Encore Capital Group Announces Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

November 9, 2016 at 4:07 PM EST
  • Deployments of $206 million worldwide included $142 million in the U.S.
  • Encore’s share of portfolio allowance charge was $37 million after tax

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECPG), an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions for consumers across a broad range of assets, today reported consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016.

“The U.S. market for charged off receivables continues to improve as stronger supply and lower prices contribute to increasingly favorable returns,” said Kenneth A. Vecchione, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Pricing leverage is shifting from sellers to buyers as supply increases and debt purchasers continue to demonstrate pricing discipline. We believe the better pricing environment, combined with benefits we’re seeing from our consumer-centric liquidation programs, will continue to drive higher returns in the U.S.”

“This quarter certain European pool groups incurred an allowance charge as near-term collections are now forecasted to be collected in later years.  Encore’s portion of this non-cash charge was $37 million after taxes. With the comprehensive review of all of our European pool groups completed, we are highly confident in our estimated remaining collections and the accounting curves that support them.”

Key Financial Metrics for the Third Quarter of 2016:

  • Investment in receivable portfolios was $206 million, including $142 million in the U.S., compared to $187 million deployed overall in the same period a year ago.
  • Gross collections declined 4% to $407 million, compared to $422 million in the same period of the prior year.
  • Total revenues were $179 million, compared to $279 million in the third quarter of 2015, with the difference primarily driven by a $94 million gross consolidated portfolio allowance charge, of which $43 million represents Encore’s share after adjusting for noncontrolling interest, or $37 million after tax.
  • Total operating expenses decreased 19% to $201 million, compared to $248 million in the same period of the prior year, primarily reflecting the benefits of strategic cost management programs and the impact of the CFPB settlement in the third quarter of 2015. Adjusted operating expenses increased 1% to $167 million, compared to $165 million in the same period of the prior year.
  • Adjusted operating expenses per dollar collected for the portfolio purchasing and recovery business, also known as cost-to-collect, was 41.1%, compared to 39.2% in the same period of the prior year. The increase reflected the impact of an $11.3 million adjustment to Cabot’s deferred court costs, of which $4.9 million represents Encore’s share after adjusting for noncontrolling interest, or $4.0 million after tax.
  • Adjusted EBITDA decreased 7% to $245 million, compared to $264 million in the same period a year ago, reflecting the adjustment to deferred court costs.
  • Total interest expense increased to $48.6 million, as compared to $47.8 million in the same period of the prior year, reflecting the financing of recent acquisitions and portfolio purchases.
  • GAAP loss from continuing operations attributable to Encore was $1.5 million, or $0.06 per fully diluted share, as compared to a loss of $13.2 million, or $0.52 per fully diluted share in the same period a year ago, reflecting the allowance charges for certain European pool groups in the third quarter of 2016 and the impact of the CFPB settlement in the third quarter of 2015.
  • Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to Encore was $3.6 million, compared to $32.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, with the decline mainly attributed to the portfolio allowance charges for certain European pool groups.
  • Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to Encore per share (also referred to as Economic EPS) was $0.14, compared to $1.25 in the same period of the prior year. In the third quarter of 2016, Economic EPS was not adjusted for shares associated with Encore’s convertible notes. In calculating Economic EPS for the third quarter of 2015, 0.8 million shares associated with convertible notes that will not be issued but are reflected in the fully diluted share count were excluded for accounting purposes.
  • Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC) increased 1% to $5.73 billion, compared to $5.65 billion at September 30, 2015.
  • Available capacity under Encore’s revolving credit facility, subject to borrowing base and applicable debt covenants, was $176 million as of September 30, 2016, and total debt on a consolidated basis was $2.8 billion.

Conference Call and Webcast

Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, November 9, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific / 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, presenting and discussing the reported results.

Members of the public are invited to access the live webcast via the Internet by logging on at the Investor Relations page of Encore's website at www.encorecapital.com. To access the live, listen-only telephone conference portion, please dial (855) 541-0982 or (704) 288-0606.

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a telephonic replay will be available for seven days by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (404) 537-3406 and entering the conference number 8533103. A replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the call on the Company's website.

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 in calculation 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 across a broad range of assets. Through its subsidiaries, Encore purchases portfolios of consumer receivables from major banks, credit unions and utility providers.

