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goeasy

gsy · TSX Financial Services
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Ticker gsy
Exchange TSX
Sector Financial Services
Industry Asset Management - Bonds
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2018 Annual Report · goeasy
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2018 ANNUAL REPORT

PROVIDING  
EVERYDAY  
CANADIANS  
A PATH TO A BETTER 
TOMORROW
TODAY 

GOEASY IN 2018

2018 WAS ANOTHER OUTSTANDING  
YEAR FOR GOEASY. WE CONTINUED TO 
EXECUTE AGAINST OUR CORPORATE 
STRATEGY AND DELIVERED RECORD 
LOAN GROWTH, LEADING TO  
OUR 17TH CONSECUTIVE  
YEAR OF PROFITABLE  
REVENUE GROWTH.

Beyond  our  financial  achievements,  we  continued  to  differentiate  ourselves  amongst  the  competition  with  a  strong 
commitment to helping our customers achieve better financial outcomes. Our goal is clear and has remained unchanged 
– to provide everyday Canadians with access to the credit they need, as we help them on a path to improved financial 
health and a better tomorrow.

With  28  years  of  experience  serving  over  one  million  Canadians  from  coast-to-coast,  we  have  come  to  know  our 
customers intimately. Our customers are hard-working everyday Canadians that are often faced with life’s unexpected 
circumstances  and  are  among  the  approximately  seven  million  Canadian  consumers  considered  to  be  non-prime  by 
virtue of their credit score being below 700. Our frontline employees work to build lasting relationships with each and 
every customer as we provide them with financial relief and a second chance on their journey towards improved credit. 
With an ever-broadening set of financial products and services that help our customer graduate to lower rates, we are 
proud to see our vision brought to life with 1 in 3 easyfinancial customers graduating to prime credit and 60% increasing 
their credit score within 12 months of borrowing from us.

In  2018,  we  achieved  industry  leading  levels  of  brand  awareness  for easyfinancial  which  reached  an  all-time  high  of 
84%,  attracting  record  levels  of  new  customers. Through  the  combination  of  strong  revenue  growth,  increased  scale 
and stable credit performance, we achieved all of our commercial targets for 2018. As we executed against our stated 
strategic priorities, our loan book grew $307 million, almost double the prior year, resulting in an ending portfolio of 
$834 million. Strong loan growth helped produce record revenues of $506 million, an increase of 26%. Net income for 
2018 reached an all time high of $53.1 million or $3.56 per share. In 2018, the Company adopted the IFRS 9 accounting 
standard  which  served  to  moderate  earnings  in  the  current  year  while  2017  was  reported  under  the  old  accounting 
standard. Had IFRS 9 been applied in 2017, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the current 
year would have increased by 53.4% and 44.7% respectively.

With  our  solid  financial  position  and  a  history  of  successfully  raising  capital  at  progressively  lower  rates,  goeasy  is 
well-positioned to fund our ambitious growth plans for the foreseeable future. As we look to capture an even greater 
share of the $186 billion market for non-prime credit in Canada in 2019, we will focus on continuing to enhance our 
borrowing experience by removing friction throughout the process, investing in our indirect lending and point-of-sale 
finance channel and making transformative enhancements to our credit and analytics capabilities. We are on track to 
exceed the $1 billion loan book milestone this year, as we provide our customers with the highest levels of customer 
service to help them on their path to a better financial future.

$2.9B

TOTAL LOAN  
ORIGINATIONS 

1M+

TOTAL  
CUSTOMERS 
SERVED

95%

EASYFINANCIAL 
CUSTOMER  
SATISFACTION  
RATING

1IN3

CUSTOMERS
GRADUATE TO 
PRIME CREDIT 1

60%

OF CUSTOMERS
IMPROVE THEIR 
CREDIT SCORE2

(1) Prime credit is defined as opening a trade with a prime bank lender within 12 months of borrowing from us. 
(2) As measured by an increase in TransUnion Risk Score within 12 months of borrowing from us. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  2

2018 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

ANNUAL REVENUE  
(IN DOLLAR MILLIONS)

$506.2M

500

400

300

200

100

$-

12.7%
CAGR

401.7

347.5

304.3

259.2

218.8

188.3

199.7

158.1

139.7

168.2

174.2

65.9

70.5

76.0

86.1

116.3

100.3

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Note: All revenue restated to IFRS. CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate

ADJUSTED ANNUAL NET INCOME 
(IN DOLLAR MILLIONS)

50

40

30

20

10

$-

29.0%
CAGR

7.7

6.5

9.0

10.4

9.0

8.8

9.6

10.5

6.8

4.0

2.6

0.7

$53.1M

42.2

33.2

23.7

18.6

14.2

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Note: 2001 to 2009 amounts reported on a Canadian GAAP basis. 2010 to 2018 amounts reported under IFRS. Certain financial 
statement amounts have been adjusted to exclude unusual and non-recurring items. Further details on such adjustments can be 
found in the Management Discussion and Analysis. CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate

58.3%

TOTAL LOAN  
BOOK GROWTH 

26.0%

TOTAL REVENUE  
GROWTH

44.7%

DILUTED EPS 
GROWTH1

38.5%

OPERATING MARGIN 
FOR EASYFINANCIAL

21.8%

RETURN ON  
EQUITY

(1) Excludes the impact of non-recurring refinancing charge in 2017 and assumes IFRS 9 was applied in 2017.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  3

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(in $000s except per share amounts, store counts, employee 
counts, annual dividends, percentages and ratios)

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

INCOME STATEMENT

Revenue

Operating income

Net income

Diluted earnings per share

BALANCE SHEET

Cash

Gross consumer loans receivable

Lease assets

Total assets

External debt

Shareholders’ equity

FINANCIAL METRICS

Revenue growth

Adjusted operating margin1

Adjusted net income1

Adjusted earnings per share1

Adjusted return on equity1

Net debt to capitalization

Annual dividend per share

OPERATING METRICS

506,191

119,717

53,124

3.56

 100,188 

833,779

51,618

 401,728 

 347,505 

 304,273 

 259,150 

 87,393 

 36,132 

 2.56 

 109,370 

 526,546 

 62,516 

 31,049 

 2.23 

 48,052 

 23,728 

 1.69 

 34,593 

 19,748 

 1.42 

 24,928 

 11,389 

 1,165 

 370,517 

 289,426 

 192,225 

 54,318 

 55,288 

 60,753 

 64,526 

1,055,676

 749,615 

 503,062 

 418,502 

 319,472 

 691,062 

 449,178 

 263,294 

 210,299 

 121,597 

 301,529 

 228,244 

 196,031 

 176,059 

 153,968 

26.0%

23.70%

 53,124 

3.56

21.8%

 0.66 

 0.90

16.60%

21.80%

42,158

2.97

19.8%

 0.60 

 0.72 

14.20%

19.00%

33,155

2.38

17.9%

 0.55 

 0.50

17.40%

15.80%

23,728

1.69

14.4%

 0.53 

 0.40 

18.40%

12.90%

18,600

1.34

12.9%

 0.44 

 0.34 

Same store revenue growth

25.7%

18.3%

12.1%

16.3%

19.6%

Gross loan originations

 922,550 

 579,494 

 398,739 

 330,689 

 233,805 

Growth in gross consumer loans receivable

 307,233 

 156,029 

 81,091 

 97,201 

 81,521 

Net charge-offs as a percentage of  
average gross consumer loans receivable

12.7%

13.6%

15.4%

14.8%

13.0%

OPERATIONS

Total Store Count:

easyfinancial

easyhome

easyfinancial branch openings

Employees

241

165

23

228

171

22

208

176

17

202

184

64

154

192

39

1,821

1,729

1,587

1,566

1,496

1 Certain financial statement amounts have been adjusted to exclude unusual and non-recurring items. Further details on such 
adjustments can be found in Management’s Discussion and Analysis. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  4

OUR AWARD-WINNING CULTURE

GOEASY LTD. IS PROUD TO FOSTER A CULTURE THAT CELEBRATES 
SUCCESS, ENCOURAGES INNOVATION AND IS COMMITTED TO 
HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS GET BACK TO LOWER RATES.

From our staff at our easyhome and easyfinancial locations, to our team providing sales and service support at our call centre, to 
our employees at our corporate office - known as the Support Centre - the culture at goeasy revolves around our customers.

EMPLOYING CANADIANS FROM  
COAST-TO-COAST 

Our  employees  are  the  foundation  of  our  success. 
The  connection  our  team  builds  with  our  customers 
extends far beyond simply providing a service – they 
are  truly  invested  in  their  future  and  success.  With 
over  1,800  dedicated  and  hardworking  employees 
across  the  country,  goeasy  is  as  diverse  as  Canada 
itself, representing over 40 nationalities. Our award-
winning culture is rooted in a customer first approach 
that  focuses  on  respect  and  empathy.  We  pride 
ourselves  on  helping  every  customer  find  a  way 
forward to a better financial future regardless of their 
situation. We are committed to their success, working 
together  as  one  team  to  do  great  work  and  make  a 
positive impact on those around us.

A CULTURE TO BE PROUD OF

In 2018, we reached another milestone in the Company’s history as 
we opened our new state of the art Support Centre in Mississauga, 
Ontario.  Leveraging  technology  and  building  a  space  to  foster 
creativity and collaboration, we have room to scale and grow as 
we continue to support our front line staff in delivering the highest 
levels  of  customer  service.  This  past  year,  goeasy  was  also  a 
recipient of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures award by 
Waterstone Human Capital. As one of only 40 winners, we were 
extremely  excited  to  be  recognized  for  building  one  of  Canada’s 
top  performing  cultures  that  drives  results  by  hiring  top  talent, 
developing  the  leaders  of  tomorrow  and  creating  a  workplace 
culture that fosters innovation and collaboration.

1,800+

EMPLOYEES
across Canada

56%

FEMALE
employee base

40

NATIONALITIES
represented within 
employee base

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  5

OUR BRANDS

Launched in 2006, easyfinancial is our non-prime consumer lending division 
that began operating with the goal of bridging the gap between traditional 
financial institutions and costly payday lenders. Since then, easyfinancial has 
significantly expanded and evolved to support our core vision of providing 
everyday  Canadians  a  path  to  a  better  tomorrow,  today,  as  they  improve 
their financial outcomes and work their way back to prime lending.

Offering  a  suite  of  both  unsecured  and  secured  lending  products  up  to 
$35,000 with rates starting at 19.99%, easyfinancial is uniquely positioned in 
the market with an omnichannel business model that allows our customers 
to  conveniently  transact  with  us  through  our  national  branch  network 
of  241  locations,  online  or  through  one  of  our  many  retail  and  merchant 
partnerships.  Through  a  disciplined  approach  to  growth  and  managing 
risk,  easyfinancial  has  demonstrated  a  history  of  stable  and  consistent 
credit  performance.  We  believe  our  proprietary  custom  scoring  models 
built  using  machine  learning  and  advanced  analytical  tools,  coupled  with 
the personal relationships we develop with our customers in our branches, 
strikes the optimal balance between growth and prudent risk management 
and underwriting.

Over  the  past  12  years,  we  have  served  over  340,000  customers  and 
originated close to $3 billion in loans (with $923 million originated in 2018). 
With additional services including our starter loan product, creditplus, for 
those  with  no  credit  or  damaged  credit,  a  credit  monitoring  service  to 
track a customer’s credit progress, and free financial education tools, our 
commitment to helping our customers on their journey towards a better 
financial future has never been stronger.

easyhome,  Canada’s  largest  lease-to-own  Company  has  been  in  operation 
since 1990 and offers customers brand name household furniture, appliances 
and  electronics  through  flexible  lease  agreements.  Through  one  of  our 
165  locations  across  Canada  or  online,  Canadians  turn  to  easyhome  as  an 
alternative  to  purchasing  or  financing  their  goods.  With  no  down  payment 
or  credit  check  required,  easyhome  offers  a  flexible  solution  that  helps 
consumers get access to the goods they need, with the flexibility to terminate 
their lease at any time without penalty.

In  2017,  easyhome  began  offering  unsecured  lending  products  in  almost 
100 easyhome locations. This expansion allowed us to further increase the 
distribution  footprint  of  our  financial  services  products  by  leveraging  our 
existing real estate and employee base. Offering lending at our  easyhome 
locations has enabled our stores to diversify their product offering and meet 
their customers broader financial needs.

$834M

TOTAL LOAN  
BOOK SIZE

241

LOCATIONS

$368M

REVENUE

$142M

OPERATING INCOME

154K

ACTIVE CUSTOMERS

165

LOCATIONS
(100 WITH LENDING)

$138M

REVENUE

$22M

OPERATING INCOME

46K

ACTIVE CUSTOMERS

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  6

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

At goeasy, we understand our success is dependent on the strength of the communities in 
which we operate. With stores and branches in hundreds of communities both big and small 
across Canada, we believe we can play a key role in supporting the communities that are at the 
heart of many of the families we serve. 

Our approach to giving back has always been a balance of both time and investment as we strive to help those around us and make a positive 

impact on the communities in which we live and work. Our employees share this core value and contribute countless volunteer hours each year 

to a variety of causes. We encourage and support their efforts by offering three days of paid time off per year to use for volunteering activities 

of their choice.

40

EASYBITES  
KITCHENS BUILT
on our way to  
100 by 2024

43

HOUSING 
SOLUTIONS
built through Habitat  
for Humanity Global 
Village

14

YEARS
partnering with Boys 
and Girls Clubs of 
Canada

$2.7

MILLION
raised to support 
charities

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  7

goeasy  is  highly  committed  to  our  longstanding  partnership  with  the 
Boys  and  Girls  Clubs  of  Canada  which  has  spanned  over  14  years. 

During this time, we have raised over $2.5M to help the clubs with their 

mission of providing safe, supportive places where children and youth 

can experience new opportunities.

In 2014, we expanded our partnership with the clubs as we  launched 

easybites  –  our  ambitious  $2.5  million,  10-year  initiative  to  build 

functioning kitchens in all 100 Boys and Girls Clubs across Canada. With 

40 built to date, these kitchens help feed today’s youth while providing 

opportunities to learn how to prepare healthy meals and encourage the 

development of healthy habits and life skills.

Our efforts to give back go well beyond our local communities through 

our charitable corporate partnership with Habitat for Humanity’s Global 

Village program. Through this relationship, we send teams of 25 staff 

to build houses for those in need across the globe. Since 2014 we have 
taken  over  100  goeasy  employees  to  Nicaragua,  India,  Guatemala  and 
Cambodia, where we have helped build over 25 homes and 18 smokeless 
stoves for a total of 43 housing solutions for families in extreme poverty.

OUR HISTORY IN THE MAKING

1990

RTO Enterprises
founded

2006

easyfinancial 
launches

2001

David Ingram appointed  
President & CEO and Company 
 returns to profitability

2003

easyhome Ltd. is  
born consolidated  
from 6 brands

2011

First easyfinancial
stand-alone branch opens

Centralized credit  
adjudication introduced

2015

Company 
name changed to  
goeasy Ltd.

2016

Risk adjusted 
rate loans launched

Launched the first integrated
application for prime/non-prime
lending at point-of-sale

2017

Recapitalized the business 
 with $530 million in financing

Secured lending product launched

Expanded into Quebec

Launched lending at easyhome

2018

CEO transition plan announced 
David Ingram to Executive 
Chairman of the Board and 
Jason Mullins to President & CEO

Next generation proprietary 
online loan application launched

creditplus savings 
loan launched 

2019

& BEYOND

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  8

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

I AM PRIVILEGED TO WRITE THIS
LETTER AS THE NEW PRESIDENT
& CEO OF GOEASY. THIS IS AN
EXCITING TIME FOR OUR COMPANY
AS WE EMBARK UPON THE MOST
AMBITIOUS PERIOD OF GROWTH AND
TRANSFORMATION IN OUR HISTORY.
WE HAVE A CLEAR AND THOUGHTFUL
STRATEGY, GUIDED BY A GOAL TO BE
THE LARGEST AND BEST-PERFORMING
NON-PRIME LENDER IN CANADA, WITH A
COMPELLING VISION TO PUT EVERYDAY
CANADIANS ON A PATH TO A BETTER
TOMORROW, TODAY.

Jason Mullins
President & CEO

In  the  following  letter,  I  am  pleased  to  provide  an  overview  of  our  business  and  the  market  in  which  we  operate, 
discuss  our  strong  results  for  2018,  and  our  plan  and  outlook  for  2019  and  beyond.  But  first,  I  will  also  use  this 
unique opportunity to share my personal story, including my journey to date with goeasy.  

Life before goeasy

My story resembles the principles we embody and encourage at goeasy  – if you are hungry and humble, prepared 
to work hard, take calculated risks and be an “and then some” player – you can build something great, from humble 
beginnings. I started my professional career weeks after graduating from high school, working in a private mid-sized 
Company in the call centre outsourcing industry. I grew up in a working-class family that didn’t have the means to pay 
for an undergraduate education, nor did I qualify for government subsidized student loans. As such, I had to work and 
finance my way through university courses, working during the day and attending classes in the evening, one course 
at a time. My first role was as a collections officer, making calls to Canadian and US customers that were struggling 
to pay their bank loans and credit cards. I had to quickly learn to communicate clearly, negotiate, influence, and most 
important of all, help everyday people navigate out of tough financial situations. I was good at it, I loved it, and that 
experience helps me today in connecting better with our staff and customers. After eight months on the phone, I was 
put into my first management role. As a manager, I led teams that handled a variety of collection and customer service 
related outsourcing programs for many of Canada’s major financial institutions. This was when I got my first taste of 
owning a department P&L and learned to lead people. These early years proved to be tremendously valuable training 
grounds for developing essential management and leadership skills, most of which I still depend on today. 

After  two  years,  my  collections  experience  landed  me  a  job  at  a  major  Canadian  bank,  managing  their  secured 
debt recovery department. I suddenly found myself immersed in one of the largest financial institutions in Canada, 
handling  a  network  of  law  firms  and  property  managers  that  conducted  asset  recovery  work  on  delinquent  car 
loans and mortgages. The bank proved to be another incredibly valuable learning experience, particularly at such an 
early stage of my career. While I acquired and absorbed a substantial amount of knowledge about extending credit, 
underwriting, real estate and the governance and financial controls needed to safeguard a major bank, I ultimately 
came to realize I was far too ambitious to innovate and execute change than a big bank could accommodate. The 
slower pace and abundance of process to get things done was stifling, so I decided to return to the organization I had 
previously left. This was the first time in my career that I can remember becoming acutely aware of the relevance of 
organizational culture and its influence on innovation and execution. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  9

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

A  few  years  after  my  return  to  a  more  senior  role  within  the  contact  centre  business,  the  company  asked  me  to 
relocate  to  Vancouver  to  run  their  west  coast  office.  While  there,  I  was  recruited  to  join  a  small  privately-owned 
consumer lending business in the early start-up phase. That company wanted to digitize small short-term consumer 
loans by making them easily accessible online. Over the ensuing three years, I held progressive management roles 
and helped lead the development of an online transactional lending platform, launch new loan products and set up 
the basic functions of a credit risk and analytics department. By 2010, I began to see the consumer lending market 
shift and an opportunity started to emerge. The exit of a major consumer lender, others would soon follow, created 
a gap in the market. While the short-term lending space was beginning to crowd with new entrants, the traditional 
non-prime lending market was quickly becoming underserved. We began to model out what a pivot into installment 
loans would look like and started studying our industry peers. That was exactly when the phone rang. 

History with goeasy

In the late spring of 2010, I received a call about an opportunity back in Toronto. The search firm explained that a 
retail  business  named easyhome  had  started  a  consumer  lending  division  called easyfinancial  and  was  looking  to 
add management expertise in financial services. I had become familiar with the Company, as it was one of the public 
peers we had modelled. I was impressed with the plan they articulated for filling the gap that existed between payday 
loans and banks, by leveraging their expertise in serving the non-prime consumer. Between our plan to eventually 
return home to Ontario and the quickly emerging market opportunity, the fit was ideal for both family and career. So, 
in July of 2010, we moved back to Toronto and I joined easyhome Ltd., assigned to work on the small, but burgeoning 
business of easyfinancial.  

The day I joined the Company, the consumer loan portfolio was roughly $19 million and was operating out of 29 kiosks. 
My first role was to expand the online lending platform and the centralized sales and service functions. I embedded 
myself into the business, wildly excited about the growth prospects that lay ahead. However, as can often be the case 
in both business and life, there are times when we need to take two steps back, to move one step forward. Back in 
2010, after just a few months on the job, I was prompted by the CEO, David Ingram, to carefully assess our largest 
location, given its anomalous performance. Upon delving into the data, I soon discovered an internal employee fraud 
that was felt throughout the Company. Fortunately, it was an isolated incident and adequately contained. Though a truly 
tough experience for everyone, it was one of the best things that could happen in the early stages of building a new 
business. The event proved to be a major catalyst for mobilizing our resources and accelerating the investment in the 
easyfinancial platform. In the following weeks and months, my role evolved very quickly. I was given full responsibility 
for the easyfinancial business unit with a direct reporting line to the CEO and given a clear mandate to build a lending 
platform that we could safely scale and expand. This was one of the busiest, but most productive and rewarding times 
of my life. 

Over the next several years, we built an incredibly talented team, often drawing on the financial services expertise 
from many of the established players within our industry. I had the privilege of leading the development of our first 
centralized credit decision platform and proprietary custom scoring model, developing our digital strategy and first 
generation online transactional platforms, leading the expansion into point-of-sale financing and spearheading the 
rapid growth of our retail branch network and shared services centre. Over those years, we also spent considerable 
time crafting our brand strategy and crystallizing the corporate mission of helping customers improve their financial 
situation,  with  an  end  goal  of  seeing  them  get  back  to  prime  credit.  We  went  through  a  tremendous  evolution  in 
almost every area of the business, with the loan portfolio expanding from $23 million in 2010 to $834 million at the 
end of last year. However, despite the degree of change, we have never wavered from maintaining an entrepreneurial 
spirit and passionate energy to take great care of our people and our customers. 

Six job titles and nine years later, I now succeed one of the brightest leaders I’ve ever had the privilege of serving. 
After 18 years at the helm, David Ingram has passed on the torch. He has provided invaluable leadership and been 
a key source of my professional development. The succession plan was well orchestrated over several years, with 
thoughtful planning and endorsement from the Board. I am very grateful that in his new role as Executive Chairman, 
he will remain a mentor for many years to come. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  10

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Overview of our Business Model

For those readers and investors less familiar with our Company, I’ll take a moment to briefly review our business 
model. The focus will be on easyfinancial, given it is the primary driver of our performance. 

We  lend  out  our  capital  in  the  form  of  unsecured  and  secured  consumer  loans  to  non-prime  borrowers,  who  are 
generally unable to access credit from traditional sources such as major banks. All loans are fixed payment and fully 
amortizing installment products. We offer these products through an omnichannel business model, including a retail 
branch network, digital platform and indirect lending partnerships. We compete on a point of differentiation, which is 
our customer experience – specifically the journey of providing customers a path to improve their credit and graduate 
back to prime borrowing. We do this through our product range, which provides customers with progressively lower 
interest rates, along with free financial education. The consumer demand for our products and our ability to generate 
brand awareness and create a compelling value proposition for customers, is a key driver to generating growth in 
loan originations.

We  charge  our  customers  interest  on  the  money  we  lend,  as  well  as  offer  a  suite  of  ancillary  optional  products 
through third party providers, for which we receive a commission. The interest, additional commissions and various 
fees, collectively produce the total portfolio yield we generate on our loan book. Our total portfolio yield relative to 
our cost of capital and loan losses is a key driver of profitability. 

As a lender, we expect to incur credit losses related to those customers who are unable to repay their loans. Given 
the higher risk nature of the non-prime borrower, the credit losses are reflective of the higher rate of interest we 
charge. In 2018, we experienced an annualized net charge off rate of 12.7%, measured on the average outstanding 
loan balance at the end of each month. Our proprietary credit models allow us to set the level of risk we are willing 
to  accept  and  the  loss  rate  we  feel  is  optimal.  We  could  take  less  credit  risk  and  reduce  our  loan  losses,  but  it 
would come at the expense of profitable volume. Likewise, we could accept more risk to drive greater growth and 
profitability, but it would come with higher losses and have downstream impacts on the cost and ability to access 
capital.  Ultimately,  our  objective  is  to  optimize  profitability  and  operating  margins  by  striking  the  right  balance 
between velocity (the applicants we approve) and the loss rate of the portfolio. Managing credit risk and maintaining 
stable loan loss performance is a critical capability and key driver of profitability in our business.  

Our operating expenses consist primarily of labour (in our branches, call centre and corporate office), the technology 
costs of our loan platform, advertising costs and basic overhead such as rent and utilities. Managing our operating 
expenses in a lean and efficient manner, while carefully investing in the key areas that drive results such as credit risk, 
technology, human resources and branding, is a key driver of the growth and profitability of the business. 

We use a combination of debt and equity to fund the growth of our business. Our debt is provided through a suite of 
instruments including a revolving credit facility with several Canadian and US banks, Notes Payable and convertible 
debentures. When fully utilized, the weighted average interest rate on our debt is approximately 6.8%. Approximately 
66% of our business is funded through debt, with the balance funded through equity, including the retained earnings 
that we generate. Over the last 18 years, we have developed a proven ability to access various forms of capital at 
progressively  lower  rates  and  more  attractive  terms.  The  availability  and  cost  of  our  capital,  combined  with  the 
leverage ratio we maintain, continue to be key drivers that influence the economic returns of the business.

All in, our business model produces a return on equity that exceeds 20%.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  11

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Review of 2018

In  2018,  we  continued  the  accelerated  growth  plan  launched  in  2017.  The  year  was  marked  by  record  financial 
performance  and  significant  strides  toward  executing  on  our  strategy.  We  were  also  pleased  to  report  that  we 
achieved all seven of the revised commercial targets we published for the year. 

We finished the year with strong improvement in our aided brand awareness, which reached an all-time high of 84%. 
Our strategy is to consistently invest 4% of our revenue into fully integrated media campaigns, which leverage TV, 
digital marketing, social media and radio. These advertising vehicles drive traffic to our retail and digital platforms, 
where we then guide 90% of loan originations to a local branch so we can build and nurture a relationship with the 
customer. This strategy has helped propel us to the #1 most recognized brand in Canada for non-prime lending.

Loan originations for 2018 reached $923 million, up 59% from 2017. The result of the strong sales volume drove net 
loan book growth of $307 million, nearly double the $156 million of growth in the prior year, resulting in an ending 
portfolio  of  $834  million,  up  58%.  Strong  loan  growth  helped  produce  record  revenues  for  the  Company  of  $506 
million, an increase of 26%. The year marked the 17th consecutive year of revenue growth for the Company. 

“These advertising vehicles drive traffic 
 to our retail and digital platforms, where 
we then guide 90% of loan originations to 
a local branch so we can build and nurture 
a relationship with the customer. This 
strategy has helped propel us to the  
#1 most recognized brand in Canada  
for non-prime lending.”

We  continued  to  expand  our  secured  loan  product  and 
broaden  our  use  of  risk-based  pricing  to  reduce  the 
cost of borrowing for our customers, while concurrently 
increasing  our  average  loan  size,  customer  tenure,  and 
lifetime  value.  Through  the  improving  mix  of  the  portfolio 
and  ongoing  enhancements  to  our  credit  models,  the  net 
charge-off rate finished the year at 12.7%, down from 13.6% 
in 2017. 

We  also  continued  to  experience  the  benefits  of  scale.  The 
average loan book per branch increased from $2 million in 2017 
to $2.9 million at the end of 2018. Operating income was up 37% 

while the operating margin expanded to a record 23.7%.

Net income for the full year was $53 million, up 26% from an adjusted $42 million in 2017, which resulted in diluted 
earnings per share of $3.56, up 20% from an adjusted $2.97 in 2017. As a reminder, in 2017 the results were adjusted 
to reflect removing a one-time before tax charge associated with the refinancing we completed to our balance sheet. 
If  we  then  further  adjusted  for  the  effects  of  adopting  IFRS  9  in  2018,  we  estimated  that  net  income  and  diluted 
earnings per share for the full year of 2017 would have been $35 million and $2.46, respectively. On this basis, net 
income for the full year of 2018 increased 53% and diluted earnings per share increased 45%. We were pleased to 
report record return on equity of 21.8%, up from 19.8% in 2017. It was the 17th consecutive year of reporting profits 
and lifted our compound growth rate for net income to 29%.

It was also another year of adding significant strength and liquidity to our balance sheet. In July, our Notes Payable 
were trading at a premium to par of 105, so with significant capital needs in front of us we completed a follow-on 
offering of US $150 million, resulting in a rate of interest of 6.17%. On October 10th, we also completed what was only 
our second common equity offering in over five years, by issuing $46 million at a price of $50.50 per share. Shortly 
after year end we completed an amendment to our revolving credit facility, by increasing the size to $190 million, 
lengthening  the  term  to  2022  and  reducing  the  coupon  to  a  rate  of  BA  plus  325  bps  or  Prime  plus  200  bps.  This 
amendment reduced the cost of borrowing of the facility to approximately 5.25%. These enhancements to our capital 
structure improved our leverage, reduced our fully drawn and weighted cost of interest from 7.18% to 6.8%, and left 
us with approximately $290 million in borrowing capacity to fund our growth through to the third quarter of 2020.

Based on the 2018 earnings and the confidence in our continued growth and access to capital going forward, the 
Board of Directors approved an increase to the annual dividend from $0.90 per share to $1.24 per share, an increase 
of 38%. 2018 marks the fifth consecutive year of an increase in the dividend to shareholders.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  12

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Throughout the year we also executed on several key strategic initiatives. In the fall, we introduced a new product 
called creditplus. This new white labelled product is designed for the more than 20,000 applicants each month that are 
unable to qualify for an unsecured or secured installment loan. These applicants are often those without credit such 
as new Canadians or students, or those with very poor credit that need to show some signs of improvement before 
we can lend to them. With creditplus, the customer is offered a loan where the proceeds are directed to a secured 
savings account. Each payment on the loan is then reported to their credit file, which can assist them in improving 
their credit score. We actively monitor the customer’s behavior and extend them an offer for an unsecured loan once 
they have demonstrated a stable history of payments.

In  October,  we  launched  our  new  enhanced  digital  loan 
application  platform. This  new  online  credit  application  will 
enable us to optimize web traffic and provide our customers 
with  a  streamlined  and  personalized  experience. The  process 
will be faster and easier for the customer and more importantly, 
will  provide  us  with  a  better  capability  to  optimize  the  online 
sales funnel, drive increased conversion and integrate other new 
digital  technologies.  We  have  progressively  routed  nearly  all  our 
web  traffic  to  the  new  platform  and  we  are  continually  monitoring 
the  results.  So  far,  the  performance  has  been  very  positive,  and  we 
expect  in  the  long  term  these  enhancements  will  drive  incremental 
growth by increasing our online funding rate by 25% or more.

“It was also another year of adding significant 
strength and liquidity to our balance sheet.  
These enhancements to our capital structure 
improved our leverage, reduced our fully 
 drawn and weighted cost of interest  
from 7.18% to 6.8%, and left us with  
approximately $290 million in  
borrowing capacity to fund our  
growth through to the third  
quarter of 2020.”

Despite  the  success,  we  also  had  our  fair  share  of  learnings.  Part  of  our  management  philosophy  is  to  “test  and 
learn”  when  we  implement  new  products  or  initiatives.  Some  will  go  according  to  plan,  while  others  will  not. 
However,  because  we  manage  and  limit  the  risk  and  exposure  to  a  low  and  acceptable  level,  we  can  learn  from 
these experiences, while possibly uncovering new vehicles for future growth. It is a philosophy that has allowed us 
to deliver a compound annual growth rate for revenue of 12.7% over the past 17 years. In fact, if it had not been for 
this approach, easyfinancial itself would never have been born. 2018 was a year that demonstrated this philosophy in 
action. In 2017, we launched our secured loan product and expanded our business into Quebec. While both presented 
tremendous opportunities for growth, by the summer of 2018 the initiatives were on two distinct paths. In the case of 
our secured loan product, we experienced moderate growth but credit performance that was much stronger than our 
initial projections. As we analyzed the results we recognized that our lending criteria was too conservative and that 
certain segments of high quality borrowers were being declined. We then proceeded to modify our credit models and 
underwriting criteria so that we would see a measured increase in the growth of the product going forward. Quebec 
initially  produced  the  opposite  results  with  strong  growth  but  loss  performance  which  trailed  our  expectations, 
causing us to temporarily moderate our expansion in that market. Consistent with every test we run, we set tight 
measurement criteria and guardrails, then learn and adjust. While we knew the losses would initially be higher in the 
Quebec market, they unfortunately hit our self-imposed guardrail of 20%, at which time we acted quickly to temper 
loan originations and loan growth, while we focused on modifying our credit strategy for that market. Although we 
would like every initiative to go exactly according to plan, that is not the reality for any business. We believe firmly 
in the test and learn philosophy and it is a key component of our entrepreneurial culture. It’s how our people learn 
and it motivates them to be creative, take initiative and drive toward positive outcomes that prove out our ideas. This 
engagement with our people fuels our entrepreneurial spirit and drives career progression and is one of the reasons 
that we can retain exceptional talent and have been recognized as one of Canada’s most admired corporate cultures. 
We embrace and reward our successes and learn from our mistakes and challenges empowering our people to take 
calculated risks. Testing new ideas, even though some may fail, is key to our success.

Our Environment
Market & Competitive Landscape

Of the 28 million Canadians with an active credit file, seven million have credit scores less than 700 and are deemed 
to be non-prime. Collectively, these Canadians carry $186 billion in credit balances and represent our target market. 
Our customers resemble the average Canadian, with similar income, education and demographics, although they are 
more likely to be renters than homeowners and carry roughly half the level of total debt. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  13

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Based on our current product suite, we operate within a subset of the broader non-prime market, valued at approximately 
$21  billion.  This  market  is  largely  underserved  and  dominated  by  two  main  providers,  ourselves  and  the  former 
CitiFinancial, which is now owned by private equity and has been rebranded as Fairstone. Over the years, we have seen 
numerous pure-play online lenders come and go, as none of them have been able to achieve scale and success in non-
prime lending through an online only model. On the other hand, we continue to see the larger payday loan companies 
migrate into traditional installment lending. Although we keep a close eye on them, we believe much of the business they 
have produced thus far, has been from cannibalizing their existing payday loan customers. Many of these companies 
have highly leveraged balance sheets while offering a poor-quality customer experience relative to easyfinancial.

Regulatory Landscape

Canada  continues  to  remain  a  stable  regulatory  environment  with  a  good  framework  for  governing  the  non-bank 
consumer  lending  industry.  Section  347  of  the  Criminal  Code  regulates  the  entire  lending  market,  dictating  the 
maximum effective annual rate of interest that can be charged of 60%. This regulation has been stable and unchanged 
since  1980,  without  challenge  by  any  government  or  major  political  party.    We  believe  that  there  continues  to  be 
strong evidence of support for the existing federal structure. 

In  addition,  each  province  has  individual  consumer  protection  legislation  that  outlines  specific  rules  about  how 
businesses interact with customers. In 2018, we saw two additional provinces adopt a new set of regulations designed 
to provide consumers with transparency and protection. Deemed “high-cost credit” regulations, Alberta and Quebec 
adopted a similar framework to the one introduced in Manitoba in 2016. These new regulations require that lenders 
offering loans over a prescribed rate, obtain a license and follow an additional set of disclosure requirements and 
operating practices. Both independently and through the Canadian Lenders Association, goeasy has established and 
maintains healthy working relationships with regulators federally and in each province. Throughout the legislative 
process, we were regularly consulted to provide guidance and feedback on how the regulations could be crafted to 
best protect consumers, without restricting their access to credit and disrupting the market. We are in full compliance 
with all federal and provincial laws and regulations, which took effect on January 1, 2019, and are well prepared for 
Quebec’s regulations, which will be implemented in August.

Economic Landscape

We closely monitor the Canadian and US economic environment. While the risk of a recession may have increased in 
the past several years, the fundamentals of the Canadian economy remain strong.  Inflation is in line with expectations, 
unemployment is at all-time structural lows and the economy is growing, while consumer confidence remains steady.  
While we remain optimistic in the future for Canada and for our customers, we often receive questions about how our 
loan book would perform in an economic downturn. There is a general misperception that the non-prime consumer 
performs much worse in a downtown than a prime consumer. The data however, shows that non-prime consumers 
are more stable and resilient during a recession than prime consumers. In December 2018, we published an update 
to shareholders on our investor website, which outlines the findings of our research, as well as the results we had 
in  the  province  of  Alberta  where  unemployment  doubled  in  2015.  Based  on  our  experience  and  that  research,  we 
believe that the business is well positioned to weather an economic downturn if one should emerge.

A Look at 2019

Turning the page to 2019, our plan is to continue executing on our strategy, with a goal of becoming the largest and best 
performing non-prime lender in Canada. 

This year we will balance our efforts between continuing to optimize prior initiatives such as our operation in Quebec and 
our secured loan product, while focusing on new initiatives that will expand our distribution channels and enhance the 
customer  experience.  In  Quebec,  we  have  designed  a  new  credit  strategy  tailored  to  the  unique  market  conditions  and 
will reignite our expansion there. To drive growth of the secured loan product we will begin using a homeowner focused 
marketing message, coupled with further enhancements to our credit and underwriting practices, that will see this product 
scale to a more meaningful part of our portfolio.  

We will also focus on several new strategic initiatives that support our strategy. First, we will aim to reduce friction 
in the borrowing experience by introducing more automation to the underwriting process, streamlining our business 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  14

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

processes and offering enhanced choices for loan funding to the consumer. Delivering our products to customers 
quickly  and  conveniently  is  essential  to  resolving  their  borrowing  needs  and  relieving  the  anxiety  that  often 
accompanies  their  situation.  As  the  availability  for  consumers  to  apply  for  credit  easily  through  online  channels 
expands, processing our loans quickly and conveniently, while not comprising the level of diligence done to evaluate 
the credit of the applicant, will be key to remaining competitive. 

“This year we will balance our efforts 
and continue to optimize Quebec and 
our secured loan product while also 
focusing on new initiatives  
that will expand our distribution  
channels and enhance the  
customer experience. “

Additionally,  we  are  making  further  investments  in  our 
indirect  lending  and  point-of-sale  finance  channel.  With 
roughly $30 billion of loan originations produced at the point 
of  sale  each  year,  $9  billion  of  which  are  deemed  non-prime, 
we believe there is a tremendous opportunity in this channel. In 
2019 we will look to establish new merchant relationships across 
industry  verticals  such  as  auto  repair,  travel  and  retail.  We  will 
also  make  our  non-prime  point-of-sale  product  available  through 
e-commerce,  so  online  retailers  can  access  financing  solutions  for 
customers  declined  by  their  prime  financing  offer.  With  retail  sales 
continuing to shift online, we are well positioned to offer online shoppers 
a quick and simple payment alternative to finance their purchase. 

Lastly, we will continue making transformative enhancements to our credit and analytics capabilities. We have begun 
to test leveraging new data sources and will be testing new machine learning and artificial intelligence software that 
could have the power to greatly strengthen our marketing, credit and collections capabilities. 

With the $1 billion milestone firmly within reach, 2019 will be another year of significant growth and accomplishments for 
the Company. 

My Role and Vision for the Future

In the months leading up to taking on the job as CEO, I spent considerable time thinking about how to best approach 
the  role  and  the  right  philosophy  to  ensure  our  long-term  success.  I  was  drawn  back  to  a  concept  that  seemed  to 
gracefully capture the essence of my new job. In their timeless classic, “Built to Last”, Jim Collins and co-author Jerry 
Porras conduct a research project at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and investigate the question, why are 
some companies able to become and remain visionary through multiple generations of leaders, across decades, and 
even centuries? During the research they discover and codify a concept that came to be known as “Preserve the Core & 
Stimulate Progress”. As the successor to an accomplished CEO that built an enduring Company that was able to weather 
challenges, seize and create opportunities and produced total shareholder return of over 4,000%, I couldn’t think of a 
better way to define the mission than “preserve the core and stimulate progress”.

