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11: R2 Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition HTML 93K
12: R3 Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition HTML 37K
(Parenthetical)
13: R4 Consolidated Statements of Income HTML 127K
14: R5 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income HTML 75K
15: R6 Consolidated Statements of Equity HTML 74K
16: R7 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows HTML 104K
17: R8 Ownership, Description of Business, and Summary of HTML 29K
Significant Accounting Policies
18: R9 Earnings Per Share HTML 39K
19: R10 Fair Value Measurements HTML 78K
20: R11 Derivatives and Hedging Instruments HTML 47K
21: R12 Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net HTML 70K
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23: R14 Borrowings HTML 96K
24: R15 Variable Interest Entities HTML 24K
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26: R17 Income Taxes HTML 25K
27: R18 Commitments and Contingencies HTML 27K
28: R19 Segment and Geographic Information HTML 39K
29: R20 Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets HTML 49K
30: R21 Ownership, Description of Business, and Summary of HTML 69K
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
31: R22 Earnings Per Share (Tables) HTML 36K
32: R23 Fair Value Measurements (Tables) HTML 73K
33: R24 Derivatives and Hedging Instruments (Tables) HTML 45K
34: R25 Investment in Receivable Portfolios, Net (Tables) HTML 63K
35: R26 Other Assets (Tables) HTML 34K
36: R27 Borrowings (Tables) HTML 83K
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39: R30 Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets HTML 49K
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40: R31 Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) HTML 34K
41: R32 Earnings Per Share - Table (Details) HTML 55K
42: R33 Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments HTML 51K
Required to be Carried at Fair Value (Details)
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Roll Forward (Details)
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45: R36 Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments HTML 46K
Not Required to be Carried at Fair Value (Details)
46: R37 Derivatives and Hedging Instruments - Fair Value HTML 34K
of Derivative Instruments (Details)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
iCommon Stock, $0.01 Par Value Per Share
iECPG
iThe
NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
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 last 90 days. iYes☒ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). iYes☒ No ☐
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):
iLarge
accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
Smaller reporting company
i☐
Emerging
growth company
i☐
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 Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No i☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Convertible
preferred stock, $ii0.01/ par value,
ii5,000/ shares authorized, iiiino///
shares issued and outstanding
i—
i—
Common
stock, $ii0.01/ par value, ii75,000/
shares authorized, ii24,361/ and ii24,541/
shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively
i244
i245
Additional
paid-in capital
i—
i—
Accumulated
earnings
i1,310,039
i1,238,564
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
(i63,908)
(i53,548)
Total
stockholders’ equity
i1,246,375
i1,185,261
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
i4,614,381
$
i4,608,125
The
following table presents certain assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) included in the consolidated statements of financial condition above. Most assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs. The liabilities exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of the Company. See “Note 8: Variable Interest Entities” for additional information on the Company’s VIEs.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Note 1: iOwnership,
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 obligations to credit originators, including banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies and commercial retailers. Defaulted
receivables may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings. The Company also provides debt servicing and other portfolio management services to credit originators for non-performing loans in Europe.
Through Midland Credit Management, Inc. and its domestic affiliates (collectively, “MCM”), the Company is a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States. Through Cabot Credit Management Limited (“CCM”) and its subsidiaries and European affiliates (collectively, “Cabot”), the Company is one of the largest credit management
services providers in Europe and a market leader in the United Kingdom. These are the Company’s primary operations.
The Company also has investments and operations in Latin America and Asia-Pacific, which the Company refers to as “LAAP.”
Financial Statement Preparation and Presentation
i
The
accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods presented reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated
financial statements. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.
iThe preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
and the disclosure of contingent amounts in the Company’s financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
i
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with 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 variable interest entities (“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 8: Variable Interest Entities” for further details. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
iTranslation
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 and are reclassified to earnings upon the substantial sale or liquidation of investments in foreign operations.
There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in our Annual Report, that have significance, or potential significance, to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 2: iEarnings
Per Share
iBasic 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 based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock-based awards, and the dilutive effect of the convertible and exchangeable senior notes, if applicable.
