Cashies laments year of two halves

UPDATE 2.45pm: Cash Converters' full-year profit fell 26.4 per cent to $24.2 million in a year the payday lender described as a tale of two contrasting halves.

The result came on revenue of $331.7 million, up 21.6 per cent on the previous period.

The company declared a fully-franked final dividend of two cents, bringing its full-year payout to four cents in line with the previous year.

Cash Converters said its first-half was affected by the transition to new stricter laws governing micro-lenders in Australia.

"Following the transition to the new micro-credit regulatory regime in Australia, we are confident that we will see the improvement we experienced in the second half continue into the 2015 financial year," the company said.

The company said the main profit driver of the group continued to be the financial services products delivered by it in store and now online in Australia.

"We are encouraged by the strong second half experienced across the Australian business with the second half EBITDA for the cash advance products of $5.1 million, up 13.3 per cent on the first-half result of $4.5 million and a second half EBITDA result of $21.3 million, up 22.4 per cent on the first half of $17.4 million for the personal loan products," Cash Converters said.

"The Australian personal loan book continued to grow and finished FY14 at $109.2 million.

"The Australian corporate stores performed very well in the second half with an EBITDA contribution of $10.2 million, up 64.5 per cent on the first half result of $6.2 million.

"With the recent acquisition, in late June, of three franchised stores in Queensland, we expected to see further profit growth next year."

Shares in Cash Converters closed off three cents, or 2.6 per cent, at $1.125.