DDM Debt AB: Q3 and YTD report January - September 2018
Record collections from portfolios
Highlights third quarter 2018
Net collections increased by 158% to EUR 16.6M (Q3 2017: EUR 6.5M)
Cash EBITDA increased by 209% to EUR 15.0M (Q3 2017: EUR 4.8M)
Adjusted net profit for the period of EUR 0.3M excluding non-recurring items **
Cash on hand available for investments at the end of September 2018 was EUR 49M
Highlights nine months 2018
Net collections increased by 91% to EUR 42.5M (9M 2017: EUR 22.3M)
Cash EBITDA increased by 109% to EUR 37.5M (9M 2017: EUR 17.9M)
Adjusted net profit for the period of EUR 1.9M excluding non-recurring items **
Investments in the Balkans and the Czech Republic totaling approximately EUR 36M
Henrik Wennerholm appointed as Chief Executive Officer
Significant events after the third quarter
Investments in the Balkans of about EUR 6M following regulatory approval
Buy-out of co-investor in Hungary for approximately EUR 1M
Comment by the CEO
I am delighted to report record net collections of EUR 16.6M in the third quarter and encouraged by the opportunities that lie ahead of us. A key focus during the quarter has been to intensify the strategic shift from being an investor in unsecured consumer loans to becoming a specialized investor in secured corporate and consumer portfolios. To achieve this, we have reviewed the business model and made organizational improvements to better position DDM as top-tier and effective workout partner. Another key priority is to continue to further decrease the cost of financing, an important factor when continuing our growth journey. Another important measure has been to remove the previously communicated investment target since DDM’s rate of growth will continue to vary from quarter to quarter due to the opportunistic business model.
All-time-high net collections
During the third quarter an all-time-high net collections of EUR 16.6M was achieved, an increase of 158% compared to Q3 2017, and by 91% for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period last year. This increase was driven by collections in Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and the Czech Republic following the significant acquisitions in these jurisdictions in the second half of 2017 and Q1 2018.
Strategic shift to corporate secured portfolios
Operational performance and organizational review have been key focus areas during the quarter following the strategic shift from investing in consumer unsecured portfolios to secured primarily corporate portfolios. The composition of the portfolio has changed greatly over the past 12 months, with secured portfolios now making up the majority share of our overall portfolio of assets. Consequently this will cause increased variability in our collections from quarter to quarter due to the timing of larger settlements from corporate portfolios.
Since the end of the third quarter, DDM has invested a further EUR 6M in the Balkans following regulatory approval and bought-out a co-investor for approximately EUR 1M in a portfolio in Hungary.
Operating expenses were EUR 1.7M in the third quarter and EUR 5.1M for the first nine months of 2018, EUR 0.1M and EUR 0.7M higher than for the corresponding periods in 2017. Cash EBITDA amounted to EUR 15.0M in the third quarter and EUR 37.5M for the first nine months of 2018, increases of 209% and 109% compared to the corresponding period in 2017, driven by the higher net collections.
The quarter includes negative revaluation of EUR 0.6M and impairment of portfolios of EUR 1.1M primarily relating to portfolios in the Balkans.
The adjusted net result was a profit of EUR 0.3M for Q3 2018 and a profit of EUR 1.9M for the first nine months of 2018 after adjusting respectively for EUR 0.8M and EUR 1.0M of non-recurring costs relating to deferred taxes and interests in associates.
Our strong operational performance resulted in cash flow from operating activities before working capital changes of EUR 11.1M in the third quarter compared to EUR 1.1M in Q3 2017, and EUR 27.5M for the first nine months of 2018 compared to EUR 14.0M for the first nine months of 2017.
Market outlook
The sale of non-performing assets is continuing among the banking industry players in the CEE region and supply of new corporate NPL portfolios in 2018 has been supported by number of large one-off transactions. The most active markets for DDM are currently in the Balkan region and Greece. We expect further interesting opportunities in Greece given the end of its third successive bailout program ending years of austerity. We also continue to see positive price development of real estate prices in our region supporting our business and further transactions.
DDM’s business model is flexible and opportunistic and we believe that there will continue to be good business opportunities for us. However, DDM’s rate of growth and financial results will continue to vary from quarter to quarter, impacted by the timing of significant investments and larger settlements from corporate portfolios.
We aim to deliver sizeable and profitable growth in 2018 as we continue to focus on our markets in SEE and CEE where we have strong market knowledge and relationships.
Stockholm, 8 November 2018
DDM Debt AB (publ)
Henrik Wennerholm, CEO
Financial calendar
DDM Debt AB (publ) intends to publish financial information on the following dates:
Q4 and full year report 2018: 21 February 2019
Annual report 2018: 29 March 2019
Other financial information from DDM is available on DDM’s website, www.ddm-group.ch.
This report has not been reviewed by the Company’s auditors.
Presentation of the report
The report and presentation material are available at www.ddm-group.ch on 8 November 2018, at 08:00 CET.
CEO Henrik Wennerholm and CFO Fredrik Olsson will comment on the DDM Group’s results during a conference call on 8 November 2018, starting at 10:00 CET. The presentation can be followed live at www.ddm-group.ch and/or by telephone with dial-in numbers: SE: +46 8 566 426 97, CH: +41 225 675 548 or UK: +44 203 008 9807.
The information in this interim report requires DDM Debt AB (publ) to publish the information in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Market Act. The information was submitted for publication on 8 November 2018 at 08:00 CET.
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