As  eloquently  written  in  “Built  to  Last”,  great  organizations  that  prove  to  stand  the  test  of  time  seem  to  “exhibit  a 
dynamic duality”. The concept suggests that these organizations have a clear set of values and a vision or purpose that 
remains constant over an extended period, while at the same time, maintaining a relentless drive for progress, change, 
improvement and innovation. The study found that great organizations understand the distinct difference between their 
core  values  and  leadership  principles  –  which  never  change  –  and  the  operating  strategies  and  tactics  that  need  to 
constantly  adapt  to  a  rapidly  evolving  environment.  Preserving  the  core  values  and  traits  of goeasy,  its  DNA,  and  the 
leadership  principles  and  philosophies  that  have,  over  many  years,  become  core  to  our  success,  is  an  essential  part 
of  my  role.  We  will  remain  a  performance-driven  culture,  a  meritocracy  where  the  best  and  brightest  are  given  the 
opportunities  and  challenges  to  impact  and  influence  the  organization.  We  will  remain  obsessed  with  our  front-line 
workforce  and  the  customers  they  serve,  never  taking  our  eye  off  the  critical  connection  and  relationship  that  is  so 
essential to our customer experience. Most of all, we will stay entrepreneurial in spirit and mindset and be relentless 
about finding a way to get things done, avoiding complexity and bureaucracy from stifling our growth and ambitions.  

At the same time, I plan to lead the organization through its next phase of growth – our most significant period yet. We 
are embarking on building a world-class organization, turning the business into a multi-billion global enterprise. The 
leader in the alternative lending market. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  15

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Over the months and years to come, we will intensify our focus on developing new and creative products, expanding 
our channels of distribution and leveraging new technologies that will improve our business model and fuel our future 
growth. We will be fiercely focused on hiring and developing talent, the future leaders of the Company that will be critical 
to  our  scale  and  expansion.  Lastly,  we  will  reimagine  the  customer  experience,  aiming  for  a  frictionless  journey  of 
financial improvement for everyday Canadians. 

Product  –  We  plan  to  build  a  full  suite  of  lending  products,  that 
will  provide  non-prime  consumers  with  the  same  type  of  choices 
and options available to prime consumers at their local bank. These 
products  will  be  designed  to  fit  the  needs  of  our  customer,  helping 
them improve their credit and get out of the cycle of debt. We will explore 
existing  conventional  products  as  well  as  seek  product  innovation, 
developing new forms of credit that meet the needs of our customers.  

Channel  –  We  will  continue  to  expand  our  channels  of  distribution, 
broadening our retail network, developing a more dynamic and personalized 
digital experience, seeking new lending partnerships and investing in point-
of-sale  financing.  Financing  consumer  purchases,  spreading  payments  over 
time, and “buy now, pay later” models continue to be very attractive concepts. 
In Canada there is a great lack of supply for second look financing, a gap that 
easyfinancial is well positioned to fill.

“Ultimately our future depends on  
our people. I am fortunate to be  
surrounded by incredible talent, 
including 1,800 diverse and  
dedicated goeasy team members,  
that are passionate about the 
relationships they form with  
their customers and the  
valuable service  
we provide.”

Customer Experience  –  We are committed to the customer journey. As we broaden our products and services, we will aim 
to provide a clear path to building and establishing credit, through product graduation. In the future we will seek to establish a 
direct relationship with a prime lender so we can proactively round out their journey by moving them directly into a lower cost 
lending product – the end goal for many of our customers. 

Geography  –  Canada  continues  to  provide  a  substantial  runway  for  growth  for  many  years  to  come.  The  market  is  vast 
and largely underserved, providing adequate room for expansion. At some point in the future, we think there may also be 
opportunity to consider other markets, where the easyfinancial business model can be replicated with success. Like Canada, 
many similar countries lack professionalized omnichannel providers of non-prime credit.

Ultimately our future depends on our people. I am fortunate to be surrounded by incredible talent, including 1,800 diverse and 
dedicated goeasy team members, that are passionate about the relationships they form with their customers and the valuable 
service we provide. I am inspired daily by their energy, work ethic and competitive spirit. I am also privileged to work alongside an 
outstanding senior leadership team, many of whom have been on the easyfinancial journey for many years and been instrumental 
in our success. They are bright, highly driven and execution focused leaders that share in this vision and believe we are only 
limited by the size of our imagination.

We believe firmly in our mission of helping customers graduate to prime-credit and remain confident in our ability to extend our 
track record and history of execution. We will continue driving for industry-leading loan growth, building a world-class corporate 
culture, strengthening our balance sheet, being disciplined about how we allocate our capital and continue taking great care of 
our customers.

We are truly just getting started and the future remains more exciting than ever!

Sincerely,

Jason Mullins
President & CEO

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  16

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION  
AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  
CONDITION AND RESULTS  
OF OPERATIONS

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations

February 13, 2019
The  following  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  (“MD&A”)  presents  an  analysis  of  the  consolidated  financial  condition 
of goeasy Ltd. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “goeasy” or the “Company”) as at December 31, 2018 compared 
to  December  31,  2017,  and  the  consolidated  results  of  operations  for  the  three-month  period  and  year  ended  December  31, 
2018 compared with the corresponding period of 2017. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited 
consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  related  notes  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018.  The  financial  information 
presented herein has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), unless otherwise 
noted. All dollar amounts are in thousands of Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. 

This  MD&A  is  the  responsibility  of  management.  The  Board  of  Directors  has  approved  this  MD&A  after  receiving  the  
recommendations of the Company’s Audit Committee, which is comprised exclusively of independent directors, and the Company’s 
Disclosure Committee.

This MD&A refers to certain financial measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS. Although these measures do not 
have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, these measures are 
defined herein or can be determined by reference to our financial statements. The Company discusses these measures because 
it believes that they facilitate the understanding of the results of its operations and financial position.

Additional information is contained in the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulators, including the Company’s Annual 
Information Form. These filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company’s website at www.goeasy.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This MD&A includes forward-looking statements about goeasy, including, but not limited to, its business operations, strategy and 
expected  financial  performance  and  condition.  Forward-looking  statements  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  those  with  respect 
to the estimated number of new locations to be opened, targets for growth of the consumer loans receivable portfolio, annual 
revenue growth targets, strategic initiatives, new product offerings and new delivery channels, anticipated cost savings, planned 
capital expenditures, anticipated capital requirements and the Company’s ability to secure sufficient capital, liquidity of goeasy, 
plans and references to future operations and results, critical accounting estimates, expected lower charge-off rates on loans with 
real estate collateral and the benefits resulting from such lower rates, the size and characteristics of the Canadian non-prime 
lending market, the continued development of the type and size of competitors in the market. In certain cases, forward-looking 
statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and/or can be identified by the use of 
words such as “expect”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “aim”, “plan”, “believe”, “budget”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “foresee”, “target” 
or negative versions thereof and similar expressions, and/or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, 
“might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking  statements  are  based  on  certain  factors  and  assumptions,  including  expected  growth,  results  of  operations 
and business prospects and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about goeasy’s 
operations,  economic  factors  and  the  industry  generally.  There  can  be  no  assurance  that  forward-looking  statements  will 
prove  to  be  accurate  as  actual  results  and  future  events  could  differ  materially  from  those  expressed  or  implied  by  forward-
looking  statements  made  by  goeasy.  Some  important  factors  that  could  cause  actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  those 
expressed  in  the  forward-looking  statements  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  goeasy’s  ability  to  enter  into  new  lease  and/or 
financing  agreements,  collect  on  existing  lease  and/or  financing  agreements,  open  new  locations  on  favorable  terms,  secure 
new  franchised  locations,  offer  products  which  appeal  to  customers  at  a  competitive  rate,  respond  to  changes  in  legislation, 
react to uncertainties related to regulatory action, raise capital under favorable terms, compete, manage the impact of litigation 
(including  shareholder  litigation),  control  costs  at  all  levels  of  the  organization  and  maintain  and  enhance  the  system  of  
internal controls.

goeasy cautions that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. These and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially 
from  our  expectations  expressed  in  the  forward-looking  statements,  and  further  details  and  descriptions  of  these  and  other 
factors are disclosed in this MD&A, including under the section entitled “Risk Factors”.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  18

The reader is cautioned to consider these, and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, 
which  may  not  be  appropriate  for  other  purposes.  The  Company  is  under  no  obligation  (and  expressly  disclaims  any  such 
obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, 
unless required by law. 

Overview of the Business

General Overview
goeasy  Ltd.  (TSX:  GSY)  offers  leasing  and  lending  services  in  the  alternative  financial  services  market  and  provides  everyday 
Canadians a path to a better tomorrow, today. goeasy Ltd. serves its customers through two key operating divisions, easyfinancial 
and easyhome. easyfinancial is a non-prime consumer lender that bridges the gap between traditional financial institutions and 
payday loans. easyfinancial offers a range of unsecured and secured personal installment loans supported by a strong central 
credit  adjudication  process  and  industry  leading  risk  analytics.  easyhome  is  Canada’s  largest  lease-to-own  company,  offering 
brand-name household furniture, appliances and electronics to consumers under flexible weekly or monthly leasing agreements 
through  both  corporate  and  franchise  stores.  Both  operating  divisions  are  supported  by  an  omnichannel  business  model  that 
includes a national footprint of over 400 branches and stores across Canada and digital e-commerce enabled platforms. 

The core of goeasy’s business is centered around its vision of providing everyday Canadians a path to a better tomorrow, today. 
This vision is brought to life through its customer experience, the products and services it offers such as free financial education, 
risk adjusted rate loans, credit monitoring services, and the meaningful relationships formed by over 1,800 employees located 
coast-to-coast.

With 28 years of experience, multiple products, risk adjusted interest rates, and an omnichannel operating model, goeasy has a 
unique understanding of the $186 billion non-prime consumer lending market and how to best serve the 7 million Canadians that 
are unable to access credit from traditional financial institutions including the major banks. 

goeasy funds its business through a combination of equity and debt instruments. Common Shares are listed for trading on the 
TSX under the trading symbol The Company’s Common Shares are traded on the TSX under the trading symbol “GSY-DB”. The 
Company has been able to consistently secure additional capital at increasingly lower rates in order to continue fueling the growth 
of its business and has sufficient capital and borrowing capacity to meet its growth plans through the third quarter of 2020. goeasy 
is rated BB- with a stable trend from S&P, and Ba3 with a stable trend from Moody’s.

goeasy investment highlights:

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  19

Overview of easyfinancial
easyfinancial  is  the  Company’s  financial  services  division  that  provides  installment  loans  to  non-prime  customers  who  have 
limited access to traditional bank financing products. 

easyfinancial’s product offering consists of unsecured and real estate secured installment loans as well it’s recently introduced 
secured saving loan, creditplus. The Company also offers a suite of complementary ancillary products including a Loan Protection 
Plan, Home & Auto Benefits and Credit Monitoring. easyfinancial’s installment loans range in size from $500 to $35,000 at interest 
rates starting at 19.99%, with repayment terms of 9 to 60 months for unsecured loans and up to 10 years for secured loans. In 
the  Company’s  loan  portfolio,  unsecured  loans  make  up  about  94%  of  loans,  while  secured  loans  make  up  the  remaining  6%. 
Unlike revolving credit products that can trap customers in a cycle of debt, easyfinancial’s installment loans enable customers to 
progressively get out of debt by requiring them to make fixed payments including principal and interest, which results in the entire 
principal balance being repaid over the term of the loan. 

The Company believes that there is significant demand for non-prime lending in the Canadian marketplace and estimates that 
the size of the market is $186 billion, excluding mortgages. Historically, consumer demand for non-prime loans was satisfied 
by  the  consumer-lending  arms  of  several  large,  international  financial  institutions.  Since  2009,  many  of  the  largest  branch-
based  participants  in  this  market  (including Wells  Fargo,  HSBC  Finance  and  CitiFinancial)  have  either  closed  their  operations 
or  dramatically  reduced  their  size  over  the  past  years  due  to  changes  in  banking  regulations  related  to  risk  adjusted  capital 
requirements. Today, traditional financial institutions are generally unwilling or unable to offer credit solutions to consumers that 
are deemed to be a higher credit risk due to the consumer’s financial situation or less-than-perfect credit history. For this reason, 
demand in this market is met by a variety of industry participants who offer diverse products including auto lending, credit cards, 
installment loans, retail finance programs and real estate secured lending. Generally, industry participants have tended to focus 
on a single product rather than providing consumers with a broad integrated suite of financial products and services. As a result, 
easyfinancial is one of a small number of coast-to-coast non-prime lenders with a history of success. 

The  customer  base  that  easyfinancial  serves  are  everyday  Canadians  that  are  hard  working  and  have  often  been  met  with 
life  circumstances  that  have  negatively  affected  their  credit  profile.  These  customers  have  an  average  age  of  40,  individual  
income  of  $44,000  per  year,  and  a  debt  to  disposable  income  ratio  of  about  95%,  compared  to  the  much  higher  Canadian 
average  of  172%  due  in  part  to  easyfinancial  customers  having  a  lower  rate  of  home  ownership  of  20%  compared  with  the 
Canadian average of approximately 69%. These customers typically come to easyfinancial looking for a second chance as 60% 
of  them  have  been  turned  down  by  a  bank  in  the  past,  and  are  trying  to  improve  their  financial  situation  for  themselves  and  
their families. 

Through easyfinancial’s suite of lending products, the Company focuses on more than simply providing customers with the money 
they need today. easyfinancial’s customers are given the opportunity to graduate to larger loans and lower interest rates while 
they work to rebuild their credit and be in a position to qualify for prime credit. Whether a customer is looking to establish, repair, 
build or strengthen their credit profile by borrowing funds or using the equity in their home to secure a larger loan at a lower rate, 
easyfinancial can provide a lending solution that best serves their individual needs. 

easyfinancial’s unique omnichannel model including its national branch network, remains a key differentiator in the non-prime 
lending market. Although the Company leverages multiple acquisition channels to attract new customers including online, in-
branch and point-of-sale financing, 90% of loans are originated or managed at local branches. It is the Company’s experience 
that in the non-prime market, an omnichannel model optimizes loan performance and profitability, while providing high-touch 
and personalized customer experience. The customer loyalty developed through these direct personal relationships extends the 
length of the customer relationship and improves the repayment of loans which ultimately leads to lower charge-offs and higher 
lifetime value.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  20

 easyfinancial’s omnichannel lending model:

easyfinancial has also demonstrated a history of stable and consistent credit performance. Since 2006, the Company has served 
over  340,000  customers  and  originated  793,000  unique  loans  for  a  total  of  $2.9  billion  in  originations.  Since  implementing 
centralized credit adjudication in 2011, the Company has successfully managed annualized net charge-off rates within its stated 
targeted range (2018 target was 12 to 14%). Lending decisions are made using proprietary custom scoring models built using 
machine learning and advanced analytical tools that optimize the balance between loan volume and credit losses. These models 
have  been  developed  and  refined  over  time  by  leveraging  the  accumulation  of  extensive  customer  application,  demographic, 
borrowing, repayment and consumer banking data. These models improve the accuracy of predicting default risk for the non-
prime customer when compared to a traditional credit score. Credit risk is further enhanced by industry-leading underwriting 
practices that include pre-qualification, credit adjudication, affordability calculations, centralized loan verification, and repayment 
by  the  customer  via  electronic  pre-authorized  debit  directly  from  the  customer’s  bank  account  on  the  day  they  receive  their 
regularly schedule income. 

Over the past several years, the Company has also made significant investments in its processes, systems, infrastructure and 
product offering to position easyfinancial for long-term sustainable growth. Below are a number of key milestones: 

•  Since  2011  the  Company  has  invested  $36  million  in  developing,  enhancing  and  optimizing  the  systems  that  support 

IT businesses.

•  Industry-standard  banking  platform  implemented  in  2012  to  ensure  that  its  consumer  loan  portfolio  could  be  appropriately 

managed, and information could be securely maintained on a scalable infrastructure.

•  In 2013, a transactional website was launched by easyfinancial for acquiring customers online. This new delivery channel allowed 
the Company to reach consumers who may not have had access to a physical location or who preferred to interact through the 
privacy and convenience of their home or on their mobile device. Over the last several years, the Company has made significant 
investments in improving the online borrowing experience. In 2018, the online lending experience was significantly enhanced 
by the launch of a new digital loan application which has led to a noticeable increase in the number of customers applying and 
being approved for an easyfinancial loan. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  21

•  In  2014,  the  Company  implemented  a  proprietary  loan  application  management  system  to  process  applications  originated 
in  its  retail  and  on-line  channels.  This  system  was  supported  by  a  credit  decision  engine,  built  in  partnership  with  a  
global  leader  in  risk  management  technology  solutions,  and  is  fully  integrated  with  the  Company’s  customer  relationship 
management platform.

•  In  2015,  easyfinancial  launched  its  point-of-sale  non-prime  lending  platform,  designed  to  offer  merchants  in  a  variety  of 
industries  the  ability  to  provide  financing  for  customers  who  do  not  qualify  for  traditional  prime  credit  products.  In  2018, 
the  company  further  expanded  its  POS  finance  solution,  by  partnering  with  a  prime  bank  to  create  Canada’s  first  fully 
digital  platform  for  consumers  across  the  entire  credit  spectrum.  Offered  through  a  fast  and  simple  digital  application,  this 
proprietary  solution  enables  a  business  in  any  industry  to  offer  instant  point-of-sale  financing  to  customers  of  any  credit 
quality  removing  friction  from  the  customer  borrowing  experience  and  maximizing  their  retail  sales.  Once  a  consumer 
completes  the  application,  the  platform  will  instantly  present  the  best  financing  offer  and  the  lowest  interest  rate  available 
based  on  the  risk  profile  of  the  borrower.  Qualifying  prime  consumers  will  benefit  from  a  competitive  credit  offer  from  a 
prime lender, while those consumers with lower credit quality will automatically be evaluated for a non-prime lending option 
through easyfinancial.

•  The Company is committed to helping Canadians improve their financial literacy. In 2015, the Company developed a free on-line 
financial education platform called goeasy academy, that includes articles, videos and other educational content all designed to 
help Canadians understand their finances and improve their credit.

•  In 2016, the Company introduced risk-adjusted interest rates where consumers that are determined to be lower credit risk are 
offered a lower cost of borrowing. The consumer benefits from a lower-cost loan, while the Company benefits by retaining its 
best customers and extending their value, while they work to rebuild their credit profile.

•  In 2017, the Company launched a personal installment loan secured by residential real estate. These secured installment loans 
for homeowners offer customers larger loan values and a reduced rate of interest. While the yields are reduced on such loans, 
the Company benefits from lower rates of charge-off, longer customer tenure and lower relative acquisition and administration 
costs, which are expected to ultimately increase overall customer profitability.

•  In 2017 easyfinancial expanded into the Quebec market, which has been largely underserved by non-prime lenders. While the 
Company has always operated its easyhome leasing business in the province, expanding easyfinancial into Quebec provides the 
company access to 22% of the Canadian population. 

•  In 2017 the Company also widened the distribution of its consumer loans by offering its easyfinancial lending products through 
almost 100 easyhome retail locations across Canada. This expansion enables the Company to further increase the distribution 
footprint of its financial services products while leveraging its existing real estate and employee base that understand the needs 
of this customer segment.

•  To  further  help  those  customers  with  no  credit  or  damaged  credit,  the  Company  launched  creditplus  in  2018.  creditplus 
is  an  innovative  secured  savings  loan  that  is  offered  to  the  thousands  of  easyfinancial  applicants  who  are  unable  to  obtain 
an  unsecured  loan  each  month.  The  difference  between  creditplus  and  a  traditional  installment  loan  is  that  customers 
do not receive immediate access to the proceeds of their loan. Instead, the loan proceeds are deposited into a savings account 
and held as security until the customer has successfully repaid the full amount. A customer’s loan payments are reported to the 
credit reporting agencies which offers them the opportunity to improve their credit profile. Where a customer has demonstrated 
a  track  record  of  successful  repayment,  they  may  automatically  qualified  for  an  easyfinancial  unsecured  loan  in  as  little  as  
six months.

•  Over the past several years the Company’s management team has been progressively enhanced through the recruitment of 

senior executives with deep experience in financial services.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  22

Overview of easyhome

easyhome  is  Canada’s  largest  lease-to-own  company,  offering  brand-name  household  furniture,  appliances  and  electronics  to 
consumers under weekly or monthly leasing agreements through both corporate and franchise stores.

easyhome’s programs appeal to a wide variety of consumers who are looking for alternatives to traditional retailers and who are 
attracted to a leasing transaction that does not involve a credit check, does not require an initial down payment, includes delivery 
and  set  up  and  offers  them  the  flexibility  to  terminate  the  lease  at  any  time.  These  consumers  may  not  be  able  to  purchase 
merchandise due to a lack of credit or insufficient cash resources, may have a short-term or otherwise temporary need for the 
merchandise, or may simply want to use the merchandise, with no long-term obligation, before making a purchase decision.

easyhome also offers a number of optional ancillary products to its customers including a customer protection program. This 
product is designed to give a customer peace of mind by waiving their payments for a period of time should they be met with 
life’s unexpected circumstances including involuntary job loss, accident and illness, and critical illness or death. easyhome also 
offers its customers a liability damage waiver product when entering into a lease agreement. The product provides protection 
to a customer from the obligation to make any additional payments in the event that merchandise is damaged, destroyed or lost 
while on lease. 

easyhome  operates  through  corporately  owned  stores  located  across  Canada  and  through  a  network  of  franchised  locations. 
easyhome provides a second and diverse revenue stream from the Company’s easyfinancial business and produces strong cash 
flows which assists with financing the growth of easyfinancial. Additionally, since 2013, the Company operates an e-commerce 
platform that allows customers to enter into merchandise leasing transactions through online channels.

In 2017, the Company strengthened its relationships with its easyhome customers by offering them unsecured lending products 
in almost 100 easyhome leasing locations. This expansion allowed the Company to further increase the distribution footprint of 
its financial services products and leverage its existing real estate and employee base that understands this customer segment. 

Corporate Strategy
The Company is committed to be a leading full-service provider of goods and alternative financial services that provides everyday 
Canadians a path to a better tomorrow, today. To maintain this position, the Company remains focused on continuously improving 
its operations and business model in order to meet the evolving needs of its customers. Additionally, the Company must focus on 
maintaining its competitive advantage by building brand awareness, delivering a best in class customer experience and effectively 
managing its sources of capital and funding. Cost efficiencies through economies of scale and shared services will also enable the 
Company to meet future competitive challenges, including new entrants into the marketplace. 

To achieve its long-term goals, the Company has four key business imperatives:

•  ENHANCE the product offering

•  EVOLVE the delivery channels

•  EXECUTE with efficiency and effectiveness 

•  DELIVER a best-in-class customer experience

Enhance the Product Offering 
The continued growth of easyfinancial will be fueled by the enhancement of its product offering. These enhancements will include 
the introduction of new lending products as well as additional ancillary products that provide value to customers and help them 
improve their credit and “graduate” back to lower cost prime lending. 

As the Company gains more experience with its use of risk adjusted interest rates, it will continue to respond to evolving market 
conditions and analyze the overall impact of these activities on the behaviour of its customers and its business model. Increasing 
the ratio of lower rate products within the Company’s consumer loan portfolio provides its customers with many benefits including 
i) lower borrowing costs; ii) access to larger dollar sized loans; and iii) the ability to improve their credit profile which should 
ultimately  assist  them  in  returning  to  lower  cost  prime  lending.  In  addition  to  generating  incremental  growth,  the  Company 
benefits from increasing the size of its consumer loans receivable portfolio that has lower interest rates by: i) reducing the overall 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  23

risk of its consumer loans receivable portfolio; ii) offsetting the inherent decline in yields with reduced per loan acquisition and 
administrative costs and lower charge-offs; iii) attracting a greater number of new customers; and iv) increasing its ability to 
retain customers that have improved their credit profile.

In 2017, the Company launched a personal installment loan secured by residential real estate to broaden its product offering of 
lower rate and larger size loan products. 

In 2018, the Company introduced creditplus, an innovative secured savings loan that is offered to the thousands of easyfinancial 
applicants that are unable to obtain an unsecured loan each month. 

In the future, the Company will look to introduce additional loan products that satisfy the needs of its customers and help them 
graduate to lower cost prime lending solutions. All new product launches will be assessed against current market conditions, the 
needs of its customers, significant modeling and credit analysis and the achievement of the Company’s internal targets for return. 
All new products launched will include a go-to-market strategy that involves a test and learn approach as the Company gathers 
performance data and assesses the ongoing customer and economic impact of these products. 

Evolve the Delivery Channels

Over the last several years, the Company has developed multiple delivery channels in response to changing customer needs, 
technological advancements and market opportunities. 

The Company continues to believe that direct, personal relationships with its customers are best achieved through a physical 
location  where  its  customers  live  and  work.  For  this  reason,  the  Company’s  extensive  branch  and  store  network  continues  to 
be a core element of its business and product delivery strategy. The establishment of direct personal relationships provides the 
following significant benefits to both the Company and its customers:

•  A  greater  ability  to  explain  the  product  offering  provides  the  customer  with  clarity  on  their  obligations  and  alternatives  and 

establishes a foundation for a meaningful value-based relationship;

•  A  continuing  dialogue  with  the  customer  allows  both  the  customer  and  the  Company  to  more  effectively  deal  with  financial 

challenges that may occur. This approach leads to greater customer satisfaction and lower charge-off rates; and

•  Establishing easyfinancial as a financial partner to the customer aids in the ongoing retention of the customer relationship and 
allows easyfinancial to assist the customer in managing their financial needs as their circumstances change with the goal of 
helping them qualify for lower cost prime lending.

The Company estimates that its retail footprint for easyfinancial will expand to between 250 and 300 locations across Canada. Total 
easyfinancial branch count at the end of 2018 was 241. Over the next few years, the Company will continue to add incremental 
locations  in  select  markets  as  it  works  towards  this  target.  In  particular,  the  retail  branch  expansion  will  be  focused  on  the 
expansion into Quebec which represents a large market opportunity and completing the footprint in key urban markets such as 
Toronto and Vancouver. 

The Company’s retail branch network is complemented by a robust e-commerce channel that includes a new digital loan application 
launched in 2018. With its flexible architecture, this new platform allows the Company to easily test new application flows and 
offer customers a customized experience based on their stated needs and the marketing acquisition source. By optimizing the 
digital journey, the Company can increase its online applicant conversion rate while improving the customer borrowing experience. 

In  2018,  after  several  years  of  providing  a  non-prime  only  point-of-sale  financing  solution,  the  Company  launched  Canada’s 
first fully integrated prime and non-prime point-of-sale financing platform. The platform allows for a prime lender to integrate 
directly with easyfinancial’s technology solution to enable any business in any industry to offer instant point-of-sale financing to 
customers of any credit quality. 

Each year in Canada there is an estimated $30 billion of credit extended to consumers for goods and services through financing 
programs  offered  at  the  point-of-sale.  While  the  concept  of  offering  financing  at  the  point-of-sale  to  consumers  is  not  new, 
businesses  in  Canada  have  had  limited  options,  often  relying  upon  a  fragmented  set  of  lenders  that  primarily  cater  to  prime 
consumers and only serve specific industries. easyfinancial’s solution has been designed fill this gap.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  24

The initial launch of the Company’s indirect lending platform was the first step in a broader strategy of developing the indirect 
lending channel, where the Company will offer its lending products at the point-of-sale in the home furnishing, health care and 
automotive industries. The internally developed mobile tablet solution allows merchant partners to process credit applications 
at the point of sale and receive an instant credit decision. By leveraging automated authentication tools, custom credit models, 
personal identification scanning technology and digital documents, the Company can process loans in a fully paperless manner 
in minutes. 

Execute with Efficiency and Effectiveness
As the Company continues to grow, executing with efficiency and effectiveness remains an important component in its ability to 
maximize the profitability of the overall business while continuing to meet and exceed the needs of its customers and deliver 
against aggressive growth targets. Below are the areas that the Company continues to focus on as it looks to improve its overall 
level of execution and efficiency across the business.

Utilize Data Analytics as a Competitive Advantage
The Company has a tremendous volume of customer data that it has gained from years of operating its merchandise leasing 
and consumer lending businesses. The Company has made significant investments in information technology to safeguard the 
privacy of this data and to allow the business to analyze this data to make better business decisions. The intelligent use of this 
data allows easyfinancial to continually enhance its underwriting practices and proprietary credit scoring models to make better 
lending decisions. It allows easyhome to better understand the retention patterns of its customers and develop marketing and 
customer relationship programs that are tailored to each customer’s needs while maximizing profitability for the Company. The 
Company will continue to invest in new analytical tools such as machine learning software that will enable the business to process 
and analyze larger quantities of data and expedite the production of models and analysis. 

Continue to Invest in New Technologies
The Company has made significant investments in technology over the past several years to provide easyfinancial with a scalable 
platform on which to support significant future growth and to allow new delivery channels to be developed. This investment in 
new technologies will continue in the future as the Company evolves its delivery channels and expands the size and scope of 
easyfinancial. Investments in new technology will also be made to provide operators and support staff with additional tools so that 
they can better service their customers and obtain greater levels of efficiency as well as enhanced systems, management and 
processes to ensure the Company’s proprietary data is protected against cyber and other security threats. New technologies will 
increase the level of automation, improve the customer experience and enable the business to shorten the software development 
lifecycle through greater flexibility and more configurable features. 

Optimize the Capital Structure
Over the past several years, the Company has improved its return on equity by delivering increasing net income and improving its 
capital structure. The growth of easyfinancial has been primarily funded through the retention of earnings in the business and the 
acquisition of third-party debt financing, at ever improving interest rates and more flexible terms. 

Prior to the refinancing of the Company’s balance sheet which began in November 2017, all of the Company’s debt was financed 
through a term loan at an interest rate of 8.41%. Upon issuing the first tranche of Notes Payable in November 2017, the Company 
borrowed at an interest rate of 7.84%. The second tranche of Notes Payable issued in July 2018 further reduced the interest rate 
to 6.17%. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  25

The Company has always taken, and will continue to take, a long-term view in financing its business. During 2018 the Company 
issued  an  additional  US$150  million  in  Notes  Payable  and  $44  million  in  equity  and  increased  the  borrowing  limit  under  its 
revolving  credit  facility  from  $110  million  to  $174.5  million.  At  year  end  the  Company  had  total  cash  on  hand  and  borrowing 
capacity under its revolving credit facility of $275 million, with the ability to exercise the accordion feature under this facility to 
add an additional $89 million in borrowing capacity. Ultimately the cash on hand and current borrowing limits provide adequate 
capital for the Company to execute its growth plan and meet its stated targets through the third quarter of 2020.

At  the  end  of  2018,  the  Company’s  ratio  of  net  debt  (net  of  surplus  cash  on  hand)  to  capitalization  was  66%;  a  level  that  is 
conservative against several of the Company’s peers and below the 70% which the Company believes is optimal. Access to capital 
at reasonable terms and cost is a meaningful barrier to entry in the consumer finance sector.

The Company is confident that it will continue to have access to additional debt capital to fund the growth of its business into the 
future. The Company has established relationships with many banks and other providers of such debt capital and continues to 
explore funding alternatives that represent an optimal balance between interest rates, term, flexibility and security.

Increase Store Level Efficiency 
The  Company  continues  to  responsibly  manage  all  discretionary  spending.  Supplier  relationships  and  economies  of  scale  are 
leveraged to reduce overall cost ratios. Within the easyhome leasing business idle inventory levels are maintained at optimum 
levels,  balancing  the  need  to  provide  customers  with  the  choice  and  selection  they  require  with  the  capital  committed  and 
management effort required to maintain this inventory. Other costs, particularly labour, are tightly controlled centrally through 
established thresholds, allowing spending to occur only when it will result in improved revenues. In addition, the Company does 
remediate  and,  if  necessary,  close  underperforming  easyhome  stores,  merging  their  portfolios  with  other  nearby  locations. 
The Company regularly evaluates the activities that can be centralized within its shared services center without comprising its 
customer experience or loan performance, in order to drive greater efficiency and scale within the business. 

Deliver a Best-in-class Customer Experience

Since  its  inception,  the  Company  has  set  itself  apart  from  its  competition  by  seeing  beyond  the  initial  transaction  with  the 
customer  and  instead,  focusing  on  building  long-term  relationships  that  are  based  on  trust  and  respect  for  every  customer’s 
unique  situation.  These  relationships  are  formed  by  over  1,800  employees  from  across  Canada  that  deeply  understand  their 
customers and give them a second chance as they provide them with the financial relief they need today, and help them see a path 
forward towards a better financial future.

As the Company continues to evolve, ensuring its suite of products and services are designed to meet its customer’s needs across 
the  entire  credit  spectrum  is  critically  important.  Whether  a  customer  is  establishing  credit  as  a  new  Canadian,  or  repairing 
damaged  credit  as  a  result  of  a  life  event,  the  Company’s  laddered  suite  of  products  ensures  that  every  customer  that  walks 
through its doors has access to a better financial future. In addition, the use of technology and digital innovation remains a key 
focus in removing friction from the loan application process to ensure its customers can get the financial relief they are looking 
for quickly and conveniently through the channels that suit them best. The Company has also been focused on offering a variety of 
tools and educational materials that help its customers understand the complexities of credit and the steps required to improve 
their financial situation through free financial education materials. 

Lastly, goeasy recognizes that delivering a best in class customer experience goes beyond each individual customer and permeates 
the  hundreds  of  communities  in  which  the  Company  operates.  Through  a  variety  of  community  driven  initiatives,  including  a 
partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada that has raised over $2.5 million since 2004, to the Company’s annual day of 
giving back, govolunteer, the Company remains committed to making a difference not only to the customers it serves, but to the 
communities in which they live. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  26

Outlook
The discussion in this section is qualified in its entirety by the cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements found 
in the “Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of this MD&A.

Update on 2018 Targets

Due to the strong growth experienced by the Company in 2018, certain of its stated targets for 2018 as presented in its MD&A 
for the year ending December 31, 2017 (along with the underlying assumptions and risk factors) were increased (as outlined 
below) in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ending June 30, 2018 (along with an explanation for the change in each target). The 
Company’s actual performance against its targets for fiscal 2018 is as follows:

Actual results  
for 2018

Revised targets  
for 2018

Previously reported 
targets for 2018

Outcome

Gross consumer loans receivable 
portfolio at year end

$833.8 million

$825 - $875 million

$700 - $750 million

Target achieved

easyfinancial total revenue yield

54.2%

54% - 56%

54% - 56%

Target achieved

New easyfinancial locations opened 
during the year

Net charge-offs as a percentage 
of average gross consumer loans 
receivable

easyfinancial operating margin

Total revenue growth

Return on equity

Three Year Targets

23

20 - 30

20 - 30

Target achieved

12.7%

12.0% - 14.0%

12.0% - 14.0%

 Target achieved

38.5%

26.0%

21.8%

38% - 40%

38% - 40%

Target achieved

26% - 28%

16% - 18%

Target achieved

21% +

20% +

Target achieved

The  following  table  outlines  the  Company’s  targets  for  2019,  2020  and  2021  and  provides  the  material  assumptions  used  to 
develop such forward-looking statements. The Company has introduced guidance for 2021 while the targets for 2019 and 2020 
are as previously provided. These targets are inherently subject to risks as identified in the following tables, as well as those risks, 
which are referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” as described in this MD&A.

The  Company  continues  to  pursue  a  long-term  strategy  of  expanding  its  product  range  and  increasing  the  use  of  risk-based 
pricing, which increases the average loan size and extends the life of its customer relationships. As such, the total yield earned on 
its consumer loan portfolio will gradually decline, while net charge-off rates moderate and operating margins expand, resulting 
in an increase to return on equity. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  27

Targets  
for 2019

Targets  
for 2020

Targets  
for 2021

$1.1-$1.2 
billion

$1.3-$1.4 
billion

$1.5-$1.7 
billion

Gross consumer  
loans receivable  
portfolio at year end

Assumptions

Risk Factors1

•  The new store opening plan 

occurs as per the Company’s 
stated targets. 

•  The Company successfully 

completes the growth 
initiatives outlined in its 
strategic plan including the 
increased penetration of its 
risk adjusted and secured 
lending products.

•  The Company continues to be 
able to access growth capital 
for its easyfinancial business 
at a reasonable cost.

•  Increased expenditures on 
marketing and advertising 
within easyfinancial

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

•  The Company’s ability to 

secure new real estate and 
experienced personnel.

•  The Company is not able to 

complete its growth initiatives 
or the impact of such 
initiatives is reduced. 

•  Continued access to 

reasonably priced capital.

easyfinancial total 
revenue yield

49%-51% 46%-48% 43%-45% •  easyfinancial total revenue 
yield includes the impact of 
the sale of ancillary products.

•  The Company successfully 

completes the growth 
initiatives outlined in its 
strategic plan including the 
increased penetration of its 
risk adjusted and secured 
lending products.

•  The Company expects the 
yield to moderate over this 
three year period due to the 
increased penetration of its 
risk adjusted and secured 
lending products and the 
increased growth of the loan 
book in Quebec (Quebec loans 
are at a lower rate of interest). 

•  The effective yield earned on 
the sale of ancillary products 
reduces as the average loan 
size increases.

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

•  Changes to regulations 
governing the products 
offered by the Company.

•  The Company is not able to 

complete its growth initiatives 
or the impact of such 
initiatives is reduced. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  28

Targets  
for 2019

Targets  
for 2020

Targets  
for 2021

10-20

10-20

10-20

New easyfinancial 
locations opened  
during the year

Assumptions

Risk Factors1

•  The Company continues to be 
able to access growth capital 
for its easyfinancial business 
at a reasonable cost.

•  The Company successfully 

completes the growth 
initiatives outlined in its 
strategic plan.

•  Virtually all new locations will 

be stand-alone branches.

•  The earnings drag from newly 
opened locations is within 
acceptable levels.

•  The Company’s ability to 

secure new real estate and 
experienced personnel.

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

Net charge-offs as a 
percentage of average 
gross consumer loans 
receivable

11.5%-
13.5%

11.0%-
13.0%

11.0%-
13.0%

•  Net charge-off rates for the 
existing products remain 
at current levels while net 
charge-off rates for the risk 
adjusted and secured lending 
products are lower.

•  Net charge-off rates for 

existing products increase or 
the net charge-off rates for 
the risk adjusted or secured 
lending products are higher 
than expected.

easyfinancial operating 
margin

42%-44% 44%-46% 45%-47% •  The growth of the loan book 

occurs as indicated.

•  Yield and loss rates at mature 

locations are indicative of 
future performance.

•  Yield and loss rates of risk 

adjusted and secured lending 
products are as estimated in 
the Company’s budget and 
strategic plan.

•  Continued investment 
in new branches, new 
growth opportunities and 
increased marketing to 
drive originations moderate 
earnings.

•  Increased levels of 

unemployment or economic 
instability

•  The Company is not able 
to complete its growth 
initiatives or the impact of 
such initiatives is reduced. 

•  The loan book fails to grow in 
line with expectations and as 
indicated.

•  The Company’s ability to 

achieve operating efficiencies 
as the business grows.

•  The earnings drag from newly 
opened locations is within 
acceptable levels.

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

•  The Company is able to 

manage charge-off rates 
within its desired parameters.

•  Changes to regulations 
governing the products 
offered by the Company.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  29

Targets  
for 2019

Targets  
for 2020

Targets  
for 2021

Assumptions

Risk Factors1

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

•  Changes to regulations 
governing the products 
offered by the Company.

