Cash America clicks with payday loans

September 19, 2006 - Fort Worth, Texas

With state legislatures and the federal government cracking down on the payday loan industry, such lenders are coming up with new, creative ways to extend their business. Last month, First Cash Financial acquired a chain of used car dealerships. Now Cash America is extending its reach online by completing the purchase of CashNetUSA, a privately held online payday lender.

Numerous payday lenders operate online, including PayDay OK, Sonic Cash, National Payday, and Payday Advance USA. Although their operation is similar to that of the bricks-and-mortar establishments, a benefit of the online presence is the face-saving anonymity of an Internet transaction. People who might dread walking into a Cash America storefront when they're short of cash might not have the same hesitation to do so online.

Cash America is paying $35 million for the online operation, which currently has $22 million in gross cash advances. There is the possibility of five additional compensation payments being paid should the acquisition add more to Cash Advance's earnings than originally estimated. Right now, the company estimates the acquisition will bring in an additional $0.04 to $0.05 per share for the current year, primarily in the fourth quarter, and it has raised full-year guidance to a range between $1.89 and $1.98 a share. Fiscal year 2007 earnings are projected to rise by as much as 28%, to $2.55 a share.

Cash America derives revenues from three sources: pawn loans, cash advances, and check cashing. All three have a similarly unsavory reputation, but they generate cash that any investor would want to sink their teeth into. The company's free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) has grown at a rate of 65% for the past four years, and net income has grown in excess of 30% annually. Thick profit margins also leave a cushiony feeling, with gross margins hovering in the area of 62% and net margins around 8% or so.

The CashNetUSA acquisition, originally announced back in July, should help pad those margins, too. CashNetUSA charges a fee as high as $25 per $100 borrowed (depending on the borrower's state of residence), one of the highest rates among the online lenders, though several others charge similarly high fees. On a typical two-week loan, that would be equal to a 651% APR. However, the company fully, clearly, and easily discloses the relevant fees and APRs. It also lists where it's licensed to do business, which is not everywhere -- it primarily makes loans in 27 Midwestern and Western states, while the East is severely underrepresented. Yet it is one of the few online lenders that has gone through the arduous process of getting licensed state by state.

The online loan maker has only been in existence for two years, but it is already profitable, and Cash America expects the company to be accretive to earnings right away. Cash America also believes that online payday loans are the fastest-growing segment of the industry, and while CashNetUSA is not the largest player in the field, it is a fast-growing one itself. The $22 million in gross cash advances made as of June 30 is up nearly threefold from the $8 million in advances made in the same period last year.

Payday lenders like First Cash Financial, Advance America, Dollar Financial, and EZ Corp have had a strong run over the past year, with most stocks jumping 50% or more. Despite a pullback in the wake of new regulations emanating from the FDIC, that could have been viewed as an opportunity to acquire more shares. Today they're a little bit more pricey.

The Internet has revolutionized a number of industries. It appears that it will now be extending its reach to giving you a little extra cash to tide you over.

News Source

MSNBC, Rich Duprey, Staff Writer

Cash America International Inc. (NYSE: CHS)

• 2006 in review: Cash America [December 28, 2006]
• Cash America clicks with payday loans [September 19, 2006]
• Cash America completes acquisition of CashNetUSA [September 18, 2006]
• Cash America announces a 58 percent increase Q2 income [July 27, 2006]
• Cash America Buys CashNet [July 10, 2006]
• Quick cash lashes borrowers [March 5, 2006]

Related Stories - Finances and Acquisitions

• Cash America clicks with payday loans [September 19, 2006]
• Cash America completes acquisition of CashNetUSA [September 18, 2006]
• Advance America buying back stock [September 12, 2006]
• ACE Cash Express Q4 profit rises on higher revenues [August 29, 2006]
• First Cash announces acquisition of Buy-Here/Pay-Here automotive retailer [August 28, 2006]
• Advance America increases stock repurchase program [August 16, 2006]
• Advance America retreats [July 28, 2006]
• Cash America announces a 58 percent increase in year-over-year Q2 income [July 27, 2006]
• Advance America announces results of second quarter [July 26, 2006]
• EZCORP payday loan revenue up 78 percent, raises 2006 guidance [July 26, 2006]
• Republic Bancorp profits decline 28 percent, still 'solid' [July 22, 2006]
• Cash America Buys CashNet [July 10, 2006]
• Payday loan company QC Holdings reports drop in income [May 4, 2006]

Related Stories - Texas

• 2006 in review: EZCORP [December 28, 2006]
• 2006 in review: Cash America [December 28, 2006]
• Widen payday loan limits [December 28, 2006]
• Cash America clicks with payday loans [September 19, 2006]
• Cash America completes acquisition of CashNetUSA [September 18, 2006]
• ACE Cash Express Q4 profit rises on higher revenues [August 29, 2006]
• First Cash acquires Buy-Here/Pay-Here automotive retailer [August 28, 2006]
• Military payday loans [August 2, 2006]
• Cash America announces a 58 percent increase in ... income [July 27, 2006]
• EZCORP payday loan revenue up 78 percent, raises 2006 guidance [July 26, 2006]
• AG sues loan company, citing sky-high lending rates [May 24, 2006]
• State sues El Paso payday lender, claims loan shark operation [May 23, 2006]

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