Paragon Group Of Companies PLC Trading Update (0624M)

TIDMPAG

RNS Number : 0624M

Paragon Group Of Companies PLC

26 July 2017

THE PARAGON GROUP OF COMPANIES PLC

Trading Update

Good progress across all business lines, additional buy-back announced

The Paragon Group of Companies PLC ("the Group" or "Paragon"), the specialist lender and banking group, today publishes its trading update based upon the business performance from 1 October 2016 to date.

Operating activity

New business levels continue to be strong, with growth in each of our main lending products year to date. A further GBP575.7 million of new lending completed in the third quarter, taking aggregate advances to GBP1,439.7 million for the nine months.

 
 GBP million      Q3 '17   Q3 '16 YTD   Q3 '17 YTD 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Buy-to-let       458.0      989.6       1,014.2 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Asset finance     58.8       99.3        165.5 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Specialist 
  lending          58.9       99.8        164.6 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Total new 
  lending         575.7     1,188.7      1,344.3 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Idem Capital      0.0       208.8         95.4 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 Total new 
  lending and 
  investment      575.7     1,397.5      1,439.7 
---------------  -------  -----------  ----------- 
 

Buy-to-let

Paragon's application flows remain strong reflecting market share gains in an otherwise subdued UK buy-to-let market. The Group's growth reflects increasing demand from more complex and professional customers. The proportion of these customers in the pipeline has risen to 70.0% during the quarter, up from 61.8% at the start of the year. The pipeline (58.5% of which is for remortgage) continues to be healthy at GBP699.8 million at the end of the quarter. Paragon launched its updated complex lending proposition on 17 July 2017, well in advance of the PRA's 1 October 2017 deadline.

96% of lending in the quarter took place through Paragon Bank, reflecting its increasingly important role in financing the Group's new lending flows.

Redemption levels rose on the new BTL portfolio as it continues to mature, taking the annualised redemption rate for 2017 to 20.6% for the new book and 10.9% for the total portfolio.

Asset finance

The asset finance division continues to make good progress, with new business levels increasing to GBP58.8 million in the quarter as target markets, systems and operations continue to develop in line with the Group's strategy.

Specialist lending

Combined completion volumes for the Group's other specialist business streams (car finance, development finance, second mortgage lending and residential mortgages) totalled GBP58.9 million for the quarter, reflecting the measured expansion planned for these product lines. The Group's residential mortgage initiative continues as a pilot lending project while system and distribution testing takes place.

Idem Capital

Idem made no new investments in the quarter but maintains a strong pipeline of opportunities, both where it invests alone and where it partners with Paragon Bank.

Funding update

Paragon Bank's savings deposit balances rose to GBP2.9 billion as at 30 June and currently exceed GBP3.0 billion, with over 100,000 customers.

Further drawings of GBP175.0 million were also made under the TFS scheme during the quarter. Total drawings stood at GBP450.0 million at the quarter end.

During May one of the Group's buy-to-let securitisations, Paragon Mortgages (no.19) PLC was called, with GBP119.0 million buy-to-let loans being acquired by Paragon Bank. More recently a call notice has been given on one of the Group's legacy securitisations, Paragon Mortgages (no.7) PLC, where the loans will be refinanced by Paragon Bank during August. In July, the Group's non-bank origination company was sold to Paragon Bank, meaning all subsequent origination activity will take place in Paragon Bank or one of its subsidiaries.

The Group's GBP110 million subordinated bond issue was repaid in April as planned and Idem Capital extended its bi-lateral facility with Citi by GBP70 million.

Group free cash stood at GBP255.6 million at the end of June.

Credit quality

The credit quality of the portfolio remains exemplary, with just 9 basis points of three month plus arrears on the buy-to-let portfolio at the quarter end. All portfolios continue to exhibit strong behavioural scores suggesting no emerging signs of stress.

Capital management

Paragon's capital position remains strong, with an unaudited CET1 ratio of 16.1% at 30 June 2017. The Group concluded its GBP50 million share buy-back during July and, given its strong cash and capital position, will be extending this 2017 buy-back by up to an additional GBP15 million. The Group's capital management plans will, as normal, be reviewed at the year end and will be communicated to investors with the Group's preliminary announcement on 23 November, 2017.

Outlook

The Group continues to see good progress in each of its business lines and continues to trade in line with expectations and re-iterates its guidance for the year.

Nigel Terrington, Paragon's Chief Executive said:

"I am pleased with the Group's performance for the year to date. Our strong capital and funding resources provide the foundations for further growth alongside returning additional sums to shareholders via the enhanced buy-back programme. Our new business streams continue to develop well and the increasingly complex focus in buy-to-let demand is also supporting absolute growth and market share gains for Paragon. The Group is well-placed for the next phase of PRA underwriting rule changes, which will provide Paragon with a further competitive advantage".

For further information, please contact:

 
 The Paragon Group of Companies   Headland 
  PLC 
 Nigel Terrington, Chief          Lucy Legh and Del Jones 
  Executive 
 Richard Woodman, Group           [e-mail] 
  Finance Director 
 
 Tel: [phone]               Tel: [phone] 
 

Paragon will be releasing its preliminary results for the year to 30 September 2017 on 23 November 2017.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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July 26, 2017 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)