Business update related to COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic did not impact the Company’s South African operations as severely during Q1 2021, as it did in Q4 2020. Nevertheless, South Africa currently remains under various lockdown restrictions, which continue to affect the broader economy, and these restrictions affect us to the extent they affect economic activity levels in South Africa. The Company does not believe there will be any further significant adverse effects on its liquidity from the pandemic, unless there is a resumption of the higher level of restrictions in South Africa in the event of an increase in the level of infections, as is currently being experienced in Europe and the United States following the second wave of the pandemic there.

Factors impacting comparability of our Q1 2021 and Q1 2020 results

• Lower revenue: Our revenues decreased 12% in ZAR primarily due to fewer prepaid airtime sales and lower account fee revenue, which was partially offset by higher transaction fees;

• Ongoing operating losses: Operating costs are largely in line with the prior period in ZAR due to the largely fixed cost nature of the costs base. As a result, we continue to experience operating losses as a result of depressed revenues; and

• Adverse foreign exchange movements: The U.S. dollar was 14% stronger against the ZAR during Q1 2021, which adversely impacted our reported results.
  

Results of Operations by Segment and Liquidity

Processing

Segment revenue was $23.3 million in Q1 2021, down 9%, compared with Q1 2020 but increased 34% compared to Q4 2020 on a constant currency basis. Excluding IPG, segment revenue decreased primarily due to fewer prepaid airtime sales, which was partially offset by higher volume-driven transaction fees. Excluding IPG, Processing operating loss has been impacted lower revenue and by an increase in transaction-based costs. IPG incurred an operating loss but is in the process of being closed down. Our operating loss margin for Q1 2021 and 2020 was (29.8%) and (18.3%), respectively. Excluding IPG, our operating loss margin for the Processing segment was (19.5%) and (12.1%) during Q1 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Financial services

Segment revenue from continuing operations was $8.3 million in Q1 2021, down 34% on a constant currency basis compared with Q1 2020 and down from $8.8 million compared to Q4 2020. Segment revenue decreased due to lower account fee revenue whilst lending and insurance revenues were relatively flat compared to the prior period. The segment incurred an operating loss compared with fiscal 2020 primarily due to the reduction in account fee revenue as well as higher employee-related costs and an increase in insurance claims experience. Operating (loss) income margin for Q1 2021 and 2020 was (28.7%) and 2.4%, respectively.

Technology

Segment revenue was $6.2 million in Q1 2021, down 2% on a constant currency basis compared with Q1 2020 but significantly higher than the $1.9 million in Q4 2020. Operating income for Q1 2021 improved compared with fiscal 2020 due to improved margins on the sale of hardware. Operating income margin for the Technology segment was 28.6% and 15.9% during Q1 2021 and 2020, respectively

Corporate/eliminations

Our corporate expenses increased primarily due to foreign exchange losses incurred and higher legal fees, which were partially offset by lower audit and consulting fees.

Cash flow and liquidity

At September 30, 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $209.2 million and comprised of U.S. dollar-denominated balances of $174.0 million, ZAR-denominated balances of ZAR 547.2 million ($32.5 million), and other currency deposits, primarily Botswana pula, of $2.7 million, all amounts translated at exchange rates applicable as of September 30, 2020. The decrease in unrestricted cash balances from June 30, 2020, was primarily due to the payment of Federal income taxes, weak trading activities and an increase in our lending book, which was partially offset by the receipt of the outstanding proceeds related to the sale of our Korean business.

Excluding the impact of income taxes, cash used in operating activities during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was impacted by the cash losses incurred by the majority of our continuing operations and the growth in our lending book. Net cash used in operating activities during the first quarter of fiscal 2020 includes the contribution from our Korean operations. We paid income taxes of approximately $15.4 million during Q1 2021, compared with $1.9 million during Q1 2020. Capital expenditures for Q1 2021 and 2020 were $0.3 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

Conference Call

We will host a conference call to review these results on November 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, dial 1-508-924-4326 (US and Canada), 0333-300-1418 (U.K. only) or 010-201-6800 (South Africa only) ten minutes prior to the start of the call. Callers should request “Net1 call” upon dial-in. The call will also be webcast on the Net1 homepage, www.net1.com. Please click on the webcast link at least ten minutes prior to the call. A webcast of the call will be available for replay on the Net1 website through November 29, 2020.

