Cazoo Provides Business Performance & Strategic Update for April 2023
May 22 2023 - 04:05PM
Business Wire
Q2 2023 Retail GPU expected to exceed
£1,200
Cost reduction plan executed and EU exit
complete
Exploring debt restructuring options with
Noteholders
- Highest ever level of Retail GPU achieved in April building
on record result in March
- Continued improvement in unit economics and cost reduction
expected into Q2 2023
- Cash position remains strong with cash of £215 million1
as of April 30, 2023
Cazoo Group Ltd (NYSE: CZOO) (“Cazoo” or “the Company”), the
UK’s leading independent online car retailer, which makes buying
and selling a car as simple as ordering any other product online,
today provides an update on its business performance in April 2023
and reports that it is in discussions with a group of holders
(“Noteholders”) of its $630 million 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes
due 2027 (the “Convertible Notes”) on a potential debt
restructuring.
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the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230522005599/en/
Cazoo Single Transporter (Photo: Business
Wire)
Paul Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer of Cazoo,
commented, “I am very pleased with our performance so far in
the second quarter 2023. In April, we achieved our highest ever
level of Retail GPU, ahead of the record result delivered in March,
giving us confidence in our ability to maintain sustainable Retail
GPU improvement through the remainder of the year and beyond. In Q2
2023, we expect Retail GPU to exceed £1,200, a significant further
increase on the record level of £980 achieved in Q1 2023 (up 20+%
QoQ) and up from £309 in Q2 2022 (up 280+% YoY).
“It is encouraging to see that the action points of our plan to
improve unit economics and reduce costs are coming together,
resulting in tangible progress every month. Variable and fixed
costs are reducing in line with expectations; the cash position
remains strong and our delivery of targets for the year is on
track. The cash position at the end of April was £215 million1 of
cash and cash equivalents (March 31, 2023: £215 million1) and
approximately £50 million of self-financed inventory (March 31,
2023: ~£60 million). We have now completed our exit from the EU,
allowing us to focus our efforts fully on the UK market, the
largest in Europe. We reiterate our guidance for 2023 and remain
fully focused on improving our unit economics, optimizing our fixed
cost base and maximizing our cash runway.”
The Company continues to explore possible strategic transactions
to drive scale and accelerate its path to profitability and is in
discussions with a majority of the holders of its Convertible Notes
on a potential debt restructuring with a view to ensuring a more
robust capital structure going forward, including a reduction in
debt, the issuance of additional equity and a lower aggregate
interest cost per annum. Unless the Company and noteholders reach
an agreement in principle or as otherwise required by law, the
Company does not intend to provide any updates on these
discussions. Given the early stage of this engagement, there is no
assurance that any such discussions will progress or result in any
of the foregoing and, if so, the terms of any agreement.
About Cazoo - www.cazoo.co.uk
Our mission is to transform the car buying and selling
experience across the UK by providing better selection, value,
transparency, convenience and peace of mind. Our aim is to make
buying or selling a car no different to ordering any other product
online, where consumers can simply and seamlessly buy, sell or
finance a car entirely online for delivery or collection in as
little as 72 hours. Cazoo was founded in 2018 by serial
entrepreneur Alex Chesterman OBE and is a publicly traded company
(NYSE: CZOO).
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the “safe harbour” provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The expectations,
estimates, and projections of the business of Cazoo may differ from
its actual results and, consequently, you should not rely on
forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
“believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,”
“strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,”
“will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,”
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
predictions, projections and other statements about future events
that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a
result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could
cause actual future events to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not
limited to: (1) the implementation of and expected benefits from
our business realignment plan, the winddown of operations in
mainland Europe, the revised 2023 plan, and other cost-saving
initiatives; (2) reaching and maintaining profitability in the
future; (3) global inflation and cost increases for labor, fuel,
materials and services; (4) geopolitical and macroeconomic
conditions and their impact on prices for goods and services and on
consumer discretionary spending; (5) having access to suitable and
sufficient vehicle inventory for resale to customers and
reconditioning and selling inventory expeditiously and efficiently;
(6) availability of credit for vehicle and other financing and the
affordability of interest rates; (7) increasing Cazoo’s service
offerings and price optimization; (8) effectively promoting Cazoo’s
brand and increasing brand awareness; (9) expanding Cazoo’s product
offerings and introducing additional products and services; (10)
enhancing future operating and financial results; (11) achieving
our long-term growth goals; (12) acquiring and integrating other
companies; (13) acquiring and protecting intellectual property;
(14) attracting, training and retaining key personnel; (15)
complying with laws and regulations applicable to Cazoo’s business;
(16) uncertainty as to whether discussions with holders of our
Convertible Notes will progress or result in any changes to Cazoo’s
capital structure, and, if so, the terms of any such changes; and
(17) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections
entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements” in the Report on Form 20-F filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Cazoo
Group Ltd on March 30, 2023 and in subsequent filings with the SEC.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should
carefully consider the foregoing factors and the disclosure
included in other documents filed by Cazoo from time to time with
the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to
differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date
they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, and Cazoo assumes no obligation and
does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events,
or otherwise. Cazoo gives no assurance that it will achieve its
expectations.
1 The balance excludes £6.8 million of cash (March 31, 2023:
£6.4 million) related to assets held for sale in relation to the
sale of Cluno, as Cazoo had been paid for Cluno but the transaction
had not yet completed with its balance sheet still being
consolidated as of April 30, 2023. We announced the completion of
the sale on May 15, 2023.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230522005599/en/
Investor Relations: Cazoo: Anna Gavrilova, Head of
Investor Relations, investors@cazoo.co.uk ICR: cazoo@icrinc.com
Media: Cazoo: Lawrence Hall, Group Communications Director,
lawrence.hall@cazoo.co.uk Brunswick: Chris Blundell/Simone Selzer
+44 20 7404 5959 / cazoo@brunswickgroup.com
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