Encore Capital Group Announces Third Quarter 2009 Results

October 28, 2009 at 4:07 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECPG), a leading distressed consumer debt management company, today reported consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

For the third quarter of 2009:

    --  Gross collections were $125.7 million, a 29% increase over the $97.8
        million in the same period of the prior year.  Excluding portfolio
        sales, collections were $120.4 million, a 27% increase over the $94.6
        million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Investment in receivable portfolios was $77.7 million, to purchase $2.2
        billion in face value of debt, compared to $66.1 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 $53.0 million as of
        September 30, 2009.  Total debt, consisting of the revolving credit
        facility, convertible senior notes and capital lease obligations, was
        $324.4 million as of September 30, 2009, an increase of 7% from $303.7
        million as of December 31, 2008.
    --  Revenue from receivable portfolios was $76.4 million, a 22% increase
        over the $62.6 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 71% in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Revenue from bankruptcy servicing was $3.9 million, a 3% increase over
        the $3.8 million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Total operating expenses were $61.5 million, a 10% increase over the
        $55.8 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 45.4% compared to
        52.2% 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 $70.0 million, a 48% increase over the $47.3
        million in the same period of the prior year.
    --  Total interest expense was $4.0 million, compared to $5.1 million in the
        same period of the prior year.
    --  Net income was $9.0 million or $0.37 per fully diluted share, compared
        to net income of $3.0 million or $0.13 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 $8.87 as of September 30, 2009, a 13%
        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 September 30, 2009.

    --  In the third quarter of 2009, the Company recorded a net impairment
        provision of $4.3 million, compared to a net impairment provision of
        $7.3 million in the same period of the prior year.

    --  In the third quarter of 2009, general and administrative expenses
        increased by $2.4 million to $7.3 million, compared to $4.9 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 settled Jefferson Capital arbitration and an
        increase of $0.5 million in building rent primarily in India where we
        are incurring rental charges at two locations, as we build out a larger
        site.

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.


    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)

                                                    September 30, December 31,
                                                         2009        2008
                                                         ----        ----
                                                                    Adjusted
                                                                    --------
    Assets
    Cash and cash equivalents                           $6,940      $10,341
    Accounts receivable, net                             3,211        1,757
    Investment in receivable portfolios, net           534,656      461,346
    Deferred court costs                                27,710       28,335
    Property and equipment, net                          8,698        6,290
    Prepaid income tax                                       -        7,935
    Forward flow asset                                       -       10,302
    Other assets                                         4,414        5,049
    Goodwill                                            15,985       15,985
    Identifiable intangible assets, net                  1,268        1,739
                                                       -------        -----
                Total assets                          $602,882     $549,079
                                                      ========     ========

    Liabilities and stockholders' equity
    Liabilities:
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities       $19,775      $18,204
        Income taxes payable                             3,256            -
        Deferred tax liabilities, net                   15,545       15,108
        Deferred revenue and purchased servicing
         obligation                                      5,675        5,203
        Debt                                           324,394      303,655
        Other liabilities                                2,306        3,483
                                                         -----        -----

            Total liabilities                          370,951      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, 23,159 shares and 23,053 shares
         issued and outstanding as of September 30,
         2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively         232          231
        Additional paid-in capital                     101,677       98,521
        Accumulated earnings                           131,437      106,795
        Accumulated other comprehensive loss            (1,415)      (2,121)
                                                        ------       ------

            Total stockholders' equity                 231,931      203,426
                                                       -------      -------

                Total liabilities and stockholders'
                 Equity                               $602,882     $549,079
                                                      ========     ========



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

                                        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30,       September 30,
                                        ------------------   -----------------
                                           2009     2008       2009     2008
                                           ----     ----       ----     ----
                                                  Adjusted            Adjusted
                                                  --------            --------

    Revenue
        Revenue from receivable
         portfolios, net                 $76,448  $62,557  $222,688  $192,900
        Servicing fees and other
         related revenue                   3,938    3,816    12,179    11,047
                                           -----    -----    ------    ------
              Total revenue               80,386   66,373   234,867   203,947
                                          ------   ------   -------   -------

    Operating expenses
        Salaries and employee benefits
         (excluding stock-based
         compensation expense)            14,411   14,963    43,130    45,503
        Stock-based compensation expense   1,261      860     3,335     3,182
        Cost of legal collections         26,092   25,390    84,665    69,525
        Other operating expenses           6,034    6,018    18,612    17,656
        Collection agency commissions      5,795    2,996    13,483    10,808
        General and administrative
         expenses                          7,280    4,864    20,074    13,905
        Depreciation and amortization        652      674     1,895     2,162
                                             ---      ---     -----     -----
              Total operating expenses    61,525   55,765   185,194   162,741
                                          ------   ------   -------   -------

