Prime Receivables Now Represent 50% Of Chesswood’s $640 Million Portfolio

TORONTO, October 16, 2017 – Chesswood Group Limited (TSX: CHW) (“Chesswood” or the “Company”) announces that its largest subsidiary, Pawnee Leasing Corporation (“Pawnee”), has closed a new US$75 million non-recourse asset backed facility with Capital One, N.A. (“Capital One”) today through its Pawnee Receivable Fund I LLC.

The facility is secured by US$93.6 million in gross receivables from Pawnee’s prime portfolio of equipment leases and loans and repayment terms are based on the cash flow of the underlying portfolio. The proceeds will be used to pay down Chesswood’s existing revolving credit facility. Chesswood’s outstanding indebtedness under its US$250 million revolving facility will total approximately US$140 million following the repayment. Bryant Park Capital acted as exclusive placement agent and financial advisor for Pawnee in this transaction.

Established in 1982, Pawnee specializes in equipment leasing and financing for assets up to US$200,000, for a wide range of credit profiles from small businesses across the U.S. including “start-up entrepreneurs” and more established businesses in the A, B, and C credit market segments.

“Our consistent growth since 2009 has changed the overall composition of our portfolio, which now exceeds $600 million in gross receivables, 50% of which are in the prime market segment. This changing mix has allowed us to access the U.S. securitization market and further expand and diversify our treasury,” said Barry Shafran, Chesswood’s President and CEO. “We’re also very pleased to have completed our first U.S. securitization with Capital One, a top ten U.S. bank and a long-time supporter of the equipment finance industry,” added Shafran. “This is another milestone in our continuing growth and reflects Pawnee’s unique ability to offer customers financing in all credit segments of the market,” said Gary Souverein, Pawnee’s President.

About Chesswood Group Limited

Through two wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and Canada, Chesswood Group Limited is North America’s only publicly-traded commercial equipment finance company focused on small and medium-sized businesses. Our Colorado-based Pawnee Leasing Corporation, founded in 1982, finances a highly diversified portfolio of commercial equipment leases and loans through established relationships with over 600 independent brokers in the lower 48 states. In Canada, our subsidiary Blue Chip Leasing Corporation has been originating and servicing commercial equipment leases and loans since 1996, and today operates through a nationwide network of more than 50 independent brokers.

Based in Toronto, Canada, Chesswood’s shares trade on the TSX under the symbol CHW (convertible debentures: CHW.DB).

To learn more about Chesswood Group Limited, visit www.ChesswoodGroup.com.
The separate websites of Chesswood Group Limited’s operating businesses are at www.PawneeLeasing.com and www.BlueChipLeasing.com

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Contact:
Barry Shafran
Chesswood Group Limited
416-386-3099
bshafran@chesswoodgroup.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

CHESSWOOD EXERCISES ADDITIONAL ACCORDION FUNDS UNDER CREDIT FACILITY

Borrowings Support Continued Growth in Pawnee Leasing Portfolio

TORONTO, August 29, 2017 – Chesswood Group Limited (TSX: CHW) (“Chesswood” or the “Company”) announced today that it has exercised the remaining US$50 million accordion feature in its existing corporate revolving credit facility, increasing the facility to US$250 million.
The facility matures in December 2019 and Chesswood has drawn US$188million under the facility as of the August 29, 2017. “Our U.S. prime portfolio continues to grow as expected. At the same time we have been working towards our first U.S. non-recourse asset backed facility for this portfolio segment,” said Barry Shafran, Chesswood’s President and CEO. “The new non-recourse facility, expected to close in late September or early October, will further diversify our treasury and match our funding structures with our portfolio composition,” added Mr. Shafran.
Chesswood’s overall leverage remains modest following the sale of its two non-core finance businesses over the last eighteen months and the subsequent pay-down of its credit facility with the majority of the proceeds. The Company is well positioned to support its portfolio growth while continuing to provide shareholders with an attractive yield.
The Company’s syndicate of six banks is led by Royal Bank of Canada and includes BBVA Compass, Bank of Montreal, National Bank of Canada, TD Securities and Laurentian Bank of Canada.
“Our lenders have continued to provide strong support for our growth efforts in both the U.S. and Canada. We’re grateful for that partnership and the vote of confidence it represents,” said Mr. Shafran.