•  The Company is not able 
to complete its growth 
initiatives or the impact of 
such initiatives is reduced. 

•  Continued access to 

reasonably priced capital

•  Retail business conditions 
are assumed to be within 
normal parameters with 
respect to consumer demand, 
competition and margins.

•  Changes to regulations 
governing the products 
offered by the Company.

•  The Company is not able 
to complete its growth 
initiatives or the impact of 
such initiatives is reduced. 

•  Continued access to 

reasonably priced capital.

Total revenue growth

20%-22% 14%-16% 10%-12% •  Continued accelerated 

growth of the consumer 
loans portfolio, driven by 
new delivery channels, 
building the Quebec branch 
network and other additional 
branch openings, the launch 
of secured loans and the 
continued strong growth 
of the Company’s existing 
lending products.

•  Revenue growth moderated 
by a higher proportion of 
lower yield loans.

•  Stable revenue generated 

by the Company’s easyhome 
business.

Return on equity

24% +

26% +

26% +

•  The growth of the loan 

portfolio occurs as indicated.

•  Yield and loss rates at mature 

locations are indicative of 
future performance.

•  Yield and loss rates of risk 

adjusted and secured lending 
products are as estimated in 
the Company’s budget and 
strategic plan.

•  Continued investment 
in new branches, new 
growth opportunities and 
increased marketing to 
drive originations moderate 
earnings.

•  Stable financial performance 

from the Company’s 
easyhome business.

•  The Company continues to be 
able to access growth capital 
for its easyfinancial business 
at a reasonable cost.

•  Consistent leverage ratios

1.  Risk factors include those risks referred to in the section entitled “Risk Factors” as described in this MD&A.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  30

Adoption of IFRS 9 
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”). IFRS 9 introduced a new expected loss 
impairment model which replaced the previous incurred loss impairment model under IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition 
and Measurement (“IAS 39”).

Under  the  previous  accounting  standard,  IAS  39,  a  collective  allowance  for  loan  loss  was  recorded  on  those  loans,  or  groups 
  of  loans,  where  a  loss  event  has  occurred  but  has  not  been  reported,  as  at,  or  prior  to,  the  balance  sheet  date.  An  incurred 
but  not  reported  loss  event  provides  objective  evidence  to  establish  an  allowance  for  loan  loss  against  such  loans.  IAS  39  
prohibited  recognizing  any  allowance  for  loan  losses  expected  in  the  future  if  a  loss  event  had  not  yet  occurred  as  at  the  
balance sheet date.

Under IFRS 9, the Company is required to apply an expected credit loss model, where credit losses that are expected to transpire 
in future years irrespective of whether a loss event has occurred or not as at the balance sheet date, are provided for. Under 
IFRS 9, the Company is required to assess and segment its loan portfolio into performing (Stage 1), under-performing (Stage 2) 
and non-performing (Stage 3) categories as at each date of the statement of financial position. Loans are categorized as under-
performing if there has been a significant increase in credit risk since the origination of the loan. The Company utilizes internal 
risk rating changes, delinquency and other identifiable risk factors to determine when there has been a significant increase or 
decrease in the credit risk of a loan. Indicators of a significant increase in credit risk include a recent degradation in internal 
company risk rating based on the Company’s proprietary behaviour credit scoring model, late or missed payments, delinquency, 
and adjustments to the loan’s terms. Under-performing loans are recategorized to performing only if there is deemed to be a 
substantial decrease in credit risk. Loans are categorized as non-performing if there is objective evidence that such loans are 
impaired and thus likely to charge-off in the future which we have determined to be when loans are delinquent for greater than 
30 days. For performing loans, the Company is required to record an allowance for loan losses equal to the expected losses on 
that group of loans over the ensuing twelve months. For under-performing and non-performing loans, the Company is required to 
record an allowance for loan losses equal to the expected losses on those groups of loans over their remaining life. Ultimately, the 
expected credit loss is calculated based on the probability weighted expected cash collected shortfall against the carrying value 
of the loan and considers reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future 
events and economic conditions (forward-looking indicators or “FLIs”) that may impact the credit profile of the loans.

IFRS 9 requires that FLIs be considered when determining the impact on credit risk and measuring expected credit losses and 
must be incorporated in the risk parameters as relevant. Based on the analysis performed by the Company, the following FLIs were 
determined to historically have an impact on the credit performance of the portfolio and were incorporated into its calculation of 
its allowance for loan losses:

•  forecast rate of inflation

•  forecast rate of unemployment

•  forecast oil prices

The analysis performed by the Company determined that the rate of inflation and rate of unemployment were positively correlated 
with  the  Company’s  historic  loss  rates  while  oil  prices  were  negatively  correlated  with  the  Company’s  historic  loss  rates.  For 
purposes of determining its allowance for loan losses at each balance sheet date, the Company has decided to utilize the average 
forecasts of these FLIs from five large Canadian banks.

It  is  important  to  note  that  the  adoption  of  IFRS  9  does  not  impact  the  net  charge-off  rate  of  the  Company’s  consumer  loans 
receivable portfolio which is driven by borrowers’ credit profile and behaviour. The Company will continue to charge-off unsecured 
customer balances that are delinquent greater than 90 days and secured customer balances that are delinquent greater than 
180 days. Likewise, the cash flows used in and generated by the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio are not impacted 
by the adoption of IFRS 9 as the periodic increase in the allowance for loan losses as a result of growth in the consumer loans 
receivable is a non-cash item.

The adoption of IFRS 9 does not require the restatement of comparative period financial statements except in limited circumstances 
related  to  aspects  of  hedge  accounting.  Entities  are  permitted  to  restate  comparatives  provided  hindsight  is  not  applied.  The 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  31

Company  made  the  decision  not  to  restate  comparative  period  financial  information  and  has  recognized  any  measurement 
differences between the previous carrying amounts and the new carrying amounts on January 1, 2018, through an adjustment 
to  opening  retained  earnings,  net  of  deferred  tax  implications.  Refer  to  the  Company’s  2018  Annual  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements and the accompanying notes for accounting policies under IAS 39 applied during 2017.

The  Company’s  allowance  for  loan  losses,  as  determined  under  IAS  39,  as  at  December  31,  2017,  was  $31.7  million  which 
represented  6.0%  of  the  gross  consumer  loans  receivables.  The  Company  determined  that  its  allowance  for  loan  losses,  as 
determined  under  IFRS  9,  as  at  January  1,  2018,  was  $49.1  million  which  represented  9.3%  of  the  gross  consumer  loans 
receivable, resulting in an increase to its allowance for loan losses of $17.4 million. This increase in the allowance for loan losses 
was not indicative of a change in the expected recovery value of the underlying consumer loans receivable but rather a function 
of extending the allowance for loan losses to provide for expected future losses over a longer future time frame as required under 
IFRS 9. 

The following table summarizes the transition adjustment required to adopt IFRS 9 as at January 1, 2018.

($ in 000’s)

Consumer loans receivable

Deferred tax asset

Retained earnings

IAS 39 Carrying 
Amount as at 
December 31, 2017

Transition  
Adjustment

IFRS 9 Carrying 
Amount as at  
January 1, 2018

513,425

2,121

126,924

(17,406)

4,749

(12,659)

496,019

6,870

114,265

In addition to the one-time reduction to retained earnings upon the adoption of IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018, the requirements of 
IFRS 9 will result in a reduction to IFRS reported net income in periods where the Company experiences growth in its consumer 
loans receivable portfolio. Due to the transition from an incurred loss model to a future expected credit loss model as required 
under IFRS 9, the Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of the gross consumer loans receivable will be higher. 
Operationally, this will require a larger provision to be taken when new consumer loans are originated or purchased. This will 
result in greater bad debt expense and a corresponding decrease in reported net income when compared to net income reported 
under the prior standard, IAS 39.

Although the Company has decided not to restate the 2017 comparative figures as if IFRS 9 had been applied retroactively, it is 
important to understand the estimated impact of this change in accounting standards on the comparative financial results. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  32

The following tables estimates the financial results for each quarter of the prior fiscal year, as if the Company had adopted IFRS 9 
on January 1, 2017, and therefore the allowance for credit losses in that prior period would employ a methodology for determining 
its allowance for credit losses the same as the methodology used in 2018 under IFRS 9. Such information presented is a non-IFRS 
9 measure. 

($ in 000’s)

Gross Consumer Loans Receivable

Balance, beginning of period

Growth

Balance, end of period

Allowance for credit losses as reported under IAS 39

Balance, beginning of period

Net amounts written off

Increase due to lending and collecting activities

Balance, end of period

Allowance expressed as % of gross consumer  
  loan receivable

Estimated allowance for credit losses under IFRS 91

Balance, beginning of period

Net amounts written off

Increase due to lending and collecting activities

Balance, end of period

Allowance expressed as % of gross consumer  
  loan receivable 

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

March 31,
2017

June 30,
2017

September 30,
2017

December 31,
2017

December 31,
2017

370,517

387,055

16,538

38,269

387,055

425,324

23,456

24,294

(13,279)

(15,112)

14,117

24,294

17,173

26,355

425,324

47,739

473,063

26,355

(15,029)

17,729

29,055

473,063

53,483

526,546

29,055

(16,156)

18,807

31,706

370,517

156,029

526,546

23,456

(59,576)

67,826

31,706

6.3%

6.2%

6.1%

6.0%

6.0%

30,494

33,054

(13,279)

(15,112)

15,839

33,054

19,401

37,343

8.5%

8.8%

37,343

(15,029)

20,876

43,190

9.1%

3,147

11,606

(3,147)

859

(2,288)

9,318

$0.81

($0.15)

$0.66

43,190

(16,156)

22,078

49,112

9.3%

3,271

5,366

(3,271)

894

(2,377)

2,989

$0.38

($0.15)

$0.23

30,494

(59,576)

78,194

49,112

9.3%

10,368

36,132

(10,368)

2,831

(7,537)

28,595

$2.56

($0.51)

$2.05

Estimated net increase in bad debt expense under IFRS 9

1,722

2,228

Net income as stated

Estimated net increase in bad debt expense under IFRS 9

Tax impact

Estimated after tax impact of IFRS 9 on net income

Estimated net income under IFRS 9

Diluted earnings per share as stated

Estimated impact of IFRS 9

Estimated diluted earnings per share under IFRS 9

10,270

(1,722)

470

(1,252)

9,018

$0.73

($0.09)

$0.64

8,890

(2,228)

608

(1,620)

7,270

$0.63

($0.11)

$0.52

1  This represents a non-IFRS measure and reflects the estimated impact of adopting IFRS 9 with full retrospective adoption at January 1, 2017.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  33

 
Under IAS 39, the Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of the gross consumer loans receivable decreased by 
30 bps from 6.3% as at January 1, 2017 to 6.0% as at December 31, 2017. This was due largely to the improved performance of 
the underlying loan vintages and the shift towards risk adjusted rate loans to a better credit quality borrower.

While  the  allowance  for  credit  losses  as  a  percentage  of  the  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  determined  under  IAS  39 
decreased during 2017, the estimated rate determined using the same methodology as IFRS 9, on the basis presented above, 
for this same period increased by 80 bps from 8.5% as at January 1, 2017 to 9.3% as at December 31, 2017. The increase in 
this rate was predominantly due to changes in the FLIs. As at January 1, 2017 the FLIs, in amalgam, were forecasting improved 
economic performance and therefore indicated that the charge-off rates experienced by the Company would also improve. The 
incorporation of the FLIs at that time resulted in a reduction to the allowance for credit losses. By year’s end, this forecasted 
economic improvement had been realized – oil had increased, unemployment was at structural low levels and the rate of inflation 
was low – and so the forecasted future change in these indicators was less positive. As a result, the incorporation of the FLIs as 
at December 31, 2017 resulted in an increase to the allowance for credit losses. All told, the shift in these FLIs during fiscal 2017 
resulted in an increase in the allowance for credit losses under IFRS 9.

During a fiscal period, any consumer loans receivable that must be written off as uncollectible in accordance with the Company’s 
policies, net of subsequent recoveries, are applied against the allowance for credit losses. Additionally, the Company recognizes bad 
debt expenses (provisions for credit losses) during the fiscal period as an increase to the allowance for credit losses such that the 
balance of the allowance for credit losses at each statement of financial position date is appropriate under IFRS 9.

Under IFRS 9, the required bad debt expense (provision for credit losses) will generally be more volatile than the corresponding 
bad debt expense determined under IAS 39 due to the inclusion of FLIs. To better understand the financial performance of the 
Company and compare results between different fiscal periods, the Company introduced a new, non-IFRS measure – Pre-Tax, 
Pre-Provision Income (“PTPP Income”). This non-IFRS measure details the financial performance of the Company excluding the 
impacts of income taxes and bad debt expense (provision for credit losses).

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  34

The following table presents a comparison of the financial results for the three-month period and year ended December 31, 2018 
as reported against the estimated financial results for the comparable period ended December 31, 2017 presented under IFRS 
9. Certain of these measures for the three -month period and year ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 estimated 
using the same methodology as IFRS 9 are non-IFRS measures.

 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share and percentages)

Summary Financial Results

Revenue

Bad debt expense

Operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

EBITDA2

EBITDA margin2

Depreciation and amortization expense

Operating income

Operating margin2

Finance costs

PTPP income2

Net income 

Adjusted net income3

Diluted earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share3

Return on equity2

Adjusted return on equity3

Three Months Ended

December 31, 
2018
(as reported)

December 31, 
2017
(estimated  
under IFRS 91)

138,160

34,186

107,244

22,078

90,369

37,847

27.4%

12,685

35,106

25.4%

12,811

56,481

15,887

15,887

1.02

1.02

23.0%

23.0%

72,613

24,391

22.7%

13,452

21,179

19.7%

16,972

26,285

2,989

9,015

 0.23 

0.64

5.3%

15.9%

Variance  
$ / bps

Variance  
% change

30,916

12,108

17,756

13,456

 470 bps

(767)

13,927

 570 bps 

(4,161)

30,196

12,898

6,872

0.79

0.38

 1,770 bps 

710 bps

28.8%

54.8%

24.5%

55.2%

20.7%

(5.7%)

65.8%

28.9%

(24.5%)

114.9%

431.5%

76.2%

343.5%

59.4%

334.0%

44.7%

This represents a non-IFRS measure and reflects the estimated impact of adopting IFRS 9 with full retrospective adoption at January 1, 2017.

1  
2   See description in sections “Portfolio Analysis” and “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures”.
3   Excluding the impact of the $8.2 million in non-recurring refinancing costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  35

 
 
 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share and percentages)

Summary Financial Results

Revenue

Bad debt expense

Operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

EBITDA2

EBITDA margin2

Depreciation and amortization expense

Operating income

Operating margin2

Finance costs

PTPP income2

Net income 

Adjusted net income3

Diluted earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share3

Return on equity2

Adjusted return on equity3

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018
(as reported)

December 31, 
2017
(estimated  
under IFRS 91)

Variance  
$ / bps

Variance  
% change

506,191

118,980

334,471

131,632

26.0%

52,003

119,717

23.7%

45,800

192,897

53,124

53,124

3.56

3.56

21.8%

21.8%

401,728

78,194

272,495

88,012

21.9%

52,208

77,025

19.2%

36,840

118,379

28,595

34,621

 2.05 

2.46

13.4%

16.3%

104,463

40,786

61,976

43,620

 410 bps

(205)

42,692

 450 bps

8,960

74,518

24,529

18,503

1.51

1.10

 840 bps 

550 bps

26.0%

52.2%

22.7%

49.6%

18.7%

(0.4%)

55.4%

23.4%

24.3%

62.9%

85.8%

53.4%

73.7%

44.7%

62.7%

33.7%

This represents a non-IFRS measure and reflects the estimated impact of adopting IFRS 9 with full retrospective adoption at January 1, 2017.

1  
2   See description in sections “Portfolio Analysis” and “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures”.
3   Excluding the impact of the $8.2 million in non-recurring refinancing costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  36

 
Analysis of Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Financial Highlights and Accomplishments 
•  During 2018 the Company strengthened its balance sheet and raised additional funds to facilitate its long-term growth plan.

 – On October 10, 2018, the Company closed its offering of 920,000 Common Shares at a price of $50.50 per common share for 

aggregate net proceeds of $44.3 million. 

 – On  July  16,  2018,  the  Company  issued  an  additional  US$150  million  of  7.875%  senior  unsecured  Notes  Payable  due  on 
November 1, 2022. These notes were issued at a premium price of US$1,050 per US$1,000 principal amount. Concurrent 
with the issuance of the additional notes, the Company entered into a cross-currency swap through a derivative financial 
instrument  to  fix  the  foreign  currency  exchange  rate  for  the  proceeds  from  the  offering  and  for  all  required  payments 
of  principal  and  interest  under  the  Notes  at  a  fixed  exchange  rate  of  US$1.000  =  C$1.316,  thereby  fully  hedging  the 
US$150 million obligation under the Notes to C$197.5 million at a Canadian dollar interest rate of 7.52%. As the Notes were 
issued at premium to par, the Canadian dollar yield to maturity is 6.17% per annum. 

 – On June 20, 2018, the Company entered into an amendment to its revolving credit facility to increase the maximum principal 
amount available to be borrowed from $110 million to $174.5 million. This facility also includes a $89 million accordion 
feature which allows the Company to further increase its borrowing limit.

 – At year end the Company had total cash on hand and borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility of $275 million 
and the ability to exercise the accordion feature under this facility to add an additional $89 million in borrowing capacity. 
Ultimately the cash on hand and current borrowing limits provide adequate growth capital for the Company to execute its 
growth plan and meet its stated targets through the third quarter of 2020.

•  As previously described, the Company adopted IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. The adoption of IFRS 9 resulted in an increase in the 
allowance for credit losses and resulted in higher bad debt expense and lower net income than under the previous accounting 
standard in periods of loan book growth. In addition, IFRS 9 resulted in increased volatility in the allowance for credit losses 
due to the required incorporation of FLIs. The Company applied IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018 and, as such, the financial results of 
2018 have been reported under IFRS 9 while the comparable financial results from 2017 have been reported under the previous 
incurred loss model of IAS 39. 

•  2018 was the seventeenth consecutive year of growing revenues and delivering profits. Since 2001, total revenue and adjusted 
net income have seen a compounded annual growth rate of 12.7% and 29.0%, respectively. The Company again delivered record 
levels of revenue, net income, earnings per share and return on equity in 2018.

•  In consideration of the improved earnings achieved in 2017 compared to the prior year and the Company’s confidence of its 
continued growth and access to capital going forward, the Board of Directors approved a 38% increase to the quarterly dividend 
from $0.225 per share to $0.310 per share in the first quarter of 2019.

•  goeasy continued to deliver record levels of revenue during 2018. Revenue increased to $506.2 million from the $401.7 million 
reported in 2017, an increase of $104.5 million or 26.0%. The increase in revenue was driven by the growth of the Company’s 
easyfinancial business. 

•  The gross consumer loans receivable portfolio increased from $526.5 million as at December 31, 2017 to $833.8 million as at 
December 31, 2018, an increase of $307.2 million or 58.3%. Gross loan originations in the current year were $922.6 million, 
an  increase  of  59.2%  compared  to  the  prior  year.  The  strong  growth  was  fueled  by  the  continued  net  customer  growth,  the 
increased origination of unsecured loans including the increased penetration of risk adjusted rate loans to the Company’s best 
credit quality borrowers, the maturation of the Company’s retail branch network, lending in the Company’s easyhome stores, 
slowing  paydown  rates  due  to  longer  term  loans,  ongoing  enhancements  to  the  Company’s  digital  properties  and  increased 
advertising spend.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  37

•  Net  charge-offs  as  a  percentage  of  the  average  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  were  12.7%  for  the  year,  down  from  

13.6% in 2017.

•  easyfinancial’s operating income was $141.9 million in 2018 compared with $102.7 million in 2017, an increase of $39.2 million or 
38.2%. The benefits of the larger loan book and related revenue increases of $103.9 million were partially offset by: i) the higher 
provisions for future charge-offs driven by the strong loan book growth; ii) the adoption of IFRS 9; iii) the $2.8 million increase in 
advertising spend; and iv) and incremental expenditures to enhance the product offering and expand the easyfinancial footprint. 
Operating margin was 38.5% in the year compared with 38.8% reported in 2017.

•  The Company’s mature easyhome business also experienced increased levels of operating income and operating margin due to 

the addition of consumer lending.

•  Operating income for the year was $119.7 million, up $32.3 million or 37.0% when compared with 2017. The transition to IFRS 9 
in the year served to reduce operating income by $9.6 million as compared to the previous accounting standard. The operating 
margin for the year was 23.7%, compared to 21.8% in 2017. 

•  The issuance of US$150 million in Notes Payable in July, 2018 (as described above) reduced diluted earnings per share by 30 

cents in the year. 

•  Net income for was $53.1 million or $3.56 per share on a diluted basis. Net income for 2017 was $36.1 million or $2.56 per 
share on a diluted basis. Excluding the after-tax impact of the $8.2 million refinancing cost incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017, 
adjusted net income was $42.2 million or $2.97 per share. On this normalized basis, net income and diluted earnings per share 
increased by 26.0% and 19.9%, respectively.

•  The Company adopted IFRS 9 in 2018 while 2017 was reported under the old accounting standard. The Company estimates that 
adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share for 2017 would have been $7.5 million or $0.51 lower respectively had it 
been reported under IFRS 9. On this basis, net income and diluted earnings per share in the year would have increased by 53.4% 
and 44.7% respectively.

•  Return on equity was 21.8% in 2018.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  38

Summary of Financial Results and Key Performance Indicators

($ in 000’s except earnings per share and percentages)

Summary Financial Results

Revenue

Operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

EBITDA1

EBITDA margin1

Depreciation and amortization expense

Operating income

Operating margin1

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing charges

Refinancing costs

PTPP income1

Effective income tax rate

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

Return on equity

Adjusted (Normalized) Financial Results²

Adjusted net income

Adjusted earnings per share

Adjusted return on equity

Key Performance Indicators1

Same store revenue growth (overall)

Same store revenue growth (easyhome)

Segment Financials

easyfinancial revenue

easyfinancial operating margin

easyhome revenue

easyhome operating margin

Portfolio Indicators

Gross consumer loans receivable

Growth in consumer loans receivable

Gross loan originations

Total yield on consumer loans (including ancillary products)

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average gross consumer 
loans receivable

Potential monthly lease revenue

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Variance 
$ / bps

Variance 
% change

506,191

334,471

131,632

26.0%

52,003

119,717

23.7%

45,800

-

401,728

262,127

98,380

24.5%

52,208

87,393

21.8%

28,642

8,198

192,897

118,379

28.1%

53,124

3.56

21.8%

53,124

3.56

21.8%

25.7%

6.4%

368,325

38.5%

137,866

15.6%

833,779

307,233

922,550

54.2%

12.7%

9,141

28.5%

36,132

2.56

17.0%

42,158

2.97

19.8%

18.3%

(0.7%)

264,468

38.8%

137,260

15.2%

526,546

156,029

579,494

60.4%

13.6%

9,481

104,463

72,344

33,252

150 bps

(205)

32,324

 190 bps

17,158

(8,198)

74,518

(40 bps)

16,992

1.00

 480 bps 

10,966

0.59

200 bps

740 bps

710 bps

103,857 

 (30 bps)

606 

 40 bps

307,233 

151,204 

343,056 

26.0%

27.6%

33.8%

6.1%

(0.4%)

37.0%

8.7%

59.9%

(100.0%)

62.9%

(1.4%)

47.0%

39.1%

28.2%

26.0%

19.9%

10.1%

40.4%

1,014.3%

39.3%

(0.8%)

0.4%

2.6%

58.3%

96.9%

59.2%

(620 bps)

(10.3%)

(90 bps)

(340)

(6.6%)

(3.6%)

1   See description in sections “Portfolio Analysis” and “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures”.
2   During the fourth quarter of 2017, the company repaid its Term Loan incurring an early repayment penalty and amortizing the remaining unamortized 

deferred financing costs associated with the Term Loan which resulted in a one-time before tax charge of $8.2 million.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  39

 
Store Locations Summary

easyfinancial

Kiosks (in store)

Stand-alone locations

National loan office 

Total easyfinancial locations

easyhome

Corporately owned stores

Consolidated franchise locations

Total consolidated stores

Total franchise stores

Total easyhome stores

Locations as at 
December 31, 
2017

Locations 
opened during 
period

Locations 
closed during 
period

Conversions

Locations as at 
December 31, 
2018

42 

185 

1 

228 

140 

1 

141 

30 

171 

1 

13 

-

14 

-

-

-

-

-

(1)

-‚

-

(1)

(6)

-

(6)

-

(6)

(9)

9 

-

-

(1)

-

(1)

1 

-

33 

207 

1 

241 

133

1

134

31 

165 

Summary of Financial Results by Operating Segment

 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share) 

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate

Total

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Revenue 

Interest

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing charges

Income before income taxes

Income taxes

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

 250,622 

 5,375 

- 

 119,745 

 110,423 

 7,280 

 6,577 

 6,169 

 368,325 

 137,866 

 -

 -

 -

 -

 -

218,138 

 8,333 

 141,854 

74,215 

 42,104 

 21,547 

42,118 

 1,566 

 (43,684)

 255,997 

 119,745 

 117,000 

 13,449 

 506,191 

334,471 

 52,003 

 119,717 

45,800

45,800

73,917

20,793

53,124

3.56

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share) 

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate

Total

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Revenue 

Interest

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing charges

 171,667 

 648 

-

 125,111 

 86,598 

 6,203 

 264,468 

154,559 

 7,255 

 102,654 

 4,755 

 6,746 

 137,260 

72,570 

 43,808 

 20,882 

-

-

-

-

-

34,998 

 1,145 

 (36,143)

Refinancing costs

Income before income taxes

Income taxes

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

Portfolio Performance

 172,315 

 125,111 

 91,353 

 12,949 

 401,728 

 262,127 

 52,208 

 87,393 

28,642

8,198

36,840

50,553

14,421

36,132

2.56

Consumer  Loans  Receivable  Portfolio  –  The  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  portfolio  increased  from  $526.5  million  as  at 
December 31, 2017 to $833.8 million as at December 31, 2018, an increase of $307.2 million or 58.3%. Originations in the year 
ended December 31, 2018 were very strong at $922.6 million, up 59.2% against the originations recorded in 2017. The loan book 
grew $307.2 million in the year against growth of $156.0 million in 2017. The strong growth was fueled by the continued net 
customer growth, the increased origination of unsecured loans including the increased penetration of risk adjusted rate loans to 
the Company’s best credit quality borrowers, the maturation of the Company’s retail branch network, the growth of the loan book 
at the Company’s easyhome stores, slowing paydown rates due to longer term loans, ongoing enhancements to the Company’s 
digital properties and an increased level of advertising spend.

The  annualized  total  yield  (including  ancillary  products)  realized  by  the  Company  on  its  average  consumer  loans  receivable 
portfolio was 54.2% in 2018, down 620 bps from 2017. The decrease in the yield was due to the increased penetration of risk 
adjusted  interest  rate  loans  to  a  more  credit  worthy  customer,  lower  interest  rates  on  secured  lending  products  and  loans  in 
Quebec, a higher proportion of larger dollar loans which have reduced pricing on certain ancillary products, as well as increased 
amortization of deferred loan acquisition costs. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bad debt expense increased to $119.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 from $67.8 million in 2017, an increase of 
$51.2 million or 75.5%. The following table details the components of bad debt expense:

 ($ in 000’s)

December 31,2018

December 31,2017

Year Ended

Provision required due to net charge-offs

Impact of loan book growth – Historic rate

Impact of loan book growth – Incremental IFRS 9 rate

Impact of change in provision rate during period

Net change in allowance for credit losses

Bad debt expense

88,351

19,480

9,602

1,547

30,629

118,980

59,576

9,693

-

 (1,443)

8,250

67,826

Bad debt expense increased by $51.2 million due to four factors: 

(i)  Net charge-offs increased from $59.6 million in 2017 to $88.4 million in 2018, up $28.8 million. This represented an increase of 
48.3% against the 58.3% growth in the loan book over the past 12 months. The net charge-off rate declined in the year compared 
to 2017. Net charge-offs as a percentage of the average gross consumer loans receivable on an annualized basis were 12.7% in 
the year compared with 13.6% in 2017. The Company achieved an improvement in delinquency rates and loss performance in 
the year through the increased penetration of risk adjusted rate and secured loans to more credit worthy customers, as well as 
strong collection activities. 

(ii)  The  loan  book  growth  almost  doubled  from  $156.0  million  in  2017  to  $307.2  million  in  2018.  Excluding  the  impact  of  the 
adoption of IFRS 9 (which served to increase the provision rate), the increased level of loan book growth resulted in a $9.8 million 
increase in bad debt expense in the year.

(iii) The implementation of IFRS 9 resulted in the provision taken on loan book growth increasing from 6.0% in 2017 to 9.3% in 
2018 (the opening provision rate in the year). This resulted in an additional $9.6 million in bad debt expense in the year due to the 
adoption of the new accounting standard.

(iv) The provision rate, under the old accounting standard, declined in the year ended December 31, 2017 resulting in a reduction 
to  bad  debt  expense  of  $1.4  million  in  that  period.  The  provision  rate  increased  from  9.3%  as  at  January  1,  2018  to  9.6%  as 
at  September  30,  2018. The  Company  achieved  very  strong  origination  and  loan  book  growth  in  the  first  nine  months  of  2018. 
These additional borrowers had a slightly lower credit quality on average than previous cohorts of loans. This resulted in a slight 
downward shift in the credit quality of the overall loan portfolio which contributed to the increase in the provision rate, as did the 
higher than expected losses in Quebec. From September 30, 2018 to December 31, 2018 the provision declined by 6 bps. The overall 
effect of the 30 bps increase in the provision rate during 2018 increased bad debt expense by $1.5 million in the year. The relative 
impact of these changes resulted in bad debt expense increasing by $3.0 million in the year compared with 2017. 

easyhome Leasing Portfolio – The leasing portfolio as measured by potential monthly lease revenue as at December 31, 2018 was 
$9.1 million, down from the $9.5 million reported as at December 31, 2017. Overall, the number of agreements declined from 
104,982 as at December 31, 2017 to 97,459 as at December 31, 2018. The decline in agreement count over the past 12 months was 
related to the sale of stores to franchisees, the closure of underperforming locations, declines in the lease portfolio at remaining 
easyhome  stores  offset  partially  by  the  acquisition  of  lease  portfolios  from  competitors. The  7.7%  decline  in  agreements  was 
offset by a 3.9% increase in average leasing rates due in part to the higher Canadian dollar cost of certain leased assets purchased 
in US dollars, changes in product mix and selected pricing adjustments. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  42

Revenue 

Revenue for the year was $506.2 million compared to $401.7 million in 2017, an increase of $104.5 million or 26.0%. Overall same 
store sales growth for the year was 25.7%. Revenue growth was driven primarily by the growth of easyfinancial.

easyfinancial  –  Revenue  for  the  year  was  $368.3  million,  an  increase  of  $103.9  million  or  39.3%  from  the  comparable  period 
of 2017. The increase in revenue was driven by the growth of the gross consumer loans receivable portfolio and offset by the 
reduction in yield (as described above). The components of easyfinancial revenue increase include: 

•  Interest revenue increased by $78.9 million or 46.0% driven by the loan book growth but offset by lower yields. Interest yield 
declined due to increased penetration of risk adjusted rate loans, Quebec lending and secured lending (all of which have reduced 
interest rates) as well as the increased amortization of deferred loan acquisition costs.

•  Commissions earned on the sale of ancillary products and services increased by $23.8 million or 27.5% driven by the growth of 
the loan book. The rate of growth of commissions earned was less than the rate of growth of interest revenue and the loan book 
due to a higher proportion of larger dollar loans which have reduced pricing on certain ancillary products and slightly lower 
penetration of these products.

•  Charges and fees increased by $1.1 million.

easyhome – Revenue for the year was $137.9 million, an increase of $0.6 million when compared with 2017. Revenue associated 
with  the  traditional  leasing  business  declined  by  $7.1  million  in  the  year  related  primarily  to  store  sales  and  the  closure  of 
underperforming locations and reductions in the lease portfolio. These declines were offset by a $7.8 million increase in financial 
revenue related to consumer lending in easyhome. The components of easyhome revenue increase include: 

•  Interest revenue increased by $4.7 million. Consumer lending in easyhome was introduced in the second quarter of 2017.

•  Lease revenue declined by $5.4 million due to the reduction of the lease portfolio (as described above).

•  Commissions  earned  on  the  sale  of  ancillary  products  and  charges  and  fees  collectively  increased  by  $1.2  million.  Gains  in 
these  revenue  categories  relating  to  the  consumer  lending  business  more  than  offset  the  declines  related  to  the  traditional 
leasing business.

Total Operating Expenses before Depreciation and Amortization

Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization were $334.5 million for the year, an increase of $72.3 million or 
27.6% from 2017. The increase in operating expenses was driven primarily by the higher costs associated with the expanding 
easyfinancial  business  (including  the  impact  of  the  higher  rate  of  loan  book  growth  and  the  adoption  of  IFRS  9  on  bad  debt 
expense), higher costs in the easyhome business related to consumer lending as well as higher corporate costs. Total operating 
expenses before depreciation and amortization represented 66.1% of revenue for the year, an increase from the 65.2% reported 
in 2017.

easyfinancial – Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization were $218.1 million for the year, an increase of 
$63.6 million or 41.1% from 2017. Operating expenses, excluding bad debts, increased by $15.3 million or 22.7% in the year driven 
by: i) an additional $2.8 million in advertising and marketing spend to support the strong growth in originations; ii) higher wages 
and other costs to operate and manage the growing loan book at existing branches; iii) increased branch count (including new 
branches in Quebec); and iv) higher branch level incentives (driven by the large growth in originations and the loan book). Overall 
branch count increased from 228 as at December 31, 2017 to 241 as at December 31, 2018. Bad debt expense for easyfinancial, 
increased by $48.2 million in the year when compared to 2017 for the reasons described above.

easyhome  –  Total  operating  expenses  before  depreciation  and  amortization  were  $74.2  million  for  the  year,  which  was  up 
$1.7  million  when  compared  to  2017. The  increase  was  primarily  related  to  the  incremental  costs  associated  with  consumer 
lending  in  easyhome  stores  but  was  partially  offset  by  the  reduced  store  count  and  lower  advertising  spend.  Consolidated 
easyhome store count declined by seven from 141 as at December 31, 2017 to 134 as at December 31, 2018.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  43

Corporate – Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization were $42.1 million for the year compared to $35.0 million 
in 2017, an increase of $7.1 million. The increase was primarily related to higher salary and stock-based compensation expense 
(additional management personnel) in the year and increased accrued bonus expense due to the financial performance of the 
business  exceeding  target.  In  addition,  corporate  costs  in  the  2017  benefited  from  $1.9  million  in  gains  on  sale  of  corporate 
easyhome stores to franchises while the current year only had $0.7 million in such gains. Corporate expenses before depreciation 
and amortization represented 8.3% of total revenue for the year, down from 8.7% in 2017.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for the year was $52.0 million, a  decrease  of  $0.2 million from  2017.  Overall,  depreciation and 
amortization represented 10.3% of revenue for the year, a decrease from the 13.0% reported in 2017.

easyfinancial  –  The  $1.1  million  increase  in  depreciation  and  amortization  within  easyfinancial  was  attributable  to  its  growing 
network of branches and the amortization of new systems. 

easyhome – Depreciation and amortization expense declined by $1.7 million in the year compared with 2017 due to reductions 
in the lease portfolio and lower charge-offs. easyhome’s depreciation and amortization expense expressed as a percentage of 
easyhome revenue for the year was 30.5%, a decrease from the 31.9% reported in 2017. The rate reduction was due to the lower 
amount of amortization against an easyhome revenue base that is growing due to the introduction of consumer lending. 

Operating Income (Income before Finance Costs and Income Taxes)

Operating income for the year was $119.7 million, up $32.3 million or 37.0% when compared with 2017. The transition to IFRS 9 
in the year served to reduce operating income by $9.6 million as compared to the previous accounting standard. The operating 
margin for the year was 23.7%, compared to 21.8% in 2017. 

easyfinancial – Operating income was $141.9 million for the year compared with $102.7 million in 2017, an increase of $39.2 million 
or 38.2%. The benefits of the larger loan book and related revenue increases of $103.9 million were partially offset by: i) the higher 
provisions for future charge-offs driven by the strong loan book growth; ii) the adoption of IFRS 9; iii) the $2.8 million increase 
in advertising spend; and iv) incremental expenditures to enhance the product offering and expand the easyfinancial footprint. 
Operating margin was 38.5% in the year compared with 38.8% reported in 2017.

easyhome – Operating income was $21.5 million for the year, an increase of $0.7 million when compared with 2017. Revenue 
increased by $0.6 million with lower leasing revenue being more than offset by rising revenue associated with lending activities. 
Total expenses were down by $0.1 million due primarily to the reduced store count and lower advertising spend offset by increased 
expenses related to consumer lending. Operating margin for the year was 15.6%, an increase from the 15.2% reported in 2017. 

Finance Costs

Finance costs for the year were $45.8 million and consisted entirely of interest and the amortization of deferred financing charges. 
Finance costs in 2017 totaled $36.8 million and consisted of: i) $28.6 million of interest expense and the amortization of deferred 
financing charges and ii) $8.2 million in non-recurring refinancing costs. Interest and deferred financing charges increased by 
$17.2 million due to the increased debt level offset by a lower effective borrowing rate. The total carrying value of the debt as 
at  December  31,  2018  was  $691.1  million  against  debt  of  $449.2  million  as  at  December  31,  2017.  As  a  result  of  refinancing 
its  business  and  repaying  the  then  existing  credit  facility  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2017,  the  Company  incurred  $8.2  million  in 
refinancing  costs  which  consisted  of  an  early  repayment  penalty  and  accelerated  amortization  of  the  remaining  unamortized 
deferred financing costs associated with the prior credit facility. 

In July 2018, the Company issued US$150 million of notes. The notes bore a coupon rate of 7.875% but were issued at a 105% 
premium to par which resulted in an attractive Canadian dollar interest rate of 6.17% (excluding the effect of financing charges). 
The funds will be used to grow the easyfinancial loan book. However, the additional finance costs associated with these notes 
reduced diluted earnings per share by 30 cents in the year. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  44

PTPP Income

Pre-tax  pre-provision  income  (“PTPP  income”)  for  the  year  was  $192.9  million,  an  increase  of  $74.5  million  or  62.9%  when 
compared to 2017. The increased revenue in the year associated with the larger consumer loans receivable portfolio more than 
offset the additional operating costs (excluding bad debt expense).

Income Tax Expense
The effective income tax rate for the year was 28.1% which was lower than the 28.5% reported in 2017. The higher effective tax 
rate in 2017 was related primarily to certain losses in the Company’s US subsidiaries which were not tax deductible. 

Net Income and EPS

Net income for 2018 was $53.1 million or $3.56 per share on a diluted basis. Net income for 2017 was $36.1 million or $2.56 per 
share on a diluted basis. Excluding the after-tax impact of the $8.2 million refinancing cost incurred in the fourth quarter of 2017, 
adjusted net income was $42.2 million or $2.97 per share. On this normalized basis, net income and diluted earnings per share 
increased by 26.0% and 19.9%, respectively.

