Encore Capital Group Announces Third Quarter 2015 Financial Results; Global Expansion Continues to Fuel Growth

November 5, 2015 at 4:06 PM EST
  • Non-GAAP Economic EPS increases 15% to record $1.34
  • GAAP loss of $0.43 per share reflects one-time charge related to CFPB settlement
  • Adjusted EBITDA increases 7% to $268 million
  • Estimated Remaining Collections increase 10% to $5.7 billion
  • Encore enters Australia and New Zealand through acquisition of Baycorp

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 05, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG), an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions for consumers and property owners across a broad range of assets, today reported consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.

“Encore delivered strong financial performance in the third quarter as we established new records for non-GAAP Economic EPS, which grew 15% compared to the same quarter a year ago, and adjusted income, which grew 12%. Accounts outside of the United States generated approximately one-third of our collections in the quarter, reflecting Encore’s continued progress in expanding our business internationally,” said Kenneth A. Vecchione, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, we recently completed our acquisition of a controlling interest in Baycorp, a leader in debt recovery solutions throughout Australia and New Zealand. These represent two new markets for Encore that possess promising opportunities to continue to diversify geographically while growing and consolidating market share.”

Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2015:

  • Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC) grew 10% to $5.7 billion, compared to $5.1 billion at September 30, 2014.

  • Gross collections from the portfolio purchasing and recovery business grew 4% to $422 million, compared to $407 million in the same period of the prior year.

  • Investment in receivable portfolios in the portfolio purchasing and recovery business was $187 million, to purchase $2.1 billion in face value of debt, compared to $300 million, to purchase $4.0 billion in face value of debt in the same period of the prior year. Encore’s subsidiary Propel Financial Services also purchased $28 million of tax liens during the third quarter of 2015, raising Encore’s total deployment in the quarter to $215 million.

  • Total revenues increased 5% to $288 million, compared to $273 million in the same period of the prior year. Excluding an allowance related to the CFPB settlement, revenues grew 8% compared to the third quarter of 2014.

  • Total operating expenses increased 34% to $253 million, including a one-time charge associated with regulatory matters, the majority of which reflected Encore’s recent settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Total operating expenses were $189 million in the same period of the prior year. Adjusted operating expenses (defined as operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense, expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business, one-time charges, and acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses) increased 4% to $165 million, compared to $158 million in the same period of the prior year. Adjusted operating expenses per dollar collected for the portfolio purchasing and recovery business increased to 39.2%, compared to 38.9% in the same period of the prior year.

  • Adjusted EBITDA (defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expenses, portfolio amortization, one-time items, and acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses), increased 7% to $268 million, compared to $252 million in the same period of the prior year.

  • Total interest expense increased to $47.8 million, as compared to $43.5 million in the same period of the prior year, reflecting the financing of Encore’s recent acquisitions.

  • Net loss attributable to Encore was $11.0 million, or $0.43 per fully diluted share, primarily as a result of the one-time charge associated with regulatory matters. Net income attributable to Encore in the same period of the prior year was $30.3 million, or $1.11 per fully diluted share.

  • Adjusted income attributable to Encore (defined as net income attributable to Encore excluding the noncontrolling interest, non-cash interest and issuance cost amortization, one-time items, and acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses, all net of tax) increased 12% to $34.5 million, compared to adjusted income attributable to Encore of $30.8 million in the same period of the prior year.

  • Adjusted income attributable to Encore per share (also referred to as Economic EPS) grew 15% to $1.34, compared to $1.17 in the same period of the prior year. In the third quarter, Economic EPS adjusts for approximately 0.8 million shares associated with convertible notes that will not be issued as a result of certain hedge and warrant transactions, but are reflected in the fully diluted share count for accounting purposes.

  • Available capacity under Encore’s revolving credit facility, subject to borrowing base and applicable debt covenants, was $116.6 million as of September 30, 2015. Total debt was $3.1 billion as of September 30, 2015, compared to $2.8 billion as of December 31, 2014.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call today, November 5, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss third quarter financial results.

Members of the public are invited to listen to the event via a listen-only telephone conference call line or the Internet. To access the live telephone conference call, please dial (877) 670-9781 or (631) 456-4378. The Conference ID is 66634621. To access the live webcast via the Internet, log on to the Investors page of the Company’s website at www.encorecapital.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes certain financial measures that exclude the impact of certain items and therefore have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company has included adjusted income attributable to Encore and adjusted income attributable to Encore per share (also referred to as economic EPS when adjusted for certain shares associated with our convertible notes that will not be issued but are reflected in the fully diluted share count for accounting purposes) because management uses this measure to assess operating performance, in order to highlight trends in the Company’s business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying on financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. 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 revolving credit facility, 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 adjusted operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of approximate cash costs to cash collections for the portfolio purchasing and recovery business in the periods presented. Adjusted income attributable to Encore, adjusted income attributable to Encore per share/economic EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted operating expenses have not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income, net income per share, and total operating expenses as indicators of the Company’s operating performance. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has attached to this news release a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

About Encore Capital Group, Inc.

