04/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 11:54
Operational and Strategic Highlights
Financial Highlights and Progress
Modestas Sudnius, the CEO of the Eleving Group, comments:
"Entering this year, it was clear that high inflation rates and the growing cost of borrowing would challenge overall client payment behavior. Also, Eleving Group had a significant debt of its own, which had to be managed in the best possible way. And finally, we had a goal to increase our efficiency and profitability as an organization further.
In retrospect, I can tell that we had set highly ambitious goals, and I am delighted that we managed to achieve most of them and beyond. We have had a stable year with increasing portfolio quality. In the second part of the year, we laid the foundation for further growth in 2024 through the integration of consumer finance businesses in the South African region, seizing new opportunities in our existing markets, and securing future financing by issuing EUR 50 mln worth of new bonds.
Despite the prevailing uncertainty in the global economy, the demand for consumer credit products did not weaken, and the people's ability to pay was still higher than expected despite the surging interest rates and inflation.
In the vehicle financing segment, after a slightly slower start, we gathered momentum in the second half of the year. This was anticipated as people temporarily postponed large purchases. In the meantime, the unsecured consumer finance business grew steadily throughout the year, benefiting from the weakening competition and utilizing previously established business essentials-a vast sales network through online and offline channels and well-calibrated customer scoring models.
We have successfully addressed the diversification of our funding structure by unlocking numerous additional financing channels like local impact funds, bank loans, local notes, and, of course, the latest bond issue that attracted EUR 50 mln and improved our debt maturity profile. Also, we continue to maintain lean operations and strong cost discipline. Together with the increasing digitization of our daily processes, we have managed to maintain a very cost-effective business despite the inflationary environment.
In recent years, we have primarily focused on organic expansion in our core business lines. Yet, the integration of the ExpressCredit business will allow us to expand while still maintaining a strong position in our existing markets. We are open to exploring further growth opportunities through new market launches or acquisitions. However, it will not happen at the expense of the profit, and this would become a priority in case of additional equity injection in the business. We will continue to actively participate in the capital markets and explore all the opportunities they offer. Having a well-diversified debt stack in place with no significant maturities upcoming in 2024, our focus will be on potential equity raising, exploring opportunities both in the Baltic markets and outside, not ruling out an IPO.
In the meantime, the Group strengthened its position in green mobility by rapidly expanding its electric car-sharing service in Latvia and the electric motorcycle financing service in Kenya. The Group's customers covered over 3.2 mln kilometers using electricity-powered vehicles, thus reducing over 300tCO2 compared to what traditional vehicles would have produced. In 2023, more profoundly than before, we saw that people paid much more attention to the so-called value-for-money criteria. This translated into more sustainable decisions, i.e., a greater demand for green mobility solutions that are more climate-friendly and economical in the medium- to long-term. This trend is likely to continue next year, so we expect good results from our sustainable mobility products."
Maris Kreics, the CFO of Eleving Group, comments:
"Despite the challenging year of peak interest rates and inflation, Eleving Group achieved strong results in all key financial indicators. The Group's adjusted EBITDA increased to EUR 77.5 mln, or by over 18%, compared to 2022, while the total revenue, including fee and commission income, reached EUR 189.3 mln, showing an increase of close to 8%. The adjusted net profit before FX landed at EUR 29.5 mln, up by 29%, while the net portfolio reached EUR 320.3 mln.
It was a year in which we made a solid effort to increase our efficiency and improve our cost of risk. Compared to last year, the Group also achieved higher relative profitability, allowing it to absorb any foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations successfully. With local funding and hedging solutions in place, Eleving Group is expected to have a limited negative impact on foreign currency exchange rates in the coming years. We also strengthened the Group's capitalization ratio while maintaining sustainable dividend payout levels.
During 2023, we continued to diversify our funding structure by raising USD 7 mln from the Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund for the Kenyan portfolio growth. In addition, we successfully continued our Kenyan note program, through which we raised more than EUR 13 mln for business development. Furthermore, in 2023, we established the cooperation with ACP Credit, Central Europe's leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market businesses. As a result, in early 2024, Mogo Romania received an investment of EUR 10 mln, making it the first time in the Group's history that a significant external funding partner outside the Mintos marketplace was brought to Mogo Romania. In addition, we continued to develop our electric car-sharing service, OX Drive, by raising EUR 2.8 million from Industra Bank to expand its car fleet.
Of course, one of the highlights of the year was the issuance of the latest Eurobond and subsequent listing on the Baltic and Frankfurt stock exchanges, resulting in EUR 50 mln raised and over 2,000 new investors onboarded. The bond issue was mainly tailored towards the existing investors (both retail and professional ones) from the Baltic states. In terms of volume, this was one of the largest corporate issuances in the Baltics in recent years. Retail investors from Estonia were particularly active. Therefore, we can assume that companies with a strong track record and a healthy balance sheet still have support from local retail investors even in volatile market conditions characterized by an ambiguous investment landscape.
Furthermore, I would like to note that Fitch Ratings affirmed Eleving Group's long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and Senior Secured Debt Rating (SDRR) at 'B-,' with a stable outlook. Despite the global economic challenges, we have maintained this performance for the fourth consecutive year.
In conclusion, it was a successful year for the company, with healthy growth, sound decisions that delivered expected results, and a strong financial position that will contribute to the future sustainable development of our global business."
Full audited report on the 12M ended 31 December: https://eleving.com/investors
Investor relations
Edgars Rauza, Investor Relations Manager, [email protected]
About Eleving Group
Eleving Group has driven innovation in financial technology around the world since its foundation in Latvia in 2012. As of today, the group operates in 16 markets and 3 continents, encouraging financial inclusion and upward social mobility in underserved communities around the globe. Eleving Group has developed a multi-brand portfolio for its vehicle and consumer finance business lines, with around 2/3 of the portfolio comprising secured vehicle loans and mobility products, with Mogo as the leading brand, and around 1/3 of the portfolio including unsecured consumer finance products, with Kredo and Tigo as the segment's flagship brands. Currently, 57% of the group's portfolio is located in Europe, 30% in Africa, and 13% in the rest of the world.
The Group's historical customer base exceeds 500,000 customers worldwide, while the total volume of loans issued goes beyond EUR 1.6 billion. With headquarters in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia and a governance structure in Luxembourg, the Group ensures efficient and transparent business management, powered at the operational level by 2760 employees. For two consecutive years, the Group was listed among Europe's 1000 fastest-growing companies published by the Financial Times in 2020 and 2021.
The group closed 2023 with strong financial results-its adjusted EBITDA stood at EUR 77.5 million, revenue at EUR 189.9 million, and adjusted net profit after FX at EUR 23.1 million. Eleving Group's net portfolio reached EUR 320.3 million. In 2023, Fitch, a leading credit rating agency, affirmed Eleving Group's B- rating with a stable outlook.
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Attachments:
Eleving Group Integrated Annual Report 2023_ESEF.zip
Eleving Group Integrated Annual Report 2023.pdf
Eleving Group SA Standalone Annual Report 2023.pdf