The Company adopted IFRS 9 in 2018 while 2017 was reported under the old accounting standard. The Company estimates that 
adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share for 2017 would have been $7.5 million or $0.51 lower respectively had it 
been reported under IFRS 9. On this basis, net income and diluted earnings per share in 2018 would have increased by 53.4% and 
44.7% respectively.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  45

Selected Annual Information

Operating Results

($ millions except percentages and per share amounts)

2018

2017 2

2016 2

2015 2

2014 2

Gross Consumer Loans Receivable

Revenue

Net income

Adjusted net income1

Return on equity

Adjusted return on equity1

Net income as a percentage of revenue

Adjusted net income as a percentage of revenue1

Dividends declared on Common Shares

Cash dividends declared per common share

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Adjusted diluted1

1 
2 

Adjusted for certain non-recurring or unusual transactions.
Prepared under IAS 39 rather than IFRS 9.

833.8

 506.2 

53.1

53.1

21.8%

21.8%

10.5%

10.5%

12.5

0.90

3.78

3.56

3.56

526.6

401.7

36.1

42.2

17.0%

19.8%

9.0%

10.5%

9.7

0.72

2.67

2.56

2.97

370.5

347.5

31.0

33.2

16.8%

17.9%

8.9%

9.5%

6.7

0.49

2.29

2.23

2.38

289.4

304.3

23.7

23.7

14.4%

14.4%

7.8%

7.8%

5.4

0.40

 1.75 

 1.69 

1.69

192.2

259.2

19.7

18.6

13.7%

12.9%

7.6%

7.2%

4.5

0.34

 1.47 

 1.42 

1.34

Key financial measures for each of the last five years are summarized in the table above and include the gross consumer loans 
receivable portfolio, revenue, net income, earnings per share and return on equity. Strong consumer demand has allowed the 
Company to grow its consumer loans receivable portfolio which in turn drove the rising level of revenue. The larger revenue base, 
offset partially by higher operating expenses, increased the Company’s net income and earnings per share while the increased 
scale of the business resulted in net income as a percentage of revenue also increasing over the presented time horizon. Lastly 
return on equity has increased due to the increased earnings generated by the business and the higher level of financial leverage. 
Please refer to previous years’ MD&As for detailed analysis.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  46

 
 
 
 
 
Assets and Liabilities

 ($ in 000’s)

Total assets

Consumer loans receivable

Cash

Other

Total liabilities

Senior secured credit facilities

Convertible debentures

Bank debt

Term loan

Derivative financial instruments

Other

As at
December 31, 
2018

As at
December 31, 
2017

As at
December 31, 
2016

As at
December 31, 
2015

As at
December 31, 
2014

782,864

100,188

172,624

1,055,676

650,481

40,581

-

-

-

63,085

754,147

513,425

109,370

126,820

749,615

401,193

47,985

-

-

11,138

61,055

521,371

354,499

24,928

123,635

503,062

-

-

-

270,961

11,389

136,152

418,502

-

-

-

263,294

211,720

-

43,737

307,031

-

30,723

242,443

180,693

1,165

137,614

319,472

-

-

1,756

120,743

-

43,005

165,504

Total assets have increased due primarily to the growth of the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio. Cash increased 
in 2017 due to the Company refinancing in the fourth quarter of 2017 and assuming more debt to allow the Company to continue 
to grow its consumer loans receivable portfolio. Other assets increased significantly in 2018 due primarily to the existence of a 
derivate financial instrument related to a cash flow hedge against the Company’s US dollar denominated debt. As the US dollar 
appreciated against the Canadian dollar during 2018 the carrying value of the US dollar debt increased as did the offsetting value 
of this hedging instrument. 

The Company finances the growth of its consumer loans receivable portfolio through a combination of debt, equity and retained 
earnings. Until 2017 the Company had a credit facility which consisted of a term loan and a revolving line of credit. During 2017 the 
Company issued $53 million in convertible debentures and repaid the previous credit facility by issuing US$325 million in Notes 
Payable and securing a $110 million revolving line of credit from a syndicate of banks. During 2018 the Company issued a second 
US$150 million tranche of Notes Payable and increased the borrowing limit under its revolving line of credit to $174.5 million. 
All of the Company’s credit facilitates are as described in the notes to the Company’s financial statements for the year ended 
December 31, 2018. 

Prior  to  refinancing,  the  previous  term  loan  had  an  interest  rate  of  8.41%.  Upon  issuing  the  first  tranche  of  Notes  Payable  in 
November 2017 the Company borrowed at an interest rate of 7.84%. The second tranche of Notes Payable issued in July 2018 
further reduced the interest rate to 6.17%. At the end of 2018, the Company’s ratio of net debt (net of surplus cash on hand) to 
capitalization was 66%; a level that is conservative against several of the Company’s peers and below the 70% which the Company 
believes is optimal. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  47

Analysis of Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2018

Fourth Quarter Highlights
•  goeasy continued to report record revenue during the fourth quarter of 2018. Revenue for the quarter increased to $138.2 million 
from the $107.2 million reported in the same quarter of 2017, an increase of $30.9 million or 28.8%. The increase was driven by 
the growth of easyfinancial. 

•  The gross consumer loans receivable portfolio increased from $526.5 million as at December 31, 2017 to $833.8 million as at 
December 31, 2018, an increase of $307.2 million or 58.3%. The loan book grew $84.2 million in the quarter against growth of 
$53.5 million in the same quarter of 2017. Loan originations in the quarter were $265.0 million, up 50.2% against the origination 
volume of the same quarter of 2017. The strong growth was fueled by the continued net customer growth, the increased origination 
of unsecured loans including the increased penetration of risk adjusted rate loans to the Company’s best credit quality borrowers, 
the maturation of the Company’s retail branch network, lending in the Company’s easyhome stores, slowing paydown rates due to 
longer term loans, ongoing enhancements to the Company’s digital properties and increased advertising spend.

•  Net  charge-offs  as  a  percentage  of  the  average  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  on  an  annualized  basis  were  13.1%  in  the 
quarter compared with 12.8% in the same quarter of 2017. The net charge-off rate in the quarter of 13.1% was at the mid-point of 
the Company’s targeted range for 2018 of 12.0% to 14.0%. During 2018 the growth of the secured loan product and expansion of 
risk-based pricing produced credit quality improvements. During this same time frame however, the Company experienced higher 
losses in Quebec than in other provinces as well as acquiring a larger proportion of originations from the digital channel. While 
borrowers acquired online tend to have lower credit quality, such customers generate attractive operating margins. Loss rates 
from Quebec were higher than in the fourth quarter of 2017 but have reduced from the level the Company experienced in the third 
quarter of 2018 as the new Quebec credit underwriting model is beginning to have the desired effect.

•  Operating  income  from  easyfiancial  was  $41.3  million  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2018  compared  with  $28.6  million  for  the 
comparable  period  in  2017,  an  increase  of  $12.7  million  or  44.3%. The  benefits  of  the  larger  loan  book  and  related  revenue 
increases of $30.1 million were partially offset by: i) the $1.1 million increase in advertising spend; ii) the higher provisions for 
future charge-offs driven by the strong loan book growth; iii) the adoption of IFRS 9; and iv) incremental expenditures to manage 
the growing customer base, enhance the product offering and expand the easyfinancial footprint. Operating margin in the quarter 
was 40.0% compared with 39.1% reported in the same quarter of 2017.

•  The operating income generated by the Company’s mature easyhome business was $5.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, 
an increase of $0.3 million when compared with the same quarter of 2017. The adoption of consumer lending in easyhome drove 
this improvement. Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 14.8%, an increase from the 14.3% reported in the same 
quarter of 2017.

•  Total Company operating income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $35.1 million, up $10.7 million or 43.6% when compared 
with the same quarter of 2017. The transition to IFRS 9 in the current quarter served to reduce operating income by $2.9 million 
as compared to the previous accounting standard. Operating margin in the quarter was 25.4%, up from 22.8% in the comparable 
period of 2017.

•  In July 2018, the Company issued US$150 million of notes. The notes bore a coupon rate of 7.875% but were issued at a 105% 
premium to par which resulted in an attractive Canadian dollar interest rate of 6.17% (excluding the effect of financing charges). 
The funds will be used to grow the easyfinancial loan book. However, the additional finance costs associated with these notes 
reduced diluted earnings per share by 16 cents in the quarter. 

•  Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $15.9 million or $1.02 per share on a diluted basis. Reported net income for the 
fourth quarter of 2017 was $5.4 million or $0.38 per share on a diluted basis. Excluding the after-tax impact of the $8.2 million 
refinancing  cost  incurred  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2017,  adjusted  net  income  was  $11.4  million  or  $0.79  per  share.  On  this 
normalized basis, net income and diluted earnings per share increased by 39.5% and 29.1%, respectively.

•  The Company adopted IFRS 9 in 2018 while 2017 was reported under the old accounting standard. The Company estimates that 
adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2017 would have been $2.3 million or $0.15 lower 
respectively had it been reported under IFRS 9. On this basis, net income and diluted earnings per share in the current quarter 
would have increased by 76.2% and 59.4% respectively.

•  Return on equity in the fourth quarter was 23.0%.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  48

Summary of Financial Results and Key Performance Indicators

 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share and percentages)

Summary Financial Results

Revenue

Operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

EBITDA1

EBITDA margin1

Depreciation and amortization expense

Operating income

Operating margin1

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing charges

Refinancing costs

PTPP income1

Effective income tax rate

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

Return on equity

Adjusted (Normalized) Financial Results2

Adjusted net income

Adjusted earnings per share

Adjusted return on equity

Key Performance Indicators1

Same store revenue growth (overall)

Same store revenue growth (easyhome)

Segment Financials

easyfinancial revenue

easyfinancial operating margin

easyhome revenue

easyhome operating margin

Portfolio Indicators

Gross consumer loans receivable

Growth in consumer loans receivable

Gross loan originations

Total yield on consumer loans (including ancillary products)

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average gross consumer 
loans receivable

Potential monthly lease revenue

Three Months Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Variance 
$ / bps

Variance 
% change

138,160

107,244

90,369

37,847

27.4%

12,685

35,106

25.4%

12,811

-

56,481

28.7%

15,887

1.02

23.0%

15,887

1.02

23.0%

28.5%

7.1%

103,286

40.0%

34,874

14.8%

833,779

84,198

264,996

52.7%

13.1%

9,141

69,342

27,662

25.8%

13,452

24,450

22.8%

8,774

8,198

26,285

28.2%

5,366

0.38

9.5%

11,392

0.79

20.1%

20.0%

0.1%

73,231

39.1%

34,013

14.3%

526,546

53,483

176,383

58.4%

12.8%

9,481

30,916

21,027

10,185

 160 bps

(767)

10,656

 260 bps

4,037

(8,198)

30,196

50 bps

10,521

0.64

 1,350 bps

4,495

0.23

290 bps

850 bps

700 bps

30,055 

 90 bps

861 

 50 bps 

307,233 

30,715 

88,613 

(570 bps)

30 bps

(340)

28.8%

30.3%

36.8%

6.2%

(5.7%)

43.6%

11.4%

46.0%

(100.0%)

114.9%

1.8%

196.1%

168.4%

142.1%

39.5%

29.1%

14.4%

42.5%

7,000.0%

41.0%

2.3%

2.5%

3.5%

58.3%

57.4%

50.2%

(9.8%)

2.3%

(3.6%)

1 
2 

See description in sections “Portfolio Analysis” and “Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures”.
 During the fourth quarter of 2017, the company repaid its Term Loan incurring an early repayment penalty and amortizing the remaining unamortized 
deferred financing costs associated with the Term Loan which resulted in a one-time before tax charge of $8.2 million.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  49

 
Store Locations Summary

easyfinancial

Kiosks (in store)

Stand-alone locations

National loan office 

Total easyfinancial locations

easyhome

Corporately owned stores

Consolidated franchise locations

Total consolidated stores

Total franchise stores

Total easyhome stores

Locations as at 
September 30, 
2018

Locations 
opened during 
period

Locations 
closed during 
period

Conversions

Locations as at 
December 31, 
2018

39 

198 

1 

238 

133 

1

134 

31 

165 

-

3 

-

3 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(6)

6 

-

-

-

-

-

-

33 

207 

1 

241 

133

1

134

31 

165

Summary of Financial Results by Operating Segment

($ in 000’s except earnings per share) 

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate

Total

Three Months December 31, 2018

Revenue

Interest

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing 
charges

Income before income taxes

Income taxes

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

 71,814 

 - 

 29,594 

 1,878 

 103,286 

60,032 

 1,965 

 41,289 

 2,020 

 29,437 

 1,892 

 1,525 

 34,874 

19,482 

 10,238 

 5,154 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

10,855 

 482 

 (11,337)

 73,834 

 29,437 

 31,486 

 3,403 

 138,160 

 90,369 

 12,685 

 35,106 

12,811

12,811

22,295

6,408

15,887

1.02

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  50

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ($ in 000’s except earnings per share) 

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate

Total

Three Months Ended December 31, 2017

Revenue

Interest

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and 
amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred 
financing charges

Refinancing costs

Income before income taxes

Income taxes

Net income 

Diluted earnings per share

 48,005 

 - 

 23,581 

 1,645 

 73,231 

 42,549 

 2,068 

 28,614 

 401 

 30,784 

 1,302 

 1,526 

 34,013 

 18,194 

 10,955 

 4,864 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 8,599 

 429 

 (9,028)

 48,406 

 30,784 

 24,883 

 3,171 

 107,244 

 69,342 

 13,452 

 24,450 

8,774

8,198

16,972

7,478

2,112

5,366

0.38

Portfolio Performance
Consumer Loans Receivable Portfolio – The gross consumer loans receivable portfolio increased from $526.5 million as at December 
31, 2017 to $833.8 million as at December 31, 2018, an increase of $307.2 million or 58.3%. The loan book grew $84.2 million in 
the quarter against growth of $53.5 million in the same quarter of 2017. Loan originations in the quarter were $265.0 million, up 
50.2% against the origination volume of the same quarter of 2017. The drivers behind the growth were as previously described. 

The  annualized  total  yield  (including  ancillary  products)  realized  by  the  Company  on  its  average  consumer  loans  receivable 
portfolio was 52.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018, down 570 bps from the same quarter of 2017. The decrease in the yield was due 
to the increased penetration of risk adjusted interest rate loans to a more credit worthy customer, lower interest rates on secured 
lending products and loans in Quebec, a higher proportion of larger dollar loans which have reduced pricing on certain ancillary 
products, as well as increased amortization of deferred loan acquisition costs. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bad debt expense increased to $34.2 million for the quarter from $18.8 million during the same quarter in 2017, an increase of 
$15.4 million or 81.9%. The following table details the components of bad debt expense:

 ($ in 000’s)

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Three Months Ended

Provision required due to net charge-offs

Impact of loan book growth – Historic rate

Impact of loan book growth – Incremental IFRS 9 rate

Impact of change in provision rate during period

Net change in allowance for credit losses

Bad debt expense

Bad debt expense increased by $15.4 million due to four factors: 

26,471

5,239

2,943

(467)

7,715

 34,186 

16,156

3,286

-

(635)

2,651

 18,807 

(i)  Net  charge-offs  increased  from  $16.2  million  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2017  to  $26.5  million  in  the  current  quarter,  up 
$10.3 million. This represented an increase of 62.5% against the 58.5% growth in the loan book over the same period. Net charge-
offs as a percentage of the average gross consumer loans receivable on an annualized basis were 13.1% in the quarter compared 
with 12.8% in the same quarter of 2017. The net charge-off rate in the quarter of 13.1% was at the mid-point of the Company’s 
targeted range for 2018  of 12.0% to 14.0%. During 2018 the growth of the  secured  loan  product  and  expansion  of risk-based 
pricing produced credit quality improvements. During this same time frame however, the Company experienced higher losses in 
Quebec than in other provinces as well as acquiring a larger proportion of originations from the digital channel. While borrowers 
acquired online tend to have lower credit quality, such customers generate attractive operating margins. Loss rates from Quebec 
were higher than in the fourth quarter of 2017 but have reduced from the level the Company experienced in the third quarter of 
2018 as the new Quebec credit underwriting models are beginning to have the desired effect.

(ii)  The loan book growth in the quarter increased from $53.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 to $84.2 million in the current 
quarter.  Excluding  the  impact  of  the  adoption  of  IFRS  9  (which  served  to  increase  the  provision  rate),  the  increased  growth 
resulted in a $2.0 million increase in bad debt expense in the quarter.

(iii) The implementation of IFRS 9 resulted in the provision taken on the loan book growth in the quarter increasing from 6.1% in 
the fourth quarter of 2017 to 9.6% (the opening provision rate in the current quarter). This resulted in an additional $2.9 million 
increase in bad debt expense in the current quarter.

(iv) The provision rate under the old accounting standard declined slightly in the fourth quarter of 2017 resulting in a reduction 
to bad debt expense of $0.6 million. The provision rate in the fourth quarter of 2018 decreased by 6 bps resulting in a decrease 
in bad debt expense of $0.5 million. The net impact of these changes on the in-period provision rate resulted in bad debt expense 
increasing by $0.2 million in the current period compared with the comparable period of 2017. 

easyhome Leasing Portfolio – The leasing portfolio as measured by potential monthly lease revenue as at December 31, 2018 was 
$9.1 million, down from the $9.5 million reported as at December 31, 2017 (as previously described).

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  52

 
Revenue 

Revenue  for  the  three-month  period  ended  December  31,  2018  was  $138.2  million  compared  to  $107.2  million  in  the  same 
quarter of 2017, an increase of $30.9 million or 28.8%. Overall same store sales growth for the quarter was 28.5%. revenue growth 
was driven primarily by the growth of easyfinancial.

easyfinancial – Revenue for the three-month period ended December 31, 2018 was $103.3 million, an increase of $30.1 million 
when  compared  with  the  same  quarter  of  2017.  The  increase  in  revenue  was  driven  by  the  growth  of  the  gross  consumer 
loans receivable portfolio and offset by the reduction in yield (as previously described). The components of the increased revenue 
include: 

•  Interest revenue increased by $23.8 million or 49.6% driven by the loan book growth but offset by lower interest yields. Interest 
yield declined due to an increased take up of risk adjusted rate loans, Quebec lending and secured lending (all of which have 
reduced interest rates) as well as the increased amortization of deferred loan acquisition costs.

•  Commissions earned on the sale of ancillary products and services increased by $6.0 million or 25.5% driven by the growth of 
the loan book. The rate of growth of commissions earned was less than the rate of growth of interest revenue and the loan book 
due to a higher proportion of larger dollar loans which have reduced pricing on certain ancillary products and slightly lower 
penetration of these products.

•  Charges and fees increased by $0.3 million.

easyhome – Revenue for the three-month period ended December 31, 2018 was $34.9 million, an increase of $0.9 million when 
compared with the same quarter of 2017. Revenue associated with the traditional leasing business declined by $1.4 million in the 
current quarter related primarily to store sales and the closure of underperforming locations as well as reductions in the lease 
portfolio. These declines were offset by a $2.3 million increase in financial revenue (interest and commissions earned) related to 
consumer lending in easyhome stores which was introduced in the second quarter of 2017. The components of easyhome revenue 
increase include: 

•  Interest  revenue  increased  by  $1.6  million  due  to  the  growth  of  the  consumer  loans  receivable  related  to  the  

easyhome business.

•  Lease revenue declined by $1.3 million due to the reduction of the lease portfolio (as described above).

•  Commissions earned on the sale of ancillary products increased by $0.6 million. The increase was due to the growth of consumer 

lending at easyhome.

Total Operating Expenses before Depreciation and Amortization

Total  operating  expenses  before  depreciation  and  amortization  were  $90.4  million  for  the  three-month  period  ended 
December 31, 2018, an increase of $21.0 million or 30.3% from the comparable period in 2017. The increase in operating expenses 
was driven primarily by the higher costs associated with the expanding easyfinancial business (including the impact of the higher 
rate  of  loan  book  growth  and  the  adoption  of  IFRS  9  on  bad  debt  expense),  the  additional  expenses  associated  with  offering 
consumer lending in easyhome as well as higher corporate costs. Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization 
represented 65.4% of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with 64.7% reported in the same quarter of 2017.

easyfinancial – Total operating expenses before depreciation and amortization were $60.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, 
an  increase  of  $17.5  million  or  41.1%  from  the  same  quarter  of  2017.  Operating  expenses,  excluding  bad  debt,  increased  by 
$3.1 million or 12.9% in the quarter driven by: i) an additional $1.1 million in advertising and marketing spend to support the 
growth in originations; ii) higher wages and other costs to operate and manage the growing loan book at existing branches; iii) 
increased branch count; and iv) higher branch level incentives (driven by the growth in originations and loan book). Overall branch 
count increased from 228 as at December 31, 2017 to 241 as at December 31, 2018. Bad debt expense for easyfinancial, increased 
by $14.4 million in the current quarter when compared to the same quarter in 2017 for the reasons described above.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  53

easyhome – Total  operating  expenses  before  depreciation  and  amortization  were  $19.5  million  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2018, 
which was $1.3 million higher than the same quarter of 2017. Operating costs increased due to expenses related specifically 
to the addition of consumer lending in easyhome stores including additional advertising, staffing and bad debt expense. These 
cost increases were partially offset by the reduction in store count and related cost savings. Consolidated easyhome store count 
declined by seven from 141 as at December 31, 2017 to 134 as at December 31, 2018.

Corporate  –  Total  operating  expenses  before  depreciation  and  amortization  were  $10.9  million  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2018 
compared to $8.6 million in the same quarter of 2017, an increase of $2.3 million. The increase was related to higher salaries 
(additional management personnel) and increased accrued bonus expense due to the performance of the business exceeding 
target. In addition, the fourth quarter of 2017 benefitted from a $0.9 million gain on the sale of corporate easyhome store to a 
franchisee where the current quarter had no such gain. Corporate expenses before depreciation and amortization represented 
7.9% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 8.0% of total revenue in the same quarter of 2017. 

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization for the three-month period ended December 31, 2018 was $12.7 million, a decrease of $0.8 million 
from the same quarter of 2017. Overall, depreciation and amortization represented 9.2% of revenue for the three months ended 
December 31, 2018, a decrease from the 12.5% reported in the comparable period of 2017.

easyfinancial – Depreciation and amortization of $2.0 million in the fourth quarter was broadly consistent with the comparable 
period in 2017.

easyhome – Depreciation and amortization expense was $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, a decrease of $0.7 million 
compared  to  the  same  quarter  of  2017.  The  decline  was  due  primarily  to  the  lower  level  of  lease  revenue  and  lease  assets. 
easyhome’s depreciation and amortization expense expressed as a percentage of easyhome revenue for the quarter was 29.4%, 
down from the 32.2% reported in the same quarter of 2017. The rate reduction was due to the lower amount of amortization 
against an easyhome revenue base that is growing due to the introduction of consumer lending. 

Operating Income (Income before Finance Costs and Income Taxes)

Operating  income  for  the  three-month  period  ended  December  31,  2018  was  $35.1  million,  up  $10.7  million  or  43.6%  when 
compared with the same quarter of 2017. The operating income of both the easyfinancial and easyhome business units increased 
in the current quarter compared with the same period of 2017. The transition to IFRS 9 in the current quarter served to reduce 
operating income by $2.9 million as compared to the previous accounting standard. Operating margin in the quarter was 25.4%, 
up from 22.8% in the comparable period of 2017. 

easyfinancial – Operating income was $41.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with $28.6 million for the comparable 
period  in  2017,  an  increase  of  $12.7  million  or  44.3%.  The  benefits  of  the  larger  loan  book  and  related  revenue  increases  of 
$30.1 million were partially offset by: i) the $1.1 million increase in advertising spend; ii) the higher provisions for future charge-
offs driven by the strong loan book growth; iii) the adoption of IFRS 9; and iv) incremental expenditures to manage the growing 
customer base, enhance the product offering and expand the easyfinancial footprint. Operating margin in the quarter was 40.0% 
compared with 39.1% reported in the same quarter of 2017.

easyhome – Operating income was $5.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase of $0.3 million when compared with the 
same quarter of 2017. The adoption of consumer lending in easyhome resulted in higher revenues in the quarter of $0.9 million 
when compared with the comparable period of 2017. Total expenses increased by $0.6 million with the higher costs associated 
with  consumer  lending  (staffing  and  bad  debt  expense)  being  partially  offset  by  cost  reductions  related  to  lower  store  count. 
Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 14.8%, an increase from the 14.3% reported in the same quarter of 2017. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  54

Finance Costs

Finance  costs  for  the  three  months  ended  December  31,  2018  were  $12.8  million  and  consisted  entirely  of  interest  and  the 
amortization  of  deferred  financing  charges.  Finance  costs  for  the  three-month  period  ended  December  31,  2017  totaled 
$17.0  million  and  consisted  of:  i)  $8.8  million  of  interest  expense  and  the  amortization  of  deferred  financing  charges  and  ii) 
$8.2  million  in  non-recurring  refinancing  costs.  Interest  and  deferred  financing  charges  increased  by  $4.0  million  due  to  the 
increased debt level offset by a lower effective borrowing rate. The total carrying value of the debt as at December 31, 2018 was 
$691.1 million against debt of $449.2 million as at December 31, 2017. As a result of refinancing its business and repaying the 
then existing credit facility in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company incurred $8.2 million in refinancing costs which consisted 
of an early repayment penalty and accelerated amortization of the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs associated 
with the prior credit facility. 

In July 2018, the Company issued US$150 million of notes. The notes bore a coupon rate of 7.875% but were issued at a 105% 
premium to par which resulted in an attractive Canadian dollar interest rate of 6.17% (excluding the effect of financing charges). 
The funds will be used to grow the easyfinancial loan book. However, the additional finance costs associated with these notes 
reduced diluted earnings per share by 17 cents in the quarter. 

PTPP Income

Pre-tax  pre-provision  income  (“PTPP  income”)  for  the  fourth  quarter  of  2018  was  $56.5  million,  an  increase  of  $30.2  million 
or  114.9%  when  compared  to  the  same  quarter  of  2017.  The  increased  revenue  associated  with  the  larger  consumer  loans 
receivable portfolio more than offset the additional operating costs (excluding bad debt expense) in the quarter when compared 
to the same quarter of 2017.

Income Tax Expense

The effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2018 was 28.7% which was higher than the 28.2% reported in the same 
quarter of 2017. The Company sold a store to a franchisee in the fourth quarter of 2017 and a portion of that gain was taxed as a 
capital gain resulting in a lower effective tax rate in that prior period.

Net Income and EPS

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $15.9 million or $1.02 per share on a diluted basis. Reported net income for the 
fourth quarter of 2017 was $5.4 million or $0.38 per share on a diluted basis. Excluding the after-tax impact of the $8.2 million 
refinancing  cost  incurred  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  2017,  adjusted  net  income  was  $11.4  million  or  $0.79  per  share.  On  this 
normalized basis, net income and diluted earnings per share increased by 39.5% and 29.1%, respectively.

The Company adopted IFRS 9 in 2018 while 2017 was reported under the old accounting standard. The Company estimates that 
adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2017 would have been $2.3 million or $0.15 lower 
respectively had it been reported under IFRS 9. On this basis, net income and diluted earnings per share in the current quarter 
would have increased by 76.2% and 59.4% respectively.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  55

Selected Quarterly Information

 ($ in millions except percentages and           

 per share amounts)

December
2018

September 
2018

June 
2018

March
2018

December 
20172

September 
20172

June 
20172

March 
20172

December 
20162

Gross consumer loans 
receivable

833.8

749.6

686.6

601.7

526.5

473.1

425.3

387.1

370.5

Revenue

138.2

129.9

123.3

114.8

 107.2

102.7

 97.5

94.2

91.1

Net income

Adjusted net income3

Return on equity

Adjusted return on equity3

 15.9

 15.9

23.0%

23.0%

14.3

14.3

11.8

11.8

11.1

11.1

5.4

11.4

11.6

11.6

8.9

8.9

10.3

10.3

8.3

8.3

23.8%

23.8%

20.9%

20.9%

19.8%

19.8%

9.5%

20.1%

21.3%

21.3%

18.8%

18.8%

20.6%

20.6%

17.4%

17.4%

Net income as a percentage of 
revenue

Adjusted net income as a 
percentage of revenue3

Earnings per share1

Basic

Diluted

Adjusted diluted3

11.5%

11.0%

9.6%

9.7%

5.0%

11.3%

9.1%

10.9%

11.5%

11.0%

9.6%

9.7%

10.5%

11.3%

9.1%

10.9%

1.07

1.02

1.02

1.03

0.97

0.97

0.86

0.82

0.82

0.81

0.77

0.77

0.39

0.38

0.79

0.86

0.81

0.81

0.66

0.63

0.63

0.76

0.73

0.73

9.1%

9.1%

0.62

0.60

0.60

1 

2 
3 

Quarterly earnings per share are not additive and may not equal the annual earnings per share reported. This is due to the effect of stock issued or  
repurchased during the year on the basic weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding together with the effects of rounding.
Prepared under IAS 39 rather than IFRS 9.
Adjusted for certain non-recurring or unusual transactions. ..

Key financial measures for each of the last nine quarters are summarized in the table above and include the gross consumer 
loans receivable portfolio, revenue, profitability and return on equity over this timeframe. Revenue growth over this time frame 
was primarily related to the growth of the gross consumer loans receivable portfolio. The larger revenue base, offset partially by 
higher operating expenses, increased the Company’s net income and earnings per share while the increased scale of the business 
resulted in net income as a percentage of revenue also increasing over the presented time horizon. Lastly return on equity has 
increased due to the increased earnings generated by the business and the higher level of financial leverage. Please refer to 
previous periods’ MD&As for detailed analysis.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  56

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Portfolio Analysis

The Company generates its revenue from a portfolio of consumer loans receivable and lease agreements that are originated with 
its customers. To a large extent, the business results for a period are determined by the performance of these portfolios, and the 
make-up of the portfolios at the end of a period are an important indicator of future business results.

The  Company  measures  the  performance  of  its  portfolios  during  a  period  and  their  make-up  at  the  end  of  a  period  using  a 
number of key performance indicators as described in more detail below. Several of these key performance indicators are not 
measurements in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other measure of 
performance under IFRS.

The discussion in this section refers to certain financial measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS. Although  
these  measures  do  not  have  standardized  meanings  and  may  not  be  comparable  to  similar  measures  presented  by  other 
companies, these measures are defined herein or can be determined by reference to the Company’s financial statements. The 
Company discusses these measures because it believes that they facilitate the understanding of the results of its operations and 
financial position. 

Consumer Loans Receivable Portfolio

Loan Originations and Net Principal Written

Gross loan originations is the value of all consumer loans receivable advanced to the Company’s customers during the period 
where new credit underwritings have been performed. Included in gross loan originations are loans to new customers and new 
loans to existing customers, a portion of which is applied to eliminate their prior borrowings. 

When  the  Company  extends  additional  credit  to  an  existing  customer,  a  full  credit  underwriting  is  performed  using  up-to-
date information. Additionally, the loan repayment history of that customer throughout their relationship with the Company is 
considered in the credit decision. As a result, the quality of the credit decision is improved and has historically resulted in better 
performance. No additional credit is extended to a customer whose loan is delinquent.

Net principal written details the Company’s gross loan originations during a period, excluding that portion of the originations that 
has been used to eliminate the prior borrowings. 

The gross loan originations and net principal written during the period were as follows: 

 ($ in 000’s)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Loan originations to new customers

116,577

73,424

411,671

249,472

Loan originations to existing customers

148,419

102,959

510,879

330,023

Less: Proceeds applied to repay existing loans

Net advance to existing customers

(78,454)

69,965

(52,231)

50,728

(259,513)

251,366

(170,573)

159,450

Net principal written

186,542

124,152

663,037

408,922

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  57

 
 
 
 
Gross Consumer Loans Receivable

The  measure  that  the  Company  uses  to  describe  the  size  of  its  easyfinancial  portfolio  is  gross  consumer  loans  receivable.  
Gross consumer loans receivable reflects the period-end balance of the portfolio before provisioning for potential future charge-
offs. Growth in gross consumer loans receivable is driven by several factors including an increased number of customers and 
an increased loan value per customer. The changes in the gross consumer loans receivable portfolio during the periods were  
as follows:

($ in 000’s)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Opening gross consumer loans receivable

749,581

473,063

526,546

370,517

Gross loan originations 

Gross principal payments and other adjustments

Gross charge-offs before recoveries

Net growth in gross consumer loans receivable during 
the period

264,996

(151,214)

(29,584)

176,383

(104,796)

(18,104)

922,550

(517,155)

(98,162)

579,494

(357,664)

(65,801)

84,198

53,483

307,233

156,029

Ending gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

526,546

833,779

526,546

The scheduled principal repayment aging analysis of gross consumer loans receivable portfolio is as follows:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

 December 31, 2018

 December 31, 2017

0 – 6 months

6 – 12 months

12 – 24 months

24 – 36 months

36 – 48 months 

48 – 60 months

60 months+

 139,631 

 104,619 

 221,626 

 204,227 

 106,346 

 29,002 

 28,328 

16.7%

12.5%

26.6%

24.5%

12.8%

3.5%

3.4%

104,208 

79,952 

149,356 

125,258 

50,714 

11,686 

5,372 

19.8%

15.2%

28.4%

23.8%

9.6%

2.2%

1.0%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  58

A breakdown of the gross consumer loans receivable portfolio categorized by the contractual time to maturity is as follows:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

0 – 1 year

1 – 2 years

2 – 3 years

3 – 4 years 

4 – 5 years 

5 years +

34,355 

108,262 

260,205 

270,621 

108,932 

51,404 

4.1%

13.0%

31.2%

32.5%

13.1%

6.1%

37,332

96,443

183,254

145,165

55,853

8,499

7.1%

18.3%

34.8%

27.6%

10.6%

1.6%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

Loans are originated and serviced by both the easyfinancial and easyhome business units. A breakdown of the gross consumer 
loans receivable portfolio between these segments is as follows:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

 December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Gross consumer loans receivable, easyfinancial

Gross consumer loans receivable, easyhome

811,950

21,829

97.4%

2.6%

521,222

5,324

99.0%

1.0%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

Financial Revenue and Net Financial Income

Financial revenue is generated by both the easyfinancial and easyhome segments. Financial revenue includes interest and various 
other  ancillary  fees  generated  by  the  Company’s  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  portfolio.  Net  financial  income  details  the 
profitability of the Company’s gross consumer loans receivable portfolio before any costs to originate or administer. Net financial 
income is calculated by deducting finance costs and bad debt expense from financial revenue. Net financial income is impacted 
by the size of the gross consumer loans receivable portfolio, the portfolio yield, the amount and cost of the Company’s debt, the 
Company’s leverage ratio and the bad debt expense experienced in the period. 

($ in 000’s)

Financial revenue, easyfinancial 

Financial revenue, easyhome

Financial revenue

Less: Finance costs

Less: Bad debt expense

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

 103,286 

 2,889 

 106,175 

 (12,811)

 (34,186)

 73,231 

 608 

 73,839 

 368,325 

 7,775 

 376,100 

 (16,972)

 (18,807)

 (45,800)

 (118,980)

 264,468 

 1,030 

 265,498 

 (36,840)

 (67,826)

Net Financial Income

 59,178 

 38,060 

 211,320 

 160,832 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  59

Total Yield on Consumer Loans

Total  yield  on  consumer  loans  is  calculated  as  the  financial  revenue  generated  (including  revenue  generated  on  the  sale  of 
ancillary products) on the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio divided by the average of the month-end loan balances 
for the indicated period. Total yield on consumer loans is a measure of the revenue produced by the Company’s consumer loans 
receivable portfolio. For interim periods, the rate is annualized.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Financial revenue

 106,175 

 73,839 

 376,100 

 265,498 

Average gross consumer loans receivable

806,489

506,009

693,757

439,348

Total yield as a percentage of average gross 
consumer loans receivable (annualized)

Net Charge-Offs

52.7%

58.4%

54.2%

60.4%

In addition to loan originations, the consumer loans receivable portfolio during a period is impacted by charge-offs of delinquent 
customers. Unsecured customer loan balances that are delinquent greater than 90 days and secured customer loan balances that 
are delinquent greater than 180 days are charged-off. In addition, customer loan balances are charged-off upon notification that 
the customer is bankrupt. Subsequent collections of previously charged-off accounts are netted with gross charge-offs during a 
period to arrive at net charge-offs.

Average  gross  consumer  loans  receivable  has  been  calculated  based  on  the  average  of  the  month-end  loan  balances  for  the 
indicated period. This metric is a measure of the collection performance of the easyfinancial consumer loans receivable portfolio. 
For interim periods, the rate is annualized.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Net charge-offs

26,471

16,156

88,351

59,576

Average gross consumer loans receivable

806,489

506,009

693,757

439,348

Net charge-offs as a percentage of average gross 
consumer loans receivable (annualized)

13.1%

12.8%

12.7%

13.6%

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for expected credit losses is a provision that is reported on the Company’s balance sheet that is netted against the 
gross consumer loans receivable to arrive at the net consumer loans receivable. 

During 2017 the Company’s allowance for credit losses was calculated under IAS 39. Under this previous accounting standard, a 
collective allowance for loan loss was recorded on those loans, or groups of loans, where a loss event has occurred but has not 
been reported, as at, or prior to, the balance sheet date. An incurred but not reported loss event provides objective evidence to 
establish an allowance for loan loss against such loans. IAS 39 prohibited recognizing any allowance for loan losses expected in 
the future if a loss event had not yet occurred as at the balance sheet date.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company adopted IFRS 9 on January 1, 2018. Under IFRS 9, the Company is required to apply an expected credit loss model, 
where credit losses that are expected to transpire in future years irrespective of whether a loss event has occurred or not as at 
the balance sheet date, are provided for. Due to the transition from an incurred loss model to a future expected credit loss model 
as required under IFRS 9, the Company’s allowance for credit losses as a percentage of the gross consumer loans receivable 
outstanding increased. Operationally, this will require a larger provision to be taken when new consumer loans receivables are 
originated or purchased. This will result in greater bad debt expense and a corresponding decrease in reported net income when 
compared to net income reported under the prior standard, IAS 39.

The change from IAS 39 to IFRS 9 does not impact the Company’s cash flows, charge-off policy, the underlying performance of the 
Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio or the net charge-off rate. Customer loans for which the Company has received 
a notification of bankruptcy, unsecured customer loan balances that are delinquent greater than 90 days and secured customer 
loan balances that are delinquent greater than 180 days are charged-off against the allowance for loan losses.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Allowance for credit losses, beginning of period

Net charge-offs written off against the allowance

Bad debt expense

Allowance for credit losses, end of period

Allowance for credit losses as a percentage of the 
ending gross consumer loans receivable

72,026

(26,471)

34,186

79,741

29,055

(16,156)

 18,807 

31,706

49,112

(88,351)

 118,980

79,741

23,456

(59,576)

 67,826 

31,706

9.6%

6.0%

9.6%

6.0%

IFRS  9  requires  that  forward-looking  indicators  (“FLIs”)  be  considered  when  determining  the  allowance  for  credit  losses. The 
analysis performed by the Company determined that the rate of inflation and rate of unemployment were positively correlated 
with  the  Company’s  historic  loss  rates  while  oil  prices  were  negatively  correlated  with  the  Company’s  historic  loss  rates. 
For  purposes  of  determining  its  allowance  for  loan  losses  at  each  balance  sheet  date,  the  Company  has  decided  to  utilize 
the forecasts of these FLIs from five large Canadian banks. The impact on the allowance for credit losses as a percentage of  
ending gross consumer loans receivable should each of these FLIs increase (or decrease) by 10%, as at December 31, 2018 is as 
follows:

Rate of unemployment 

Rate of inflation 

Oil prices

Change in FLIs

Impact on allowance for credit  
losses as a percentage of the ending 
gross consumer loans receivable

+/- 10%

+/- 10%

+/- 10%

+/- 43 bps

+/- 9 bps

-/+ 22 bps

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  61

Bad Debt Expense (Provision for Credit Losses)

The Company’s bad debt expense is the amount that its allowance for future credit losses must be increased, after considering 
net-charge-offs, such that the balance of the allowance for credit losses at each statement of financial position date is appropriate 
under the applicable accounting standards. As indicated the Company adopted IFRS 9 in 2018 which resulted in a higher allowance 
for credit losses than under the previous accounting standard, IAS 39. Operationally, this will require a larger provision to be taken 
when new consumer loans receivables are originated or purchased and will result in greater bad debt expense and an increase 
in bad debts expressed as a percentage of financial revenue than reported under the prior standard, IAS 39.

