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EZCORP Inc. F2Q08 (Qtr End 3/31/08) Earnings Call Transcript

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2008-05-05 18:20:10.0

Tags: EZCORP Inc.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

(Operator Instructions). We have our first question from Dennis Telzrow from Stephens, Incorporated. Please go ahead.

Dennis Telzrow - Stephens Inc

Good afternoon, Joe and Dan. Great quarter.

Joe Rotunda

Thank you, Dennis.

Dennis Telzrow - Stephens Inc

You didn't mention or update us on the progress of the proposed acquisition of Value Financial Services. Any comment there?

Joe Rotunda

Well, we're still in the due diligence stage. And we're moving through all of that detail. And at this point, we're maintaining our May ending target for closing.

Dennis Telzrow - Stephens Inc

And at that time, you might have some comment on the total potential and then outlook as how it would possible impact next fiscal year?

Joe Rotunda

We certainly would once we get through all the due diligence.

Dennis Telzrow - Stephens Inc

Okay. And the stores you're opening in Mexico, I assume most of those are down in the same territory in which Mister Money had operated. And I guess a second part to that, have you put in your point of sales in those stores down there?

Joe Rotunda

Your second question first. We do have our store operating system, our EZSYSTEM pawn operating system in place. All of the stores have been converted. And we've completed all that in the December, January time frame. As to our expansion in Mexico, if you think of the uppermost, Northwest area that we're in is the Biajo area, and take the route from there down through Mexico City into Veracruz, that's where our primary development is this year, along with a couple stores along the boarder where we're filling in there to build a full area for the multi-unit manager that we have there. That will take us through the end of this year. We'll still have considerable fill in opportunity in 2009. And we'll use that corridor as a hub and then grow out from there.

Dennis Telzrow - Stephens Inc

And I don't know if you have the ability to measure it, but some people and some of the other companies in business have commented that they felt that their collections were negatively impacted by, I guess you could call it, the decline in the customer's use of his tax refund to pay off previously delinquent loans. Is there any way or do you have any thoughts on that?

Joe Rotunda

It'd certainly be very subjective. My gut would tell me that the customer's available cash is more stressed now than it has ever been and that income tax refund that may have gone towards a debt that they had in the past, whether it be pawn portfolio loans or signature payday loans, probably had other demand on it for maybe something more pressing.

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