JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: UEPS; JSE: NT1) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full-year fiscal 2012.

 

 

 

Factors impacting comparability of our Q4 2012 and Q4 2011 results

• Unfavorable impact from the strengthening of the US dollar: The US dollar appreciated by 18% against the ZAR during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 which negatively impacted our reported results;
• Higher revenues and implementation costs paid as a result of our new contract with SASSA: We commenced generating fees under our new SASSA contract during Q4 2012 and incurred additional implementation and staff costs of $9.1 million;
• Fair value charge resulting from issue of equity instrument pursuant to BBBEE transaction: We recorded a fair value charge of $14.2 million related to our BBBEE transaction which negatively impacted our reported results during Q4 2012; and
• Capital gain paid related to intercompany transaction: We incurred a non-recurring capital gains tax of $1.5 million resulting from an intercompany capital transaction in South Africa.

Comments and Outlook

"I am delighted with our overall performance this quarter as it should demonstrate that the Company is now firmly on its way to rekindling its previous appeal, as we overcome the challenges we have faced over the last few years," said Dr. Serge Belamant, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Net1. "All our business units, specifically those that can have meaningful impact, including CPS, KSNET, VCC, MediKredit and NUETS have a robust pipeline of new and existing opportunities, which in turn should begin to deliver improving financial contributions in the short-to-medium term. Our technology is well placed to advance our business in many markets such as welfare systems, mobile-based payments, claims adjudication, financial inclusion and UEPS/EMV card issuing. I am bullish on the future prospects of our Company and believe we have all the tools required to create long-term value for our shareholders," he concluded.

"We expect our quarterly performance in fiscal 2013 to improve sequentially as we progress through the year, although quarterly results may still be lumpy given the timing and quantum of investments and start up costs to be incurred to ensure the implementation of our SASSA contract," said Herman Kotze, Chief Financial Officer of Net1. "For fiscal year 2013, we expect fundamental earnings per share to be at least $1.49, assuming the constant currency base of ZAR 7.72/$1 and using our fiscal 2012 share count of 45 million shares. As always, fundamental earnings exclude amortization of intangibles, stock-based charges and unusual non-recurring items," he concluded.

Second phase of our new SASSA contract implementation

We successfully initiated the national grant payment process for approximately 9.2 million beneficiaries on April 2, 2012 having commenced implementation during Q3 2012. The implementation will be conducted in two phases. The first phase involved issuing approximately 2.5 million MasterCard-branded debit cards to beneficiaries that we did not serve under our previous contract, in order to establish the payment process to pay all social grants in the country. The second phase commenced in early July 2012 and requires the re-registration of all 9.2 million grant recipients.

During Q4 2012 we incurred direct implementation expenses of approximately $9.1 million including staff, travel, premises hire for enrollment, stationery, delivery and advertising costs. We also incurred implementation related capital expenditures of approximately $13.4 million during Q4 2012. We continue to anticipate cumulative capital expenditures of $45 - $50 million tied to the implementation for our new national contract.

Results of Operations by Segment and Liquidity

Our frequently asked questions and operating metrics will be updated and posted on our website (www.net1.com).

South African transaction-based activities

Segment revenue was $58.4 million in Q4 2012, up 16% compared with Q4 2011 in USD and up 37% on a constant currency basis. In ZAR, the increase in segment revenue was largely due to higher SASSA-related fees resulting from the payment of grants nationwide, more prepaid airtime sales resulting primarily from the Eason acquisition and increased transaction volumes in FIHRST. Segment operating income margin was 9% and 41%, respectively, and declined primarily due to implementation costs and the inclusion of increased low-margin prepaid airtime sales as well as Eason intangible asset amortization. Excluding amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, Q4 2012 segment operating income margin was 12%, compared to 44% during Q4 2011.

International transaction-based activities

KSNET continues to contribute the majority of our revenues in this operating segment. Segment revenue was $31.0 million in Q4 2012, up 11% compared with Q4 2011 in USD and 31% on a constant currency basis. Operating margin for the segment is lower than most of our South African transaction-based businesses and was negatively impacted by start-up expenditures related to our XeoHealth launch in the United States, MVC activities at Net1 UTA and on-going losses at Net1 Virtual Card, but these expenses were partially offset by revenue contributions from KSNET, and to a lesser extent from XeoHealth and NUETS' initiative in Iraq. Excluding the amortization of intangibles but including the start-up costs referenced above, Q4 2012 operating income margin was 10% compared to 13% during Q4 2011.

Smart card accounts

Segment revenue was $8.2 million in Q4 2012, down 5% compared with Q4 2011 in USD but up 12% on a constant currency basis, Q4 2012 segment operating income margin was 28%, compared to 45% during Q4 2011. We have reduced our pricing for smart card accounts after taking into consideration the lower price and higher volumes of the new SASSA contract. The new pricing, effective from April 1, 2012, reduced the average revenue from R5.50 to R4.00 and the operating income margin from 45% to 29%.