About Chesswood Group Limited

Through two wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and Canada, Chesswood Group Limited is North America’s only publicly-traded commercial equipment finance company focused on small and medium-sized businesses. Our Colorado-based Pawnee Leasing Corporation, founded in 1982, finances a highly diversified portfolio of commercial equipment leases and loans through established relationships with over 600 independent brokers in the lower 48 states. In Canada, our subsidiary Blue Chip Leasing Corporation has been originating and servicing commercial equipment leases and loans since 1996, and today operates through a nationwide network of more than 50 independent brokers.
Based in Toronto, Canada, Chesswood’s shares trade on the TSX under the symbol CHW (convertible debentures: CHW.DB).
To learn more about Chesswood Group Limited, visit www.ChesswoodGroup.com.
The separate websites of Chesswood Group Limited’s operating businesses are at www.PawneeLeasing.com and www.BlueChipLeasing.com

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Contact:
Barry Shafran
Chesswood Group Limited
416-386-3099
bshafran@chesswoodgroup.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Additional information about the risks and uncertainties of the Company’s businesses and material factors or assumptions on which information contained in forward-looking statements is based is provided in its publicly filed documents, including the Company’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and performance, which are available electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.
NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

CHESSWOOD REPORTS RECORD SECOND QUARTER OPERATING EARNINGS OF $9.3 MILLION

TORONTO, August 3, 2017 – Chesswood Group Limited (“Chesswood” or “the Company”) (TSX: CHW), a North American wide commercial equipment finance provider for small and medium-sized businesses, today reported record second quarter operating income of $9.3 million and record second quarter originations of $87 million. Chesswood’s gross portfolio exceeded $620 million at June 30th, for an annualized growth rate of 22% from December 31, 2016.

“We increased our originations by more than 35% over the second quarter of last year as we continue to expand our market share and portfolio in both the U.S. and Canada. While competition is increasingly more aggressive, we continue to focus on best in class service to strengthen our relationships with our broker- customers and help drive growth” said Barry Shafran, Chesswood’s President and CEO

Early in the quarter the Company exercised US$30 million of additional borrowing capacity under its US$250 million bank credit facility, in support of future growth. In addition, the U.S. prime portfolio of Chesswood’s subsidiary Pawnee Leasing, has achieved sufficient size so that we are advancing our efforts to finance our prime book through a non-recourse asset backed facility. The facility will further diversify our treasury and match our funding structures with our portfolio composition. Chesswood expects to complete this funding before the end of the year.

At June 30, 2017, Chesswood’s North American wide portfolio included approximately 28,500 leases and loans.

 

Financial Highlights

(in CDN $000’s, except EPS)       For the Three Mths Ended                       For the Six Mths Ended

 

	June 30 2017	June 30 2016		June 30 2017	June 30 2016
Operating Income(1)(2)	$9,290	$9,016		$17,339	$17,111
Adjusted EBITDA(1)(2)	$9,089	$9,066		$17,181	$17,766
Net Income(2)	$3,749(3)	$3,985(3)		$8,445	$14,092(4)
Earnings Per Share – basic	$0.21	$0.22		$0.47	$0.79(4)

 

(1) – See “Non-GAAP Measures” below.

(2) – YTD 2016 Operating Income includes $836K of pre-tax income from Windset compared to $188K in YTD 2017 while in Q2 of 2016 Operating Income includes $337K of pre-tax income from Windset compared to $221K in Q2

2017, as Windset winds down.

(3) – after non-cash mark-to-market losses on swaps, investments and debentures of $1.9 million (2016 – $1.4 million).

(4) – 2016 net income includes $6.7 million gain on the sale of EcoHome Financial.

 

Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA and Operating Income are not recognized measures under International Financial Reporting Standards and do not have standard meanings. Accordingly, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please refer to the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis in Chesswood’s 2016 Annual Report and 2017 Second Quarter Report for additional information concerning these measures and a reconciliation of these measures to the Company’s consolidated net income.

About Chesswood

Through two wholly-owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and Canada, Chesswood Group Limited is North America’s only publicly-traded commercial equipment finance company focused on small and medium-sized businesses. Our Colorado-based Pawnee Leasing Corporation, founded in 1982, finances a highly diversified portfolio of commercial equipment leases and loans through established relationships with over 600 independent brokers in 48 U.S. states. In Canada, Blue Chip Leasing Corporation has been originating and servicing commercial equipment leases and loans since 1996, and today operates through a nationwide network of more than 50 independent brokers. Based in Toronto, Canada, Chesswood’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CHW (convertible debentures: CHW.DB).

Learn more at www.chesswoodgroup.com, www.PawneeLeasing.com and  www.BlueChipLeasing.com.

For more information contact:

Barry Shafran

Chesswood Group Limited

416-386-3099 bshafran@chesswoodgroup.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forwardlooking statements. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Additional information about the risks and uncertainties of the Company’s businesses and material factors or assumptions on which information contained in forward-looking statements is based is provided in its publicly filed documents, including the Company’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and performance, which are available electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.

NO STOCK EXCHANGE, SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

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