NowAuto Group, Inc. Announces Fiscal First Quarter 2011 Results

PHOENIX, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NowAuto Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets: NAUG; NWAU) today announced results for its fiscal 2011 first quarter ended September 30, 2010. The Company reported revenue of $1.1 million and a net loss of $0.05 per diluted share versus revenue of approximately $1.4 million and a net loss of $0.5 per diluted share in the prior year. During the quarter ended September 30, 2010 gross margin improved to 62.9% due improved capture of vehicle costs.

In spite of general economic conditions and the significant impact on auto purchasing, the cost of charge-offs and defaults improved by 13% over the same quarter of the prior year as a result of increased credit criteria, improved contract management and system upgrades. Nevertheless, management has chosen to increase the bad debt accrual as a hedge against future potential losses. Net investment increased 5% year-over-year. Operating income, defined as income before charge-offs and interest expense, improved 34% year-over-year.

"The present condition of the sub-prime and below sub-prime auto market has continued to impact our industry and our company," said CEO Scott Miller. "While we have managed to increase gross margin our challenge has been, and will continue to be on, maintaining accounts and collections. Our challenge in the current environment is to aggressively work with our customers to maintain active contracts. Tighter underwriting criteria yielded positive results in the September 2010 quarter. Nevertheless, we expect a difficult environment for the foreseeable future. Our commitment to customers and shareholders alike remains; NowAuto will do whatever it can to maintain productive contracts without placing imprudent demands on our customers," Miller said.

"We continue to seek ways to operate with greater efficiency," said Chief Financial Officer Faith Forbis. "Our goal is to broaden our customer base thru better service and rewards."

"Beginning in our second fiscal quarter we will be rolling out additional business lines, including wheel and rim financing and title loan programs to compliment our core auto finance business," said Chief Operating Officer Tino Valenzuela. "These new lines require minimal capital investment and require virtually no additional overhead, so we expect results of these new lines to immediately contribute to the bottom line," Valenzuela said.

About NowAuto Group, Inc.

NowAuto Group, Inc. operates two buy-here-pay-here used vehicle dealerships in Arizona. The Company manages all of its installment finance contracts and purchases installment finance contracts from a select number of other independent used vehicle dealerships.

Note to Investors

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding NowAuto Group, Inc. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

NowAuto Group, Inc. assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. NowAuto Group, Inc.'s forward-looking statements in this press release and future results may be materially impacted by any number of factors, any or all of which could have a negative impact on sales, operating results, financial and budgetary constraints. NowAuto Group, Inc.'s future results may also be impacted by other risk factors listed from time to time in its SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Company's Form-Qs and its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The statements made herein are independent statements of NowAuto Group, Inc. The inclusion, if any, of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any NowAuto Group, Inc. products or services by any such third party.

For further information contact NowAuto Group, Inc. or visit the Company's Web site at www.nowauto.com.

SOURCE NowAuto Group, Inc.