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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-26489
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 103
San Diego, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
48-1090909
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
92108
(Zip code)
(877) 445-4581
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value Per Share
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes
No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes
No
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File
required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes
No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to
the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to
this Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an
emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any
new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes
No
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $964.7 million at June 30, 2017, based on the
closing price of the common stock of $40.15 per share on such date, as reported by NASDAQ.
The number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding at February 8, 2018, was 25,804,220.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2018 are incorporated by reference in
Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1—Business
Item 1A—Risk Factors
Item 1B—Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2—Properties
Item 3—Legal Proceedings
Item 4—Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
Item 5—Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Item 6—Selected Financial Data
Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9—Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A—Controls and Procedures
Item 9B—Other Information
PART III
Item 10—Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11—Executive Compensation
Item 12—Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13—Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14—Principal Accountant Fees and Services
PART IV
Item 15—Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Item 16—Form 10-K Summary
SIGNATURES
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An Overview of Our Business
Nature of Our Business
PART I
Item 1—Business
We are an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions and other related services for
consumers across a broad range of financial assets. We purchase portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts
to face value and manage them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery.
Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions,
consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include
receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
We are a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States, including Puerto Rico. Cabot Credit
Management plc (together with its subsidiaries, “Cabot”), our largest international subsidiary, is one of the largest credit
management services providers in Europe and is a market leader in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We control Cabot via our
majority ownership interest in the indirect holding company of Cabot, Janus Holdings S.a r.l. (“Janus Holdings”). These are our
primary operations.
We have also developed or acquired additional international operations as we have explored new asset classes and
geographies including: (1) certain subsidiaries that focus on (a) consumer non-performing loans, including insolvencies (in
particular, individual voluntary arrangements, or “IVAs”) in the United Kingdom and bank and non-bank receivables in Spain
and (b) credit management services in Spain (collectively, “Grove”); (2) our majority-owned subsidiary Refinancia S.A. and its
subsidiaries (collectively, “Refinancia”), which is a market leader in debt collection and management in Colombia and Peru, (3)
purchases of non-performing loans in other countries in Latin America, including Mexico and Brazil; (4) our subsidiary,
Baycorp Holdings Pty Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Baycorp”), which is one of Australasia’s leading debt resolution
specialists and (4) an investment in Encore Asset Reconstruction Company (“EARC”) in India, which has completed initial
immaterial purchases.
To date, operating results from our international operations on an individual basis, other than from Cabot, have not been
significant to our total consolidated operating results. As a result, descriptions of our international operations in Part I - Item 1
of this Form 10-K will focus substantially on Cabot’s operations.
Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, when we refer to our United States operations, we include accounts
originated in the United States that are serviced through our operations centers in the United States, India and Costa Rica.
When we refer to our international operations, we are referring to accounts originated outside of the United States. Those
accounts are generally serviced in the country of origin.
Keys to Success
The foundation of our success is our people, our integrity and our operational agility. This foundation supports strengths
in five key areas:
•
Superior Analytics, including our extensive investments in data and behavioral science and our use of
sophisticated predictive modeling techniques;
• Operational Scale and Cost Efficiency, driven by our specialized call centers, experienced international
operations, and effective internal and external litigation operations;
•
Strong Capital Stewardship, underpinned by our disciplined ability to raise and deploy capital prudently to
maximize the return on our invested capital;
• Consumer-centric Commitment to Ethics and Principled Intent: we strive to conduct business ethically and in
ways that support consumers’ financial recovery. We commit to treat consumers with respect, compassion and
integrity, and we demonstrate that commitment by continuous investment in compliance programs that enable us
to efficiently adjust our business practices to a changing regulatory environment; and
• Extendable Business Model, driven by our scalable platform that supports strategic investment opportunities.
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Seasonality
United States
While seasonality does not have a material impact on our business, collections are generally strongest in our first calendar
quarter, slower in the second and third calendar quarters, and slowest in the fourth calendar quarter. Relatively higher
collections in the first quarter could result in a lower cost-to-collect ratio compared to the other quarters, as our fixed costs are
relatively constant and applied against a larger collection base. The seasonal impact on our business may also be influenced by
our purchasing levels, the types of portfolios we purchase, and our operating strategies.
Collection seasonality can also affect revenue as a percentage of collections, also referred to as our revenue recognition
rate. Generally, revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, whereas collections can fluctuate from quarter to
quarter based on seasonality, as described above. In quarters with lower collections (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter), the
revenue recognition rate can be higher than in quarters with higher collections (e.g., the first calendar quarter).
In addition, seasonality could have an impact on the relative level of quarterly earnings. In quarters with stronger
collections, total costs are higher as a result of the additional efforts required to generate those collections. Since revenue for
each pool group declines steadily over time, in quarters with higher collections and higher costs (e.g., the first calendar
quarter), all else being equal, earnings could be lower than in quarters with lower collections and lower costs (e.g., the fourth
calendar quarter). Additionally, in quarters where a greater percentage of collections come from our legal and agency
outsourcing channels, cost to collect will be higher than if there were more collections from our internal collection sites.
International
While seasonality does not have a material impact on European operations, collections are generally strongest in the
second and third calendar quarters and slower in the first and fourth quarters, largely driven by the impact of the December
holiday season and the New Year holiday, and the related impact on customers’ ability to repay their balances. This drives a
higher level of plan defaults over this period, which are typically repaired across the first quarter of the following year. The
August vacation season in the United Kingdom also has an unfavorable effect on the level of collections, but this is
traditionally compensated for by higher collections in July and September.
Operating Segments
We have one reportable segment, portfolio purchasing and recovery. Financial information regarding our operating
segments and geographic operations is set forth in Note 14, “Segment Information” to our consolidated financial statements.
Company Information
We were incorporated in Delaware in 1999. In June 2013, we completed our merger with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.,
which was another leading provider of debt recovery solutions in the United States. In July 2013, by acquiring a majority
ownership interest in the indirect holding company of Cabot, Janus Holdings, we acquired control of Cabot. In February 2014,
Cabot acquired Marlin Financial Group Limited, a leading acquirer of non-performing consumer debt in the United Kingdom.
In August 2014, we acquired Atlantic Credit & Finance, Inc., which was a market leader in the United States in buying and
collecting on freshly charged-off debt. In June 2015, Cabot expanded in the United Kingdom by acquiring Hillesden Securities
Ltd and its subsidiaries (“dlc”). In March 2016, we completed the divestiture of our membership interests in Propel Acquisition
LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Propel”), our tax lien business.
Our headquarters is located at 3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 103, San Diego, California 92108 and our telephone
number is (877) 445-4581. Investors wishing to obtain more information about us may access the Investors section of our
Internet site at http://www.encorecapital.com. The site provides access, free of charge, to relevant investor related information,
such as Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, press releases, featured articles, an event calendar, and
frequently asked questions. SEC filings are available on our Internet site as soon as reasonably practicable after being filed
with, or furnished to, the SEC. Also available on our website are our Standards of Business Conduct and charters for the
committees of our Board of Directors. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of our Standards of
Business Conduct on our website. The content of our Internet site is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on
Form 10-K. Any materials that we filed with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100
F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information
statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC (http://www.sec.gov).
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Our Competitive Advantages
Analytic Strength. We believe that success in our business depends on our ability to establish and maintain an information
advantage. Leveraging an industry-leading financially distressed consumer database, our in-house team of statisticians,
business analysts, and software programmers have developed, and continually enhance, proprietary behavioral and valuation
models, custom software applications, and other business tools that guide our portfolio purchases. Moreover, our collection
channels are informed by powerful statistical models specific to each collection activity, and each year we deploy significant
capital to purchase credit bureau and customized consumer data that describe demographic, account level, and macroeconomic
factors related to credit, savings, and payment behavior. Our international expansion has enabled us to collaborate across our
operating subsidiaries to employ and enhance our statistical models throughout the markets we service.
Consumer Intelligence. At the core of our analytic approach is a focus on characterizing our consumers’ willingness and
ability to repay their financial obligations. In this effort, we apply tools and methods from statistics, psychology, economics,
and management science across the full extent of our business. During portfolio valuation, we use an internally developed and
proprietary family of statistical models that determines the likelihood and expected amount of payment for each consumer
within a portfolio. Subsequently, the expectations for each account are aggregated to arrive at a portfolio-level liquidation
solution and a valuation for the entire portfolio is determined. During the collection process, we apply a number of proprietary
operational frameworks to match our collection approach to an individual consumer’s payment behavior.
Strong Capital Stewardship. We continue to maintain a focus on raising and deploying capital prudently to maximize the
return on our invested capital. Our operational scale and geographic diversification enable us to adjust to market trends and
deploy capital to maximize risk-adjusted returns.
Cost Efficiency. Cost efficiency is central to our collection and purchasing strategies. We experience considerable cost
advantages, stemming from our operations in India and Costa Rica and the development and implementation of operational
models that enhance profitability. We believe that we are the only company in our industry with a successful, late-stage
collection platform in India. This cost-saving, first-mover advantage helps to reduce our call center variable cost-to-collect.
Principled Intent. Across the full extent of our operations, we strive to treat consumers with respect, compassion, and
integrity. From affordable payment plans to hardship solutions, we work with our consumers as they attempt to return to
financial health. We are committed to dialogue that is honorable and constructive, and hope to play an important and positive
role in our consumers’ financial recovery. We believe that our interests, and those of the financial institutions from which we
purchase portfolios, are closely aligned with the interests of government agencies seeking to protect consumer rights. In 2011,
we unveiled the industry’s first and only Consumer Bill of Rights, which codifies our commitment to respectful consumer
treatment. We expect to continue investing in infrastructure and processes that support consumer advocacy and financial
literacy while promoting an appropriate balance between corporate and consumer responsibility.
Our Strategy
We have implemented a business strategy that emphasizes the following three elements:
Continue to Invest in our Core Businesses in the United States. Our core domestic portfolio purchasing and recovery
business remains critical to our success. Supply and demand dynamics within the United States have fluctuated over time and
will likely continue to do so. To position ourselves to continue to generate strong risk-adjusted returns, we intend to continue to
invest in analytics, technology, risk management and compliance. We will also continue to invest in initiatives that enhance our
relationships with consumers, expand our digital capabilities and collections, or improve liquidation rates on our portfolios. We
also plan to invest in software and systems designed to better integrate our operations and improve our overall efficiency. We
intend to continue to deploy a meaningful amount of capital in our core domestic markets.
Strengthen and Develop our International Businesses. We believe we are well-positioned through Cabot and our other
international businesses to take a leading role, worldwide, in the distressed debt and subprime consumer financial sectors.
Cabot intends to preserve its market leading position in the U.K. by maintaining its high level of collections performance and
compliance. Cabot also intends to invest in new innovations, particularly in the digital channels, maintaining its reputation for
customer service and compliance, which is important to customers, vendors and regulators, and continuing to develop its
leading data, scorecard and litigation capabilities. In addition to Cabot, our international footprint also includes our presence in
the Spanish, Latin American and Australasian debt markets, and our international operations at our India and Costa Rica
locations. We intend to continue to strengthen and develop these international businesses. We will also continue to evaluate
opportunities in new geographic markets.
Explore Business Model Adjacencies and Expansion. We are working to leverage some of our core competencies, such as
our knowledge of financially distressed consumers, in other areas or for different types of defaulted consumer receivables or to
provide other services to financial institutions. We believe that our existing underwriting and collection processes can be
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extended to a variety of consumer receivables. These capabilities have allowed us to develop and provide complementary
products or services to specified financially distressed consumer segments and other complementary programs.
Purchasing Approach
We provide sellers of delinquent receivables liquidity and immediate value through the purchase of charged-off consumer
receivables. We believe that we are an appealing partner for these sellers given our financial strength, focus on principled
intent, and track record of financial success.
United States
Identify purchase opportunities. We maintain relationships with some of the largest credit originators and portfolio
resellers of charged-off consumer receivables in the United States. We identify purchase opportunities and secure, where
possible, exclusive negotiation rights. We believe that we are a valued partner for credit originators from whom we purchase
portfolios, and our ability to secure exclusive negotiation rights is typically a result of our strong relationships and our
purchasing scale. Receivable portfolios are sold either through a general auction, where the seller requests bids from market
participants, or through an exclusive negotiation, where the seller and buyer negotiate a sale privately. The sale transaction can
be either for a one-time spot purchase or for a “forward flow” contract. A “forward flow” contract is a commitment to purchase
receivables over a duration that is typically three to twelve months with specifically defined volume, frequency, and pricing.
Typically, these forward flow contracts have provisions that allow for early termination or price re-negotiation should the
underlying quality of the portfolio deteriorate over time or if any particular month’s delivery is materially different than the
original portfolio used to price the forward flow contract. We generally attempt to secure forward flow contracts for receivables
because a consistent volume of receivables over a set duration can allow us more precision in forecasting and planning our
operational needs.
Evaluate purchase opportunities using account-level analytics. Once a portfolio of interest is identified, we obtain
detailed information regarding the portfolio’s accounts, including certain information regarding the consumers themselves. We
then purchase additional information for the consumers whose accounts we are contemplating purchasing, including credit and
payment behavior. Our Decision Science team, which is responsible for asset valuation, statistical analysis, and forecasting,
then analyzes this information to create future cash forecasts. Our collection expectations are based on demographic data,
account characteristics, and credit file variables, which we use to predict a consumer’s willingness and ability to repay their
debt. The expected value of each portfolio is determined by the forecast, our operational strategy and the capacity of our
collection channels. Additional adjustments to cash expectations are made to account for qualitative factors that may affect the
payment behavior of our consumers (such as prior collection activities, or the underwriting approach of the seller), and
servicing related adjustments to ensure our valuations are aligned with our operations.
Formal approval process. Once we have determined the value of the portfolio and have completed our qualitative
diligence, we present the purchase opportunity to our investment committee, which either sets the maximum purchase price for
the portfolio based on a corporate Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) or other strategic objectives, or declines to bid. Members of
the investment committee include our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, other members of our senior
management team, and experts, as needed.
We believe long-term success is best achieved by combining a diverse asset sourcing approach with an account-level
scoring methodology and a disciplined evaluation process.
International
Identify purchase opportunities. Through Cabot, we have strong relationships with many of the largest financial service
providers in the United Kingdom and Europe (including consumer finance, telecommunications companies, retailers, utilities
companies and government agencies). These relationships frequently generate recurring purchase opportunities. Cabot
primarily acquires receivable portfolios through a competitive bidding process that is initiated by the portfolio seller. Portfolios
are also acquired through forward flow agreements. Cabot typically enters into forward flow arrangements only where and
when it is able to secure agreements concerning the price for each tranche received that protect it from any adverse changes in
portfolio quality.
Evaluate purchase opportunities using pricing and analytical models. When Cabot identifies a portfolio of interest, it
evaluates account-level information and performs due diligence to evaluate certain features of the portfolio. Cabot next applies
its proprietary, highly automated portfolio pricing models to further evaluate the portfolio, using separate models depending on
the type of account: a model for paying semi-performing accounts and regression models for non-performing accounts. Using
its substantial database of account holder information, Cabot carries out additional statistical analysis that is customized to
evaluate specific repayment characteristics to further evaluate the accounts. The results of due diligence and the outputs of the
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pricing models and data analysis is presented to Cabot’s pricing committee, which then decides whether to make an indicative
bid for the portfolio. If, following the indicative bid, Cabot is short-listed by the vendor, it then conducts further due diligence
on the portfolio and refines its analysis. Following this additional due diligence, the pricing committee decides whether to
submit a final binding offer for the portfolio.
Formal approval process. All purchases require approval by the pricing committee. Cabot’s pricing committee includes
its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other relevant officers. Purchases above a certain size or in certain
geographies also require approval by Cabot’s investment committee, which includes members of its board including officers of
Encore. We believe that Cabot’s significant industry and management experience enable it to make informed decisions about
the portfolios Cabot acquires.
Collection Approach
United States
•
Inactive. We strive to use our financial resources judiciously and efficiently by not deploying resources on accounts
where the prospects of collection are remote based on a consumer’s situation.
• Direct Mail and Email. We develop innovative, mail and email campaigns offering consumers payment programs,
and occasionally appropriate discounts, to encourage settlement of their accounts.
• Call Centers. We maintain domestic collection call centers in Phoenix, Arizona, St. Cloud, Minnesota, Troy,
Michigan, and Roanoke, Virginia and international call centers in Gurgaon, India and San Jose, Costa Rica. Call
centers generally consist of multiple collection departments. Account managers supervised by group managers are
trained and divided into specialty teams. Account managers assess our consumers’ willingness and capacity to pay.
They attempt to work with consumers to evaluate sources and means of repayment to achieve a full or negotiated
lump sum settlement or develop payment programs customized to the individual’s ability to pay. In cases where a
payment plan is developed, account managers encourage consumers to pay through automatic payment
arrangements. We continuously educate account managers to understand and apply applicable laws and policies that
are relevant in the account manager’s daily collection activities. Our ongoing training and monitoring efforts help
ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies by account managers.
• Legal Action. We generally refer accounts for legal action where the consumer has not responded to our direct mail
efforts or our calls and it appears the consumer is able, but unwilling, to pay their obligations. When we decide to
pursue legal action, we place the account into our internal legal channel or refer them to our network of retained law
firms. If placed to our internal legal channel, attorneys in that channel will evaluate the accounts and make the final
determination whether to pursue legal action. If referred to our network of retained law firms, we rely on our law
firms’ expertise with respect to applicable debt collection laws to evaluate the accounts placed in that channel in
order to make the decision about whether or not to pursue collection litigation. Prior to engaging an external law
firm (and throughout our engagement of any external law firm), we monitor and evaluate the firm’s compliance with
consumer credit laws and regulations, operations, financial condition, and experience, among other key criteria. The
law firms we hire may also attempt to communicate with the consumers in an attempt to collect their debts prior to
initiating litigation. We pay these law firms a contingent fee based on amounts they collect on our behalf.
• Third-Party Collection Agencies. We selectively employ a strategy that uses collection agencies. Collection
agencies receive a contingent fee for each dollar collected. Generally, we use these agencies on accounts when we
believe they can liquidate better or less expensively than we can or to supplement capacity in our internal call
centers. We also use agencies to initially provide us a way to scale quickly when large purchases are made and as a
challenge to our internal call center collection teams. Prior to engaging a collection agency, we evaluate, among
other things, those aspects of the agency’s business that we believe are relevant to its performance and compliance
with consumer credit laws and regulations.
• Digital Collections. We offer an online payment portal that enhances consumer convenience by providing
consumers the ability to view account details, make payments and submit inquiries online.
• No Resale. Our policy is to not resell accounts to third parties in the ordinary course of business.
We expand and build upon the insight developed during our purchase process when developing our account collection
strategies for portfolios we have acquired. Our proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of
whether an account is actively serviced post-purchase. The channel identification process is analogous to a decision tree where
we first differentiate those consumers who we believe are unable to pay from those who we believe are able to pay. Consumers
who we believe are financially incapable of making any payments, or are facing extenuating circumstances or hardships that
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would prevent them from making payments, are excluded from our collection process. It is our practice to attempt to contact
consumers and assess each consumer’s willingness to pay through analytics, phone calls and/or letters. If the consumer’s
contact information is unavailable or out of date, the account is routed to our skip tracing process, which includes the use of
different skip tracing companies to provide accurate phone numbers and addresses. The consumers that engage with us are
presented with payment plans that are intended to suit their needs or are sometimes offered discounts on their obligations. For
the consumers that do not respond to our calls or our letters we must then decide whether to pursue collections through legal
action. Throughout our ownership period of accounts, we periodically refine our collection approach to determine the most
effective collection strategy to pursue for each account.
International
Cabot uses insights developed during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. Cabot’s proprietary
consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of how an account will be serviced post-purchase. Cabot
continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. Cabot
purchases both paying portfolios, which consist of accounts where over 50% of the investment value is associated with
consumers who are already repaying some of their debt, albeit at levels that still require the debt to be written off under the
originators’ internal accounting policies, and non-paying portfolios, where 50% or more of the investment value is associated
with customers who are not repaying some of their debt, which are higher risk and have less predictable cash flows than paying
portfolios. Paying portfolios tend to have a higher purchase price relative to face value than non-paying accounts due to the
higher expectations for collections, as well as lower anticipated collection costs. Non paying portfolios often consist of a
substantial number of accounts without contact details and for which the vendor has made numerous unsuccessful attempts to
collect.
For paying accounts, Cabot will attempt to establish contact with these consumers in order to transfer payment
arrangements and gauge the willingness of these consumers to transition to an enhanced payment plan. For non-paying
accounts, consumers who Cabot believes are financially incapable of making any payments, those having negative disposable
income, or those experiencing hardship, are handled outside of normal collections processes through dedicated and tailored
strategies. The remaining pool of accounts then receives further evaluation through Cabot’s data analytics. At that point, Cabot
analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, Cabot pursues collections through
letters, phone calls and/or text messages to its consumers. Where contact is made and consumers indicate a willingness and
ability to pay, Cabot creates tailor-made payment plans to suit the consumer’s situation using regulatory protocols within the
United Kingdom to assess affordability and ensure that repayment plans are fair and balanced and therefore sustainable. Where
contact is not made or the customer is unwilling to pay, Cabot refers the account to the appropriate escalation point in the
collection process, which may include its internal debt collection agency, a third-party collection agency or legal action. Cabot
also has robust internal legal collection capabilities, allowing the organization to address consumers across the entire
willingness to pay spectrum. Cabot utilizes a similar collection approach for its debt servicing operations.
Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management
United States
We have established a compliance management system framework, operational procedures, and governance structures to
enable us to conduct business in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines. Our philosophy rests on well-
established risk management principles including a model leveraging three lines of defense. Our first line of defense consists
of business lines or other operating units, whose role is to own and manage risks and associated mitigating controls. Our
second line of defense is comprised of strong legal, compliance, and enterprise risk management functions, who ensure that the
business maintains policies and procedures in compliance with existing laws and regulations, advise the business on assessing
risk and strengthening controls, and provide additional, related support. These second-line functions facilitate oversight by our
Board of Directors and management, and are responsible for promoting compliance with applicable laws and regulations,
assisting in formulating and maintaining policies and procedures, and engaging in training, risk assessments, testing,
monitoring, complaint response, compliance audits and corrective actions. Our third line of defense is provided by our internal
audit function, providing independent assurance that both first and second line functions are performing their roles
appropriately within the context of our framework.
Beyond written policies, one of our core internal goals is the adherence to principled intent as it pertains to all consumer
interactions. We believe that it is in our shareholders’ and our employees’ best interest to treat all consumers with the highest
standards of integrity. Specifically, we have strict policies and a code of ethics that guide all dealings with our consumers. To
reinforce existing written policies, we have established a number of quality assurance procedures. Through our Quality
Assurance program, our Fair Debt Collection Practices Act training for new account managers, our Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act recertification program for continuing account managers, and our Consumer Support Services department, we
take significant steps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and seek to promote consumer satisfaction.
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Our Quality Assurance team aims to enhance the skills of account managers and to drive compliance initiatives through active
call monitoring, account manager coaching and mentoring, and the tracking and distribution of company-wide best
practices. Finally, our Consumer Support Services department works directly with consumers to seek to resolve incoming
consumer inquiries and to respond to consumer disputes as they may arise. We continually monitor applicable changes to laws
governing statutes of limitations and disclosures to consumers.
Credit originators who sell us defaulted consumer receivables routinely conduct examinations of our collection practices
and procedures and typically make reports with recommendations to us as to how they believe we can improve those practices
and procedures. We respond to these reports in the ordinary course of business and make changes to our practices and
procedures that we believe are appropriate to address any issues raised in such reports.
International
Cabot has established a compliance framework, operational procedures, and governance structures to enable it to conduct
business in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines. Cabot’s employees undergo comprehensive training
on legal and regulatory compliance, and Cabot engages in regular call monitoring checks, data checks, performance reviews,
and other operational reviews to ensure compliance with company guidelines. The laws and regulations under which Cabot
operates have at their core the fair treatment of consumers, which is embedded within Cabot’s processes and culture.
Information Technology
Technical Infrastructure. Our internal network has been configured to be redundant in all critical functions, at all sites.
This redundancy has been implemented within the local area network switches and the data center network and includes fully
redundant Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks. We have the capability to handle high transaction volume in our
server network architecture with scalability to meet and exceed our future growth plans. Redundancy, coupled with seamless
scalability and our high performance infrastructure, will allow for rapid business transformation and growth.
Omni-Channel Enabled Dialer Technology. Our call centers employ the use of upgraded dialer technology that expands
our ability to service the consumer in their preferred channel of communication. This technology allows additional call volume
capacity and greater efficiency through shorter wait times and an increase in the number of live contacts. This technology helps
maximize account manager productivity and further optimizes the yield on our portfolio purchases. Additionally, the use of
predictive dialing technology helps us comply with applicable federal and state laws in the United States that restrict the time,
place, and manner in which debt collectors can call consumers. Recognizing mobile phone dialing has a different set of legal
restrictions, we utilize a distinctly different platform for non-consented mobile phones in order to comply with all laws while
providing a framework for us to maximize contact with our consumers.
Computer Hardware. We have made significant improvements in our data centers, and now have redundancy in support
of continued growth. We use a robust computer platform to perform our daily operations, including the collection efforts of our
global workforce. Our custom software applications are integrated within our database server environment allowing us to
process transaction loads with speed and efficiency. The computer platform offers us reliability and expansion opportunities.
Furthermore, this hardware incorporates state of the art data security protection. We back up our data utilizing a tapeless
configuration, and copies are replicated to a secure secondary data center. We also mirror our production data to a remote
location to give us full protection in the event of the loss of our primary data center. To ensure the integrity and reliability of
our computer platform, we periodically engage outside auditors specializing in information technology and cybersecurity to
examine both our operating systems and disaster recovery plans.
Process Control. To provide assurance that our entire infrastructure continues to operate efficiently and securely, we have
developed a strong process and control environment. These governance, risk management, and control protocols govern all
areas of the enterprise: from physical security and cybersecurity, to change management, data protection, and segregation of
duties.
Cybersecurity. We divide our cybersecurity and information security functions into the four core tenants that we believe
make up a solid information security practice: (1) security strategy and architecture; (2) operational security; (3) vulnerability
and threat management; and (4) IT governance, risk and controls. We invest in cybersecurity and advanced technologies,
including next generation threat prevention and threat intelligence solutions, to protect our organization and consumer and
proprietary data throughout its life cycle. We believe that our adoption and implementation of leading security frameworks for
the financial services industry and the regulatory environments and geographies in which we operate demonstrates our
commitment to cybersecurity and information security.
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Competition
The consumer credit recovery industry is highly competitive in both the United States and the United Kingdom. We
compete with a wide range of collection and financial services companies, traditional contingency collection agencies and in-
house recovery departments. Competitive pressures affect the availability and pricing of receivable portfolios, as well as the
availability and cost of qualified recovery personnel. In the United States, we believe some of our major competitors, which
include companies that focus primarily on the purchase of charged-off receivable portfolios, have continued to diversify into
third-party agency collections and into offering credit card and other financial services as part of their recovery strategy.
When purchasing receivables, we compete primarily on the basis of price, the ease of negotiating and closing the
prospective portfolio purchases with us, our ability to obtain funding, and our reputation with respect to the quality of services
that we provide. We believe that our ability to compete effectively in this market is also dependent upon, among other things,
our relationships with credit originators and portfolio resellers of charged-off consumer receivables, and our ability to provide
quality collection strategies in compliance with applicable laws.
We believe that smaller competitors in the United States and the United Kingdom are facing difficulties in the portfolio
purchasing market because of the higher cost to operate due to increased regulatory pressure and scrutiny applied by regulators.
In addition, sellers of charged-off consumer receivables are increasingly sensitive to the reputational risks involved in the
industry and are therefore being more selective with buyers in the marketplace, resulting in consolidation within the portfolio
purchasing and recovery industry. We believe this favors larger participants in this market, such as us, that are better able to
adapt to these pressures.
Government Regulation
United States
Our debt purchasing and collection activities are subject to federal, state, and municipal statutes, rules, regulations, and
ordinances that establish specific guidelines and procedures that debt purchasers and collectors must follow when collecting
consumer accounts. It is our policy to comply with the provisions of all applicable laws in all of our recovery activities. Our
failure to comply with these laws could have a material adverse effect on us to the extent that they limit our recovery activities
or subject us to fines or penalties in connection with such activities.
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and comparable state and local laws establish specific
guidelines and procedures that debt collectors must follow when communicating with consumers, including the time, place and
manner of the communications, and prohibit unfair, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices. Until 2011, the Federal
Trade Commission (“FTC”) administered, and had primary responsibility for the enforcement of, the FDCPA. In July 2011,
pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”),
Congress transferred the FTC’s role of administering the FDCPA to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”),
along with certain other federal statutes, and gave the CFPB authority to implement regulations under the FDCPA. The FTC
and the CFPB share enforcement responsibilities under the FDCPA.
In addition to the FDCPA, the federal laws that directly or indirectly apply to our business (including the regulations that
implement these laws) include the following:
Dodd-Frank Act, including the Consumer Financial
Protection Act (Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, “CFPA”)
Electronic Fund Transfer Act
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Fair Credit Billing Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”)
Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTCA”)
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”)
Truth In Lending Act
U.S. Bankruptcy Code
Wire Act
Credit CARD Act
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The Dodd-Frank Act was adopted to reform and strengthen regulation and supervision of the U.S. financial services
industry. It contains comprehensive provisions governing the oversight of financial institutions, some of which apply to us.
Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB, which has broad authority to implement and enforce “federal
consumer financial law,” as well as authority to examine financial institutions, including credit issuers that may be sellers of
receivables and debt buyers and collectors such as us, for compliance with federal consumer financial law. The CFPB has
authority to prevent unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices by issuing regulations or by using its enforcement authority
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without first issuing regulations. The Dodd-Frank Act also authorizes state officials to enforce regulations issued by the CFPB
and to enforce the CFPA general prohibition against unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices.
The CFPB’s authorities include the ability to issue regulations under all significant federal statutes that affect the
collection industry, including the FDCPA, FCRA, and others. In July 2016, the CFPB released an outline of proposals under
consideration for its debt collection rulemaking. The proposals are aimed at ensuring debt collectors, among other things:
collect the correct debt; limit excessive or disruptive communications; stop collecting or suing for debt without proper
documentation; and provide documentation substantiating debt to a consumer upon demand. In addition to consulting with
business representatives, the CFPB will continue to seek input from the public, consumer groups, industry, and other
stakeholders before continuing the rulemaking process. In July 2017, the CFPB issued an agenda that included plans to issue a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning debt collectors’ and debt buyers’ communications practices and consumer
disclosures.
The Dodd-Frank Act also gave the CFPB supervisory and examination authority over a variety of institutions that may
engage in debt collection, including us. Accordingly, the CFPB is authorized to supervise and conduct examinations of our
business practices. The prospect of supervision has increased the potential consequences of noncompliance with federal
consumer financial law.
The CFPB can conduct hearings, adjudication proceedings, and investigations, either unilaterally or jointly with other
state and federal regulators, to determine if federal consumer financial law has been violated. The CFPB has authority to
impose monetary penalties for violations of applicable federal consumer financial laws (including the CFPA, FDCPA, and
FCRA, among other consumer protection statutes), require remediation of practices, and pursue enforcement actions. The
CFPB also has authority to obtain cease and desist orders (which can include orders for restitution or rescission of contracts, as
well as other kinds of affirmative relief), costs, and monetary penalties ranging from $5,000 per day for ordinary violations of
federal consumer financial laws to $25,000 per day for reckless violations and $1 million per day for knowing violations. In
addition, where a company has violated Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act or CFPB regulations implemented under Title X of the
Dodd-Frank Act, the Dodd-Frank Act empowers state Attorneys General and state regulators to bring civil actions to remedy
violations of state law. The CFPB has been active in its supervision, examination and enforcement of financial services
companies, including bringing enforcement actions, imposing fines and mandating large refunds to customers of several
financial institutions for practices relating to debt collection practices.
On September 9, 2015, we entered into a consent order (the “Consent Order”) with the CFPB in which we settled
allegations arising from our practices between 2011 and 2015. The Consent Order includes obligations on us to, among other
things: (1) follow certain specified operational requirements, substantially all of which are already part of our current
operations; (2) submit to the CFPB for review a comprehensive plan designed to ensure that our debt collection practices
comply with all applicable federal consumer financial laws and the terms of the Consent Order; (3) pay redress to certain
specified groups of consumers; and (4) pay a civil monetary penalty. We will continue to cooperate and engage with the CFPB
and work to ensure compliance with the Consent Order. In addition, we are subject to ancillary state attorney general
investigations related to similar debt collection practices.
In addition, the CFPB has issued guidance in the form of bulletins on debt collection and credit furnishing activities
generally, including one that specifically addresses representations regarding credit reports and credit scores during the debt
collection process, another that focuses on the application of the CFPA’s prohibition of “unfair, deceptive, or abusive” acts or
practices on debt collection and another that discusses the risks that in-person collection of consumer debt may create in
violating the FDPCA and CFPA. The CFPB also accepts debt collection consumer complaints and released template letters for
consumers to use when corresponding with debt collectors. The CFPB makes publicly available its data on consumer
complaints. The Dodd-Frank Act also mandates the submission of multiple studies and reports to Congress by the CFPB, and
CFPB staff regularly make speeches on topics related to credit and debt. All of these activities could trigger additional
legislative or regulatory action. In addition, the CFPB has engaged in enforcement activity in sectors adjacent to our industry,
impacting credit originators, collection firms, and payment processors, among others. The CFPB’s enforcement activity in these
spaces, especially in the absence of clear rules or regulatory expectations, can be disruptive to third parties as they attempt to
define appropriate business practices. As a result, certain commercial relationships we maintain may be disrupted or impacted
by changes in third-parties’ business practices or perceptions of elevated risk relating to the debt collection industry.
Our activities are also subject to federal and state laws concerning identity theft, privacy, data security, the use of
automated dialing equipment, and other laws related to consumers and consumer protection. In response to petitions filed by
third parties, in July 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a declaratory ruling interpreting the
TCPA, which could impact the way consumers may be contacted on their cellular phones and could impact our operations and
financial results.
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In addition to the federal statutes detailed above, many states have general consumer protection statutes, laws, regulations,
or court rules that apply to debt purchasing and collection. In a number of states and cities, we must maintain licenses to
perform debt recovery services and must satisfy related bonding requirements. It is our policy to comply with all material
licensing and bonding requirements. Our failure to comply with existing licensing requirements, changing interpretations of
existing requirements, or adoption of new licensing requirements, could restrict our ability to collect in regions, subject us to
increased regulation, increase our costs, or adversely affect our ability to collect our receivables.
State laws, among other things, also may limit the interest rate and the fees that a credit originator may impose on our
consumers, limit the time in which we may file legal actions to enforce consumer accounts, and require specific account
information for certain collection activities. By way of example, the California Fair Debt Buying Practices Act that directly
applies to debt buyers, applies to accounts sold after January 1, 2014. The law requires debt buyers operating in the state to
have in their possession specific account information before debt collection efforts can begin, among other requirements.
Moreover, the New York State Department of Financial Services issued new debt collection regulations, which took effect in
September 2015 and established new requirements for collecting debt in the state. In addition, other state and local
requirements and court rulings in various jurisdictions may also affect our ability to collect.
The relationship between consumers and credit card issuers is also extensively regulated by federal and state consumer
protection and related laws and regulations. These laws may affect some of our operations because the majority of our
receivables originate through credit card transactions. The laws and regulations applicable to credit card issuers, among other
things, impose disclosure requirements when a credit card account is advertised, when it is applied for and when it is opened, at
the end of monthly billing cycles, and at year-end. Federal law requires, among other things, that credit card issuers disclose to
consumers the interest rates, fees, grace periods, and balance calculation methods associated with their credit card accounts.
Some laws prohibit discriminatory practices in connection with the extension of credit. If the originating institution fails to
comply with applicable statutes, rules, and regulations, it could create claims and rights for consumers that would reduce or
eliminate their obligations related to those receivables. When we acquire receivables, we generally require the credit originator
or portfolio reseller to represent that they have complied with applicable statutes, rules, and regulations relating to the
origination and collection of the receivables before they were sold to us.
Federal statutes further provide that, in some cases, consumers cannot be held liable for, or their liability is limited with
respect to, charges to their credit card accounts that resulted from unauthorized use of their credit cards. These laws, among
others, may give consumers a legal cause of action against us, or may limit our ability to recover amounts owing with respect to
the receivables, whether or not we committed any wrongful act or omission in connection with the account.
These laws and regulations, and others similar to the ones listed above, as well as laws applicable to specific types of
debt, impose requirements or restrictions on collection methods or our ability to enforce and recover certain of our receivables.
Effects of the law, including those described above, and any new or changed laws, rules, or regulations, and reinterpretation of
the same, may adversely affect our ability to recover amounts owing with respect to our receivables or the sale of receivables
by creditors and resellers.
International
Our international operations are affected by foreign statutes, rules and regulations. It is our policy to comply with these
laws in all of our recovery activities.
The debt collection and debt purchase industries in the United Kingdom are highly regulated by a number of different
governmental bodies and firms operating within it are subject to high standards of monitoring and compliance, particularly
following the transition in regulatory regimes from the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) to the Financial Conduct Authority
(“FCA”) in April 2014. The key entities and regulations that govern Cabot’s business are set out below.
Financial Conduct Authority Regulation. U.K. debt purchase and collections businesses are principally regulated by the
FCA, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) and the UK Office of Communications (“OFCOM”). In March
2016, Cabot Credit Management Group Limited (“CCMG”), a Cabot subsidiary, was granted FCA authorization to conduct
debt purchase and debt collection activities, as well as exercising the right of a lender. CCMG appointed other Cabot
subsidiaries to carry out debt-collecting and debt administration services on its behalf. CCMG assumes full regulatory
responsibility for such entities. The FCA regards debt collection as a ‘‘high risk’’ activity and may therefore dedicate special
resources to more intensive monitoring of businesses in this sector. The FCA Handbook sets out the FCA rules and other
provisions. Firms wishing to carry on regulated consumer credit activities must comply with all applicable sections of the FCA
Handbook as well as the applicable consumer credit laws and regulations.
The FCA has applied its rules to consumer credit firms in a number of areas, including its high-level principles and
conduct of business standards. The FCA has substantially greater powers than the OFT and given the FCA has only been
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responsible for regulating consumer credit since April 2014, it is likely that the regulatory requirements applicable to the debt
purchase industry will continue to increase, as the FCA deepens its understanding of the industry through continued
supervision. In addition, it is likely that the compliance framework that will be needed to continue to satisfy the FCA
requirements will demand incremental investment and resources in Cabot’s compliance governance framework. For example,
the FCA have now confirmed that the UK Senior Managers and Certification Regime (‘‘SMCR’’) will be extended to all
sectors of the financial services industry (including consumer credit firms), at which point the majority of CCMG’s senior
management team below the executive committee is expected to become certified persons, which could result in additional
costs for CCMG. The objective of the legislation is to raise standards of conduct in financial services. The final implementation
date for SMCR has not been published, although it is expected to be in 2018 or 2019.
Companies authorized by the FCA must be able to demonstrate that they meet the threshold conditions for authorization
and comply on an ongoing basis with the FCA’s high level standards for authorized firms, such as its Principles for Business
(including the principle of ‘‘treating customers fairly’’), and rules and guidance on Systems and Controls. In addition to the full
authorization of its business with the FCA, CCMG has appointed certain individuals who have significant control or influence
over the management of the business, known as “Approved Persons,” and are jointly and severally liable for the acts and
omissions of CCMG and its business affairs. Approved Persons are subject to statements of principle and codes of practice
established and enforced by the FCA.
The FCA has significantly greater powers than the OFT, including, but not limited to, the ability to impose significant
fines, ban certain individuals from carrying on trade within the financial services industry, impose requirements on a firm’s
permission, cease certain products from being collected upon and in extreme circumstances remove permissions to trade.
In addition to the permissions granted as part of this FCA authorization, in February 2017, CCMG was granted a variation
of permissions from the FCA in order to administer regulated mortgage contracts.
Debt Pre-Action Protocol. In September 2014, the Civil Procedure Rules Committee (“CPRC”), a subcommittee to the
Ministry of Justice of the United Kingdom, issued a consultation on proposals to introduce a designated pre-action protocol for
court claims for the recovery of debt that requires all debt collection entities to make significant changes to their court and
litigation processes. The objectives of the debt pre-action protocol are, among others, to encourage parties to use alternative
dispute resolution procedures and to encourage the full exchange of information between parties at an early stage in
proceedings. It requires a significant amount of information, if requested, to be disclosed to consumers, including copies of
credit agreements where any aspect of the debt is disputed between the parties (including, but not limited to, the debt’s
existence, enforceability and amount). The new Debt Pre-Action Protocol came into force on October 1, 2017.
Consumer protection. The regulatory regime in the United Kingdom relating to the protection of consumers from unfair
terms and practices changed in 2015. In October 2015, the U.K. Parliament introduced new laws that reformed most of the
previous U.K. consumer laws and was largely driven by the European Commission’s Directive for Consumer Rights. The U.K.
Consumer Rights Act 2015 introduced enhanced consumer measures that can be imposed on businesses and gives greater
protection to U.K. consumers from unfair business practices and unfair terms in consumer agreements.