On August
12, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $i50.0 million share repurchase program. On May 5, 2021, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had approved an increase in the size of the repurchase program from $i50.0 million
to $i300.0 million (an increase of $i250.0 million). 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. The Company continues to repurchase its common stock under this program. During the three months
ended March 31, 2022, the Company repurchased i399,522 shares of its common stock for approximately $i25.6
million. The Company’s practice is to retire the shares repurchased.
iA reconciliation of shares used in calculating earnings per basic and diluted shares follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$
i175,749
$
i94,630
Total
weighted-average basic shares outstanding
i24,722
i31,469
Dilutive
effect of stock-based awards
i540
i363
Dilutive
effect of convertible and exchangeable senior notes
i2,220
i—
Total
weighted-average dilutive shares outstanding
i27,482
i31,832
Basic
earnings per share
$
i7.11
$
i3.01
Diluted
earnings per share
$
i6.40
$
i2.97
/
Anti-dilutive
employee stock options outstanding were izero and approximately i13,000
during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 3: iFair Value Measurements
i
Fair
value is defined 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 Company uses 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.
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 based on actual and forecasted operating performance. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration are included in other operating expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.
iThe
following table provides a roll-forward of the fair value of contingent consideration for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and year ended December 31, 2021(in thousands):
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. These assets include real estate-owned assets classified as held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less cost to sell. The fair value of the assets held for sale and estimated selling expenses were determined at the time of initial recognition and in each reporting period using Level 3 measurements based on appraised values using market comparable. The fair value estimate of the assets held for sale was approximately $i52.2
million and $i44.6 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Financial Instruments Not Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
The
table below summarizes fair value estimates for the Company's financial instruments that are not required to be carried at fair value. The total of the fair value calculations presented does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company.
i
The carrying amounts in the following table
are included in the consolidated statements of financial condition as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021(in thousands):
(1)The
2022 Convertible Senior Notes matured on March 15, 2022 and the Company repaid the notes in cash.
(2)Carrying amount represents historical cost, adjusted for any related debt discount or debt premium.
/
Investment in Receivable Portfolios:
The fair value of investment in receivable portfolios is measured using Level 3 inputs by discounting the estimated future cash flows generated by the Company’s proprietary forecasting
models. The key inputs include the estimated future gross cash flow, average cost to collect, and discount rate. 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.
Borrowings:
The Company’s convertible notes, exchangeable notes, senior secured notes and private placement
notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for the applicable debt discount. The fair value estimate for the convertible and exchangeable notes incorporates quoted market prices using Level 2 inputs. The fair value of the senior secured notes and private placement notes is estimated using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analyses using available market information on discount and borrowing rates with similar terms, maturities, and credit ratings. Accordingly, the Company used Level 2 inputs for these debt instrument fair value estimates.
The carrying value of the Company’s senior secured revolving credit facility and securitisation senior facility approximates fair value due to the use of current market rates that
are repriced frequently.
Note 4: iDerivatives and Hedging Instruments
iThe
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.
iThe
following table summarizes the fair value of derivative instruments as recorded in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition (in thousands):
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. Under the swap agreements, the Company receives floating interest rate payments and makes interest payments based on fixed interest rates. The Company historically designated its interest rate swap instruments as cash flow hedges. As of March 31, 2022, there were no interest rate swap agreements.
The
Company also uses interest rate cap contracts to manage its risk related to the interest rate fluctuations in its variable interest rate bearing debt. As of March 31, 2022, the Company held itwo interest rate cap contracts with
a notional amount of approximately $i902.5 million that are used to manage its risk related to interest rate fluctuations on the Company’s variable interest rate bearing debt. The interest rate cap hedging the fluctuations in three-month EURIBOR floating rate debt (“2019 Cap”) has a notional amount of €i400.0
million (approximately $i442.7 million based on an exchange rate of $1.00 to €i0.90, the exchange rate as of March 31, 2022) and matures in June
2024. The interest rate cap hedging the fluctuations in sterling overnight index average (“SONIA”) bearing debt (“2021 Cap”) has a notional amount of £i350.0 million (approximately $i459.8
million based on an exchange rate of $1.00 to £i0.76, the exchange rate as of March 31, 2022) and matures in September 2024. The Company expects the hedge relationships to be highly effective and designates the 2019 Cap and 2021 Cap as cash flow hedge instruments. The Company expects to reclassify approximately $i0.6
million of net derivative loss from OCI into earnings relating to interest rate caps within the next 12 months.