    Income before other (expense)
     income and income taxes              18,861   10,608    49,673    41,206
                                          ------   ------    ------    ------
    Other (expense) income
        Interest expense                  (3,970)  (5,140)  (12,201)  (15,171)
        Gain on repurchase of
         convertible notes, net                -        -     3,268       707
        Other income (expense)                61      (32)      (11)      341
                                             ---      ---       ---       ---

            Total other expense           (3,909)  (5,172)   (8,944)  (14,123)
                                          ------   ------    ------   -------

    Income before income taxes            14,952    5,436    40,729    27,083
    Provision for income taxes            (5,948)  (2,408)  (16,087)  (11,142)
                                          ------   ------   -------   -------
    Net income                            $9,004   $3,028   $24,642   $15,941
                                          ======   ======   =======   =======
    Weighted average shares outstanding:
        Basic                             23,225   23,029    23,177    23,009
        Diluted                           24,199   23,675    23,936    23,531
    Earnings per share:
        Basic                              $0.39    $0.13     $1.06     $0.69
        Diluted                            $0.37    $0.13     $1.03     $0.68


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

                                                           Nine Months Ended
                                                             September 30,
                                                             ------------
                                                           2009       2008
                                                           ----       ----
                                                                    Adjusted
                                                                    --------

    Operating activities:
    Net Income                                           $24,642     $15,941
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                      1,895       2,162
        Amortization of loan costs and debt discount       3,100       4,751
        Stock-based compensation expense                   3,335       3,182
        Gain on repurchase of convertible notes, net      (3,268)       (707)
        Deferred income tax expense                          437         825
        Tax provision from stock-based payment
         arrangements                                         42           4
        Provision for impairment on receivable
         portfolios, net                                  14,323      15,993
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities
        Other assets                                      (1,623)      1,091
        Deferred court costs                                 625      (6,674)
        Prepaid income tax and income tax payable         11,149       9,920
        Deferred revenue and purchased service
         obligation                                          472         999
        Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and
         other liabilities                                   840      (2,203)
                                                             ---      ------
    Net cash provided by operating activities             55,969      45,284
                                                          ------      ------
    Investing activities:
        Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of
         forward flow allocation                        (205,378)   (160,940)
        Collections applied to investment in
         receivable portfolios, net                      126,019      95,144
        Proceeds from put-backs of receivable
         portfolios                                        2,028       2,610
        Purchases of property and equipment               (3,626)     (2,139)
                                                          ------      ------
    Net cash used in investing activities                (80,957)    (65,325)
                                                         -------     -------
    Financing activities:
        Proceeds from revolving credit facility           85,500      57,000
        Repayment of revolving credit facility           (41,500)    (32,169)
        Repurchase of convertible notes                  (22,262)     (3,500)
        Proceeds from exercise of stock options              123          84
        Tax provision from stock-based payment
         arrangements                                        (42)         (4)
        Repayment of capital lease obligations              (232)       (208)
                                                            ----        ----
    Net cash provided by financing activities             21,587      21,203
                                                          ------      ------
    Net (decrease) increase in cash                       (3,401)      1,162
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period        10,341       8,676
                                                          ------       -----
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period              $6,940      $9,838
                                                          ======      ======
    Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
        Cash paid for interest                            $9,568     $10,928
        Income tax payment                                $4,859      $1,158
    Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and
     financing activities:
        Fixed assets acquired through capital lease         $224        $201
        Allocation of forward flow asset to acquired
         receivable portfolios                           $10,302      $5,561


                          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
                                                              September 30,
                                                              ------------
                                                             2009      2008
                                                             ----      ----
                                                                    Adjusted
                                                                    --------
    GAAP net income, as reported                           $9,004    $3,028
    Interest expense                                        3,970     5,140
    Provision for income taxes                              5,948     2,408
    Depreciation and amortization                             652       674
    Amount applied to principal on receivable portfolios   49,188    35,140
    Stock-based compensation expense                        1,261       860
                                                            -----       ---
    Adjusted EBITDA                                       $70,023   $47,250
                                                          =======   =======


                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                              September 30,
                                                              ------------
                                                             2009      2008
                                                             ----      ----

    GAAP total operating expenses, as reported             $61,525    $55,765
    Stock-based compensation expense                        (1,261)      (860)
    Bankruptcy servicing operating expenses                 (3,238)    (3,864)
                                                            ------     ------
    Operating expenses, excluding stock-based
     compensation expense and bankruptcy servicing
     operating expenses                                    $57,026    $51,041
                                                           =======    =======


                                                       As of         As of
                                                   September 30,  December 31,
                                                       2009           2008
                                                       ----           ----
                                                                    Adjusted
                                                                    --------
    GAAP total stockholders' equity, as reported     $231,931      $203,426
    Goodwill                                          (15,985)      (15,985)
    Identifiable intangible assets, net                (1,268)       (1,739)
                                                       ------        ------
    Tangible book value                              $214,678      $185,702
    Diluted shares outstanding                         24,199        23,632
                                                       ------        ------
    Tangible book value per share                       $8.87         $7.86

SOURCE Encore Capital Group, Inc.

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.