Additionally, the Consumer Credit Act of 1974 (and its related regulations) and the U.K. Consumer Rights Act 2015 set
forth requirements for the entry into and ongoing management of consumer credit arrangements in the United Kingdom. A
failure to comply with these requirements can make agreements unenforceable or can result in a requirement that charged and
collected interest be repaid.
Data protection. In addition to these regulations on debt collection and debt purchase activities, Cabot must comply with
requirements established by the Data Protection Act of 1998 in relation to processing the personal data of its consumers. In
September 2017, the U.K. government published the Data Protection Bill 2017, which is anticipated to become law in 2018.
This will substantially replace the Data Protection Act of 1998 and address further detail and increase the regulation which will
be brought in by the E.U. General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). The GDPR came into effect in May 2016 and will be
applicable to member states of the E.U. from May 2018. The GDPR will introduce significant changes to the data protection
regime including but not limited to: the conditions for obtaining consent to process personal data; transparency and providing
information to individuals regarding the processing of their personal data; enhanced rights for individuals; notification
obligations for personal data breach; and new supervisory authorities, including a European Data Protection Board (“EDPB”).
We have analyzed the GDPR requirements and are working to ensure that we become compliant.
Ireland. The regulatory regime in the Republic of Ireland has been subject to significant changes. In July 2015, the Irish
Parliament introduced the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015, which requires credit
servicing firms to be regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland to ensure regulatory protection for consumers following loan
book sales. The Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015 seeks to address concerns regarding the
loss of regulatory protections for borrowers when portfolio of loans are sold and/or serviced to/by an unregulated entity. Cabot
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is registered with and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for credit servicing activities and its activities are subject to
detailed rules on consumer protection and was issued an unconditional authorization in May 2017. Cabot was already
contractually obligated to ensure compliance with the relevant consumer protection codes through its debt sale and
management agreements and is audited on a regular basis against such obligations.
In June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum in which voters approved the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from
the E.U., commonly referred to as “Brexit.” In March 2017, the United Kingdom formally served notice on the European
Council of its intention to withdraw from the E.U. The United Kingdom is expected to exit the E.U. by no later than April 2019.
Brexit has created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the E.U., including
with respect to the laws and regulations that will apply as the United Kingdom determines which E.U. laws to replace or
replicate in the event of a withdrawal. Additionally, Brexit could, among other outcomes, disrupt the free movement of goods,
services and people between the United Kingdom and the E.U., undermine bilateral cooperation in key policy areas and
significantly disrupt trade between the United Kingdom and the E.U. Given the lack of comparable precedent, it is unclear what
financial, trade and legal implications Brexit will have and how it will affect us.
In addition, the other markets in which we currently operate are subject to local laws and regulations, and we have
implemented compliance programs to facilitate compliance with all applicable laws and regulations in those markets. Our
operations outside the United States are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits U.S. companies and
their agents and employees from providing anything of value to a foreign official for the purposes of influencing any act or
decision of these individuals in order to obtain an unfair advantage, to help, obtain, or retain business.
Employees
As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 8,200 employees worldwide. None of our employees in North America
are represented by a labor union or subject to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement. We have employees in the U.K.,
Spain and New Zealand who are represented by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our relations with our
employees in all locations are good.
Item 1A—Risk Factors
There are risks and uncertainties in our business that could cause our actual results to differ from those anticipated. We
urge you to read these risk factors carefully in connection with evaluating our business and in connection with the forward-
looking statements and other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the risks described herein
could affect our business, financial condition, or future results and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking
statements are made. The list of risks is not intended to be exhaustive, and the order in which the risks appear is not intended as
an indication of their relative weight or importance. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we
currently deem to be immaterial, also may adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Financial and economic conditions affect the ability of consumers to pay their obligations, which could harm our financial
results.
Economic conditions globally and locally directly affect unemployment, credit availability, and real estate values.
Adverse conditions, economic changes, and financial disruptions place financial pressure on the consumer, which may reduce
our ability to collect on our consumer receivable portfolios and may adversely affect the value of our consumer receivable
portfolios. Further, increased financial pressures on the financially distressed consumer may result in additional regulatory
requirements or restrictions on our operations and increased litigation filed against us. These conditions could increase our
costs and harm our business, financial condition, and operating results.
Our operating results may be affected by factors that could cause them to fluctuate significantly in the future.
Our operating results will likely vary in the future due to a variety of factors that could affect our revenues and operating
expenses. We expect that our operating expenses as a percentage of collections will fluctuate in the future as we expand into
new markets, increase our business development efforts, hire additional personnel, and incur increased insurance and regulatory
compliance costs. In addition, our operating results have fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate as a result of the factors
described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
•
the timing and ability of consumers to make payments, including the effects of seasonality and macroeconomic
conditions on their ability to pay;
•
any charge to earnings resulting from an allowance against the carrying value of our receivable portfolios;
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•
•
•
increases in operating expenses associated with the growth or change of our operations or compliance with
increased regulatory and other legal requirements;
the cost of credit; and
the supply of receivables portfolios for sale on acceptable terms.
Because we recognize revenue on the basis of projected collections on purchased portfolios, we may experience
variations in quarterly revenue and earnings due to the timing of portfolio purchases.
We may not be able to purchase receivables at favorable prices, which could limit our growth or profitability.
Our ability to continue to operate profitably depends upon the continued availability of receivable portfolios that meet our
purchasing standards and are cost-effective based upon projected collections exceeding our costs. Due, in part, to fluctuating
prices for receivable portfolios and competition within the marketplace, there has been considerable variation in our purchasing
volume and pricing from quarter to quarter and we expect that to continue. The volume of our portfolio purchases may be
limited when prices are high, and may or may not increase when portfolio pricing is more favorable to us. Further, our rates of
return may decline when portfolio prices are high. We do not know how long portfolios will be available for purchase on terms
acceptable to us, or at all.
The availability of receivable portfolios at favorable prices depends on a number of factors, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
defaults in consumer debt;
continued origination of loans by originating institutions at sufficient volumes;
continued sale of receivable portfolios by originating institutions and portfolio resellers at sufficient volumes and
acceptable price levels;
competition in the marketplace;
our ability to develop and maintain favorable relationships with key major credit originators and portfolio
resellers;
our ability to obtain adequate data from credit originators or portfolio resellers to appropriately evaluate the
collectability of, estimate the value of, and collect on portfolios; and
•
changes in laws and regulations governing consumer lending, bankruptcy, and collections.
We enter into “forward flow” contracts, which are commitments to purchase receivables over a duration that is typically
three to twelve months with a specifically defined volume, frequency, and pricing. In periods of decreasing prices, we may end
up paying an amount higher for such debt portfolios in a forward flow contract than we would otherwise agree to pay at the
time for a spot purchase, which could result in reduced returns. We would likely only be able to terminate such forward flow
agreements in certain limited circumstances.
In addition, because of the length of time involved in collecting charged-off consumer receivables on acquired portfolios
and the volatility in the timing of our collections, we may not be able to identify trends and make changes in our purchasing
strategies in a timely manner. Ultimately, if we are unable to continually purchase and collect on a sufficient volume of
receivables to generate cash collections that exceed our costs or to generate satisfactory returns, our business, financial
condition and operating results will be adversely affected.
A significant portion of our portfolio purchases during any period may be concentrated with a small number of sellers,
which could adversely affect our volume and timing of purchases.
A significant percentage of our portfolio purchases for any given fiscal quarter or year may be concentrated with a few
large sellers, some of which may also involve forward flow arrangements. We cannot be certain that any of our significant
sellers will continue to sell charged-off receivables to us on terms or in quantities acceptable to us, or that we would be able to
replace these purchases with purchases from other sellers.
A significant decrease in the volume of purchases available from any of our principal sellers on terms acceptable to us
would force us to seek alternative sources of charged-off receivables. Further, we have historically complemented our portfolio
purchases from credit originators by purchasing portfolios from resellers or through the acquisition of portfolios from
competitors looking to exit the market. As consolidation in the market continues, there may be fewer competitors to acquire on
favorable terms. In addition, as the regulatory market continues to evolve, increased documentation requirements for collecting
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on portfolios may make purchasing accounts through resellers more difficult. Several larger issuers have also begun to prohibit
resale of portfolios.
We may be unable to find alternative sources from which to purchase charged-off receivables, and even if we could
successfully replace these purchases, the search could take time and the receivables could be of lower quality, cost more, or
both, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We face intense competition that could impair our ability to maintain or grow our purchasing volumes.
The charged-off receivables purchasing market is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with a wide range of
other purchasers of charged-off consumer receivables. To the extent our competitors are able to better maximize recoveries on
their assets or are willing to accept lower rates of return, we may not be able to grow or sustain our purchasing volumes or we
may be forced to acquire portfolios at expected rates of return lower than our historical rates of return. Some of our competitors
may obtain alternative sources of financing at more favorable rates than those available to us, the proceeds from which may be
used to fund expansion and to increase the amount of charged-off receivables they purchase.
Barriers to entry into the consumer debt collection industry have traditionally been low. More recently, increased
regulatory standards have made entry into the market more difficult and have resulted in sellers of charged-off consumer
receivables being more selective with buyers in the marketplace. Companies with greater financial resources than we have may
elect at a future date to enter the market for charged-off consumer receivables. We believe that the entrance of new market
participants in our industry could lead to additional upward pricing pressure on charged-off consumer receivables as a result of
increased demand, but also because new purchasers may pay higher prices for the portfolios than more experienced purchasers
would due to a lack of experience, data and analytics necessary to properly assess risks and return potential of the portfolios or
a desire to add size to their existing operations.
We face bidding competition in our acquisition of charged-off consumer receivables. We believe that successful bids are
predominantly awarded based on price and, to a lesser extent, based on service, reputation, and relationships with the sellers of
charged-off receivables. Some of our current competitors, and potential new competitors, may have more effective pricing and
collection models, greater adaptability to changing market needs, and more established relationships in our industry than we do.
Moreover, our competitors may elect to pay prices for portfolios that we determine are not economically sustainable and, in that
event, we may not be able to continue to offer competitive bids for charged-off receivables.
If we are unable to develop and expand our business or to adapt to changing market needs as well as our current or future
competitors, we may experience reduced access to portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables in sufficient face value
amounts at appropriate prices, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We may purchase receivable portfolios that are unprofitable or we may not be able to collect sufficient amounts to recover
our costs and to fund our operations.
We acquire and service charged-off receivables that the obligors have failed to pay and the sellers have deemed
uncollectible and have written off. The originating institutions and/or portfolio resellers generally make numerous attempts to
recover on these nonperforming receivables, often using a combination of their in-house collection and legal departments, as
well as third-party collection agencies. In order to operate profitably over the long term, we must continually purchase and
collect on a sufficient volume of charged-off receivables to generate revenue that exceeds our costs. These receivables are
difficult to collect, and we may not be successful in collecting amounts sufficient to cover the costs associated with purchasing
the receivables and funding our operations. If we are not able to collect on these receivables, collect sufficient amounts to cover
our costs or generate satisfactory returns, this may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We may experience losses on portfolios consisting of new types of receivables or receivables in new geographies due to our
lack of collection experience with these receivables, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating
results.
We continually look for opportunities to expand the classes of assets that make up the portfolios we acquire. Therefore,
we may acquire portfolios consisting of assets with which we have little or no collection experience or portfolios of receivables
in new geographies where we do not historically maintain an operational footprint. Our lack of experience with these assets
may hinder our ability to generate expected levels of profits from these portfolios. Further, our existing methods of collections
may prove ineffective for these new receivables, and we may not be able to collect on these portfolios. Our inexperience with
these receivables may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
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The statistical models we use to project remaining cash flows from our receivable portfolios may prove to be inaccurate and,
if so, our financial results may be adversely affected.
We use internally developed models to project the remaining cash flows from our receivable portfolios. These models
consider known data about our consumers’ accounts, including, among other things, our collection experience and changes in
external consumer factors, in addition to data known when we acquired the accounts. However, we may not be able to achieve
the collections forecasted by our models. If we are not able to achieve the levels of forecasted collection, our revenues will be
reduced or we may be required to record an allowance charge, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and
operating results.
A significant portion of our collections relies upon our success in individual lawsuits brought against consumers and our
ability to collect on judgments in our favor.
We generate a significant portion of our revenue by collecting on judgments that are granted by courts in lawsuits filed
against consumers. A decrease in the willingness of courts to grant these judgments, a change in the requirements for filing
these cases or obtaining these judgments, or a decrease in our ability to collect on these judgments could have an adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and operating results. As we increase our use of the legal channel for collections, our short-
term margins may decrease as a result of an increase in upfront court costs and costs related to counter claims. We may not be
able to collect on certain aged accounts because of applicable statutes of limitations and we may be subject to adverse effects of
regulatory changes. Further, courts in certain jurisdictions require that a copy of the account statements or applications be
attached to the pleadings in order to obtain a judgment against consumers. If we are unable to produce those account
documents, these courts could deny our claims, and our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely
affected.
Increases in costs associated with our collections through collection litigation can raise our costs associated with our
collection strategies and the individual lawsuits brought against consumers to collect on judgments in our favor.
We hire in-house counsel and contract with a nationwide network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters. In
connection with collection litigation, we advance certain out-of-pocket court costs that are recoverable from the consumer,
which we refer to as deferred court costs. These court costs may be difficult or impossible to collect, and we may not be
successful in collecting amounts sufficient to cover the amounts deferred in our financial statements. If we are not able to
recover these court costs, our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.
Further, we have substantial collection activity through our legal channel and, as a consequence, increases in deferred
court costs, increases in costs related to counterclaims, and an increase in other court costs may increase our costs in collecting
on these accounts, which may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Sellers may deliver portfolios that contain accounts that do not meet our account collection criteria and cannot be returned,
which could have an adverse effect on our cash flows and our operations.
In the normal course of portfolio acquisitions, some accounts may be included in the portfolios that fail to conform to the
terms of the purchase agreements and we may seek to return these accounts to the sellers for refund. However, we generally
have a limited time in which to return these accounts to the sellers under the terms of our purchase agreements. In addition,
sellers may not be able to meet their contractual obligations to buy these accounts back from us. Accounts that we are unable to
return to sellers may yield no return. If sellers deliver portfolios containing too many accounts that do not conform to the terms
of the purchase agreements, we may be unable to collect a sufficient amount and the portfolio purchase could generate lower
returns or be unprofitable, which would have an adverse effect on our cash flows and our operations. If cash flows from
operations are less than anticipated, our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and purchase new portfolios and,
correspondingly, our business, financial condition and operating results, may be adversely affected.
We are subject to audits conducted by sellers of debt portfolios, and may be required to implement specific changes to our
policies and practices as a result of adverse findings by such sellers as a part of the audit process, which could limit our
ability to purchase debt portfolios from them in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our business.
Pursuant to purchase contracts, we are subject to audits that are conducted by sellers of debt portfolios. Such audits may
occur with little notice and the assessment criteria used by each seller varies based on their own requirements, policies and
standards. Although much of the assessment criteria is based on regulatory requirements, we may be asked to comply with
additional terms and conditions that are unique to particular debt originators. From time to time, sellers may believe that we
are not in compliance with certain of their criteria and in such cases, we may be required to dedicate resources and to incur
expenses to address such concerns, including the implementation of new policies and procedures. In addition, to the extent that
we are unable to satisfy the requirements of a particular seller, such seller could remove us from their panel of preferred
purchasers, which could limit our ability to purchase debt portfolios from that seller in the future, which could adversely affect
our business, financial condition and operating results.
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We are dependent upon third parties to service a substantial portion of our consumer receivable portfolios.
We use outside collection services to collect a substantial portion of our charged-off receivables. We are dependent upon
the efforts of third-party collection agencies and attorneys to help service and collect our charged-off receivables. Our third-
party collection agencies and attorneys could fail to perform collection services for us adequately, remit those collections to us
or otherwise perform their obligations adequately. In addition, one or more of those third-party collection agencies or attorneys
could cease operations abruptly or become insolvent, or our relationships with such collection agencies or attorneys may
otherwise change adversely. Further, we might not be able to secure replacement third-party collection agencies or attorneys or
promptly transfer account information to our new third-party collection agencies, attorneys or in-house in the event our
agreements with our third-party collection agencies and attorneys were terminated. Any of the foregoing factors could cause
our business, financial condition and operating results to be adversely affected.
We may incur allowance charges based on the authoritative accounting guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with
deteriorated credit quality.
We account for our portfolio revenue in accordance with the authoritative accounting guidance for loans and debt
securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality. The authoritative guidance limits the revenue that may be accrued to the
excess of the estimate of expected future cash flows over a portfolio’s initial cost and requires that the excess of the contractual
cash flows over the expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue, expense, or on the balance sheet. The
authoritative accounting guidance maintains the IRR originally estimated when the receivable portfolios are purchased and,
rather than lower the estimated IRR if the expected future cash flow estimates are decreased, the carrying value of our
receivable portfolios would be written down to maintain the then-current IRR. Increases in expected future cash flows would be
recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. Any increased yield then
becomes the new benchmark for allowance testing. Since the authoritative accounting guidance does not permit yields to be
lowered, there is an increased probability of us having to incur allowance charges in the future, which would adversely affect
our business, financial condition and operating results.
Changes in accounting standards and their interpretations could adversely affect our operating results.
U.S. GAAP are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, the SEC, and various other bodies that promulgate and interpret appropriate accounting
principles. These principles and related implementation guidelines and interpretations can be highly complex and involve
subjective estimates. A change in these principles or interpretations could have a significant effect on our reported financial
results, and could affect the reporting of transactions completed before the announcement of a change. For example, in June
2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on
Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 applies a current expected credit loss model which is a new impairment
model based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. ASU 2016-13 eliminates the current accounting model for loans
and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310-30, which
provides authoritative guidance for the accounting of the Company’s investment in receivable portfolios. Under this new
standard, entities will gross up the initial amortized cost for the purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (“PCD
assets”), the initial amortized cost will be the sum of (1) the purchase price and (2) the estimate of credit losses as of the date of
acquisition. After initial recognition of PCD assets and the related allowance, any change in estimated cash flows (favorable or
unfavorable) will be immediately recognized in the income statement because the yield on PCD assets would be locked. ASU
2016-13 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for reporting
periods beginning after December 15, 2018. We are in the process of determining the effects the adoption will have on our
consolidated financial statements as well as whether to adopt the new guidance early. ASU 2016-13 and additional new
accounting standards could have an adverse effect on our reported financial results, which could in turn cause our stock price to
decline.
If our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired we may be required to record a significant charge to
earnings.
As of December 31, 2017, we carry approximately $929.0 million in goodwill and approximately $75.7 million in
amortizable intangible assets. Under authoritative guidance, we review our goodwill for potential impairment at least annually,
and review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that may indicate that the carrying value of our goodwill or amortizable
intangible assets may not be recoverable include adverse changes in estimated future cash flows, growth rates and discount
rates. We may be required to record a significant charge in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment
of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition
and operating results.
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Our business is subject to extensive laws and regulations, which have increased and may continue to increase.
As noted in detail in “Item 1 - Part 1 - Business - Government Regulation” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
extensive laws and regulations directly apply to key portions of our business. Our failure or the failure of third-party agencies
and attorneys, or the credit originators or portfolio resellers selling receivables to us, to comply with existing or new laws,
rules, or regulations could limit our ability to recover on receivables, affect the willingness of financial institutions to sell
portfolios to us, cause us to pay damages to consumers or result in fines or penalties, which could reduce our revenues, or
increase our expenses, and consequently adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We sometimes purchase accounts in asset classes that are subject to industry-specific and/or issuer-specific restrictions
that limit the collection methods that we can use on those accounts. Further, we have seen a trend in laws, rules and regulations
requiring increased availability of historic information about receivables in order to collect. If credit originators or portfolio
resellers are unable or unwilling to meet these evolving requirements, we may be unable to collect on certain accounts. Our
inability to collect sufficient amounts from these accounts, through available collections methods, could adversely affect our
business, financial condition and operating results.
In addition, the CFPB has engaged in enforcement activity in sectors adjacent to our industry, impacting credit
originators, collection firms, and payment processors, among others. Enforcement activity in these spaces by the CFPB or
others, especially in the absence of clear rules or regulatory expectations, may be disruptive to third parties as they attempt to
define appropriate business practices. As a result, certain commercial relationships we maintain may be disrupted or impacted
by changes in third-parties’ business practices or perceptions of elevated risk relating to the debt collection industry, which
could reduce our revenues, or increase our expenses, and consequently adversely affect our business, financial condition and
operating results.
Additional consumer protection or privacy laws, rules and regulations may be enacted, or existing laws, rules or
regulations may be reinterpreted or enforced in a different manner, imposing additional restrictions or requirements on the
collection of receivables.
Failure to comply with government regulation could result in the suspension or termination of our ability to conduct
business, may require the payment of significant fines and penalties, or require other significant expenditures.
The collections industry is heavily regulated under various federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. Many
states and several cities require that we be licensed as a debt collection company. The CFPB, FTC, state Attorneys General and
other regulatory bodies have the authority to investigate a variety of matters, including consumer complaints against debt
collection companies, and can bring enforcement actions and seek monetary penalties, consumer restitution, and injunctive
relief. If we, or our third-party collection agencies or law firms fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations,
including, but not limited to, identity theft, privacy, data security, the use of automated dialing equipment, laws related to
consumer protection, debt collection, and laws applicable to specific types of debt, it could result in the suspension or
termination of our ability to conduct collection operations, which would adversely affect us. Further, our ability to collect our
receivables may be affected by state laws, which require that certain types of account documentation be presented prior to the
institution of any collection activities. In addition, new federal, state or local laws or regulations, or changes in the ways these
rules or laws are interpreted or enforced, could limit our activities in the future and/or significantly increase the cost of
regulatory compliance. Finally, our operations outside the United States are subject to foreign and U.S. laws and regulations
that apply to our international operations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act and other local
laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines and
penalties, criminal sanctions, prohibitions on the conduct of our business and reputational damage. Any of the foregoing could
have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Failure to comply with the regulatory regime to which Cabot is subject may adversely affect our business, financial
condition and operating results.
The debt purchase and collections sector and the broader consumer credit industry in the United Kingdom and the other
jurisdictions in which Cabot operates is highly regulated under various laws and regulations. These laws and regulations are
also subject to review from time to time and may be subject to significant change. In addition, this legislation is principles-
based and therefore the interpretation of compliance is complex and may change over time. Failure to comply with such
legislation or regulation may adversely affect the enforceability of the credit agreements underlying Cabot’s debt portfolios.
UK debt purchase and collections businesses are principally regulated by the FCA, the ICO and the OFCOM. In
March 2016, CCMG was granted FCA authorization to conduct debt purchase and debt collection activities, as well as
exercising the right of a lender. In addition to the full authorization of its business with the FCA, CCMG has appointed certain
individuals who have significant control or influence over the management of the business, known as “Approved Persons,” and
who will jointly and severally be liable for the acts and omissions of the company and its business affairs. Approved Persons
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will be subject to statements of principle and codes of practice established and enforced by the FCA. The FCA regards debt
collection as a “high risk” activity and therefore dedicates special resources to more intensive monitoring of businesses in this
sector. The FCA Handbook has a specialist consumer credit sourcebook (“CONC”) for the consumer credit sector, which
includes rules and guidance in relation to, inter alia, the handling of vulnerable customers; communications with customers;
arrears, default and recovery of debt; debt advice and statute barred debt. While UK debt purchase and collection businesses
are principally regulated by the FCA and the provisions of the FSMA, there is additional legislation and regulation that governs
consumer credit, including the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (as amended) (“CCA”) which imposes various obligations on
lenders, and any person who exercises the rights and duties of lenders, including to provide post contract information such as
statements of account, notices of sums in arrears and default notices. Any failure to comply with such legislation or regulation
could result in FCA action. The FCA and the previous regulator, the UK Office of Fair Trading (the “OFT”), have already
taken action against, and have imposed requirements on, a number of well known financial institutions, other financial
institutions and debt management companies. In addition, Cabot is subject to various regulations concerning consumer
protection and data protection, among others, as well as regulations in the other jurisdictions in which it operates.
Compliance with this extensive regulatory framework is expensive and labor-intensive. Failure to comply with any
applicable laws, regulations, rules or contractual compliance obligations could result in investigations, information gathering,
public censures, financial penalties, disciplinary measures, liability and/or enforcement actions being brought against Cabot,
including licenses or permissions that Cabot needs to do business not being granted or being revoked or the suspension or
termination of its ability to conduct collections. In addition, Cabot’s debt purchase contracts with vendors include certain
conditions. Failure to comply or revocation of a permission or authorization, or other actions taken by Cabot that may damage
the reputation of the vendor, may entitle the vendor to terminate any agreements with Cabot and/or to repurchase debt
portfolios Cabot previously purchased from it. Damage to Cabot’s reputation, whether because of a failure to comply with
applicable laws, regulations or rules, revocation of a permission or authorization, any other regulatory action or Cabot’s failure
to comply with contractual compliance obligations, could deter vendors from choosing Cabot as their debt purchase or
collections provider. Failure to comply with any of the requirements issued by the FCA or the requirements of any applicable
legislation or regulation is likely to have serious consequences. For example, the FCA may undertake investigations and
information-gathering in connection with any aspect of Cabot’s operations. The FCA may also commence disciplinary action
against authorized entities within Cabot or an Approved Person, which may include public censure or instituting a ban on
conducting business within the consumer credit sector. The FCA may revoke or impose restrictions or temporary suspensions
on CCMG’s authorization, which would be publicly known and involve serious reputational damage, as well as significantly
impact our business. The FCA may impose requirements demanding changes in Cabot’s business practices, which may
interfere with Cabot’s ability to carry on regulated activities and adversely affect its reputation and ability to acquire additional
purchased loan portfolios.
Cabot’s subsidiary entities in Ireland are subject to the Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act,
as amended (the “Irish Credit Servicing Act 2015”). Cabot Financial (Ireland) Limited received confirmation of its
authorization from the CBI in May 2017 and is contractually obligated to ensure compliance with the relevant consumer
protection codes through its debt sale and collection agreements. Failure to comply with any of the requirements issued by the
CBI or the requirements of any applicable legislation or regulation is likely to have serious consequences, including
investigations being carried out and /or disciplinary actions (including public censure, restrictions on operations or the
suspension of regulatory authorizations) being imposed on Cabot.
As a debt purchaser, Cabot must comply with the requirements established by the Data Protection Act 1998 (as amended)
(the “Data Protection Act”) in relation to processing the personal data of customers. Failure to maintain the appropriate data
protection registrations with the ICO or to comply with an ICO enforcement notice could result in criminal proceedings and
could negatively impact our ability to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. Cabot’s ability to
price debt portfolios, trace consumers and develop tailored repayment plans depends on its ability to use personal data in its
consumer data intelligence systems. Depending on their nature and scope, changes to data protection laws, practices,
regulations and guidance could require additional investments and resources in Cabot’s compliance governance framework, or
could alter the way in which Cabot obtains, collects and uses data. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
(Regulation (EU) 2016/679) (the “EU Data Protection Regulation”) came into effect in May 2016 and will become directly
applicable in Member States from May 2018. The EU Data Protection Regulation introduces substantial changes to the EU
data protection regime and will impose a substantially higher compliance burden on Cabot, may increase its data protection
costs and may restrict its ability to use data. Examples of this higher burden include expanding the requirement for informed
opt in consent by customers to processing of personal data and granting customers a “right to be forgotten,” restrictions on the
use of personal data for profiling purposes, disclosure requirements of data sources to customers, the possibility of having to
deal with a higher number of subject access requests, among other requirements.
Any of the developments described above, including the FCA’s imposition of additional requirements on Cabot’s
operations or failure by Cabot to maintain FCA authorization for its collection activities, the addition, reinterpretation or
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enforcement of any laws, rules, regulations, or protocols, or increased enforcement of existing consumer protection or privacy
laws, rules and regulations, may adversely affect our ability to collect on receivables and may increase our costs associated
with regulatory compliance, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Economic conditions and regulatory changes leading up to and following the United Kingdom’s expected exit from the
European Union could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum in which voters approved the United Kingdom’s exit from the E.U.,
commonly referred to as “Brexit.” In March 2017, the United Kingdom formally served notice on the European Council of its
intention to withdraw from the E.U. The United Kingdom is expected to exit the E.U. by no later than April 2019. Brexit has
created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the E.U., including with respect
to the laws and regulations that will apply as the United Kingdom determines which E.U. laws to replace or replicate in the
event of a withdrawal. Additionally, Brexit could, among other outcomes, disrupt the free movement of goods, services and
people between the U.K. and the E.U., undermine bilateral cooperation in key policy areas and significantly disrupt trade
between the U.K. and the E.U. Consequences such as deterioration in economic conditions, volatility in currency exchange
rates or changes in regulation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected if consumer bankruptcy filings increase
or if bankruptcy laws change.
Our business model may be uniquely vulnerable to an economic recession, which typically results in an increase in the
amount of defaulted consumer receivables, thereby contributing to an increase in the amount of personal bankruptcy filings.
Under certain bankruptcy filings, a consumer’s assets are sold to repay credit originators, with priority given to holders of
secured debt. Since the defaulted consumer receivables we purchase are generally unsecured, we often are not able to collect on
those receivables. In addition, since we purchase receivables that may have been delinquent for a long period of time, this may
be an indication that many of the consumers from whom we collect will be unable to pay their debts going forward and are
more likely to file for bankruptcy in an economic recession. Furthermore, potential changes to existing bankruptcy laws could
contribute to an increase in consumer bankruptcy filings. We cannot be certain that our collection experience would not decline
with an increase in consumer bankruptcy filings. If our actual collection experience with respect to a defaulted consumer
receivable portfolio is significantly lower than we projected when we purchased the portfolio, our business, financial condition
and operating results could be adversely affected.
We are subject to ongoing risks of regulatory investigations and litigation, including individual and class action lawsuits,
under consumer credit, consumer protection, theft, privacy, collections, and other laws, and we may be subject to awards of
substantial damages or be required to make other expenditures or change our business practices as a result.
We operate in an extremely litigious climate and currently are, and may in the future be, named as defendants in litigation,
including individual and class action lawsuits under consumer credit, consumer protection, theft, privacy, data security,
automated dialing equipment, debt collections, and other laws. Many of these cases present novel issues on which there is no
clear legal precedent, which increases the difficulty in predicting both the potential outcomes and costs of defending these
cases. We are subject to ongoing risks of regulatory investigations, inquiries, litigation, and other actions by the CFPB, FTC,
state Attorneys General, or other governmental bodies relating to our activities. These litigation and regulatory actions involve
potential compensatory or punitive damage claims, fines, costs, sanctions, civil monetary penalties, consumer restitution, or
injunctive relief, as well as other forms of relief, that could require us to pay damages, make other expenditures or result in
changes to our business practices. Any changes to our business practices could result in lower collections, increased cost to
collect or reductions in estimated remaining collections. Actual losses incurred by us in connection with judgments or
settlements of these matters may be more than our associated reserves. Further, defending lawsuits and responding to
governmental inquiries or investigations, regardless of their merit, could be costly and divert management’s attention from the
operation of our business. All of these factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating
results.
Negative publicity associated with litigation, governmental investigations, regulatory actions, and other public statements
could damage our reputation.
From time to time there are negative news stories about our industry or company, especially with respect to alleged
conduct in collecting debt from consumers. These stories may follow the announcements of litigation or regulatory actions
involving us or others in our industry. Negative publicity about our alleged or actual debt collection practices or about the debt
collection industry in general could adversely affect our stock price, our position in the marketplace in which we compete, and
our ability to purchase charged-off receivables, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and operating results.
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We may make acquisitions that prove unsuccessful and any mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or joint venture activities
may change our business and financial results and introduce new risks.
From time to time, we may make acquisitions of, or otherwise invest in, other companies that could complement our
business, including the acquisition of entities in diverse geographic regions and entities offering greater access to businesses
and markets that we do not currently serve. The acquisitions we make may be unprofitable or may take some time to achieve
profitability. In addition, we may not successfully operate the businesses that we acquire, or may not successfully integrate
these businesses with our own, which may result in our inability to maintain our goals, objectives, standards, controls, policies,
culture, or profitability. Also, minority shareholders in certain entities that we have acquired have the right, at certain times, to
require us to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value, while others have the right to force a sale of the
entity if we choose not to purchase their interests at fair value, which could result in additional constraints on our resources.
Through acquisitions, we may enter markets in which we have limited or no experience. Any acquisition may result in a
potentially dilutive issuance of equity securities, and the incurrence of additional debt which could reduce our profitability. We
also pursue dispositions and joint ventures from time to time. Any such transactions could change our business lines,
geographic reach, financial results or capital structure. Our company could be larger or smaller after any such transactions and
may have a different investment profile.
We may consume resources in pursuing business opportunities, financings or other transactions that are not consummated,
which may strain or divert our resources.
We anticipate that the investigation of various transactions, and the negotiation, drafting, and execution of relevant
agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments with respect to such transactions, will require substantial management
time and attention and substantial costs for financial advisors, accountants, attorneys and other advisors. If a decision is made
not to consummate a specific transaction, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be
recoverable. Furthermore, even if an agreement is reached relating to a specific transaction, we may fail to consummate the
transaction for any number of reasons, including those beyond our control. Any such event could consume significant
management time and result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred, which could adversely affect our financial position and
our business.
We are dependent on our management team for the adoption and implementation of our strategies and the loss of its
services could have an adverse effect on our business.
Our management team has considerable experience in finance, banking, consumer collections, and other industries. We
believe that the expertise of our executives obtained by managing businesses across numerous other industries has been critical
to the enhancement of our operations. Our management team has created a culture of new ideas and progressive thinking,
coupled with increased use of technology and statistical analysis. The management teams at each of our operating subsidiaries
are also important to the success of their respective operations. The loss of the services of one or more key members of
management could disrupt our collective operations and seriously impair our ability to continue to acquire or collect on
portfolios of charged-off receivables and to manage and expand our business, any of which could have an adverse effect on
business, financial condition and operating results.
We may not be able to manage our growth effectively, including the expansion of our foreign operations.
We have expanded significantly in recent years. Continued growth will place additional demands on our resources, and
we cannot be sure that we will be able to manage our growth effectively. For example, continued growth could place strains on
our management, operations, and financial resources that our infrastructure, facilities, and personnel may not be able to
adequately support. In addition, the recent expansion of our foreign operations subjects us to a number of additional risks and
uncertainties, including:
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compliance with and changes in international laws, including regulatory and compliance requirements that could
affect our business;
differing accounting standards and practices;
increased exposure to U.S. laws that apply abroad, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and exposure to
other anti-corruption laws such as the U.K. Bribery Act;
social, political and economic instability or recessions;
fluctuations in foreign economies and currency exchange rates;
difficulty in hiring, staffing and managing qualified and proficient local employees and advisors to run
international operations;
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the difficulty of managing and operating an international enterprise, including difficulties in maintaining effective
communications with employees due to distance, language, and cultural barriers;
difficulties implementing and maintaining effective internal controls and risk management and compliance
initiatives;
potential disagreements with our joint venture business partners;
differing labor regulations and business practices; and
foreign and, in some circumstances, U.S. tax consequences.
To support our growth and improve our international operations, we continue to make investments in infrastructure,
facilities, and personnel in our operations; however, these additional investments may not be successful or our investments may
not produce profitable results. If we cannot manage our growth effectively, our business, financial condition and operating
results may be adversely affected.
If our technology and telecommunications systems were to fail, or if we are not able to successfully anticipate, invest in, or
adopt technological advances within our industry, it could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Our success depends in large part on sophisticated computer and telecommunications systems. The temporary or
permanent loss of our computer and telecommunications equipment and software systems, through casualty, operating
malfunction, software virus, or service provider failure, could disrupt our operations. In the normal course of our business, we
must record and process significant amounts of data quickly and accurately to properly bid on prospective acquisitions of
receivable portfolios and to access, maintain, and expand the databases we use for our collection activities. Any simultaneous
failure of our information systems and their backup systems would interrupt our business operations.
In addition, our business relies on computer and telecommunications technologies, and our ability to integrate new
technologies into our business is essential to our competitive position and our success. We may not be successful in
anticipating, investing in, or adopting technological changes on a timely or cost-effective basis. Computer and
telecommunications technologies are evolving rapidly and are characterized by short product life cycles.
We continue to make significant modifications to our information systems to ensure that they continue to be adequate for
our current and foreseeable demands and continued expansion, and our future growth may require additional investment in
these systems. These system modifications may exceed our cost or time estimates for completion or may be unsuccessful. If we
cannot update our information systems effectively, our business, financial condition and operating results may be adversely
affected.
In the event of a cyber security breach or similar incident, our business and operations could suffer.
We rely on information technology networks and systems to process and store electronic information. We collect and
store sensitive data, including personally identifiable information of our consumers, on our information technology networks.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our information technology networks and systems may be vulnerable to
disruptions and shutdowns due to attacks by hackers or breaches due to malfeasance by contractors, employees and others who
have access to our networks and systems. The occurrence of any of these cyber security events could compromise our networks
and the information stored on our networks could be accessed. Any such access could disrupt our operations or result in legal
claims, liability, reputational damage or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information, any of
which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We rely on third parties to provide us with services in connection with certain aspects of our business, and any failure by
these third parties to perform their obligations, or our inability to arrange for alternative third party providers for such
services, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We have entered into agreements with third parties to provide us with services in connection with our business, including
payment processing, credit card authorization and processing, payroll processing, record keeping for retirement and benefit
plans and certain information technology functions. Any failure by a third party to provide us with contracted services on a
timely basis or within service level expectations and performance standards may have an adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and operating results. In addition, we may be unable to find, or enter into agreements with, suitable
replacement third party providers for such services, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and
operating results.
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We may not be able to adequately protect the intellectual property rights upon which we rely and, as a result, any lack of
protection may diminish our competitive advantage.
We rely on proprietary software programs and valuation and collection processes and techniques, and we believe that
these assets provide us with a competitive advantage. We consider our proprietary software, processes, and techniques to be
trade secrets, but they are not protected by patent or registered copyright. We may not be able to protect our technology and
data resources adequately, which may diminish our competitive advantage, which may, in turn, adversely affect our business,
financial condition and operating results.
Exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Because we conduct some business in currencies other than U.S. dollars but report our financial results in U.S. dollars, we
face exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon translation of these business results into U.S. dollars. In the
normal course of business, we employ various strategies to manage these risks, including the use of derivative instruments.
These strategies may not be effective in protecting us against the effects of fluctuations from movements in foreign exchange
rates. Fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating
results.
Taxes could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
We are subject to taxes in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining
our worldwide provision for taxes. We regularly are under audit by tax authorities, and economic and political pressures to
increase tax revenues in various jurisdictions may make resolving tax disputes more difficult. The final determination of tax
audits and any related litigation could be different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. In addition, potential
adverse tax consequences could limit our ability to repatriate funds held in jurisdictions outside of the United States. Moreover,
there may be unfavorable changes in the tax laws (or in the interpretation thereof) in the future. Accordingly, taxes could have
an adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Recent U.S. tax legislation may materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
On December 22, 2017, legislation commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed
into law by President Trump. The Tax Reform Act has significantly changed the U.S. federal income taxation of U.S.
corporations, including, but not limited to, reducing the U.S. corporate income tax rate, eliminating the corporate alternative
minimum tax, limiting interest deductions, permitting immediate expensing of certain capital expenditures, adopting elements
of a territorial tax system, imposing a one-time transition tax (or “repatriation tax”) on all undistributed earnings and profits of
certain U.S.-owned foreign corporations, revising the rules governing net operating losses and the rules governing foreign tax
credits, and introducing new anti-base erosion provisions. Many of these changes are effective beginning with our 2018 taxable
year, without any transition periods or grandfathering for existing transactions. The Tax Reform Act is unclear in many respects
and could be subject to potential amendments and technical corrections, as well as interpretations and implementing regulations
by the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), any of which could lessen or increase certain adverse
impacts of the legislation. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local
taxation, which often uses federal taxable income as a starting point for computing state and local tax liabilities.
While some of the changes made by the Tax Reform Act may adversely affect the Company in one or more reporting
periods and prospectively, other changes may be beneficial on a going forward basis. We continue to work with our tax
advisors and auditors to determine the full impact that the Tax Reform Act will have on us. We urge our investors to consult
with their legal and tax advisors with respect to such legislation.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness and Common Stock
Our significant indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and could harm our ability to react to changes to
our business.
As described in greater detail in Note 9, “Debt” to our consolidated financial statements, as of December 31, 2017, our
total long-term indebtedness outstanding was approximately $3.4 billion, which includes $2.0 billion of debt at our Cabot
subsidiary. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to investors. For example, it could:
•
•
increase our vulnerability to general economic downturns and industry conditions;
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness,
thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general
corporate requirements;
•
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;
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•
•
•
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that have less debt;
increase our exposure to market and regulatory changes that could diminish the amount and value of our
inventory that we borrow against under our secured credit facilities; and
limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained in the documents governing our
indebtedness, our ability to borrow additional funds, make investments and incur liens, among other things.
Any of these factors could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. If we do not have
sufficient earnings to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets, borrow more
money, or sell securities, none of which we can guarantee we will be able to do.
Servicing our indebtedness requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our
business to pay our substantial indebtedness.
Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness or to make
cash payments in connection with any conversion of our convertible notes depends on our future performance, which is subject
to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow
from operations in the future sufficient to service our indebtedness and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to
generate adequate cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring
indebtedness or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our
indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at that time. We may not be able to engage in any
of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations which
could, in turn, adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Despite our current indebtedness levels, we may still incur substantially more indebtedness or take other actions which
would intensify the risks discussed above.
Despite our current consolidated indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional
indebtedness in the future, some of which may be secured indebtedness under our Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement (as amended, the “Restated Credit Agreement”), subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments. We are
not restricted under the terms of the indentures governing our convertible notes from incurring additional indebtedness,
securing existing or future indebtedness, recapitalizing our indebtedness or taking a number of other actions that could have the
effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on our indebtedness. Although the Restated Credit Agreement and some of
our other existing debt currently limit the ability of us and certain of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness, these
restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and, under certain circumstances, additional indebtedness
incurred in compliance with these restrictions, including additional secured indebtedness, could be substantial. Also, these
restrictions will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness. To the extent new indebtedness or
other new obligations are added to our current levels, the risks described above could intensify. Moreover, if the facilities under
the Restated Credit Agreement are repaid or mature, we may not be subject to similar restrictions under the terms of any
subsequent indebtedness.
We may not be able to continue to satisfy the covenants in our debt agreements.
Our debt agreements impose a number of covenants, including restrictive covenants on how we operate our business.
Failure to satisfy any one of these covenants could result in negative consequences including the following, each of which
could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results:
•
•
•
•
acceleration of outstanding indebtedness;
exercise by our lenders of rights with respect to the collateral pledged under certain of our outstanding
indebtedness;
our inability to continue to purchase receivables needed to operate our business; or
our inability to secure alternative financing on favorable terms, if at all.
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Increases in interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Portions of our outstanding debt bear interest at a variable rate. Increases in interest rates could increase our interest
expense which would, in turn, lower our earnings. We may periodically evaluate whether to enter into derivative financial
instruments, such as interest rate swap agreements, to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on variable interest
rate debt and their impact on earnings and cash flows. These strategies may not be effective in protecting us against the effects
of fluctuations from movements in interest rates. Increases in interest rates could adversely affect our business, financial
condition and operating results.
Our common stock price may be subject to significant fluctuations and volatility.
The market price of our common stock has been subject to significant fluctuations. Since the beginning of fiscal year
2017, our stock price has ranged from a low of $27.80 on January 9, 2017 to a high of $52.00 on November 3, 2017. These
fluctuations could continue. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
our operating and financial performance and prospects;
our ability to repay our debt;
our access to financial and capital markets to refinance our debt;
investor perceptions of us and the industry and markets in which we operate;
future sales of equity or equity-related securities;
changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by analysts;
changes in the supply of, demand for or price of portfolios;
our acquisition activity, including our expansion into new markets;
regulatory changes affecting our industry generally or our business and operations;
general financial, domestic, international, economic and other market conditions; and
the number of short positions on our stock at any particular time.
The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated
to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many
reasons, including in response to the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, elsewhere in our filings with the SEC
from time to time or for reasons unrelated to our operations, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions or
negative announcements by our customers, competitors or suppliers regarding their own performance, as well as industry
conditions and general financial, economic and political instability.
The price of our common stock could also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view our
convertible notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that we
expect to develop involving our common stock.
If securities or industry analysts have a negative outlook regarding our stock or our industry, or our operating results do
not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline. The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the
research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us. If one or more of the analysts who cover our company
downgrade our stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.
Future sales of our common stock or the issuance of other equity securities may adversely affect the market price of our
common stock.
In the future, we may sell additional shares of our common stock or other equity or equity-related securities to raise
capital or issue equity securities to finance acquisitions. In addition, a substantial number of shares of our common stock are
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock awards, upon conversion of our
convertible notes and the warrant transactions entered into in connection with certain of our convertible notes. We are not
restricted from issuing additional common stock, including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that
represent the right to receive, common stock.
The liquidity and trading volume of our common stock is limited. The issuance or sale of substantial amounts of our
common stock or other equity or equity-related securities (or the perception that such issuances or sales may occur) could
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adversely affect the market price of our common stock as well as our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity
or equity-related securities. We cannot predict the effect that future issuances or sales of our common stock or other equity or
equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.
We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase our convertible notes upon a fundamental change or
to settle conversions in cash, and our future indebtedness may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon
conversion of our convertible notes.
Holders of our convertible notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their convertible notes upon the occurrence
of a fundamental change at a repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
In addition, upon a conversion of convertible notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle the
conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares of our common stock), we will be required to
make cash payments for each $1,000 in principal amount of convertible notes converted of at least the lesser of $1,000 and the
sum of certain daily conversion values. However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the
time we are required to make repurchases of convertible notes surrendered therefor or to settle conversions in cash. In addition,
our Restated Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of
transactions, which may affect our ability to repurchase our convertible notes. Further, our ability to repurchase our convertible
notes or to pay cash upon conversion may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future
indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase convertible notes or to pay cash upon conversion of the convertible notes at a time
when the repurchase or cash payment upon conversion is required by any indenture pursuant to which the convertible notes
were offered would constitute a default under the relevant indenture. Such default could constitute a default under another
indenture, our Restated Credit Agreement or other agreements governing our future indebtedness. If the repayment of any
indebtedness were to be accelerated, we may not have sufficient funds to repay such indebtedness and repurchase the
convertible notes.
The conditional conversion feature of our convertible notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and
operating results.
In the event the conditional conversion feature of any of our convertible notes is triggered, holders of those convertible
notes will be entitled to convert the convertible notes at any time during specified periods at their option. Even if holders do not
elect to convert their convertible notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of
the outstanding principal of the relevant series of convertible notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would
result in a material reduction of our net working capital.
The accounting method for convertible debt securities that may be settled in cash, such as our convertible notes, could have
a material effect on our reported financial results.
Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, an entity must separately account for the debt component
and the embedded conversion option of convertible debt instruments that may be settled entirely or partially in cash upon
conversion, such as our convertible notes, in a manner that reflects the issuer’s economic interest cost. The effect of the
accounting treatment for such instruments is that the value of such embedded conversion option would be treated as original
issue discount for purposes of accounting for the debt component of the convertible notes, and that original issue discount is
amortized into interest expense over the term of the convertible notes using an effective yield method. As a result, we will be
required to record a greater amount of non-cash interest expense as a consequence of the amortization of the original issue
discount to face amount of the convertible notes over the respective terms of the convertible notes and as a consequence of the
amortization of the debt issuance costs. Accordingly, we will report lower net income in our financial results because of the
recognition of both the current period’s amortization of the debt discount and the coupon interest of the convertible notes,
which could adversely affect our reported or future financial results and the trading price of our common stock.
Under certain circumstances, convertible debt instruments (such as our convertible notes) that may be settled entirely or
partially in cash are evaluated for their impact on earnings per share utilizing the treasury stock method, the effect of which is
that any shares issuable upon conversion of the convertible notes are not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per
share except to the extent that the conversion value of the convertible notes exceeds their respective principal amount. Under
the treasury stock method, for diluted earnings per share purposes, the convertible debt instrument is accounted for as if the
number of shares of common stock that would be necessary to settle such excess, if we elected to settle such excess in shares,
are issued. We cannot be certain that the accounting standards in the future will continue to permit the use of the treasury stock
method, as is currently the case with our convertible notes. If we are unable to use the treasury stock method in accounting for
any shares issuable upon conversion of our convertible notes, then our diluted earnings per share could be further adversely
affected. In addition, if the conditional conversion feature of our convertible notes is triggered, even if holders of such notes do
not elect to convert their notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the
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outstanding principal of such notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which could result in a reduction of our net
working capital.
Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent acquisition of us, which could decrease the
value of shares of our common stock.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a
third party to acquire us without the consent of our Board of Directors. These provisions include advance notice provisions,
limitations on actions by our stockholders by written consent and special approval requirements for transactions involving
interested stockholders. We are authorized to issue up to five million shares of preferred stock, the relative rights and
preferences of which may be fixed by our Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of our articles of incorporation, without
stockholder approval. The issuance of preferred stock could be used to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer.
The provisions that discourage potential acquisitions of us and adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common
stock may adversely affect the price of our common stock and the value of the Convertible Notes.
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. In addition, we must comply with the covenants in
our credit facilities if we want to pay cash dividends. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the
further development and expansion of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any
future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our financial
condition, operating results, capital requirements, restrictions contained in current or future financing instruments and such
other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant. As a result, receiving a return on an investment in Encore’s common
stock may only occur if the trading price of our common stock increases.
Item 1B—Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
We lease the following properties with more than 30,000 square feet:
Item 2—Properties
Location
San Diego, CA
United Kingdom
India
Troy, MI
Corporate headquarters, internal legal and consumer support services
Cabot corporate office, call center, internal legal and consumer support services
Call center and administrative offices
Call center and administrative offices
Primary use
Approximate
square footage
St. Cloud, MN
Call center and administrative offices
Spain
Roanoke, VA
Australia
Costa Rica
Phoenix, AZ
Call center and administrative offices
Call center and administrative offices
Baycorp corporate office, call center, and administrative offices
Call center and administrative offices
Call center and administrative offices
118,000
210,000
146,000
62,000
46,000
46,000
40,000
33,000
32,000
31,000
The properties listed in the table above are our principal properties. We also lease other immaterial office space in the
United States, Ireland, France, Italy, Colombia, Peru, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
We believe that our current leased facilities are generally well maintained and in good operating condition. We believe
that these facilities are suitable and sufficient for our operational needs. Our policy is to improve, replace, and supplement the
facilities as considered appropriate to meet the needs of our operations.
Information with respect to this item may be found in Note 13, “Commitments and Contingencies” to the consolidated
financial statements in Item 8, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3—Legal Proceedings
Not applicable.
Item 4—Mine Safety Disclosures
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PART II
Item 5—Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ECPG.”
The high and low sales prices of our common stock, as reported by NASDAQ Global Select Market for each quarter
during our two most recent fiscal years, are reported below:
Fiscal Year 2017
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Fiscal Year 2016
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
$
$
Market Price
High
Low
35.93
$
41.38
44.95
52.00
29.44
$
29.02
25.52
30.40
27.80
29.80
37.30
42.00
16.09
21.45
20.32
17.66
The closing price of our common stock on February 8, 2018, was $39.70 per share and there were 8 stockholders of
record. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we
are unable to estimate the total number of beneficial owners of our stock represented by these stockholders of record.
Performance Graph
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the
SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into
such filing.
The following graph compares the total cumulative stockholder return on our common stock for the period from
December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2017, with the cumulative total return of (a) the NASDAQ Composite Index and
(b) Asta Funding, Inc. and PRA Group, Inc., which we believe are comparable companies. The comparison assumes that $100
was invested on December 31, 2012, in our common stock and in each of the comparison indices (including reinvestment of
dividends). The stock price performance reflected in the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price
performance.
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Encore Capital Group, Inc.
NASDAQ Composite Index
Peer Group
Dividend Policy
12/12
12/13
12/14
12/15
12/16
12/17
$
$
$
100.00
100.00
100.00
$
$
$
164.14
141.63
144.52
$
$
$
145.00
162.09
158.11
$
$
$
94.97
173.33
96.53
$
$
$
93.57
187.19
109.35
$
$
$
137.49
242.29
92.30
As a public company, we have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. However, the declaration,
payment, and amount of future dividends, if any, is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, which may review our
dividend policy from time to time in light of the then existing relevant facts and circumstances. Under the terms of our
revolving credit facility, we are permitted to declare and pay dividends in an amount not to exceed, during any fiscal year, 20%
of our audited consolidated net income for the then most recently completed fiscal year, so long as no default or unmatured
default under the facility has occurred and is continuing or would arise as a result of the dividend payment. We may also be
subject to additional dividend restrictions under future debt agreements or the terms of securities we may issue in the future.
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Share Repurchases
On August 12, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a $50.0 million share repurchase program. Repurchases under this
program are expected to be made with cash on hand and may be made from time to time, subject to market conditions and other
factors, in the open market, through private transactions, block transactions, or other methods as determined by the
management and our Board of Directors, and in accordance with market conditions, other corporate considerations, and
applicable regulatory requirements. The program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular amount of common
stock, and it may be modified or suspended at any time at the Company’s discretion. As of December 31, 2017, we had not
made any repurchases under the share repurchase program.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
In March 2017, we sold $150.0 million of 3.25% convertible senior notes due March 15, 2022 in a private placement
transaction. Information regarding this transaction is set forth in our Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2017.
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Item 6—Selected Financial Data
This table presents selected historical financial data of Encore Capital Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. This
information should be carefully considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the acquisitions described therein that materially affected
our results. The selected financial data in this section are not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements. The
selected financial data (except for “Selected Operating Data”) in the table below, as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and
for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Selected Operating Data were derived from our books and records (in thousands, except
per share data):
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios,
net(1)
Other revenues
Total revenues
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits
Cost of legal collections
Other operating expenses
Collection agency commissions
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Other (expense) income
Interest expense
Other income (expense)
Total other expense
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Income from continuing operations
(Loss) income from discontinued
operations, net of tax
Net income
Net loss (income) attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Encore
Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
Amounts attributable to Encore
Capital Group, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations
(Loss) income from discontinued
operations, net of tax
Net income
As of and For The Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
$
1,094,609
$
946,615
$
1,072,436
$
992,832
$
744,870
92,429
82,643
57,531
50,597
1,187,038
1,029,258
1,129,967
1,043,429
315,742
200,058
104,938
43,703
158,080
39,977
862,498
324,540
(204,161)
10,847
(193,314)
131,226
(52,049)
79,177
(199)
78,978
281,097
200,855
100,737
36,141
134,046
34,868
787,744
241,514
(198,367)
14,228
(184,139)
57,375
(38,205)
19,170
(2,353)
16,817
262,281
229,847
93,210
37,858
191,357
33,160
847,713
282,254
(186,556)
2,235
(184,321)
97,933
(27,162)
70,771
(23,387)
47,384
238,942
205,661
89,934
33,343
139,977
27,101
734,958
308,471
(166,942)
113
(166,829)
141,642
(48,569)
93,073
5,205
98,278
4,250
59,753
(2,249)
5,448
11,407
756,277
159,319
186,959
63,229
33,097
106,813
13,057
562,474
193,803
(73,269)
(4,225)
(77,494)
116,309
(43,653)
72,656
1,084
73,740
1,559
$
83,228
$
76,570
$
45,135
$
103,726
$
75,299
83,427
78,923
68,522
98,521
(199)
$
83,228
$
(2,353)
76,570
$
(23,387)
45,135
5,205
$
103,726
$
74,215
1,084
75,299
30
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Earnings (loss) per share attributable
to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net diluted earnings per share
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
$
$
$
$
$
$
Basic
Diluted
Selected operating data:
Purchases of receivable portfolios, at
cost
Gross collections for the period
Consolidated statements of financial
condition data:
As of and For The Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
3.21
$
(0.01) $
3.20
3.16
$
$
(0.01) $
3.15
$
3.07
$
(0.09) $
$
2.98
$
3.05
(0.09) $
$
2.96
$
2.66
(0.91) $
$
1.75
$
2.57
(0.88) $
$
1.69
3.81
0.20
4.01
3.58
0.19
3.77
$
$
$
$
$
$
3.01
0.04
3.05
2.83
0.04
2.87
25,972
26,405
25,713
25,909
25,722
26,647
25,853
27,495
24,659
26,204
$
1,058,235
$
906,719
$
1,023,722
$
1,251,360
$
1,204,779
1,767,644
1,685,604
1,700,725
1,607,497
1,279,506
Cash and cash equivalents
$
212,139
$
149,765
$
123,993
$
91,519
$
118,539
Investment in receivable portfolios, net
Total assets
Total debt
Total liabilities
Total Encore equity
________________________
2,890,613
4,490,712
3,446,876
3,766,801
581,862
2,382,809
3,670,497
2,805,983
3,069,982
559,304
2,440,669
4,174,819
2,944,063
3,526,331
596,453
2,143,560
3,711,631
2,550,646
3,046,692
623,000
1,590,249
2,657,208
1,654,301
2,054,737
571,897
(1)
Includes net allowance reversal of $41.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, net allowance charge of $84.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016, and net allowance reversals of $6.8 million, $17.4 million and $12.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and
2013, respectively.
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Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” relating to Encore Capital Group, Inc.
(“Encore”) and its subsidiaries (which we may collectively refer to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) within the
meaning of the securities laws. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,”
“may,” and similar expressions often characterize forward-looking statements. These statements may include, but are not
limited to, projections of collections, revenues, income or loss, estimates of capital expenditures, plans for future operations,
products or services, and financing needs or plans, as well as assumptions relating to these matters. Although we believe that
the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution that these expectations or predictions
may not prove to be correct or we may not achieve the financial results, savings or other benefits anticipated in the forward-
looking statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior
management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which may be beyond our control or cannot be predicted
or quantified, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Many
factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,”
could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results,
performance, achievements or industry results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Our business,
financial condition, or results of operations could also be materially and adversely affected by other factors besides those
listed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. We do not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events, or for any other reason, even if
experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements
will not be realized. In addition, it is generally our policy not to make any specific projections as to future earnings, and we do
not endorse projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.
Our Business
We are an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions and other related services for
consumers across a broad range of financial assets. We purchase portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts
to face value and manage them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery.
Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions,
consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include
receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
United States
We are a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States, including Puerto Rico.
Europe
Cabot Credit Management plc (together with its subsidiaries, “Cabot”), our largest international subsidiary, is one of the
largest credit management services providers in Europe and is a market leader in the United Kingdom and Ireland. We control
Cabot via our majority ownership interest in the indirect holding company of Cabot, Janus Holdings S.a r.l. (“Janus Holdings”).
In addition, we have certain subsidiaries that focus on (a) consumer non-performing loans, including insolvencies (in
particular, individual voluntary arrangements, or “IVAs”) in the United Kingdom and bank and non-bank receivables in Spain
and (b) credit management services in Spain (collectively, “Grove”).
Latin America
Our majority-owned subsidiary Refinancia S.A. (together with its subsidiaries, “Refinancia”) is a market leader in debt
collection and management in Colombia and Peru. In addition to purchasing defaulted receivables, Refinancia offers portfolio
management services to banks for non-performing loans. Refinancia also specializes in non-traditional niches in the geographic
areas in which it operates, including point-of-purchase lending to consumers and providing financial solutions to individuals
who have previously defaulted on their credit obligations.
In addition to operations in Colombia and Peru, we evaluate and purchase non-performing loans in other countries in
Latin America, including Mexico and Brazil. We also invest in non-performing secured residential mortgages in Latin America.
Asia Pacific
Our subsidiary Baycorp Holdings Pty Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Baycorp”) specializes in the management
of non-performing loans in Australia and New Zealand. In addition to purchasing defaulted receivables, Baycorp offers
portfolio management services to banks for non-performing loans. We acquired a majority ownership interest in Baycorp in
October 2015 and acquired the remaining minority equity ownership interest in Baycorp in January 2018.
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In India, we have invested in Encore Asset Reconstruction Company (“EARC”), which has completed initial immaterial
purchases.
To date, operating results from our international operations on an individual basis, other than from Cabot, have not been
significant to our total consolidated operating results. Our long-term growth strategy involves continuing to invest in our core
portfolio purchasing and recovery business, strengthening and developing our international businesses, and leveraging our core
competencies to explore expansion into adjacent asset classes.
Additional Developments
On March 31, 2016, we completed the divestiture of our membership interests in Propel Acquisition LLC (“Propel”).
Propel represented our entire tax lien business reportable segment prior to the divestiture. Propel’s operations are presented as
discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of operations. Beginning in the first quarter 2016, we conduct business
through one reportable segment, portfolio purchasing and recovery.
In the first quarter of 2017, we and our co-investor in Cabot, J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC (“J.C. Flowers”), began exploring
options in relation to a potential initial public offering (“IPO”) by Cabot. In October 2017, Cabot announced its intention to
proceed with an IPO and to apply for admission of its ordinary shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the
Financial Conduct Authority and to trade on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. In November
2017, Cabot decided to not go forward with the IPO as a result of poor performance of other IPOs on the London Stock
Exchange and unfavorable equity market conditions in the U.K., as a result, all direct costs related to the IPO were recognized
in the fourth quarter of 2017. Cabot continues to assess options and ensure readiness in relation to a potential IPO.
In November 2017, Cabot completed the acquisition of Wescot Credit Services Limited (“Wescot”), a leading U.K.
contingency debt collection and business process outsourcing (BPO) services company.
Government Regulation
Our U.S. debt purchasing business and collection activities are subject to federal, state and municipal statutes, rules,
regulations and ordinances that establish specific guidelines and procedures that debt purchasers and collectors must follow
when collecting consumer accounts, including among others, specific guidelines and procedures for communicating with
consumers and prohibitions on unfair, deceptive or abusive debt collection practices. Additionally, our international operations
are affected by foreign statutes, rules and regulations regarding debt collection and debt purchase activities. These statutes,
rules, regulations, ordinances, guidelines and procedures are modified from time to time by the relevant authorities charged
with their administration, which could affect the way we conduct our business. See “Part I - Item 1 - Business - Government
Regulation” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery
United States
We purchase receivables based on robust, account-level valuation methods and employ proprietary statistical and
behavioral models across our U.S. operations. These methods and models allow us to value portfolios accurately (and limit the
risk of overpaying), avoid buying portfolios that are incompatible with our methods or strategies and align the accounts we
purchase with our business channels to maximize future collections. As a result, we have been able to realize significant returns
from the receivables we acquire. We maintain strong relationships with many of the largest financial service providers in the
United States.
While seasonality does not have a material impact on our business, collections are generally strongest in our first calendar
quarter, slower in the second and third calendar quarters, and slowest in the fourth calendar quarter. Relatively higher
collections in the first quarter could result in a lower cost-to-collect ratio compared to the other quarters, as our fixed costs are
relatively constant and applied against a larger collection base. The seasonal impact on our business may also be influenced by
our purchasing levels, the types of portfolios we purchase, and our operating strategies.
Collection seasonality can also affect revenue as a percentage of collections, also referred to as our revenue recognition
rate. Generally, revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, whereas collections can fluctuate from quarter to
quarter based on seasonality, as described above. In quarters with lower collections (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter), the
revenue recognition rate can be higher than in quarters with higher collections (e.g., the first calendar quarter).
In addition, seasonality could have an impact on the relative level of quarterly earnings. In quarters with stronger
collections, total costs are higher as a result of the additional efforts required to generate those collections. Since revenue for
each pool group declines steadily over time, in quarters with higher collections and higher costs (e.g., the first calendar
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quarter), all else being equal, earnings could be lower than in quarters with lower collections and lower costs (e.g., the fourth
calendar quarter). Additionally, in quarters where a greater percentage of collections come from our legal and agency
outsourcing channels, cost to collect will be higher than if there were more collections from our internal collection sites.
International
Through Cabot, we purchase paying and non-paying receivable portfolios using a proprietary pricing model that utilizes
account-level statistical and behavioral data. This model allows Cabot to value portfolios with a high degree of accuracy and
quantify portfolio performance in order to maximize future collections. As a result, Cabot has been able to realize significant
returns from the assets it has acquired. Cabot maintains strong relationships with many of the largest financial services
providers in the United Kingdom and continues to expand in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe with its acquisitions of
portfolios and other credit management services providers.
While seasonality does not have a material impact on Cabot’s operations, collections are generally strongest in the second
and third calendar quarters and slower in the first and fourth quarters, largely driven by the impact of the December holiday
season and the New Year holiday, and the related impact on its customers’ ability to repay their balances. This drives a higher
level of plan defaults over this period, which are typically repaired across the first quarter of the following year. The August
vacation season in the United Kingdom also has an unfavorable effect on the level of collections, but this is traditionally
compensated for by higher collections in July and September.
Purchases and Collections
Portfolio Pricing, Supply and Demand
United States
Industry delinquency and charge-off rates, which had been at historic lows, have continued to increase, creating higher
volumes of charged-off accounts that are sold. In addition, issuers have continued to increase the amount of fresh portfolios in
their sales. Fresh portfolios are portfolios that are generally sold within six months of the consumer’s account being charged-off
by the financial institution. Meanwhile, prices for portfolios offered for sale started to decrease after several years of elevated
pricing, especially for fresh portfolios. We believe the softening in pricing, especially for fresh portfolios, was primarily due to
this growth, and anticipated future growth, in supply. In addition to selling a higher volume of charged-off accounts, issuers
sold their volume earlier in the calendar year than they had in the past.
We believe that smaller competitors continue to face difficulties in the portfolio purchasing market because of the high
cost to operate due to regulatory pressure and because issuers are being more selective with buyers in the marketplace, resulting
in consolidation within the portfolio purchasing and recovery industry. We believe this favors larger participants, such as
Encore, because the larger market participants are better able to adapt to these pressures.
International
The U.K. market for charged-off portfolios has grown significantly in recent years driven by a consolidation of sellers and
a material backlog of portfolio coming to market from credit issuers who are selling an increasing proportion of their non-
performing loans. Prices for portfolios offered for sale directly from credit issuers remain at levels higher than historical
averages. We expect that as a result of an increase in available funding to industry participants, and lower return requirements
for certain debt purchasers, pricing will remain elevated. However, we believe that with our competitive advantages, we will
continue to be able to generate strong risk adjusted returns in the U.K. market.
The U.K. insolvency market as a whole has remained flat over the past twelve months, although we are seeing an increase
in individual insolvencies driven by high unemployment rates. We expect that this trend will drive increased purchasing
opportunities once large retail banks start to off-load their insolvency portfolios.
The Spanish debt market continues to be one of the largest in Europe with a significant amount of debt to be sold and
serviced. In particular, we anticipate strong debt purchasing and servicing opportunities in the secured and small and medium
enterprise asset classes given the backlog of non-performing debt that has accumulated in these sectors. Additionally, financial
institutions continue to experience both market and regulatory pressure to dispose of non-performing loans which should
further increase debt purchasing opportunities in Spain.
Although pricing has been elevated, we believe that as our European businesses increase in scale and expand to other
markets, and with anticipated improvements in liquidation and improved efficiencies in collections, our margins will remain
competitive. Additionally, Cabot’s continuing investment in its litigation liquidation channel has enabled them to collect from
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consumers who have the ability to pay, but have so far been unwilling to do so. This enables Cabot to mitigate some of the
impact of elevated pricing.
Purchases by Type and Geographic Location
The following table summarizes the types and geographic locations of consumer receivable portfolios we purchased
during the periods presented (in thousands):
United States:
Credit card
Other
Subtotal
Europe:
Credit card
Other
Subtotal
Other geographies:
Credit card
Other
Subtotal
Total purchases
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
511,656
$
517,590
$
24,250
535,906
461,577
2,559
464,136
45,941
12,252
58,193
43,953
561,543
237,473
27,240
264,713
70,902
9,561
80,463
481,759
24,373
506,132
396,364
27,200
423,564
86,638
7,388
94,026
$
1,058,235
$
906,719
$
1,023,722
During the year ended December 31, 2017, we invested $1,058.2 million to acquire portfolios, primarily charged-off
credit card portfolios, with face values aggregating $10.1 billion, for an average purchase price of 10.5% of face value.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we invested $906.7 million to acquire portfolios, primarily charged-off credit
card portfolios, with face values aggregating $9.8 billion, for an average purchase price of 9.2% of face value.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we invested $1,023.7 million to acquire portfolios, primarily charged-off
credit card portfolios, with face values aggregating $12.7 billion, for an average purchase price of 8.0% of face value.
Purchases of charged-off credit card portfolios in Europe include $216.0 million of receivables acquired in connection with
Cabot’s acquisition of Hillesden Securities Ltd and its subsidiaries (“dlc”) in June 2015. Purchases of charged-off credit card
portfolios in other geographies include $60.3 million acquired in connection with the acquisition of Baycorp.
The decrease in capital deployment in the United States for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 2016, was
primarily the result of our disciplined approach to capital deployment. Due to the improved pricing environment in the United
States and our progress on liquidation improvement initiatives, we were able to deploy capital on portfolios with higher returns
enabling us to purchase similar amounts of total estimated gross collections for less.
The increase in capital deployment in Europe for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to 2016, was due to our
continued strategic expansion in the European debt purchasing market.
The increase in capital deployment in the United States for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to 2015, was
primarily the result of increased purchasing volume due to the improved pricing environment. The decrease in capital
deployment in Europe for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to 2015, was due to the $216.0 million of receivable
portfolios acquired in connection with the acquisition of dlc in June 2015. Excluding the portfolios acquired in connection with
the acquisition of dlc, capital deployment in Europe increased during the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to 2015,
primarily as a result of Cabot’s investment in Spain, France and Portugal as part of its European expansion strategy.
Typically the average purchase price, as a percentage of face value, is higher for fresh portfolios as compared to more
seasoned portfolios because fresh paper generally has higher returns. As a result, in periods that we purchase a higher
percentage of fresh paper (such as was the case in 2017), we expect that our purchase price as a percentage of face value would
be higher than would be in periods where a higher ratio of seasoned paper was purchased.
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Table of Contents
Collections by Channel and Geographic Location
We currently utilize three channels for the collection of our receivables: collection sites, legal collections and collection
agencies. The collection sites channel consists of collections that result from our call centers, direct mail program and online
collections. The legal collections channel consists of collections that result from our internal legal channel or from our network
of retained law firms. The collection agencies channel consists of collections from third-party collection agencies that we
utilize when we believe they can liquidate better or less expensively than we can, or to supplement capacity in our internal call
centers. The collection agencies channel also includes collections on accounts purchased where we maintain the collection
agency servicing until the accounts can be recalled and placed in our collection channels. The following table summarizes the
total collections by collection channel and geographic area (in thousands):
United States:
Collection sites
Legal collections
Collection agencies
Subtotal
Europe:
Collection sites
Legal collections
Collection agencies
Subtotal
Other geographies:
Collection sites
Legal collections
Collection agencies
Subtotal
Total collections
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
503,086
$
470,898
$
546,423
51,432
1,100,941
557,250
53,572
1,081,720
300,545
116,620
137,155
554,320
88,129
7,892
16,362
112,383
250,036
122,392
121,572
494,000
79,680
9,936
20,268
109,884
480,485
633,166
68,283
1,181,934
234,904
92,464
148,758
476,126
38,334
1,145
3,186
42,665
$
1,767,644
$
1,685,604
$
1,700,725
Gross collections increased by $82.0 million, or 4.9%, to $1,767.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2017,
from $1,685.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase of collections in the United States was primarily
due to the acquisition of portfolios with higher returns in recent periods and our continued effort in improving liquidation,
partially offset by delays in collections on portfolios impacted by the hurricanes. The increase in collections in Europe was
primarily the result of increased purchasing volume and implementing certain liquidation improvement initiatives. The increase
was partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily driven by the weakening of the British
Pound against the U.S. dollar, based on average exchange rates during the periods.
Gross collections decreased $15.1 million, or 0.9%, to $1,685.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, from
$1,700.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to decreased collections in the
United States, offset by increased collections in Europe and other geographies. The increase in collections in Europe was
primarily the result of increased purchasing volume and implementing certain liquidation improvement initiatives. The increase
was partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily driven by the weakening of the British
Pound against the U.S. dollar. In other geographies, collections continued to increase as we expand internationally. The
decrease of collections in the United States was primarily due to a decrease in legal collections resulting from temporary delays
in receiving media from issuers required to initiate the legal process for a number of accounts.
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Table of Contents
Results of Operations
Results of operations, in dollars and as a percentage of total revenues, were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):
2017
2016
2015
Year Ended December 31,
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios,
net
Other revenues
Total revenues
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits
Cost of legal collections
Other operating expenses
Collection agency commissions
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Other (expense) income
Interest expense
Other income
Total other expense
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Income from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net
of tax
Net income
Net loss (income) attributable to
noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Encore
Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$ 1,094,609
92.2 % $
946,615
92.0 % $ 1,072,436
92,429
7.8 %
82,643
8.0 %
57,531
94.9 %
5.1 %
1,187,038
100.0 % 1,029,258
100.0 % 1,129,967
100.0 %
315,742
200,058
104,938
43,703
158,080
39,977
862,498
324,540
26.6 %
16.9 %
8.8 %
3.7 %
13.3 %
3.4 %
72.7 %
27.3 %
281,097
200,855
100,737
36,141
134,046
34,868
787,744
241,514
27.3 %
19.5 %
9.8 %
3.5 %
13.0 %
3.4 %
76.5 %
23.5 %
262,281
229,847
93,210
37,858
191,357
33,160
847,713
282,254
(204,161)
(17.2)%
10,847
1.0 %
(193,314)
(16.2)%
(198,367)
14,228
(184,139)
(19.3)%
1.4 %
(17.9)%
(186,556)
2,235
(184,321)
131,226
(52,049)
79,177
(199)
78,978
11.1 %
(4.5)%
6.6 %
0.0 %
6.6 %
57,375
(38,205)
19,170
(2,353)
16,817
5.6 %
(3.7)%
1.9 %
(0.3)%
1.6 %
97,933
(27,162)
70,771
(23,387)
47,384
23.2 %
20.3 %
8.2 %
3.5 %
16.9 %
2.9 %
75.0 %
25.0 %
(16.5)%
0.2 %
(16.3)%
8.7 %
(2.4)%
6.3 %
(2.1)%
4.2 %
4,250
0.4 %
59,753
5.8 %
(2,249)
(0.2)%
$
83,228
7.0 % $
76,570
7.4 % $
45,135
4.0 %
37
Table of Contents
Results of Operations—Cabot
The following tables summarize the operating results contributed by Cabot during the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Janus Holdings
Encore Europe (1)
Consolidated
$
Total revenues
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense-non-PEC
PEC interest (expense) income
Other income
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net income
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$
399,875
(230,401)
169,474
(105,634)
(50,787)
7,373
20,426
(17,218)
3,208
(643)
2,565
$
— $
—
—
—
24,888
—
24,888
—
24,888
(1,280)
23,608
$
$
399,875
(230,401)
169,474
(105,634)
(25,899)
7,373
45,314
(17,218)
28,096
(1,923)
26,173
Year Ended December 31, 2016
Janus Holdings
Encore Europe(1)
Consolidated
$
Total revenues
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense-non-PEC
PEC interest (expense) income
Other income
(Loss) income before income taxes
Income tax benefit
Net (loss) income
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net (loss) income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$
________________________
$
242,114
(197,341)
44,773
(109,178)
(47,646)
15,270
(96,781)
12,073
(84,708)
11,863
(72,845) $
— $
—
—
—
23,349
—
23,349
—
23,349
36,350
59,699
$
242,114
(197,341)
44,773
(109,178)
(24,297)
15,270
(73,432)
12,073
(61,359)
48,213
(13,146)
(1)
Includes only the results of operations related to Janus Holdings and therefore does not represent the complete financial performance of Encore Europe.
38
Table of Contents
Total revenues
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Interest expense-non-PEC
PEC interest (expense) income
Other income
Income before income taxes
Income tax benefit
Net income
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Janus Holdings
Encore Europe(1)
Consolidated
$
— $
$
349,379
(188,296)
161,083
(106,318)
(48,013)
591
7,343
1,294
8,637
(1,211)
7,426
$
—
—
—
23,529
—
23,529
—
23,529
(3,705)
19,824
$
349,379
(188,296)
161,083
(106,318)
(24,484)
591
30,872
1,294
32,166
(4,916)
27,250
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$
________________________
(1)
Includes only the results of operations related to Janus Holdings and therefore does not represent the complete financial performance of Encore Europe.
For all periods presented, Janus Holdings recognized all interest expense related to the outstanding preferred equity
certificates (“PECs”) owed to Encore and other minority shareholders, while the interest income from PECs owed to Encore
was recognized at Janus Holdings’ parent company, Encore Europe Holdings, S.a r.l. (“Encore Europe”), which is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Encore.
Comparison of Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
Our revenues consist of portfolio revenue and other revenue.
Portfolio revenue consists of accretion revenue and zero basis revenue. Accretion revenue represents revenue derived
from pools (quarterly groupings of purchased receivable portfolios) with a cost basis that has not been fully amortized.
Revenue from pools with a remaining unamortized cost basis is accrued based on each pool’s effective interest rate applied to
each pool’s remaining unamortized cost basis. The cost basis of each pool is increased by revenue earned and decreased by
gross collections and portfolio allowances. The effective interest rate is the internal rate of return (“IRR”) derived from the
timing and amounts of actual cash received and anticipated future cash flow projections for each pool. All collections realized
after the net book value of a portfolio has been fully recovered, or Zero Basis Portfolios (“ZBA”), are recorded as revenue, or
zero basis revenue. We account for our investment in receivable portfolios utilizing the interest method in accordance with the
authoritative guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality. We may incur allowance charges
when actual cash flows from our receivable portfolios underperform compared to our expectations or when there is a change in
the timing of cash flows. Factors that may contribute to underperformance and to the recording of valuation allowances may
include both internal as well as external factors. Internal factors that may have an impact on our collections include operational
activities such as capacity and the productivity of our collection staff. External factors that may have an impact on our
collections include new laws or regulations, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the
economy. We record allowance reversals on pool groups that have historic allowance reserves when actual cash flows from
these receivable portfolios outperform our expectations. Allowance reversals are included in portfolio revenue.
Other revenues consist primarily of fee-based income earned on accounts collected on behalf of others, primarily credit
originators. Certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries earn fee-based income by providing portfolio management
services to credit originators for non-performing loans.
Total revenues were $1,187.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $157.7 million, or 15.3%,
compared to total revenues of $1,029.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Our operating results are impacted by foreign currency translation, which represents the effect of translating operating
results where the functional currency is different than our U.S. dollar reporting currency. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar
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relative to other foreign currencies has an unfavorable impact on our international revenues, and the weakening of the U.S.
dollar relative to other foreign currencies has a favorable impact on our international revenues. Our revenues were unfavorably
impacted by foreign currency translation, primarily by the weakening of the British Pound, which devalued, based on average
exchange rates, against the U.S. dollar by 4.9%, during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the year ended
December 31, 2016.
Portfolio revenue was $1,094.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $148.0 million, or
15.6%, compared to revenue of $946.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in portfolio revenue
during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 2016 was due to the allowance charge of $94.0 million on certain pool
groups in Europe recorded during year ended December 31, 2016 and a $45.7 million reversal during the year ended
December 31, 2017 of a portion of the previously recorded portfolio allowance as a result of sustained improvements in
portfolio collections driven by liquidation improvement initiatives. These increases were partially offset by an allowance
charge of $11.4 million recorded on pool groups in the United States, primarily due to two pool groups that were heavily
concentrated in Puerto Rico for which collections have been impacted as a result of hurricanes and the unfavorable impact of
foreign currency translation, primarily from the weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
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The following tables summarize collections, revenue, end of period receivable balance and other related supplemental
data, by year of purchase (in thousands, except percentages):
Year Ended December 31, 2017
As of
December 31, 2017
Collections
(1)
Gross
Revenue
(2)
Revenue
Recognition
Rate
(3)
Net
Reversal
(Portfolio
Allowance)
Revenue
% of Total
Revenue
Unamortized
Balances
Monthly
IRR
$
139,373
$
132,746
95.2% $
6,942
12.6% $
210
1,891
—
299
16,928
51,300
97,720
77,566
77,785
140,367
72,515
669,327
96,093
82,532
52,969
47,285
37,200
United States:
ZBA(4)
2007(5)
2008
2009(5)
2010(5)
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
1,548
4,636
—
1,106
20,173
71,301
139,329
142,147
186,391
283,035
111,902
Subtotal
1,100,941
Europe:
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
146,993
137,806
103,823
97,587
68,111
Subtotal
554,320
316,079
Other geographies:
ZBA(4)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Total
11,409
881
7,808
41,500
35,313
15,472
112,383
11,388
—
16,622
22,073
14,411
3,473
67,967
13.6%
40.8%
—
27.0%
83.9%
71.9%
70.1%
54.6%
41.7%
49.6%
64.8%
60.8%
65.4%
59.9%
51.0%
48.5%
54.6%
57.0%
99.8%
0.0%
212.9%
53.2%
40.8%
22.4%
60.5%
—
613
—
—
—
(2,337)
—
(9,028)
—
—
—
(3,810)
41,716
4,012
—
—
—
0.0%
0.2%
—
0.0%
1.6%
4.8%
9.3%
7.4%
7.4%
13.3%
6.9%
—
—
1,497
—
—
4,598
16,432
48,735
112,788
202,747
369,851
494,880
63.5%
1,251,528
9.1%
7.9%
5.0%
4.5%
3.5%
269,999
288,430
231,691
213,514
451,222
45,728
30.0%
1,454,856
—
—
—
—
(682)
—
(682)
41,236
1.1%
0.0%
1.6%
2.1%
1.4%
0.3%
6.5%
—
140
57,727
34,589
45,058
46,715
184,229
100.0% $ 2,890,613
—
—
5.2%
—
—
25.0%
18.6%
16.0%
4.5%
2.6%
2.6%
2.7%
3.7%
3.1%
2.4%
2.0%
2.0%
1.6%
2.1%
—
0.0%
2.3%
5.0%
2.4%
1.2%
2.5%
3.0%
$ 1,767,644
$ 1,053,373
59.6% $
_______________________
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Gross revenue excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(3) Revenue recognition rate excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(4) ZBA revenue typically has a 100% revenue recognition rate. However, collections on ZBA pool groups where a valuation allowance remains must first
be recorded as an allowance reversal until the allowance for that pool group is zero. Once the entire valuation allowance is reversed, the revenue
recognition rate will become 100%. ZBA gross revenue includes an immaterial amount of accounts that are returned to the seller in accordance with the
respective purchase agreement (“Put-Backs”).