Financial services

UEPS-based lending contributes the majority of the revenue and operating income in this operating segment. Segment revenue was $1.8 million in Q4 2012, down 22% compared with Q4 2011 in USD and 8% lower on a constant currency basis, principally due to a decrease in lending activities. Q4 2012 segment operating income margin was 54% compared with 72% during Q4 2011 and decreased primarily due to start-up expenditures incurred by SmartLife.

Hardware, software and related technology sales

Segment revenue was $8.2 million in Q4 2012, down 1% compared with Q4 2011 in USD and 17% higher on a constant currency basis. In constant currency, the increase in revenue and operating income was due to improved software sales and cost containment at Net1 UTA. Excluding amortization of all intangibles, and the intangible asset impairment in Q4 2011, segment operating income margin was 25% compared to an operating loss margin of 23% during Q4 2011.

Cash flow and liquidity

At June 30, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents of $39 million, down from $95 million at June 30, 2011. The decrease in cash was due to a strengthening in the USD against the ZAR, the implementation of our new SASSA contract, the repayment of principal under our KSNET debt and the acquisition of SmartLife and the Eason prepaid electricity and airtime business, offset by cash generated from operations and a net settlement received from the former shareholders of KSNET. For Q4 2012, net cash used by operating activities was $22.6 million, compared net cash generated of $12.8 million in Q4 2011. Excluding the impact of interest paid under our Korean debt, the decrease in cash provided by operating activities resulted from significant implementation costs related to our SASSA contract and, due to the timing of the opening of the July 2012 pay cycle, as we did not have any significant amounts due to non-prefunded merchants participating in our merchant acquiring system as of June 30, 2012. Capital expenditures for Q4 2012 and 2011 were $16 million and $6 million, respectively, and have increased primarily due to acquisition of payment vehicles and other equipment for our new SASSA contract and payment processing terminals in Korea.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

US securities laws require that when we publish any non-GAAP measures, we disclose the reason for using the non-GAAP measure and provide reconciliation to the directly comparable GAAP measure. The presentation of fundamental net income and fundamental earnings per share and headline earnings per share are non-GAAP measures.

Fundamental net income and fundamental earnings per share

Fundamental net income and earnings per share is GAAP net income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share to adjusted for (1) the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (net of deferred taxes), (2) stock-based compensation charges and (3) unusual non-recurring items, including the effects of a change in South African tax law and the creation of a valuation allowance related to foreign tax credits, equity instrument charge related to our BBBEE transaction, capital gains taxes paid resulting from an intercompany capital transaction in South Africa, intangible asset impairments, amortization of KSNET debt facility fees, restructuring charges, profit on liquidation of SmartSwitch Nigeria and transaction-related costs. Management believes that the fundamental net income and earnings per share metric enhances its own evaluation, as well as an investor's understanding, of our financial performance. Attachment B presents the reconciliation between GAAP and fundamental net income and earnings per share.

Headline earnings per share ("HEPS")

The inclusion of HEPS in this press release is a requirement of our listing on the JSE. HEPS basic and diluted is calculated using net income which has been determined based on GAAP. Accordingly, this may differ to the headline earnings per share calculation of other companies listed on the JSE as these companies may report their financial results under a different financial reporting framework, including but not limited to, International Financial Reporting Standards.

HEPS basic and diluted is calculated as GAAP net income (loss) adjusted for the loss (profit) on sale of property, plant and equipment, net of related tax effects, the loss attributable to the sale of 10% of SmartLife, the profit on liquidation of SmartSwitch Nigeria and the impairment of intangible assets. Attachment C presents the reconciliation between our net income used to calculate earnings per share basic and diluted and HEPS basic and diluted.

Conference Call

We will host a conference call to review Q4 2012 results on August 24, 2012, at 8:00 Eastern Time. To participate in the call, dial 1-800-860-2442 (U.S. only), 1-866-605-3852 (Canada only), 0-800-917-7042 (U.K. only) or 0-800-200-648 (South Africa only) ten minutes prior to the start of the call. Callers should request "Net1 call" upon dial-in. The call will also be webcast on our homepage, www.net1.com. Please click on the webcast link at least ten minutes prior to the call. A webcast of the call will be available for replay on our website through September 14, 2012.

About Net1 (www.net1.com)

Net1 is a leading provider of alternative payment systems that leverage its Universal Electronic Payment System, or UEPS, to facilitate biometrically secure real-time electronic transaction processing to unbanked and under-banked populations of developing economies around the world in an online or offline environment. In addition to payments, UEPS can be used for banking, healthcare management, payroll, remittances, voting and identification.

Net1 operates market-leading payment processors in South Africa, Republic of Korea, Ghana and Iraq. In addition, Net1's proprietary Mobile Virtual Card technology offers secure mobile payments and banking services in developed and emerging countries while its MediKredit and XeoHealth subsidiaries provide its proprietary 5010 and ICD-10 compliant real-time claims adjudication system.

Net1 has a primary listing on the Nasdaq and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A discussion of various factors that cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise any of these statements to reflect future events.