Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2009 Results and Additions to Management Team

July 30, 2009 at 9:03 AM EDT

SAN DIEGO, July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECPG), a leading distressed consumer debt management company, today reported consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009.

    For the second quarter of 2009:

    --  Gross collections were $122.4 million, a 20% increase over the $102.1
        million in the same period of the prior year.  Excluding portfolio
        sales, collections were $121.6 million, a 24% increase over the $98.5
        million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Investment in receivable portfolios was $82.0 million, to purchase
        $1.9 billion in face value of debt, compared to $52.5 million, to
        purchase $1.8 billion in face value of debt in the same period of the
        prior year.  Available capacity under the revolving credit facility,
        subject to borrowing base and applicable debt covenants, was $56.0
        million as of June 30, 2009.  Total debt, consisting of the revolving
        credit facility, convertible senior notes and capital lease
        obligations, was $320.3 million as of June 30, 2009, an increase of 5%
        from $303.7 million as of December 31, 2008.
    --  Revenue from receivable portfolios was $74.0 million, a 12% increase
        over the $66.3 million in the same period of the prior year.  Revenue
        recognized on receivable portfolios, as a percentage of portfolio
        collections, excluding the effects of impairment provisions, was 64%,
        compared to 68% in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Revenue from bankruptcy servicing was $4.0 million, a 9% increase over
        the $3.7 million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Total operating expenses were $63.5 million, a 14% increase over the
        $55.9 million in the same period of the prior year.  Operating expense
        (excluding stock-based compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing
        operating expenses) per dollar collected decreased to 48.3% compared
        to 50.0% in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income before interest, taxes,
        depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense and
        portfolio amortization, was $64.7 million, a 22% increase over the
        $53.0 million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Total interest expense was $4.0 million, compared to $4.8 million in
        the same period of the prior year.
    --  Net income was $6.6 million or $0.28 per fully diluted share, compared
        to net income of $6.2 million or $0.26 per fully diluted share in the
        same period of the prior year.

    --  Tangible book value per share, computed by dividing total
        stockholders' equity less goodwill and identifiable intangible assets
        by the number of diluted shares outstanding, was $8.51 as of June 30,
        2009, an 8% increase over $7.86 as of December 31, 2008.


    Additional Financial Information:

Certain events affected the comparability of 2009 versus 2008 quarterly results, as outlined below. For a more detailed comparison of 2009 versus 2008 results, refer to Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.

    --  In the second quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a net impairment
        provision of $4.6 million, compared to a net impairment provision of
        $3.4 million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  In the second quarter of 2009, the Company expensed $10.6 million in
        upfront court costs, compared to $9.2 million in the same period of
        the prior year.

    --  In the second quarter of 2009, general and administrative expenses
        increased by $2.5 million to $7.1 million, compared to $4.6 million in
        the same period of the prior year.  The increase was primarily the
        result of an increase of $2.2 million in corporate legal expenses
        related primarily to our Jefferson Capital arbitration and an increase
        of $0.4 million in building rent primarily in India where we are
        incurring rental charges at two locations, as we build out a larger
        site.


    Additions to Management Team

Separately, the Company announced the planned addition of two new senior executives. Ronald E. Naves, Jr. will join the Company as Senior Vice President and General Counsel and Ashish Masih will join Encore as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. Ron comes to Encore after a distinguished career in the public and private sectors. Most recently, he was the Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and Litigation at Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. Prior to Gemstar, he served in senior corporate positions including Group Counsel at Gateway, Inc. Mr. Naves has an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, a JD from Pepperdine University and a BA from the University of Connecticut. Ashish joins Encore from Capital One where he held many senior roles in the Collections and Recoveries areas. Prior to joining Capital One, Mr. Masih was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company and a Manager at KPMG Consulting. Ashish has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Lehigh University and a Bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology. Both Ron and Ashish will officially join Encore in August.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included information concerning Adjusted EBITDA because management utilizes this information, which is materially similar to a financial measure contained in covenants used in the Company's credit agreement, in the evaluation of its operations and believes that this measure is a useful indicator of the Company's ability to generate cash collections in excess of operating expenses through the liquidation of its receivable portfolios. The Company has included information concerning total operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of approximate cash costs to cash collections for the debt purchasing business in the periods presented. The Company has included information concerning tangible book value per share because management believes that this metric is a meaningful measure that reflects the equity deployed in the business. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income and total operating expenses as indicators of Encore Capital Group's operating performance and total stockholders' equity as an indicator of Encore Capital Group's financial condition. Adjusted EBITDA, operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing operating expenses, and tangible book value per share have not been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures, as presented by Encore Capital Group, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has included a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to reported earnings under GAAP, a reconciliation of operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing operating expenses to the GAAP measure total operating expenses, and a reconciliation of tangible book value per share to the GAAP measure total stockholders' equity in the attached financial tables.