(5) Total collections realized exceed the net book value of the portfolio and have been converted to ZBA.
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Year Ended December 31, 2016
As of
December 31, 2016
Collections
(1)
Gross
Revenue
(2)
Revenue
Recognition
Rate
(3)
Net
Reversal
(Portfolio
Allowance)
Revenue
% of Total
Revenue
Unamortized
Balances
Monthly
IRR
United States:
ZBA(4)
$
137,287
$
130,627
95.1% $
2007
2008
2009(5)
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2,200
8,687
—
10,402
54,991
113,068
196,752
216,356
231,101
110,876
Subtotal
1,081,720
Europe:
2013
2014
2015
2016
Subtotal
Other geographies:
ZBA(4)
2013
2014
2015
2016
Subtotal
Total
165,616
156,666
127,083
44,635
494,000
7,552
1,548
17,443
57,055
26,286
109,884
748
4,301
—
7,493
35,643
72,877
126,666
112,554
103,073
65,639
659,621
127,606
93,657
62,769
24,733
308,765
7,433
—
17,675
27,810
9,488
62,406
34.0%
49.5%
—
72.0%
64.8%
64.5%
64.4%
52.0%
44.6%
59.2%
61.0%
77.0%
59.8%
49.4%
55.4%
62.5%
98.4%
0.0%
101.3%
48.7%
36.1%
56.8%
6,820
795
2,219
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
12.7% $
0.1%
0.4%
—
0.7%
3.4%
7.1%
12.3%
10.9%
10.0%
6.4%
—
941
3,631
—
807
7,866
38,886
90,720
187,083
313,089
515,260
9,834
64.0%
1,158,283
(76,018)
(13,150)
(4,843)
—
(94,011)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(84,177)
12.4%
9.1%
6.1%
2.4%
256,725
308,568
255,445
230,225
30.0%
1,050,963
0.7%
0.0%
1.7%
2.7%
0.9%
6.0%
—
1,008
56,691
51,758
64,106
173,563
100.0% $ 2,382,809
—
4.5%
5.2%
—
25.0%
17.7%
11.7%
9.1%
4.1%
2.4%
2.4%
3.7%
3.0%
2.1%
1.6%
1.8%
2.1%
—
0.0%
2.2%
3.5%
1.9%
2.4%
2.9%
$ 1,685,604
$ 1,030,792
61.2% $
_______________________
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Gross revenue excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(3) Revenue recognition rate excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(4) ZBA revenue typically has a 100% revenue recognition rate. However, collections on ZBA pool groups where a valuation allowance remains must first
be recorded as an allowance reversal until the allowance for that pool group is zero. Once the entire valuation allowance is reversed, the revenue
recognition rate will become 100%. ZBA gross revenue includes an immaterial amount of accounts that are returned to the seller in accordance with the
respective purchase agreement (“Put-Backs”).
(5) Total collections realized exceed the net book value of the portfolio and have been converted to ZBA.
Other revenues were $92.4 million and $82.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Other revenues primarily consist of fee-based income earned at our international subsidiaries that provide portfolio
management services to credit originators for non-performing loans. The increases in other revenues were primarily attributable
to additional fee-based income earned from recently acquired fee-based service providers, including Wescot, which was
acquired by Cabot in November 2017. These increases were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency
translation, primarily from the weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
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Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $862.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $74.8 million, or
9.5%, compared to total operating expenses of $787.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Our operating results are impacted by foreign currency translation, which represents the effect of translating operating
results where the functional currency is different than our U.S. dollar reporting currency. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar
relative to other foreign currencies has a favorable impact on our international operating expenses, and the weakening of the
U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies has an unfavorable impact on our international operating expenses.
Operating expenses are explained in more detail as follows:
Salaries and Employee Benefits
Salaries and employee benefits increased $34.6 million, or 12.3%, to $315.7 million during the year ended December 31,
2017, from $281.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily the result of an increase in
headcount at our domestic sites as part of initiatives to increase collections capacity and an increase at our international
subsidiaries resulting from recent acquisitions. The increase was partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation,
primarily from the weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
Stock-based compensation decreased $2.2 million, or 17.6%, to $10.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2017,
from $12.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily attributable to larger expense
reversals during the current year as compared to the corresponding periods in the prior year resulting from adjustments to
estimated vesting of certain performance-based awards and reversals for current period actual forfeitures.
Cost of Legal Collections
Cost of legal collections includes primarily contingent fees paid to our network of attorneys and the cost of litigation. We
pursue legal collections using a network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters and through our internal legal channel.
Under the agreements with our contracted attorneys, we advance certain out-of-pocket court costs, or Deferred Court Costs. We
capitalize these costs in the consolidated financial statements and provide a reserve for those costs that we believe will
ultimately be uncollectible. We determine the reserve based on an estimated court cost recovery rate based on our analysis of
historical court costs recovery data. Based on trends of historical court costs recovery data during the year ended December 31,
2016, we noted a decrease in the estimated court cost recovery rate in the United Kingdom. Based on the revised estimated
court cost recovery rate, we recorded an additional court costs reserve in the cost of legal collections of approximately $11.3
million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
The cost of legal collections decreased slightly by $0.8 million, or 0.4%, to $200.1 million during the year ended
December 31, 2017, compared to $200.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. Cost of legal collections in the
United States increased by $9.8 million, or 6.0%, while cost of legal collections in Europe decreased by $11.0 million, or
30.0% as compared to the prior year. The cost of legal collections as a percentage of gross collections through this channel
increased to 29.8% during the year ended December 31, 2017, from 29.1% during the year ended December 31, 2016. The cost
as a percentage of legal collections in the United States increased to 31.5% during the year ended December 31, 2017 from
29.1% during the prior year and the cost as a percentage of legal collections in Europe decreased to 22.0% during the year
ended December 31, 2017 from 29.9% during the prior year.
The increases in the cost of legal collections and the cost of legal collections as a percentage of gross collections in the
United States during the periods presented were due to increased placements in the legal channel. During the first three quarters
in 2016, we experienced temporary delays in receiving media from issuers required to initiate the legal process for a number of
accounts, as a result, the volume of accounts placed in our legal channel was reduced during that period. Since those temporary
delays subsided in the fourth quarter of 2016, we have increased placement volume in the legal channel and expect increased
volume in our legal channel in the near future.
The decreases in the cost of legal collections and the cost of legal collections as a percentage of gross collections in
Europe during the periods presented were due to the recording of an approximately $11.3 million additional court cost reserve
during the year ended December 31, 2016 as discussed above, and reduction in upfront court costs as a result of fewer accounts
placed in this channel.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased $4.2 million, or 4.2%, to $104.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2017,
from $100.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in other operating expenses was primarily due to
an increase in new domestic marketing programs and mailing initiatives and increase at our international subsidiaries resulting
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from recent acquisitions. The increase was partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation, primarily from the
weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
Collection Agency Commissions
During the year ended December 31, 2017, we incurred $43.7 million in commissions to third-party collection agencies,
or 21.3% of the related gross collections of $204.9 million. During the period, the commission rate as a percentage of related
gross collections was 7.3% and 24.6% for our collection outsourcing channels in the United States and Europe, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we incurred $36.1 million in commissions, or 18.5%, of the related gross
collections of $195.4 million. During 2016, the commission rate as a percentage of related gross collections was 9.0% and
22.7% for our collection outsourcing channels in the United States and Europe, respectively.
Collections through this channel vary from period to period depending on, among other things, the number of accounts
placed with an agency versus accounts collected internally. Commissions, as a percentage of collections in this channel, also
vary from period to period depending on, among other things, the amount of time that has passed since the charge-off of the
accounts placed with an agency, the asset class, and the geographic location of the receivables. Generally, freshly charged-off
accounts have a lower commission rate than accounts that have been charged off for a longer period of time. Additionally,
commission rates are lower in the United Kingdom, where most of the receivables in this channel are semi-performing loans
and IVAs, while the commission rates are higher in other European countries where most of the receivables in this channel are
non-performing loans.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased $24.1 million, or 17.9%, to $158.1 million during the year ended
December 31, 2017, from $134.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to
expenses related to Cabot’s withdrawn IPO of $13.4 million, reduction in gain on reversal of acquisition-related contingent
consideration of approximately $5.3 million, and additional infrastructure costs at our domestic sites. The increase was partially
offset by reduction in settlement fees and related administrative expenses of $6.3 million, and the impact of foreign currency
translation, primarily from the weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $5.1 million, or 14.7%, to $40.0 million during the year ended
December 31, 2017, from $34.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to write-off
of certain long-lived and intangible assets in connection with integrating our operating platforms and increase in fixed assets
and intangibles at our international subsidiaries resulting from recent acquisitions.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $5.8 million to $204.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2017, from $198.4 million
during the year ended December 31, 2016.
The following table summarizes our interest expense (in thousands, except percentages):
Stated interest on debt obligations
Interest expense on preferred equity certificates
Amortization of loan fees and other loan costs
Amortization of debt discount
Accretion of debt premium
Total interest expense
Year Ended December 31,
2017
157,287
25,899
13,502
10,338
(2,865)
204,161
$
$
2016
159,883
24,297
12,618
10,520
(8,951)
198,367
$
$
$
$
$ Change
% Change
(2,596)
1,602
884
(182)
6,086
5,794
(1.6)%
6.6 %
7.0 %
(1.7)%
(68.0)%
2.9 %
The payment of the accumulated interest on the PECs issued in connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in
Cabot will only be satisfied in connection with the disposition of the noncontrolling interest of J.C. Flowers and management.
The increase in interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to the corresponding period in
2016 was primarily attributable to higher interest expense in the United States related to our recent issuance of convertible debt,
senior notes and higher weighted interest rates. The increase was partially offset by lower interest expense in our international
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subsidiaries due to various refinancing transactions and the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily from the
weakening of the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
Other Income
Other income consists primarily of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, interest income, and gains or losses
recognized on certain transactions outside of our normal course of business. Other income was $10.8 million during the year
ended December 31, 2017, down from $14.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily
due to lower net gain recognized on foreign exchange contracts in the current period compared to prior year.
In 2016, Encore and Cabot collectively began entering into currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the effects of
currency exchange rate fluctuations between the British Pound and Euro. These derivative contracts generally mature
within one to three months and are not designated as hedge instruments for accounting purposes. The gains or losses on these
derivative contracts are recognized in other income or expense based on the changes in fair value.
Provision for Income Taxes
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we recorded income tax provisions for income from continuing
operations of $52.0 million and $38.2 million, respectively.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed into law by President Trump.
The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by, among other things, lowering the U.S.
corporate tax rate from a top rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21% effective January 1, 2018, while also repealing the deduction for
domestic production activities, implementing elements of a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed
repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Shortly after enactment, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”)
118, which provides guidance on accounting for the Tax Reform Act’s impact. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must
reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Reform Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To
the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act is incomplete but it is able to
determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. As a result of the Tax Reform
Act, we recorded an additional net tax expense of $1.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. This net tax expense
represents a provisional amount and our current best estimate. The provisional amount incorporates assumptions made based
upon our current interpretation of the Tax Reform Act and may change as we receive additional clarification and
implementation guidance. We did not record any deemed repatriation tax on unremitted foreign earnings and profits (“E&P”)
due to the deficit in accumulated foreign E&P as of December 31, 2017.
Because of the complexity of the new Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax rules, we continue to evaluate
this and other provisions of the Tax Reform Act and the application of Accounting Standards Codification 740, “Income Taxes.”
Under U.S. GAAP, we are allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S.
inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2)
factoring such amounts into our measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). We have not yet adopted an
accounting policy with respect to GILTI at December 31, 2017.
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The effective tax rates for the respective periods are shown below:
Federal provision
State provision
Foreign rate differential(1)
Transaction costs(2)
Tax reserves
Permanent items(3)
Change in valuation allowance(4)
Other(5)
Effective rate
________________________
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
35.0 %
0.5 %
(20.0)%
5.0 %
0.0 %
10.2 %
8.2 %
0.8 %
39.7 %
35.0 %
2.3 %
(3.6)%
0.0 %
(3.2)%
14.7 %
20.7 %
0.7 %
66.6 %
(1) Relates primarily to the lower tax rate on the income attributable to international operations.
(2) Relates primarily to the effect of certain costs related to the withdrawn Cabot IPO that are disallowed for U.K. tax purposes.
(3) Represents a provision for nondeductible expenses including interest expense reported in a foreign subsidiary and certain foreign income subject to tax
in the U.S. under Internal Revenue Code Section 951 (Subpart F).
(4) Valuation allowance recorded as a result of certain foreign subsidiaries’ cumulative operating losses for tax purposes.
(5)
Includes the impact from the Tax Reform Act for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased to 39.7% as compared to 66.6% for the year ended
December 31, 2016. The decrease in effective tax rate was primarily the result of a lower tax rate on income attributable to
international operations and reduced impact of changes in valuation allowances related to certain foreign subsidiaries.
Our effective tax rate could fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis and could be adversely affected to the extent
earnings are lower than anticipated in countries that have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that
have higher statutory tax rates.
Cost per Dollar Collected
We utilize adjusted operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of approximate cash costs to cash collections
for our portfolio purchasing and recovery business. The calculation of adjusted operating expenses is illustrated in detail in the
“Non-GAAP Disclosure” section. The following table summarizes our overall cost per dollar collected by geographic location
during the periods presented:
United States
Europe
Other geographies
Overall cost per dollar collected
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
44.2%
28.2%
48.6%
39.5%
40.5%
32.8%
44.1%
38.5%
Our overall cost per dollar collected (or “cost-to-collect”) for the year ended December 31, 2017 was 39.5%, up 100 basis
points from 38.5% during the prior period. Cost-to collect increased in the United States and other geographies and decreased
in Europe during the periods presented.
Cost-to-collect in the United States increased due to a combination of (a) increased legal spending resulting from
increased placements in the legal channel due to the ceasing of prior temporary delays in receiving media from issuers required
to initiate the legal process, (b) the acquisition of an increased volume of accounts, which generates increased near-term
expenses from account manager hiring, legal placements, and letter volumes and (c) increased investments to increase
collection capacity.
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We expect to incur upfront costs in building collection channels in connection with any growth in our presence in the
Latin American and Asia Pacific markets. As a result, cost-to-collect in other geographies may become elevated in the near
term and may fluctuate over time.
Cost-to-collect in Europe deceased primarily due to the recording of a large court costs reserve in the United Kingdom
during the year ended December 31, 2016. Refer to “Cost of Legal Collections” in the operating expenses section above for
further details.
Over time, we expect our cost-to-collect to remain competitive, but also to fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on
seasonality, product mix of purchases, acquisitions, foreign exchange rates, the cost of new operating initiatives, and the
changing regulatory and legislative environment.
Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015
Revenues
Total revenues were $1,029.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $100.7 million, or 8.9%,
compared to total revenues of $1,130.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Our operating results are impacted by foreign currency translation, which represents the effect of translating operating
results where the functional currency is different than our U.S. dollar reporting currency. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar
relative to other foreign currencies has an unfavorable impact on our international revenues, and the weakening of the U.S.
dollar relative to other foreign currencies has a favorable impact on our international revenues. Our revenues were impacted by
foreign currency translation, primarily by the weakening of the British Pound, which devalued against the U.S. dollar by
11.4%, during the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015.
Portfolio revenue was $946.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $125.8 million, or 11.7%,
compared to revenue of $1,072.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease in portfolio revenue during
the year ended December 31, 2016, compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 was the result of allowance charges
recorded on certain pools in Europe and the negative impact of foreign currency translation, primarily from the weakening of
the British Pound against the U.S. dollar.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded a net allowance charge of $84.2 million, compared to a net
portfolio allowance reversal of $6.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. During the quarter ended September 30,
2016, we recorded a portfolio allowance charges of $94.0 million resulting from delays or shortfalls in near term collections
against our forecasts for certain pools in Europe. These allowance charges, net of portfolio allowance reversals on other pools,
attributed to the net portfolio allowance of $84.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. The net portfolio allowance
reversals recorded in 2015 were primarily due to the reversal of remaining allowance reserves for certain ZBA pool groups with
cash collections, offset by an $8.3 million portfolio allowance charge resulting from our settlement with the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”).
During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, we revised the forecasting methodology we use to value and calculate
IRRs on certain portfolios in Europe by extending the collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months. This change was
made as a result of (1) our observation that older portfolios in Europe have consistently experienced cash collections beyond
120 months, (2) an expectation that regulatory changes in the United Kingdom resulting in a reduction in the number of highly
discounted near term one-time settlements, an increase in the number of payment plans, and an increase in the length of
existing payment plans will cause a lengthening of our collections curve, (3) an expectation that, as a result of a higher
percentage of semi-performing account purchases in the United Kingdom in recent years, newer vintages will have a larger
percentage of collections after 120 months and (4) our increased confidence in our ability to forecast future cash collections
to 180 months. The increase in the collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months was applied effective July 1, 2016, to
certain portfolios in Europe for which we could accurately forecast through such term. In addition, during the three months
ended September 30, 2016, we recorded allowance charges of approximately $94.0 million resulting from delays or shortfalls
in collections against the forecasts for certain pools in Europe. These changes in forecasted future cash flows resulted in an
increase in the aggregate total estimated remaining collections (“ERC”) for the receivable portfolios of approximately $296.5
million as of September 30, 2016. The increase in the collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months had the effect of
reducing the allowance charges by approximately $13.2 million. For portfolios in Europe that were not extended to 180
months, we will continue to include collection forecast to 120 months in calculating accretion revenue and in our estimated
remaining collection disclosures. In the United States, we will continue to include collection forecast to 120 months in
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calculating accretion revenue. Expected collections beyond the 120-month collection forecast in the United States are included
in our estimated remaining collection disclosures but are not included in the calculation of accretion revenue.
The following tables summarize collections, revenue, end of period receivable balance and other related supplemental
data, by year of purchase (in thousands, except percentages):
Year Ended December 31, 2016
As of
December 31, 2016
Collections
(1)
Gross
Revenue
(2)
Revenue
Recognition
Rate
(3)
Net
Reversal
(Portfolio
Allowance)
Revenue
% of Total
Revenue
Unamortized
Balances
Monthly
IRR
United States:
ZBA(4)
$
137,287
$
130,627
95.1% $
2007
2008
2009(5)
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2,200
8,687
—
10,402
54,991
113,068
196,752
216,356
231,101
110,876
Subtotal
1,081,720
Europe:
2013
2014
2015
2016
Subtotal
Other geographies:
ZBA(4)
2013
2014
2015
2016
Subtotal
Total
165,616
156,666
127,083
44,635
494,000
7,552
1,548
17,443
57,055
26,286
109,884
748
4,301
—
7,493
35,643
72,877
126,666
112,554
103,073
65,639
659,621
127,606
93,657
62,769
24,733
308,765
7,433
—
17,675
27,810
9,488
62,406
34.0%
49.5%
—
72.0%
64.8%
64.5%
64.4%
52.0%
44.6%
59.2%
61.0%
77.0%
59.8%
49.4%
55.4%
62.5%
98.4%
—
101.3%
48.7%
36.1%
56.8%
6,820
795
2,219
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
12.7% $
0.1%
0.4%
—
0.7%
3.4%
7.1%
12.3%
10.9%
10.0%
6.4%
—
941
3,631
—
807
7,866
38,886
90,720
187,083
313,089
515,260
9,834
64.0%
1,158,283
(76,018)
(13,150)
(4,843)
—
(94,011)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(84,177)
12.4%
9.1%
6.1%
2.4%
256,725
308,568
255,445
230,225
30.0%
1,050,963
0.7%
—
1.7%
2.7%
0.9%
6.0%
—
1,008
56,691
51,758
64,106
173,563
100.0% $ 2,382,809
—
4.5%
5.2%
—
25.0%
17.7%
11.7%
9.1%
4.1%
2.4%
2.4%
3.7%
3.0%
2.1%
1.6%
1.8%
2.1%
—
0.0%
2.2%
3.5%
1.9%
2.4%
2.9%
$ 1,685,604
$ 1,030,792
61.2% $
________________________
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Gross revenue excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(3) Revenue recognition rate excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(4) ZBA revenue typically has a 100% revenue recognition rate. However, collections on ZBA pool groups where a valuation allowance remains must first
be recorded as an allowance reversal until the allowance for that pool group is zero. Once the entire valuation allowance is reversed, the revenue
recognition rate will become 100%. ZBA gross revenue includes an immaterial amount of Put-Backs.
(5) Total collections realized exceed the net book value of the portfolio and have been converted to ZBA.
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Table of Contents
Year Ended December 31, 2015
As of
December 31, 2015
Collections
(1)
Gross
Revenue
(2)
Revenue
Recognition
Rate
(3)
Net
Reversal
(Portfolio
Allowance)
Revenue
% of Total
Revenue
Unamortized
Balances
Monthly
IRR
$
103,398
$
91,876
88.9% $
11,765
8.6% $
United States:
ZBA(4)
2007
2008
2009(5)
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Impact of CFPB
settlement
Europe:
2013
2014
2015
Subtotal
Other geographies:
ZBA(4)
2012(5)
2013
2014
2015
Subtotal
Total
3,150
13,529
18,084
42,615
112,753
176,914
298,068
307,814
105,609
1,118
8,665
10,347
25,629
85,303
108,968
176,878
146,583
47,300
—
—
212,129
198,127
65,870
476,126
4,565
471
6,507
16,062
15,060
42,665
171,750
122,490
38,129
332,369
4,571
—
319
19,910
5,837
30,637
35.5%
64.0%
57.2%
60.1%
75.7%
61.6%
59.3%
47.6%
44.8%
—
59.5%
81.0%
61.8%
57.9%
69.8%
100.1%
0.0%
4.9%
124.0%
38.8%
71.8%
1,009
2,311
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(8,322)
6,763
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Subtotal
1,181,934
702,667
0.1%
0.8%
1.0%
2.4%
8.0%
10.2%
16.6%
13.8%
4.4%
—
—
1,573
5,798
—
3,742
27,257
79,973
161,539
291,402
445,527
—
65.9%
1,016,811
16.1%
11.5%
3.6%
439,619
444,618
384,231
31.2%
1,268,468
0.4%
0.0%
0.0%
1.9%
0.5%
2.9%
—
—
2,480
67,714
85,196
155,390
—
4.6%
10.0%
—
21.2%
18.5%
8.6%
7.4%
3.6%
1.8%
—
4.4%
3.1%
2.1%
1.9%
2.4%
—
—
0.0%
2.4%
2.9%
2.6%
3.2%
$ 1,700,725
$ 1,065,673
62.7% $
6,763
100.0% $ 2,440,669
________________________
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Gross revenue excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(3) Revenue recognition rate excludes the effects of net portfolio allowance or net portfolio allowance reversals.
(4) ZBA revenue typically has a 100% revenue recognition rate. However, collections on ZBA pool groups where a valuation allowance remains must first
be recorded as an allowance reversal until the allowance for that pool group is zero. Once the entire valuation allowance is reversed, the revenue
recognition rate will become 100%. ZBA gross revenue includes an immaterial amount of Put-Backs.
(5) Total collections realized exceed the net book value of the portfolio and have been converted to ZBA.
Other revenues were $82.6 million and $57.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The
increase in other revenues was primarily attributable to fee-based income earned at our international subsidiaries that provide
portfolio management services to credit originators for non-performing loans, offset by the negative impact of foreign currency
translation. Most of our other revenues are from our international subsidiaries and therefore, other revenues were unfavorably
impacted by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies during the periods presented.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $787.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $60.0 million, or
7.1%, compared to total operating expenses of $847.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2015.
Operating expenses are explained in more detail as follows:
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Table of Contents
Salaries and Employee Benefits
Salaries and employee benefits increased $18.8 million, or 7.2%, to $281.1 million during the year ended December 31,
2016, from $262.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily the result of increases in
compensation expense of approximately $33.4 million for our international subsidiaries, offset by a decrease of $9.4 million in
stock-based compensation expense and a net decrease in other salaries and employee benefits in our U.S. operations.
Stock-based compensation decreased $9.4 million, or 42.6%, to $12.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2016,
from $22.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The decreases were primarily attributable to expense reversals
resulting from adjustments to estimated vesting of certain performance-based awards and lower fair value of equity awards
granted in recent periods.
Cost of Legal Collections
Cost of legal collections includes primarily contingent fees paid to our network of attorneys and the cost of litigation. We
pursue legal collections using a network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters and through our internal legal channel.
Under the agreements with our contracted attorneys, we advance certain out-of-pocket court costs, or Deferred Court Costs. We
capitalize these costs in the consolidated financial statements and provide a reserve for those costs that we believe will
ultimately be uncollectible. We determine the reserve based on an estimated court cost recovery rate based on our analysis of
historical court costs recovery data. Based on recent trends of historical court costs recovery data, we noted a decrease in the
estimated court cost recovery rate in the United Kingdom. Based on the revised estimated court cost recovery rate, we recorded
an additional court costs reserve in the cost of legal collections of approximately $11.3 million during the three months ended
September 30, 2016.
The cost of legal collections decreased $28.9 million, or 12.6%, to $200.9 million during the year ended December 31,
2016, compared to $229.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. Cost of legal collections in the United States
decreased by $39.6 million, or 19.6%, while cost of legal collections in Europe increased by $8.9 million, or 32.3% as
compared to the prior year. The cost of legal collections as a percentage of gross collections through this channel decreased to
29.1% during the year ended December 31, 2016, from 31.6% during the year ended December 31, 2015. During the year
ended December 31, 2016, the cost of legal collections was 29.1% and 29.9% in the United States and Europe, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the cost of legal collections was 31.9% and 29.9% in the United States and Europe,
respectively.
The decreases in the cost of legal collections and the cost of legal collections as a percentage of gross collections in the
United States during the periods presented were due to a reduction in upfront court costs as a result of fewer accounts placed in
this channel because of temporary delays in receiving media from issuers required to initiate the legal process for a number of
accounts as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. We began to see increased placement volume in the fourth
quarter of 2016 and expect increased placements in our legal channel thereafter.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses increased $7.5 million, or 8.1%, to $100.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016,
from $93.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The increases in other operating expenses was primarily due to
increased costs relating to acquired international subsidiaries offset by lower domestic expenses.
Collection Agency Commissions
During the year ended December 31, 2016, we incurred $36.1 million in commissions to third-party collection agencies,
or 18.5% of the related gross collections of $195.4 million. During the period, the commission rate as a percentage of related
gross collections was 9.0% and 22.7% for our collection outsourcing channels in the United States and Europe, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, we incurred $37.9 million in commissions, or 17.2%, of the related gross
collections of $220.2 million. During 2015, the commission rate as a percentage of related gross collections was 14.4% and
18.5% for our collection outsourcing channels in the United States and Europe, respectively.
Collections through this channel vary from period to period depending on, among other things, the number of accounts
placed with an agency versus accounts collected internally. Commissions, as a percentage of collections in this channel, also
vary from period to period depending on, among other things, the amount of time that has passed since the charge-off of the
accounts placed with an agency, the asset class, and the geographic location of the receivables. Generally, freshly charged-off
accounts have a lower commission rate than accounts that have been charged off for a longer period of time. Additionally,
commission rates are lower in the United Kingdom, where most of the receivables in this channel are semi-performing loans
and IVAs, while the commission rates are higher in other European countries where most of the receivables in this channel are
non-performing loans.
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General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses decreased $57.4 million, or 30.0%, to $134.0 million during the year ended
December 31, 2016, from $191.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to CFPB
related expenses of approximately $53.7 million recorded during the year ended December 31, 2015 and a reversal of an
acquisition-related contingent consideration of approximately $8.1 million recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.7 million, or 5.2%, to $34.9 million during the year ended
December 31, 2016, from $33.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to
additional amortization expenses resulting from intangible assets acquired through our recent acquisitions.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased $11.8 million to $198.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, from $186.6 million
during the year ended December 31, 2015.
The following table summarizes our interest expense (in thousands, except percentages):
Stated interest on debt obligations
Interest expense on preferred equity certificates
Amortization of loan fees and other loan costs
Amortization of debt discount
Accretion of debt premium
Total interest expense
Year Ended December 31,
2016
159,883
24,297
12,618
10,520
(8,951)
198,367
$
$
2015
151,617
24,484
11,792
9,410
(10,747)
186,556
$
$
$
$
$ Change
% Change
8,266
(187)
826
1,110
1,796
11,811
5.5 %
(0.8)%
7.0 %
11.8 %
(16.7)%
6.3 %
The payment of the accumulated interest on the PECs issued in connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in
Cabot will only be satisfied in connection with the disposition of the noncontrolling interest of J.C. Flowers and management.
The increase in interest expense was primarily attributable to increased average debt levels in the United States and
Europe and interest expense recognized by Baycorp, which was acquired in October 2015.
Other Income
Other income consists primarily of foreign currency exchange gains or losses, interest income, and gains or losses
recognized on certain transactions outside of our normal course of business. Other income was $14.2 million during the year
ended December 31, 2016, up from $2.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was primarily due to
net gains recognized on foreign exchange contracts of approximately $8.2 million.
In 2016, Encore and Cabot collectively began entering into currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the effects of
currency exchange rate fluctuations between the British Pound and Euro. These derivative contracts generally mature
within one to three months and are not designated as hedge instruments for accounting purposes. The gains or losses on these
derivative contracts are recognized in other income or expense based on the changes in fair value. Before the effect of income
tax and noncontrolling interest, the net gain on these derivative contracts recognized in our consolidated statements of income
was $8.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2016.
Provision for Income Taxes
During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded income tax provisions for income from continuing
operations of $38.2 million and $27.2 million, respectively.
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The effective tax rates for the respective periods are shown below:
Federal provision
State provision
Foreign rate differential(1)
Tax reserves(2)
Permanent items(3)
Change in valuation allowance(4)
Other
Effective rate
________________________
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
35.0 %
2.3 %
(3.6)%
(3.2)%
14.7 %
20.7 %
0.7 %
66.6 %
35.0 %
0.2 %
(7.8)%
(2.0)%
6.0 %
(5.6)%
1.9 %
27.7 %
(1) Relates primarily to the lower tax rate on the income attributable to international operations.
(2) Represents release of reserves taken for a certain tax position.
(3) Represents a provision for nondeductible items including interest expense reported in a foreign subsidiary. The Company incurred a $10.0 million civil
monetary penalty related to a settlement with the CFPB during the year ended December 31, 2015, which is not deductible for income tax purposes.
(4) Valuation allowance increased in 2016 due to a foreign subsidiary’s cumulative operating losses for tax purposes.
The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 increased to 66.6% as compared to 27.7% for the year ended
December 31, 2015. The increase in effective tax rate was primarily the result of the recording of a large valuation allowance at
one of our foreign subsidiaries, nondeductible items including interest reported in a foreign subsidiary and proportionately less
income realized in countries that have lower statutory tax rates than the U.S. federal rate.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, one of our foreign subsidiaries has incurred cumulative operating losses.
Management did not have enough positive evidence to support the fact that the net operating loss carryforwards at this
jurisdiction can be realized, therefore, we recorded a valuation allowance against the current and previously established
deferred tax assets.
Our effective tax rate could fluctuate significantly on a quarterly basis and could be adversely affected to the extent
earnings are lower than anticipated in countries that have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated in countries that
have higher statutory tax rates.
Cost per Dollar Collected
We utilize adjusted operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of approximate cash costs to cash collections
for our portfolio purchasing and recovery business. The calculation of adjusted operating expenses is illustrated in detail in the
“Non-GAAP Disclosure” section. The following table summarizes our overall cost per dollar collected by geographic location
during the periods presented:
United States
Europe
Other geographies
Overall cost per dollar collected
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
40.5%
32.8%
44.1%
38.5%
42.0%
33.0%
32.9%
39.2%
Our overall cost per dollar collected (or “cost-to-collect”) for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 38.5%, down 70
basis points from 39.2% during the prior period. The decrease in overall cost-to-collect during the year ended December 31,
2016 as compared to the prior year, was primarily due to improved cost-to-collect in the United States and Europe, offset by
higher cost-to-collect in other geographies. To counter higher prices in the United States, we implemented innovative
consumer-centric programs aimed at increasing liquidations. These programs were initiated in the beginning of 2014 and have
become increasingly successful. As we continue to grow our presence in the Latin American and Australasian markets, we
expect to incur upfront cost in building our collection channels. As a result, cost-to-collect in other geographies may become
elevated in the near term and may fluctuate over time.
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Over time, we expect our cost-to-collect to remain competitive, but also to fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on
seasonality, acquisitions, the cost of investments in new operating initiatives, and the changing regulatory and legislative
environment.
Non-GAAP Disclosure
In addition to the financial information prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(“GAAP”), we provide historical non-GAAP financial information. Management believes that the presentation of such non-
GAAP financial information is meaningful and useful in understanding the activities and business metrics of our operations.
Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our business
that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business.
Management believes that the presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and facilitates
comparison of operating results across a broad spectrum of companies with varying capital structures, compensation strategies,
derivative instruments, and amortization methods, which provide a more complete understanding of our financial performance,
competitive position, and prospects for the future. Readers should consider the information in addition to, but not instead of,
our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial information may be determined or
calculated differently by other companies, limiting the usefulness of these measures for comparative purposes.
Adjusted Income From Continuing Operations Per Share. Management uses non-GAAP adjusted income from
continuing operations attributable to Encore and adjusted income from continuing operations per share (which we also refer to
from time to time as adjusted earnings per share), to assess operating performance, in order to highlight trends in our business
that may not otherwise be apparent when relying on financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted income
from continuing operations attributable to Encore excludes non-cash interest and issuance cost amortization relating to our
convertible notes, acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses, settlement fees and related administrative
expenses, amortization of certain acquired intangible assets and other charges or gains that are not indicative of ongoing
operations.
The following table provides a reconciliation between income from continuing operations and diluted income from
continuing operations per share attributable to Encore calculated in accordance with GAAP to adjusted income from continuing
operations and adjusted income from continuing operations per share attributable to Encore, respectively. GAAP diluted
earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2015, includes the effect of approximately 0.2 million and 0.7
million, respectively, common shares that are issuable upon conversion of certain convertible senior notes because the average
stock price during the respective periods exceeded the conversion price of these notes. However, as described in Note 9, “Debt
—Encore Convertible Notes,” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, we have certain hedging transactions in
place that have the effect of increasing the effective conversion price of some of these notes. Accordingly, while these common
shares are included in our diluted earnings per share, the hedge transactions will offset the impact of this dilution and no shares
will be issued unless our stock price exceeds the effective conversion price, thereby creating a discrepancy between the
accounting effect of those notes under GAAP and their economic impact. There was no dilutive effect relating to our
convertible senior notes during the year ended December 31, 2016.
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We have presented the following metrics both including and excluding the dilutive effect of these convertible senior notes
to better illustrate the economic impact of those notes and the related hedging transactions to shareholders, with the GAAP item
under the “Per Diluted Share-Accounting” and “Per Diluted Share-Economic” (non-GAAP) columns, respectively (in
thousands, except per share data):
Year Ended December 31,
2017
Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting
Per
Diluted
Share—
Economic
$
2016
Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting
$
Per
Diluted
Share—
Economic
$
2015
Per Diluted
Share—
Accounting
Per
Diluted
Share—
Economic
$ 83,427
$
3.16
$
3.18
$ 78,923
$
3.05
$
3.05
$ 68,522
$
2.57
$
2.64
12,353
0.47
0.47
11,830
0.46
0.46
11,332
0.43
0.44
16,628
0.63
0.63
17,630
0.68
0.68
16,933
0.64
0.65
(2,822)
(0.11)
(0.11)
(8,111)
(0.31)
(0.31)
—
—
—
—
—
—
6,299
0.24
0.24
63,019
2.36
2.43
3,561
0.13
0.14
2,593
0.10
0.10
15,339
0.58
0.58
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(7,936)
(0.30)
(0.30)
(12,577)
(0.49)
(0.49)
(28,514)
(1.07)
(1.11)
(15,720)
(0.60)
(0.60)
(6,461)
(0.25)
(0.25)
(5,273)
(0.20)
(0.20)
1,182
0.05
0.05
—
—
—
—
—
—
GAAP net income from
continuing operations
attributable to
Encore, as reported
Adjustments:
Convertible notes
non-cash interest
and issuance cost
amortization
Acquisition,
integration and
restructuring
related expenses(1)
Net gain on fair
value adjustments
to contingent
considerations(2)
Settlement fees and
related
administrative
expenses(3)
Amortization of
certain acquired
intangible assets(4)
Expenses related to
withdrawn Cabot
IPO(5)
Income tax effect of
the adjustments(6)
Adjustments
attributable to
noncontrolling
interest(7)
Impact from tax
reform(8)
Adjusted income from
continuing operations
attributable to Encore $106,012
________________________
$
4.01
$
4.04
$ 90,126
$
3.48
$
3.48
$126,019
$
4.73
$
4.85
(1) Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses are not
indicative of ongoing operations; therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our
competitors’ results.
(2) Amount represents the net gain recognized as a result of fair value adjustments to contingent considerations that were established for our acquisitions of
debt solution service providers in Europe. We have adjusted for this amount because we do not believe this is indicative of ongoing operations. Refer to
Note 4 “Fair Value Measurement - Contingent Consideration” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
(3) Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, amount
consists of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements. For the year ended December 31, 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, therefore
adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
54
Table of Contents
(4) 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.
(5)
In October 2017, Cabot announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering and to apply for admission of its ordinary shares to the
premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trade on the main market for listed securities of the London
Stock Exchange. In November 2017, Encore announced that Cabot has decided to not go forward with its previously announced initial public offering
as a result of poor performance of other IPOs on the London Stock Exchange and unfavorable equity market conditions in the U.K. We believe these
expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations, therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future
periods, and our competitors’ results.
(6) Amount represents the total income tax effect of the adjustments, which is calculated based on the applicable marginal tax rate of the jurisdiction in
which the portion of the adjustment occurred.
(7) 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.
(8) As a result of the Tax Reform Act, we incurred a net additional tax expense of approximately $1.2 million. We believe the Tax Reform Act related
expenses are not indicative of our ongoing operations, therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future
periods, and our competitors’ results. Refer to Note 12 “Income Taxes” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
Adjusted EBITDA. Management utilizes adjusted EBITDA (defined as net income before discontinued operations,
interest income and expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition, integration
and restructuring related expenses, settlement fees and related administrative expenses and other charges or gains that are not
indicative of ongoing operations), in the evaluation of our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented
is as follows (in thousands):
GAAP net income, as reported
Adjustments:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax
Interest expense
Interest income(1)
Provision for income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Stock-based compensation expense
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(2)
Net gain on fair value adjustments to contingent
considerations(3)
Settlement fees and related administrative expenses(4)
Expenses related to withdrawn Cabot IPO(5)
Adjusted EBITDA
Collections applied to principal balance(6)
________________________
$
$
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
78,978
$
16,817
$
47,384
199
204,161
(3,635)
52,049
39,977
10,399
11,962
(2,822)
—
15,339
406,607
673,035
$
$
2,353
198,367
(2,538)
38,205
34,868
12,627
16,712
(8,111)
6,299
—
315,599
738,989
$
$
23,387
186,556
(1,664)
27,162
33,160
22,008
15,528
—
63,019
—
416,540
628,289
(1)
In the fourth quarter of 2016, we made a change to our presentation of adjusted EBITDA to adjust for interest income. In previous years we did not
include interest income as an adjustment because it was immaterial. We have updated prior periods for comparability.
(2) Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses are not
indicative of ongoing operations; therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our
competitors’ results.
(3) Amount represents the net gain recognized as a result of fair value adjustments to contingent considerations that were established for our acquisitions of
debt solution service providers in Europe. We have adjusted for this amount because we do not believe this is indicative of ongoing operations. Refer
to Note 4 “Fair Value Measurement - Contingent Consideration” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
(4) Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, amount
consists of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements. For the year ended December 31, 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, therefore
adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
55
Table of Contents
(5)
In October 2017, Cabot announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering and to apply for admission of its ordinary shares to the
premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trade on the main market for listed securities of the London
Stock Exchange. In November 2017, Encore announced that Cabot has decided to not go forward with its previously announced initial public offering
as a result of poor performance of other IPOs on the London Stock Exchange and unfavorable equity market conditions in the U.K. We believe these
expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations, therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future
periods, and our competitors’ results.
(6) Amount represents (a) gross collections from receivable portfolios less (b) revenue from receivable portfolios, net.