Encore Capital Group is an international specialty finance company that provides debt recovery solutions for consumers and property owners across a broad range of assets. Through its subsidiaries, Encore purchases portfolios of consumer receivables from major banks, credit unions, municipalities and utility providers. Its Propel Financial Services subsidiary also helps home and business owners resolve property tax debt and avoid foreclosure through affordable monthly payment plans.

Encore partners with individuals as they repay their obligations, helping them on the road to financial recovery and ultimately improving their economic well-being. Encore is the first and only company of its kind to operate with a Consumer Bill of Rights that provides industry-leading commitments to consumers. Headquartered in San Diego, the company is a publicly traded NASDAQ Global Select company (ticker symbol: ECPG) and a component stock of the Russell 2000, the S&P Small Cap 600 and the Wilshire 4500. More information about Encore can be found at http://www.encorecapital.com. More information about the Company’s Cabot Credit Management subsidiary can be found at http://www.cabotcm.com. Information found on the Company’s website or Cabot’s website is not incorporated by reference.

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 “will,” “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 our future operating results, performance, business plans or prospects. 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 in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as they may be amended from time to time. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts)
(Unaudited)
       
  September 30,
 2015		   December 31,
 2014
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 175,220     $ 124,163  
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 2,323,224     2,143,560  
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net 297,592     259,432  
Property and equipment, net 63,042     66,969  
Deferred court costs, net 74,054     60,412  
Other assets 229,697     197,666  
Goodwill 940,181     897,933  
Total assets $ 4,103,010     $ 3,750,135  
Liabilities and equity      
Liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 239,151     $ 231,967  
Debt 3,116,444     2,773,554  
Other liabilities 87,735     79,675  
Total liabilities 3,443,330     3,085,196  
Commitments and contingencies      
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 26,934     28,885  
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes 6,881     9,073  
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, 25,274 shares and 25,794 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively 253     258  
Additional paid-in capital 106,454     125,310  
Accumulated earnings 544,477     498,354  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (29,279 )   (922 )
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity 621,905     623,000  
Noncontrolling interest 3,960     3,981  
Total equity 625,865     626,981  
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity $ 4,103,010     $ 3,750,135  


The following table includes assets that can only be used to settle the liabilities of the Company’s consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and the creditors of the VIEs have no recourse to the Company. These assets and liabilities are included in the consolidated statements of financial condition above.


  September 30,
 2015		   December 31,
 2014
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 69,463     $ 44,996  
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 1,194,341     993,462  
Receivables secured by property tax liens, net 88,206     108,535  
Property and equipment, net 18,524     15,957  
Deferred court costs, net 32,244     17,317  
Other assets 43,733     80,264  
Goodwill 715,877     671,434  
Liabilities      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 105,904     $ 137,201  
Debt 1,773,831     1,556,956  
Other liabilities 21,411     8,724  


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
   
  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
  2015   2014
Revenues      
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net $ 265,523     $ 251,785  
Other revenues 14,558     13,445  
Net interest income 7,715     8,052  
Total revenues 287,796     273,282  
Operating expenses      
Salaries and employee benefits 64,976     61,175  
Cost of legal collections 58,760     53,742  
Other operating expenses 23,953     22,061  
Collection agency commissions 9,381     9,517  
General and administrative expenses 88,002     35,532  
Depreciation and amortization 8,235     6,933  
Total operating expenses 253,307     188,960  
Income from operations 34,489     84,322  
Other expense      
Interest expense (47,816 )   (43,498 )
Other expense (924 )   (532 )
Total other expense (48,740 )   (44,030 )
(Loss) income before income taxes (14,251 )   40,292  
Benefit (provision) for income taxes 4,887     (10,154 )
Net (loss) income (9,364 )   30,138  
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (1,595 )   197  
Net (loss) income attributable to Encore shareholders $ (10,959 )   $ 30,335  
       
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:      
       
Basic $ (0.43 )   $ 1.17  
Diluted $ (0.43 )   $ 1.11  
       
Weighted average shares outstanding:      
Basic 25,450     25,879  
Diluted 25,450     27,332  


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, In Thousands)
   
