Record performance with 10,692 Vehicles Sold
and YoY Revenue increase of 600%+ in Q2
AJAX I (“AJAX”) (NYSE: AJAX), a publicly-traded special purpose
acquisition company (“SPAC”), today announced that its merger
partner, Cazoo Holdings Limited (“Cazoo” or “the Company”), the
UK’s leading online car retailer which makes buying a car as
seamless as purchasing any other product online, has announced
preliminary financial results for its second quarter ended June 30,
2021.
Summary Results
Q2 2021 (unaudited)
Q2 2020 (unaudited)
Change (%)
Vehicles Sold
10,692
2,022
8,670 (+429%)
Revenue (£m)
~141
20
121 (+605%)
Retail Gross Profit per Unit
(£)1
~460
(429)
889 (n/a)
Gross Profit (£m)
~8
(1)
9
Gross Margin (%)
~5%
(4%)
+9%pts
1 Retail Gross Profit per Unit derived from retail
revenues and ancillary revenues, divided by retail units sold (net
of returns)
Q2 2021 Financial highlights
- Vehicles sold up 429% to 10,692 in Q2 as the Company’s rapid
growth trajectory continued
- Revenue increased ~605% to ~£141 million driven by significant
retail sales growth in UK
- Retail GPU at ~£460 through improved buying mix, stock turn
& higher ancillary revenues
- Gross profit positive at £8 million & margin improved to
~5% due to operational efficiencies
Q2 2021 Strategic highlights
- Business combination with AJAX on NYSE for $7.0 billion on
track to complete in Q3 2021
- Brought refurbishment in-house giving full control of
refurbishment and logistics operations
- Began buying and reconditioning cars in Germany & France
ahead of launch later this year
- Launched new car subscription service in UK offering
all-inclusive single monthly payment
Alex Chesterman OBE, Founder & CEO of Cazoo,
commented, “Our rapid growth trajectory continued in Q2 with
record revenues of around £141 million, up 605% year on year, as
consumers embraced the selection, transparency and convenience of
buying cars entirely online. Our gross profit per unit increased
substantially during the quarter, up from £143 in Q1 to around £460
per unit in Q2, as a result of the continued improvements we made
across our buying and operations. We remain on track to achieve
revenues approaching $1 billion in 2021 and expect operational
efficiencies to continue to drive further gross margin
improvements.
“During the quarter, we brought our vehicle refurbishment
in-house and now have 5 vehicle preparation centres in operation
across the UK, giving us a significant infrastructure advantage and
complete control of our extensive UK-wide reconditioning and
logistics operations. We also launched our new car subscription
service, now offering consumers both new and used cars with the
option to purchase, finance or subscribe, all entirely online. We
continue to be very excited about our launch into mainland Europe
later this year and have started buying and reconditioning cars and
started to significantly build out our teams on the ground in both
France and Germany and will accelerate our investment and rollout
plans if we believe it is right to do so.
“Since the end of the quarter we have begun purchasing cars
directly from consumers outside of part-exchanges as well as having
started to charge for home delivery and both launches have gone
well and exceeded our expectations. On July 26, 2021 we received
confirmation from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that
the registration statement on Form F-4 relating to the proposed
Business Combination with AJAX has been declared effective with a
date of August 18, 2021 now set for the AJAX annual general meeting
to approve the Business Combination. It is expected that closing
will take place in the last week of August.
“We now have over 2,250 customer-obsessed staff, fully focused
on delivering the best and most comprehensive car buying experience
to consumers across the UK and Europe. Our strong performance is a
result of the hard work and dedication of everyone at Cazoo, and I
would like to thank the entire team for this superb performance
despite the COVID restrictions experienced during this period."
Dan Och, Founder of AJAX, said, “We are delighted with
Cazoo’s record performance over the past two quarters. The team
have had another great quarter and this once again confirms the
significant opportunity that lies ahead for the business as they
continue to grow at pace and drive to increase digital share in the
$700 billion European market, which we believe will create
compelling shareholder value.”
Cautionary Statement Regarding Preliminary Results
The Company’s results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021
are preliminary, unaudited and subject to the finalization and
closing of the Company’s second quarter review and should not be
viewed as a substitute for full quarter financial statements
prepared in accordance with IFRS. In addition, these preliminary
results are not a comprehensive statement of the Company’s
financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The Company
cautions you that these preliminary results are not guarantees of
future performance or outcomes, and that actual results may differ
materially from these described above.
About Cazoo - www.cazoo.co.uk
Cazoo’s mission is to transform the car buying experience for
consumers across the UK and Europe by providing better selection,
quality, transparency, convenience, flexibility and peace of mind.
Cazoo aims to make buying a car no different to any other product
online today, where consumers can simply and seamlessly purchase,
finance or subscribe to a car entirely online for either delivery
or collection, in as little as 72 hours. Cazoo was founded in 2018
by serial entrepreneur Alex Chesterman OBE, has a highly
experienced management team and is backed by some of the leading
global technology investors.
About AJAX – www.ajaxcap.com
AJAX is a blank check company whose purpose is to effect a
merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase,
reorganization or similar business combination with one or more
businesses. AJAX was founded by renowned US investor Dan Och in
partnership with Glenn Fuhrman and strategic advisors including
Steve Ells (founder, Chipotle), Jim McKelvey (co-founder, Square),
Kevin Systrom (co-founder, Instagram) and Anne Wojcicki
(co-founder, 23andMe).