Adjusted Operating Expenses. Management utilizes adjusted operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of
approximate cash costs to cash collections for our portfolio purchasing and recovery business. Adjusted operating expenses for
our portfolio purchasing and recovery business are calculated by starting with GAAP total operating expenses and backing out
stock-based compensation expense, operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business, acquisition,
integration and restructuring related operating expenses, settlement fees and related administrative expenses and other charges
or gains that are not indicative of ongoing operations. Adjusted operating expenses related to our portfolio purchasing and
recovery business for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):
GAAP total operating expenses, as reported
$
862,498
$
787,744
$
847,713
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
Adjustments:
Stock-based compensation expense
Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and
recovery business(1)
Acquisition, integration and restructuring related operating
expenses(2)
Net gain on fair value adjustments to contingent
considerations(3)
Settlement fees and related administrative expenses(4)
Expenses related to withdrawn Cabot IPO(5)
Adjusted operating expenses related to portfolio purchasing and
recovery business
________________________
(10,399)
(12,627)
(22,008)
(125,028)
(110,875)
(88,548)
(16,628)
(17,630)
(15,528)
2,822
—
(15,339)
8,111
(6,299)
—
—
(54,697)
—
$
697,926
$
648,424
$
666,932
(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 acquisition, integration and restructuring related operating expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses
are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and
our competitors’ results.
(3) Amount represents the net gain recognized as a result of fair value adjustments to contingent considerations that were established for our acquisitions of
debt solution service providers in Europe. We have adjusted for this amount because we do not believe this is indicative of ongoing operations. Refer
to Note 4 “Fair Value Measurement - Contingent Consideration” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for further details.
(4) Amount represents litigation and government settlement fees and related administrative expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2016, amount
consists of settlement and administrative fees related to certain TCPA settlements. For the year ended December 31, 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, therefore
adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
(5)
In October 2017, Cabot announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering and to apply for admission of its ordinary shares to the
premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and to trade on the main market for listed securities of the London
Stock Exchange. In November 2017, Encore announced that Cabot has decided to not go forward with its previously announced initial public offering
as a result of poor performance of other IPOs on the London Stock Exchange and unfavorable equity market conditions in the U.K. We believe these
expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations, therefore adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future
periods, and our competitors’ results.
Supplemental Performance Data
The tables included in this supplemental performance data section include detail for purchases, collections and ERC by
year of purchase. During any fiscal quarter in which we acquire an entity that has portfolio, the entire historical portfolio of the
acquired company is aggregated into static pools for the quarter of acquisition based on common characteristics, resulting in
pools for that quarter that may consist of several different vintages of portfolio. These quarterly pools are included in the tables
in this section by year of purchase. For example, with the acquisition of Cabot in July 2013, all of Cabot’s historical portfolio to
the date of the acquisition (which includes several years of historical purchases at various stages of maturity) is included in
2013 for Europe.
56
Table of Contents
Our collection expectations are based on demographic data, account characteristics, and economic variables. Additional
adjustments are made to account for qualitative factors that may affect the payment behavior of our consumers and servicing
related adjustments to ensure our collection expectations are aligned with our operations. We continue to refine our process of
forecasting collections both domestically and internationally with a focus on operational enhancements. Our collection
expectations vary between types of portfolio and geographic location. For example, in the U.K., due to the higher concentration
of payment plans, as compared to the U.S. and other locations in Europe, we expect to receive streams of collections over
longer periods of time. As a result, past performance of pools in certain geographic locations or of certain types of portfolio are
not necessarily a suitable indicator of future results in other locations or for other types of portfolio.
The supplemental performance data presented in this section is impacted by foreign currency translation, which represents
the effect of translating financial results where the functional currency of our foreign subsidiary is different than our U.S. dollar
reporting currency. For example, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other foreign currencies has an unfavorable
reporting impact on our international purchases, collections, and ERC, and the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to other
foreign currencies has a favorable impact on our international purchases, collections, and ERC.
We utilize proprietary forecasting models to continuously evaluate the economic life of each pool.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, we revised the forecasting methodology we use to value and calculate
IRRs on certain portfolios in Europe and extended the collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months. The increase in the
collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months was applied effective July 1, 2016, to certain portfolios in Europe for which
we could accurately forecast through such term. For portfolios in Europe that were not extended to 180 months, we continue to
include the collection forecast to 120 months in calculating accretion revenue and in our estimated remaining collection
disclosures. In the United States, we include the collection forecast to 120 months in calculating accretion revenue. Expected
collections beyond the 120 month collection forecast in the United States are included in our estimated remaining collection
disclosures but are not included in the calculation of accretion revenue.
57
Table of Contents
Cumulative Collections to Purchase Price Multiple
The following table summarizes our consumer and bankruptcy receivable purchases and related gross collections by year of purchase (in thousands, except multiples):
<2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Total(2)
CCM(3)
Cumulative Collections through December 31, 2017
Purchase
Price(1)
$
923,144
227,749
252,974
357,345
383,876
548,918
552,127
518,565
500,414
555,811
534,269
5,355,192
619,079
630,342
423,329
258,868
464,123
2,395,741
Year of
Purchase
United States:
<2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Europe:
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Other geographies:
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Total
$1,732,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,732,000
$329,254
69,049
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
398,303
$225,765
165,164
96,529
$143,969
127,799
206,773
— 125,853
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
487,458
$ 96,172
87,850
164,605
288,788
— 123,596
—
—
—
—
—
—
604,394
$ 66,574
59,507
111,569
220,686
301,949
— 187,721
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
948,006
761,011
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
49,054
41,773
80,443
156,806
226,521
350,134
230,051
—
—
—
—
1,134,782
134,259
—
—
—
—
134,259
$
36,443
29,776
58,345
111,993
155,180
259,252
397,646
144,178
—
—
—
1,192,813
249,307
135,549
—
—
—
384,856
$
30,837
23,247
42,960
83,578
112,906
176,914
298,068
307,814
105,610
—
—
1,181,934
212,129
198,127
65,870
—
—
476,126
$
25,313
18,563
30,150
55,650
77,257
113,067
203,386
216,357
231,102
110,875
—
1,081,720
165,610
156,665
127,084
44,641
—
494,000
$
21,182
14,959
22,835
40,193
56,287
74,507
147,503
142,147
186,391
283,035
111,902
1,100,941
146,993
137,806
103,823
97,587
68,111
554,320
$ 2,756,563
637,687
814,209
1,083,547
1,053,696
1,161,595
1,276,654
810,496
523,103
393,910
111,902
10,623,362
908,298
628,147
296,777
142,228
68,111
2,043,561
6,721
29,568
86,989
91,126
79,804
58,096
352,304
$ 8,103,237
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$1,732,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$398,303
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$487,458
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$604,394
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$761,011
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$948,006
3,848
6,617
—
—
—
—
10,465
$1,279,506
2,561
17,615
9,652
—
—
—
29,828
$ 1,607,497
1,208
10,334
16,062
15,061
—
—
42,665
$ 1,700,725
542
4,606
18,403
57,064
29,269
—
109,884
$ 1,685,604
551
3,339
9,813
43,499
39,710
15,471
112,383
$ 1,767,644
8,710
42,511
53,930
115,624
68,979
15,471
305,225
$12,972,148
3.0
2.8
3.2
3.0
2.7
2.1
2.3
1.6
1.0
0.7
0.2
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.7
0.5
0.1
0.9
1.3
1.4
0.6
1.3
0.9
0.3
0.9
1.6
________________________
(1) Adjusted for Put-Backs and Recalls. Recalls represent accounts that are recalled by the seller in accordance with the respective purchase agreement (“Recalls”).
(2) Cumulative collections from inception through December 31, 2017, excluding collections on behalf of others.
(3) Cumulative Collections Multiple (“CCM”) through December 31, 2017 refers to collections as a multiple of purchase price.
58
Table of Contents
Total Estimated Collections to Purchase Price Multiple
The following table summarizes our purchases, resulting historical gross collections, and estimated remaining gross
collections for purchased receivables, by year of purchase (in thousands, except multiples):
Purchase Price(1)
Historical
Collections(2)
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total Estimated
Gross Collections
Total Estimated Gross
Collections to
Purchase Price
$
United States:
<2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Europe:
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015(3)
2016
2017
Subtotal
Other geographies:
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Total
$
$
923,144
227,749
252,974
357,345
383,876
548,918
552,127
518,565
500,414
555,811
534,269
5,355,192
619,079
630,342
423,329
258,868
464,123
2,395,741
6,721
29,568
86,989
91,126
$
2,756,563
637,687
814,209
1,083,547
1,053,696
1,161,595
1,276,654
810,496
523,103
393,910
111,902
10,623,362
908,298
628,147
296,777
142,228
68,111
2,043,561
8,710
42,511
53,930
115,624
79,804
58,096
352,304
8,103,237
$
68,979
15,471
305,225
12,972,148
$
41,951
35,566
59,488
101,200
130,492
149,282
254,062
268,005
371,148
681,784
956,881
3,049,859
863,349
762,660
492,899
450,068
927,388
3,496,364
1,308
2,749
134,764
101,702
83,742
84,826
409,091
6,955,314
$
$
2,798,514
673,253
873,697
1,184,747
1,184,188
1,310,877
1,530,716
1,078,501
894,251
1,075,694
1,068,783
13,673,221
1,771,647
1,390,807
789,676
592,296
995,499
5,539,925
10,018
45,260
188,694
217,326
152,721
100,297
714,316
19,927,462
________________________
(1) Adjusted for Put-Backs and Recalls.
(2) Cumulative collections from inception through December 31, 2017, excluding collections on behalf of others.
(3)
Includes portfolios acquired in connection with certain business combinations.
3.0
3.0
3.5
3.3
3.1
2.4
2.8
2.1
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.6
2.9
2.2
1.9
2.3
2.1
2.3
1.5
1.5
2.2
2.4
1.9
1.7
2.0
2.5
59
Table of Contents
Estimated Remaining Gross Collections by Year of Purchase
The following table summarizes our estimated remaining gross collections for purchased receivables by year of purchase
(in thousands):
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
>2026
Total
Estimated Remaining Gross Collections by Year of Purchase(1), (2)
$
17,328
$
13,349
$
7,004
$
3,292
$
978
$
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
41,951
United States:
<2008
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Europe:
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015(3)
2016
2017
Subtotal
2012
2013
2014
2015(3)
2016
2017
Subtotal
Total
12,164
20,351
33,045
42,323
50,502
94,831
90,799
126,409
227,336
253,380
968,468
104,046
97,172
76,400
65,577
135,255
478,450
472
1,559
14,161
23,777
22,264
12,056
74,289
Other geographies:
9,601
15,172
25,463
32,369
35,980
75,661
63,830
84,898
156,021
261,141
773,485
119,763
109,116
73,192
70,493
136,661
509,225
306
686
24,006
24,228
21,371
17,428
88,025
6,226
9,834
16,499
20,958
23,241
35,578
41,416
56,761
105,260
4,035
6,373
10,693
13,579
15,027
23,022
26,945
34,978
69,137
165,392
106,142
2,612
4,124
6,927
8,704
9,645
14,915
17,629
23,143
42,708
67,111
928
2,674
4,495
5,647
6,155
6,418
11,600
15,697
28,624
40,415
488,169
313,223
198,496
122,653
108,879
96,667
61,924
64,146
112,016
98,585
84,297
53,001
52,611
96,210
88,139
74,224
45,515
41,076
80,971
78,023
65,356
39,110
32,182
69,611
—
960
2,921
3,671
4,001
1,493
6,869
10,744
19,713
26,454
76,826
68,914
57,242
33,075
26,576
59,978
—
—
1,157
2,386
2,601
971
3,623
7,234
13,604
18,262
49,838
61,108
49,898
27,627
23,019
49,820
—
—
—
855
1,690
631
2,355
4,593
9,060
12,728
31,912
54,390
43,309
23,045
25,646
42,762
—
—
—
—
440
542
2,939
6,691
10,321
5,856
35,566
59,488
101,200
130,492
149,282
254,062
268,005
371,148
681,784
956,881
26,789
3,049,859
81,502
85,379
60,010
48,742
144,104
863,349
762,660
492,899
450,068
927,388
443,632
384,704
329,925
284,282
245,785
211,472
189,152
419,737
3,496,364
226
291
26,647
18,174
15,636
14,251
75,225
190
154
23,581
12,830
10,467
12,313
59,535
114
59
—
—
22,484
15,647
8,578
5,874
11,116
48,225
5,601
3,486
9,649
—
—
6,400
3,287
2,242
5,009
34,383
16,938
—
—
1,479
2,319
1,616
1,683
7,097
—
—
90
1,383
786
995
—
—
269
1,525
—
326
1,308
2,749
134,764
101,702
83,742
84,826
3,254
2,120
409,091
$ 1,521,207
$ 1,370,735
$ 1,007,026
$757,462
$576,646
$441,318
$339,549
$268,407
$224,318
$448,646
$ 6,955,314
________________________
(1) ERC for Zero Basis Portfolios can extend beyond our collection forecasts. As of December 31, 2017, ERC for Zero Basis Portfolios include
approximately $351.7 million for purchased consumer and bankruptcy receivables in the United States. ERC for Zero Basis Portfolios in Europe and
other geographies were immaterial.
(2) The collections forecast of each pool is generally estimated up to 120 months in the United States and up to 180 months in Europe. Expected
collections beyond the 120 month collection forecast in the United States are included in ERC but are not included in the calculation of IRRs.
(3)
Includes portfolios acquired in connection with certain business combinations
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Unamortized Balances of Portfolios
The following table summarizes the remaining unamortized balances of our purchased receivable portfolios by year of
purchase (in thousands, except percentages):
Unamortized
Balance as of
December 31, 2017
Purchase
Price(1)
Unamortized
Balance as a
Percentage of
Purchase Price
Unamortized
Balance as a
Percentage
of Total
United States:
2008
2009(2)
2010(2)
2011
2012
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Europe:
2013(3)
2014(3)
2015(3)
2016
2017
Subtotal
Other geographies:
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Subtotal
Total
$
$
1,497
—
—
4,598
16,432
48,735
112,788
202,747
369,851
494,880
1,251,528
269,999
288,430
231,691
213,514
451,222
1,454,856
140
57,727
34,589
45,058
46,715
184,229
2,890,613
$
$
227,749
—
—
383,876
548,918
552,127
518,565
500,414
555,811
534,269
3,821,729
619,079
630,342
423,329
258,868
464,123
2,395,741
29,568
86,989
91,126
79,804
58,096
345,583
6,563,053
0.7%
—
—
1.2%
3.0%
8.8%
21.7%
40.5%
66.5%
92.6%
32.7%
43.6%
45.8%
54.7%
82.5%
97.2%
60.7%
0.5%
66.4%
38.0%
56.5%
80.4%
53.3%
44.0%
0.1%
—
—
0.4%
1.3%
3.9%
9.0%
16.2%
29.6%
39.5%
100.0%
18.6%
19.8%
15.9%
14.7%
31.0%
100.0%
0.1%
31.3%
18.8%
24.5%
25.3%
100.0%
100.0%
________________________
(1) Purchase price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less Put-Backs, Recalls, and other adjustments.
(2) Total collections realized exceed the net book value of the portfolio and have been converted to ZBA.
(3)
Includes portfolios acquired in connection with certain business combinations.
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Estimated Future Amortization of Portfolios
As of December 31, 2017, we had $2.9 billion in investment in receivable portfolios. This balance will be amortized
based upon current projections of cash collections in excess of revenue applied to the principal balance. The estimated
amortization of the investment in receivable portfolios balance is as follows (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31,
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
United States
Europe
Other
Geographies
Total
Amortization
$
334,448
$
116,941
$
8,822
$
332,408
213,943
142,543
81,121
62,693
39,074
26,374
15,038
3,886
—
—
—
—
—
188,880
167,891
149,104
130,488
115,080
104,946
95,233
100,866
91,375
88,422
47,821
27,780
21,208
8,821
32,993
34,634
31,163
49,357
12,595
7,238
4,391
2,737
299
—
—
—
—
—
460,211
554,281
416,468
322,810
260,966
190,368
151,258
125,998
118,641
95,560
88,422
47,821
27,780
21,208
8,821
Total
$
1,251,528
$
1,454,856
$
184,229
$
2,890,613
Headcount by Function by Geographic Location
The following table summarizes our headcount by function and by geographic location:
Headcount as of December 31,
2017
2016
2015
Domestic
International
Domestic
International
Domestic(1)
International
923
381
1,304
2,693
4,239
6,932
894
287
1,181
2,151
3,371
5,522
944
269
1,213
2,198
3,254
5,452
General & Administrative
Account Manager
Total
________________________
(1) Headcount as of December 31, 2015 includes 79 Propel employees.
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Purchases by Quarter
The following table summarizes the receivable portfolios we purchased by quarter, and the respective purchase prices (in
thousands):
Quarter
Q1 2015
Q2 2015(1)
Q3 2015
Q4 2015(1)
Q1 2016
Q2 2016
Q3 2016
Q4 2016
Q1 2017
Q2 2017
Q3 2017
Q4 2017
# of
Accounts
Face Value
Purchase
Price
734
$
1,041,011
$
2,970
1,267
2,363
1,450
946
874
1,159
807
1,347
1,010
1,434
5,544,885
2,085,381
4,068,252
3,544,338
2,841,527
1,475,381
1,943,775
1,657,393
2,441,909
3,018,072
2,985,978
125,154
418,780
187,180
292,608
256,753
233,116
206,359
210,491
218,727
246,415
292,332
300,761
________________________
(1)
Includes portfolios acquired in connection with certain business combinations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
The following table summarizes our cash flow activity, including the cash flows from discontinued operations, for the
periods presented (in thousands):
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Operating Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
$
123,818
(452,131)
378,217
$
130,332
(168,789)
43,253
116,149
(472,709)
400,121
Cash flows from operating activities represent the cash receipts and disbursements related to all of our activities other
than investing and financing activities. Operating cash flows are derived by adjusting net income for non-cash operating items
such as depreciation and amortization, allowance charges and stock-based compensation charges, and changes in operating
assets and liabilities which reflect timing differences between the receipt and payment of cash associated with transactions and
when they are recognized in results of operations.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $123.8 million, $130.3 million, and $116.1 million for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
Cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 was primarily related to net income of
$79.0 million, various non-cash add backs in operating activities, including portfolio allowance reversals, and changes in
operating assets and liabilities. Cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 was primarily
related to net income of $16.8 million, adjustments for discontinued operations, various non-cash add backs in operating
activities, including portfolio allowance charges, and changes in operating assets and liabilities. Cash provided by operating
activities during the year ended December 31, 2015 was primarily related to net income of $47.4 million, $23.4 million loss
from discontinued operations, in addition to other non-cash add backs in operating activities and changes in operating assets
and liabilities.
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Investing Cash Flows
Net cash used in investing activities was $452.1 million, $168.8 million and $472.7 million for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 were primarily related to receivable
portfolio purchases of $1,045.8 million, offset by collection proceeds applied to the principal of our receivable portfolios in the
amount of $709.4 million. The cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 were primarily
related to receivable portfolio purchases of $907.4 million, offset by collection proceeds applied to the principal of our
receivable portfolios in the amount of $659.3 million and $106.0 million of proceeds from divestiture of Propel, net of cash
divested. The cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2015 were primarily related to cash
paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, of $276.6 million, receivable portfolio purchases (excluding the portfolios acquired
from the acquisition of dlc of $216.0 million and from the acquisition of Baycorp of $60.3 million) of $749.8 million, offset by
collection proceeds applied to the principal of our receivable portfolios in the amount of $635.9 million.
Financing Cash Flows
Net cash provided by financing activities was $378.2 million, $43.3 million and $400.1 million for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily reflects $1,434.5 million in
borrowings under our credit facilities, $325.0 million proceeds from senior secured notes and $150.0 million of proceeds from
the issuance of Encore’s convertible senior notes due 2022, offset by $1,168.1 million in repayments of amounts outstanding
under our credit facilities, $204.2 million of repayments of senior secured notes and $125.4 million in repayments of Encore’s
convertible notes due 2017. The cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2016 primarily
reflects $586.0 million in borrowings under our credit facilities and $442.6 million of proceeds from Cabot’s senior secured
notes due 2023, offset by $615.9 million in repayments of amounts outstanding under our credit facilities and $352.5 million in
repayment of Cabot’s senior secured notes due 2019. The cash provided by financing activities during the year ended
December 31, 2015 primarily reflects $1.1 billion in borrowings under our credit facilities and $332.7 million of proceeds from
Cabot’s floating rate notes, offset by $898.1 million in repayments of amounts outstanding under our credit facilities and $33.2
million in repurchases of our common stock.
Capital Resources
Historically, we have met our cash requirements by utilizing our cash flows from operations, bank borrowings,
convertible debt offerings, and equity offerings. From time to time, depending on the capital markets, we consider additional
financings to fund our operations and acquisitions. Our primary cash requirements have included the purchase of receivable
portfolios, the acquisition of U.S. and international entities, operating expenses, the payment of interest and principal on
borrowings, and the payment of income taxes.
We have a revolving credit facility and term loan facility pursuant to a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated December 20, 2016 (as amended, the “Restated Credit Agreement”). The Restated Credit Agreement includes a revolving
credit facility of $794.6 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), a term loan facility of $187.1 million (the “Term Loan
Facility”, and together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”), and an accordion feature that
allows us to increase the Revolving Credit Facility by an additional $250.0 million (approximately $125.3 million of which had
been exercised as of December 31, 2017). The Senior Secured Credit Facilities have a five-year maturity, expiring in December
2021, except with respect to (1) revolving commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility $168.6 million expiring in
February 2019 and (2) a subtranche of the Term Loan Facility of $17.0 million expiring in February 2019. As of December 31,
2017, we had $329.0 million outstanding and $212.7 million of availability under the Revolving Credit Facility and $181.7
million outstanding under the Term Loan Facility.
Through Cabot Financial (UK) Limited (“Cabot Financial UK”), an indirect subsidiary, we have a revolving credit facility
of £295.0 million (the “Cabot Credit Facility”). As of December 31, 2017, we had £132.5 million (approximately $179.0
million) outstanding and £162.5 million (approximately $219.5 million) of availability under the Cabot Credit Facility.
Currently, all of our portfolio purchases are funded with cash from operations and borrowings under our Senior Secured
Credit Facilities and our Cabot Credit Facility.
We are in compliance with all covenants under our financing arrangements. See Note 9, “Debt” to our consolidated
financial statements for a further discussion of our debt.
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In March 2017, we sold $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2022 (the
“2022 Convertible Notes”) that mature on March 15, 2022 in private placement transactions. The 2022 Convertible Notes bear
interest at a rate of 3.25% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on
September 15, 2017.
The net proceeds from the sale of the $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes were
approximately $145.3 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and the estimated offering expenses. We used
approximately $60.4 million of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase, in separate transactions, $50.0 million
aggregate principal amount of our 3.0% 2017 convertible senior notes (the “2017 Convertible Notes”).
In 2010 and 2011 we entered into an aggregate of $75.0 million of senior secured notes with certain affiliates of
Prudential Capital Group and in August 2017, we entered into an additional $325.0 million in senior secured notes with a group
of insurance companies (the “Senior Secured Notes”).
In August 2017 Cabot Securitisation UK Limited, a subsidiary of Cabot, entered into a senior facility agreement (the
“Senior Facility Agreement”) for an initial committed amount of £260.0 million (approximately $332.9 million) (the “Cabot
Securitisation Senior Facility”). In December 2017, an accordion feature was exercised and the size of the Cabot Securitisation
Senior Facility was increased by £40.0 million to a final size of £300.0 million, of which £290 million was drawn as of year-
end. A portion of the proceeds from the Senior Facility Agreement were used to redeem in full the outstanding 10.5% Senior
Secured Notes due 2020 issued by Marlin Intermediate Holdings plc (“Marlin”), another subsidiary of Cabot.
Our cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2017 consisted of $40.7 million held by U.S.-based entities and
$171.4 million held by foreign entities. Most of our cash and cash equivalents held by foreign entities is indefinitely reinvested
and may be subject to material tax effects if repatriated. However, we believe that our U.S. sources of cash and liquidity are
sufficient to meet our business needs in the United States and do not expect that we will need to repatriate the funds.
We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months, given our
expectation of continued positive cash flows from operations, our cash and cash equivalents, our access to capital markets, and
availability under our credit facilities. Our future cash needs will depend on our acquisitions of portfolios and businesses.
Future Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table summarizes our future contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2017 (in thousands):
Contractual Obligations
Principal payments on debt
Estimated interest payments(1)
Capital leases
Operating leases
Purchase commitments on receivable
portfolios
Preferred equity certificates(2)
Total contractual cash obligations(3)
________________________
Payment Due By Period
Total
Less
Than
1 Year
1 – 3 Years
3 – 5 Years
More
Than
5 Years
$
3,268,253
$
33,075
$
619,237
$
2,012,797
$
603,144
744,969
7,977
89,150
525,591
253,324
166,219
2,963
19,064
501,988
—
322,051
3,048
26,715
23,603
—
170,478
1,966
20,285
—
—
$
4,889,264
$
723,309
$
994,654
$
2,205,526
$
86,221
—
23,086
—
253,324
965,775
(1) Estimated interest payments are calculated based on outstanding principal amounts, applicable fixed interest rates or currently effective interest rates as
of December 31, 2017 for variable rate debt, timing of scheduled payments and the term of the debt obligations.
(2) As of December 31, 2017, we carried a liability of approximately $253.3 million related to principal and accumulated interests for PECs issued in
connection with the Cabot Acquisition. The PECs have a maturity date of May 2043, accrue interest at 12% per annum, and are held by Cabot’s
noncontrolling interest holders. The future accrued interest is excluded from the table above due to uncertainty in determining the timing of the
payment because the payment will only be satisfied in connection with the disposition of the noncontrolling interest. See Note 9, “Debt” to our
consolidated financial statements for additional information on our PECs.
(3) We had approximately $22.2 million of liabilities and accrued interests related to uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2017. We are unable to
reasonably estimate the timing of the cash settlement with the tax authorities due to the uncertainties related to these tax matters and, as a result, these
obligations are not included in the table. See Note 12, “Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements for additional information on our
uncertain tax positions.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our financial statements, in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Note 1,
“Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the notes to consolidated financial
statements describes the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements.
We base our estimates on past experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances,
and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such differences may
be material. We refer to accounting estimates of this type as critical accounting policies and estimates, which we discuss further
below. We have reviewed our critical accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of our board of directors.
Investment in Receivable Portfolios and Related Revenue. As permitted by the authoritative guidance for loans and debt
securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality, static pools are established on a quarterly basis with accounts purchased
during the quarter that have common risk characteristics. Discrete receivable portfolio purchases during a quarter are
aggregated into pools based on these common risk characteristics. Once a static pool is established, the portfolios are
permanently assigned to the pool. The discount (i.e., the difference between the cost of each static pool and the related
aggregate contractual receivable balance) is not recorded because we expect to collect a relatively small percentage of each
static pool’s contractual receivable balance. As a result, receivable portfolios are recorded at cost at the time of acquisition. The
purchase cost of the portfolios includes certain fees paid to third parties incurred in connection with the direct acquisition of the
receivable portfolios.
In compliance with the authoritative guidance, we account for our investments in consumer receivable portfolios using
either the interest method or the cost recovery method. The interest method applies an IRR, to the cost basis of the pool, which
remains unchanged throughout the life of the pool, unless there is an increase in subsequent expected cash flows. Subsequent
increases in expected cash flows are generally recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the pool’s IRR over
its remaining life. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows do not change the IRR, but are recognized as an allowance to
the cost basis of the pool, and are reflected in the consolidated statements of income as a reduction in revenue, with a
corresponding valuation allowance, offsetting the investment in receivable portfolios in the consolidated statements of financial
condition.
We account for each static pool as a unit for the economic life of the pool (similar to one loan) for recognition of revenue
from receivable portfolios, for collections applied to the cost basis of receivable portfolios and for provision for loss or
allowance. Revenue from receivable portfolios is accrued based on each pool’s IRR applied to each pool’s adjusted cost basis.
The cost basis of each pool is increased by revenue earned and decreased by gross collections and portfolio allowances.
If the amount and timing of future cash collections on a pool of receivables are not reasonably estimable, we account for
that pool using the cost recovery method. The accounts in these portfolios have different risk characteristics than those included
in other portfolios acquired during the same quarter, or the necessary information was not available to estimate future cash
flows and, accordingly, they were not aggregated with other portfolios. Under the cost recovery method of accounting, no
revenue is recognized until the carrying value of a cost recovery portfolio has been fully recovered.
Deferred Court Costs. We pursue legal collection using a network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters and
through our internal legal channel. We generally pursue collections through legal means only when we believe a consumer has
sufficient assets to repay their indebtedness but has, to date, been unwilling to pay. In connection with our agreements with our
contracted attorneys, we advance certain out-of-pocket court costs, or Deferred Court Costs. We capitalize these costs in the
consolidated financial statements and provide a reserve for those costs that we believe will ultimately be uncollectible. We
determine the reserve based on our analysis of historical court costs recovery data. We estimate deferral periods for Deferred
Court Costs based on jurisdiction and nature of litigation and writes off any Deferred Court Costs not recovered within the
respective deferral period. Collections received through litigation are first applied against related court costs with the balance
applied to the debtors’ account.
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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Business combinations typically result in the recording of goodwill and other
intangible assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value assigned to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets,
liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interest in the acquiree is recorded as goodwill.
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at the reporting unit level for impairment annually and in
interim periods if certain events occur indicating that the carrying amounts may be impaired. Determining the number of
reporting units and the fair value of a reporting unit requires us to make judgments and involves the use of significant estimates
and assumptions. We have five reporting units identified for goodwill impairment testing purposes. The annual goodwill testing
date for these reporting units is October 1st.
In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other
(Topic 350). The amendments in this update simplify the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the
impairment test, which required the entity to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its
assets and liabilities following the procedure that would be required in determining fair value of assets acquired and liabilities
assumed in a business combination. The amendments in this update are effective for public companies for annual or any interim
goodwill impairments tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual
goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We did not early adopt this guidance for our annual
goodwill impairment testing on October 1, 2017.
We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill
impairment test. The qualitative factors include economic environment, business climate, market capitalization, operating
performance, competition, and other factors. We may proceed directly to the two-step quantitative test without performing the
qualitative test.
The first step involves measuring the recoverability of goodwill at the reporting unit level by comparing the estimated fair
value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to its carrying value. The second step, if necessary, measures the
amount of impairment, if any, by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying value. We apply various valuation
techniques to measure the fair value of each reporting unit, including the income approach and the market approach. For
goodwill impairment analyses conducted at most of the reporting units, we use the income approach in determining fair value,
specifically the discounted cash flow method, or DCF. In applying the DCF method, an identified level of future cash flow is
estimated. Annual estimated cash flows and a terminal value are then discounted to their present value at an appropriate
discount rate to obtain an indication of fair value. The discount rate utilized reflects estimates of required rates of return for
investments that are seen as similar to an investment in the reporting unit. DCF analyses are based on management’s long-term
financial projections and require significant judgments, therefore, for most of our reporting units where we have access to
reliable market participant data, the market approach is conducted in addition to the income approach in determining the fair
value. We use a guideline company method under the market approach to estimate the fair value of equity and market value of
invested capital (“MVIC”). The guideline company approach relies on estimated remaining collections data or earnings before
interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for each of the selected guideline companies, which enables a direct
comparison between the reporting unit and the selected peer group. We believe that the current methodology used in
determining the fair value of our reporting units represent the best estimate. In addition, we compare the aggregate fair value of
the reporting units to our overall market capitalization.
Significant judgments are required to estimate the fair value of reporting units including estimating future cash flows,
determining appropriate discount rates, growth rates, comparable guideline companies and other assumptions. Future business
conditions and/or activities could differ materially from the projections made by management, which in turn, could result in the
need for impairment charges. We will perform additional impairment testing if events occur or circumstances change indicating
that the carrying amounts may be impaired.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest. Some minority shareholders in certain of our subsidiaries have the right, at certain
times, to require us to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value and, in some cases, to force a sale of the
subsidiary if we choose not to purchase their interests at fair value. The noncontrolling interest subject to these arrangements is
included in temporary equity as redeemable noncontrolling interest, and is adjusted to its estimated redemption amount each
reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Future reductions in the carrying amount are
subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest at the time it was originally
recorded. The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest cannot go below the floor. Adjustments to the carrying
amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged to retained earnings (or to additional paid-in capital if there are no
retained earnings) and do not affect net income or comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes. We use the liability method of accounting for income taxes. When we prepare the consolidated financial
statements, we estimate our income taxes based on the various jurisdictions where we conduct business. This requires us to
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estimate our current tax exposure and to assess temporary differences that result from differing treatments of certain items for
tax and accounting purposes. Deferred income taxes are recognized based on the differences between the financial statement
and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected
to reverse. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. Valuation allowances are established,
when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. When we establish a valuation allowance
or increase this allowance in an accounting period, we record a corresponding tax expense in our statement of income. When
we reduce our valuation allowance in an accounting period, we record a corresponding tax benefit in our statement of income.
We include interest and penalties related to income taxes within our provision for income taxes. See Note 12, “Income Taxes”
to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of income taxes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements and the impact of those pronouncements, if any, on our
consolidated financial statements is provided in this Annual Report in “Note 1, Ownership, Description of Business, and
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements.
Item 7A—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to economic risks from foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. A portion of these risks is
hedged, but the risks may affect our financial statements.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
We have operations in foreign countries, which expose us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations due to
transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Our primary risk of loss due to foreign currency exchange rate risk is related to
Euro to British Pound and Indian rupee to U.S. dollar exchange rates. We continuously evaluate and manage our foreign
currency risk through the use of derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency forward contracts with financial
counterparties where practicable. Such derivative instruments are viewed as risk management tools and are not used for
speculative or trading purposes.
Beginning in 2016, we have currency exchange forward contracts to reduce the effects of currency exchange rate
fluctuations between the British Pound and Euro. These derivative contracts generally mature within one to three months and
are not designated as hedge instruments for accounting purposes. The gains or losses on these derivative contracts are
recognized in other income or expense based on the changes in fair value.
As of December 31, 2017, we had outstanding foreign currency forward contracts that hedge our risk of foreign currency
exchange between the British Pound and Euro with a net fair value liability position of approximately $1.1 million. The
functional currency of the subsidiary that carries the hedge contracts is British Pound and the reporting currency is the U.S.
dollar. We considered the historical trends in currency exchange rates and determined that it was reasonably possible that
changes in exchange rates of 10% between the British Pound and the Euro and 10% between the British Pound and U.S. dollar
could be experienced in the near term. If the Euro weakened by 10% against the British Pound and the U.S. dollar weakened by
10% against the British Pound at December 31, 2017, the result would have had an unfavorable effect to the fair value of the
derivatives of approximately $8.8 million. If the Euro strengthened by 10% against the British Pound and the U.S. dollar
strengthened by 10% against the British Pound at December 31, 2017, the result would have had a favorable effect to the fair
value of the derivatives of approximately $10.7 million.
In addition, we have currency exchange forward contracts that hedge the forecasted monthly cash settlements resulting
from the expenses incurred by our operations in India. These foreign currency forward contracts are designated as cash flow
hedging instruments and qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Gains and losses arising from the effective portion of such
contracts are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as gains and losses on derivative
instruments, net of income taxes. The hedging gains and losses in OCI are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same
period in which the underlying transactions affect our earnings. If all or a portion of the forecasted transaction is cancelled, this
would render all or a portion of the cash flow hedge ineffective and we would reclassify the ineffective portion of the hedge
into earnings. We generally do not experience ineffectiveness of the hedge relationship and the accompanying consolidated
financial statements do not include any such gains or losses.
As of December 31, 2017, our outstanding foreign currency forward contracts that hedge our risk of foreign currency
exchange against the Indian rupee had a fair value asset position of $1.9 million. We considered the historical trends in
currency exchange rates and determined that it was reasonably possible that changes in exchange rates of 10% for the Indian
rupee could be experienced in the near term. If the U.S. dollar weakened by 10% against the Indian rupee at December 31,
2017, the result would have had a favorable effect to the fair value of the derivatives of approximately $1.8 million. If the U.S.
68
Table of Contents
dollar strengthened by 10% against the Indian rupee at December 31, 2017 the result would have had an unfavorable effect to
the fair value of the derivatives of approximately $1.5 million.
Interest Rates
We have variable-interest-bearing borrowings under our credit facilities that subject us to interest rate risk. We have, from
time to time, utilized derivative financial instruments, including interest rate swap contracts and interest rate caps with financial
counterparties to manage our interest rate risk. As of December 31, 2017, our subsidiary Baycorp had two interest rate swap
agreements outstanding with a total notional amount of $30.0 million Australian dollars (approximately $23.4 million U.S.
dollars). The interest rate swap instrument is designated as a cash flow hedge and accounted for using hedge accounting. As of
December 31, 2017, our subsidiary Cabot holds two interest rate cap contracts with an aggregate notional amount of £300.0
million (approximately $405.3 million) that are used to manage its risk related to interest rate fluctuations. The Company does
not apply hedge accounting on the interest rate cap contracts.
Our variable-interest-bearing debt is subject to the risk of interest rate fluctuations. Significant increases in future interest
rates on our variable rate debt could lead to a material decrease in future earnings assuming all other factors remained constant.
If the market interest rates for our variable rate agreements increase 10%, interest expense on such outstanding debt would
increase by approximately $6.6 million, on an annualized basis. Conversely, if the market interest rates decreased an average of
10%, our interest expense on such outstanding debt would decrease by $6.6 million on an annualized basis.
Our analysis and methods used to assess and mitigate the risks discussed above should not be considered projections of
future risks.
Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Our consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the Report of BDO USA, LLP, our Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm, are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K on pages F-1 through F-43.
Item 9—Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A—Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).
Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period
covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in enabling us to record,
process, summarize and report information required to be included in our periodic SEC filings within the required time period.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for
establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for Encore Capital Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). The Company’s internal control
system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and Board of Directors regarding the
preparation and fair presentation of published consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable
assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Further, because of changing conditions, effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting may vary over time. The Company’s processes contain self-monitoring mechanisms and actions
are taken to correct deficiencies as they are identified.
Management has assessed the effectiveness of Encore’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017,
based on the criteria for effective internal control described in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its assessment, management concluded that
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.
69
Table of Contents
BDO USA, LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, was engaged to attest to and report on the effectiveness of Encore’s internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, as stated in its report below.
70
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
San Diego, California
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Encore Capital Group, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) internal control over financial reporting as of December
31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO criteria”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated statements of financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and
the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and our report dated February 21, 2018 expressed an unqualified
opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying “Item 9A,
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting”. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design
and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the
company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
San Diego, California
February 21, 2018
71
Table of Contents
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule
15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, that have materially affected, or
are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In the course of our ongoing preparations for management’s report on internal control over financial reporting as required
by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, we have identified areas in need of improvement and have taken remedial
actions to strengthen the affected controls as appropriate. We make these and other changes, which do not have a material effect
on our overall internal control over financial reporting, to enhance the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting.
None.
Item 9B—Other Information
72
Table of Contents
PART III
Item 10—Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial
Ownership Reporting Compliance,” appearing in the 2018 Proxy Statement to be filed no later than April 30, 2018, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
Item 11—Executive Compensation
The information under the caption “Executive Compensation and Other Information,” appearing in the 2018 Proxy
Statement to be filed no later than April 30, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 12—Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information under the captions “Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders and Management” and “Equity
Compensation Plan Information,” appearing in the 2018 Proxy Statement to be filed no later than April 30, 2018, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
Item 13—Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Election of Directors—
Corporate Governance—Director Independence,” appearing in the 2018 Proxy Statement to be filed no later than April 30,
2018, is hereby incorporated by reference.
The information under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” appearing in the 2018 Proxy
Statement to be filed no later than April 30, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference.
Item 14—Principal Accountant Fees and Services
73
Table of Contents
(a) Financial Statements.
PART IV
Item 15—Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
The following consolidated financial statements of Encore Capital Group, Inc. are filed as part of this annual report on
Form 10-K:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
F-1
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
(b) Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number
2.1
2.2
2.3
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
Exhibit Description
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 6,
2013, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., Pinnacle Sub, Inc. and Asset Acceptance
Capital Corp.