About Encore Capital Group, Inc.

Encore Capital Group, Inc. is a systems-driven purchaser and manager of charged-off consumer receivables portfolios. More information on the company can be found at www.encorecapitalgroup.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including, most importantly, those statements preceded by, or that include, the words "may," "believe," "projects," "expects," "anticipates" or the negation thereof, or similar expressions, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the appointment of additional management, future operating results and industry trends. For all "forward-looking statements," the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact:

    Encore Capital Group, Inc.
    Paul Grinberg (858) 309-6904
    paul.grinberg@encorecapitalgroup.com
    or
    Ren Zamora (858) 560-3598
    ren.zamora@encorecapitalgroup.com


    FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW
                         ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
           Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
                       (In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                      June 30,   December 31,
                                                        2009        2008
                                                                  Adjusted
     Assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                          $5,935     $10,341
     Accounts receivable, net                            3,385       1,757
     Investment in receivable portfolios, net          506,708     461,346
     Deferred court costs                               29,760      28,335
     Property and equipment, net                         6,750       6,290
     Prepaid income tax                                      -       7,935
     Forward flow asset                                 10,302      10,302
     Other assets                                        5,073       5,049
     Goodwill                                           15,985      15,985
     Identifiable intangible assets, net                 1,418       1,739

           Total assets                               $585,316    $549,079

     Liabilities and stockholders' equity
     Liabilities:
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities         $19,410     $18,204
      Income tax payable                                   686           -
      Deferred tax liabilities, net                     15,468      15,108
      Deferred revenue and purchased servicing
       obligation                                        5,400       5,203
      Debt                                             320,340     303,655
      Other liabilities                                  2,648       3,483

         Total liabilities                             363,952     345,653

     Commitments and contingencies
     Stockholders' equity:
      Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value,
       5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and
       outstanding                                           -           -
      Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000 shares
       authorized, 23,138 shares and 23,053 shares
       issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2009,
       and December 31, 2008, respectively                 231         231
      Additional paid-in capital                       100,321      98,521
      Accumulated earnings                             122,433     106,795
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss              (1,621)     (2,121)

         Total stockholders' equity                    221,364     203,426

           Total liabilities and stockholders'
            equity                                    $585,316    $549,079



                           ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
                   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                   (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                                 (Unaudited)


                                   Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,               June 30,
                                    2009        2008      2009         2008
                                              Adjusted               Adjusted
     Revenue
      Revenue from receivable
       portfolios, net             $73,965    $66,275   $146,240   $130,343
      Servicing fees and other
       related revenue               4,070      3,745      8,241      7,231

           Total revenue            78,035     70,020    154,481    137,574

     Operating expenses
      Salaries and employee
       benefits (excluding
       stock-based compensation
       expense)                     14,762     15,689     28,719     30,540
      Stock-based compensation
       expense                         994      1,228      2,074      2,322
      Cost of legal collections     28,626     23,829     58,573     44,135
      Other operating expenses       6,598      5,987     12,578     11,638
      Collection agency commissions  4,797      3,781      7,688      7,812
      General and administrative
       expenses                      7,097      4,581     12,794      9,041
      Depreciation and amortization    620        766      1,243      1,488

           Total operating expenses 63,494     55,861    123,669    106,976

     Income before other (expense)
      income and income taxes       14,541     14,159     30,812     30,598

     Other (expense) income
      Interest expense              (3,958)    (4,831)    (8,231)   (10,031)
      Gain on repurchase of
       convertible notes, net          215        707      3,268        707
      Other income (expense)             9        352       (72 )       373

         Total other expense        (3,734)    (3,772)    (5,035)    (8,951)

     Income before income taxes     10,807     10,387     25,777     21,647
     Provision for income taxes     (4,166)    (4,225)   (10,139)    (8,734)

     Net income                     $6,641     $6,162    $15,638    $12,913

     Weighted average shares
      outstanding:
      Basic                         23,168     23,007     23,145     23,000
      Diluted                       23,971     23,512     23,811     23,468
     Earnings per share:
      Basic                          $0.29      $0.27      $0.68      $0.56
      Diluted                        $0.28      $0.26      $0.66      $0.55