Additional information and Where to Find It
This communication relates to a proposed business combination
among Cazoo, AJAX and Capri Listco (“Listco”). In connection with
the proposed business combination Listco has filed a registration
statement on Form F-4 that includes a proxy statement of AJAX in
connection with AJAX’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by
AJAX’s shareholders with respect to the proposed business
combination and a prospectus of Listco, which has become effective.
The proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all AJAX
shareholders and Listco and AJAX will also file other documents
regarding the proposed business combination with the SEC. This
communication does not contain all the information that should be
considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not
intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other
decision in respect of the business combination. Before making any
voting or investment decision, investors and security holders are
urged to read the registration statement, the proxy
statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that
will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business
combination because they contain important information about the
proposed transaction.
Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the
registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus and all other
relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by AJAX
and Listco through the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by AJAX may be
obtained free of charge from AJAX’s website at https://ajaxcap.com
or by written request to AJAX at 667 Madison Avenue, New York, NY
10065 and documents filed by Cazoo may be obtained free of charge
from Cazoo’s website at https://www.cazoo.co.uk or by written
request to Cazoo at 41-43 Chalton St, Somers Town, London NW1 1JD,
United Kingdom.
Participants in Solicitation
AJAX, Listco and Cazoo and their respective directors and
executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from AJAX’s shareholders with respect to
the proposed business combination. Information regarding the
persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants
in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Business
Combination, including a description of their direct or indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, are set forth in the
proxy statement/prospectus. Information regarding the directors and
executive officers of Ajax is contained in Ajax’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the
SEC on May 7, 2021. These filings are available free of charge at
the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Shareholders, potential
investors and other interested persons should read the proxy
statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or
investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents
from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or
exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange any
securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall
there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by
means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the
Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to
the proposed business combination, including statements regarding
the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the
transaction, the services offered by Cazoo and the markets in which
it operates, and Cazoo’s projected future results. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
“believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,”
“strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,”
“will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,”
and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
predictions, projections and other statements about future events
that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a
result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could
cause actual future events to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements in this communication, including but not
limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the
proposed business combination; (2) the outcome of any legal
proceedings that may be instituted against AJAX, Cazoo, Listco or
others following the announcement of the proposed business
combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (3)
the inability to complete the proposed business combination due to
the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of AJAX, to
obtain financing to complete the proposed business combination or
to satisfy other conditions to closing; (4) changes to the proposed
structure of the proposed business combination that may be required
or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as
a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the proposed
business combination; (5) the ability to meet stock exchange
listing standards following the consummation of proposed business
combination; (6) the risk that the proposed business combination
disrupts current plans and operations of AJAX or Cazoo as a result
of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business
combination; (7) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits
of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by,
among other things, competition, the ability of the combined
company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain
relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its
management and key employees; (8) costs related to the proposed
business combination; (9) changes in applicable laws or regulations
and delays in obtaining, adverse conditions contained in, or the
inability to obtain regulatory approvals required to complete the
proposed business combination; (10) the possibility that AJAX,
Cazoo or the combined company may be adversely affected by other
economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (11) the impact of
COVID-19 on Cazoo’s business and/or the ability of the parties to
complete the proposed business combination; (12) Cazoo’s estimates
of expenses and profitability and underlying assumptions with
respect to shareholder redemptions and purchase price and other
adjustments; and (13) other risks and uncertainties set forth in
the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements” in the registration statement on Form
F-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus included therein. The
foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully
consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and
uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of AJAX’s
Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and
other documents filed by AJAX and Listco from time to time with the
SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, and Cazoo, AJAX and Listco assume no obligation and do
not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise. None of Cazoo, AJAX or Listco gives any assurance that
any of Cazoo, AJAX or Listco will achieve its expectations.
Nothing in this communication should be regarded as a
representation by any person that the forward-looking statements
set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated
results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Any
financial and capitalization information or projections in this
communication are forward-looking statements that are based on
assumptions that are inherently subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the
control of AJAX, Listco and Cazoo. While such information and
projections are necessarily speculative, AJAX, Listco and Cazoo
believe that the preparation of prospective financial information
involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out
the projection extends from the date of preparation. The
assumptions and estimates underlying the projected results are
inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of
significant business, economic and competitive risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in the projections. The inclusion of financial
information or projections in this communication should not be
regarded as an indication that AJAX, Listco or Cazoo, or their
respective representatives and advisors, considered or consider the
information or projections to be a reliable prediction of future
event.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210802005187/en/
Investor Relations: Cazoo: Robert Berg, Director of
Investor Relations and Corporate Finance, investors@cazoo.co.uk
ICR: cazoo@icrinc.com
Media: Cazoo: Lawrence Hall, Group Communications
Director, lawrence.hall@cazoo.co.uk Brunswick: Chris
Blundell/Simone Selzer +44 20 7404 5959 /
cazoo@brunswickgroup.com
AJAX: Gagnier Communications, Dan Gagnier/Jeff Mathews +1
646-569-5897 / ajax@gagnierfc.com
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