In periods where the Company grows its gross consumer loans receivable portfolio bad debt expense will tend to increase. An 
analysis of the Company’s bad debt expense for the periods was as follows:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Net charge-offs

Net change in allowance for credit losses

Bad debt expense 

Financial revenue

Bad debt expense as a percentage of Financial 
Revenue

Aging of the Consumer Loans Receivable Portfolio

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

 26,471

7,715

 34,186 

16,156

2,651

 18,807 

88,351

30,629

 118,980 

59,576

8,250

 67,826 

 106,175 

 73,839 

 376,100 

 265,498 

32.2%

25.5%

31.6%

25.5%

An aging analysis of the consumer loans receivable portfolio at the end of the periods was as follows:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Current 

Days past due

1 - 30 days

31 - 44 days

45 - 60 days

61 - 90 days

91 – 180 days

789,834

94.7%

497,991

94.6%

 25,442 

 5,931 

 5,930 

 6,559 

 83 

43,945

3.1%

0.7%

0.7%

0.8%

0.0%

5.3%

17,274

3,601

3,330

4,350

-

28,555

3.3%

0.7%

0.6%

0.8%

-%

5.4%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A large portion of the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio operates on a bi-weekly rather than monthly repayment 
cycle. As such, the aging analysis between different fiscal periods may not be comparable depending upon the day of the week 
on which the fiscal period ends. An alternate aging analysis prepared as of the last Saturday of the fiscal periods often presents 
a more relevant comparison.

An aging analysis of the consumer loans receivable portfolio as of the last Saturday of the periods was as follows:

Current 

Days past due

1 - 30 days

31 - 44 days

45 - 60 days

61 - 90 days

91 – 180 days

Saturday, 

Saturday, 

Dec. 29, 2018

Dec. 30, 2017

% of total

% of total

94.8%

94.7%

3.2%

0.6%

0.6%

0.8%

0.0%

5.2%

3.3%

0.6%

0.6%

0.8%

0.0%

5.3%

Gross consumer loans receivable

100.0%

100.0%

Consumer Loans Receivable Portfolio by Geography

At  the  end  of  the  periods,  the  Company’s  consumer  loans  receivable  portfolio  was  allocated  among  the  following  
geographic regions:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Newfoundland & Labrador

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick

Quebec

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan 

Alberta

British Columbia

Territories

 34,883 

 51,231 

 8,721 

 41,579 

 38,330 

 365,598 

 36,600 

 43,842 

 109,864 

 93,420 

 9,711 

4.2%

6.1%

1.0%

5.0%

4.6%

43.8%

4.4%

5.3%

13.2%

11.2%

1.2%

 25,019 

 36,389 

 6,505 

 29,116 

 23,457 

 224,976 

 21,606 

 26,323 

 68,073 

 58,920 

 6,162 

4.8%

6.9%

1.2%

5.5%

4.5%

42.7%

4.1%

5.0%

12.9%

11.2%

1.2%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  63

Consumer Loans Receivable Portfolio by Loan Type

At the end of the periods, the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio was allocated among the following loan types:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Unsecured Installment Loans

Secured Installment Loans

780,850

52,929

93.7%

6.3%

518,049

8,497

98.4%

1.6%

Gross consumer loans receivable

833,779

100.0%

526,546

100.0%

Leasing Portfolio Analysis

Potential Monthly Leasing Revenue

The  Company  measures  its  leasing  portfolio  and  the  performance  of  its  easyhome  business  through  potential  monthly  lease 
revenue. Potential monthly lease revenue reflects the lease revenue that the Company’s portfolio of leased merchandise would 
generate in a month providing it collected all lease payments contractually due in that period but excludes revenue generated by 
certain ancillary products. Potential monthly leasing revenue is an important indicator of the future revenue generating potential 
of the Company’s lease portfolio. Potential monthly leasing revenue is calculated as the number of lease agreements outstanding 
multiplied by the average required monthly lease payment per agreement. Growth in potential monthly lease revenue is driven by 
several factors including an increased number of customers, an increased number of leased assets per customer as well as an 
increase in the average price of the leased items.

The change in the potential monthly lease revenue during the periods was as follows: 

($ in 000’s)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Opening potential monthly lease revenue

8,906

9,226

9,481

9,886

Change due to store opening or acquisitions during 
the period

Decrease due to store closures or sales during the 
period

Increase/(decrease) due to ongoing operations

Net change

-

(27)

262

235

(15)

(91)

361

255

131

(300)

(171)

(340)

28

(346)

(87)

(405)

Ending potential monthly lease revenue

9,141

9,481

9,141

9,481

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  64

Potential monthly lease revenue is calculated as follows:

Total number of lease agreements

Multiplied by the average required monthly lease payment 
per agreement

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

 97,459 

93.79

 104,982 

90.31

Potential monthly lease revenue ($ in 000’s)

9,141

9,481

Leasing Portfolio by Product Category

At the end of the periods, the Company’s leasing portfolio as measured by potential monthly lease revenue was allocated among 
the following product categories:

($ in 000’s)

Furniture

Electronics

Computers

Appliances

Potential monthly lease revenue

Leasing Portfolio by Geography

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

 4,144 

 1,051 

 2,914 

 1,032 

 4,241 

 1,095 

 2,980 

 1,165 

9,141

9,481

At the end of the periods, the Company’s leasing portfolio as measured by potential monthly lease revenue was allocated among 
the following geographic regions:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

$

% of total

$

% of total

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Newfoundland & Labrador

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

New Brunswick

Quebec

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan 

Alberta

British Columbia

USA

 737 

 797 

 146 

 676 

 579 

3,167

 252 

 400 

1,353

 934 

 100 

8.1%

8.7%

1.6%

7.4%

6.3%

34.6%

2.8%

4.4%

14.8%

10.2%

1.1%

 829 

 836 

 165 

 698 

 580 

3,205

 250 

 448 

1,391

987

 92 

8.8%

8.8%

1.7%

7.4%

6.1%

33.8%

2.6%

4.7%

14.7%

10.4%

1.0%

Potential monthly lease revenue

9,141

100.0%

9,481

100.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  65

Leasing Charge-Offs

When easyhome enters into a leasing transaction with a customer, a sale is not recorded as the Company retains ownership of 
the related asset under the lease. Instead, the Company recognizes its leasing revenue over the term of the lease as payments 
are  received  from  the  customer.  Periodically,  the  lease  agreement  is  terminated  by  the  customer  or  by  the  Company  prior  to 
the  anticipated  end  date  of  the  lease  and  the  assets  are  returned  by  the  customer  to  the  Company.  In  some  instances,  the 
Company is unable to regain possession of the assets which are then charged-off. Net charge-offs (charge-offs less subsequent 
recoveries  of  previously  charged-off  assets)  are  included  in  the  depreciation  of  lease  assets  expense  for  financial  reporting 
purposes. easyhome leasing revenue is defined as the total revenue generated by the Company’s easyhome business less the 
financial revenue generated by easyhome.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Net charge-offs

1,097

1,118

4,230

4,146

easyhome Leasing revenue

31,985

33,405

130,091

136,230

Net charge-offs as a percentage of easyhome leasing 
revenue

3.4%

3.3%

3.3%

3.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  66

 
 
 
 
Key Performance Indicators and Non-IFRS Measures

In addition to the reported financial results under IFRS and the metrics described in the Portfolio Analysis section of this MD&A, 
the Company also measures the success of its strategy using a number of key performance indicators as described in more detail 
below. Several of these key performance indicators are not measurements in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered 
as an alternative to net income or any other measure of performance under IFRS.

The discussion in this section refers to certain financial measures that are not determined in accordance with IFRS. Although these 
measures do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies, 
these  measures  are  defined  herein  or  can  be  determined  by  reference  to  the  Company’s  financial  statements.  The  Company 
discusses these measures because it believes that they facilitate the understanding of the results of its operations and financial 
position.

Several non-IFRS measures that are used throughout this discussion are defined as follows:

Same Store Revenue Growth 

Same store revenue growth measures the revenue growth for all stores that have been open for a minimum of 15 months. To 
calculate same store revenue growth for a period, the revenue for that period is compared to the same period in the prior year. 
Same store revenue growth is influenced by both the Company’s product offerings as well as the number of stores which have 
been open for a 12-36 month time frame, as these stores tend to be in the strongest period of growth at this time.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Same store revenue growth (overall)

28.5%

20.0%

25.7%

18.3%

Same store revenue growth (easyhome)

7.1%

0.1%

6.4%

(0.7%)

Operating Expenses Before Depreciation and Amortization

The Company defines operating expenses before depreciation and amortization as total operating expenses excluding depreciation 
and amortization expenses for the period. The Company believes that operating expenses before depreciation and amortization is 
an important measure of the efficiency of its operations. 

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Operating expenses before depreciation and 
amortization

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

90,369

69,342

334,471

262,127

Divided by revenue

138,160

107,244

506,191

401,728

Operating expenses before depreciation and 
amortization as % of revenue

65.4%

64.7%

66.1%

65.2%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Margin

The  Company  defines  operating  margin  as  operating  income  divided  by  revenue  for  the  Company  as  a  whole  and  for  its  
operating  segments:  easyhome  and  easyfinancial.  The  Company  believes  operating  margin  is  an  important  measure  of  the 
profitability of its operations, which in turn assists it in assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash to pay interest on its debt 
and to pay dividends.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

easyfinancial

Operating income

Divided by revenue

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

41,289

103,286

28,614

73,231

141,854

368,325

102,654

264,468

easyfinancial operating margin

40.0%

39.1%

38.5%

38.8%

easyhome

Operating income

Divided by revenue

5,154

34,874

4,864

34,013

21,547

137,866

20,882

137,260

easyhome operating margin

14.8%

14.3%

15.6%

15.2%

Total

Operating income

Divided by revenue

35,106

138,160

24,450 

107,244

119,717

506,191

87,393 

401,728

Total operating margin

25.4%

22.8%

23.7%

21.8%

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

At various times, net income and diluted earnings per share may be affected by unusual items that have occurred in the period and impact 
the comparability of these measures with other periods. Items are considered unusual if they are outside of normal business activities, 
significant  in  amount  and  scope  and  are  not  expected  to  occur  on  a  recurring  basis. The  Company  defines  i)  adjusted  net  income  as 
net income excluding such unusual and non-recurring items and ii) adjusted diluted earnings per share as diluted earnings per share 
excluding such items. The Company believes that adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share are important measures of the 
profitability of operations adjusted for the effects of unusual items. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  68

Items used to net income and earnings per share for the three-month period and year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 include 
those indicated in the chart below:

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

Net income as stated

15,887

5,366

53,124

36,132

Refinancing costs1

Tax impact of above items

After tax impact of above item

-

-

-

8,198

(2,172)

6,026

-

-

-

8,198

(2,172)

6,026

Adjusted net income

15,887

11,392

53,124

42,158

After tax impact of convertible debentures

Fully diluted adjusted net income

698

16,585

773

12,165

2,690

55,814

1,790

43,948

Weighted average number of diluted shares 
outstanding

Diluted earnings per share as stated2

Per share impact of normalized items2

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

16,270

15,403

15,671

14,805

1.02

-

1.02

0.38

0.41

0.79

3.56

-

3.56

2.56

0.41

2.97

1 

2 

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the company repaid its Term Loan incurring an early repayment penalty and amortizing the remaining unamortized deferred  
financing costs associated with the Term Loan which resulted in a one-time before tax charge of $8.2 million. 

During the fourth quarter of 2017, the impact of convertible debentures on diluted earnings per share was anti-dilutive. As such, diluted earnings per share  
as stated was calculated based on net income as stated divided by weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding excluding convertible shares  
($5,366 / (15,403 – 1,205 shares) = $0.38). The normalization of refinancing costs resulted in the convertible debentures becoming dilutive in the quarter. The  
impact of the change from anti-dilutive to dilutive convertible debentures is included in the per share impact of normalized items.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  69

 
 
 
 
Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and EBITDA Margin

The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding depreciation of leased 
assets.  The  Company  uses  EBITDA,  among  other  measures,  to  assess  the  operating  performance  of  its  ongoing  businesses. 
EBITDA margin is calculated as EBITDA divided by revenue.

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Net income

Finance costs

Income tax expense

Depreciation and amortization, excluding depreciation 
of lease assets

EBITDA

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

15,887

5,366

53,124

36,132

12,811

6,408

2,741

37,847

16,972

2,112

3,212

27,662

45,800

20,793

11,915

131,632

36,840

14,421

10,987

98,380

Divided by revenue

138,160

107,244

506,191 

401,728 

EBITDA margin

27.4%

25.8%

26.0%

24.5%

Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Income (“PTPP Income”)

The Company defines PTPP Income as earnings before taxes and bad debt expense (provision for credit losses). The Company 
uses PTPP, among other measures, to assess the operating performance of its ongoing businesses excluding the impact of bad 
debt expense (provision for credit losses) which could be volatile and reduce the comparability of results between periods due to 
the incorporation of FLIs. 

($ in 000’s except percentages)

Net income

Income tax expense

Bad debt expense

PTPP Income

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

15,887

5,366

53,124

36,132

 6,408 

 34,186 

 2,112 

 18,807 

 20,793 

 118,980 

 14,421 

 67,826 

56,481

26,285

192,897

118,379

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on Equity

The  Company  defines  return  on  equity  as  annualized  net  income  in  the  period  divided  by  average  shareholders’  equity  for 
the  period.  The  Company  believes  return  on  equity  is  an  important  measure  of  how  shareholders’  invested  capital  is  utilized 
in the business.

($ in 000’s except periods and percentages)

(adjusted)

(adjusted)

Three Months Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2017

Net income as stated

15,887

15,887

5,366

5,366

Refinancing costs

Tax impact of above item

After tax impact

-

-

-

-

15,887

15,887

-

-

-

8,198

(2,172)

6,026

Adjusted net income

15,887

15,887

5,366

11,392

Multiplied by number of periods in year

X 4/1

X 4/1

X 4/1

X 4/1

Divided by average shareholders’ equity for the 
period

276,424

276,424

226,165

226,165

Return on equity

23.0%

23.0%

9.5%

20.1%

($ in 000’s except periods and percentages)

(adjusted)

(adjusted)

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2017

Net income as stated

53,124

53,124

36,132

36,132

Refinancing costs

Tax impact of above item

After tax impact

-

-

-

-

53,124

53,124

-

-

-

8,198

(2,172)

6,026

Adjusted net income

53,124

53,124

36,132

42,158

Divided by average shareholders’ equity for the 
period

243,992

243,992

212,757

212,757

Return on equity

21.8%

21.8%

17.0%

19.8%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Condition

The following table provides a summary of certain information with respect to the Company’s capitalization and financial position 
as at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 ($ in 000’s, except for ratios)

Consumer loans receivable, net

Cash

Lease assets

Derivative financial instruments

Goodwill 

Property and equipment

Intangible assets

Other assets

Total assets

External debt

Derivative financial instruments

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

December 31,

December 31,

2018

2017

782,864

100,188

51,618

35,094

21,310

21,283

14,589

28,730

513,425

109,370

54,318

-

21,310

15,941

15,163

20,088

1,055,676

749,615

691,062

-

63,085

754,147

449,178

11,138

61,055

521,371

301,529

228,244

Total capitalization (external debt plus total shareholders’ equity)

992,591

677,422

External debt to shareholders’ equity

External debt to total capitalization

Net external debt to net capitalization 1

External debt to EBITDA 

2.29

0.70

0.66

5.25

1.97

0.66

0.60

4.57

1  Net external debt is calculated as external debt less cash. Net external debt to net capitalization is net external debt divided by the sum of net external debt and  

shareholders’ equity.

Total  assets  were  $1,055.7  million  as  at  December  31,  2018,  an  increase  of  $306.1  million  or  40.8%  compared  to 
December 31, 2017. The growth in total assets was driven primarily by: i) the increased size of the consumer loans receivable 
portfolio  (net  of  allowance)  which  increased  by  $269.5  million  over  the  past  12  months  and  ii)  a  $35.1  million  derivative 
financial asset. 

The  $306.1  million  growth  in  total  assets  was  primarily  financed  by:  i)  a  $241.9  million  increase  in  external  debt  (principally 
the issuance of US$150 million in Notes) and ii) a $73.3 million increase in total shareholder’s equity, which is primarily driven 
by earnings generated by the Company and the issuance of 920,000 Common Shares in the fourth quarter of 2018. While the 
Company has continued to pay a dividend to its shareholders, a large portion of the Company’s earnings over the prior 12 months 
have been retained to fund the growth of easyfinancial.

goeasy funds its business through a combination of equity and debt instruments. goeasy’s Common Shares are listed for trading 
on the TSX under the trading symbol “GSY” and goeasy’s convertible debentures are traded on the TSX under the trading symbol 
“GSY-DB”. goeasy is rated BB- with a stable trend from S&P and Ba3 with a stable trend from Moody’s. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
At December 31, 2018, the Company’s external debt consisted of US$475 million notes and $44.1 million of Convertible Debentures 
with net carrying values of $650.5 million and $40.6 million, respectively. As at December 31, 2018 the Company did not have a 
balance owing under its revolving credit facility. The maximum principal amount available to be borrowed under the revolving 
credit facility as at December 31, 2018 was $174.5 million.

Borrowings  under  the  Notes  bore  a  US$  coupon  rate  of  7.875%.  The  Company  has  issued  two  tranches  of  Notes.  Through  a 
cross currency swap agreement arranged concurrent with the first offering of the US$325 million Notes in November 2017, the 
company fixed the foreign exchange rate for the proceeds from the offering and for all required payments of principal and interest 
under these Notes, effectively hedging the obligation at $418.9 million with a Canadian dollar interest rate of 7.84%. Concurrent 
with the second offering of an additional US$150 million in Notes in July 2018, the company fixed the foreign exchange rate for 
the  proceeds  from  the  offering  and  for  all  required  payments  of  principal  and  interest  under  these  Notes,  effectively  hedging 
the obligation at $197.5 million. These notes were issued at premium to par resulting in an interest rate excluding the effect of 
financing charges of 6.17%. All Notes are due on November 1, 2022. 

Borrowings  under  the  Convertible  Debenture  bore  interest  at  5.75%  while  borrowings  under  the  revolving  credit  facility  bore 
interest at the Canadian Bankers’ Acceptance rate plus 450 bps or lender’s prime rate plus 350 bps, at the option of the Company. 
The  Convertible  Debentures  mature  on  July  31,  2022,  and  are  convertible  at  the  holder’s  option  into  Common  Shares  of  the 
Company at a conversion price of $44.00 per share. As at December 31, 2018, $8.9 million of convertible debentures had converted 
into 203,000 Common Shares.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Summary of Cash Flow Components

($ in 000’s)

Cash provided by operating activities before the net 
issuance of consumer loans receivable and purchase of 
lease assets

Net issuance of consumer loans receivable

Purchase of lease assets

Cash used in operating activities

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

December 31, 
2018

December 31, 
2017

62,176

 (113,589)

(11,961)

(63,374)

49,768 

(73,318)

(14,092)

(37,642)

232,196

(405,827)

(37,913)

(211,544)

179,400 

 (226,752)

(42,041)

(89,393)

Cash used in investing activities

(4,097)

(984)

(15,616)

(7,145)

Cash provided by financing activities

26,209

125,628

217,978

180,980

Net (decrease) increase in cash for the period

(41,262)

87,002

(9,182)

84,442

The Company provides loans to cash and credit constrained borrowers. The Company obtains capital which is treated as cash 
flows  from  financing  activities  and  then  advances  funds  to  borrowers  as  loans  which  are  treated  as  cash  used  in  operating 
activities. When borrowers make loan payments this generates cash flow from operating activities and income over time. As such 
when the Company is growing its portfolio of consumer loans it will tend to use cash in operating activities.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  73

Cash  used  in  operating  activities  for  the  three-month  period  ended  December  31,  2018  was  $63.4  million  compared  with 
$37.6  million  in  the  same  period  of  2017.  While  an  additional  $40.3  million  was  used  in  net  issuance  of  consumer  loans 
receivable  and  increased  level  of  working  capital,  this  was  offset  by  higher  net  income  and  non-cash  charges  such  as  bad 
debt expense.

Included in cash used in operating activities for the three-month period ended December 31, 2018 were: i) a net investment of 
$113.6 million to increase the easyfinancial consumer loans receivable portfolio and ii) the purchase of lease assets of $12.0 million. 
If the net issuance of consumer loans receivable and the purchase of lease assets were treated as cash flows from investing 
activities, the cash flows generated by operating activities would have been $62.2 million for the three months ended December 
31, 2018, up $12.4 million from the same period of 2017. The increase is due to the higher level of net income and higher non-cash 
expenses in the current period (such as bad debt expense) offset by a higher level of working capital. 

During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2018,  the  Company  generated  $26.2  million  in  cash  flow  from  financing  activities.  During  the 
quarter  the  Company  issued  920,000  Common  Shares,  which  generated  net  proceeds  of  $44.3  million.  This  inflow  was  
partially offset by the $15.0 million repurchase of shares under the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid and $3.1 million payment 
of dividends.

During the current quarter, cash used in investing activities was $4.1 million compared with $1.0 million in the same period of 
2017. During the current quarter the Company spent $2.6 million on property and equipment (head office expansion and new 
branches) and $1.5 million on intangible assets (various IT systems and software in support of easyfinancial’s growth).

Cash used in operating activities during the year was $211.5 million as compared to $89.4 million in 2017. The increase in cash 
used in operating activities in the current year to date period was due primarily to the increase in the net issuance of consumer 
loans receivable and higher levels of working capital which was partially offset by higher net income and increased non-cash 
expenses such as bad debt expense.

Included in cash used in operating activities for the year were: i) a net investment of $405.8 million to increase the easyfinancial 
consumer loans receivable portfolio and ii) the purchase of lease assets of $37.9 million. If the net issuance of consumer loans 
receivable and the purchase of lease assets were treated as cash flows from investing activities, the cash flows generated by 
operating activities would have been $232.2 million for the year, up from $179.4 million in 2017. The increase is due to the higher 
level of net income and higher non-cash expenses in the current period (such as bad debt expense) offset by a higher level of 
working capital. 

During the year, the Company generated $218.0 million in cash flow from financing activities. The Company issued notes which 
generated  net  proceeds  of  $203.2  million  and  issuance  of  Common  Shares,  which  generated  proceeds  of  $45.1  million.  This 
was partially offset by the $15.0 million repurchase of shares under the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid activities and the 
payment of $11.7 million in dividends during the year.

Cash  used  in  investing  activities  in  the  current  year  to  date  period  was  $15.6  million  compared  with  $7.1  million  2017.  The 
increase was due in part to the head office expansion and the reduced proceeds on the sale of easyhome stores to franchisees 
(such proceeds are netted against purchases in arriving at cash used in investing activities). 

During  2018  the  Company  issued  an  additional  US$150  million  in  Notes  Payable  and  $44  million  in  equity.  At  year’s  end  the 
Company  had  total  cash  on  hand  and  borrowing  capacity  under  its  revolving  credit  facility  of  $275  million  and  the  ability  to 
exercise the accordion feature under this facility to add an additional $89 million in borrowing capacity. Ultimately the cash on 
hand and current borrowing limits provide adequate growth capital for the Company to execute its growth plan, meet operational 
requirements, purchases lease assets, meet capital spending requirements, pay dividends and achieve its stated targets through 
the third quarter of 2020.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  74

Outstanding Shares & Dividends

As at February 13, 2019 there were 14,253,818 Common Shares, 231,287 DSUs, 612,391 options, 553,754 RSUs, and no warrants 
outstanding.

Normal Course Issuer Bid 

On June 22, 2016, the Company announced the acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) of the Company’s Notice of 
Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”). This NCIB terminated on June 26, 2017. As at June 30, 2017, the Company 
had purchased and cancelled 179,888 of its Common Shares on the open market under this NCIB at an average price of $24.40 
per share for a total cost of $4.4 million.

On June 22, 2017, the Company announced the acceptance by the TSX of the Company’s Notice of Intention to Make a NCIB to 
commence June 27, 2017. This NCIB terminated on June 26, 2018. The Company had not cancelled any of its Common Shares 
pursuant to this June 22, 2017 NCIB.

On November 8, 2018, the Company announced the acceptance by the TSX of the Company’s Notice of Intention to Make a NCIB to 
commence November 13, 2018, (the “Notice of Intention”). Pursuant to this NCIB, the Company proposed to purchase, from time 
to time, if it is considered advisable, up to an aggregate of 555,000 Common Shares which represented approximately 5% of the 
14,803,919 Common Shares issued and outstanding as at October 30, 2018. Under the November 8, 2018 NCIB, daily purchases 
will be limited to 9,052 Common Shares, other than block purchase exemptions. The purchases may commence on November 
13, 2018 and will terminate on November 12, 2019 or on such earlier date as goeasy may complete its purchases pursuant to the 
Notice of Intention. The purchases made by goeasy will be effected through the facilities of the TSX, as well as alternative trading 
systems, and in accordance with the rules of the TSX. The price that the Company will pay for any Common Shares will be the 
market price of such shares at the time of acquisition. The Company will not purchase any Common Shares other than by open-
market purchases. As at December 31, 2018, the Company had cancelled 398,452 Common Shares pursuant to this November 8, 
2018 NCIB at an average price of $37.61 for a total cost of $15.0 million.

Dividends

During  the  quarter  ended  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  paid  a  $0.225  per  share  quarterly  dividend  on  outstanding 
Common Shares.

On February 20, 2018, the Company increased the dividend rate by 25% from 0.18 to 0.225. For the quarter ended December 
31, 2018, the Company paid a $0.225 per share quarterly dividend on outstanding Common Shares. The Company reviews its 
dividend distribution policy on a regular basis, evaluating its financial position, profitability, cash flow and other factors the Board 
of Directors considers relevant. However, no dividends can be declared in the event there is a default of the loan facility, or where 
such payment would lead to a default.

The following table sets forth the quarterly dividends paid by the Company in the fourth quarter of the years indicated

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

Dividend per share

Percentage increase

$ 0.225

25.0%

$ 0.18

44.0%

$ 0.125

25.0%

$ 0.100

17.6%

$ 0.085

0.0%

$ 0.085

$ 0.085

0.0%

0.0%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  75

Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies

Commitments

The Company is committed to long-term service contracts and operating leases for premises, equipment, vehicles and signage. 
The minimum annual lease payments plus estimated operating costs and other commitments required for the next five years and 
thereafter are as follows: 

($ in 000’s)

Premises

Vehicles

Technology commitments

Total contractual obligations

Contingencies

Within 1 year

After 1 year but not 
more than 5 years

More than 5 
years

 20,275 

 850 

 8,778 

29,903

 42,946 

 1,911 

 12,755 

57,612 

 56,121 

 279 

 - 

56,400 

The Company is involved in various legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The resolution of these matters is not 
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, financial performance or cash flows.

The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  its  directors  and  officers  and  particular  employees  in  accordance  with  the  Company’s 
policies. The Company maintains insurance policies that may provide coverage against certain claims.

Risk Factors

Overview

The  Company’s  activities  are  exposed  to  a  variety  of  commercial,  operational,  financial  and  regulatory  risks.  The  Company’s 
overall  risk  management  program  focuses  on  the  unpredictability  of  financial  and  economic  markets  and  seeks  to  minimize 
potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. The Company’s Board of Directors has overall responsibility 
for the establishment and oversight of the Company’s risk management framework. The Corporate Governance, Nominating and 
Risk Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the Company’s risk management policies on an annual basis.

Strategic Risk

Strategic risk is the risk from changes in the business environment, fundamental changes in demand for the Company’s products 
or services, improper implementation of decisions, execution of the Company’s strategy or inadequate responsiveness to changes 
in the business environment, including changes in the competitive or regulatory landscape. 

The Company’s growth strategy is focused on easyfinancial. The Company’s ability to increase its customer and revenue base is 
contingent, in part, on its ability to secure additional locations for easyfinancial, to grow its consumer loans receivable portfolio, to 
access customers through new delivery channels, to successfully develop and launch new products to meet evolving customer 
demands, to secure growth financing at a reasonable cost, to maintain profitability levels within the mature easyhome business 
and to execute with efficiency and effectiveness. 

The impact of poor execution by management or an inadequate response to changes in the business environment could have a 
material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  76

Market Risk

Macroeconomic Conditions

Certain changes in macroeconomic conditions, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, can have a negative impact 
on its customers and its performance. The Company’s primary customer segment is the cash and credit constrained individual. 
These  customers  are  affected  by  adverse  macroeconomic  conditions  such  as  higher  unemployment  rates  or  costs  of  living, 
which can lower collection rates and result in higher charge-off rates and adversely affect the Company’s performance, financial 
condition and liquidity. The Company can neither predict the impact current economic conditions will have on its future results, 
nor predict when the economic environment will change.

There can be no assurance that economic conditions will remain favorable for the Company’s business or that demand for loans 
or default rates by customers will remain at current levels. Reduced demand for loans would negatively impact the Company’s 
growth and revenues, while increased default rates by customers may inhibit the Company’s access to capital, hinder the growth 
of the loan portfolio attributable to its products and negatively impact its profitability. Either such result could have a material 
adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s future success depends in part on its ability to access capital markets and obtain financing on reasonable terms. 
This  is  dependent  on  a  number  of  factors,  many  of  which  the  Company  cannot  control,  including  interest  rates.  Amounts  due 
under the Company’s credit facilities may bear interest at a variable rate. The Company may not hedge its interest rate risks and 
future changes in interest rates may affect the amount of interest expense the Company pays. Any increases in interest rates, or 
in the Company’s inability to access the debt or equity markets on reasonable terms, could have an adverse impact on its financial 
condition, results of operations and growth prospects.

Foreign Currency Risk

The  Company  issued  US$  denominated  Notes.  Concurrent  with  this  offering,  the  Company  entered  into  a  currency  swap 
agreement  to  fix  the  foreign  exchange  rate  for  the  obligation  under  this  offering  and  for  all  required  payments  of  principal 
and interest.

The Company sources some of its merchandise out of the US and, as such, its Canadian operations have some US denominated 
cash and payable balances. As a result, the Company has both foreign exchange transaction and translation risk. Although the 
Company has US dollar denominated purchases, it has historically been able to price its lease transactions to compensate for 
the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on its purchases. However, in periods of rapid change in the Canadian to US dollar 
exchange rate, the Company may not be able to pass on such changes in the cost of purchased products to its customers which 
may negatively impact its financial performance.

Competition

The Company estimates the size of the Canadian market for non-prime consumer lending, excluding mortgages, is approximately 
$186 billion. This demand is currently being met by a wide variety of industry participants that offer diverse products including 
auto lending, credit cards, installment loans, retail finance programs, small business lending and real estate secured lending. 
Generally, industry participants have tended to focus on a single product offering rather than providing consumers with multiple 
alternatives. As a result, the suppliers to the marketplace are quite diverse.

Competition  in  the  non-prime  consumer  lending  market  is  based  primarily  on  access,  flexibility  and  cost  (interest  rates). 
Consumers are generally able to transition between the different types of lending products that are available in the marketplace 
to satisfy their need for these different characteristics. The Company expects the competition for non-prime consumer lending 
in Canada will continue to shift for the foreseeable future. While traditional financial institutions are likely to decrease their risk 
tolerance and move farther away from non-prime lending, regional financial institutions such as credit unions, payday lenders, 
marketplace lenders and online lenders are expected to continue their expansion into the non-prime market.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  77

The Company also faces direct competition in the Canadian market from other merchandise leasing companies. Other factors 
that may adversely affect the performance of the leasing business are increased sales of used furniture and electronics at online 
and at retail stores that offer a non-prime point-of-sale purchase financing option. Additional competitors, both domestic and 
international, may emerge since barriers to entry are relatively low.

The Company may be unable to compete effectively with new and existing competitors, which could adversely affect its revenues 
and  results  of  operations.  In  addition,  investments  required  to  adjust  to  changing  market  conditions  may  adversely  affect  the 
Company’s business and financial performance.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk of loss that arises when a customer or third party fails to pay an amount owing to the Company.

The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of the amounts receivable, consumer loans receivable 
and  lease  assets  with  customers  under  merchandise  lease  agreements. The  Company  leases  products  and  makes  consumer 
loans to thousands of customers pursuant to policies and procedures that are intended to ensure that there is no concentration 
of credit risk with any particular individual, company or other entity, although the Company is subject to a higher level of credit 
risk due to the credit constrained nature of many of its customers and in circumstances where its policies and procedures are 
not complied with.

The credit risk on the Company’s consumer loans receivable made in accordance with policies and procedures is impacted by 
both the Company’s credit policies and the lending practices which are overseen by the Company’s Credit Committee comprised 
of members of senior management. Credit quality of the customer is assessed using proprietary credit scorecards and individual 
credit limits are defined in accordance with this assessment. The Company evaluates the concentration of risk with respect to 
customer loans receivable as low, as its customers are located in several jurisdictions and operate independently. The Company 
develops underwriting models based on the historical performance of groups of customer loans which guide its lending decisions. 
To the extent that such historical data used to develop its underwriting models is not representative or predictive of current loan 
book performance, the Company could suffer increased loan losses.

The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses as prescribed by IFRS 9 and as described fully in the notes to the Company’s 
financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2018. The process for establishing an allowance for loan losses is critical 
to the Company’s results of operations and financial conditions and is based on historical data, management’s judgement and 
forward looking indicators. To the extent that such inputs used to develop its allowance for credit losses are not representative or 
predictive of current loan book performance, the Company could suffer increased loan losses above and beyond those provided 
for on its financial statements.

The Company cannot guarantee that delinquency and loss levels will correspond with the historical levels experienced and there 
is a risk that delinquency and loss rates could increase significantly and have a material adverse effect on the financial results 
of the Company.

The credit risk related to assets on lease with customers results from the possibility of customer default with respect to agreed 
upon  payments  or  in  their  not  returning  the  leased  asset.  For  amounts  receivable  from  third  parties  the  risk  relates  to  the 
possibility of default on amounts owing to the Company. The Company deals with credible companies, performs ongoing credit 
evaluations of debtors and creates an allowance on its financial statements for such uncollectible amounts.

The  Company  has  established  a  Credit  Committee  and  created  processes  and  procedures  to  identify,  measure,  monitor  and 
mitigate  significant  credit  risks.  However,  to  the  extent  that  such  risks  go  unidentified  or  are  not  adequately  or  expeditiously 
addressed by senior management, the Company and its financial performance could be adversely affected.

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Liquidity and Funding Risk

Liquidity Risk

The Company has been funded through various sources including the issuance of convertible debentures, bank led revolving lines 
of credit, US$ Notes Payable, and public market equity offerings. The availability of additional financing will depend on a variety 
of factors including the availability of credit to the financial services industry and the Company’s financial performance and credit 
ratings.

The Company has publicly stated that it intends to significantly expand its consumer lending business. To achieve this goal, the 
Company may require additional funds which can be obtained through various sources including debt or equity financing. There 
can be no assurance, however, that additional funding will be available when needed or will be available on terms favorable to 
the  Company. The  inability  to  access  adequate  sources  of  financing,  or  to  do  so  on  favorable  terms,  may  adversely  affect  the 
Company’s capital structure and ability to fund operational requirements and satisfy financial obligations. If additional funds are 
raised by issuing equity securities, shareholders may incur dilution.

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company’s financial condition is adversely affected by an inability to meet funding obligations 
and  support  the  Company’s  business  growth.  The  Company  manages  its  capital  to  maintain  its  ability  to  continue  as  a  going 
concern  and  to  provide  adequate  returns  to  shareholders  by  way  of  share  appreciation  and  dividends.  The  Company’s 
capital  structure  consists  of  external  debt  and  shareholders’  equity,  which  comprises  issued  capital,  contributed  surplus  and 
retained earnings.

All of the Company’s debt facilities must be renewed on a periodic basis. These facilities contain restrictions on the Company’s 
ability  to,  among  other  things,  pay  dividends,  sell  or  transfer  assets,  incur  additional  debt,  repay  other  debt,  make  certain 
investments or acquisitions, repurchase or redeem shares and engage in alternate business activities. The facilities also contain 
a  number  of  covenants  that  require  the  Company  to  maintain  certain  specified  financial  ratios.  Failure  to  meet  any  of  these 
covenants could result in an event of default under these facilities which could, in turn, allow the lenders to declare all amounts 
outstanding to be immediately due and payable. In such a case, the financial condition, liquidity and results of the Company’s 
operations could materially suffer.

The Company has been successful in renewing and expanding its credit facilities in the past to meet the needs of its growing 
easyfinancial business. If the Company is unable to renew these facilities on acceptable terms when they become due, there could 
be a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Debt Service

The Company’s ability to make scheduled payments on, or refinance its debt obligations, depends on its financial condition and 
operating performance, which are subject to a number of factors beyond its control. The Company may be unable to maintain a 
level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit it to repay the principal and interest on its indebtedness. 

If the Company’s cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund its debt service obligations, it could face substantial 
liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets 
or operations, reduce its growth plans, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance its indebtedness. The 
Company may not be able to obtain such alternative measures on commercially reasonable terms, or at all and, even if successful, 
those  alternative  actions  may  not  allow  it  to  meet  its  scheduled  debt  service  obligations.  The  Company’s  credit  agreements 
restrict its ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict its ability to raise debt 
or equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. The Company may not be able to consummate any 
such dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due.

The  Company’s  inability  to  generate  sufficient  cash  flows  to  satisfy  its  debt  obligations,  or  to  refinance  its  indebtedness  on 
commercially reasonable terms or at all, would materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial 
condition. Failure to meet its debt obligations could result in default under its lending agreements. In the event of such default, 
the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all of the funds borrowed thereunder to be immediately due and payable, 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  79

together with accrued and unpaid interest, and the Company could, among other remedies that may be available, be forced into 
bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation. If the Company’s operating performance declines, it may need to seek waivers from the 
holders  of  such  indebtedness  to  avoid  being  in  default  under  the  instruments  governing  such  indebtedness.  If  the  Company 
breaches its covenants under its indebtedness, it may not be able to obtain a waiver from the holders of such indebtedness on 
terms acceptable to the Company, or at all. If this occurs, the Company would be in default under such indebtedness, and the 
holders of such indebtedness could exercise their rights as described above, and the Company could, among other remedies that 
may be available, be forced into bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation. A default under the agreements governing certain of our 
existing or future indebtedness and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make the Company unable 
to pay principal or interest on the debt.

Debt Covenants

The agreements governing the Company’s credit facilities contain restrictive covenants that may limit its discretion with respect 
to certain business matters. These covenants may place significant restrictions on, among other things, the Company’s ability to 
create liens or other encumbrances, to pay distributions or make certain other payments, investments, loans and guarantees, and 
to sell or otherwise dispose of assets. In addition, the agreements governing the Company’s credit facilities may contain financial 
covenants that require it to meet certain financial ratios and financial condition tests.

If the Company fails to maintain the requisite financial ratios under the agreement governing its credit facilities, it will be unable 
to draw any amounts under the revolving credit facility until such default is waived or cured as required. In addition, such a failure 
could constitute an event of default under the Company’s lending agreements entitling the lenders to accelerate the outstanding 
indebtedness thereunder unless such event of default is cured as required by the agreement. The Company’s ability to comply 
with  these  covenants  in  future  periods  will  depend  on  its  ongoing  financial  and  operating  performance,  which  in  turn  will  be 
subject to economic conditions and to financial, market and competitive factors, many of which are beyond its control.

