The Group has closed the reporting period with a net turnover of EUR 24 854 095 that shows 24% increase in comparison to the same period in 2017. The most notable turnover increase of 52% was reached in Sweden, followed by Spain, demonstrating growth of 16%, and Czechia, where net turnover increased by 12% in comparison to the previous reporting period. Lithuanian subsidiary VIA Payments had fast and successful growth of operations in 2018, approaching a turnover of EUR 2 million and resulting in net profit of EUR 270 thousand. The Group's consolidated EBITDA for 2018 has reached EUR 5 215 724 and consolidated net profit amounted to EUR 3 031 526.

Consolidated net loan portfolio of the Group as at December 31, 2018 was EUR 22 439 857, which has increased by 23% in comparison to December 31, 2017. Operations in Sweden insured the most notable increase of portfolio of 68%, Latvia demonstrated growth of 36% and net loan portfolio in Spain increased by 22%.

During 2018 the Group has made investments in newly established subsidiary in Romania, digital payment services provider VIA Payments and has also invested in the further development of the peer-to-peer lending platform VIAINVEST.

VIA SMS group AS

VIA SMS Group is an alternative financial services provider operating across Europe. The company has been operating under several brands - VIA SMS, SAVA.card, VIAKREDIT, VIA CONTO, VIALET - and is offering consumer loans with a maturity term up to 24 months.  

During 2018, VIA SMS Group has been working on improving the quality of creditworthiness evaluation and customer service effectiveness in all markets. The company was also focused on further development of the peer-to-peer lending platform VIAINVEST. In 2018, VIAINVEST has marked a milestone of EUR 100 million loans funded through the platform.

VIA SMS Group continued developing digital payment platform VIALET, a brand of Group’s subsidiary VIA Payments, that has obtained an electronic money institution license. VIALET is expecting public launch in 2019.

On October 4,2018 the Latvian parliament (Saeima) approved amendments to the Consumer Rights Protection Law, that stipulates limitations to the total credit costs for the consumer to 0,07% per day. VIA SMS group subsidiary SIA VIA SMS will continue to provide consumer lending services in Latvia after the approved amendments come into force on July 1, 2019. The Group foresees, that limiting total credit costs for the consumer may have an impact on the non-bank lending market in Latvia, but it may also result in a significant increase in the demand for consumer lending products, given that short-term loans with small amounts soon will no longer be available on the market. When developing the product portfolio, JSC VIA SMS group has taken into consideration the fast-changing legislative environment of Latvia and has thus opted to remove short-term consumer lending product from the product portfolio offered in Latvia.     

In 2019 VIA SMS Group will continue to strengthen its position in represented markets (Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, and Romania) with a particular focus on developing and stabilizing business operations in Spain and Romania. VIA SMS Group development plans also include the launch of new innovative products as well as introducing credit line lending products in all represented markets.

         Viktorija Ratačova
         Chief Financial Officer
         VIA SMS Group AS
         Phone: +371 66102924
         E-mail: viktorija.ratacova@viasmsgroup.com