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 1,
2014, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., the sellers party thereto, Atlantic Credit &
Finance, Inc. and Richard Woolwine as the
sellers’ representative
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February
19, 2016, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc. and certain funds affiliated with Prophet
Capital Asset Management LP
Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation
Bylaws, as amended through February 8, 2011
Form of Common Stock Certificate
Third Amended and Restated Senior Secured
Note Purchase Agreement (including the forms
of the Notes), dated as of August 11, 2017, by
and among Encore Capital Group, Inc. and the
purchasers named therein
Indenture (including the form of the Note),
dated as of June 24, 2013, by and among
Encore Capital Group, Inc., Midland Credit
Management, Inc., as guarantor, and Union
Bank, N.A., as trustee
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
8-K
000-26489
2.1
3/6/2013
10-Q
000-26489
2.1
8/7/2014
10-K
000-26489
2.4
2/24/2016
S-1/A
333-77483
8-K
000-26489
10-K
S-3
000-26489
333-163876
3.1
3.1
3.3
4.7
6/14/1999
4/4/2002
2/14/2011
12/21/2009
8-K
000-26489
10.1
8/17/2017
8-K
000-26489
4.1
6/24/2013
74
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
4.4
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.4.3
4.4.4
4.4.5
4.5
4.5.1
4.5.2
Indenture (including the form of the Note),
dated August 2, 2013, by and among Cabot
Financial (Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit
Management Limited, Cabot Financial Limited
and all material subsidiaries of Cabot Financial
Limited, as guarantors, J.P. Morgan Europe
Limited, as security agent, and Citibank, N.A.,
London Branch as trustee
First Supplemental Indenture, dated March 14,
2014, by and among Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Financial Limited,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, as
guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., London Branch,
as trustee
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated May
19, 2014, by and among Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Financial Limited,
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee, and
the guarantors party thereto
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated May 28,
2015, by and among Cabot Asset Purchases
(Ireland) Limited, Cabot Financial (Ireland)
Limited, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A.,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, Cabot
Financial Limited and Citibank, N.A., London
Branch, as trustee
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 28,
2015, by and among Hillesden Securities
Limited, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A.,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, Cabot
Financial Limited and Citibank, N.A., London
Branch, as trustee
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated November
11, 2015, by and among Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) II S.A., Cabot Financial
(Treasury) Ireland, Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit Management
Limited, Cabot Financial Limited and
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee
Indenture (including the form of the Note),
dated September 20, 2012, by and among
Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot
Credit Management Limited, Cabot Financial
Limited and all material subsidiaries of Cabot
Financial Limited, as guarantors, J.P. Morgan
Europe Limited, as security agent, and
Citibank, N.A., London Branch as trustee
First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 13,
2013, between Cabot Financial (Luxembourg)
S.A. and Citibank, N.A., London Branch as
trustee
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated March
14, 2014, by and among Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Financial Limited,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, as
guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., London Branch,
as trustee
8-K
000-26489
4.1
8/6/2013
10-Q
000-26489
4.1
8/7/2014
8-K
000-26489
4.2
5/20/2014
10-K
000-26489
4.23
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.27
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.32
2/24/2016
10-Q
000-26489
4.1
11/7/2013
10-Q
000-26489
4.2
11/7/2013
10-Q
000-26489
4.2
5/8/2014
75
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5
4.5.6
4.6
4.7
4.7.1
4.7.2
4.7.3
Exhibit Description
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated May 19,
2014, by and among Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Financial Limited,
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee, and
the guarantors party thereto
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 28,
2015, by and among Cabot Asset Purchases
(Ireland) Limited, Cabot Financial (Ireland)
Limited, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A.,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, Cabot
Financial Limited and Citibank, N.A., London
Branch, as trustee
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 28,
2015, by and among Hillesden Securities
Limited, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A.,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, Cabot
Financial Limited and Citibank, N.A., London
Branch, as trustee
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated
November 11, 2015, by and among Cabot
Financial (Luxembourg) II S.A., Cabot
Financial (Treasury) Ireland, Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit Management
Limited, Cabot Financial Limited and
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee
Indenture (including form of Note), dated as of
March 11, 2014, by and between Encore
Capital Group, Inc., Midland Credit
Management, Inc., as guarantor, and Union
Bank, N.A., as trustee
Indenture (including form of Note), dated
March 27, 2014, between Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit Management
Limited, Cabot Financial Limited, the
subsidiary guarantors party thereto, J.P.
Morgan Europe Limited, as security agent,
Citibank, N.A., London Branch as trustee,
principal paying agent and transfer agent and
Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as
registrar
Supplemental Indenture, dated May 28, 2015,
by and among Cabot Asset Purchases (Ireland)
Limited, Cabot Financial (Ireland) Limited,
Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot
Credit Management Limited, Cabot Financial
Limited and Citibank, N.A., London Branch,
as trustee
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 28,
2015, by and among Hillesden Securities
Limited, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A.,
Cabot Credit Management Limited, Cabot
Financial Limited and Citibank, N.A., London
Branch, as trustee
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated
November 11, 2015, by and among Cabot
Financial (Luxembourg) II S.A., Cabot
Financial (Treasury) Ireland, Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit Management
Limited, Cabot Financial Limited and
Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
8-K
000-26489
4.1
5/20/2014
10-K
000-26489
4.22
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.26
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.31
2/24/2016
8-K
000-26489
4.1
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
4.1
3/28/2014
10-K
000-26489
4.25
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.29
2/24/2016
10-K
000-26489
4.34
2/24/2016
76
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Indenture (including form of Note), dated
November 11, 2015, between Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) II S.A., Cabot Credit
Management Limited, Cabot Financial
Limited, the subsidiary guarantors party
thereto, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as
security agent, Citibank, N.A., London Branch
as trustee, principal paying agent and transfer
agent and Citigroup Global Markets
Deutschland AG, as registrar
Indenture (including form of Note), dated
October 6, 2016, between Cabot Financial
(Luxembourg) S.A., Cabot Credit Management
Limited, Cabot Financial Limited, the
subsidiary guarantors party thereto, J.P.
Morgan Europe Limited, as security agent,
Citibank, N.A., London Branch as trustee,
principal paying agent and transfer agent and
Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as
registrar
Indenture (including Form of Note), dated
March 3, 2017, by and among Encore Capital
Group, Inc., Midland Credit Management, Inc.,
as guarantor, and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as
trustee
Form of Indemnification Agreement
Severance protection letter agreement, dated
March 11, 2009, between Encore Capital
Group, Inc. and Paul Grinberg
Amendment, dated January 9, 2013, to the
Severance Protection Letter Agreement dated
March 11, 2009 between Encore Capital
Group, Inc. and Paul Grinberg
Letter Agreement, dated January 9, 2013,
between Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Paul
Grinberg
Letter Agreement, dated February 24, 2014,
between Encore Capital Group, Inc. and Paul
Grinberg
Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended and restated
Amended Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant
Notice and Agreement under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
Form of Non-Incentive Stock Option
Agreement under the Encore Capital Group,
Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
First Amendment to Encore Capital Group,
Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan, dated
February 20, 2014
Form of Non-Incentive Stock Option
Agreement under the Encore Capital Group,
Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan
4.8
4.9
4.10
10.1+
10.2+
10.2.1+
10.2.2+
10.2.3+
10.3+
10.3.1+
10.3.2+
10.4+
10.4.1+
10.4.2+
8-K
000-26489
4.1
11/13/2015
8-K
000-26489
4.1
10/7/2016
8-K
000-26489
4.1
3/3/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.1
5/4/2006
8-K
000-26489
10.2
3/13/2009
8-K
000-26489
10.1
1/15/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.2
1/15/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.1
2/24/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.1
6/15/2009
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
7/30/2009
10-Q
000-26489
10.3
11/1/2012
Def
14A
000-26489 Appendix
A
4/26/2013
10-K
000-26489
10.84
2/25/2014
10-Q
000-26489
10.5
8/8/2013
77
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
10.4.3+
10.4.4+
10.4.5+
10.4.6+
10.4.7+
10.4.8+
10.4.9+
10.4.10+
10.4.11+
10.4.12+
10.4.13+
10.4.14+
10.5+
10.6+
10.7+
10.8+
10.8.1+
10.9+
Exhibit Description
Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice
and Agreement (Executive) under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice
and Agreement (Non-Executive) under the
Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice
and Agreement (Executive) under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Performance Stock Grant Notice and
Agreement under the Encore Capital Group,
Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan
Form of Performance Stock Unit Grant Notice
and Agreement under the Encore Capital
Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice
and Agreement (Non-Employee Director)
under the Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2013
Incentive Compensation Plan
Form of Performance Stock Grant Notice and
Agreement (TSR) under the Encore Capital
Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice
and Agreement (Executive - Umbrella) under
the Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Performance Stock Award Grant
Notice and Agreement under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice
and Agreement (Retention) under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Restricted Cash Award Grant Notice
and Agreement (Retention) under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2013 Incentive
Compensation Plan
Form of Performance Stock Option Agreement
under the Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2013
Incentive Compensation Plan
Encore Capital Group, Inc. Executive
Separation Plan
Employment offer letter dated October 9, 2014
by and between Encore Capital Group, Inc.
and Jonathan Clark
Non-Employee Director Compensation
Program Guidelines, effective January 1, 2018
Non-Employee Director Deferred Stock
Compensation Plan
First Amendment to Non-Employee Director
Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, dated
August 6, 2016
Letter, dated June 15, 2017, from Encore
Capital Group, Inc. to Ashish Masih
Incorporated By Reference
Form
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
10-Q
000-26489
10.6
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.7
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.8
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.9
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.10
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.11
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.1
5/10/2016
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
5/10/2016
10-Q
000-26489
10.3
5/10/2016
10-K
000-26489
10.105
2/23/2017
10-K
000-26489
10.106
2/23/2017
10-K
000-26489
10.108
2/23/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
11/6/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.1
2/26/2015
X
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
8/4/2016
10-Q
000-26489
10.1
11/9/2016
8-K
000-26489
10.1
6/20/2017
78
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
10.10+
10.11+
10.11.1+
10.11.2+
10.11.3+
10.11.4+
10.12
10.12.1
10.12.2
10.12.3
10.12.4
10.12.5
10.12.6
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Letter, dated June 15, 2017, from Encore
Capital Group, Inc. to Paul Grinberg
The Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2017 Incentive
Award Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice
and Award Agreement under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice
and Award Agreement under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan
Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice
and Award Agreement under the Encore
Capital Group, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan
Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Award
Agreement under the Encore Capital Group,
Inc. 2017 Incentive Award Plan
Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated December 20, 2016, by and
among Encore Capital Group, Inc., the several
banks and other financial institutions and
lenders from time to time party thereto and
listed on the signature pages thereof, and
SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent and
collateral agent
Incremental Term Loan and Extension
Agreement, dated March 2, 2017, by and
among Encore Capital Group, Inc., Cathay
Bank, Opus Bank, Umpqua Bank, SunTrust
Bank, and each of the guarantors, party thereto
Incremental Facility Agreement, dated March
29, 2017, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., Woodforest National Bank, SunTrust
Bank, and each of the guarantors, party thereto
Amendment No.1 to Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 13,
2017, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., the several banks and other financial
institutions and lenders from time to time party
thereto and listed on the signature pages
thereof, and SunTrust Bank, as administrative
agent and collateral agent
Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 29,
2017, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., the several banks and other financial
institutions and lenders from time to time party
thereto and listed on the signature pages
thereof, and SunTrust Bank, as administrative
agent and collateral agent
Letter Agreement, dated August 3, 2017,
related to the Third Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement dated as of December 20,
2016
Incremental Facility Agreement, dated August
15, 2017, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., DNB Capital, LLC, SunTrust Bank, and
each of the guarantors, party thereto
8-K
000-26489
10.2
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.3
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.4
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.5
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.6
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.7
6/20/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.1
12/27/2016
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
5/4/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.4
5/4/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.1
8/3/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.9
8/3/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.3
11/2/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.5
11/2/2017
79
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
10.12.7
10.12.8
10.13
10.13.1
10.13.2
10.14
10.14.1
10.15
10.16
10.16.1
10.16.2*
10.16.3
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Incremental Facility Agreement, dated
September 26, 2017, by and among Encore
Capital Group, Inc., Regions Bank, SunTrust
Bank, and each of the guarantors, party thereto
Incremental Facility Agreement, dated January
22, 2018, by and among Encore Capital Group,
Inc., Umpqua Bank, SunTrust Bank, and each
of the guarantors, party thereto
Second Amended and Restated Pledge and
Security Agreement, dated November 5, 2012,
by and among Encore Capital Group, Inc.,
certain of its subsidiaries and SunTrust Bank,
as collateral agent
Amendment No. 1, dated December 20, 2016,
to Second Amended and Restated Pledge and
Security Agreement, dated November 5, 2012,
by and among Encore Capital Group, Inc.,
certain of its subsidiaries and SunTrust Bank,
as collateral agent
Amendment No. 2, dated August 11, 2017, to
Second Amended and Restated Pledge and
Security Agreement, dated November 5, 2012,
by and among Encore Capital Group, Inc.,
certain of its subsidiaries and SunTrust Bank,
as collateral agent
Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated
November 5, 2012, by and among certain
subsidiaries of Encore Capital Group, Inc. and
SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent
Amendment No. 1, dated February 25, 2014, to
Amended and Restated Guaranty, dated
November 5, 2012, by and among certain
subsidiaries of Encore Capital Group, Inc. and
SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent
Second Amended and Restated Intercreditor
Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2017, by
and among Encore Capital Group, Inc., certain
of its subsidiaries, SunTrust Bank, as
administrative agent for the lenders, the
holders of the Company’s 7.75% Senior
Secured Notes due 2017, 7.375% Senior
Secured Notes due 2018 and 5.625% Senior
Secured Notes due 2024, and SunTrust Bank,
as collateral agent
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 29,
2013, by and between Encore Capital Group,
Inc. and JCF III Europe S.À R.L.
Amendment, dated July 1, 2013, to Securities
Purchase Agreement, dated May 29, 2013, by
and between Encore Capital Group, Inc. and
JCF III Europe S.À R.L.
Investors Agreement, dated July 1, 2013, by
and between Encore Europe Holdings S.À
R.L., JCF III Europe S.À R.L. and the other
parties thereto
Second Amendment to Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated September 25, 2013, by and
between Encore Europe Holdings S.À R.L. and
JCF III Europe S.À R.L.
10-Q
000-26489
10.6
11/2/2017
X
8-K
000-26489
10.2
11/7/2012
8-K
000-26489
10.1
12/27/2016
10-Q
000-26489
10.4
11/2/2017
8-K
000-26489
10.3
11/7/2012
10-K
000-26489
10.88
2/25/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.2
8/17/2017
10-Q
000-26489
10.16
8/8/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.23
8/8/2013
10-Q/
A
000-26489
10.24
12/20/2013
10-Q
000-26489
10.2
11/7/2013
80
Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
10.17.1
10.17.2
10.17.3
10.17.4
10.18.1
10.18.2
10.18.3
10.18.4
10.19
10.20
10.21.1
10.21.2
10.21.3
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Letter Agreement, dated June 18, 2013,
between Barclays Bank PLC and Encore
Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Capped Call
Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated June 18, 2013,
between Credit Suisse International and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated June 18, 2013,
between Morgan Stanley & Co. International
plc and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding
the Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated June 18, 2013,
between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated July 18, 2013,
between Barclays Bank PLC and Encore
Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Capped Call
Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated July 18, 2013,
between Credit Suisse International and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated July 18, 2013,
between Morgan Stanley & Co. International
plc and Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding
the Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated July 18, 2013,
between RBC Capital Markets, LLC and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Capped Call Transaction
Amended and Restated Senior Facilities
Agreement, dated December 12, 2017, by and
among Cabot Financial (UK) Limited, the
several guarantors, banks and other financial
institutions and lenders from time to time party
thereto and J.P. Morgan Europe Limited as
Agent and Security Agent
Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated
February 7, 2014, by and among Cabot
Financial Holdings Group Limited, certain
funds managed by Duke Street and certain
individuals, including certain executive
management of Marlin Financial Group
Limited
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2014,
between Citibank, N.A. and Encore Capital
Group, Inc., regarding the Base Capped Call
Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2014,
between Credit Suisse International and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base
Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2014,
between Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the Base
Capped Call Transaction
8-K
000-26489
10.1
6/24/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.2
6/24/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.3
6/24/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.4
6/24/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.1
7/23/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.2
7/23/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.3
7/23/2013
8-K
000-26489
10.4
7/23/2013
X
10-K
000-26489
10.82
2/25/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.1
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.2
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.3
3/11/2014
81
Table of Contents
Exhibit Description
Form
Incorporated By Reference
File
Number
Exhibit
Filing
Date
Filed or
Furnished
Herewith
Exhibit
Number
10.21.4
10.21.5
10.21.6
10.21.7
10.21.8
10.22
21
23
31.1
31.2
32.1
8-K
000-26489
10.4
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.5
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.6
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.7
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
10.8
3/11/2014
8-K
000-26489
4.1
8/28/2017
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2014,
between Société Générale and Encore Capital
Group, Inc., regarding the Base Capped Call
Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 6, 2014,
between Citibank, N.A. and Encore Capital
Group, Inc., regarding the Additional Capped
Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 6, 2014,
between Credit Suisse International and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Additional Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 6, 2014,
between Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and
Encore Capital Group, Inc., regarding the
Additional Capped Call Transaction
Letter Agreement, dated March 6, 2014,
between Société Générale and Encore Capital
Group, Inc., regarding the Additional Capped
Call Transaction
Senior Facility Agreement, dated August 23,
2017, between Cabot Securitisation UK
Limited, Cabot Financial (UK) Limited, HSBC
Corporate Trust Company (UK) Limited as
Security Trustee and Senior Agent and
Goldman Sachs International Bank as Senior
Lender
List of Subsidiaries
Consent of Independent Registered Public
Accounting Firm, BDO USA, LLP, dated
February 21, 2018
Certification of the Principal Executive Officer
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Certification of the Principal Financial Officer
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(furnished herewith)
101.INS XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
Document
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
Linkbase Document
101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
Linkbase Document
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
Document
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation
Linkbase Document
82
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Table of Contents
*
+
None.
The asterisk denotes that confidential portions of this exhibit have been omitted in reliance on Rule
24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The confidential portions have been submitted
separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Item 16—Form 10-K Summary
83
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:
/s/ ASHISH MASIH
Ashish Masih
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 21, 2018
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons
on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name and Signature
Title
Date
/s/ ASHISH MASIH
Ashish Masih
President and Chief Executive
Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
February 21, 2018
/s/ JONATHAN C. CLARK
Jonathan C. Clark
/s/ ASHWINI GUPTA
Ashwini Gupta
/s/ WENDY HANNAM
Wendy Hannam
/s/ MICHAEL P. MONACO
Michael P. Monaco
/s/ LAURA OLLE
Laura Olle
/s/ FRANCIS E. QUINLAN
Francis E. Quinlan
/s/ NORMAN R. SORENSEN
Norman R. Sorensen
/s/ RICHARD J. SREDNICKI
Richard J. Srednicki
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
February 21, 2018
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
84
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
F-1
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
San Diego, California
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Encore Capital Group, Inc. (the
“Company”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income,
equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively
referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (“PCAOB”), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (“COSO”) and our report dated February 21, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S.
federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial
statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits
also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2001.
San Diego, California
February 21, 2018
F-1
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Investment in receivable portfolios, net
Deferred court costs, net
Property and equipment, net
Other assets
Goodwill
Total assets
Liabilities and equity
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Debt, net
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Redeemable equity component of convertible senior notes
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, 25,801 shares and
25,593 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and
December 31, 2016, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interest
Total equity
Total liabilities, redeemable equity and equity
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
$
$
212,139
2,890,613
79,963
76,276
302,728
928,993
4,490,712
284,774
3,446,876
35,151
3,766,801
151,978
—
149,765
2,382,809
65,187
72,257
215,447
785,032
3,670,497
234,398
2,805,983
29,601
3,069,982
45,755
2,995
—
—
258
42,646
616,314
(77,356)
581,862
(9,929)
571,933
4,490,712
$
256
103,392
560,567
(104,911)
559,304
(7,539)
551,765
3,670,497
$
$
$
$
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. See
Note 10, “Variable Interest Entities” for additional information on the Company’s VIEs.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Investment in receivable portfolios, net
Deferred court costs, net
Property and equipment, net
Other assets
Goodwill
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Debt, net
Other liabilities
Liabilities
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
$
$
$
88,902
1,342,300
26,482
23,138
122,263
724,054
151,208
2,014,202
1,494
55,823
972,841
22,760
19,284
79,767
584,868
99,689
1,514,799
1,921
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-2
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios, net
Other revenues
Total revenues
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits
Cost of legal collections
Other operating expenses
Collection agency commissions
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total operating expenses
Income from operations
Other (expense) income
Interest expense
Other income
Total other expense
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Income from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Income from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Encore Capital Group,
Inc.:
Basic earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from:
Continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Net diluted earnings per share
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
$
1,094,609
92,429
1,187,038
$
946,615
82,643
1,029,258
1,072,436
57,531
1,129,967
315,742
200,058
104,938
43,703
158,080
39,977
862,498
324,540
(204,161)
10,847
(193,314)
131,226
(52,049)
79,177
(199)
78,978
4,250
83,228
83,427
(199)
83,228
$
$
$
3.21
$
(0.01) $
$
3.20
3.16
$
(0.01) $
$
3.15
281,097
200,855
100,737
36,141
134,046
34,868
787,744
241,514
(198,367)
14,228
(184,139)
57,375
(38,205)
19,170
(2,353)
16,817
59,753
76,570
78,923
(2,353)
76,570
$
$
$
3.07
$
(0.09) $
$
2.98
3.05
$
(0.09) $
$
2.96
262,281
229,847
93,210
37,858
191,357
33,160
847,713
282,254
(186,556)
2,235
(184,321)
97,933
(27,162)
70,771
(23,387)
47,384
(2,249)
45,135
68,522
(23,387)
45,135
2.66
(0.91)
1.75
2.57
(0.88)
1.69
25,972
26,405
25,713
25,909
25,722
26,647
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-3
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In Thousands)
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments
Income tax effect
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of
tax
Change in foreign currency translation:
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation
Income tax effect
Unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency translation,
net of tax
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest:
Net loss (income)
Unrealized (income) loss on foreign currency translation
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Encore Capital Group,
Inc. stockholders
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
78,978
$
16,817
$
47,384
1,242
(200)
1,042
28,362
—
28,362
29,404
108,382
4,250
(1,849)
2,401
407
(87)
320
(67,943)
361
(67,582)
(67,262)
(50,445)
59,753
20,173
79,926
(1,527)
(151)
(1,678)
(57,144)
(1,468)
(58,612)
(60,290)
(12,906)
(2,249)
3,390
1,141
$
110,783
$
29,481
$
(11,765)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-4
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
(In Thousands)
Common Stock Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Shares
Par
Accumulated
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Noncontrolling
Interest
Total
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2014
Net income
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Initial noncontrolling interest related to business
combinations
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling
interest
Exercise of stock options and issuance of share-based
awards, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
Repurchase of common stock
Stock-based compensation
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation
Reclassification of redeemable equity component of
convertible senior notes
Other
Balance at December 31, 2015
Net income (loss)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Initial noncontrolling interest related to business
combinations
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling
interest
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
Exercise of stock options and issuance of share-based
awards, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
Stock-based compensation
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation
Reclassification of redeemable equity component of
convertible senior notes
Other
25,794
$ 258
$ 125,310
$
498,354
$
(922) $
3,981
$ 626,981
—
—
—
—
333
(839)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3
(8)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,349)
(5,321)
(33,177)
22,008
1,251
2,948
(137)
25,288
253
110,533
—
—
—
—
—
305
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(14,702)
(1,280)
(4,481)
12,627
(2,324)
3,130
(111)
45,135
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
543,489
76,570
—
—
(59,492)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(56,900)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(57,822)
—
(47,089)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
878
—
46,013
(56,900)
2,426
2,426
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,349)
(5,318)
(33,185)
22,008
1,251
2,948
(137)
7,285
603,738
(11,922)
64,648
(3,677)
(50,766)
775
775
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(74,194)
(1,280)
(4,478)
12,627
(2,324)
3,130
(111)
Balance at December 31, 2016
25,593
256
103,392
Net income
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling
interest
Purchase of noncontrolling interest
Exercise of stock options and issuance of share-based
awards, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
Stock-based compensation
Issuance of convertible senior notes
Settlement and repurchase of convertible senior notes
Convertible note hedge transactions
Reclassification of redeemable equity component of
convertible senior notes
Reclassification of certain income tax effects of items
within accumulated other comprehensive income to
retained earnings
Other
—
—
—
—
208
—
—
622
(622)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
—
—
6
(6)
—
—
—
560,567
83,228
—
(104,911)
(7,539)
551,765
—
27,555
655
(707)
83,883
26,848
—
—
(81,074)
(27,222)
806
(2,117)
10,399
12,341
(7,881)
3,525
2,995
—
260
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(259)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— (108,296)
(2,338)
(1,532)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,115)
10,399
12,341
(7,875)
3,519
2,995
(259)
260
Balance at December 31, 2017
25,801
$ 258
$
42,646
$
616,314
$
(77,356) $
(9,929) $ 571,933
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-5
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)
Operating activities:
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Other non-cash expense, net
Stock-based compensation expense
Deferred income taxes
(Reversal of) provision for allowances on receivable portfolios, net
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Deferred court costs and other assets
Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued
operations
Net cash provided by operating activities
Investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from divestiture of business, net of cash divested
Purchases of assets held for sale
Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs
Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net
Purchases of property and equipment
Other, net
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued
operations
Net cash used in investing activities
Financing activities:
Payment of loan costs
Proceeds from credit facilities
Repayment of credit facilities
Proceeds from senior secured notes
Repayment of senior secured notes
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes
Repayment of convertible senior notes
Repayment of securitized notes
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from other debt
Payment for the purchase of noncontrolling interest
Other, net
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
Cash paid for income taxes, net
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Conversion of convertible senior notes
Fixed assets acquired through capital lease
$
$
$
2017
Year Ended December 31,
2016
2015
$
78,978
$
16,817
$
47,384
199
39,977
35,676
10,399
28,970
(41,236)
(4,101)
(26,699)
1,655
123,818
—
123,818
(96,390)
—
—
(1,045,829)
709,420
(28,126)
8,794
(452,131)
—
(452,131)
(28,972)
1,434,480
(1,168,069)
325,000
(204,241)
150,000
(125,407)
—
—
33,197
(29,731)
(8,040)
378,217
49,904
12,470
149,765
212,139
—
212,139
162,545
44,365
28,277
3,577
$
$
$
2,353
34,868
22,807
12,627
(52,905)
84,177
(20,364)
25,417
2,439
128,236
2,096
130,332
(675)
106,041
(19,874)
(907,413)
659,321
(31,668)
10,794
(183,474)
14,685
(168,789)
(32,338)
586,016
(615,857)
442,610
(352,549)
—
—
(935)
—
36,172
(4,842)
(15,024)
43,253
4,796
(8,624)
153,593
149,765
—
149,765
147,899
60,071
$
$
— $
55
23,387
33,160
35,104
22,008
(16,665)
(6,763)
(33,430)
(29,504)
43,135
117,816
(1,667)
116,149
(276,575)
—
—
(749,760)
635,899
(28,624)
(1,233)
(420,293)
(52,416)
(472,709)
(17,995)
1,084,393
(898,086)
332,693
(15,000)
—
—
(44,251)
(33,185)
—
—
(8,448)
400,121
43,561
(14,131)
124,163
153,593
29,600
123,993
151,946
84,101
—
2,220
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-6
Table of Contents
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1: Ownership, Description of Business, and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Encore”), through its subsidiaries (collectively with Encore, the “Company”), is an
international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across a
broad range of financial assets. The Company purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face
value and manages them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery.
Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions,
consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include
receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings.
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America (“GAAP”), and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in
which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The Company also consolidates VIEs, for which it is the primary
beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the
entity’s economic performance and (b) either the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits. Refer to Note 10,
“Variable Interest Entities” for further details. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Translation of Foreign Currencies
The financial statements of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using their local currency as the
functional currency. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates,
and revenues and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates in effect during each period. The
resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. Equity accounts are
translated at historical rates, except for the change in retained earnings during the year which is the result of the income
statement translation process. Intercompany transaction gains or losses at each period end arising from subsequent
measurement of balances for which settlement is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future are included as translation
adjustments and recorded within other comprehensive income or loss. Translation gains or losses are the material components
of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Transaction gains and losses are included in other income or expense.
Reclassifications
Certain immaterial reclassifications have been made to the consolidated financial statements to conform to the current
year’s presentation.
Change in Accounting Principle
In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2018-02”). ASU 2018-02 is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and
interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted either (1) in the
period of adoption or (2) retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the federal income tax rate in the
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Company early adopted this guidance for the year ending December 31, 2017. The
Company elected to reclassify the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive
income to retained earnings in the period of adoption using the security by security approach. The adoption of ASU 2018-02
resulted in a reclassification of $0.3 million due to tax rate changes for certain hedge instruments from accumulated other
comprehensive income to accumulated earnings.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to
Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for
share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or
liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption
of this standard, excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies will be recognized as income tax expense, and the tax effects of
exercised or vested awards will be treated as discrete items in the period in which they occur. As such, implementation of this
standard could create volatility in an entity’s effective income tax rate on a quarter by quarter basis. The volatility in the
effective income tax rate is due primarily to fluctuations in the stock price and the timing of stock option exercises and vesting
of restricted share grants. The standard also requires excess tax benefits to be presented as an operating activity on the
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statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity. An entity may elect to apply the change in presentation in the
statement of cash flows either prospectively or retrospectively to all periods presented. Further, the amendments allow an entity
to make an accounting policy election to either estimate forfeitures or recognize forfeitures as they occur. If an election is
made, the change to recognize forfeitures as they occur must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach with a
cumulative effect adjustment recorded to opening retained earnings.
ASU 2016-09 became effective for the Company on January 1, 2017. The Company applied the change in presentation to
the statement of cash flows retrospectively for all periods presented after adoption date. The Company believes that the new
standard may cause volatility in its effective tax rates and earnings per share due to the tax effects related to share-based
payments being recorded to the income statement. The volatility in future periods will depend on the Company’s stock price at
the awards’ vest dates and the number of awards that vest in each period. The Company will not elect an accounting policy
change to record forfeitures as they occur and will continue to estimate forfeitures at each period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Other than the adoption of ASU 2016-09 as discussed in the “Change in Accounting Principle” section above, there have
been no new accounting pronouncements made effective during year ended December 31, 2017 that have significance, or
potential significance, to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities—
Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) (“ASU 2017-12”) which amends the hedge accounting recognition and presentation
requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815. ASU 2017-12 improves Topic 815 Derivatives and Hedging
by simplifying and expanding the eligible hedging strategies for financial and nonfinancial risks by more closely aligning
hedge accounting with a company’s risk management activities, and also simplifies its application through targeted
improvements in key practice areas. This includes expanding the list of items eligible to be hedged and amending the methods
used to measure the effectiveness of hedging relationships. In addition, the ASU prescribes how hedging results should be
presented and requires incremental disclosures. These changes are intended to allow preparers more flexibility and to enhance
the transparency of how hedging results are presented and disclosed. Further, the new standard provides partial relief on the
timing of certain aspects of hedge documentation and eliminates the requirement to recognize hedge ineffectiveness separately
in earnings in the current period. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company is evaluating the
impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements as well as whether to adopt the new guidance early.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2017-09”).
ASU 2017-09 provides clarity in order to reduce both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the
guidance in Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment
award. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the
classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The guidance is
effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early
adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU
2017-09 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350). The amendments in this
update simplify the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the impairment test, which required the entity to
perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities following the procedure
that would be required in determining fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The
amendments in this update are effective for public companies for annual or any interim goodwill impairments tests in fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests
performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company did not early adopt this guidance for its annual goodwill
impairment testing on October 1, 2017.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805); Clarifying the Definition of a
Business. The amendments in this update clarify the definition of a business to help companies evaluate whether transactions
should be accounted for as acquisitions or disposals of assets or businesses. The amendments in this update are effective for
public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. The
Company is evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash
Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”). The FASB issued ASU 2016-15 to decrease the diversity in practice in how
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certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this
update provide guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. ASU 2016-15 is effective for reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The
guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company will adopt the guidance of ASU 2016-15
in the first quarter of 2018.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 applies a current expected credit loss model which is a
new impairment model based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under this model, an entity would recognize an
impairment allowance equal to its current estimate of all contractual cash flows that the entity does not expect to collect from
financial assets measured at amortized cost. The estimate of expected credit losses should consider historical information,
current information, as well as reasonable and supportable forecasts, including estimates of prepayments. The expected credit
losses, and subsequent adjustments to such losses, will be recorded through an allowance account that is deducted from the
amortized cost basis of the financial asset, with the net carrying value of the financial asset presented on the consolidated
balance sheet at the amount expected to be collected. ASU 2016-13 eliminates the current accounting model for loans and debt
securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality under ASC 310-30, which provides authoritative guidance for the accounting
of the Company’s investment in receivable portfolios. Under this new standard, entities will gross up the initial amortized cost
for the purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (“PCD assets”), the initial amortized cost will be the sum of (1) the
purchase price and (2) the estimate of credit losses as of the date of acquisition. After initial recognition of PCD assets and the
related allowance, any change in estimated cash flows (favorable or unfavorable) will be immediately recognized in the income
statement because the yield on PCD assets would be locked. ASU 2016-13 is effective for reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The guidance will
be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of
the period in which ASU 2016-13 is adopted. However, the FASB has determined that financial assets for which the guidance
in Subtopic 310-30, Receivables-Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, has previously been
applied should prospectively apply the guidance in ASU 2016-13 for PCD assets. A prospective transition approach should be
used for PCD assets where upon adoption, the amortized cost basis should be adjusted to reflect the addition of the allowance
for credit losses. This transition relief will avoid the need for a reporting entity to reassess its purchased financial assets that
exist as of the date of adoption to determine whether they would have met at acquisition the new criteria of more-than
insignificant credit deterioration since origination. The transition relief also will allow an entity to accrete the remaining
noncredit discount (based on the revised amortized cost basis) into interest income at the effective interest rate at the adoption
date of ASU 2016-13. The same transition requirements should be applied to beneficial interests that previously applied
Subtopic 310-30 or have a significant difference between contractual cash flows and expected cash flows. The Company is in
the process of determining the effects the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements as well as whether to
adopt the new guidance early.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 changes
accounting for leases and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from all leases, including those
classified as operating leases under previous accounting guidance, on the balance sheet and requires disclosure of key
information about leasing arrangements to increase transparency and comparability among organizations. The new guidance
must be adopted using the modified retrospective approach and will be effective for the Company starting in the first quarter of
fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of determining the effects the adoption will have
on its consolidated financial statements as well as whether to adopt the new guidance early.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”).
The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to establish a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising
from contracts with customers and will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-
specific guidance. The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or
services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for
those goods or services. In applying ASU 2014-09, companies will perform a five-step analysis of transactions to determine
when and how revenue is recognized. ASU 2014-09 applies to all contracts with customers except those that are within the
scope of other topics in the FASB’s ASC. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim periods
within that reporting period) beginning after December 15, 2016 and shall be applied using either a full retrospective or
modified retrospective approach. Early application is not permitted. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers
the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all public companies for all annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early
adoption permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016, including interim periods within the
reporting period. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08 as an amendment to ASU 2014-09, which clarifies how to
identify the unit of accounting for the principal versus agent evaluation, how to apply the control principle to certain types of
arrangements, such as service transactions, and reframed the indicators in the guidance to focus on evidence that an entity is
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acting as a principal rather than as an agent. The Company’s investment in receivable portfolios is outside of the scope of Topic
606 since it is accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30. The Company will adopt the new standard effective January 1,
2018, using the modified retrospective approach. As the majority of the Company’s revenues are not subject to the new
guidance, the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
With the exception of the updated standards discussed above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements not yet
effective that have significance, or potential significance, to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with GAAP, requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could materially differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of
purchase. The Company invests its excess cash in bank deposits and money market instruments, which are afforded the highest
ratings by nationally recognized rating firms. The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated statements of financial
condition for cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair value.
Included in cash and cash equivalents are cash collected on behalf of and due to third party clients. A corresponding
balance is included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The balance of cash held for clients was $21.0 million and $15.1
million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Investment in Receivable Portfolios
In accordance with the authoritative guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality,
discrete receivable portfolio purchases during the same fiscal quarter are aggregated into pools based on common risk
characteristics. Common risk characteristics include risk ratings (e.g. FICO or similar scores), financial asset type, collateral
type, size, interest rate, date of origination, term, and geographic location. The Company’s static pools are typically grouped
into credit card, purchased consumer bankruptcy, and mortgage portfolios. The Company further groups these static pools by
geographic region or location. Portfolios acquired in business combinations are also grouped into these pools. During any fiscal
quarter in which the Company has an acquisition of an entity that has portfolio, the entire historical portfolio of the acquired
company is aggregated into the pool groups for that quarter, based on common characteristics, resulting in pools for that quarter
that may consist of several different vintages of portfolio. Once a static pool is established, the portfolios are permanently
assigned to the pool. The discount (i.e., the difference between the cost of each static pool and the related aggregate contractual
receivable balance) is not recorded because the Company expects to collect a relatively small percentage of each static pool’s
contractual receivable balance. As a result, receivable portfolios are recorded at cost at the time of acquisition. The purchase
cost of the portfolios includes certain fees paid to third parties incurred in connection with the direct acquisition of the
receivable portfolios.
In compliance with the authoritative guidance, the Company accounts for its investments in receivable portfolios using
either the interest method or the cost recovery method. The interest method applies an internal rate of return (“IRR”) to the cost
basis of the pool, which remains unchanged throughout the life of the pool, unless there is an increase in subsequent expected
cash flows. Subsequent increases in expected cash flows are recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the
pool’s IRR over its remaining life. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows do not change the IRR, but are recognized as
an allowance to the cost basis of the pool, and are reflected in the consolidated statements of income as a reduction in revenue,
with a corresponding valuation allowance, offsetting the investment in receivable portfolios in the consolidated statements of
financial condition. With gross collections being discounted at monthly IRRs, when collections are lower in the near term, even
if substantially higher collections are expected later in the collection curve, an allowance charge could result.
The Company accounts for each static pool as a unit for the economic life of the pool (similar to one loan) for recognition
of revenue from receivable portfolios, for collections applied to the cost basis of receivable portfolios and for provision for loss
or allowance. Revenue from receivable portfolios is accrued based on each pool’s IRR applied to each pool’s adjusted cost
basis. The cost basis of each pool is increased by revenue earned and portfolio allowance reversals and decreased by gross
collections and portfolio allowances.
If the amount and timing of future cash collections on a pool of receivables are not reasonably estimable, the Company
accounts for such portfolios on the cost recovery method Cost Recovery Portfolios. The accounts in these portfolios have
different risk characteristics than those included in other portfolios acquired during the same quarter, or the necessary
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information was not available to estimate future cash flows and, accordingly, they were not aggregated with other portfolios.
Under the cost recovery method of accounting, no revenue is recognized until the carrying value of a Cost Recovery Portfolio
has been fully recovered. See Note 5, “Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net” for further discussion of investment in
receivable portfolios.
Fee-based Income
Certain of the Company’s international subsidiaries earn fee-based income by providing portfolio management services to
credit originators for non-performing loans. The Company recognizes fee-based income in accordance with the authoritative
guidance for revenue recognition, specifically principal agent considerations. The revenue recognition guidance requires an
analysis to be completed to determine if certain revenues should be reported gross or reported net of their related operating
expense. This analysis includes an assessment of who retains credit risk, controls vendor selection, establishes pricing and
remains the primary obligor on the transaction. The Company considers each of these factors to determine the correct method
of recognizing fee-based income. Fee-based income is included in “Other Revenues” in the Company’s consolidated statements
of operations.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the value assigned to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets,
liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interest of businesses acquired. Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill are
amortized over their useful lives unless the lives are determined to be indefinite. In accordance with authoritative guidance on
goodwill and other intangible assets, goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested at the reporting unit level
annually for impairment and in interim periods if certain events occur indicating the fair value of a reporting unit may be below
its carrying value. See Note 15, “Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets” for further discussion of the Company’s goodwill
and other intangible assets.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The provision for
depreciation and amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as
follows:
Fixed Asset Category
Leasehold improvements
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Computer hardware and software
Estimated Useful Life
Lesser of lease term, including periods covered
by renewal options, or useful life
5 to 10 years
3 to 5 years
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense in the year incurred. Expenditures for major renewals that extend the
useful lives of fixed assets are capitalized and depreciated over the useful lives of such assets.
Deferred Court Costs
The Company pursues legal collections using a network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters and through its
internal legal channel. The Company generally pursues collections through legal means only when it believes a consumer has
sufficient assets to repay their indebtedness but has, to date, been unwilling to pay. In order to pursue legal collections the
Company is required to pay certain upfront costs to the applicable courts that are recoverable from the consumer (“Deferred
Court Costs”). The Company capitalizes Deferred Court Costs in its consolidated financial statements and provides a reserve
for those costs that it believes will ultimately be uncollectible. The Company determines the reserve based on an estimated
court cost recovery rate established based on its analysis of historical court costs recovery data. The Company estimates
deferral periods for Deferred Court Costs based on jurisdiction and nature of litigation and writes off any Deferred Court Costs
not recovered within the respective deferral period. Collections received from debtors are first applied against related court
costs with the balance applied to the debtors’ account balance. See Note 6, “Deferred Court Costs, Net” for further discussion.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with the authoritative guidance for
Income Taxes. When the Company prepares its consolidated financial statements, it estimates income taxes based on the
various jurisdictions and countries where it conducts business. This requires the Company to estimate current tax exposure and
to assess temporary differences that result from differing treatments of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. Deferred
income taxes are recognized based on the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company then
F-11
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assesses the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be realized. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce
deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. When the Company establishes a valuation allowance or increases
this allowance in an accounting period, it records a corresponding tax expense in the consolidated statement of income. The
Company includes interest and penalties related to income taxes within its provision for income taxes. See Note 12, “Income
Taxes” for further discussion.