The restrictions in the agreements governing the Company’s credit facilities may prevent the Company from taking actions that it 
believes would be in the best interest of its business and may make it difficult for it to execute its business strategy successfully 
or effectively compete with companies that are not similarly restricted. The Company may also incur future debt obligations that 
might subject it to additional restrictive covenants that could affect its financial and operational flexibility.

The  Company’s  ability  to  comply  with  the  covenants  and  restrictions  contained  in  the  agreement  governing  the  Company’s 
credit facilities may be  affected  by economic, financial and industry conditions  beyond  its  control. The  breach  of  any of these 
covenants or restrictions could result in a default under the agreements that would permit the applicable lenders to declare all 
amounts outstanding thereunder to be due and payable (including terminating any outstanding hedging arrangements), together 
with accrued and unpaid interest, or cause cross-defaults under the Company’s other debts. If the Company is unable to repay 
its secured debt, lenders could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. This could have serious consequences to the 
Company’s financial condition and results of operations and could cause it to become bankrupt or insolvent.

Credit Ratings

The Company received credit ratings in connection with the issuance of its Notes Payable. Any credit ratings applied to the Notes 
are an assessment of the Company’s ability to pay its obligations. The Company is under no obligation to maintain any credit rating 
with credit rating agencies and there is no assurance that any credit rating assigned to the Notes will remain in effect for any given 
period of time or that any rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the relevant rating agency. A lowering, withdrawal 
or failure to maintain any credit ratings applied to the Notes may have an adverse effect on the market price or value and the 
liquidity of the Notes and, in addition, any such action could make it more difficult or more expensive for the Company to obtain 
additional debt financing in the future.

Operational Risk

Operational  risk,  which  is  inherent  in  all  business  activities,  is  the  potential  for  loss  as  a  result  of  external  events,  human 
behaviour (including error and fraud, non-compliance with mandated policies and procedures or other inappropriate behaviour) 
or inadequacy, or the failure of processes, procedures or controls. The impact may include financial loss, loss of reputation, loss of 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  80

competitive position or regulatory and civil penalties. While operational risk cannot be eliminated, the Company takes reasonable 
steps to mitigate this risk by putting in place a system of oversight, policies, procedures and internal controls. 

Dependence on Key Personnel

One of the significant limiting factors in the Company’s performance and expansion plans will be the hiring and retention of the 
best people for the job. Over the past few years, the Company has strengthened its hiring competencies and training programs. 

In particular, the Company is dependent upon the abilities, experiences and efforts of its senior management team and other key 
employees. The loss of these individuals without adequate replacement could have a material adverse impact on its business and 
operations.

As a consequence of its growth strategy and relatively high employee turnover at the store and branch level, the Company requires 
a growing number of qualified managers and other store or branch personnel to successfully operate its expanding branch and 
store network. There is competition for such personnel and there can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in 
attracting and retaining the personnel it may require. If the Company is unable to attract and retain qualified personnel or its costs 
to do so increase dramatically, its operations would be materially adversely affected.

Outsource Risk

The Company outsources certain business functions to third-party service providers, which increases its operational complexity 
and decreases its control. The Company relies on these service providers to provide a high level of service and support, which 
subjects  it  to  risks  associated  with  inadequate  or  untimely  service.  In  addition,  if  these  outsourcing  arrangements  were  not 
renewed or were terminated or the services provided to the Company were otherwise disrupted, the Company would have to 
obtain  these  services  from  an  alternative  provider. The  Company  may  be  unable  to  replace,  or  be  delayed  in  replacing,  these 
sources and there is a risk that it would be unable to enter into a similar agreement with an alternate provider on terms that it 
considers favorable or in a timely manner. In the future, the Company may outsource additional business functions. If any of these 
or other risks relating to outsourcing were realized, the Company’s financial position, liquidity and results of operations could be 
adversely affected.

Fraud Risk

Employee error and employee and customer misconduct could subject the Company to financial losses or regulatory sanctions 
and seriously harm the Company’s reputation. Misconduct by its employees could include hiding unauthorized activities, improper 
or unauthorized activities on behalf of customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent 
employee error and misconduct, and the precautions the Company takes to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective 
in all cases. Employee error could also subject the Company to financial claims for negligence.

If the Company’s internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured, exceeds applicable 
insurance limits or if insurance coverage is denied or not available, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s 
business, financial condition and results of operations.

Technology Risk

The  Company  is  dependent  upon  the  successful  and  uninterrupted  functioning  of  its  computer,  internet  and  data  processing 
systems. The failure of these systems could interrupt operations or materially impact the Company’s ability to enter into new lease 
or lending transactions and service or collect customer accounts. Although the Company has extensive information technology 
security and disaster recovery plans, such a failure, if sustained, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial 
condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Breach of Information Security

The  Company’s  operations  rely  heavily  on  the  secure  processing,  storage  and  transmission  of  confidential  and  sensitive 
customer  and  other  information  through  its  information  technology  network.  Other  risks  include  the  Company’s  use  of 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  81

third-party  vendors  with  access  to  its  network  that  may  increase  the  risk  of  a  cyber  security  breach.  Third-party  breaches 
or  inadequate  levels  of  cyber  security  expertise  and  safeguards  may  expose  the  Company,  directly  or  indirectly,  to 
security breaches.

A breach, unauthorized access, computer virus, or other form of malicious attack on the Company’s information security may 
result in the compromise of confidential and/or sensitive customer or employee information, destruction or corruption of data, 
reputational harm affecting customer and investor confidence, and a disruption in the management of customer relationships or 
the inability to originate, process and service the Company’s leasing or lending portfolios which could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

The Company is subject to various privacy and information security laws and takes reasonable measures to ensure compliance 
with all requirements. Legislators and regulators are increasingly adopting new privacy information security laws which may 
increase the Company’s cost of compliance. A breach in the Company’s information security may adversely affect its reputation 
and also result in fines or penalties from government bodies or regulators.

To mitigate the risk of an information security breach, the Company regularly assesses such risks, has a disaster recovery plan 
in place and has implemented reasonable controls over unauthorized access. The store network and corporate administrative 
offices,  including  centralized  operations,  takes  reasonable  measures  to  protect  the  security  of  its  information  systems  
(including against cyber-attacks). The Chief Information Officer of the Company oversees information security. However, such a 
cyber-attack or data breach could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its financial condition, liquidity and results 
of operations.

Privacy, Information Security, and Data Protection Regulations

The Company is subject to various privacy and information security laws and takes reasonable measures to ensure compliance 
with  all  requirements.  Legislators  and  regulators  are  increasingly  adopting  new  privacy  and  information  security  laws  which 
may increase the Company’s cost of compliance. While the Company has taken reasonable steps to protect its data and that of its 
customers, a breach in the Company’s information security may adversely affect the Company’s reputation and also result in fines 
or penalties from governmental bodies or regulators.

Risk Management Processes and Procedures

The Company has established a Risk Oversight Committee and created processes and procedures to identify, measure, monitor 
and  mitigate  significant  risks  to  the  organization.  However,  to  the  extent  such  risks  go  unidentified  or  are  not  adequately  or 
expeditiously addressed by management, the Company could be adversely affected.

Compliance Risk

Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

The  effective  design  of  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  is  essential  for  the  Company  to  prevent  and  detect  fraud  or 
material errors that may have occurred. The Company is also obligated to comply with the Form 52-109F2 Certification of interim 
filings and 52-109F1 Certification of annual filings of the Ontario Securities Commission, which requires the Company’s CEO and 
CFO to submit a quarterly and annual certificate of compliance. The Company and its management have taken reasonable steps to 
ensure that adequate internal controls over financial reporting are in place. However, there is a risk that a fraud or material error 
may go undetected and that such material fraud or error could adversely affect the Company. 

Government Regulation and Compliance

The Company takes reasonable measures to ensure compliance with governing statutes, regulations and regulatory policies. A 
failure to comply with such statutes, regulations or regulatory policies could result in sanctions, fines or other settlements that 
could adversely affect both its earnings and reputation. Changes to laws, statutes, regulations or regulatory policies could also 
change the economics of the Company’s merchandise leasing and consumer lending businesses including the salability or pricing 
of certain ancillary products which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  82

Numerous consumer protection laws and related regulations impose substantial requirements upon lenders involved in consumer 
finance, including leasing and lending. Also, federal and provincial laws impose restrictions on consumer transactions and require 
contract disclosures relating to the cost of borrowing and other matters. These requirements impose specific statutory liabilities 
upon creditors who fail to comply with their provisions.

The application of certain provincial legislation to the Company’s business model remains uncertain. There is a risk that regulatory 
bodies or consumers could assert that certain provincial legislation is applicable where the Company had determined that it is 
not and that the Company is not in compliance with such applicable statutory requirements. If it should be determined that the 
Company has not complied with the requirements of applicable provincial legislation, it could be subject to either or both (1) civil 
actions for nullification of contracts, rebate of some or all payments made by customers and damages, and (2) prosecution for 
violation of the legislation, any of which outcomes could have a material adverse effect on the Company. 

easyfinancial is subject to minimal regulatory capital requirements in connection with its operations in Saskatchewan. Otherwise, 
the Company operates in an unregulated environment with regard to capital requirements.

The Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46 imposes a restriction on the cost of borrowing in any lending transaction in excess of 60% 
per year. The application of additional capital requirements or a reduction in the maximum cost of borrowing could have a material 
adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The Company and its management closely 
monitors and seeks to provide input and feedback on any legislative proposals that may impact the maximum cost of borrowing, 
details of which are ultimately determined by the federal legislature.

Accounting Standards

From time to time the Company may be subject to changes in accounting standards issued by accounting standard-setting bodies, 
which may affect the Company’s financial statements and reduce its reported profitability.

Legal and Reputational Risk

Reputation

The  Company’s  reputation  is  very  important  to  attracting  new  customers  to  its  platform,  securing  repeat  lending  to  existing 
customers, hiring the best employees and obtaining financing to facilitate the growth of its business. While the Company believes 
that  it  has  a  good  reputation  and  that  it  provides  customers  with  a  superior  experience,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  the 
Company will continue to maintain a good relationship with customers or avoid negative publicity. 

In recent years, consumer advocacy groups and some media reports have advocated governmental action to prohibit or place 
severe  restrictions  on  non-bank  consumer  loans.  Such  consumer  advocacy  groups  and  media  reports  generally  focus  on  the 
annual percentage rate for this type of consumer loan, which is compared unfavorably to the interest typically charged by banks 
to  consumers  with  top-tier  credit  histories. The  finance  charges  the  Company  assesses  can  attract  media  publicity  about  the 
industry and be perceived as controversial. Customer’s acceptance of the interest rates the Company charges on its consumer 
loans receivable could impact the future rate of the growth. Additionally, if the negative characterization of these types of loans is 
accepted by legislators and regulators, the Company could become subject to more restrictive laws and regulations applicable to 
consumer loan products that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations, 
financial condition or cash flows.

The Company’s ability to attract and retain customers is highly dependent upon the external perceptions of its level of service, 
trustworthiness, business practices, financial condition and other subjective qualities. Negative perceptions or publicity regarding 
these matters — even if related to seemingly isolated incidents, or even if related to practices not specific to short-term loans, 
such as debt collection — could erode trust and confidence and damage the Company’s reputation among existing and potential 
customers,  which  would  make  it  difficult  to  attract  new  customers  and  retain  existing  customers,  significantly  decrease  the 
demand for the Company’s products, result in increased regulatory scrutiny, and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s 
business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition, ability to raise growth capital or cash flows.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  83

The Company’s former US franchisees and certain other persons operate a lease-to-own business within the US Although the 
Company  does  not  own  these  businesses,  their  use  of  the  easyhome  name  could  adversely  affect  the  Company  if  these  third 
parties receive negative publicity or if external perceptions of these third parties’ levels of service, trustworthiness or business 
practices are negative.

Litigation

From time to time and in the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in material litigation or may be subject to 
regulatory actions. There can be no assurance that any litigation or regulatory action in which the Company may become involved 
in  the  future  will  not  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  business,  financial  condition  or  results  of  operations. 
Lawsuits or regulatory actions could cause the Company to incur substantial expenditures, generate adverse publicity and could 
significantly impair the Company’s business, force it to cease doing business in one or more jurisdictions or cause it to cease 
offering one or more products.

The Company is also likely to be subject to further litigation and communications with regulators in the future. An adverse ruling 
or  a  settlement  of  any  current  or  future  litigation  or  regulatory  actions  against  the  Company  or  another  lender  could  cause 
the Company to have to refund fees and/or interest collected, forego collections of the principal amount of loans, pay multiple 
damages, pay monetary penalties and/or modify or terminate its operations in particular jurisdictions. Defense of any lawsuit 
or regulatory action, even if successful, could require substantial time and attention of the Company’s management and could 
require the expenditure of significant amounts for legal fees and other related costs.

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

The market price of the Company’s Common Shares, similar to that of many other Canadian (and indeed worldwide) companies, 
has been subject to significant fluctuation in response to numerous factors, including significant shifts in the availability of global 
credit, swings in macro-economic performance due to volatile shifts in oil prices and unexpected natural disasters, concerns about 
the global economy and potential recession, economic shocks such as the 2015 decline in oil prices and the related impact on the 
Canadian economy, as well as variations in the annual or quarterly financial results of the Company, timing of announcements 
of  acquisitions  or  material  transactions  by  the  Company  or  its  competitors,  other  conditions  in  the  economy  in  general  or  in 
the industry in particular, changes in applicable laws and regulations and other factors. Moreover, from time to time, the stock 
markets experience significant price and volume volatility that may affect the market price of the Common Shares for reasons 
unrelated to the Company’s performance. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that future sales of Common Shares 
or the availability of shares for future sale (including shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options) will have on the market 
price of the Common Shares prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial numbers of such shares or the perception that 
such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing price of the Common Shares. Significant changes in the stock price 
could jeopardize the Company’s ability to raise growth capital through an equity offering without significant dilution to existing 
shareholders.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and 
expenses during the year. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.

Significant  changes  in  assumptions,  including  those  with  respect  to  future  business  plans  and  cash  flows,  could  change  the 
recorded amounts by a material amount.

The  Company’s  critical  Accounting  Estimates  are  as  described  in  the  December  31,  2018  notes  to  the  consolidated  
financial statements.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  84

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (IFRS 15) which clarifies the principles 
for recognizing revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new standard did not result in any financial 
adjustments to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Additional required disclosures were as provided in the notes to 
the Company’s consolidated financial statements for year ended December 31, 2018.

On January 1, 2018, the Company also adopted IFRS 9, the impact of which has been described earlier in this MD&A and in the 
notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Accounting Standards Issued but Not Yet Effective 

IFRS 16, Leases

The Company will be required to adopt IFRS 16, Leases (“IFRS 16”) on January 1, 2019, which is the IASB replacement of IAS 
17, Leases (“IAS 17”). IFRS 16 will require lessees to recognize a lease liability that reflects future lease payments and a “right-
of-use  asset”  for  most  lease  contracts.  Lessor  accounting  under  IFRS  16  is  substantially  unchanged  from  today’s  accounting  
under  IAS  17.  Lessors  will  continue  to  classify  all  leases  using  the  same  classification  principle  as  in  IAS  17  and  distinguish 
between two types of leases: operating and finance leases. As such IFRS 16 will not impact the financial results of the Company’s 
easyhome leasing business. However, the accounting for the Company’s premises and vehicle leases will be impacted by this 
standard.

The Company set up a team under the direction of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer which reviewed all of the Company’s 
leasing arrangements. From the lessee’s perspective, IFRS 16 affected the accounting for the Company’s vehicle and premises 
leases which were treated as operating leases under IAS 17, whereby such lease payments were expensed periodically as part 
of operating expenses without the recognition of the corresponding assets and related depreciation. Under IFRS 16, a significant 
right-of-use asset and lease liability will be recognized at the date of implementation resulting in a material increase to both total 
assets and total liabilities. The right-of-use asset will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term of the underlying 
lease assets. The lease liability will also be amortized under the effective interest rate method using the interest rate inherent in 
the underlying leases and lease payments will include both a principal and interest component. 

The net effect of this change is that earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is expected to increase 
as the depreciation of the right-of-use assets and interests on the lease liability are excluded from this measure. The impact on 
net income is expected to be minor.

The Company plans to adopt IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective method commencing January 1, 2019. Under this method 
the Company will not restate 2018 under IFRS 16. In determining the opening balance sheet impact of the adoption of IFRS 16 as 
at January 1, 2019, the Company will recalculate all right of use asset and the lease liability of all leases as if these calculations 
had occurred from the data of inception of those leases. Additionally, the Company will elect to apply the standard to contracts that 
were previously identified as leases applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4. The Company will therefore not apply the standard to contracts 
that were not previously identified as containing a lease applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4.

The Company will elect to use the exemptions proposed by the standard on lease contracts for which the lease terms ends within 
12 months as of the date of initial application, and lease contracts for which the underlying asset is of low value. The Company has 
leases of certain office equipment (i.e., printing and photocopying machines) that are considered of low value. 

The estimated impact as at the January 1, 2019 date of adoption is: i) a right of use asset of between $41 and $46 million; ii) a 
lease liability of between $46 and $50 million; iii) a reduction of retained earnings of approximately $3 million and iv) a deferred 
tax asset of approximately $1 million.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  85

Internal Controls

Disclosure Controls and Procedures (“DC&P”) 

DC&P are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports filed 
with or submitted to various securities regulators is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods 
specified in applicable Canadian securities laws and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information 
required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings or other reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s 
management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), so that timely decisions can be 
made regarding required disclosure. 

The Company’s management, under supervision of, and with the participation of, the CEO and CFO, have designed and evaluated 
the Company’s DC&P, as required in Canada by National Instrument 52-109, “Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and 
Interim Filings”. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the design of the system of the Company’s 
disclosure controls and procedures were effective as at December 31, 2018.

Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (“ICFR”) 

ICFR is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, senior management, and effected by the Board of Directors, 
management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. 

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting framework includes those policies and procedures that:

i)  Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable details, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 

dispositions of the assets of the Company;

ii) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the consolidated financial 
statements in accordance with IFRS, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance 
with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

iii) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the 

Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining ICFR and designs such controls to attempt to ensure that the 
required objectives of these internal controls have been met. Management uses the Internal Control – Integrated Framework 
(2013) to evaluate the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which is a recognized and suitable framework 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). 

In designing and evaluating such controls, it should be recognized that due to inherent limitations, any controls, no matter how 
well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect all misstatements as a result 
of, among other things, error or fraud. Projections of any evaluations of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk 
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and/
or procedures may deteriorate.

Changes to ICFR during 2018

No changes were made in our internal control over financial reporting during the year ended December 31, 2018 that have 
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. On January 1, 2018, 
the Company adopted IFRS 9 and have updated and modified certain processes and internal controls over financial reporting as 
a result of this new accounting standard. 

Evaluation of ICFR at December 31, 2018

As at December 31, 2018, under the direction and supervision of the CEO and CFO, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness 
of the Company’s ICFR. The evaluation included a review of key controls, testing and evaluation of such test results. Based on 
this evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the design and operation of the Company’s internal controls over financial 
reporting were effective as at December 31, 2018.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  86

AUDITED CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Reporting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and the information in this Annual Report are the responsibility of 
management and have been approved by the Board of Directors. 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  by  management  in  accordance  with  International  Financial 
Reporting  Standards  [“IFRS”]  and  include  some  amounts  based  on  management’s  best  estimates  and  judgments. When 
alternative accounting methods exist, management has chosen those it considers most appropriate in the circumstances. 
Management has prepared the financial information presented elsewhere in the annual report and has ensured that it is 
consistent with the financial statements.

goeasy  Ltd.  maintains  a  system  of  internal  controls  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  properly 
authorized,  financial  records  are  accurate  and  reliable,  and  the  Company’s  assets  are  properly  accounted  for  and 
adequately safeguarded. These controls include quality standards in the hiring and training of employees, written policies 
and  procedures  related  to  employee  conduct,  risk  management,  external  communication  and  disclosure  of  material 
information,  and  review  and  oversight  of  the  Company’s  policies,  procedures  and  practices.  Management  has  assessed 
the effectiveness of this system of internal controls and determined that, as at December 31, 2018, the Company’s internal 
control over financial reporting is effective.

The  Board  of  Directors  is  responsible  for  ensuring  that  management  fulfills  its  responsibility  for  financial  reporting 
and  is  ultimately  responsible  for  reviewing  and  approving  the  financial  statements.  The  Board  of  Directors  carries  out 
its  responsibility  for  the  financial  statements  through  its  Audit  Committee.  The  Audit  Committee  is  composed  entirely 
of  independent  directors.  The  Audit  Committee  is  responsible  for  the  quality  and  integrity  of  the  Company’s  financial 
information, the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management, internal controls and regulatory compliance practices, 
reviewing and approving applicable financial information and documents prior to public disclosure and for selecting the 
Company’s  external  auditors.  The  Audit  Committee  meets  periodically  with  management  and  the  external  auditors  to 
review  the  financial  statements  and  the  annual  report  and  to  discuss  audit,  financial  and  internal  control  matters.  The 
Company’s external auditors have full and free access to the Audit Committee.

The financial statements have been subject to an audit by the Company’s external auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, in accordance 
with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards on behalf of the shareholders.

Jason Mullins
President & Chief Executive Officer

David Yeilding
Senior Vice President, Finance 
(Interim Chief Financial Officer)

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  88

Independent Auditor’s Report

To the shareholders of goeasy Ltd.

Opinion

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of goeasy Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the Company), which comprise the 
consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the consolidated statements of income, 
consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and consolidated 
statements of cash flows for the years then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of 
significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements of goeasy Ltd. present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial 
position of goeasy Ltd. as at December 31, 2018 and 2017, and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash 
flows for the years then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

Basis for Opinion

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  Canadian  generally  accepted  auditing  standards.  Our  responsibilities  under  those 
standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements section 
of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of 
the consolidated financial statements in Canada, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Other Information

Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises:

• 

• 

Management’s Discussion & Analysis.

The information, other than the consolidated financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon, in the Annual Report.

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of 
assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information, and in 
doing  so,  consider  whether  the  other  information  is  materially  inconsistent  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  or  our 
knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

We obtained Management’s Discussion & Analysis prior to the date of this auditor’s report. If, based on the work we have performed, 
we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing 
to report in this regard.

The  Annual  Report  is  expected  to  be  made  available  to  us  after  the  date  of  the  auditor’s  report.  If  based  on  the  work  we  will 
perform on this other information, we conclude there is a material misstatement of other information, we are required to report 
that fact to those charged with governance.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the (Consolidated) Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
IFRSs, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue 
as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting 
unless management either intends to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Company’s financial reporting process.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  89

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from 
material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error,  and  to  issue  an  auditor’s  report  that  includes  our  opinion.  Reasonable 
assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally 
accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or 
error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, we exercise professional judgment and 
maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, 
design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for 
one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override 
of internal control.

Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in 
the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control.

Evaluate  the  appropriateness  of  accounting  policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting  estimates  and  related 
disclosures made by management.

Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit 
evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the 
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw 
attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are 
inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s 
report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, 
and  whether  the  consolidated  financial  statements  represent  the  underlying  transactions  and  events  in  a  manner  that 
achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit 
and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We  also  provide  those  charged  with  governance  with  a  statement  that  we  have  complied  with  relevant  ethical  requirements 
regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to 
bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is David Tedesco.

Chartered Professional Accountants 

Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Canada

February 13, 2019

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  90

Consolidated Financial Statements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

ASSETS 

Cash (note 5)

Amounts receivable (note 6)

Prepaid expenses

Consumer loans receivable, net (note 7)

Lease assets (note 8)

Property and equipment (note 9)

Derivative financial asset (note 13)

Deferred tax assets (note 18)

Intangible assets (note 10)

Goodwill (note 10)

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Income taxes payable

Dividends payable (note 14)

Deferred lease inducements

Unearned revenue

Convertible debentures (note 12)

Notes Payable (note 13)

Derivative financial liability (note 13)

TOTAL LIABILITIES

Shareholders' equity

Share capital (note 14)

Contributed surplus (note 15)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

Retained earnings

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

On behalf of the Board:

As At 
December 31, 2018

As At 
December 31, 2017

100,188 

15,450 

3,835 

782,864 

51,618 

21,283 

35,094 

9,445 

14,589 

21,310 

1,055,676 

45,103 

7,499 

3,247 

1,234 

6,002 

40,581 

650,481 

- 

754,147 

138,090 

16,105 

3,624 

143,710 

301,529 

1,055,676 

109,370 

14,422 

3,545 

513,425 

54,318 

15,941 

-

2,121

15,163 

21,310

749,615 

43,071 

9,445 

2,426 

1,294 

4,819 

47,985 

401,193 

11,138 

521,371 

85,874 

15,305 

141 

126,924 

228,244 

749,615 

David Ingram 
Director   

Donald K. Johnson  
Director

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  91

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except earnings per share)

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Year Ended

REVENUE

Interest income

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

EXPENSES BEFORE DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION

Salaries and benefits

Stock-based compensation (note 15)

Advertising and promotion

Bad debts

Occupancy

Technology costs

Other expenses (note 16)

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION

Depreciation of lease assets

Depreciation of property and equipment

Amortization of intangible assets

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Finance costs (note 17)

Interest expenses and amortisation of deferred financing charges

Refinancing cost

Income before income taxes

Income tax expense (recovery) (note 18)

Current

Deferred

Net income

Basic earnings per share (note 19)

Diluted earnings per share (note 19)

  255,997 

  119,745 

  117,000 

  13,449 

  506,191 

  114,522 

  6,836 

  19,145

  118,980

  34,665 

  11,118 

  29,205 

  334,471 

  40,088 

  5,719 

  6,196 

  52,003 

  386,474 

  119,717 

  45,800 

  -   

  45,800 

  73,917 

  24,354 

  (3,561)

  20,793 

  53,124 

  3.78 

  3.56 

  172,315 

  125,111 

  91,353 

  12,949 

  401,728 

  102,666 

  5,623 

  16,654 

  67,826 

  33,100 

  10,688 

  25,570 

  262,127 

  41,221 

  5,702 

  5,285 

  52,208 

  314,335 

  87,393 

  28,642 

  8,198 

  36,840 

  50,553 

  10,854 

  3,567 

  14,421 

  36,132 

  2.67 

  2.56 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  92

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Year Ended

Net income

  53,124 

  36,132 

Other comprehensive (loss) income to be reclassified to statement 
of income in subsequent periods

Change in foreign currency translation reserve

Change in fair value of cash flow hedge, net of taxes

Transfer of realized translation losses

  (20)

  3,503 

  -   

  3,483 

  (48)

  (770)

  79 

  (739)

Comprehensive income

  56,607 

  35,393 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

Share Capital

Contributed 
Surplus

Total Capital

Retained 
Earnings

Accumulated 
Other Com-
prehensive 
(Loss) Income

Total Share-
holders’ 
Equity

Balance, December 31, 2017

  85,874 

  15,305 

  101,179 

  126,924 

  141 

  228,244

International Financial Reporting Standards  
9 adjustment (note 3)

  -   

  -   

  -   

  (12,659)

  -   

   (12,659)

Adjusted Balance, January 1, 2018

  85,874 

  15,305 

101,179 

  114,265 

141 

  215,585

Common Shares issued

Conversion of convertible debentures

Stock-based compensation (note 15)

Shares withheld related to net share settlement

  48,112 

  (2,972)

  45,140 

  7,924 

  -   

  -   

  -   

  6,836 

  7,924 

  6,836 

  (3,064)

  (3,064)

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

Shares purchased for cancellation (note 14)

  (3,820)

Comprehensive income

Dividends (note 14)

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  (3,820)

  (11,175)

  -   

  -   

  53,124 

  3,483 

56,607

  (12,504)

  -   

  (12,504)

Balance, December 31, 2018

  138,090 

  16,105 

  154,195 

  143,710 

  3,624 

  301,529

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

45,140

7,924

6,836

(3,064)

 (14,995)

Balance, December 31, 2016

Common Shares issued

  82,598 

  9,943 

  92,541 

  102,610 

  880 

   196,031

Equity component of convertible debentures issued

Stock-based compensation (note 15)

Shares withheld related to net share settlement

  -   

  -   

  -   

Shares purchased for cancellation (note 14)

  (536)

Comprehensive income (loss)

Dividends (note 14)

  -   

  -   

  3,812 

  (1,801)

  3,220 

  5,623 

  2,011 

  3,220 

  5,623 

  (1,680)

  (1,680)

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  (536)

  -   

  -   

  (2,159)

  36,132 

  (9,659)

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  -   

  (739)

  -   

2,011

3,220

5,623

 (1,680)

(2,695)

35,393

(9,659)

Balance, December 31, 2017

  85,874 

  15,305 

  101,179 

  126,924 

  141 

 228,244

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  93

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Year Ended

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income

Add (deduct) items not affecting cash

Bad debts expense

Depreciation of lease assets

Depreciation of property and equipment

Amortization of intangible assets

Stock-based compensation (note 15)

Amortization of premium on Notes Payable

Amortization of deferred financing charges

Deferred income tax (recovery) (note 18)

(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

Net change in other operating assets and liabilities (note 20)

Net issuance of consumer loans receivable

Purchase of lease assets

Cash used in operating activities

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Purchase of property and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Proceeds on sale of assets

Cash used in investing activities

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Issuance of Notes Payable (note 13)

Payment of advances from revolving credit facilities

Advances from revolving credit facility

Payment of common share dividends (note 14)

Shares withheld related to net share settlement

Issuance of Common Shares

Issuance  of convertible debentures (note 12)

Advances of term loan

Purchase of Common Shares for cancellation (note 14)

Cash provided by financing activities

Net increase in cash during the period

Cash, beginning of period

Cash, end of period

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

  53,124 

  36,132 

  118,980 

  40,088 

  5,719 

  6,196 

  6,836 

  (1,005)

  4,540 

  (3,561)

  (568)

  230,349 

  1,847 

  (405,827)

  (37,913)

  (211,544)

  (11,225)

  (5,622)

  1,231 

  (15,616)

  203,202 

  (70,000)

  69,378 

  (11,683)

  (3,064)

  45,140 

  -   

  -   

  (14,995)

  217,978 

  (9,182)

109,370

100,188

  67,826 

  41,221 

  5,702 

  5,285 

  5,623 

  -   

  1,117 

  3,567 

  (2,709)

  163,764 

  15,636 

  (226,752)

  (42,041)

  (89,393)

  (5,940)

  (6,136)

  4,931 

  (7,145)

  405,620 

  -   

  -   

  (8,900)

  (1,680)

  2,011 

  49,918 

  (263,294)

  (2,695)

  180,980 

  84,442 

24,928

109,370

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  94

Notes to consolidated financial statements

(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except where otherwise indicated) 

December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017

1. Corporate information

goeasy Ltd. (the “Parent Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada by Certificate and Articles 
of Incorporation dated December 14, 1990 and was continued as a corporation in the Province of Ontario pursuant to Articles of 
Continuance dated July 22, 1993. The Parent Company has Common Shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) under 
the symbol “GSY” and its head office is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The Parent Company and all of the companies that it controls (collectively referred to as “goeasy” or the “Company”) are a leading 
full-service provider of goods and alternative financial services that provides everyday Canadians with a path for a better tomorrow, 
today. The principal operating activities of the Company include: i) providing loans and other financial services to consumers; and 
ii) leasing household products to consumers. 

The  Company  operates  in  two  reportable  segments:  easyfinancial  and  easyhome.  As  at  December  31,  2018,  the  Company 
operated  241  easyfinancial  locations  (including  33  kiosks  within  easyhome  stores)  and  165  easyhome  stores  (including  31 
franchises  and  one  consolidated  franchise  location).  As  at  December  31,  2017,  the  Company  operated  228  easyfinancial  
locations (including 42 kiosks within easyhome stores) and 171 easyhome stores (including 30 franchises and one consolidated 
franchise location). 

The consolidated financial statements were authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on February 13, 2019.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Preparation

The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been prepared in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). The 
policies applied in these consolidated financial statements were based on IFRS issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2018.

Certain comparative amounts have been restated to conform with the presentation adopted in the current period.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Parent Company and all of the companies that it 
controls. goeasy Ltd. controls an entity: i) when it has the power to direct the activities of the entity that have the most significant 
impact on the entity’s risks and/or returns; ii) where it is exposed to significant risks and/or returns arising from the entity; and iii) 
where it is able to use its power to affect the risks and/or returns to which it is exposed. This includes all wholly-owned subsidiaries 
and a special purpose entity (“SPE”) where goeasy Ltd. has control but does not have ownership of a majority of voting rights.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  95

As at December 31, 2018, the Parent Company’s principal subsidiaries were:

• RTO Asset Management Inc.

• easyfinancial Services Inc.

• easyhome U.S. Ltd.

All intra-group transactions and balances were eliminated on consolidation.

Presentation Currency

The consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars (“CAD”), which is the Parent Company’s functional currency. 
The functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which a reporting entity operates and is normally 
the currency in which the entity generates and expends cash. All financial information presented in CAD has been rounded to the 
nearest thousand, unless noted otherwise.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Parent Company’s presentation and functional currency is the Canadian dollar. Each entity in the Company determines its own 
functional currency and items included in the financial statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. The 
functional currency of the Company’s United States (US) subsidiary, easyhome U.S. Ltd. and its SPE, is the US dollar (“US”). The 
functional currency of all other entities that are consolidated is the Canadian dollar.

Foreign  currency  transactions  are  initially  recorded  at  the  rate  prevailing  at  the  date  of  the  transaction.  Monetary  assets  and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the spot rate on the reporting date. All 
differences are recorded in other comprehensive income. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a 
foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the dates of the initial transactions.

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into CAD at the rate of exchange prevailing at the reporting date and 
items in comprehensive income are translated at the average exchange rates prevailing for the year. The exchange differences 
arising on the translation are recognized in other comprehensive income. On disposal or divestiture of a foreign operation, the 
component of accumulated other comprehensive income relating to that particular foreign operation is reclassified to net income.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company and the revenue can 
be reliably measured. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding promotional 
discounts, rebates and sales taxes. The Company assesses its revenue arrangements against specific criteria in order to determine 
if it is acting as principal or agent. The Company has concluded that it is acting as principal in all of its revenue arrangements except 
for the sale of certain ancillary products where it acts as agent and therefore recognizes such revenue on a net basis. 

i) Interest Income 

Interest income from consumer loans receivable is recognized when earned using the effective interest rate method.

ii) Lease Revenue

Merchandise is leased to customers pursuant to agreements that provide for periodic lease payments collected in advance. The 

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lease agreements can be terminated by the customer at the end of the periodic lease period without any further obligation or cost 
to the customer. 

Lease revenue consists of lease payments, product damage liability waivers and processing and other fees. Revenue from lease 
agreements is recognized when earned. Lease revenue also consists of revenue from the ultimate sale of goods to customers, 
which  represents  the  culmination  of  the  lease  asset  life  cycle  and  occurs  when  title  passes  to  the  customer.  Such  revenue  is 
measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable.

iii) Commissions Earned and Charges and Fees

Commissions earned are recognized when, or as, a performance obligation is satisfied by providing a service to a customer, in the 
amount of the consideration to which the Company expects to receive. Charges and fees are recognized as revenue at a point in 
time upon when the transaction is completed.

Vendor Rebates

The Company participates in various vendor rebate programs, including vendor volume rebates and vendor advertising incentives. 
The Company records the benefit of vendor volume rebates on purchases made as a reduction of lease assets based on the rebate 
amounts the Company believes are probable and reasonably estimable during the term of each rebate program. Vendor advertising 
incentives that are related to specific advertising programs are accounted for as a reduction of the related expenses.

Cash

Cash consists of bank balances and cash on hand, adjusted for in-transit items such as outstanding cheques and deposits.

Financial Assets 

A. IFRS 9

Initial recognition and measurement

Beginning January 1, 2018, financial assets are classified at initial recognition at fair value through: i) profit or loss (“FVTPL”), ii) 
amortized cost, iii) debt financial instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”), iv) equity 
financial instruments designated at FVOCI, or v) financial instruments designated at FVTPL, based on the contractual cash flow 
characteristics of the financial assets and the business model under which the financial assets are managed. All financial assets 
are measured at fair value with the exception of financial assets measured at amortized cost. Financial assets are reclassified 
when  and  only  when  the  business  model  under  which  they  are  managed  has  changed.  All  reclassifications  are  to  be  applied 
prospectively from the reclassification date.

All debt instrument financial assets that do not meet a “solely payment of principal and interest” (“SPPI”) test, including those that 
contain embedded derivatives are classified at initial recognition as FVTPL. For debt instrument financial assets that meet the SPPI 
test, classification at initial recognition is determined based on the business model under which these instruments are managed. 
Debt instruments that are managed on a “held for trading” or “fair value” basis are classified as FVTPL. Debt instruments that are 
managed on a “hold to collect and for sale” basis are classified as FVOCI for debt. Debt instruments that are managed on a “hold to 
collect” basis are classified as amortized cost. 

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Financial  assets  consist  of  amounts  receivable  and  consumer  loans  receivable,  and  are  initially  measured  at  fair  value  plus 
transaction costs. They are subsequently measured at amortized cost.

Amortized cost is determined using the effective interest rate method, factoring in acquisition costs paid to third parties, and the 
allowance for loan losses. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts through 
the expected life of the financial asset to the carrying amount. When calculating the effective interest rate, the Company estimates 
future cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument. 

The Company does not have any financial assets that are subsequently measured at fair value except for the derivative Financial 
Instrument which may be in an asset or liability position depending on the prevailing foreign exchange rates at such time (see 
section “Derivative Financial Instrument and Hedge Accounting”).

Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired or the Company has transferred 
its rights to receive cash flows from an asset. 

Impairment of Financial Assets

The  Company  applies  an  expected  credit  loss  (“ECL”)  model,  where  credit  losses  that  are  expected  to  transpire  in  future  years 
irrespective  of  whether  a  loss  event  has  occurred  or  not  as  at  the  statement  of  financial  position  date,  are  provided  for.  The 
Company  assesses  and  segments  its  loan  portfolio  into  performing  (Stage  1),  under-performing  (Stage  2)  and  non-performing 
(Stage 3) categories as at each statement of financial position date. Loans are categorized as under-performing if there has been a 
significant increase in credit risk. The Company utilizes internal risk rating changes, delinquency and other identifiable risk factors 
to determine when there has been a significant increase or decrease in the credit risk of a loan. Indicators of a significant increase 
in  credit  risk  include  a  recent  degradation  in  internal  Company  risk  rating  based  on  the  Company’s  custom  behaviour  credit 
scoring model, NSF transactions, delinquency and adjustments to the loan’s terms. Under-performing loans are recategorized to 
performing only if there is deemed to be a substantial decrease in credit risk. Loans are categorized as non-performing if there is 
objective evidence that such loans will likely charge-off in the future which we have determined to be when loans are delinquent for 
greater than 30 days. For performing loans, the Company is required to record an allowance for loan losses equal to the expected 
losses on that group of loans over the ensuing twelve months. For under-performing and non-performing loans, the Company is 
required to record an allowance for loan losses equal to the expected losses on those groups of loans over their remaining life. 

The Company does not provide any additional credit to borrowers who are delinquent. In order for additional credit to be advanced 
to  a  borrower,  they  must  be  current  on  their  pre-existing  loan  and  meet  the  Company’s  credit  and  underwriting  requirements. 
In limited situations, the Company may amend the terms of a loan, typically through deferring payments and extending the loan 
amortization period, for customers that are current or are in arrears as a means to ensure the customer remains able to repay 
the loan. 

The key inputs in the measurement of ECL allowances are as follows:

• The probability of default is an estimate of the likelihood of default over a given time horizon;

• The exposure at default is an estimate of the exposure at a future default date;

• The loss given default is an estimate of the loss arising in the case where a default occurs at a given time; and

• Forward-looking indicators (“FLIs”).