                           ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                            (Unaudited, In Thousands)

                                                           Six Months Ended
                                                               June 30,
                                                           2009        2008
                                                                    Adjusted

     Operating activities:
     Net Income                                          $15,638     $12,913
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
      provided by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization                        1,243       1,488
      Amortization of loan costs and debt discount         2,160       3,110
      Stock-based compensation expense                     2,074       2,322
      Gain on repurchase of convertible notes, net        (3,268)       (707)
      Deferred income tax expense                            360          36
      Tax provision from stock-based payment
       arrangements                                           43          12
      Provision for impairment on receivable
       portfolios, net                                     9,991       8,725
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities
      Other assets                                        (2,456)      1,008
      Deferred court costs                                (1,425)     (4,622)
      Prepaid income tax and income tax payable            8,577       8,846
      Deferred revenue and purchased service
       obligation                                            197         472
      Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other
       liabilities                                           611        (217)

     Net cash provided by operating activities            33,745      33,386

     Investing activities:
      Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of
       forward flow allocation                          (137,946)    (94,833)
      Collections applied to investment in receivable
       portfolios, net                                    81,163      67,272
      Proceeds from put-backs of receivable portfolios     1,430       2,047
      Purchases of property and equipment                 (1,400)     (2,034)

     Net cash used in investing activities               (56,753)    (27,548)

     Financing activities:
      Proceeds from revolving credit facility             62,500      15,000
      Repayment of revolving credit facility             (21,500)    (17,169)
      Repurchase of convertible notes                    (22,262)     (3,500)
      Proceeds from exercise of stock options                 29           8
      Tax provision from stock-based payment
       arrangements                                          (43)        (12)
      Repayment of capital lease obligations                (122)       (145)

     Net cash provided by (used in) financing
      activities                                          18,602      (5,818)

     Net (decrease) increase in cash                      (4,406)         20
     Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period       10,341       8,676
     Cash and cash equivalents, end of period             $5,935      $8,696
     Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
      information:
      Cash paid for interest                              $6,435      $6,792
      Income tax payment (refund)                         $1,626       $(236)
     Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and
      financing activities:
      Allocation of forward flow asset to acquired
       receivable portfolios                                  $-      $2,926


                            ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
                       Supplemental Financial Information
          Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Income, Operating
       Expenses, Excluding Stock-based Compensation Expense and Bankruptcy
       Servicing Operating Expenses to GAAP Total Operating Expenses, and
        Tangible Book Value Per Share to GAAP Total Stockholders' Equity
                (Unaudited, In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                 June 30,
                                                              2009      2008
                                                                      Adjusted

    GAAP net income, as reported                             $6,641     $6,162
    Interest expense                                          3,958      4,831
    Provision for income taxes                                4,166      4,225
    Depreciation and amortization                               620        766
    Amount applied to principal on receivable portfolios     48,303     35,785
    Stock-based compensation expense                            994      1,228

    Adjusted EBITDA                                         $64,682    $52,997

                                                            Three Months Ended
                                                                 June 30,
                                                             2009       2008

    GAAP total operating expenses, as reported             $63,494    $55,861
    Stock-based compensation expense                          (994)    (1,228)
    Bankruptcy servicing operating expenses                 (3,454)    (3,576)

    Operating expenses, excluding stock-based
     compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing
     operating expenses                                    $59,046    $51,057



                                                       As of        As of
                                                  June 30, 2009  December 2008
                                                                    Adjusted

    GAAP total stockholders' equity, as reported       $221,364    $203,426
    Goodwill                                            (15,985)    (15,985)
    Identifiable intangible assets, net                  (1,418)     (1,739)

    Tangible book value                                $203,961    $185,702
    Diluted shares outstanding                           23,971      23,632

    Tangible book value per share                         $8.51       $7.86

SOURCE  Encore Capital Group, Inc.

    -0-                           07/30/2009
    /CONTACT:  Paul Grinberg, +1-858-309-6904,
paul.grinberg@encorecapitalgroup.com; or Ren Zamora, +1-858-560-3598,
ren.zamora@encorecapitalgroup.com, both of Encore Capital Group, Inc./
    /Web Site:  http://www.encorecapitalgroup.com /
    (ECPG)

CO:  Encore Capital Group, Inc.

ST:  California
IN:  FIN
SU:  ERN PER

PR
-- LA54239 --
7389 07/30/2009 09:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com