Management must make significant judgments to determine the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and
liabilities, and any valuation allowance to be recorded against deferred tax assets.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company determines stock-based compensation expense for all share-based payment awards based on the
measurement date fair value. The Company has certain share awards that include market conditions that affect vesting, the fair
value of these shares is estimated using a lattice model. Compensation cost is not adjusted if the market condition is not met, as
long as the requisite service is provided. For share awards that require service and performance conditions, the Company
recognizes compensation cost only for those awards expected to meet the service and performance vesting conditions over the
requisite service period of the award. Forfeiture rates are estimated based on the Company’s historical experience. See Note 11,
“Stock-Based Compensation” for further discussion.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
The Company recognizes all derivative financial instruments in its consolidated financial statements at fair value.
Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded in earnings unless hedge accounting criteria are met. The
Company designates certain derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the changes in fair value of
these cash flow hedges is recorded each period, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss until the related
hedged transaction occurs. Any ineffective portion of the changes in fair value of these cash flow hedges is recorded in
earnings. In the event the hedged cash flow does not occur, or it becomes probable that it will not occur, the Company would
reclassify the amount of any gain or loss on the related cash flow hedge to income or expense at that time. See Note 4,
“Derivatives and Hedging Instruments” for further discussion.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Some minority shareholders in certain subsidiaries of the Company have the right, at certain times, to require the
Company to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value, and in some cases, to force a sale of the subsidiary if
the Company chooses not to purchase their interests at fair value. The noncontrolling interest subject to these arrangements is
included in temporary equity as redeemable noncontrolling interest, and is adjusted to its estimated redemption amount each
reporting period. Future reductions in the carrying amount are subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the
redeemable noncontrolling interest at the time it was originally recorded. The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling
interest cannot go below the floor level. Adjustments to the carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged
to retained earnings (or to additional paid-in capital if there are no retained earnings) and do not affect net income or
comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net earnings attributable to Encore by the weighted average number of
shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted
average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period
using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options, restricted stock, and the
dilutive effect of the convertible senior notes.
On April 24, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $50.0 million share repurchase program. In May 2014,
the Company repurchased 400,000 shares of its common stock for approximately $16.8 million. In May 2015, the Company
repurchased 839,295 shares of common stock for approximately $33.2 million, which represented the remaining amount
allowed under this share repurchase program. The Company’s practice is to retire the shares repurchased.
On August 12, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new $50.0 million share repurchase program.
Repurchases under this program are expected to be made with cash on hand and may be made from time to time, subject to
market conditions and other factors, in the open market, through private transactions, block transactions, or other methods as
determined by the Company’s management and Board of Directors, and in accordance with market conditions, other corporate
considerations, and applicable regulatory requirements. The program does not obligate the Company to acquire any particular
amount of common stock, and it may be modified or suspended at any time at the Company’s discretion. As of December 31,
2017, we had not made any repurchases under the share repurchase program.
F-12
Table of Contents
A reconciliation of shares used in calculating earnings per basic and diluted shares follows (in thousands):
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
Dilutive effect of convertible senior notes
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
25,972
255
178
26,405
25,713
196
—
25,909
25,722
253
672
26,647
Anti-dilutive employee stock options outstanding were approximately 107,000, 3,000 and zero for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company has the following convertible senior notes outstanding: $172.5 million convertible senior notes due 2020 at
a conversion price equivalent to approximately $45.72 per share of the Company’s common stock (the “2020 Convertible
Notes”), $161.0 million convertible senior notes due 2021 at a conversion price equivalent to approximately $59.39 per share
of the Company’s common stock (the “2021 Convertible Notes”) and $150.0 million convertible senior notes due 2022 at a
conversion price equivalent to approximately $45.57 per share of the Company’s common stock (the “2022 Convertible
Notes”). Prior to November 2017, the company had $115.0 million convertible senior notes due 2017 at a conversion price
equivalent to approximately $31.56 per share of the Company’s common stock (the “2017 Convertible Notes”).
In the event of conversion, the 2017 Convertible Notes were convertible into cash up to the aggregate principal amount
and permit the excess conversion premium to be settled in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock. For the 2020
Convertible Notes,2021 Convertible Notes and 2022 Convertible Notes, the Company has the option to pay cash, issue shares
of common stock or any combination thereof for the aggregate amount due upon conversion. The Company’s intent is to settle
the principal amount of the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Convertible Notes in cash upon conversion. As a result, upon conversion of
all the convertible senior notes, only the amounts payable in excess of the principal amounts are considered in diluted earnings
per share under the treasury stock method. Diluted earnings per share during the periods presented above included the effect of
the common shares issuable upon conversion of certain of the convertible senior notes because the average stock price
exceeded the conversion price of these notes. However, as described in Note 9, “Debt-Encore Convertible Notes,” the
Company entered into certain hedge transactions that have the effect of increasing the effective conversion price of the 2017
Convertible Notes to $60.00, the 2020 Convertible Notes to $61.55, and the 2021 Convertible Notes to $83.14. On January 2,
2014 the 2017 Convertible Notes became convertible as certain conditions for conversion were met in the immediately
preceding calendar quarter as defined in the applicable indenture. In November 2017, the 2017 Convertible Notes were
converted.
Note 2: Discontinued Operations
On March 31, 2016, the Company completed its previously announced divestiture of its membership interests in Propel
Acquisition LLC (“Propel”) pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated February 19,
2016, among the Company and certain funds affiliated with Prophet Capital Asset Management LP. Pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, the application of the purchase price formula resulted in cash consideration paid to the Company at closing of
$144.4 million (net proceeds were $106.0 million after divestiture of $38.4 million in cash), subject to customary post-closing
adjustments. The purchase price was finalized in January 2017.
During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recognized a loss of $3.0 million related to the sale of
Propel, this loss was reduced to $2.0 million based on the adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first
quarter of 2017. Propel represented the Company’s entire tax lien business reportable segment. Propel’s operations are
presented as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Certain immaterial costs that
may be eliminated as a result of the sale remained in continuing operations.
F-13
Table of Contents
The following table presents the results of the discontinued operations during the periods presented (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
Revenue
Salaries and employee benefits
Other operating expenses
General and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment charge for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets
Loss from discontinued operations, before income taxes
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, before income taxes
Total loss on discontinued operations, before income taxes
Income tax benefit
Total loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
$
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
(322)
(322)
123
(199) $
$
4,950
(3,074)
(1,366)
(1,551)
(127)
—
(1,168)
(1,679)
(2,847)
494
31,605
(8,053)
(4,972)
(5,470)
(785)
(49,277)
(36,952)
—
(36,952)
13,565
(2,353) $ (23,387)
Note 3: Fair Value Measurements
The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of
an asset or the price paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date
(i.e., the “exit price”). The guidance utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques to
measure fair value into three broad levels. The following is a brief description of each level:
• Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
• Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These
include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or
liabilities in markets that are not active.
• Level 3: Unobservable inputs, including inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
Financial Instruments Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2017
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Assets
Foreign currency exchange contracts
$
— $
1,912
$
3,922
(1,110)
(7)
—
— $
—
1,912
3,922
—
—
(10,612)
(1,110)
(7)
(10,612)
—
(151,978)
(151,978)
Interest rate cap contracts
Liabilities
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Interest rate swap agreements
Contingent consideration
Temporary Equity
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
—
—
—
—
—
F-14
Table of Contents
Assets
Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2016
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
Foreign currency exchange contracts
$
— $
1,122
$
— $
1,122
Liabilities
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Interest rate swap agreements
Contingent consideration
Temporary Equity
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Derivative Contracts:
—
—
—
—
(1,360)
(131)
—
—
—
(2,531)
(1,360)
(131)
(2,531)
—
(45,755)
(45,755)
The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency
exchange rates. Fair values of these derivative instruments are estimated using industry standard valuation models. These
models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs,
including interest rate curves, foreign currency exchange rates, and forward and spot prices for currencies.
Contingent consideration:
The Company carries certain contingent liabilities resulting from its mergers and acquisition activities. Certain sellers of
the Company’s acquired entities could earn additional earn-out payments in cash based on the entities’ subsequent operating
performance. The Company recorded the acquisition date fair values of these contingent liabilities, based on the likelihood of
contingent earn-out payments, as part of the consideration transferred. The earn-out payments are subsequently remeasured to
fair value at each reporting date. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded additional contingent
consideration of approximately $10.8 million resulting from Cabot’s acquisitions of debt solution service providers in the
United Kingdom. The Company reviewed the earn-out analysis during the year ended December 31, 2017 and determined that,
based on actual and forecasted operating performance, there would be reduced future earn-out payments to two sellers but an
increase in future earn-out payment to another seller. The earn-out analysis resulted in a net reversal to the contingent
considerations of approximately $2.8 million. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company determined that there
would be no future earn-out payment relating to one of its previously acquired debt solution service providers in Europe and
reversed the entire contingent consideration of approximately $8.1 million. The change in fair value of the contingent
considerations was recorded in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the contingent consideration was approximately $10.6 million.
The following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of contingent consideration for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2014
Issuance of contingent consideration in connection with acquisition
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2015
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2016
Issuance of contingent consideration in connection with acquisition
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
Payment of contingent consideration
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2017
F-15
Amount
—
10,587
132
(316)
10,403
(7,602)
(270)
2,531
10,808
(2,465)
(781)
519
10,612
$
$
Table of Contents
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest:
Some minority shareholders in certain subsidiaries of the Company have the right, at certain times, to require the
Company to acquire their ownership interest in those entities at fair value and, in some cases, to force a sale of the subsidiary if
the Company chooses not to purchase their interests at fair value. The noncontrolling interest subject to these arrangements is
included in temporary equity as redeemable noncontrolling interest, and is adjusted to its estimated redemption amount each
reporting period with a corresponding adjustment to additional paid-in capital. Future reductions in the carrying amount are
subject to a “floor” amount that is equal to the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest at the time it was originally
recorded. The recorded value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest cannot go below the floor level. Adjustments to the
carrying amount of redeemable noncontrolling interest are charged to retained earnings (or to additional paid-in capital if there
are no retained earnings) and do not affect net income or comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements.
The components of the change in the redeemable noncontrolling interest for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016
and 2015 are presented in the following table (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2014
Addition to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Adjustment of the redeemable noncontrolling interest to fair value
Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Balance at December 31, 2015
Addition to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Redemption of redeemable noncontrolling interest
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Adjustment of the redeemable noncontrolling interest to fair value
Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Balance at December 31, 2016
Addition to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Adjustment of the redeemable noncontrolling interest to fair value
Effect of foreign currency translation attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
Balance at December 31, 2017
Financial Instruments Not Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
Investment in Receivable Portfolios:
Amount
28,885
9,409
1,371
2,349
(3,390)
38,624
826
(3,562)
(47,831)
74,194
(16,496)
45,755
277
(4,905)
108,296
2,555
151,978
$
$
The Company records its investment in receivable portfolios at cost, which represents a significant discount from the
contractual receivable balances due. The Company computes the fair value of its investment in receivable portfolios using
Level 3 inputs by discounting the estimated future cash flows generated by its proprietary forecasting models. The key inputs
include the estimated future gross cash flow, average cost to collect, and discount rate. In accordance with authoritative
guidance related to fair value measurements, the Company estimates the average cost to collect and discount rates based on its
estimate of what a market participant might use in valuing these portfolios. The determination of such inputs requires
significant judgment, including assessing the assumed market participant’s cost structure, its determination of whether to
include fixed costs in its valuation, its collection strategies, and determining the appropriate weighted average cost of capital.
The Company evaluates the use of these key inputs on an ongoing basis and refines the data as it continues to obtain better
information from market participants in the debt recovery and purchasing business.
In the Company’s current analysis, the fair value of investment in receivable portfolios was approximately $3,415.3
million and $2,446.6 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, as compared to the carrying value of $2,890.6
million and $2,382.8 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. A 100 basis point fluctuation in the cost to
collect and discount rate used would result in an increase or decrease in the fair value of U.S., European and other geographies
portfolios by approximately $44.9 million, $64.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2017. This fair
value calculation does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company or the
amount which could be realized if its investment in receivable portfolios were sold.
F-16
Table of Contents
Deferred Court Costs:
The Company capitalizes deferred court costs and provides a reserve for those costs that it believes will ultimately be
uncollectible. The carrying value of net deferred court costs approximates fair value.
Debt:
The majority of Encore and its subsidiaries’ borrowings are carried at historical amounts, adjusted for additional
borrowings less principal repayments, which approximate fair value. These borrowings include Encore’s senior secured notes
and borrowings under its revolving credit and term loan facilities, Cabot’s senior secured notes and borrowings under its
revolving credit facility, and other borrowing under revolving credit facilities at certain of the Company’s other subsidiaries.
Encore’s convertible senior notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for the debt discount. The carrying value of the
convertible senior notes was $450.8 million and $416.5 million, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The fair value
estimate for these convertible senior notes, which incorporates quoted market prices using Level 2 inputs, was approximately
$520.9 million and $431.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Cabot’s senior secured notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for debt discount and debt premium. The carrying
value of Cabot’s senior secured notes was $1,214.6 million and $1,295.7 million, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively. The fair value estimate for these senior notes, which incorporates quoted market prices using Level 2 inputs, was
$1,258.9 million and $1,312.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
The Company’s preferred equity certificates are legal obligations to the noncontrolling shareholders of certain
subsidiaries. They are carried at the face amount, plus any accrued interest. The Company determined that the carrying value of
these preferred equity certificates approximated fair value as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Note 4: Derivatives and Hedging Instruments
The Company may periodically enter into derivative financial instruments to manage risks related to interest rates and
foreign currency. Certain of the Company’s derivative financial instruments qualify for hedge accounting treatment under the
authoritative guidance for derivatives and hedging.
The following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments as recorded in the Company’s consolidated
statements of financial condition (in thousands):
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Interest rate swap agreements
Derivatives not designated as hedging
instruments:
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest rate cap contracts
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2016
Balance Sheet
Location
Fair Value
Balance Sheet
Location
Fair Value
Other assets
$
1,912
Other assets
$
Other liabilities
Other liabilities
— Other liabilities
(7) Other liabilities
Other assets
Other liabilities
Other liabilities
Other assets
—
Other assets
(1,110) Other liabilities
— Other liabilities
3,922
Other assets
707
(51)
(27)
415
(1,309)
(104)
—
The Company has operations in foreign countries, which expose the Company to foreign currency exchange rate
fluctuations due to transactions denominated in foreign currencies. To mitigate a portion of this risk, the Company enters into
derivative financial instruments, principally foreign currency forward contracts with financial counterparties. The Company
adjusts the level and use of derivatives as soon as practicable after learning that an exposure has changed and reviews all
exposures and derivative positions on an ongoing basis.
Certain of the foreign currency forward contracts are designated as cash flow hedging instruments and qualify for hedge
accounting treatment. Gains and losses arising from the effective portion of such contracts are recorded as a component of
F-17
Table of Contents
accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as gains and losses on derivative instruments, net of income taxes. The
hedging gains and losses in OCI are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same period in which the underlying
transactions affect the Company’s earnings. If all or a portion of the forecasted transaction is cancelled, this would render all or
a portion of the cash flow hedge ineffective and the Company would reclassify the ineffective portion of the hedge into
earnings. The Company generally does not experience ineffectiveness of the hedge relationship and the accompanying
consolidated financial statements do not include any such gains or losses.
As of December 31, 2017, the total notional amount of the forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedging
instruments was $12.6 million. All of these outstanding contracts qualified for hedge accounting treatment. The Company
estimates that approximately $1.9 million of net derivative gain included in OCI will be reclassified into earnings within the
next 12 months. No gains or losses were reclassified from OCI into earnings as a result of forecasted transactions that failed to
occur during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, or 2015.
The Company may periodically enter into interest rate swap agreements, to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest
rates on variable interest rate debt and their impact on earnings and cash flows. As of December 31, 2017, there were two
interest rate swap agreements outstanding with a total notional amount of $30.0 million Australian dollars (approximately $23.4
million U.S. dollars). The interest rate swap instrument is designated as cash flow hedge and accounted for using hedge
accounting.
The following table summarizes the effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships designated as hedging
instruments on the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 (in
thousands):
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in OCI-
Effective Portion
2017
2016
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
OCI into
Income - Effective
Portion
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from OCI into
Income - Effective
Portion
2017
2016
Location of
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective
Portion and
Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing
Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized -
Ineffective
Portion and
Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing
2017
2016
$ 2,302
$ 1,404
310
(5)
Salaries and
employee
benefits
General and
administrative
expenses
Foreign
currency
exchange
contracts
Foreign
currency
exchange
contracts
Interest rate
swap
agreements
9
(131)
Interest expense
110
Other (expense)
income
—
76
Other (expense)
income
105
—
—
—
—
$ 1,280
$
755
Other (expense)
income
$
— $
—
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
In 2016, Encore and its Cabot subsidiary collectively began entering into currency exchange forward contracts to reduce
the effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations between the British Pound and Euro. These derivative contracts generally
mature within one to three months and are not designated as hedge instruments for accounting purposes. The Company
continues to monitor the level of exposure of the foreign currency exchange risk and may enter into additional short-term
forward contracts on an ongoing basis. The gains or losses on these derivative contracts are recognized in other income or
expense based on the changes in fair value. The Company’s Cabot subsidiary also holds two interest rate cap contracts with an
aggregate notional amount of £300.0 million (approximately $405.3 million) that are used to manage its risk related to interest
rate fluctuations. The Company does not apply hedge accounting on the interest rate cap contracts.
F-18
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships not designated as hedging
instruments on the Company’s consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 (in
thousands):
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
Instruments
Location of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in
income on Derivative
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income
on Derivative
2017
2016
2015
Foreign currency exchange contracts
Other income (expense)
$
1,755
$
8,248
$
Interest rate cap contracts
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest expense
Interest expense
2,026
110
—
144
—
—
92
Note 5: Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net
The Company utilizes its proprietary forecasting models to continuously evaluate the economic life of each pool. During
the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Company revised the forecasting methodology it uses to value and calculate IRRs on
certain portfolios in Europe by extending the collection forecast from 120 months to 180 months. The increase in the collection
forecast was applied effective July 1, 2016 to certain portfolios in Europe for which the Company could accurately forecast
through such term. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded allowance charges
of approximately $94.0 million resulting from delays or shortfalls in near term collections against the forecasts for certain pools
in Europe. For portfolios in Europe that were not extended to 180 months, the Company will continue to include collection
forecasts to 120 months in calculating accretion revenue and in its estimated remaining collection disclosures. In the United
States, the Company will continue to include collection forecasts to 120 months in calculating accretion revenue. Expected
collections beyond the 120 month collection forecast in the United States are included in its estimated remaining collection
disclosures but are not included in the calculation of accretion revenue. Subsequent to the recording of the allowance charges
for certain pools in Europe, the Company has experienced sustained improvements in collections resulting primarily from its
liquidation improvement initiatives. As a result, during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company reversed
approximately $45.7 million of the previously recorded allowance charges for certain pool groups in Europe and raised IRRs
for certain other pool groups in Europe.
Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an allowance charge of $11.4 million on
pool groups in the United States, primarily due to two pool groups that were heavily concentrated in Puerto Rico for which
collections have been impacted as a result of hurricanes.
Accretable yield represents the amount of revenue the Company expects to generate over the remaining life of its existing
investment in receivable portfolios based on estimated future cash flows. Total accretable yield is the difference between future
estimated collections and the current carrying value of a portfolio. All estimated cash flows on portfolios where the cost basis
has been fully recovered are classified as zero basis cash flows.
F-19
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the Company’s accretable yield and an estimate of zero basis future cash flows at the
beginning and end of the period presented (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2015
Revenue recognized, net
Net additions on existing portfolios
Additions for current purchases, net
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2016
Revenue recognized, net
Net additions on existing portfolios
Additions for current purchases, net
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2017
Accretable
Yield
Estimate of
Zero Basis
Cash Flows
$
3,047,640
(801,736)
441,632
861,698
(457,230)
3,092,004
(943,533)
365,357
1,019,856
161,385
$
$
223,031
(144,879)
287,116
—
236
365,504
(151,076)
155,160
—
44
Total
3,270,671
(946,615)
728,748
861,698
(456,994)
3,457,508
(1,094,609)
520,517
1,019,856
161,429
$
3,695,069
$
369,632
$
4,064,701
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $10.1
billion for $1.1 billion, or a purchase cost of 10.5% of face value. The estimated future collections at acquisition for all
portfolios purchased during the year amounted to $2.2 billion.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company purchased receivable portfolios with a face value of $9.8 billion
for $0.9 billion, or a purchase cost of 9.2% of face value. The estimated future collections at acquisition for all portfolios
purchased during the year amounted to $1.7 billion.
All collections realized after the net book value of a portfolio has been fully recovered (“Zero Basis Portfolios”) are
recorded as revenue (“Zero Basis Revenue”). During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, Zero Basis Revenue
was approximately $144.1 million, $138.1 million, and $96.4 million, respectively.
The following tables summarize the changes in the balance of the investment in receivable portfolios during the following
periods (in thousands, except percentages):
Balance, beginning of period
$
2,368,366
$
14,443
$
— $
2,382,809
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Accrual Basis
Portfolios
Cost Recovery
Portfolios
Zero Basis
Portfolios
Total
Purchases of receivable portfolios
Disposals or transfers to held for sale
Gross collections(1)
Put-backs and Recalls(2)
Foreign currency adjustments
Revenue recognized
Portfolio allowance reversals, net
Balance, end of period
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)
________________________
1,057,066
(12,695)
(1,613,351)
(2,577)
138,828
909,239
34,294
1,169
(493)
(3,511)
—
(165)
—
—
—
—
(150,782)
(294)
—
144,134
6,942
1,058,235
(13,188)
(1,767,644)
(2,871)
138,663
1,053,373
41,236
$
2,879,170
$
11,443
$
— $
2,890,613
56.4%
0.0%
95.6%
59.6%
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Put-backs represent accounts that are returned to the seller in accordance with the respective purchase agreement (“Put-Backs”). Recalls represent
accounts that are recalled by the seller in accordance with the respective purchase agreement (“Recalls”).
(3) Revenue as a percentage of collections excludes the effects of net portfolio allowances or net portfolio allowance reversals.
F-20
Table of Contents
Balance, beginning of period
Purchases of receivable portfolios
Transfer of portfolios
Gross collections(1)
Put-backs and Recalls(2)
Foreign currency adjustments
Revenue recognized
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net
Balance, end of period
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)
Year Ended December 31, 2016
Accrual Basis
Portfolios
Cost Recovery
Portfolios
Zero Basis
Portfolios
Total
$
2,436,054
$
4,615
$
— $
2,440,669
906,719
(13,076)
(1,538,663)
(27,561)
(196,842)
892,732
(90,997)
2,368,366
$
—
13,076
(2,102)
(1,019)
(127)
—
—
$
14,443
$
58.0%
0.0%
—
—
(144,839)
(33)
(8)
138,060
6,820
— $
95.3%
906,719
—
(1,685,604)
(28,613)
(196,977)
1,030,792
(84,177)
2,382,809
61.2%
Year Ended December 31, 2015
Accrual Basis
Portfolios
Cost Recovery
Portfolios
Zero Basis
Portfolios
Total
Balance, beginning of period
$
2,131,084
$
12,476
$
— $
2,143,560
Purchases of receivable portfolios
Gross collections(1)
Put-backs and Recalls(2)
Foreign currency adjustments
Revenue recognized
Portfolio (allowance) reversals, net
Balance, end of period
Revenue as a percentage of collections(3)
________________________
1,023,722
(1,587,525)
(13,009)
(82,443)
969,227
(5,002)
2,436,054
$
—
(5,237)
(20)
(2,604)
—
—
—
(107,963)
(268)
20
96,446
11,765
1,023,722
(1,700,725)
(13,297)
(85,027)
1,065,673
6,763
$
4,615
$
— $
2,440,669
61.1%
0.0%
89.3%
62.7%
(1) Does not include amounts collected on behalf of others.
(2) Put-backs represent accounts that are returned to the seller in accordance with the respective purchase agreement (“Put-Backs”). Recalls represent
accounts that are recalled by the seller in accordance with the respective purchase agreement (“Recalls”).
(3) Revenue as a percentage of collections excludes the effects of net portfolio allowances or net portfolio allowance reversals.
The following table summarizes the change in the valuation allowance for investment in receivable portfolios during the
periods presented (in thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2014
Provision for portfolio allowances
Reversal of prior allowances
Allowance charged off to investment in receivable portfolios
Balance at December 31, 2015
Provision for portfolio allowances
Reversal of prior allowances
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2016
Provision for portfolio allowances
Reversal of prior allowances
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2017
F-21
Valuation
Allowance
75,673
8,322
(15,085)
(8,322)
60,588
94,011
(9,834)
(7,728)
137,037
12,047
(53,283)
6,775
102,576
$
$
Note 6: Deferred Court Costs, Net
The Company pursues legal collections using a network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters and through its
internal legal channel. The Company generally pursues collections through legal means only when it believes a consumer has
sufficient assets to repay their indebtedness but has, to date, been unwilling to pay. In order to pursue legal collections the
Company is required to pay certain upfront costs to the applicable courts that are recoverable from the consumer (“Deferred
Court Costs”).
The Company capitalizes Deferred Court Costs in its consolidated financial statements and provides a reserve for those
costs that it believes will ultimately be uncollectible. The Company determines the reserve based on an estimated court cost
recovery rate established based on its analysis of historical court costs recovery data. The Company estimates deferral periods
for Deferred Court Costs based on jurisdiction and nature of litigation and writes off any Deferred Court Costs not recovered
within the respective deferral period. Collections received from debtors are first applied against related court costs with the
balance applied to the debtors’ account balance.
Deferred Court Costs for the deferral period consist of the following as of the dates presented (in thousands):
Court costs advanced
Court costs recovered
Court costs reserve
Deferred court costs
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
$
743,584
(299,606)
(364,015)
79,963
$
$
654,356
(261,243)
(327,926)
65,187
A roll forward of the Company’s court cost reserve is as follows (in thousands):
Balance at beginning of period
Provision for court costs
Net down of reserve after deferral period
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance at end of period
Note 7: Property and Equipment, Net
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
December 31,
2015
$
$
(327,926) $
(82,702)
50,743
(4,130)
(364,015) $
(318,784) $
(67,850)
53,527
5,181
(327,926) $
(279,572)
(82,593)
42,745
636
(318,784)
Property and equipment consist of the following, as of the dates presented (in thousands):
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Computer equipment and software
Telecommunications equipment
Leasehold improvements
Other
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
17,712
161,019
4,672
21,479
970
205,852
(129,576)
76,276
$
$
19,230
138,232
4,442
17,493
1,923
181,320
(109,063)
72,257
$
$
Depreciation and amortization expense for continuing operations was $31.1 million, $27.7 million, and $28.5 million for
the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
F-22
Note 8: Other Assets
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
Identifiable intangible assets, net
$
75,736
$
Funds held in trust
Prepaid income taxes
Prepaid expenses
Service fee receivables
Other financial receivables
Deferred tax assets
Assets held for sale
Derivative instruments
Security deposits
Other
Total
Note 9: Debt
28,199
27,917
27,606
25,609
18,997
18,773
18,741
5,834
3,451
51,865
$
302,728
$
28,243
—
649
18,036
15,156
18,732
51,077
21,147
1,122
2,781
58,504
215,447
The Company is in compliance with all covenants under its financing arrangements as of December 31, 2017. The
components of the Company’s consolidated debt and capital lease obligations were as follows (in thousands):
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
Encore revolving credit facility
Encore term loan facility
Encore senior secured notes
Encore convertible notes
Less: debt discount
Cabot senior secured notes
Add: debt premium
Less: debt discount
Cabot senior revolving credit facility
Cabot securitisation senior facility
Preferred equity certificates
Other credit facilities
Other
Capital lease obligations
$
328,961
$
181,687
326,029
483,500
(32,720)
1,216,485
—
(1,927)
179,008
391,790
253,324
68,001
92,792
6,069
Less: debt issuance costs, net of amortization
Total
3,492,999
(46,123)
3,446,876
$
$
578,000
164,615
11,320
448,500
(31,968)
1,280,241
17,686
(2,200)
33,218
—
205,975
74,565
62,594
5,091
2,847,637
(41,654)
2,805,983
F-23
Table of Contents
Encore Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility
The Company has a revolving credit facility and term loan facility pursuant to a Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated December 20, 2016 (as amended, the “Restated Credit Agreement”). As of December 31, 2017, the Restated
Credit Agreement includes a revolving credit facility of $794.6 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), a term loan facility of
$187.1 million (the “Term Loan Facility”, and together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit
Facilities”), and an accordion feature that allows the Company to increase the Senior Secured Credit Facilities by an additional
$250.0 million (approximately $125.3 million of which has been exercised). On January 22, 2018, the Company exercised an
additional $10.0 million of the accordion feature, which is an additional term loan maturing in December 2021.
Provisions of the Restated Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2017 include, but are not limited to:
• Revolving Credit Facility commitments of (1) $626.0 million that expire in December 2021 and (2) $168.6 million
that expire in February 2019, in each case with interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s option, either:
(a) reserve adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis
points depending on the cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its restricted subsidiaries; or (b) alternate base rate,
plus a spread that ranges from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its
restricted subsidiaries. “Alternate base rate,” as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement, means the highest of
(i) the per annum rate which the administrative agent publicly announces from time to time as its prime lending rate,
(ii) the federal funds effective rate from time to time, plus 0.5% per annum, (iii) reserved adjusted LIBOR
determined on a daily basis for a one month interest period, plus 1.0% per annum and (iv) zero;
• A $170.1 million term loan maturing in December 2021, with interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s
option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the
cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its restricted subsidiaries; or (2) alternate base rate, plus a spread that ranges
from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its restricted subsidiaries. As
of September 26, 2017, the date of the last update to the Restated Credit Agreement occurring in 2017, principal
amortizes $4.3 million in 2017, $8.6 million in 2018 and $12.9 million in each of 2019 and 2020 with the remaining
principal due in 2021;
• A $17.0 million term loan maturing in February 2019, with interest at a floating rate equal to, at the Company’s
option, either: (1) reserve adjusted LIBOR, plus a spread that ranges from 250 to 300 basis points, depending on the
cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its restricted subsidiaries; or (2) alternate base rate, plus a spread that ranges
from 150 to 200 basis points, depending on the cash flow leverage ratio of Encore and its restricted subsidiaries. As
of September 26, 2017, the date of the last update to the Restated Credit Agreement occurring in 2017, principal
amortizes $1.1 million in 2017 and $2.2 million in 2018 with the remaining principal due in 2019;
• A borrowing base under the Revolving Credit Facility equal to 35% of all eligible non-bankruptcy estimated
remaining collections plus 55% of eligible estimated remaining collections for consumer receivables subject to
bankruptcy;
• A maximum cash flow leverage ratio permitted of 3.00:1.00;
• A maximum cash flow first-lien leverage ratio of 2.00:1.00;
• A minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.75:1.00;
• The allowance of indebtedness in the form of senior secured notes not to exceed $350.0 million;
• The allowance of additional unsecured or subordinated indebtedness not to exceed $1.1 billion, including junior lien
indebtedness not to exceed $400.0 million;
• Restrictions and covenants, which limit the payment of dividends and the incurrence of additional indebtedness and
liens, among other limitations;
• Repurchases of up to $150.0 million of Encore’s common stock after July 9, 2015, subject to compliance with
certain covenants and available borrowing capacity;
• A change of control definition, that excludes acquisitions of stock by Red Mountain Capital Partners LLC, JCF FPK
I, LP and their respective affiliates of up to 50% of the outstanding shares of Encore’s voting stock;
• Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lenders to terminate the facility and declare all amounts
outstanding to be immediately due and payable;
F-24
Table of Contents
• A pre-approved acquisition limit of $225.0 million per fiscal year;
• A basket to allow for investments not to exceed the greater of (1) 200% of the consolidated net worth of Encore and
its restricted subsidiaries; and (2) an unlimited amount such that after giving effect to the making of any investment,
the cash flow leverage ratio is less than 1.25:1:00;
• A basket to allow for investments in persons organized under the laws of Canada in the amount of $50.0 million;
• A requirement that Encore and its restricted subsidiaries, for the four-month period ending February 2019, have
sufficient cash or availability under the Revolving Credit Facility (excluding availability under revolving
commitments expiring in February 2019) to satisfy any amounts due under the revolving commitments that expire
in February 2019 and the sub-tranche of the Term Loan Facility that expires in February 2019;
• Collateralization by all assets of the Company, other than the assets of certain foreign subsidiaries and all
unrestricted subsidiaries as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement.
At December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Revolving Credit Facility was $329.0 million, which bore a
weighted average interest rate of 4.03% and 3.56% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Available
capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility, subject to borrowing base and applicable debt covenants, was $212.7 million as of
December 31, 2017, not including the $124.7 million additional capacity provided by the facility’s remaining accordion feature.
At December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance under the Term Loan Facility was $181.7 million.
Encore Senior Secured Notes
In 2010 and 2011 Encore entered into an aggregate of $75.0 million in senior secured notes with certain affiliates of
Prudential Capital Group. $25.0 million of these senior secured notes bear an annual interest rate of 7.375% (the “7.375%
Senior Secured Notes”) and mature in 2018. The remaining $50.0 million of the senior secured notes matured in 2017. As of
December 31, 2017, $1.0 million of the 7.375% Senior Secured Notes remained outstanding.
In August 2017, Encore entered into an additional $325.0 million in senior secured notes with a group of insurance
companies (the “5.625% Senior Secured Notes,” and together with the 7.375% Senior Secured Notes, the “Senior Secured
Notes”). The 5.625% Senior Secured Notes bear an annual interest rate of 5.625%, mature in 2024 and beginning in November
2019 will require quarterly principal payments of $16.3 million. As of December 31, 2017, $325.0 million of the 5.625%
Senior Secured Notes remained outstanding. As of December 31, 2017, in aggregate, $326.0 million of Senior Secured Notes
remained outstanding.
The Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed in full by certain of Encore’s subsidiaries. The Senior Secured Notes are pari
passu with, and are collateralized by the same collateral as the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The Senior Secured Notes may
be accelerated and become automatically and immediately due and payable upon certain events of default, including certain
events related to insolvency, bankruptcy, or liquidation. Additionally, any series of the Senior Secured Notes may be
accelerated at the election of the holder or holders of a majority in principal amount of such series of Senior Secured Notes
upon certain events of default by Encore, including the breach of affirmative covenants regarding guarantors, collateral,
minimum revolving credit facility commitment or the breach of any negative covenant. Encore may prepay the Senior Secured
Notes at any time for any reason. If Encore prepays the Senior Secured Notes, payment will be at the higher of par or the
present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the portion being prepaid. The discount rate
used to determine the present value is 50 basis points over the then current Treasury Rate corresponding to the remaining
average life of the Senior Secured Notes. The covenants and material terms in the purchase agreement for the Senior Secured
Notes are substantially similar to those in the Restated Credit Agreement. The holders of the Senior Secured Notes and the
administrative agent for the lenders of the Restated Credit Agreement have an intercreditor agreement related to their pro rata
rights to the collateral, actionable default, powers and duties and remedies, among other topics.
Encore Convertible Notes
In November and December 2012, Encore sold $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% 2017 Convertible
Notes that matured in November 2017 in private placement transactions (the “2017 Convertible Notes”). In June and July 2013,
Encore sold $172.5 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% 2020 Convertible Notes that mature on July 1, 2020 in private
placement transactions (the “2020 Convertible Notes”). In March 2014, Encore sold $161.0 million aggregate principal amount
of 2.875% 2021 Convertible Notes that mature on March 15, 2021 in private placement transactions (the “2021 Convertible
Notes”). In March 2017, Encore sold $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.25% 2022 Convertible Senior Notes that
mature on March 15, 2022 in private placement transactions (the “2022 Convertible Notes” and together with the 2020
Convertible Notes and the 2021 Convertible Notes, the “Convertible Notes”). The interest on the Convertible Notes is payable
semi-annually.
F-25
Table of Contents
The net proceeds from the sale of the $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes were
approximately $145.3 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and the estimated offering expenses payable by
the Company.
Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding their respective conversion date (listed below),
holders may convert their Convertible Notes under certain circumstances set forth in the applicable Convertible Notes
indentures. On or after their respective conversion dates until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately
preceding their respective maturity date, holders may convert their Convertible Notes at any time. Certain key terms related to
the convertible features for each of the Convertible Notes as of year ended December 31, 2017 are listed below.
Initial conversion price
Closing stock price at date of issuance
Closing stock price date
2020 Convertible Notes
2021 Convertible Notes
2022 Convertible Notes
$
$
45.72
33.35
$
$
59.39
47.51
$
$
45.57
35.05
June 24, 2013
March 5, 2014
February 27, 2017
Conversion rate (shares per $1,000 principal amount)
21.8718
16.8386
21.9467
Conversion date
January 1, 2020
September 15, 2020
September 15, 2021
The Company’s 2017 Convertible Notes matured on November 27, 2017 and were settled by a cash payment of $65.0
million for the aggregate principal amount of the notes and the issuance of 621,599 shares of the Company’s common stock for
the excess conversion premium. At the same time, the Company received 621,612 shares from the counterparties to the
convertible note hedge transactions associated with the 2017 Convertible Notes, and these shares have been cancelled. The net
effect of the settlement of these transactions was no material change in the number of shares outstanding See “Convertible
Notes Hedge Transactions.”
In the event of conversion, holders of the Company’s 2020 Convertible Notes, 2021 Convertible Notes and 2022
Convertible Notes will receive cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the
Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. The Company’s current intent is to settle conversions through
combination settlement (i.e., convertible into cash up to the aggregate principal amount, and shares of the Company’s common
stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, for the remainder). As a
result, and in accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share, only the
conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the
conversion spread has a dilutive effect when, during any quarter, the average share price of the Company’s common stock
exceeds the initial conversion prices listed in the above table.
Authoritative guidance related to debt with conversion and other options requires that issuers of convertible debt
instruments that, upon conversion, may be settled fully or partially in cash, must separately account for the liability and equity
components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in
subsequent periods. Additionally, debt issuance costs are required to be allocated in proportion to the allocation of the liability
and equity components and accounted for as debt issuance costs and equity issuance costs, respectively.
The debt and equity components, the issuance costs related to the equity component, the stated interest rate, and the
effective interest rate for each of the Convertible Notes are listed below (in thousands, except percentages):
Debt component
Equity component
Equity issuance cost
Stated interest rate
Effective interest rate
2020 Convertible
Notes
2021 Convertible
Notes
2022 Convertible
Notes
$
$
$
140,247
32,253
1,106
$
$
$
3.000%
6.350%
$
$
$
143,645
17,355
581
2.875%
4.700%
137,266
12,734
398
3.250%
5.200%
F-26
Table of Contents
The balances of the liability and equity components of all the Convertible Notes outstanding were as follows (in
thousands):
Liability component—principal amount
Unamortized debt discount
Liability component—net carrying amount
Equity component
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
$
$
483,500
(32,720)
450,780
62,696
$
$
$
448,500
(31,968)
416,532
61,314
The debt discount is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the convertible notes using the
effective interest rates. Interest expense related to the convertible notes was as follows (in thousands):
Interest expense—stated coupon rate
Interest expense—amortization of debt discount
Total interest expense—convertible notes
Convertible Notes Hedge Transactions
Year ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
15,721
9,871
25,592
$
$
13,263
9,900
23,163
In order to reduce the risk related to the potential dilution and/or the potential cash payments the Company may be
required to make in the event that the market price of the Company’s common stock becomes greater than the conversion prices
of the Convertible Notes, the Company maintains a hedge program that increases the effective conversion price for the 2020
Convertible Notes and 2021 Convertible Notes. The Company did not hedge the 2022 Convertible Notes. All of the hedge
instruments related to the Convertible Notes have been determined to be indexed to the Company’s own stock and meet the
criteria for equity classification. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company recorded the cost of the hedge
instruments as a reduction in additional paid-in capital, and will not recognize subsequent changes in fair value of these
financial instruments in its consolidated financial statements.
The details of the hedge program for each of the Convertible Notes are listed below (in thousands, except conversion
price):
Cost of the hedge transaction(s)
Initial conversion price
Effective conversion price
2020 Convertible Notes
2021 Convertible Notes
$
$
$
18,113
45.72
61.55
$
$
$
19,545
59.39
83.14
In connection with the partial repurchase of the 2017 Convertible Notes, explained in further detail below, the Company
terminated a portion of its convertible note hedge transactions in a notional amount corresponding to the amount of the 2017
Convertible Notes repurchased. The Company received approximately $5.6 million of proceeds in connection with the
unwinding of the hedge transactions and recorded these proceeds as increase in additional paid-in capital. In connection with
the final settlement of the convertible note hedge transactions related to the 2017 Convertible Notes on November 27, 2017, the
Company received 621,612 shares from the counterparties to the hedge transactions. These shares have been cancelled.
Conversion and Earnings Per Share Impact
During the quarter ending December 31, 2013, the closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeded 130% of the
conversion price of the 2017 Convertible Notes for more than 20 trading days during a 30 consecutive trading day period,
thereby satisfying one of the early conversion events. As a result, the 2017 Convertible Notes became convertible on demand
effective January 2, 2014, and the holders were notified that they could elect to submit their 2017 Convertible Notes for
conversion. No gain or loss was recognized when the debt became convertible. Upon becoming convertible, a portion of the
equity component that was recorded at the time of the issuance of the 2017 Convertible Notes was considered redeemable and
that portion of the equity was reclassified to temporary equity in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.
