues a trading update for the six months to 31 July 2013.  The Company is pleased to announce that it continues to trade in line with market expectations and intends to announce its interim results on the 25^th September 2013.

Home Credit

Our mature home credit business continues to trade satisfactorily and to generate cash.  Customer caution and anticipated changes in the State benefit system has seen trading at slightly lower levels than last year.  However, strict credit control has restricted any increase in impairment and maintained debt quality.

Recent innovations, including new products like the Advantage4U pre-paid debit card have been encouraging and the prospects are good for the second half of the year.

Motor Finance

Advantage Finance, our market leading Motor Finance business, continues to maintain record progress.  Our advances are up nearly 50% on last year as both the product range and broker network expand.  Collecting quality is a record which reflects Advantage's unmatched underwriting expertise.

This performance fully justifies the additional investment S&U is making in Advantage, currently £9m ahead of last year, and its growing contribution to Group profitability.

Funding and Capital

The Group's accelerated investment in Advantage has seen greater use of our long-term funding extended earlier this year.  We continue to maintain headroom within our total facilities and gearing, although slightly increased year on year from 33% to around 38%, remains low.

Commenting on the Company outlook, Anthony Coombs, S&U Chairman, said:

"A slight improvement in economic sentiment and our constant focus on refining our products and improving the experience of our customers give us great confidence in the future."

For further information, please contact:

S&U plc                                                                                www.suplc.co.uk

Anthony Coombs, Chairman                                      0121 705 7777

Arden Partners plc

Adrian Trimmings/Jamie Cameron                         020 7614 5920

Smithfield

Will Swan                                                                          020 7360 4900

 

END

 

 

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