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Ultimately, the ECL is calculated based on the probability weighted expected cash collected shortfall against the carrying value 
of the loan and considers reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future 
events and economic conditions that may impact the credit profile of the loans. Forward-looking information is considered when 
determining significant increase in credit risk and measuring expected credit losses. Forward-looking macroeconomic factors are 
incorporated in the risk parameters as relevant. From an analysis of historical data, management has identified and reflected in our 
ECL allowance those relevant FLIs variables that contribute to credit risk and losses within its loan portfolio. Within the Company’s 
loan portfolio, the most highly correlated variables are unemployment rates, inflation, and oil prices.

Unsecured  customer  loan  balances  that  are  delinquent  greater  than  90  days  and  secured  customer  loan  balances  that  are 
delinquent greater than 180 days are charged-off against the allowance for loan losses. 

Consumer loan balances, together with the associated allowances, are charged-off when there is no realistic prospect of further 
recovery.  If,  in  a  subsequent  year,  the  amount  of  the  estimated  impairment  loss  increases  or  decreases  because  of  an  event 
occurring after the impairment was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is increased or reduced by adjusting 
the allowance account. If a charge-off is later recovered, the recovery is credited to bad debts expense.

For amounts receivable, the Company applies a simplified approach in calculating ECLs recognizing a loss allowance based on 
lifetime ECLs at each reporting date. 

Modified Loans 

In cases where a borrower experiences financial difficulties, the Company may grant certain concessionary modifications to the 
terms and conditions of a loan. Modifications may include payment deferrals, extension of amortization periods, rate reductions 
and other modifications intended to minimize the economic loss. The Company has policies in place to determine the appropriate 
remediation strategy based on the individual borrower. 

If the Company determines that a modification results in the expiry of cash flows, the original asset is derecognized while a new 
asset is recognized based on the new contractual terms. Significant increase in credit risk is assessed relative to the risk of default 
on the date of modification.

If  the  Company  determines  that  a  modification  does  not  result  in  derecognition,  significant  increase  in  credit  risk  is  assessed 
based  on  the  risk  of  default  at  initial  recognition  of  the  original  asset.  Expected  cash  flows  arising  from  the  modified  
contractual  terms  are  considered  when  calculating  the  ECL  for  the  modified  asset.  For  loans  that  were  modified  while  having 
lifetime ECLs, the loans can revert to having twelve-month ECLs after a period of performance and improvement in the borrower’s 
financial condition.

B. IAS 39

Prior to January 1, 2018, financial assets consist of amounts receivable and consumer loans receivable, which are stated net of 
interest receivable, unamortized deferred financing costs and an allowance for loan losses. Financial assets are initially measured 
at fair value. 

Amounts receivable are subsequently measured at amortized cost and are carried at the amount of cash expected to be received. 

The Company’s consumer loans receivable include accrued interest earned from consumer loans that is expected to be received in 
future periods, acquisition costs paid to third parties, and the allowance for loan losses.

The  Company’s  consumer  loans  receivable  are  subsequently  measured  at  amortized  cost.  Amortized  cost  is  determined  using 
the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts 
through the expected life of the consumer loans receivable to the carrying amount. When calculating the effective interest rate, 
the Company estimates future cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument, but not future loan losses. 

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The Company does not have any financial assets that are subsequently measured at fair value except for the Derivative Financial 
Instrument which may be in an asset or liability position depending on the prevailing foreign exchange rates at such time (see 
section “Derivative Financial Instrument and Hedge Accounting”).

Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired or the Company has transferred 
its rights to receive cash flows from an asset. 

Impairment of Financial Assets

The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial 
assets is impaired. A financial asset or group of financial assets is deemed to be impaired if, and only if, there is objective evidence 
of impairment as a result of one or more events that has occurred after the initial recognition of the asset [an incurred ‘loss event’], 
the event has a negative impact on the estimated cash flows of the financial asset and the loss can be reliably estimated. The 
carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account and the amount of the loss is recognized 
as a bad debts expense. 

The allowance for loan losses is a provision that is reported on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial position that is 
netted against the gross consumer loans receivable to arrive at the net consumer loans receivable. The allowance for loan losses 
provides for a portion of the future charge-offs that have not yet occurred within the portfolio of consumer loans receivable that 
exist at the end of a period. It is determined by the Company using a standard calculation that considers i) the relative maturity 
of the loans within the portfolio; ii) the long-term expected charge-off rates based on actual historical performance; and iii) the 
long-term expected charge-off pattern (timing) for a vintage of loans over their life based on actual historical performance. The 
allowance for loan losses essentially estimates the charge-offs that are expected to occur over the subsequent five-month period 
for loans that existed as at  the  consolidated statements of financial  position  date.  Unsecured  customer  loan  balances that are 
delinquent greater than 90 days and secured customer loan balances that are delinquent greater than 180 days are charged-off 
against the allowance for loan losses. 

Financial assets, together with the associated allowances, are charged-off when there is no realistic prospect of further recovery. 
If, in a subsequent year, the amount of the estimated impairment loss increases or decreases because of an event occurring after 
the impairment was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is increased or reduced by adjusting the allowance 
account. If a write-off is later recovered, the recovery is credited to bad debts expense.

Lease Assets

Lease assets are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. 

The cost of lease assets comprises their purchase price and any costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to the location 
and condition necessary for them to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. Vendor volume rebates are 
recorded as a reduction of the cost of lease assets. 

As the leases are effectively cancellable by the customer with a week’s notice, and there are no bargain purchase options provided 
to the customer, the customer leases are considered operating in nature. Lease agreements entitle customers to buy out a lease 
asset earlier in accordance with conditions stipulated in the lease agreements.

The residual value, useful life and depreciation method of the lease assets are reviewed at each financial year end, and if expectations 
differ  from  previous  estimates,  they  are  adjusted,  and  the  changes  are  accounted  for  prospectively  as  a  change  in  accounting 
estimates. In the event management determines that the Company can no longer lease or sell certain lease assets, they are written 
off. The residual value of lease assets is nominal.

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Depreciation on lease assets is charged to net income as follows: 

•  Lease assets, excluding game stations, computers and related equipment, are depreciated using the units of activity method  
    over the expected lease agreement term. 
•  Game stations are depreciated on a straight-line basis over 18 months. Computers and related equipment are depreciated on a  
    straight-line basis over 24 months. 
•  Depreciation for all lease assets includes the remaining book values at the time of disposition of the lease assets that have  
    been sold and amounts that have been charged off as stolen, lost or no longer suitable for lease. 

The  Company’s  lease  assets  are  subject  to  theft,  loss  or  other  damage  from  its  customers.  The  Company  records  a  provision 
against the carrying value of lease assets for estimated losses. 

Property and Equipment

The cost of property and equipment comprises their purchase price and any costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to the 
location and condition necessary for them to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. 

Property and equipment are stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. 

Subsequent costs are included in an asset’s carrying amount or recognized as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is 
probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Company and the cost of the item can be measured 
reliably. All other expenses are charged to net income as repairs and maintenance expense when incurred.

Depreciation on property and equipment is charged to net income. 

Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Asset category 

Furniture and fixtures 
Computer 
Office equipment 
Automotive 
Signage 
Leasehold improvements 

Estimated useful lives

7 years 
5 years 
7 years 
5 years 
7 years 
5 or 10 years depending on the lease term

Property  and  equipment  are  derecognized  upon  disposal  or  when  no  future  economic  benefits  are  expected  from  their  use  or 
disposal. Any gains or losses arising on derecognition of the assets (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds 
and the carrying amount of the assets) are included in net income in the period the assets are derecognized.

Intangible Assets

Intangible  assets  acquired  separately  are  measured  on  initial  recognition  at  cost.  The  costs  of  intangible  assets  acquired  in  a 
business combination are their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are 
carried at costs less any accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Internally generated intangible 
assets, excluding capitalized development costs, are not capitalized and the expenditure is reflected in net income in the period in 
which the expenditure is incurred.

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The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as either finite or indefinite.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the economic useful life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an 
indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset 
with a finite useful life are reviewed at least at the end of each reporting period for potential impairment indicators. Changes in the 
expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic benefits embodied in the asset are accounted for by 
changing the amortization period or method, as appropriate, and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. The amortization 
expense on intangible assets with finite lives is recognized in net income.

Customer  lists  and  software  are  amortized  over  their  estimated  useful  lives  of  five  years.  Websites  and  digital  properties  are 
amortized over their estimated useful lives of three years.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually. The assessment of indefinite 
life is reviewed annually to determine whether the indefinite life continues to be supportable. If not, the change in useful life from 
indefinite to finite is made on a prospective basis.

The Company’s trademarks have been assessed to have an indefinite life.

Gains  or  losses  arising  from  the  derecognition  of  intangible  assets  are  measured  as  the  difference  between  the  net  disposal 
proceeds and the carrying amounts of the asset and are recognized in net income when the assets are derecognized.

Development Costs

Development  costs,  including  those  related  to  the  development  of  software,  are  recognized  as  an  intangible  asset  when  the 
Company can demonstrate:

•  the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;

•  its intention to complete and its ability to use or sell the asset;

•  how the asset will generate future economic benefits;

•  the availability of resources to complete the asset; and

•  the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development.

Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the cost model is applied requiring the asset to be carried at 
cost less any accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment losses. Amortization of the asset begins when development 
is complete, and the asset is available for use. It is amortized over the period of the expected future benefit.

Business Combinations and Goodwill

Business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method. The cost of an acquisition is measured at the fair value of 
the assets given, equity instruments and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange. Identifiable assets acquired, and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at fair value at the date of acquisition, 
irrespective of the extent of any non-controlling interest.

Goodwill is initially measured at cost being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Company’s share in the 
net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities. If the fair values of the assets, liabilities and 
contingent liabilities can only be calculated on a provisional basis, the business combination is recognized initially using provisional 
values. Any adjustments resulting from the completion of the measurement process are recognized within twelve months of the 
date of acquisition. 

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After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses, if any. Goodwill is not amortized. For the 
purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the 
Company’s operating segments that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other 
assets and liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those segments. 

Impairment of Non-Financial Assets

The Company assesses, at each reporting date, whether there is an indication that an asset or a cash-generating unit (“CGU”) may 
be impaired. 

The Company regularly reviews lease assets that are idle for more than 90 days for any indicators of impairment. Such assets 
deemed not leaseable or sellable are discarded and their net carrying value reduced to nil.

A CGU is defined as the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash 
inflows from other assets or groups of assets. 

For  the  easyhome  business  unit,  a  CGU  was  determined  to  be  at  the  individual  store  level  as  the  cash  inflows  of  an  individual 
store are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets in the Company. For the easyfinancial business unit, a CGU was 
determined  to  be  at  the  business  unit  level  rather  than  at  the  individual  store  or  kiosk  level,  as  the  cash  inflows  are  largely 
dependent on easyfinancial’s centralized loan and collections centre. 

If an indication of impairment exists, or when annual testing for an asset is required, the Company estimates the asset or CGU’s 
recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset or CGU’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. 
The recoverable amount is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely 
independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, in which case it is determined for the CGU to which the asset belongs. 
Where the carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written 
down to its recoverable amount. 

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a discount rate that reflects 
current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset or CGU. In determining fair value less 
costs to sell, an appropriate valuation model is used. Impairment losses are recognized in net income.

The impairment test calculations are based on detailed budgets and forecasts which are prepared annually for each CGU to which 
the assets are allocated. These budgets and forecasts generally cover a period of three years with a long-term growth rate applied 
after the third year.

For assets excluding goodwill, an assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously 
recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication exists, the Company estimates the 
asset’s  or  CGU’s  recoverable  amount.  A  previously  recognized  impairment  loss  is  reversed  only  if  there  has  been  a  change  in 
the assumptions used to determine the asset or CGU’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. The 
reversal is limited so that the carrying amount of the asset or CGU does not exceed its recoverable amount, nor exceed the carrying 
amount that would have been determined, net of amortization, had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or CGU in 
prior years. Such reversals are recognized in net income. 

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Impairment 
is determined for goodwill by assessing the recoverable amount of each group of CGUs to which the goodwill relates. Where the 
recoverable amount of the CGUs is less than their carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. Impairment losses relating 
to goodwill cannot be reversed in future periods.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually at the CGU level and when circumstances indicate 
that the carrying value may be impaired.

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Financial Liabilities

Financial liabilities are initially recognized at fair value. In the case of certain loans and borrowings, the fair value at initial recognition 
includes the value of proceeds received net of directly attributable transaction costs. The Company’s financial liabilities include a 
revolving credit facility, US dollar denominated Notes Payable, convertible debentures, term loans, derivative financial instruments 
and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. 

After  initial  recognition,  the  Company’s  interest-bearing  debt  is  subsequently  measured  at  amortized  cost  using  the  effective 
interest rate method. Amortized cost is calculated by taking into account any fees or costs related to the interest-bearing debt. 
Interest expense and the amortization of deferred financing charges are included in finance costs. 

Non-interest bearing financial liabilities, such as accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are carried at the amount owing.

A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is settled, discharged, cancelled or expired. Any gains or 
losses are recognized in net income when liabilities are derecognized. 

Convertible Debentures

Convertible debentures include both liability and equity components associated with the conversion option. The liability component 
of  the  convertible  debentures  is  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  determined  by  discounting  the  future  principal  and  interest 
payments at the rate of interest prevailing at the date of issue for a similar non-convertible debt instrument. 

The  equity  component  of  the  convertible  debenture  is  initially  recognised  at  fair  valued  determined  as  the  difference  between 
the gross proceeds of the convertible debt issuance less the liability component and the deferred tax liability that arises from the 
temporary difference between the carrying value of the liability and its tax basis. The equity component is allocated to contributed 
surplus within shareholders’ equity. Directly attributable transaction costs related to the issuance of convertible debentures are 
allocated to the liability and equity components on a pro-rata basis, reducing the fair value at the time of initial recognition. 

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Accounting

The  Company’s  financing  activities  expose  it  to  the  financial  risks  of  changes  in  foreign  exchange  rates.  The  Company  utilizes 
derivative financial instruments as cash flow hedges to assist in the management of certain foreign exchange risks. 

Derivative financial instruments are initially measured at fair value on the trade date and are subsequently remeasured at fair value 
at each reporting date using observable market inputs.

The Company designates derivative financial instruments as cash flow hedges to hedge the change due to foreign exchange risk 
when the derivative financial instruments meet the criteria for hedge accounting in accordance with IFRS 9. 

In  order  to  qualify  for  hedge  account,  formal  documentation  must  include  identification  of  the  hedging  instrument,  the  hedged 
item, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the Company will assess whether the hedging relationship meets the hedge 
effectiveness requirements (including the analysis of sources of hedge ineffectiveness and how the hedge ratio is determined). A 
hedging relationship qualifies for hedge accounting if it meets all the following effectiveness requirements: 

•  There is an economic relationship between the hedged item and the hedging instrument. 
•  The effect of credit risk does not dominate the change in values that result from that economic relationship. 
•  The hedge ratio of the hedging relationship is consistent with management’s risk strategy.

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Where an effective hedge exists, the change in the fair value of the derivative instrument is recognized in Other Comprehensive 
Income and reclassified to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment in the same period or periods during which the hedged 
cash flows (in this case the interest or principal payments of the Company’s US Notes Payable) affect profit or loss. As such there 
is no net impact on net income.

Hedge effectiveness is assessed at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis. Should a hedge cease to be effective any 
changes in fair value related to movements in the foreign currency rates would be taken in net income.

Leases

The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at inception 
date, whether fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement conveys a 
right to use the asset.

i) Company as a Lessee 

Finance leases that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the leased item are capitalized at 
the inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset, or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. 
Subsequent  lease  payments  are  apportioned  between  finance  costs  and  a  reduction  of  the  lease  liability.  Finance  costs  are 
recognized in net income. Capitalized leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset and 
the lease term.

Operating lease payments (net of any amortization of incentives) are expensed as incurred. Incentives received from the lessor to 
enter into an operating lease are capitalized as deferred lease inducements in the consolidated statements of financial position and 
depreciated over the term of the lease.

ii) Company as a Lessor

Leases where the Company does not transfer substantially all the risks and benefits of ownership of the asset are classified as 
operating leases. The leasing income is recognized when earned over the lease term net of incentive costs provided to customers. 

The Company is in the business of leasing assets. As the leases are effectively cancellable by the customer with a week’s notice, 
and there are no bargain purchase option provided to the customer, the customer leases are considered operating in nature.

Provisions

Provisions are recognized when the Company has a present obligation, legal or constructive, as a result of a past event, and the 
costs to settle the obligation are both probable and reliably measurable. Where there is expected to be a reimbursement of some or 
all of a provision, for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognized as a separate asset, but only when the 
reimbursement is virtually certain. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted. Where discounting 
is used, the increase in the provision as a result of the passage of time is recognized as a finance cost.

Taxes

i) Current Income Taxes

Current  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  measured  at  the  amount  expected  to  be  recovered  from  or  paid  to  the  taxation 
authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the 
reporting period.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  105

Current income tax assets and liabilities are only offset if a legally enforceable right exists to offset the amounts and the Company 
intends to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Current income tax relating to items recognized directly in equity is recognized in equity and not in net income. 

Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are 
subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where appropriate. 

ii) Deferred Income Taxes

Deferred  income  taxes  are  provided  for  using  the  liability  method  on  temporary  differences  at  the  reporting  date  between  the 
tax  basis  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  carrying  amount  for  financial  reporting  purposes.  Deductible  income  tax  liabilities 
are  recognized  for  all  taxable  temporary  differences.  Deferred  income  tax  assets  are  recognized  for  all  deductible  temporary 
differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable income will be 
available against which the deductible temporary differences and the carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses 
can be utilized. 

The following temporary differences do not result in deferred income tax assets or liabilities: 

•  the  initial  recognition  of  assets  or  liabilities,  not  arising  in  a  business  combination,  that  does  not  affect  accounting  
   or taxable profit;

•  the initial recognition of goodwill; and

•  investment in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities where the timing of reversal of the temporary    
     differences can be controlled and reversal in the foreseeable future is not probable.

The  carrying  amount  of  deferred  income  tax  assets  is  reviewed  at  the  end  of  each  reporting  period  and  reduced  to  the  extent 
that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable income will be available to allow all or part of the deferred income tax asset 
to be utilized. Unrecognized deferred income tax assets are reassessed at the end of each reporting period and are recognized 
to the extent that it has become probable that future taxable income will be available to allow the deferred income tax asset to  
be recovered. 

Deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  measured  at  the  tax  rates  that  are  expected  to  apply  in  the  period  when  the  
asset is realized, or the liability is settled, based on tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the 
reporting period. 

Deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  offset  if  a  legally  enforceable  right  exists  to  set  off  current  income  tax 
assets  against  current  income  tax  liabilities  and  the  deferred  income  taxes  relate  to  the  same  taxable  entity  and  the  same  
taxation authority.

iii) Sales Tax

Revenue, expenses and assets are recognized net of the amount of sales tax except where the sales tax incurred on a purchase 
of assets or services is not recoverable from the taxation authority, in which case the sales tax is recognized as part of the cost of 
acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense item as applicable.

The net amount of sales tax recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included as part of amounts receivable or 
accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  106

 
Stock-based Payment Transactions

The Company has stock-based compensation plans as described in note 15.

i) 

Equity-Settled Transactions

The Company has stock options, Restricted Share Units (“RSU”) and Deferred Share Units (“DSU”) which are currently accounted for 
as equity-settled awards. The cost of such equity-settled transactions is measured by reference to the fair value determined using 
the market value on the grant date or the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as appropriate. The inputs into this model are based 
on management’s judgments and estimates.

The cost of equity-settled transactions is charged to net income, with a corresponding increase in contributed surplus over the 
vesting  period. The  cumulative  expense  recognized  for  equity-settled  transactions  at  each  reporting  date  reflects  the  extent  to 
which the vesting period has elapsed and the Company’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately 
vest. The expense for a period is recognized in stock-based compensation expense in the consolidated statements of income. No 
expense is recognized for awards that do not ultimately vest.

ii)  Cash-Settled Transactions

The Company has Performance Share Units (“PSU”) which mirror the value of the Company’s publicly-traded Common Shares and 
can only be settled in cash (“cash-settled transactions”). The cost of cash-settled transactions is measured initially at fair value 
at the grant date. The liability is remeasured to fair value, at each reporting date up to and including the settlement date, based 
on the value of the Company’s publicly-traded Common Shares and the Company’s best estimate of the number of cash-settled 
instruments that will ultimately vest.

The cost of cash-settled transactions is charged to net income, with a corresponding increase in liabilities, over the period in which 
the  performance  and  service  conditions  are  fulfilled. The  cumulative  expense  recognized  for  cash-settled  transactions  at  each 
reporting date reflected the extent to which the vesting period had elapsed and the Company’s best estimate of the number of cash-
settled instruments that will ultimately vest. The expense for a period including changes in fair value are recognized in stock-based 
compensation expense in the consolidated statements of income. No expense is recognized for awards that do not ultimately vest.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding 
during the year. 

Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the treasury stock method, which assumes that the cash that would be received on 
the exercise of options, warrants and convertible debentures is applied to purchase shares at the average price during the period 
and that the difference between the shares issued upon exercise of the options and the number of shares obtainable under this 
computation, on a weighted average basis, is added to the number of shares outstanding. 

Significant Accounting Judgments, Estimates and Assumptions

The  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  management  to  make  accounting 
judgements,  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of  assets,  liabilities  and  contingent  assets  and  
liabilities  at  the  date  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenue  and  expenses  during  the 
reporting periods. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  107

These accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s historical 
experience,  best  knowledge  of  current  events  and  conditions  and  other  factors  that  are  believed  to  be  reasonable  under  the 
circumstances. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from 
these estimates, which could materially impact these consolidated financial statements. Changes in estimates will be reflected in 
the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

Key areas of estimation where management has made difficult, complex or subjective judgments often in respect of matters that 
are inherently uncertain are as follows:

i) 

Allowance for Credit Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses

ECL method is applied in determining the allowance for credit losses on gross consumer loans receivable as at December 31, 2018. 
The key inputs in the measurement of ECL allowances, all of which are subject to accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions 
are discussed in Note 2. 

The allowance for loan losses as at December 31, 2017 consists of both specific allowances on identified impaired loans and an 
estimate of incurred losses in the loan portfolio under IAS 39 that have not yet been identified based on an assessment of historical 
loss rates and patterns.

ii) 

Interest Receivable from Consumer Loans

Consumer  loans  receivable  include  accrued  interest  earned  from  consumer  loans  that  is  expected  to  be  received  in  future  
periods. Interest receivable from consumer loans is determined based on the amounts the Company believes will be collected in 
future periods.

iii)  Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs

Consumer loans receivable include incremental costs incurred by the Company to acquire consumer loans. The deferred acquisition 
costs are recognized into income over the expected life of the consumer loans, as estimated by management. 

iv)  Cost of Lease Assets 

Lease assets are recorded at cost, including freight. Vendor volume rebates are recorded as a reduction of the cost of lease assets 
and are determined based on the rebate amounts the Company believes are probable and reasonably estimable during the term 
of each rebate program.

v)  Depreciation of Lease Assets

Certain assets on lease, (excluding game stations, computers and related equipment) are depreciated based on the time on lease 
against the lease agreement term, which is estimated by management for each product category. Other assets on lease such as 
game stations, computers and related equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.

vi)  Depreciation of Property and Equipment 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, including freight, and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated 
useful lives, which are estimated by management for each class of asset.

vii) 

Impairment on Non-Financial Assets

The indicators of impairment are based on management’s judgment. If an indication of impairment exists, or when annual testing 
for an asset is required, the Company estimates the asset’s or CGU’s recoverable amount. Where the carrying amount of an asset or 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  108

CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. In assessing 
the recoverable amount, management estimates the asset’s or CGU’s value in use. Value in use is based on the estimated future 
cash flows of the asset or CGU discounted to their present value using a discount rate that reflects current market assessments of 
the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. 

The impairment test calculations are based on detailed budgets and forecasts which are prepared for each CGU to which the assets 
are allocated. These budgets and forecasts generally cover a period of three years with a long-term growth rate applied after the 
third year. Key areas of management judgment include the cash flow forecast, the growth rate applied to cash flows subsequent 
to the third year and the discount rate.

viii)  Impairment of Goodwill and Indefinite Life Intangibles 

In  assessing  the  recoverable  amount,  management  estimated  the  group  of  CGU’s  value  in  use.  Value  in  use  is  based  on  the 
estimated future cash flows of the asset or CGU discounted to their present value using a discount rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. The impairment test calculations are based on detailed 
budgets and forecasts which are prepared for each CGU to which the assets are allocated. These budgets and forecasts generally 
cover a period of three years with a long-term growth rate applied after the third year. Key areas of management judgment involve 
the cash flow forecast, the growth rate applied to cash flows subsequent to the third year and the discount rate. 

ix)  Fair Value of Stock-Based Compensation 

The fair value of equity settled stock-based compensation plan grants are measured at the grant date using either the related 
market value or the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as appropriate. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed 
for estimating the fair value of traded options that are fully transferable and have no vesting restrictions. In addition, option pricing 
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions, including expected share price volatility. The Company’s share options 
have characteristics significantly different from those of freely traded options and because changes in subjective input assumptions 
can materially affect the fair value estimate, the existing models do not necessarily provide a single reliable measure of the fair 
value of the unit options granted.

The vesting of the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is based on the expected achievement of long-term targets and 
management retention rates, the assessment of which are subject to management’s judgment.

x)  Provisions

Provisions are recognized when the Company has a present obligation, legal or constructive, as a result of a past event, and the 
costs to settle the obligation are both probable and reliably measurable. The estimation of the costs to settle such obligations are 
subject to management’s judgment.

xi)  Taxation Amounts

Tax  provisions,  including  current  and  deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities,  may  require  estimates  and  interpretations  of 
federal and provincial income tax rules and regulations and judgments as to their interpretation and application to the Company’s 
specific situation. Therefore, it is possible that the ultimate value of the tax assets and liabilities could change in the future and that 
changes to these amounts could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

xii)  Unearned Revenue

Unearned revenue includes lease payments that have not yet been earned, lease processing fees that are received at the inception 
of a consumer lease and secured loan origination fees charged to consumers. The processing fees are recognized into income 
over the expected life of the lease agreement, as estimated by management. The secured loan origination fees are recognized into 
income over the expected life of the loan, as estimated by management.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  109

xiii)  Convertible Debentures

The  convertible  debentures  are  accounted  for  as  a  compound  financial  instrument  with  a  liability  component  and  a  separate 
equity  component.  The  debt  component  of  this  compound  financial  instrument  is  measured  at  fair  value  on  initial  recognition 
by  discounting  the  stream  of  future  interest  and  principal  payments  at  the  rate  of  interest  prevailing  at  the  date  of  issue  for 
instruments of similar term and risk as estimated by management. The debt component is subsequently deducted from the total 
carrying value of the compound instrument to derive the equity component. 

3. ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING STANDARD

IFRS 9, Financial Instruments

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 9, Financial Instruments (“IFRS 9”). IFRS 9 introduces a new expected loss 
impairment model which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model under IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and 
Measurement (“IAS 39”). The adoption of IFRS 9 does not require restatement of comparative period financial statements except in 
limited circumstances related to aspects of hedge accounting. Entities are permitted to restate comparatives provided hindsight 
is not applied. The Company made the decision not to restate comparative period financial information and has recognized any 
measurement differences between the previous carrying amounts and the new carrying amounts on January 1, 2018, through an 
adjustment to opening retained earnings. 

Under IAS 39, a collective allowance for loan loss is recorded on those loans, or groups of loans, where a loss event had occurred 
but had not been reported, as at, or prior to, the balance sheet date. An incurred but not reported loss event provided objective 
evidence to establish an allowance for loan loss against such loans. IAS 39 prohibited recognizing any allowance for loan losses 
expected in the future if a loss event has not occurred.

Refer to Note 2 for initial recognition and measurement and impairment policy under IFRS 9.

Consistent with IAS 39, all financial assets held by the Company under IFRS 9 are initially measured at fair value plus transaction 
costs and subsequently measured at amortized cost with the exception of derivative financial instruments. Derivatives continue to 
be measured at FVTPL under IFRS 9. There were no material changes to the carrying values of financial instruments as a result of 
the transition to the classification and measurement requirements of IFRS 9.

The classification and measurement of financial liabilities remain essentially unchanged from the IAS 39 requirements, except that 
changes in the fair value of liabilities designated at FVTPL using the fair value option (FVO) which are attributable to changes in own 
credit risk are presented in OCI, rather than profit and loss. 

Under  IFRS  9,  the  Company  is  required  to  apply  an  expected  credit  loss  (ECL)  model,  where  credit  losses  that  are  expected  to 
transpire in future years irrespective of whether a loss event has occurred or not as at the balance sheet date, are provided for. 

It is important to note that the adoption of IFRS 9 does not directly impact the net charge-off rate of the Company’s consumer loans 
receivable portfolio which is driven by borrowers’ credit profile and behaviour. The Company will continue to charge-off unsecured 
customer balances that are delinquent greater than 90 days and secured customer balances that are delinquent greater than 180 
days. Likewise, the cash flows used in and generated by the Company’s consumer loans receivable portfolio are not impacted by the 
adoption of IFRS 9 as the periodic increase in the allowance for loan losses as a result of growth in the consumer loans receivable 
is a non-cash item.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  110

The following table summarizes the transition adjustment required to adopt IFRS 9 as at January 1, 2018, which is entirely as a 
result of the change in the impairment requirements.

Consumer loans receivable

Deferred tax asset

Retained earnings

IAS 39 carrying 
amount as at  
December 31, 2017

Transition 
 Adjustment

IFRS 9 carrying 
amount as at 
 January 1,2018

513,425 

 2,121

126,924 

(17,406)

4,749

(12,659)

496,019 

 6,870 

114,265

The reconciliation of the Company’s closing allowances for credit losses in accordance with IAS 39, as at December 31, 2017 and 
the opening allowance for credit losses in accordance with IFRS 9, as at January 1, 2018 is as shown in the following table:

Allowance for credit losses

Stage 1 (Performing)

Stage 2 (Under-Performing)

Stage 3 (Non-Performing)

Total

Hedge accounting

As reported under 
IAS 39 as at 
 December 31, 
2017

Transition 
Adjustments

As reported under 
IFRS 9 as at January 
1, 2018

31,706

17,406

49,112

24,384

16,193

8,535

49,112

IFRS 9 also introduces a new general hedge accounting model that aims to better align accounting with risk management activities. 
The Company has adopted hedge accounting under IFRS 9 and applied it prospectively. At the date of the initial application, the 
Company’s hedging relationships were eligible to be treated as continuing hedging relationships. Consistent with prior periods, 
the Company has continued to designate the change in fair value of all of the cross-currency swaps to the Company’s cash flow 
hedge relationship and, as such, the adoption of the hedge accounting requirements of IFRS 9 had no significant impact on the 
Company’s financial statements. The Company complies with the revised hedge accounting disclosures as required by the related 
amendments to IFRS 7, Financial Instruments: Disclosures (IFRS 7). The application of hedge accounting requirements of IFRS 9 did 
not have a material impact on the Company’s accounting policies or comparative balances in the financial statements. 

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted and applied IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”), which clarifies 
the principles for recognizing revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The new standard did not result in 
any financial adjustments to the Company’s consolidated financial statements, nor any material changes to the Company’s revenue 
recognition policies. Additional required disclosures and revenue segmentation is as provided in note 19 Segmented Reporting.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  111

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. STANDARDS ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE 

IFRS 16, Leases

The Company will be required to adopt IFRS 16, Leases (“IFRS 16”) on January 1, 2019, which is the IASB replacement of IAS 17, 
Leases (“IAS 17”). IFRS 16 will require lessees to recognize a lease liability that reflects future lease payments and a “right-of-use 
asset” for most lease contracts. Lessor accounting under IFRS 16 is substantially unchanged from today’s accounting under IAS 17. 
Lessors will continue to classify all leases using the same classification principle as in IAS 17 and distinguish between two types 
of leases: operating and finance leases. As such IFRS 16 will not impact the financial results of the Company’s easyhome leasing 
business. However, the accounting for the Company’s premises and vehicle leases will be impacted by this standard.

The  Company  set  up  a  team  under  the  direction  of  the  Company’s  Chief  Financial  Officer  which  reviewed  all  of  the  Company’s 
leasing arrangements. From the lessee’s perspective, IFRS 16 affected the accounting for the Company’s vehicle and premises 
leases which were treated as operating leases under IAS 17, whereby such lease payments were expensed periodically as part 
of operating expenses without the recognition of the corresponding assets and related depreciation. Under IFRS 16, a significant 
right-of-use asset and lease liability will be recognized at the date of implementation resulting in a material increase to both total 
assets and total liabilities. The right-of-use asset will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term of the underlying 
lease assets. The lease liability will also be amortized under the effective interest rate method using the interest rate inherent in 
the underlying leases and lease payments will include both a principal and interest component. 

The net effect of this change is that earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is expected to increase as 
the depreciation of the right-of-use assets and interests on the lease liability are excluded from this measure. The impact on net 
income is expected to be minor.

Transition to IFRS 16

The Company plans to adopt IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective method commencing January 1, 2019. Under this method 
the Company will not restate 2018 under IFRS 16. In determining the opening balance sheet impact of the adoption of IFRS 16 as 
at January 1, 2019, the Company will recalculate all right of use asset and the lease liability of all leases as if these calculations 
had occurred from the data of inception of those leases. Additionally, the Company will elect to apply the standard to contracts that 
were previously identified as leases applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4. The Company will therefore not apply the standard to contracts 
that were not previously identified as containing a lease applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4.

The Company will elect to use the exemptions proposed by the standard on lease contracts for which the lease terms ends within 
12 months as of the date of initial application, and lease contracts for which the underlying asset is of low value. The Company has 
leases of certain office equipment (i.e., printing and photocopying machines) that are considered of low value. 

The estimated impact as at the January 1, 2019 date of adoption is: i) a right of use asset of between $41 and $46 million; ii) a lease 
liability of between $46 and $50 million; iii) a reduction of retained earnings of approximately $3 million and iv) a deferred tax asset 
of approximately $1 million.

5. CASH

Certain cash on deposit at banks earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. The Company has pledged part 
of its cash to fulfil collateral requirements under its derivative financial instruments contract. As at December 31, 2018, the fair 
value of the cash pledged was nil (2017 - $16.2 million).

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  112

6. AMOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Vendor rebate receivable

Due from franchisees

Commission receivable

Other 

Current

Non-current

December 31, 2018

December 31,2017

593

 2,467 

 9,439 

 2,951 

15,450

14,438 

1,012 

15,450

657

2,778

8,475

2,512

14,422

13,397

1,025

14,422

Other amounts receivable consisted of amounts due from customers, franchisees, indirect taxes and other items.

7. CONSUMER LOANS RECEIVABLE

Consumer loans receivable represents amounts advanced to customers and includes both unsecured and secured loans. 
Unsecured loan terms generally range from 9 to 60 months while secured loan terms generally range from 6 to 10 years.

Gross consumer loans receivable

Interest receivable from consumer loans

Unamortized deferred acquisition costs

Allowance for credit losses

December 31,2018

December 31,2017

833,779

10,472

18,354

(79,741)

782,864

526,546

6,530

12,055

(31,706)

513,425

The allocation of the Company’s gross consumer loans receivable as at December 31, 2018 and 2017 based on loan types are as 
follows:

Unsecured installment loans

Secured installment loans

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

780,850

52,929

833,779

518,049

8,497

526,546

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  113

The scheduled principal repayment aging analysis of gross consumer loans receivable portfolio as at December 31, 2018 and 2017 
are as follows:

0 - 6 months

6 - 12 months

12 - 24 months

24 - 36 months

36 - 48 months 

48 - 60 months

60 months +

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

$

% of total  
loans

$

% of total 
Loans

 139,631 

 104,619 

 221,626 

 204,227 

 106,346 

 29,002 

 28,328 

 833,779 

16.7%

12.5%

26.6%

24.5%

12.8%

3.5%

3.4%

100.0%

104,208 

79,952 

149,356 

125,258 

50,714 

11,686 

5,372 

526,546 

19.8%

15.2%

28.4%

23.8%

9.6%

2.2%

1.0%

100.0%

The gross consumer loans receivable portfolio categorized by the contractual time to maturity at year-ends are summarized 
as follows:

0 - 1 year

1 - 2 years

2 - 3 years

3 - 4 years 

4 - 5 years 

5 years +

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

$

% of total  
loans

34,355 

108,262 

260,205 

270,621 

108,932 

51,404 

833,779

4.1%

13.0%

31.2%

32.5%

13.1%

6.1%

100.0%

$

37,332

96,443

183,254

145,165

55,853

8,499

526,546

% of total 
Loans

7.1%

18.3%

34.8%

27.6%

10.6%

1.6%

100.0%

An aging analysis of gross consumer loans receivable past due is as follows:

1 - 30 days

31 - 44 days

45 - 60 days

61 - 90 days

91 - 180 days

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

$

 25,442 

 5,931 

 5,930 

 6,559 

 83 

43,945

% of total  
loans

3.1%

0.7%

0.7%

0.8%

0.0%

5.3%

$

17,275

3,601

3,330

4,349

-

28,555

% of total 
Loans

3.3%

0.7%

0.6%

0.8%

-

5.4%

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  114

 
The following table provides the gross consumer loans receivable split by the Company’s risk ratings and further segregated by 
Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3. The categorization of borrowers into low, normal and high risk is based on the Company’s custom 
behaviour credit scoring model. This scoring model has been built and refined using analytical techniques and statistical modelling 
tools  which  has  proven  more  effective  at  predicting  future  losses  than  traditional  credit  scores  available  from  credit  reporting 
agencies. Borrowers categorized as low risk have expected future losses that are lower than the average expected loss rate of the 
overall loan portfolio. Customers categorized as normal risk have expected future losses that are approximately the same as the 
average expected loss rate of the overall loan portfolio. Customers categorized as high risk have expected future losses that are 
higher than the average expected loss rate of the overall loan portfolio. The median TransUnion Risk Score for those borrowers 
categorized as low, normal and high risk is presented below as reference.