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,
 2016		   December 31,
 2015
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 157,672     $ 123,993  
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 2,397,831     2,440,669  
Property and equipment, net 66,703     72,546  
Deferred court costs, net 57,089     75,239  
Other assets 206,403     148,762  
Goodwill 819,785     924,847  
Assets associated with discontinued operations —     388,763  
Total assets $ 3,705,483     $ 4,174,819  
Liabilities and equity      
Liabilities:      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 217,242     $ 290,608  
Debt 2,848,443     2,944,063  
Other liabilities 27,718     59,226  
Liabilities associated with discontinued operations —     232,434  
Total liabilities 3,093,403     3,526,331  
Commitments and contingencies      
Redeemable noncontrolling interest 33,755     38,624  
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes 3,798     6,126  
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, 25,532 shares and 25,288 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively 255     253  
Additional paid-in capital 83,521     110,533  
Accumulated earnings 597,247     543,489  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (103,320 )   (57,822 )
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity 577,703     596,453  
Noncontrolling interest (3,176 )   7,285  
Total equity 574,527     603,738  
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity $ 3,705,483     $ 4,174,819  

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,
 2016		   December 31,
 2015
Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 55,158     $ 50,483  
Investment in receivable portfolios, net 1,038,119     1,197,513  
Property and equipment, net 16,859     19,767  
Deferred court costs, net 20,836     33,296  
Other assets 58,146     31,679  
Goodwill 616,859     706,812  
Assets associated with discontinued operations —     92,985  
Liabilities      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 89,056     $ 142,375  
Debt 1,591,403     1,665,009  
Other liabilities 770     839  
Liabilities associated with discontinued operations —     58,923  
           


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
  2016   2015
Revenues      
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net $ 159,534     $ 265,523  
Other revenues 19,881     13,391  
Total revenues 179,415     278,914  
Operating expenses      
Salaries and employee benefits 67,783     62,995  
Cost of legal collections 56,932     58,760  
Other operating expenses 24,131     22,217  
Collection agency commissions 8,848     9,381  
General and administrative expenses 34,871     86,789  
Depreciation and amortization 8,032     8,043  
Total operating expenses 200,597     248,185  
(Loss) income from operations (21,182 )   30,729  
Other (expense) income      
Interest expense (48,632 )   (47,816 )
Other income (expense) 4,100     (924 )
Total other expense (44,532 )   (48,740 )
Loss before income taxes (65,714 )   (18,011 )
Benefit for income taxes 13,768     6,361  
Loss from continuing operations (51,946 )   (11,650 )
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax —     2,286  
Net loss (51,946 )   (9,364 )
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest 50,422     (1,595 )
Net loss attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders $ (1,524 )   $ (10,959 )
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:      
Loss from continuing operations $ (1,524 )   $ (13,245 )
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax —     2,286  
Net loss $ (1,524 )   $ (10,959 )
       
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:      
       
Basic (loss) earnings per share from:      
Continuing operations $ (0.06 )   $ (0.52 )
Discontinued operations $ —     $ 0.09  
Net basic loss per share $ (0.06 )   $ (0.43 )
Diluted (loss) earnings per share from:      
Continuing operations $ (0.06 )   $ (0.52 )
Discontinued operations $ —     $ 0.09  
Net diluted loss per share $ (0.06 )   $ (0.43 )
       
Weighted average shares outstanding:      
Basic 25,777     25,450  
Diluted 25,777     25,450  
           


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, In Thousands)
 
  Nine Months Ended
 September 30,
  2016   2015
Operating activities:      
Net income $ 5,494     $ 45,788  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:      
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 1,352     (5,827 )
Depreciation and amortization 26,128     24,058  
Non-cash interest expense, net 28,557     25,529  
Stock-based compensation expense 9,502     17,259  
Gain on derivative instruments, net (10,885 )   —  
Deferred income taxes (46,524 )   (257 )
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements —     (1,705 )
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax 1,830     —  
Provision for (reversal of) allowances on receivable portfolios, net 86,777     (3,958 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities      
Deferred court costs and other assets 7,572     (31,347 )
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable (2,485 )   (49,431 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities (24,146 )   38,364  
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations 83,172     58,473  
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations 2,096     4,908  
Net cash provided by operating activities 85,268     63,381  
Investing activities:      
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (675 )   (236,214 )
Proceeds from divestiture of business, net of cash divested 106,041     —  
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs (712,706 )   (549,957 )
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net 507,552     488,174  
Purchases of property and equipment (16,548 )   (15,754 )
Proceeds from derivative instruments, net 10,038     —  
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations (106,298 )   (313,751 )
Net cash provided by (used in) used in investing activities from discontinued operations 14,685     (41,154 )
Net cash used in investing activities (91,613 )   (354,905 )
Financing activities:      
Payment of loan costs (3,750 )   (7,316 )
Proceeds from credit facilities 455,786     911,588  
Repayment of credit facilities (443,968 )   (471,610 )
Repayment of senior secured notes (14,343 )   (11,250 )
Repayment of securitized notes (935 )   (32,324 )
Repurchase of common stock —     (33,185 )
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (4,113 )   (6,050 )
Excess tax benefit from stock-based payment arrangements —     1,705  
Proceeds from other debt 35,080     —  
Other, net (10,070 )   (5,703 )
Net cash provided by financing activities 13,687     345,855  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 7,342     54,331  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (3,263 )   (3,274 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 153,593     124,163  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 157,672     175,220  
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period —     31,825  
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period $ 157,672     $ 143,395  
               


ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Supplemental Financial Information
Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Attributable to Encore to GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Encore, Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Loss, 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,
  2016   2015
  $   Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting		   Per Diluted
Share—
Economic		   $   Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting		   Per Diluted
Share—
Economic
GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to Encore, as reported $ (1,524 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (13,245 )   $ (0.52 )   $ (0.52 )
Effect of diluted potential shares excluded from loss per share calculation(1) —     —     —     —     0.01     0.01  
Adjustments:                      
Convertible notes non-cash interest and issuance cost amortization 2,983     0.12     0.12     2,859     0.11     0.11  
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses 3,843     0.15     0.15     2,235     0.09     0.09  
Settlement fees and related administrative expenses(2) 2,613     0.10     0.10     63,019     2.38     2.45  
Amortization of certain acquired intangible assets(3) 529     0.02     0.02     —     —     —  
Income tax effect of the adjustments(4) (3,263 )   (0.13 )   (0.13 )   (22,268 )   (0.84 )   (0.87 )
Adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest(5) (1,568 )   (0.06 )   (0.06 )   (418 )   (0.02 )   (0.02 )
Adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to Encore $ 3,613     $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 32,182     $ 1.21     $ 1.25  

________________________

(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, 2016 and 2015 exclude dilutive potential common shares because of their anti-dilutive effect.

(2)  Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 amounts consist of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, amounts relate to the consent order with the CFPB that we entered into in September 2015. We believe these fees and expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations and adjusting for these fees and expenses makes it easier to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.

(3)  As we continue to acquire debt solution service providers around the world, the acquired intangible assets, such as trade names and customer relationships, have grown substantially, particularly in recent quarters. These intangible assets are valued at the time of the acquisition and amortized over their estimated lives. We believe that amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, especially the amortization of an acquired company’s trade names and customer relationships, is the result of pre-acquisition activities. In addition, the amortization of these acquired intangibles is a non-cash static expense that is not affected by operations during any reporting period. As a result, the amortization of certain acquired intangible assets is excluded from our adjusted income from continuing operations attributable to Encore and adjusted income from continuing operations per share.

(4)  Each adjustment may occur in different jurisdictions with different marginal tax rates. The income tax effect of the adjustments is calculated based on the marginal tax rates of the jurisdiction in which a specific adjustment occurred. 

(5)  Certain of the above pre-tax adjustments include expenses recognized by our partially-owned subsidiaries. This adjustment represents the portion of the non-GAAP adjustments that are attributable to noncontrolling interest.


  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
2016   2015
GAAP net loss, as reported $ (51,946 )   $ (9,364 )
Adjustments:      
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax —     (2,286 )
Interest expense 48,632     47,816  
Benefit for income taxes (13,768 )   (6,361 )
Depreciation and amortization 8,032     8,043  
Amount applied to principal on receivable portfolios(1) 247,427     156,229  
Stock-based compensation expense 633     5,156  
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses 3,843     2,235  
Settlement fees and related administrative expenses(2) 2,613     63,019  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 245,466     $ 264,487  

________________________

(1)  Amount represents collections from receivable portfolios that are not included in consolidated revenues as a result of accounting principles that require the application of such collections to amortize the principal of such receivable portfolios.  We adjust for this amount because (a) the method is materially consistent with the calculation method contained in covenants used in our revolving credit and term loan facility and (b) it represents actual cash collections and we believe this measure is a useful indicator of our ability to generate cash collections in excess of operating expenses through the liquidation of our receivable portfolios.

(2)  Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 amount consists of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, amount relates to the consent order with the CFPB that we entered into in September 2015. We believe these fees and expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations and adjusting for these fees and expenses makes it easier to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results. Adjusting for these settlement and administrative fees is materially consistent with the calculation method contained in covenants used in our revolving credit and term loan facility.


  Three Months Ended
 September 30,
2016   2015
GAAP total operating expenses, as reported $ 200,597     $ 248,185  
Adjustments:      
Stock-based compensation expense (633 )   (5,156 )
Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business(1) (26,446 )   (20,835 )
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses (3,843 )   (2,235 )
Settlement fees and related administrative expenses(2) (2,613 )   (54,697 )
Adjusted operating expenses related to portfolio purchasing and recovery business $ 167,062     $ 165,262  

________________________

(1)  Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business include operating expenses from other operating segments that primarily engage in fee-based business, as well as corporate overhead not related to our portfolio purchasing and recovery business.

(2)  Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 amount consists of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, amount relates to the consent order with the CFPB that we entered into in September 2015. We believe these fees and expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations and adjusting for these fees and expenses makes it easier to compare to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results. Adjusting for these settlement and administrative fees is materially consistent with the calculation method contained in covenants used in our revolving credit and term loan facility.

Contact:

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

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Encore Capital Group, Inc