The Company has operations in foreign countries that 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, including 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. As of March 31, 2022, there were no foreign currency forward contracts.
The Company uses cross-currency swap agreements to manage foreign currency exchange risk by converting fixed-rate Euro-denominated borrowings including periodic interest payments and the payment of principal at maturity to fixed-rate USD debt. The cross-currency swap agreements are accounted for as cash flow hedges. As of March 31, 2022, there were ifour
cross-currency swap agreements outstanding with a total notional amount of €i350.0 million (approximately $i387.4 million based on an exchange rate of $1.00 to €i0.90,
the exchange rate as of March 31, 2022). The Company expects to reclassify approximately $i5.5 million of net derivative loss from OCI into earnings relating to cross-currency swaps within the next 12 months.
iThe
following tables summarize the effects of derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships designated as hedging instruments in the Company’s consolidated financial statements (in thousands):
Derivatives
Designated as Hedging Instruments
Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI
Location of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income (Loss)
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from OCI into Income (Loss)
The
Company’s purchased portfolios of loans are grossed-up to their face value with an offsetting allowance and noncredit discount allocated to the individual receivables as the unit of account is at the individual loan level. Since each loan is deeply delinquent and deemed uncollectible at the individual loan level, the Company applies its charge-off policy and fully writes-off the amortized costs (i.e., face value net of noncredit discount) of the individual receivables immediately after purchasing the portfolio. The Company then records a negative allowance that represents the present value of all expected future recoveries for pools of receivables that share similar risk characteristics using a discounted cash flow approach, which ultimately equals
the amount paid for a portfolio purchase and presented as “Investment in receivable portfolios, net” in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition. The discount rate is an effective interest rate (or “purchase EIR”) based on the purchase price of the portfolio and the expected future cash flows at the time of purchase.
Receivable portfolio purchases are aggregated into pools based on similar risk characteristics. Examples of risk characteristics include 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 location. Once a pool is established, the portfolios will remain in the designated pool unless the underlying risk characteristics change. The purchase EIR of a pool will not change over the life of the pool even if expected future cash flows change.
Revenue is recognized for each static pool over the economic life of the pool. Debt purchasing revenue includes two components:
(1) Revenue from receivable portfolios, which is the accretion of the discount on the negative allowance due to the passage of time (generally the portfolio balance multiplied by the EIR) and also includes all revenue from zero basis portfolio (“ZBA”) collections, and
(2) Changes in recoveries, which includes
(a) Recoveries above or below forecast,
which is the difference between (i) actual cash collected/recovered during the current period and (ii) expected cash recoveries for the current period, which generally represents over or under performance for the period; and
(b) Changes in expected future recoveries, which is the present value change of expected future recoveries, where such change generally results from (i) collections “pulled forward from” or “pushed out to” future periods (i.e. amounts either collected early or expected to be collected later) and (ii) magnitude and timing changes to estimates of expected future collections (which can be increases or decreases).
The Company measures expected future recoveries based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.
Factors that may change the expected future recoveries may include both internal as well as external factors. Internal factors include operational performance, 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 macroeconomic conditions.
Collections
applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net (2)
(i215,309)
(i268,443)
Changes
in recoveries (3)
i167,223
i44,537
Put-backs
and Recalls
(i3,207)
(i3,153)
Disposals
and transfers to assets held for sale
(i1,976)
(i1,665)
Foreign
currency adjustments
(i44,403)
(i7,694)
Balance,
end of period
$
i3,137,386
$
i3,225,678
_______________________
(1)The
table below provides the detail on the establishment of negative allowance for expected recoveries of portfolios purchased during the periods presented:
Less
- amounts classified to revenue from receivable portfolios
(i304,105)
(i338,018)
Collections
applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net
$
i215,309
$
i268,443
(3)Changes
in recoveries is calculated as follows during the periods presented, where recoveries include cash collections, put-backs and recalls, and other cash-based adjustments:
Recoveries above or below forecast represent over and under-performance in the reporting period, respectively. Collections during the three months ended March 31, 2022 significantly outperformed the projected cash flows by approximately $i46.4 million. The Company
believes the collection over-performance was a result of its sustained improvements in portfolio collections driven by change in consumer behavior and the Company’s liquidation improvement initiatives.
