e8vk
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 8, 2010
 
EZCORP, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  0-19424
(Commission File Number)
  74-2540145
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1901 Capital Parkway, Austin, Texas 78746
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (512) 314-3400
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 8.01   — Other Events
On June 8, 2010, EZCORP, Inc. issued a press release announcing the completion of the acquisition of eight pawn stores in Florida. A copy of that press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01   — Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
         
  99.1    
Press Release, dated June 8, 2010
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  EZCORP, INC.
 
 
Date: June 8, 2010  By:   /s/ Thomas H. Welch, Jr.    
    Thomas H. Welch, Jr.   
    Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary 
 
 

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EXHIBIT INDEX
         
Exhibit    
No.   Description of Exhibit
  99.1    
Press Release, dated June 8, 2010

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exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
(LOGO)
EZCORP ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF PAWN STORES IN FLORIDA
AUSTIN, Texas (June 8, 2010) — EZCORP, Inc. (Nasdaq: EZPW) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of eight pawn stores located in Central and South Florida. The stores, which have been operated under various brand names, were purchased for cash from Legacy Equity Fund, Inc. The company currently expects to operate the stores under the “Value Pawn” brand.
“The acquisition of these stores strengthens our position as the largest pawn store operator in Florida,” said Eric Fosse, President of the company’s Pawn Americas division. “Florida is our second-largest state in terms of pawn presence, and the addition of these eight stores gives us a total of 85 pawn locations in Florida. We believe that our size and scale will enable us to grow these stores by providing additional services to existing customers and by attracting and retaining new customers. This acquisition also allows us to further leverage our current multi-unit management infrastructure.”
“Five of the new stores are located in and around St. Petersburg, which is an underpenetrated area for us,” continued Mr. Fosse. “The remaining three stores are located in the Miami area, and enhance our presence in South Florida.”
Paul Rothamel, the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, stated: “We are always looking for attractive growth opportunities, including pawn acquisitions that offer us strategic advantages. Our focus is to enter new geographic areas, and to solidify and expand our presence in underserved areas. We believe that this will continue to be an important component of our ongoing initiative to grow our worldwide business.”
About EZCORP
EZCORP is a leading pawn store operator and provider of specialty consumer financial services. It provides collateralized non-recourse loans, commonly known as pawn loans, and a variety of short-term consumer loans, including payday loans, installment loans and auto title loans, or fee-based credit services to customers seeking loans. At its pawn stores, the company also sells second-hand merchandise, primarily collateral forfeited from its pawn lending operations.
At March 31, 2010, EZCORP operated 450 pawn stores in the U.S. and Mexico and 482 short-term consumer loan stores in the U.S. and Canada. The company also has significant investments in Albemarle & Bond Holdings PLC (ABM.L), one of the U.K.’s largest pawnbroking businesses with over 120 stores, and Cash Converters International Limited (CCV.L and CCV.AUS), which franchises and operates a worldwide network of over 500 financial services and second-hand retail stores.
For additional information, contact Investor Relations at (512) 314-2220.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s expected performance in future periods, including the anticipated impact of the newly acquired stores. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations. Actual results for future periods may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to a number of uncertainties and other factors, including changing market conditions in the overall economy and the industry, consumer demand for the Company’s services and merchandise and changes in the regulatory environment. For a discussion of these and other factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects, see the Company’s annual, quarterly and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.