S&U - Set for further growth with tighter credit criteria

S&U’s core non-prime motor finance business, Advantage, has delivered 18 consecutive years of profit growth, including a 20% increase in FY18. A mix change towards higher-risk customers meant a higher rate of impairment but the risk-adjusted return on receivables only declined slightly and, looking ahead, should be at least stable following a tightening of criteria. Meanwhile, the scope for profitable receivables growth seems good given a market share of c 1% and, separately, the property bridging pilot could provide an interesting diversifying source of growth.