  Nine Months Ended
 September 30,
  2015   2014
Operating activities:      
Net income $ 45,788     $ 70,321  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization 24,669     19,879  
Non-cash interest expense, net 27,455     20,989  
Stock-based compensation expense 17,259     13,560  
Deferred income taxes (257 )   (11,863 )
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements (1,705 )   (11,422 )
Reversal of allowances on receivable portfolios, net (3,958 )   (12,455 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities      
Deferred court costs and other assets (41,354 )   (16,498 )
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable (45,776 )   2,402  
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities 41,260     23,850  
Net cash provided by operating activities 63,381     98,763  
Investing activities:      
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (236,214 )   (495,519 )
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs (549,957 )   (666,470 )
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net 488,174     488,086  
Originations and purchases of receivables secured by tax liens (167,739 )   (108,739 )
Collections applied to receivables secured by tax liens 123,407     93,986  
Purchases of property and equipment (15,754 )   (13,598 )
Other, net 3,178     (1,987 )
Net cash used in investing activities (354,905 )   (704,241 )
Financing activities:      
Payment of loan costs (7,316 )   (15,271 )
Proceeds from credit facilities 903,319     993,449  
Repayment of credit facilities (466,745 )   (878,883 )
Proceeds from senior secured notes —     288,645  
Repayment of senior secured notes (11,250 )   (11,250 )
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes —     161,000  
Proceeds from issuance of securitized notes —     134,000  
Repayment of securitized notes (32,324 )   (20,599 )
Repayment of preferred equity certificates, net —     (702 )
Purchases of convertible hedge instruments —     (33,576 )
Repurchase of common stock (33,185 )   (16,815 )
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (6,050 )   (19,356 )
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements 1,705     11,422  
Other, net (2,299 )   987  
Net cash provided by financing activities 345,855     593,051  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 54,331     (12,427 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (3,274 )   1,654  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 124,163     126,213  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 175,220     $ 115,440  
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:      
Cash paid for interest $ 114,731     $ 120,125  
Cash paid for income taxes, net 72,306     54,452  
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:      
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease $ 1,290     $ 6,852  


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Financial Information
Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Attributable to Encore to GAAP Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Encore, Adjusted EBITDA to
GAAP Net (Loss) Income, and Adjusted Operating Expenses Related to Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery Business to GAAP Total
Operating Expenses
(In Thousands, Except Per Share amounts) (Unaudited)
   
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2015   2014
  $   Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting		   Per Diluted
Share—
Economic		   $   Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting		   Per Diluted
Share—
Economic
GAAP net (loss) income attributable to Encore, as reported $ (10,959 )   $ (0.43 )   $ (0.43 )   $ 30,335     $ 1.11     $ 1.15  
Effect of diluted potential shares excluded from loss per share calculation(1) —     0.01     —     —     —     —  
Adjustments:                      
Convertible notes non-cash interest and issuance cost amortization, net of tax 1,755     0.07     0.07     1,773     0.06     0.07  
CFPB / regulatory one-time charges, net of tax 42,554     1.61     1.66     —     —     —  
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses, net of tax 1,125     0.04     0.04     1,001     0.04     0.04  
Net effect of non-recurring tax adjustments —     —     —     (2,291 )   (0.08 )   (0.09 )
Adjusted income attributable to Encore $ 34,475     $ 1.30     $ 1.34     $ 30,818     $ 1.13     $ 1.17  
________________________                                              
(1) The shares used to calculate GAAP net loss per diluted share - accounting and GAAP net loss per diluted share - economic during the three months ended September 30, 2015 exclude dilutive potential common shares because of their anti-dilutive effect.


  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
2015   2014
GAAP net (loss) income, as reported $ (9,364 )   $ 30,138  
Adjustments:      
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax —     —  
Interest expense 47,816     43,498  
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (4,887 )   10,154  
Depreciation and amortization 8,235     6,933  
Amount applied to principal on receivable portfolios 156,229     155,435  
Stock-based compensation expense 5,156     4,009  
CFPB / regulatory one-time charges 63,019     —  
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses 2,246     1,622  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 268,450     $ 251,789  


  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
2015   2014
GAAP total operating expenses, as reported $ 253,307     $ 188,960  
Adjustments:      
Stock-based compensation expense (5,156 )   (4,009 )
Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business (25,946 )   (25,058 )
Operating expenses related to CFPB / regulatory one-time charges (54,697 )   —  
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses (2,246 )   (1,622 )
Adjusted operating expenses related to portfolio purchasing and recovery business $ 165,262     $ 158,271  

 

Contact:

Bruce Thomas
Vice President, Investor Relations
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(858) 309-6442
bruce.thomas@encorecapital.com

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