Lesaka(LSAK) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Performance - Lesaka Technologies reported net revenue of R5.3 billion and EBITDA of R922 million for FY 2025, with adjusted earnings increasing from R51 million to R186 million, resulting in adjusted earnings per share growing from R0.80 to R2.29 [3][4] - The company refinanced its debt, leading to an increase in gross debt to fund acquisitions, with net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio increasing to 2.9 times, although annualizing Q4 adjusted EBITDA results in a leverage ratio of 2.2 times [3][11] - Q4 net revenue was R1.5 billion, up 47% year on year, with group adjusted EBITDA of R306 million, reflecting a 61% increase [10][12] Business Line Performance - The Merchant business achieved net revenue of R3 billion, up 46% year on year, and EBITDA of R657 million, up 20% year on year, driven partly by acquisitions [5][37] - The Consumer business saw net revenue grow by 35% to R1.7 billion and EBITDA increase by 83% to R435 million, reflecting strong performance in cross-selling initiatives [5][51] - The Enterprise business reported a decline in net revenue by 9% to R651 million and EBITDA decreased from R55 million to R24 million due to restructuring and closure of non-core units [6][58] Market Performance - The Merchant division expanded its footprint to 84,541 points of presence, up from 51,880 a year ago, with throughput reaching R35.5 billion, reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth [31][32] - The Consumer division increased its market share from 9.1% to 13.6%, with a notable migration of customers from Postbank [45][49] - The Enterprise division is expected to contribute more significantly to total segment adjusted EBITDA in FY 2026, with a focus on channel expansion and technology updates [59] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - Lesaka aims to build an integrated, multi-product platform for merchants, focusing on cross-selling and bundling services to enhance customer relationships [22][30] - The company is consolidating its brands under a single identity to streamline operations and improve market strategy [26][64] - The acquisition of BankZero is anticipated to enhance Lesaka's product offerings, allowing for banking services tailored to small-to-medium merchants [60][62] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, emphasizing the importance of strategic acquisitions and operational efficiencies [8][60] - The focus remains on sustainable growth, capital discipline, and enhancing shareholder value, with expectations for continued strong performance in the Consumer and Merchant divisions [21][40] - The company is optimistic about the integration of BankZero and its potential to reduce costs and expand product offerings [60][63] Other Important Information - Lesaka's adjusted earnings per share grew by 211% to R0.99 in Q4, reflecting strong underlying business performance [17] - The company incurred significant non-cash charges related to goodwill impairments and transaction costs, which impacted the overall net loss position [14][16] - Operating cash flow increased to R370 million in Q4, indicating strong cash generation capabilities [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the Merchant division's growth? - Management highlighted the focus on bolstering unit economics and extracting efficiencies from the Merchant platform, with an expectation of continued growth driven by cross-selling initiatives [37] Question: How is the integration of BankZero expected to impact the business? - The integration is anticipated to enhance product offerings, reduce costs, and provide banking services to the merchant base, thereby increasing competitiveness [60][62]