As at December 31, 2018

Median 
 TransUnion Risk 
Score

Stage 1  
(Performing)

Stage 2  
(Under- 
performing)

Stage 3  
(Non- 
Performing)

Low Risk

Normal Risk

High Risk

Total

 610 

 539 

 496 

 544

 324,989 

 310,059 

 66,119 

701,167

 1,517 

 8,763 

 103,998 

114,278

 - 

 - 

 18,334 

 18,334 

An analysis of the changes in the classification of gross consumer loans receivable is as follows: 

Stage 1  
(Performing)

Year ended December 31, 2018

Stage 2  
(Under- 
Performing)

Stage 3  
(Non- 
Performing)

Total

326,506

318,822

188,451

833,779

Total

Balance as at January 1, 2018

 446,920 

 68,440 

 11,186 

 526,546 

Gross loan originated 

Principal payments and other adjustments

Transfers to (from)

Stage 1 (Performing)

Stage 2 (Under-Performing)

Stage 3 (Non-Performing)

Gross charge-offs

Balance as at December 31, 2018

 922,550 

 (527,488)

 135,378 

 (234,495)

 (22,481)

 (19,217)

 701,167 

-

 13,559 

 (133,616)

 250,963 

 (70,007)

 (15,061)

 114,278 

-

 (3,226)

 (1,762)

 (16,468)

 92,488 

 (63,884)

 18,334 

 922,550 

 (517,155)

-

-

-

 (98,162)

 833,779 

The changes in the allowance for credit losses are summarized below:

Balance, beginning of year

Net amounts charged-off against allowance

Increase due to lending and collection activities

Balance, end of year

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

49,112

(88,351)

118,980

79,741

23,456

(59,576)

67,826

31,706

An analysis of the changes in the classification of the allowance for credit losses is as follows:

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  115

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stage 1  
(Performing)

Year ended December 31, 2018

Stage 2  
(Under- 
Performing)

Stage 3  
(Non- 
Performing)

Total

Balance as at January 1, 2018

 24,384 

 16,193 

 8,535 

 49,112 

Gross loans originated

Principal payments and other adjustments

Transfers to (from) including remeasurement

Stage 1 (Performing)

Stage 2 (Under-Performing)

Stage 3 (Non-Performing)

Net amounts charged-off against allowance

Balance as at December 31, 2018

 53,883 

 (20,232)

 23,634 

 (20,893)

 (4,754)

 (18,307)

 37,715 

-

 2,713 

 (25,868)

 70,393 

 (20,870)

 (14,347)

 28,214 

-

 (11,009)

 (1,252)

 (12,403)

 85,638 

 (55,697)

 13,812 

 53,883 

 (28,528)

 (3,486)

 37,097 

60,014

(88,351)

 79,741 

8. LEASE ASSETS

Cost

Balance, beginning of year

Additions

Disposals

Balance, end of year

Accumulated Depreciation

Balance, beginning of year

Depreciation for the year

Disposals

Balance, end of year

Net book value

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 68,493 

 37,913 

 (44,226)

62,180

 (14,175)

 (40,088)

 43,701 

(10,562)

74,049

42,041

(47,597)

68,493

(18,761)

(41,221)

45,807

(14,175)

51,618

54,318

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the net book value of the lease assets sold by the Company was $516 (2017 – $1,752).

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  116

 
9. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Furniture and 
Fixtures

Computer 
and Office 
Equipment

Automotive

Signage

Leasehold  
Improvements

Total

13,912

865

(276)

14,501

1,926

 (683)

15,744

(9,667)

(1,186)

205

(10,648)

 (1,070)

 654 

 (11,064)

9,296

1,764

(662)

10,398

2,066

 (1,400)

11,064

(5,980)

(1,119)

434

(6,665)

 (1,128)

 1,309 

 (6,484)

212

-

-

212

-

 (6)

206

(207)

(3)

-

5,544

492

(125)

5,911

393

 (121)

6,183

(4,083)

(368)

94

24,306

2,819

(494)

26,631

6,840

 (1,451)

32,020

53,270

5,940

(1,557)

57,653

11,225

 (3,661)

65,217

(17,230)

(3,026)

424

(37,167)

(5,702)

1,157

(210)

(4,357)

(19,832)

(41,712)

 (3)

 7 

 (411)

 103 

 (3,107)

 1,424 

 (5,719)

 3,497 

 (206)

 (4,665)

 (21,515)

 (43,934)

3,853

4,680

3,733

4,580

2

- 

1,554

1,518

6,799

10,505

15,941

21,283

Cost

As at December 31, 2016

Additions

Disposals

As at December 31, 2017

Additions

Disposals

As at December 31, 2018

Accumulated Depreciation 

As at December 31, 2016

Depreciation 

Disposals

As at December 31, 2017

Depreciation 

Disposals

As at December 31, 2018

Net Book Value

As at December 31, 2017

As at December 31, 2018

As at December 31, 2018, the amount of property and equipment classified as under construction or development and not being 
amortized was $1.5 million (2017 – $0.9 million).

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  the  net  book  value  of  the  property  and  equipment  sold  by  the  Company  was 
$168 (2017 – $395).

For easyhome, various impairment indicators were used to determine the need to test a CGU for impairment. Examples of impairment 
indicators  include  a  significant  decline  in  revenue,  performance  significantly  below  budget  and  expectations  and  negative  CGU 
operating income during the year. Where these impairment indicators existed, the carrying value of the assets within a CGU was 
compared with its estimated recoverable value which was generally considered to be the CGU’s value in use. When determining 
the value in use of a CGU, the Company developed a discounted cash flow model for the individual CGU. Sales and cost forecasts 
were based on actual operating results, three-year operating budgets consistent with strategic plans presented to the Company’s 
Board of Directors and a 1% long-term growth rate. The pre-tax discount rate used on the forecasted cash flows was 13.60%. Where 
the carrying value of the CGU’s assets exceeded the recoverable amounts, as represented by the CGU’s value in use, the store’s 
property and equipment assets were written down. It was concluded that, due to the portability of lease assets held within the CGU 
and the cash flows generated by individual lease assets, no impairment write-down of the lease assets was required. As such, the 
CGU impairment charge was limited to the property and equipment held by the impaired CGU.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  117

For easyfinancial, it was determined that no indicators of impairment existed that would require an impairment test on property 
and equipment.

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a net impairment recovery in depreciation of property and equipment 
of $150 (2017 – $211 net impairment charge). All impairment charges and recoveries related solely to the easyhome segment.

10. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

Trademarks

Customer Lists

Software

Total

Cost

As at December 31, 2016

Additions

Disposals

As at December 31, 2017

Additions

Disposals

As at December 31, 2018

Accumulated Amortization

As at December 31, 2016

Amortization 

Disposals

As at December 31, 2017

Amortization 

Disposals

2,088

-

-

2,088

 - 

 - 

 2,088 

(1,992)

-

-

(1,992)

 - 

 - 

1,094

108

-

1,202

 481 

 - 

 1,683 

(585)

(224)

-

(809)

 (230)

 - 

24,890

6,028

(2)

30,916

 5,141

 (2)

 36,055 

(11,183)

(5,061)

2

(16,242)

 (5,966)

 2 

28,072

6,136

(2)

34,206

 5,622 

 (2)

 39,826 

(13,760)

(5,285)

2

(19,043)

 (6,196)

 2 

As at December 31, 2018

 (1,992)

 (1,039)

 (22,206)

 (25,237)

Net Book Value

As at December 31, 2017

As at December 31, 2018

96

 96 

393

 644 

14,674

 13,849 

15,163

 14,589 

Trademarks are considered indefinite life intangible assets as there is no foreseeable limit to the period over which the assets are 
expected to generate net cash flows.

Included in additions for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $5.1 million (2017 – $6.0 million) of internally developed software 
application and website costs.

Goodwill was $21.3 million as at December 31, 2018 (2017 – $21.3 million). There were no disposals or impairments applied to 
goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets were allocated to the group of CGUs to which they relate. The carrying value of goodwill 
was fully allocated to the easyhome CGUs. Impairment testing is performed annually and was performed as at December 31, 2018 
and 2017. The impairment test consisted of comparing the carrying value of assets within the CGU to the recoverable amount of 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  118

that CGU as measured by discounting the expected future cash flows using a value in use approach. The discounted cash flow 
model was based on historical operating results, detailed sales and cost forecasts over a three-year period, a 1% long-term growth 
rate and a pre-tax discount rate used on the forecasted cash flows of 13.60%, all of which were consistent with the strategic plans 
presented to the Company’s Board of Directors. 

Based on the analysis performed by management, no impairment charge was required on goodwill.

11. REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

The  Company’s  revolving  credit  facility  consists  of  a  $174.5  million  senior  secured  revolving  credit  facility  maturing  on 
November 1, 2020. 

The revolving credit facility was provided by a syndicate of banks. Interest on advances is payable at either the Canadian Bankers’ 
Acceptance rate plus 450 bps or the lender’s prime rate plus 350 bps, at the option of the Company. During the year, the Company 
made advances against the revolving credit facility amounting to $70.0 million which was subsequently paid in July 2018. As at 
December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, no amount was drawn on this facility.

The financial covenants of the revolving credit facility were as follows:

Financial covenant

Requirements

December 31, 2018

Minimum consolidated tangible net worth

Maximum consolidated leverage ratio 

Minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio

Maximum net charge-off ratio

Minimum collateral performance index

>132,000 plus 50% 
of consolidated net 
income

< 3.25

> 1.75

< 15.0%

> 90.0%

$249,610

2.40

2.08

12.7%

99.9%

As at December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all of its financial covenants under its credit agreements.

12. CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

In June 2017, the Company issued $53.0 million of 5.75% convertible unsecured subordinated debentures, with interest payable 
semi-annually on January 31 and July 31 each year and commencing on January 31, 2018 (the “Debentures”). The Debentures 
mature on July 31, 2022 and are convertible at the holder’s option into Common Shares of the Company at a conversion price of 
$44.00 per share.

On and after July 31, 2020, and prior to July 31, 2021, the Debentures may be redeemed in whole or in part from time to time and 
with proper notice by the Company, provided that the volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX 
for the 20 consecutive trading days prior to the 5th trading day before redemption notification date was not less than 125% of 
the conversion price. On or after July 31, 2021, the Company may redeem with proper notice the convertible debentures for the 
principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The following table summarizes the details of the convertible debentures:

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  119

Debentures

Transaction costs

Net proceeds

Deferred taxes

Accretion in carrying value of debenture liability

Accrued interest

As at December 31, 2017

Conversion of debentures to equity (net of $1,013 unamortized deferred 

financing costs)

Accretion in carrying value of debenture liability

Accrued interest

Interest payment

As at December 31, 2018

Liability 
 component of 
Debenture

Equity component 
of Debenture

Net Book Value

48,342

(2,812)

45,530

-

685

1,770

47,985

(7,924)

1,234

2,858

(3,572)

40,581

4,658

(270)

4,388

(1,168)

-

-

3,220

-

-

-

-

3,220

53,000

(3,082)

49,918

(1,168)

685

1,770

51,205

(7,924)

1,234

2,858

(3,572)

43,801

As at December 31, 2018, $8.9 million convertible debentures were converted into 203,000 Common Shares  
(December 31, 2017 - nil). 

13. Notes Payable

On November 1, 2017, the Company issued US325.0 million of 7.875% senior unsecured Notes Payable (the “Notes Payable”) with 
interest payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year and commencing on May 1, 2018. The Notes Payable mature 
on November 1, 2022. 

The Notes Payable include certain prepayment features: i) up to November 1, 2019, all of the Notes Payable can be prepaid at par 
plus a premium and accrued and unpaid interest; ii) from November 1, 2019 to October 31, 2020, all of the Notes Payable can be 
prepaid at a price of 103.94% plus accrued and unpaid interest; iii) from November 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021, all of the Notes 
Payable can be prepaid at a price of 101.97% plus accrued and unpaid interest; and iv) subsequent to November 1, 2021 the Notes 
Payable can be prepaid at par plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Concurrent with the issuance of the Notes Payable in 2017, the Company entered into derivative financial instruments (the “cross-
currency swaps”) as cash flow hedges to manage the Notes Payable’s foreign currency risk associated with future exchange rate 
fluctuations between the US Dollar and Canadian Dollar. By entering into the cross-currency swaps, the Company fixed the foreign 
currency exchange rate for the proceeds from the offering for all required payments of principal and interest under the US325.0 
million Notes Payable at a fixed exchange rate of US1.000 = C$1.2890. The cross-currency swaps fully hedge the obligation under 
the Notes Payable to C$418.9 million at an interest rate of 7.84%. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  120

The following table summarizes the details of the US325.0 million Notes Payable: 

Notes Payable in C$ at issuance

Change in fair value of Notes Payable since issuance date due to 

changes in foreign exchange rate

Accrued interest on credit facilities

Unamortized deferred financing costs

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 418,925 

 24,278 

 443,203 

 5,694 

 (10,821)

 438,076

418,925

(10,367)

408,558

5,508

(12,873)

401,193

On  July  16,  2018,  the  Company  issued  an  additional  US150.0  million  of  Notes  Payable  due  on  November  1,  2022. These  Notes 
Payable were issued at a price of US1,050 per US1,000 principal amount.

Concurrent with the issuance of the additional Notes Payable in 2018, the Company entered into derivative financial instruments 
(“cross-currency swaps”) as cash flow hedges to fix the foreign currency exchange rate for the proceeds from the offering and for 
all required payments of principal and interest under the additional Notes Payable at a fixed exchange rate of US1.000 = C$1.316, 
thereby fully hedging the US150.0 million additional Notes Payable to C$197.5 million at a Canadian dollar interest rate of 7.52%. 
The  issuance  of  the  Notes  Payable  was  at  a  105  premium  to  par  resulting  in  an  interest  rate  excluding  the  effect  of  financing 
charges of 6.17%, and when factoring in financing charges, an effective interest rate of 6.69%. 

The following table summarizes the details of the US150.0 million Notes Payable: 

Notes Payable in C$ at issuance

Change in fair value of Notes Payable since issuance date due to 

changes in foreign exchange rate

Accrued interest on credit facilities

Unamortized premium

Unamortized deferred financing costs

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 197,458 

 7,097 

 204,555 

 2,475 

 8,868 

 (3,493)

 212,405 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  121

The following table summarizes the total carrying value of Notes Payable: 

Notes Payable issued November 2017

Notes Payable issued July 2018

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 438,076 

 212,405 

 650,481 

401,193

-

401,193

The Company has elected to use hedge accounting for the Notes Payable and the cross-currency swaps. (i.e., the same notional 
amount, maturity date, interest rate, interest payment dates). The Company has established a hedge ratio of 1:1 for the hedging 
relationships as the underlying risk of the foreign exchange and commodity forward contracts are identical to the hedged risk 
components. To test the hedge effectiveness, the Company uses the hypothetical derivative method and compares the changes in 
the fair value of the hedging instruments against the changes in fair value of the hedged items attributable to the hedged risks. 
There are no significant sources of hedge ineffectiveness between the Notes Payable and cross-currency swaps. There was no 
hedge ineffectiveness recognized in net income for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

As the Notes Payable and the cross-currency swaps are in an effective hedging relationship, changes in the fair value of the cross-
currency swaps is recorded in Other Comprehensive Income and subsequently reclassified into net income to offset the effect of 
foreign currency exchange rates related to the Notes Payable recognized in net income. 

The  cross-currency  swaps  have  an  aggregated  notional  amount  equal  to  the  aggregated  principal  outstanding  of  the  hedged  
Notes Payable. During 2018, the change in fair value of the cross-currency swaps used for measuring ineffectiveness for the period 
is as follows: 

Derivative financial asset (liability) related to Notes Payable issued November 2017

Derivative financial asset (liability) related to Notes Payable issued July 2018

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 25,680 

 9,414 

 35,094 

(11,138)

-

(11,138)

The counter party has posted cash collateral of $29.9 million as at December 31, 2018 (2017 – nil) in respect of the derivative 
financial instruments.

14. SHARE CAPITAL

Authorized Capital

The authorized capital of the Company consisted of an unlimited number of Common Shares with no par value and an unlimited 
number of preference shares. 

Each common share represents a shareholder’s proportionate undivided interest in the Company. Each common share confers 
to its holder the right to one vote at any meeting of shareholders and to participate equally and rateably in any dividends of the 
Company. The Common Shares are listed for trading on the TSX.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  122

 
Common Shares Issued and Outstanding

The changes in Common Shares issued and outstanding are summarized as follows:

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

# of shares  
(in 000’s)

$

# of shares  
(in 000’s)

$

 13,476 

 920 

 203 

 146 

 46 

 12 

 (398)

 14,405

 85,874 

 44,182 

 7,924 

 2,860 

 562 

 508 

 (3,820)

138,090

13,325

82,598

-

-

58

174

4

(85)

13,476

-

-

1,315

2,377

120

(536)

85,874

Balance, beginning of the year

Share issuance, net of cost

Convertible Debt

Exercise of RSUs

Exercise of stock options

Dividend reinvestment plan

Shares purchased for cancellation

Balance, end of the year

Dividends on Common Shares

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company paid dividends of $11.7 million (2017 - $8.9 million) or $0.855 per share 
(2017 - $0.665 per share). On November 7, 2018, the Company declared a dividend of $0.225 per share to shareholders of record on 
December 28, 2018, payable on January 11, 2019. The dividend paid on January 11, 2019 was $3.2 million.

Shares Purchased for Cancellation

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company purchased and cancelled 398,452 (2017 - 85,388) of its Common Shares 
on the open market at an average price of $37.61 (2017 - $31.53) for a total cost of $15.0 million (2017 - $2.7 million) pursuant to 
a normal course issuer bid. The normal course issuer bid in effect as at December 31, 2018 allows for a total purchase of up to 
555,000 Common Shares and expires on November 12, 2019.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  123

15. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Share Option Plan

Under the Company’s share option plan, options to purchase Common Shares may be granted by the Board of Directors to directors, 
officers and employees. Options are generally granted at exercise prices equal to the fair market value at the grant date, vest at the 
end of a three-year period based on earnings per share targets and have exercise lives of five years. 

On  May  3,  2017,  the  Company’s  shareholders  approved  a  resolution  to  amend  the  share  option  plan  to  change  the  maximum 
number of Common Shares issuable from treasury under the share option plan from 2,038,000 to such number which represents 
6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares from time to time. 

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

# of Option 
(in 000’s)

Weighted 
 average  
exercise price 
$

# of Option 
(in 000’s)

Weighted  
average 
 exercise price 
$

Outstanding balance, beginning of year

Options granted

Options exercised

Options forfeited or expired

Outstanding balance, end of year

Exercisable balance, end of year

526

186

(46)

(53)

613

236

23.70

35.50

9.81

31.30

27.67

17.98

471

238

(174)

(9)

526

208

14.31

32.37

10.87

10.20

23.70

15.64

Outstanding options to officers and employees as at December 31, 2018 were as follows:

Range of Exercise 
Prices $

# of Option 
(in 000’s)

Outstanding

Weighted 
 average 
 remaining 
contractual life 
in years

Exercisable

Weighted 
 average  
exercise price 
$

# of Option 
(in 000’s)

Weighted 
 average  
exercise price 
$

16.22 - 19.99

20.00 - 29.99

30.00 - 35.50

16.22 - 35.50

226

10

377

613

0.50

0.67

3.97

2.64

17.71

24.45

33.73

27.67

226

10

-

236

17.71

24.45

-

17.98

The Company used the fair value method of accounting for stock options granted to employees. During the year ended December 
31, 2018, the Company recorded an expense of $914 (2017 – $586) in stock-based compensation expense related to its stock option 
plan in the consolidated statements of income, with a corresponding adjustment to contributed surplus.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  124

Options granted in 2018 and 2017 were determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

Risk-free interest rate (% per annum)

Expected hold period to exercise (years)

Volatility in the price of the Company’s shares (%)

Dividend yield (%)

Restricted Share Unit (“RSU”) Plan

2018

2017

2.01

4.75

35.74

2.03

1.37

4.75

35.54

2.22

On May 3, 2017, the Company’s shareholders approved a resolution to amend the RSU Plan to change the maximum number of 
Common Shares issuable from treasury under the RSU Plan from 1,165,000 to such number which represents 5% of the issued 
and outstanding Common Shares from time to time. 

Under the Company’s RSU plan, RSUs may be granted by the Board of Directors to employees of the Company. RSUs are granted at 
fair market value at the grant date and generally vest at the end of a three-year period based on long-term targets.

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

# of RSUs 
(in 000’s)

Weighted average 
fair value at grant 
date $

# of RSUs 
(in 000’s)

Weighted average 
fair value at grant 
date $

Outstanding balance, beginning of year

RSUs granted

RSU dividend reinvestments

RSU exercised

RSUs forfeited

Outstanding balance, end of year

641

184

10

(226)

(76)

533

22.78

39.78

39.80

16.93

25.26

31.14

598

185

11

(116)

(37)

641

19.71

31.95

29.36

22.55

21.69

22.78

For the year ended December 31, 2018, $5,181 (2017 – $4,409) was recorded as an expense in stock-based compensation expense 
related to the Company’s RSU program in the consolidated statements of income with a corresponding adjustment to contributed 
surplus. 

Deferred Share Unit (“DSU”) Plan

During  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  granted  14,767  DSUs  (2017  –  17,100  DSUs,  respectively)  to  directors 
under its DSU Plan. DSUs are granted at fair market value at the grant date and vest immediately upon grant. For the year ended 
December 31, 2018, $741 (2017 – $628, respectively) was recorded as stock-based compensation expense under the DSU Plan in 
the consolidated statements of income. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2018, an additional 3,684 DSUs (2017 – 3,460 
DSUs) were granted as a result of dividends reinvested.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $6,836 in stock-based compensation expense. (2017 – $5,623).

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  125

Contributed Surplus

The following is a continuity of the activity in the contributed surplus account: 

Contributed surplus, beginning of year

Equity-settled stock-based compensation expense

Stock options

Restricted share units

Deferred share units

Equity component of convertible debentures

Reduction due to exercise of stock-based compensation

Stock options

Restricted share units

Contributed surplus, end of year

16. OTHER EXPENSES

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

15,305

 914 

 5,181 

 741 

-

 (112)

 (5,924)

16,105

9,943

586

4,409

628

3,220

(486)

(2,995)

15,305

In the normal course of its operations, the Company periodically sells select lease portfolios and other assets. For the year ended 
December 31, 2018, other expenses included net gains realized on the sale of lease portfolios and other assets of $0.6 million 
(2017 – $2.9 million). 

17. FINANCE COSTS

Finance costs in consolidated statements of income include interest expense, amortization of deferred financing costs and accretion 
expense on both the credit facilities and the convertible debentures. As a result of repaying the term loan in 2017, the Company 
incurred an early repayment penalty and expensed the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the term 
loan resulting in a one-time before tax charge of $8.2 million in 2017.

Interest expense

Amortization of deferred financing costs and accretion expense

Refinancing cost

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 41,260 

 4,540 

 - 

45,800

25,660

2,982

8,198

36,840

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  126

 
18. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s income tax provision was determined as follows:

Combined basic federal and provincial income tax rates

Expected income tax expense

Non-deductible expenses

US and SPE results not tax effected

Effect of capital gains on sale of assets and investments

Other

The significant components of the Company’s income tax expense were as follows:

Current income tax:

Current income tax charge

Adjustments in respect of prior years and other

Deferred income tax:

Relating to origination and reversal of temporary differences

The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows:

Amounts receivable and allowance for credit losses

Premium on Notes Payable

Stock based compensation

Unearned revenue

Loss carry forwards

Revaluation of Notes Payable and cross-currency swaps

Tax cost of lease assets and property and equipment in excess of net book 

value

Financing fees

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

27.2%

20,112

574

27

(92)

172

20,793

27.2%

13,765

410

841

(401)

(194)

14,421

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 23,689 

 665 

 24,354 

(3,561)

20,793

15,853

(4,999)

10,854

3,567

14,421

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 7,481

 2,350 

 1,994 

 454 

 187 

 (986)

(991)

 (1,044)

9,445

1,676

-

1,848

462

-

-

(1,620)

(245)

2,121

All  changes  to  the  deferred  tax  assets  were  recorded  as  an  expense  in  deferred  tax  expense  in  the  consolidated  statements  
of income. 

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was no recognized deferred tax liabilities for taxes that would be payable on the undistributed 
earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company has determined that undistributed earnings of its subsidiaries would not be 
distributed in the foreseeable future.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  127

19. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share amounts were calculated by dividing the net income for the year by the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares and DSUs outstanding. DSUs were included in the calculation of the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
outstanding as these units vest upon grant.

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Net income

Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (in 000’s)

Basic earnings per ordinary share

 53,124 

 14,045 

 3.78 

36,132

13,544

2.67

For the year ended December 31, 2018, 173,667 DSUs (2017 - 154,201 DSUs) were included in the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares outstanding.

Diluted Earnings Per Share

Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilutive effect that could occur if additional Common Shares were assumed to be 
issued under securities or instruments that may entitle their holders to obtain Common Shares in the future. Dilution could occur 
through the exercise of stock options, the exercise of RSUs, or the exercise of the conversion option of the convertible debentures. 
The number of additional shares for inclusion in the diluted earnings per share calculation was determined using the treasury stock 
method. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the convertible debentures were dilutive. Therefore, diluted earnings 
per share is calculated based on a fully diluted net income (adjusted for the after-tax financing cost associated with the convertible 
debentures) and including the shares to which those debentures could be converted. 

Net income

After tax impact of convertible debentures

Fully diluted net income

Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (in 000’s)

Dilutive effect of stock-based compensation (in 000’s)

Dilutive effect of convertible debentures (in 000’s)

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 53,124 

 2,690 

 55,814 

 14,045 

 496 

 1,130 

36,132

1,790

37,922

13,544

559

702

Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding (in 000’s)

15,671

14,805

Dilutive earnings per ordinary share

3.56

2.56

For the year ended December 31, 2018, 185,784 stock options to acquire Common Shares (2017 – 238,088), were considered anti-
dilutive using the treasury stock method and therefore excluded in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  128

20. NET CHANGE IN OTHER OPERATING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The net change in other operating assets and liabilities was as follows:

Amounts receivable

Prepaid expenses

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Income taxes payable

Deferred lease inducements

Unearned revenue

Accrued interest

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 (1,028)

 (290)

 2,032 

 (1,946)

 (60)

 1,183 

 1,956 

1,847 

(6,565)

(1,636)

10,584

6,571

(212)

(385)

7,279

15,636

Supplemental disclosures in respect of the consolidated statements of cash flows comprised the following:

Income taxes paid

Income taxes refunded

Interest paid

Interest received

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 26,300 

 - 

 45,023 

 253,578 

6,516

2,233

12,687

174,478

21. COMMITMENTS AND GUARANTEES

The Company is committed to software maintenance, development and licensing service agreements, and operating leases for 
premises and vehicles. The minimum annual lease payments plus estimated operating costs required for the next five years and 
thereafter are as follows:

Premises

Vehicles

Technology commitments 

Total contractual obligations

Within 1 year

After 1 year,  
but not more 
than 5 years

More than 5 
years

 20,275 

 850 

 8,778 

29,903

42,946

 1,911 

 12,755 

57,612

56,121

 279 

 - 

56,400

During the year ended December 31, 2018, $31.8 million (2017 – $30.4 million) was recognized as an expense in the consolidated 
statements of income in respect of operating leases.

22. CONTINGENCIES

The Company was involved in various legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The resolution of these matters is 
not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, financial performance or cash flows.

The Company has agreed to indemnify its directors and officers and particular employees in accordance with the Company’s 
policies. The Company maintains insurance policies that may provide coverage against certain claims.

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  129

23. CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The  Company  manages  its  capital  to  maintain  its  ability  to  continue  as  a  going  concern  and  to  provide  adequate  returns  to 
shareholders by way of share appreciation and dividends. The capital structure of the Company consists of bank debt (revolving 
operating  facility),  Notes  Payable,  convertible  debentures  and  shareholders’  equity,  which  includes  share  capital,  contributed 
surplus, accumulated other comprehensive income and retained earnings.

The  Company  manages  its  capital  structure  and  makes  adjustments  to  it  in  light  of  economic  conditions.  The  Company,  upon 
approval from its Board of Directors, will balance its overall capital structure through new share issues, share repurchases, the 
payment of dividends, increasing or decreasing bank debt and term debt or by undertaking other activities as deemed appropriate 
under specific circumstances. The Company’s strategy, objectives, measures, definitions and targets have not changed significantly 
in the past year.

The Company has externally imposed capital requirements as governed through its financing facilities. These requirements are to 
ensure the Company continues to operate in the normal course of business and to ensure the Company manages its debt relative 
to net worth. The capital requirements are congruent with the Company’s management of capital.

The Company monitors capital on the basis of the financial covenants of its financing facilities. 

For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2018  and  2017,  the  Company  was  in  compliance  with  all  of  its  externally  imposed  
financial covenants.

24. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT 

Overview

The Company’s activities are exposed to a variety of financial risks: credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk and currency risk. 
The Company’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial and economic markets and seeks to 
minimize potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. 

Credit Risk

The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of the amounts receivable, consumer loans receivable 
and lease assets with customers under merchandise lease agreements. The Company makes consumer loans and leases products 
to thousands of customers pursuant to policies and procedures that are intended to ensure that there is no concentration of credit 
risk with any particular individual, Company or other entity, although the Company is subject to a higher level of credit risk due to 
the credit constrained nature of many of the Company’s customers and in circumstances where its policies and procedures are not 
complied with.

The credit risk on the Company’s consumer loans receivable made in accordance with policies and procedures is impacted by 
FLIs.  The  analysis  performed  by  the  Company  determined  that  the  rate  of  inflation  and  rate  of  unemployment  were  positively 
correlated  with  the  Company’s  historic  loss  rates  while  oil  prices  were  negatively  correlated  with  the  Company’s  historic  loss 
rates.  For  purposes  of  determining  its  allowance  for  loan  losses  at  each  statement  of  financial  position  date,  the  Company 
utilizes the forecasts of these FLIs from five large Canadian banks. The impact on the allowance for credit losses as a percentage 
of ending gross consumer loans receivable should each of these FLIs increase (or decrease) by 10%, as at December 31, 2018 is 
as follows:

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  130

Rate of unemployment 

Rate of inflation 

Oil prices

Impact on allowance for credit 
losses as a percentage of the 
ending gross consumer loans 
receivable

+/- 43 bps

+/- 9 bps

-/+ 22 bps

Change in FLIs

+/- 10%

+/- 10%

+/- 10%

As at December 31, 2018, the Company’s gross consumer loan receivable portfolio was $833.7 million (2017 – $526.5 million). Net 
charge-offs expressed as a percentage of the average loan book were 12.7% for the year ended December 31, 2018 (2017 – 13.6%).

The credit risk related to lease assets with customer’s results from the possibility of customer default with respect to agreed upon 
payments or in not returning the lease assets. The Company has a standard collection process in place in the event of payment 
default, which includes the recovery of the lease asset if satisfactory payment terms cannot be worked out with the customer, as the 
Company maintains ownership of the lease assets until payment options are exercised. As at December 31, 2018, the Company’s 
lease assets were $51.6 million (2017 – $54.3 million). Lease asset losses for the year ended December 31, 2018 represented 3.3% 
(2017 – 3.0%) of total revenue for the easyhome segment. 

The credit risk related to other amounts receivable are managed in accordance with policies and procedures resulting from the 
possibility of default on rebate payments, amounts due from licensee and franchisees and other amounts receivable. The Company 
deals  with  credible  companies,  performs  ongoing  credit  evaluations  of  creditors  and  consumers  and  allows  for  uncollectible 
amounts when determined to be appropriate.

Liquidity Risk

The Company addresses liquidity risk management by maintaining sufficient availability of funding through its financing facility. 
The Company manages its cash resources based on financial forecasts and anticipated cash flows, which are periodically reviewed 
with the Company’s Board of Directors.

The Company believes that the cash flow provided by operations and funds available from the credit facility will be sufficient in 
the near term to meet operational requirements, purchase lease assets, meet capital spending requirements and pay dividends. 
In addition, the incremental financing obtained in 2018 will allow the Company to continue growing its consumer loans receivable 
portfolio  into  the  third  quarter  of  2020.  In  order  for  the  Company  to  achieve  the  full  growth  opportunities  available,  however, 
additional  sources  of  financing  over  and  above  the  currently  available  credit  facility  will  be  required  in  the  future.  There  is  no 
certainty that these long-term sources of capital will be available or at terms favourable to the Company.

Substantially all liabilities are due within 12 months with the exception of the Company’s credit facilities. These credit facilitates 
have no current component and are due as disclosed in note 12 & 13. As at December 31, 2018, no amount was drawn on Company’s 
revolving credit facilities (note 11).

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk measures the Company’s risk of financial loss due to adverse movements in interest rates. As at December 31, 
2018 the Notes Payable and the Convertible Debentures had a fixed rate of interest. The $174.5 million Revolving Facility has a 
variable interest rate at either the Canadian Banker’s Acceptance rate plus 450 bps or the lender’s prime rate plus 350 bps, at the 
option of the Company. However as of December 31, 2018 the Company had not drawn upon this facility. 

The Company does not hedge interest rates. Accordingly, future changes in interest rates will affect the amount of interest expense 
payable by the Company to the extent that draws are made on the variable rate Revolving Facility.

As at December 31, 2018, none of the Company’s outstanding borrowings were subject to movements in floating interest rates. 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  131

Currency Risk

Currency risk measures the Company’s risk of financial loss due to adverse movements in currency exchange rates. 

The Company completed an offering of US$325 million Notes Payable in 2017 and US$150 million in 2018. These Notes Payable 
are due November 1, 2022 with a US coupon rate of 7.875%. Concurrent with these offerings, the Company entered into currency 
swap agreements to fix the foreign exchange rate for the proceeds from the offerings and for all required payments of principal and 
interest under these Notes Payable effectively hedging the obligation. The hedge is designed to match the cash flow obligations of 
the Company under the Notes Payable.

The Company sources a portion of the assets it leases in Canada from US suppliers. As a result, the Company had foreign exchange 
transaction exposure. These purchases were funded using the spot rate prevailing at the date of purchase. Pricing to customers 
can be adjusted to reflect changes in the Canadian dollar landed cost of imported goods and, as such, there is not a material foreign 
currency transaction exposure. A 5% movement in the Canadian and US exchange rate would have increased or decreased net 
income for the year by approximately $5.

25. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments

The Company classified its financial instruments as follows:

Financial instruments

Measurement

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

Cash

Amounts receivable

Consumer loans receivable

Derivative financial assets

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities

Convertible debentures

Notes Payable

Fair Value Measurement

Amortized cost

Amortized cost

Amortized cost

Fair value 

Amortized cost

Fair value 

Amortized cost

Amortized cost

 100,188 

 15,450 

 782,864 

35,094 

 45,103 

 - 

 40,581 

 650,481 

 109,370 

 14,422 

 513,425 

 - 

 43,071 

 11,138 

 47,985 

 401,193 

All assets and liabilities for which fair value was measured or disclosed in the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial 
statements  were  categorized  within  the  fair  value  hierarchy,  described  as  follows,  based  on  the  lowest  level  input  that  was 
significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:

•  Level 1 — Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
•  Level 2 — Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or  
    indirectly observable
•  Level  3  —  Valuation  techniques  for  which  the  lowest  level  input  that  is  significant  to  the  fair  value  measurement  
    is unobservable

The hierarchy required the use of observable market data when available. The following table provides the fair value measurement 

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  132

hierarchy of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured as at December 31, 2018 and 2017:

December 31, 2018

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Cash

Amounts receivable

Consumer loans receivable

Derivative financial asset

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Convertible debentures

Notes Payable

100,188

15,450

782,864

35,094

45,103

40,581

650,481 

100,188

-

-

-

-

-

-

December 31, 2017

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Cash

Amounts receivable

Consumer loans receivable

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities

Convertible debentures

Notes Payable

109,370

14,422

513,425

43,071

11,138

47,985

401,193

109,370

-

-

-

-

-

-

There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 during the current or prior year.

-

-

-

35,094

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

11,138

-

-

-

15,450

782,864

-

45,103

40,581

650,481

Level 3

-

14,422

513,425

43,071

-

47,985

401,193

26. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Key management personnel includes all corporate officers with the position of president, executive vice president or senior vice 
president. The following summarizes the expense related to key management personnel during the year.

Short-term employee benefits including salaries

Share-based payment transactions

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 6,049 

 4,111 

10,160 

 5,617 

 3,993 

9,610

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  133

27. SEGMENTED REPORTING

For management purposes, the Company had two reportable segments: easyfinancial and easyhome. The Company’s business units 
generate revenue in four main categories: i) interest generated on the Company’s gross consumer loans receivable portfolio; ii) 
lease payments generated by easyhome lease agreements; iii) commissions and other revenues generated by the sale of various 
ancillary products; and iv) charges and fees.

General and administrative expenses directly related to the Company’s business segments were included as operating expenses 
for those segments. All other general and administrative expenses were reported separately as part of Corporate. Management 
assessed the performance based on segment operating income (loss). The following tables summarize the relevant information for 
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:

Year ended December 31, 2018

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate 

Total

Revenue

Interest income

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and 

amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Segment operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred 
financing charges

 250,622 

 - 

 110,423 

 7,280 

 368,325 

 218,138 

 8,333 

 141,854 

 5,375 

 119,745 

 6,577 

 6,169 

 137,866 

 74,215 

 42,104 

 21,547 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 42,118 

 1,566 

 (43,684)

-

-

-

-

45,800

45,800

Income (loss) before income taxes

 141,854 

 21,547 

 (89,484)

 255,997 

 119,745 

 117,000 

 13,449 

 506,191 

 334,471 

 52,003 

 119,717 

45,800

45,800

 73,917 

Year ended December 31, 2017

easyfinancial

easyhome

Corporate 

Total

Revenue

Interest income

Lease revenue

Commissions earned

Charges and fees

Total operating expenses before depreciation and 

amortization 

Depreciation and amortization

Segment operating income (loss)

Finance costs

Interest expense and amortization of deferred 
financing charges

Refinancing cost

 171,667 

 - 

 86,598 

 6,203 

 264,468 

 154,559 

7,255

102,654

-

-

-

 648 

 125,111 

 4,755 

 6,746 

 137,260 

 72,570 

43,808

20,882

-

-

-

Income (loss) before income taxes

102,654

20,882

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 34,998 

1,145

(36,143)

28,642

8,198

36,840

(72,983)

172,315 

125,111 

91,353 

12,949 

401,728 

262,127 

52,208

87,393

28,642

8,198

36,840

50,553

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  134

As at December 31, 2018, the Company’s goodwill of $21.3 million (December 31, 2017 – $21.3 million) related entirely to its easy-
home segment.

In scope under IFRS 15 are revenues relating to commissions earned and charges and fees. Lease revenue is covered under IAS 
17. Included in lease revenue is certain additional services provided by the Company related to the lease, but which fall under the 
scope of IFRS 15. These revenues totaled $14.2 million and $14.8 million in 2018 and 2017 respectively.

The Company’s easyhome business consisted of four major product categories: furniture, electronics, computers and appliances. 
Lease revenue generated by these product categories as a percentage of total lease revenue years ended December 31, 2018 and 
2017 were as follows:

Furniture

Electronics

Computers

Appliances

December 31, 2018 
(%)

December 31, 2017 
(%)

 44

 31 

 12 

 13 

100

44

32

12

12

100

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  135

Corporate Information

Head Office
33 City Centre Drive 
Suite 510
Mississauga, Ontario 
L5B 2N5
Tel: 

(905) 272-2788

Investor Relations
Jason Mullins
President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 

(905) 272-2788

David Ingram
Executive Chairman of the Board 
Tel: 

(905) 272-2788

Bankers
Bank of Montreal 
Toronto, Ontario

Wells Fargo Canada 
Toronto, Ontario

Canadian Imperial Bank  
of Commerce
Toronto, Ontario

ICICI Canada 
Toronto, Ontario

Transfer Agent
TSX Trust Company
Toronto, Ontario

Listed
Toronto Stock Exchange
Trading Symbol: GSY

Solicitors
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Toronto, Ontario

Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
Toronto, Ontario

Website
www.goeasy.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATE OFFICERS

David Ingram
Executive Chairman of the Board

Jason Mullins
President & Chief Executive Officer

Donald K. Johnson
Chairman Emeritus

David Appel
Corporate Director

Karen Basian
Corporate Director

Susan Doniz 
Corporate Director

Sean Morrison 
Corporate Director 

David J. Thomson 
Corporate Director 

Jason Appel
Executive Vice President & Chief Risk Officer

Andrea Fiederer 
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer

David Cooper 
Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Shadi Khatib
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer

Shane Pennell
Senior Vice President, Operations and Shared Services

Steven Poole 
Senior Vice President, Operations and Merchandising

David Yeilding 
Senior Vice President, Finance (Interim Chief Financial Officer)

Sabrina Anzini
Vice President, Legal

goeasy Ltd. 2018 Annual Report  |  136

 
33 City Centre Drive, Suite 510
Mississauga, Ontario L5B 2N5
Tel: (905) 272-2788
www.goeasy.com