Participants are now able to pre-register for the November 6, 2020, conference call by navigating to https://www.diamondpass.net/4251389. Participants utilizing this pre-registration service will receive their dial-in number upon registration.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

U.S. securities laws require that when we publish any non-GAAP measures, we disclose the reason for using these non-GAAP measures and provide reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The presentation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, fundamental net (loss) income and fundamental (loss) earnings per share and headline (loss) earnings per share are non-GAAP measures.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is GAAP operating (loss) income adjusted for depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for costs related to acquisitions and transactions consummated or ultimately not pursued.

Fundamental net (loss) income and fundamental (loss) earnings per share

Fundamental net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share is GAAP net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share adjusted for the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (net of deferred taxes), stock-based compensation charges, and unusual non-recurring items, including costs related to acquisitions and transactions consummated or ultimately not pursued.

Fundamental net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share for fiscal 2021 also includes impairment losses related to our equity-accounted investment and the deferred tax liability reversal related to the impairment of the equity-accounted investment, and fiscal 2020 also includes the amortization of intangible assets (net of deferred taxes) related to equity-accounted investments.

Management believes that the EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, fundamental net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share metric enhances its own evaluation, as well as an investor’s understanding, of our financial performance. Attachment B presents the reconciliation between GAAP operating income and EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA; and GAAP net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share and fundamental net (loss) income and (loss) earnings per share.

Headline (loss) earnings per share (“H(L)EPS”)

The inclusion of H(L)EPS in this press release is a requirement of our listing on the JSE. H(L)EPS basic and diluted is calculated using net (loss) income which has been determined based on GAAP. Accordingly, this may differ to the headline (loss) earnings per share calculation of other companies listed on the JSE as these companies may report their financial results under a different financial reporting framework, including but not limited to, International Financial Reporting Standards.

H(L)EPS basic and diluted is calculated as GAAP net (loss) income adjusted for the impairment losses related to our equity-accounted investments and (profit) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment. Attachment C presents the reconciliation between our net (loss) income used to calculate (loss) earnings per share basic and diluted and HE(L)PS basic and diluted and the calculation of the denominator for headline diluted (loss) earnings per share.

About Net1

Net1 is a South African-focused financial technology company with a presence in Africa, Asia and Europe. Net1 utilizes its proprietary banking and payment technology to distribute low-cost financial and value-added services to underserved consumers and small businesses. The Company also provides transaction processing services, including being a payment processor and bill payment platform in South Africa. Net1 leverages its strategic investments in banks, telecom and mobile payment technology companies to further expand its product offerings or to enter new markets.

Net1 has a primary listing on NASDAQ (NasdaqGS: UEPS) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: NT1). Visit www.net1.com for additional information about Net1.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A discussion of various factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise any of these statements to reflect future events.

Investor Relations Contact:
Dara Dierks
Managing Director – ICR
Email: net1IR@icrinc.com

Media Relations Contact:
Bridget von Holdt
Business Director – BCW
Phone: +27-82-610-0650
Email: Bridget.vonholdt@bcw-global.com

(A) Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.

Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc.

Attachment A

Operating segment revenue, operating (loss) income and operating (loss) margin:

Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and June 30, 2020

(1) – This information shows what the change in these items would have been if the USD/ ZAR exchange rate that prevailed during Q1 2021 also prevailed during Q1 2020 and Q4 2020.

(Loss) Earnings from equity-accounted investments:

The table below presents the relative (loss) earnings from our equity-accounted investments:

Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc.

Attachment B

Reconciliation of GAAP operating loss to EBITDA loss and adjusted EBITDA loss:

Three months and year ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

Reconciliation of GAAP net loss and loss per share, basic, to fundamental net loss and loss per share, basic:

Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc.

Attachment C

Reconciliation of net loss used to calculate loss per share basic and diluted and headline loss per share basic and diluted:

Three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

Calculation of the denominator for headline diluted loss per share

Weighted average number of shares used to calculate headline diluted loss per share represents the denominator for basic weighted-average common shares outstanding and unvested restricted shares expected to vest plus the effect of dilutive securities under GAAP. We use this number of fully-diluted shares outstanding to calculate headline diluted loss per share because we do not use the two-class method to calculate headline diluted loss per share.