Such amount was determined based on the cash consideration to be paid upon conversion and the carrying amount of the debt.
Upon the conversion event, this temporary equity balance was recalculated based on the difference between the 2017
F-27
Table of Contents
Convertible Notes principal and the debt carrying value. When the 2017 Convertible Notes were settled, an amount equal to the
fair value of the liability component, immediately prior to the settlement, was deducted from the fair value of the total
settlement consideration transferred and allocated to the liability component. The difference between the amount allocated to
the liability and the net carrying amount of the 2017 Convertible Notes (including any unamortized debt issue costs and
discount) was recognized in earnings as a loss on debt extinguishment. The remaining consideration was allocated to the
reacquisition of the equity component and was recognized as a reduction in stockholders’ equity.
In connection with the issuance of the 2022 Convertible Notes, as mentioned above, the Company used approximately
$60.4 million of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase, in separate transactions, $50.0 million aggregate principal
amount of its 2017 Convertible Notes. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the total consideration allocated to the
extinguishment of the liability component was approximately $49.7 million and the total consideration allocated to the re-
acquisition of the equity component was approximately $10.7 million. Because the net carrying value of the repurchased
portion of the 2017 Convertible Notes was $48.9 million, the Company recognized a loss of approximately $0.8 million on the
repurchase transaction. The balance of the temporary equity component was extinguished at the time of maturity and
conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes.
In accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share calculation, only the
conversion spread of the Convertible Notes is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such
method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common
stock during any quarter exceeds the respective conversion price of each of the Convertible Notes.
Cabot Senior Secured Notes
On September 20, 2012, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) S.A. (“Cabot Financial”), an indirect subsidiary of Encore, issued
£265.0 million (approximately $438.4 million) in aggregate principal amount of 10.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the
“Cabot 2019 Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2019 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each
year. On October 6, 2016, the Cabot 2019 Notes were redeemed in full using the proceeds from the issuance of Senior Secured
Notes due 2023 (the “Cabot 2023 Notes”) as discussed below. A call premium of £13.7 million (approximately $17.4 million)
was paid in connection with the redemption of the Cabot 2019 Notes. Since the Cabot 2019 Notes carried a premium of
approximately £15.2 million (approximately $19.2 million) at the time of redemption, Cabot recognized a gain of
approximately £1.4 million (approximately $1.8 million) on this transaction. The gain is included in other income in the
Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016.
On August 2, 2013, Cabot Financial issued £100.0 million (approximately $151.7 million) in aggregate principal amount
of 8.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Cabot 2020 Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2020 Notes is payable semi-
annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year.
On March 27, 2014, Cabot Financial issued £175.0 million (approximately $291.8 million) in aggregate principal amount
of 6.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “Cabot 2021 Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2021 Notes is payable semi-
annually, in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each year.
On October 6, 2016, Cabot Financial issued £350.0 million (approximately $442.6 million) in aggregate principal amount
of 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “Cabot 2023 Notes” and together with the Cabot 2019 Notes, the Cabot 2020
Notes and the Cabot 2021 Notes, the “Cabot Notes”). Interest on the Cabot 2023 Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on
April 1 and October 1 of each year. The Cabot 2023 Notes were issued at a price equal to 100% of their face value. The
proceeds from the offering were used to (1) redeem in full the Cabot 2019 Notes plus a call premium of £13.7 million
(approximately $17.4 million), (2) partially repay amounts outstanding under Cabot’s revolving credit facility, (3) pay accrued
interest on the Cabot 2019 Notes, and (4) pay fees and expenses in relation to the offering of the Cabot 2023 Notes.
The Cabot Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the following indirect subsidiaries
of the Company: Cabot Credit Management Limited (“CCM”), Cabot Financial Limited, and all material subsidiaries of Cabot
Financial Limited (other than Cabot Financial and Marlin Intermediate Holdings plc). The Cabot Notes are secured by a first
ranking security interest in all the outstanding shares of Cabot Financial and the guarantors (other than CCM and Marlin
Midway Limited) and substantially all the assets of Cabot Financial and the guarantors (other than CCM). Subject to the
Intercreditor Agreement described below under “Cabot Senior Revolving Credit Facility”, the guarantees provided in respect of
the Cabot Notes are pari passu with each such guarantee given in respect of the Cabot Floating Rate Notes, Marlin Bonds and
the Cabot Credit Facility described below.
On November 11, 2015, Cabot Financial (Luxembourg) II S.A. (“Cabot Financial II”), an indirect subsidiary of Encore,
issued €310.0 million (approximately $332.2 million) in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due
2021 (the “Cabot Floating Rate Notes”). The Cabot Floating Rate Notes were issued at a 1%, or €3.1 million (approximately
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$3.4 million), original issue discount, which is being amortized over the life of the notes and included as interest expense in the
Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Cabot Floating Rate Notes bear interest at a rate equal to three-month
EURIBOR plus 5.875% per annum, reset quarterly. Interest on the Cabot Floating Rate Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on
February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2016. The Cabot Floating Rate
Notes will mature on November 15, 2021.
The Cabot Floating Rate Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the following
indirect subsidiaries of the Company: CCM, Cabot Financial Limited and all material subsidiaries of Cabot Financial Limited
(other than Cabot Financial II and Marlin Intermediate Holdings plc). The Cabot Floating Rate Notes are secured by a first-
ranking security interest in all the outstanding shares of Cabot Financial II and the guarantors (other than CCM and Marlin
Midway Limited) and substantially all the assets of Cabot Financial II and the guarantors (other than CCM).
On July 25, 2013, Marlin Intermediate Holdings plc (“Marlin”), a subsidiary of Cabot, issued £150.0 million
(approximately $246.5 million) in aggregate principal amount of 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “Marlin Bonds”).
Cabot assumed the Marlin Bonds as a result of the acquisition of Marlin. The carrying value of the Marlin Bonds was adjusted
to approximately $284.2 million to reflect the fair value of the Marlin Bonds at the time of acquisition. In September 2017, the
Marlin Bonds were redeemed in full using a portion of the proceeds from a senior facility of Cabot Securitisation UK Limited
(“Cabot Securitisation”) as discussed below. A call premium of £7.9 million (approximately $10.5 million) was paid in
connection with the redemption of the Marlin Bonds. Since the Marlin Bonds carried a premium of approximately £12.1
million (approximately $16.2 million) at the time of redemption, Cabot recognized a gain of approximately £4.3 million
(approximately $5.7 million) on this transaction. The gain is included in other income in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Interest expense related to the Cabot Notes, Cabot Floating Rate Notes, and Marlin Bonds was as follows (in thousands):
Interest expense—stated coupon rate
Interest income—accretion of debt premium
Interest expense—amortization of debt discount
Total interest expense—Cabot senior secured notes
Year ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
$
$
93,691
(2,865)
467
91,293
$
105,606
(8,951)
620
97,275
At December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance on the Cabot Notes, Cabot Floating Rate Notes, and Marlin Bonds was
$1.2 billion.
Cabot Senior Revolving Credit Facility
On September 20, 2012, Cabot Financial (UK) Limited (“Cabot Financial UK”) entered into an agreement for a senior
committed revolving credit facility of £50.0 million (the “Cabot Credit Agreement”). Since such date there have been a number
of amendments made, including, but not limited to, increases in the lenders’ total commitments thereunder to £250.0 million.
On December 12, 2017, Cabot Financial UK amended and restated its existing senior secured revolving credit facility
agreement to, among other things, increase the total committed amount of the facility to £295.0 million (approximately $395.2
million) and extend the termination date for a £245.0 million tranche of commitments to September 2021 (as amended and
restated, the “Cabot Credit Facility”).
The Cabot Credit Facility consists of a £245.0 million tranche that expires in September 2021 and a £50.0 million tranche
that expires in March 2022, and includes the following key provisions:
•
Interest at LIBOR (or EURIBOR for any loan drawn in euro) plus 3.25% per annum, which may decrease to 2.75%
upon certain specified conditions;
• A restrictive covenant that limits the loan to value ratio to 0.75 in the event that the Cabot Credit Facility is more
than 20% utilized;
• A restrictive covenant that limits the super senior loan (i.e. the Cabot Credit Facility and any super priority hedging
liabilities) to value ratio to 0.25 in the event that the Cabot Credit Facility is more than 20% utilized;
• Additional restrictions and covenants which limit, among other things, the payment of dividends and the incurrence
of additional indebtedness and liens; and
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• Events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lenders to terminate the Cabot Credit Facility and declare
all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable.
The Cabot Credit Facility is unconditionally guaranteed by the following indirect subsidiaries of the Company: CCM,
Cabot Financial Limited, and all material subsidiaries of Cabot Financial Limited. The Cabot Credit Facility is secured by first
ranking security interests in all the outstanding shares of Cabot Financial UK and the guarantors (other than CCM) and
substantially all the assets of Cabot Financial UK and the guarantors (other than CCM). Pursuant to the terms of intercreditor
agreements entered into with respect to the relative positions of the Cabot Notes, the Cabot Floating Rate Notes, the Marlin
Bonds and the Cabot Credit Facility, any liabilities in respect of obligations under the Cabot Credit Facility that are secured by
assets that also secure the Cabot Notes, the Cabot Floating Rate Notes and the Marlin Bonds will receive priority with respect
to any proceeds received upon any enforcement action over any such assets.
At December 31, 2017, the outstanding borrowings under the Cabot Credit Facility were approximately $179.0 million.
The weighted average interest rate was 3.60% and 3.95% for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility
On August 23, 2017, Cabot Securitisation entered into a senior facility agreement (the “Senior Facility Agreement”) for
an initial committed amount of £260.0 million (approximately $332.9 million) (the “Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility”). In
December 2017, an accordion feature was exercised and the size of the Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility was increased by
£40.0 million to a final size of £300.0 million, of which £290.0 million was drawn as of year-end. The Senior Facility
Agreement has an initial availability period ending in September 2020 and an initial repayment date in September 2022. The
obligations of Cabot Securitisation under the Senior Facility Agreement are secured by first ranking security interests over all
of Cabot Securitisation’s property, assets and rights (including receivables purchased from Cabot Financial UK from time to
time), the book value of which was approximately £308.5 million (approximately $416.8 million) as of December 31, 2017.
Funds drawn under the Senior Facility Agreement will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus a margin of
2.85%. A portion of the proceeds from the Senior Facility Agreement were used to redeem the Marlin Bonds in full.
At December 31, 2017, the outstanding borrowings under the Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility were approximately
$391.8 million. The weighted average interest rate was 3.10% for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Preferred Equity Certificates
On July 1, 2013, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Encore Europe Holdings, S.a r.l. (“Encore Europe”),
completed the acquisition of Cabot (the “Cabot Acquisition”) by acquiring 50.1% of the equity interest in Janus Holdings
S.a r.l. (“Janus Holdings”). Encore Europe purchased from J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC (“J.C. Flowers”): (i) E Bridge preferred
equity certificates issued by Janus Holdings, with a face value of £10,218,574 (approximately $15.5 million) (and any accrued
interest thereof) (the “E Bridge PECs”), (ii) E preferred equity certificates issued by Janus Holdings with a face value of
£96,729,661 (approximately $147.1 million) (and any accrued interest thereof) (the “E PECs”), (iii) 3,498,563 E shares of
Janus Holdings (the “E Shares”), and (iv) 100 A shares of Cabot Holdings S.a r.l. (“Cabot Holdings”), the direct subsidiary of
Janus Holdings, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately £115.1 million (approximately $175.0 million). The E Bridge
PECs, E PECs, and E Shares represent 50.1% of all of the issued and outstanding equity and debt securities of Janus Holdings.
The remaining 49.9% of Janus Holdings’ equity and debt securities are owned by J.C. Flowers and include: (a) J Bridge PECs
with a face value of £10,177,781 (approximately $15.5 million), (b) J preferred equity certificates with a face value of
£96,343,515 (approximately $146.5 million) (the “J PECs”), (c) 3,484,597 J shares of Janus Holdings (the “J Shares”), and
(d) 100 A shares of Cabot Holdings. All of the PECs accrue interest at 12% per annum. Since PECs are legal form debt, the J
Bridge PECs, J PECs and any accrued interests thereof are classified as liabilities and are included in debt in the Company’s
accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. In addition, certain other minority owners hold PECs at the
Cabot Holdings level (the “Management PECs”). These PECs are also included in debt in the Company’s accompanying
consolidated statements of financial condition. The E Bridge PECs and E PECs held by the Company, and their related interest
eliminate in consolidation and therefore are not included in debt in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial
condition. The J Bridge PECs, J PECs, and the Management PECs do not require the payment of cash interest expense as they
have characteristics similar to equity with a preferred return. The ultimate payment of the accumulated interest would be
satisfied only in connection with the disposition of the noncontrolling interest of J.C. Flowers and management.
On June 20, 2014, Encore Europe converted all of its E Bridge PECs into E Shares and E PECs, and J.C. Flowers
converted all of its J Bridge PECs into J Shares and J PECs, in proportion to the number of E Shares and E PECs, or J Shares
and J PECs, as applicable, outstanding on the closing date of the Cabot Acquisition.
As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the PECs, including accrued interest, was approximately $253.3
million.
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Capital Lease Obligations
The Company has capital lease obligations primarily for computer equipment. As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s
combined obligations for capital leases were approximately $6.1 million. These capital lease obligations require monthly,
quarterly or annual payments through 2022 and have implicit interest rates that range from zero to approximately 5.9%.
Maturity Schedule
The aggregate amounts of the Company’s debt, including PECs, accrued interests on PECs, and capital lease obligations,
maturing in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Total
$
$
35,249
203,964
417,434
1,257,489
757,042
856,468
3,527,646
Note 10: Variable Interest Entities
A VIE is defined as a legal entity whose equity owners do not have sufficient equity at risk, or, as a group, the holders of
the equity investment at risk lack any of the following three characteristics: decision-making rights, the obligation to absorb
losses, or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The primary beneficiary is identified as the variable
interest holder that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic
performance and the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially
be significant to the VIE.
The Company’s VIEs include its subsidiary Janus Holdings and other immaterial special purpose entities that were
created to purchase receivable portfolios in certain geographies.
Prior to March 31, 2016, the Company’s VIEs included its special purpose entity used for the Propel securitization and its
subsidiary Janus Holdings. On March 31, 2016, the Company completed the divestiture of 100% of its membership interests in
Propel. Since Propel is the primary beneficiary of the VIE used for securitization, subsequent to the sale of Propel, the
Company no longer consolidates this VIE.
Janus Holdings is the indirect parent company of Cabot. The Company has determined that Janus Holdings is a VIE and
the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The key activities that affect Cabot’s economic performance include, but
are not limited to, operational budgets and purchasing decisions. Through its control of the board of directors of Janus
Holdings, the Company controls the key operating activities at Cabot.
Assets recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional assets that could be used to satisfy
claims against the Company’s general assets. Conversely, liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not
represent additional claims on the Company’s general assets; rather, they represent claims against the specific assets of the VIE.
The Company evaluates its relationships with its VIE on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary
beneficiary.
Note 11: Stock-Based Compensation
In April 2017, Encore’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the Encore Capital Group, Inc. 2017 Incentive Award
Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which was then approved by the Company’s stockholders on June 15, 2017. The 2017 Plan superseded
the Company’s 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended, the “2013 Plan”), which had previously superseded the
Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (“2005 Plan”). Board members, employees, and consultants of Encore and its
subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive awards under the 2017 Plan. Subject to certain adjustments, the Company may
grant awards for an aggregate of 5,713,571 shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2017 Plan. The aggregate number
of shares available for issuance under the 2017 Plan will be reduced by 2.12 shares for each share delivered in settlement of any
full value award and by one share for each share delivered in settlement of any stock option or stock appreciation right. If an
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award under the 2017 Plan or the 2013 Plan expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased,
canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, the unused shares covered by such award will again become or again
be available for award grants under the 2017 Plan. Shares available under the 2017 Plan will be increased by 2.12 shares for
each share subject to a full value award and by one share for each share subject to a stock option or a stock appreciation right,
in each case, that become or again be available for issuance pursuant to the foregoing share counting provisions.
The 2017 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, restricted
stock units, dividend equivalent rights, stock appreciation rights, cash awards, performance-based awards and any other types
of awards not inconsistent with the 2017 Plan. The awards under the 2017 Plan consist of compensation subject to authoritative
guidance for stock-based compensation.
In accordance with authoritative guidance for stock-based compensation, compensation expense is recognized only for
those shares expected to vest, based on the Company’s historical experience and future expectations. The Company has elected
a policy of estimating expected forfeitures. Total stock-based compensation expense during the years ended December 31,
2017, 2016, and 2015 was $10.4 million, $12.6 million, and $22.0 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit from stock-
based compensation arrangements totaled $3.6 million, $4.9 million, and $7.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2016, and 2015, respectively. Cash received from option exercise under all share-based payment arrangements for the years
ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, was $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively.
The Company’s stock-based compensation arrangements are described below:
Stock Options
Under the 2005 Plan, option awards were generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the
Company’s stock at the date of issuance. They generally vest over three to five years of continuous service, and have ten-year
contractual terms. Other than the Performance Options discussed below, no options have been awarded under the 2013 Plan.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair-value of stock-based awards. All options
are amortized ratably over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods. There were no
options granted during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, or 2015. As of December 31, 2017, all outstanding stock
options have been fully vested and all related compensation expenses have been fully recognized.
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity as of December 31, 2017, and changes during the year then ended, is
presented below:
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
Exercised
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Exercisable at December 31, 2017
Number of
Shares
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
103,546
(37,780)
65,766
65,766
$
$
$
15.24
13.46
16.27
16.27
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
2.5
2.5
$
$
1,699
1,699
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $0.8 million,
$0.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
Performance Stock Options
Under the 2017 Plan and the 2013 Plan, the Company has granted performance stock options, with an exercise price equal
to the closing price of the Company’s stock at the date of issuance, that vest in equal annual installments over a three year
service period but only if, within four years from the date of grant, the 20 trading day average of the closing price of the
Company’s stock (subject to dividend-related adjustments) exceeds a target equal to a 25% increase from the closing price on
the date of grant. These performance options have a seven year contractual life.
The fair value for options granted was estimated at the date of grant using a lattice-based option valuation model with the
assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatility is based on the historical stock price volatility over the last seven
years, which is commensurate with the performance options remaining contractual term. The risk-free rate for the periods
within the contractual life of the option is based on the zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bill that is commensurate with the remaining
performance measurement period of seven years at the time of grant. The expected term is assumed to occur at the midpoint of
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the vesting of each tranche and the contractual term of the performance options granted and represents the period that options
granted are expected to be outstanding. All options are amortized ratably over the requisite service periods of the awards, which
are generally the vesting periods.
Expected volatility
Risk free interest rate
Dividend yield
Expected term (in years)
39.61- 40.30%
1.98- 2.43%
0.00%
4.14- 5.01
A summary of the Company’s performance stock option activity as of December 31, 2017, and changes during the year
then ended, is presented below:
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
Awarded
Cancelled/forfeited
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Vested or Expected to Vest at December 31, 2017
Exercisable at December 31, 2017
Number of
Shares
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
— $
340,996
(74,474)
266,522
244,865
$
$
— $
—
31.32
30.95
31.43
31.47
—
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in thousands)
6.0
6.0
$
$
— $
2,845
2,603
—
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of performance options granted during the year ended December 31, 2017
was $11.53. None of the performance options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2017. As of December 31,
2017, there was $1.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested performance stock options which is
expected to be recognized over a period of approximately 1.5 years.
Non-Vested Shares
The Company’s 2017 Plan (and previously, the 2013 Plan and 2005 Plan), permits restricted stock units, restricted stock
awards, performance stock units, and performance stock awards (collectively “stock awards”). The fair value of non-vested
shares with service condition and/or performance condition that affect vesting is equal to the closing sale price of the
Company’s common stock on the date of issuance. Compensation cost is recognized only for the awards that ultimately vest.
The Company has certain share awards that include market conditions that affect vesting, the fair value of these shares is
estimated using a lattice model. Compensation cost is not adjusted if the market condition is not met, as long as the requisite
service is provided. For the majority of non-vested shares, shares are issued on the vesting dates net of the number of shares
needed to satisfy minimal statutory tax withholding requirements. The tax obligations are then paid by the Company on behalf
of the employees.
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A summary of the status of the Company’s stock awards as of December 31, 2017, and changes during the year then
ended, is presented below:
Non-vested at December 31, 2016
Awarded
Vested
Cancelled/forfeited
Non-vested at December 31, 2017
________________________
Non-Vested
Shares (1)
Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
1,006,471
$
$
374,569
(236,820) $
(338,463) $
$
805,757
31.69
33.09
36.43
31.61
30.98
(1) Certain of the Company’s stock awards have a vesting matrix under which the stock awards can vest at a maximum level that is 200% of the shares that
would vest for achieving the performance goals at target. The number of shares presented is based on achieving the performance goals at target levels
as defined in the stock award agreements. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the maximum number of non-vested performance shares that could vest
under the provisions of the agreements was 1,038,272 and 1,340,375, respectively.
Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested shares as of December 31, 2017, was $10.0 million. The weighted-
average remaining expense period, based on the unamortized value of these outstanding non-vested shares, was approximately
1.4 years. The fair value of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards vested for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2016, and 2015 was $7.8 million, $12.5 million, and $16.5 million, respectively.
Note 12: Income Taxes
Income tax expense for income from continuing operations was $52.0 million, $38.2 million, and $27.2 million, during
the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed into law by President Trump.
The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by, among other things, lowering the U.S.
corporate tax rate from a top rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21% effective January 1, 2018, while also repealing the deduction for
domestic production activities, implementing elements of a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed
repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Shortly after enactment, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”)
118, which provides guidance on accounting for the Tax Reform Act’s impact. In accordance with SAB 118, a company must
reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Reform Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To
the extent that a company’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act is incomplete but it is able to
determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. As a result of the Tax Reform
Act, the Company recorded an additional net tax expense of $1.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. This net
tax expense represents a provisional amount and the Company’s current best estimate. The provisional amount incorporates
assumptions made based upon the Company’s current interpretation of the Tax Reform Act and may change as the Company
receives additional clarification and implementation guidance. The Company did not record any deemed repatriation tax on
unremitted foreign earnings and profits (“E&P”) due to the deficit in accumulated foreign E&P as of December 31, 2017.
Because of the complexity of the new Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax rules, the Company continues
to evaluate this and other provisions of the Tax Reform Act and the application of ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Under U.S.
GAAP, the Company is allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions
in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2) factoring such
amounts into the Company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). The Company has not yet adopted an
accounting policy with respect to GILTI at December 31, 2017.
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The effective tax rates for the respective periods are shown below:
Federal provision
State provision
Foreign rate differential(1)
Transaction costs(2)
Tax reserves
Permanent items(3)
Change in valuation allowance(4)
Other(5)
Effective rate
________________________
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
35.0 %
0.5 %
(20.0)%
5.0 %
0.0 %
10.2 %
8.2 %
0.8 %
39.7 %
35.0 %
2.3 %
(3.6)%
0.0 %
(3.2)%
14.7 %
20.7 %
0.7 %
66.6 %
35.0 %
0.2 %
(7.8)%
0.0 %
(2.0)%
6.0 %
(5.6)%
1.9 %
27.7 %
(1) Relates primarily to the lower tax rates on the income or loss attributable to international operations.
(2) Relates primarily to the effect of certain costs related to the withdrawn Cabot IPO that are disallowed for U.K. tax purposes.
(3)
Includes nondeductible interest reported in a foreign subsidiary. The year ending December 31, 2017 also includes certain foreign income taxable in the
U.S. under Internal Revenue Code Section 951 (Subpart F) in 2017. The year ending December 31, 2015 also includes a settlement with the Consumer
Finance Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) for which the Company incurred a $10.0 million civil monetary penalty related to a settlement with the CFPB,
which is not deductible for income tax purposes.
(4) Valuation allowance recorded as a result of certain foreign subsidiaries’ cumulative operating losses for tax purposes.
(5)
Includes the impact from the Tax Reform Act for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The pretax income (loss) from continuing operations consisted of the following (in thousands):
Domestic
Foreign
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
$
71,794
59,432
131,226
$
$
112,483
(55,108)
57,375
$
$
59,056
38,877
97,933
The income tax provisions for continuing operations consisted of the following (in thousands):
Current expense (benefit):
Federal
State
Foreign
Deferred expense (benefit):
Federal
State
Foreign
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
$
$
9,969
(794)
15,690
24,865
16,563
784
9,837
27,184
52,049
$
58,816
1,173
10,364
70,353
(22,951)
25
(9,222)
(32,148)
38,205
$
$
38,831
363
7,124
46,318
(18,755)
(610)
209
(19,156)
27,162
The Company’s subsidiary in Costa Rica is operating under a 100% tax holiday through December 31, 2018 and a 50%
tax holiday for the subsequent four years. The impact of the tax holiday in Costa Rica for the year ended December 31, 2017
was immaterial.
The Company has not provided for applicable income or withholding taxes on the undistributed earnings from continuing
operations of its subsidiaries operating outside of the United States. Undistributed net income of these subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2017, were approximately $145.7 million. Such undistributed earnings are considered permanently reinvested.
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Table of Contents
The Company does not provide deferred taxes on translation adjustments on unremitted earnings under the indefinite reversal
exception. Determination of the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these earnings is not practicable due to
the complexities of a hypothetical calculation.
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):
Deferred tax assets:
Stock-based compensation expense
Accrued expenses
Differences in income recognition related to receivable portfolios
Net operating losses
Difference in basis of bond and loan costs
Other
Total deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets net of valuation allowance
Deferred tax liabilities:
State taxes
Deferred court costs
Difference in basis of amortizable assets
Difference in basis of depreciable assets
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax asset(1)
________________________
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
4,777
$
14,708
20,612
46,615
7,878
522
95,112
(34,642)
60,470
(1,237)
(20,207)
(18,573)
(2,059)
(9,144)
(51,220)
9,250
$
$
7,549
19,868
45,419
26,386
3,007
6,067
108,296
(18,892)
89,404
(377)
(19,860)
(16,488)
(7,705)
(1,555)
(45,985)
43,419
(1) The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions. In accordance with authoritative guidance relating to income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities
are netted for each tax-paying component of the Company within a particular tax jurisdiction, and presented as a single amount in the statement of
financial condition.
Certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have net operating loss carry forwards in the amount of approximately
$159.7 million. In general, the foreign net operating losses can be carried forward indefinitely. Certain of the Company’s
domestic subsidiaries have state net operating loss carry forwards in the amount of approximately $32.5 million, which will
generally begin to expire in 2021.
Valuation allowances are recognized on deferred tax assets if the Company believes that it is more likely than not that
some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company believes the majority of the deferred tax assets will be
realized due to the reversal of certain significant temporary differences and anticipated future taxable income from operations.
As of December 31, 2017, valuation allowances increased to $34.6 million, as compared to $18.9 million as of December 31,
2016. The increase was primarily related to the recording of valuation allowance at certain of the Company’s foreign
subsidiaries that have incurred cumulative operating losses as of December 31, 2017. At this time, the Company does not have
enough positive evidence to support the fact that the net operating loss carryforwards at these jurisdictions can be realized,
therefore, the Company has recorded valuation allowances against the current and previously established deferred tax assets.
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Table of Contents
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit is as follows (in
thousands):
Balance at December 31, 2014
Increases related to current and prior year tax positions
Increases related to current year tax positions
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
Balance at December 31, 2015
Increases related to prior year tax positions
Increases related to current year tax positions
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
Decreases related to prior year tax positions
Balance at December 31, 2016
Increases related to current year tax positions
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
Decreases related to current year tax positions
Balance at December 31, 2017
Amount
38,425
5,835
11,882
(8,193)
47,949
2,505
1,259
(31,111)
(1,657)
18,945
5,902
(228)
(4,599)
20,020
$
$
The Company had gross unrecognized tax benefits, inclusive of penalties and interest, of $22.2 million, $21.2 million and
$58.5 million at December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 respectively. At December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, there were $9.9
million, $7.1 million and $14.9 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that if recognized, would result in a net tax
benefit. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the increase in the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefit was primarily
related to certain prepaid services to be performed within three and a half months of December 31, 2017. During the year ended
December 31, 2016, the decrease in the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefit was primarily related to the settlement with
tax authorities for unrecognized tax benefits associated with amortization of receivable portfolios. During the year ended
December 31, 2015, the increase in the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefit was primarily associated with certain
business combinations. The uncertain tax benefit is included in “Other liabilities” in the Company’s consolidated statements of
financial condition.
The Company believes that an adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from tax
examinations. However, it is reasonably possible that certain changes may occur within the next 12 months, which could
significantly increase or decrease the balance of the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its tax expense. The Company
recognized expense of approximately $0.8 million, $0.5 million and $0.3 million in interest and penalties during the years
ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Interest and penalties accrued were $2.2 million as of both December
31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
The Company files U.S. federal, state, and foreign income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations.
The 2014 through 2017 tax years remain subject to examination by federal taxing authorities, 2013 through 2017 tax years
generally remain subject to examination by state tax authorities, and the 2014 through 2017 tax years remain subject to
examination by foreign tax authorities.
Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation and Regulatory
The Company is involved in disputes, legal actions, regulatory investigations, inquiries, and other actions from time to
time in the ordinary course of business. The Company, along with others in its industry, is routinely subject to legal actions
based on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), comparable state statutes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
(“TCPA”), state and federal unfair competition statutes, and common law causes of action. The violations of law investigated or
alleged in these actions often include claims that the Company lacks specified licenses to conduct its business, attempts to
collect debts on which the statute of limitations has run, has made inaccurate or unsupported assertions of fact in support of its
collection actions and/or has acted improperly in connection with its efforts to contact consumers. Such litigation and
regulatory actions could involve potential compensatory or punitive damage claims, fines, sanctions, injunctive relief, or
F-37
Table of Contents
changes in business practices. Many continue on for some length of time and involve substantial investigation, litigation,
negotiation, and other expense and effort before a result is achieved, and during the process the Company often cannot
determine the substance or timing of any eventual outcome.
On September 9, 2015, the Company entered into a consent order (the “Consent Order”) with the CFPB in which it settled
allegations arising from its practices between 2011 and 2015. The Consent Order includes obligations on the Company to,
among other things: (1) follow certain specified operational requirements, substantially all of which are already part of the
Company’s current operations; (2) submit to the CFPB for review a comprehensive plan designed to ensure that its debt
collection practices comply with all applicable federal consumer financial laws and the terms of the Consent Order; (3) pay
redress to certain specified groups of consumers; and (4) pay a civil monetary penalty. The Company will continue to cooperate
and engage with the CFPB and work to ensure compliance with the Consent Order. In addition, the Company is subject to
ancillary state attorney general investigations related to similar debt collection practices. The Company has discussed with state
attorneys general potential resolution of these investigations, which could include penalties, restitution, and/or the adoption of
new operational requirements. In these discussions, the state attorneys general have taken certain positions with which the
Company disagrees. If the Company is unable to resolve its differences with the state attorneys general, it is possible that they
may file claims against the Company.
The Company incurred a one-time, after-tax charge of approximately $43 million in the third quarter of 2015. The
Company believes this charge will cover all related impacts of the Consent Order, including civil monetary penalties,
restitution, any such ancillary state regulatory matters, legal expenses and portfolio allowance charges on several pool groups
due to the impact on the Company’s current estimated remaining collections related to its existing receivable portfolios. The
Company anticipates that after this one-time charge, any future earnings impact will be immaterial.
In certain legal proceedings, the Company may have recourse to insurance or third party contractual indemnities to cover
all or portions of its litigation expenses, judgments, or settlements. In accordance with authoritative guidance, the Company
records loss contingencies in its financial statements only for matters in which losses are probable and can be reasonably
estimated. Where a range of loss can be reasonably estimated with no best estimate in the range, the Company records the
minimum estimated liability. The Company continuously assesses the potential liability related to its pending litigation and
regulatory matters and revises its estimates when additional information becomes available. As of December 31, 2017, other
than reserves related to the CFPB Consent Order and ancillary state regulatory matters, the Company has no material reserves
for legal matters. Additionally, based on the current status of litigation and regulatory matters, either the estimate of exposure is
immaterial to the Company’s financial statements or an estimate cannot yet be determined. The Company’s legal costs are
recorded to expense as incurred.
Leases
The Company leases office facilities in the United States, Europe, and other geographies. The leases are structured as
operating leases, and the Company incurred related rent expense in the amounts of $21.3 million, $20.3 million, and $19.4
million during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.
The Company has capital lease obligations primarily for certain computer equipment. Refer to Note 9, “Debt—Capital
Lease Obligations” for additional information on the Company’s capital leases. Amortization of assets under capital leases is
included in depreciation and amortization expense.
Future minimum lease payments under lease obligations consist of the following for the years ending December 31, (in
thousands):
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Total minimal leases payments
Less: Interest
Present value of minimal lease payments
Capital
Leases
Operating
Leases
Total
19,064
14,690
12,025
11,362
8,923
23,086
89,150
$
$
22,027
16,391
13,372
12,473
9,778
23,086
97,127
$
$
2,963
1,701
1,347
1,111
855
—
7,977
(1,908)
6,069
$
$
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Table of Contents
Purchase Commitments
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into forward flow purchase agreements and other purchase
commitment agreements. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has entered into agreements to purchase receivable portfolios
with a face value of approximately $3.1 billion for a purchase price of approximately $525.6 million. Most purchase
commitments do not extend past one year.
Guarantees
Encore’s Certificate of Incorporation and indemnification agreements between the Company and its officers and directors
provide that the Company will indemnify and hold harmless its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences arising
as a result of the officer or director serving in such capacity. The Company has also agreed to indemnify certain third parties
under certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of certain underwriting agreements, registration rights agreements, credit
facilities, portfolio purchase and sale agreements, and other agreements entered into by the Company in the ordinary course of
business. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these
indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is
minimal and, as of December 31, 2017, has no liabilities recorded for these agreements.
Note 14: Segment Information
The Company conducts business through several operating segments that meet the aggregation criteria under authoritative
guidance related to segment reporting. The Company’s management relies on internal management reporting processes that
provide segment revenue, segment operating income, and segment asset information in order to make financial decisions and
allocate resources. Prior to the first quarter 2016 the Company had determined that it had two reportable segments: portfolio
purchasing and recovery and tax lien business. As discussed in Note 2, “Discontinued Operations,” on March 31, 2016, the
Company completed the divestiture of its membership interests in Propel, which comprised the entire tax lien business
segment. Propel’s operations are presented as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.
Beginning in the first quarter 2016, the Company has one reportable segment, portfolio purchasing and recovery.
The following tables present information about geographic areas in which the Company operates (in thousands):
Revenues(1):
United States
International
Europe(2)
Other geographies
Total
________________________
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2015
$
$
665,564
$
669,636
$
709,405
427,655
93,819
1,187,038
$
270,411
89,211
1,029,258
$
376,055
44,507
1,129,967
(1) Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer.
(2) Based on the financial information that is used to produce the general-purpose financial statements, providing further geographic information is
impracticable.
Long-lived assets(1):
United States
International
United Kingdom
Other foreign countries
Total
________________________
(1) Long-lived assets consists of property and equipment, net.
F-39
December 31,
2017
December 31,
2016
$
$
40,550
$
39,126
25,287
10,439
35,726
76,276
$
20,860
12,271
33,131
72,257
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Note 15: Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
In accordance with authoritative guidance, goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually and in
interim periods if certain events occur that indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit may be below its carrying value.
Determining the number of reporting units and the fair value of a reporting unit requires the Company to make judgments and
involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. The Company has five reporting units for goodwill impairment
testing purposes. The annual goodwill testing date for these reporting units is October 1st.
The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative
goodwill impairment test. The qualitative factors include economic environment, business climate, market capitalization,
operating performance, competition, and other factors. The Company may proceed directly to the two-step quantitative test
without performing the qualitative test.
The first step involves measuring the recoverability of goodwill at the reporting unit level by comparing the estimated fair
value of the reporting unit in which the goodwill resides to its carrying value. The second step, if necessary, measures the
amount of impairment, if any, by comparing the implied fair value of goodwill to its carrying value. The Company applies
various valuation techniques to measure the fair value of each reporting unit, including the income approach and the market
approach. For goodwill impairment analyses conducted at most of the reporting units, the Company uses the income approach
in determining fair value, specifically the discounted cash flow method, or DCF. In applying the DCF method, an identified
level of future cash flow is estimated. Annual estimated cash flows and a terminal value are then discounted to their present
value at an appropriate discount rate to obtain an indication of fair value. The discount rate utilized reflects estimates of
required rates of return for investments that are seen as similar to an investment in the reporting unit. DCF analyses are based
on management’s long-term financial projections and require significant judgments, therefore, for most of the Company’s
reporting units where the Company has access to reliable market participant data, the market approach is conducted in addition
to the income approach in determining the fair value. The Company uses a guideline company method under the market
approach to estimate the fair value of equity and the market value of invested capital (“MVIC”). The guideline company
approach relies on estimated remaining collections data or the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization
(“EBITDA”) for each of the selected guideline companies, which enables a direct comparison between the reporting unit and
the selected peer group. The Company believes that the current methodology used in determining the fair value at its reporting
units represent its best estimates. In addition, the Company compares the aggregate fair value of the reporting units to its
overall market capitalization.
According to authoritative guidance, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit is zero or negative, the traditional step two
of the impairment test should be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any, when it is more likely than not
that a goodwill impairment exists. In considering whether it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists, an entity
can perform a step zero qualitative analysis. The Company conducted qualitative analysis for its reporting units that had
negative carrying value and concluded that there was no indication that goodwill impairment existed at these reporting units.
Based on the annual goodwill impairment tests performed at October 1, 2017, no impairment existed at any of the
Company’s reporting units.
Management continues to evaluate and monitor all key factors impacting the carrying value of the Company’s recorded
goodwill and long-lived assets. Further adverse changes in the Company’s actual or expected operating results, market
capitalization, business climate, economic factors or other negative events that may be outside the control of management could
result in a material non-cash impairment charge in the future.
The Company’s goodwill is attributable to reporting units included in its portfolio purchasing and recovery segment. The
following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s goodwill balance, as follows (in thousands):
Balance, December 31, 2016
Goodwill acquired
Effect of foreign currency translation
Balance, December 31, 2017
Total
785,032
79,372
64,589
928,993
$
$
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Table of Contents
The Company’s acquired intangible assets are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Customer relationships
Developed technologies
Trade name and other
Total intangible assets
As of December 31, 2017
As of December 31, 2016
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Carrying
Amount
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Carrying
Amount
$
$
73,875
$
(6,800) $
67,075
$
21,200
$
6,683
14,413
(5,411)
(7,024)
1,272
7,389
6,497
12,566
94,971
$
(19,235) $
75,736
$
40,263
$
(3,220) $
(3,891)
(4,909)
(12,020) $
17,980
2,606
7,657
28,243
The weighted-average useful lives of intangible assets at the time of acquisition were as follows:
Customer relationships
Developed technologies
Trade name and other
Weighted-Average
Useful Lives
10
5
8
The amortization expense for intangible assets that are subject to amortization was $8.9 million, $7.2 million, and $5.0
million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. Estimated future amortization expense related to
finite-lived intangible assets at December 31, 2017 is as follows (in thousands):
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Thereafter
Total
$
$
10,096
8,599
8,413
8,311
7,761
32,556
75,736
F-41
Note 16: Quarterly Information (Unaudited)
The following table summarizes quarterly financial data for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share
amounts):
2017
Gross collections
Revenues
Total operating expenses
Income from continuing operations
Net income
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group,
Inc.:
Income from continuing operations
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group,
Inc. stockholders
Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital
Group, Inc.:
From continuing operations:
Basic
Diluted
From net income:
Basic
Diluted
2016
Gross collections
Revenues
Total operating expenses
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Net income (loss)
Amounts attributable to Encore Capital Group,
Inc.:
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Net income (loss)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Encore
Capital Group, Inc.:
From continuing operations:
Basic
Diluted
From net income:
Basic
Diluted
March 31
June 30
September 30
December 31
Three Months Ended
$
440,863
271,941
196,100
15,178
14,979
$
446,182
290,917
210,323
19,076
19,076
$
442,996
306,699
202,829
42,144
42,144
22,297
22,098
20,255
20,255
28,194
28,194
$
$
0.86
0.85
0.85
0.85
$
$
0.78
0.77
0.78
0.77
$
$
1.08
1.05
1.08
1.05
447,805
$
434,100
$
406,961
$
289,017
205,513
29,789
26,607
28,876
25,694
289,442
197,695
30,833
30,833
29,588
29,588
179,415
200,597
(51,946)
(51,946)
(1,524)
(1,524)
$
$
1.13
1.12
1.01
0.99
$
$
1.15
1.14
1.15
1.14
(0.06) $
(0.06)
(0.06) $
(0.06)
437,603
317,481
253,246
2,779
2,779
12,681
12,681
0.49
0.48
0.49
0.48
396,738
271,384
183,939
10,494
11,323
21,983
22,812
0.85
0.85
0.88
0.88
$
$
$
$
$
$
F-42