When reassessing the forecasts of expected lifetime recoveries during the three months ended March 31, 2022, management considered historical and current collection performance, and believes that for certain static pools sustained collections over-performance resulted in increased total expected recoveries. As a result,
the Company has updated its forecast, resulting in a net increase of total estimated remaining collections which in turn, when discounted to present value, resulted in a positive change in expected future period recoveries of approximately $i120.9 million during the three months ended March 31,
2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded approximately $i46.9 million in negative change in expected future period recoveries.
Note
6: iOther Assets
iOther assets consist of the following (in thousands):
The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all covenants under its financing arrangements as of March 31, 2022. iThe
components of the Company’s consolidated borrowings were as follows (in thousands):
Less:
debt discount and issuance costs, net of amortization
(i55,100)
(i58,350)
Total
$
i2,934,033
$
i2,997,331
Encore
is the parent of the restricted group for the Global Senior Facility, the Senior Secured Notes and the Encore Private Placement Notes, each of which is guaranteed by the same group of material Encore subsidiaries and secured by the same collateral, which represents substantially all of the assets of those subsidiaries.
Global Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility
In September 2020, the Company entered into a multi-currency senior secured revolving credit facility agreement (as amended and restated, the “Global Senior Facility”). On March 29, 2022, the
Company amended and restated the Global Senior Facility to, among other things (1) upsize the facility by $i90.0 million to $i1.14 billion,
(2) extend the termination date of the facility from September 2025 to September 2026, and (3) transition from LIBOR to Term SOFR for U.S. dollar borrowings.
As of March 31, 2022, the Global Senior Facility provided for a total committed facility of $i1.14 billion that matures in September 2026 and includes the following key provisions:
•Interest at Term SOFR (or EURIBOR for any loan drawn in euro or a rate based on SONIA for any loan drawn in British Pound) plus ii2.50/%
per annum, with a Term SOFR (or EURIBOR or SONIA) floor of ii0.00/%;
•An
unused commitment fee of i0.40% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears;
•A restrictive covenant that limits the LTV Ratio (defined in the Global Senior Facility) to i0.75
in the event that the Global Senior Facility is more than i20% utilized;
•A restrictive covenant that limits the SSRCF LTV Ratio (defined in the Global Senior Facility) to i0.275;
•A restrictive covenant that requires the Company to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Global Senior Facility) of at least i2.0;
•Additional restrictions and covenants which limit, among other things, the payment of dividends and the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens; and
•Standard
events of default which, upon occurrence, may permit the lenders to terminate the Global Senior Facility and declare all amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable.
The Global Senior Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors. Pursuant to the terms of an intercreditor agreement entered into with respect to the relative positions of (1) the Global Senior Facility, any super priority hedging liabilities and the Encore Private Placement Notes (collectively, “Super Senior Liabilities”) and (2) the Senior Secured Notes, Super Senior Liabilities that are secured by assets that also secure the Senior Secured Notes will receive priority with respect to any proceeds received upon any enforcement action over any such assets.
As of March 31,
2022, the outstanding borrowings under the Global Senior Facility were $i552.4 million. The weighted average interest rate of the Global Senior Facility was i2.73% and i3.25%
for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Available capacity under the Global Senior Facility, after taking into account applicable debt covenants, was approximately $i559.9 million as of March 31, 2022.
Encore Private Placement Notes
In August 2017, Encore entered into $i325.0
million in senior secured notes with a group of insurance companies (the “Encore Private Placement Notes”). As of March 31, 2022, $i97.7 million of the Encore Private Placement Notes remained outstanding. The Encore Private Placement Notes bear an annual interest rate of i5.625%,
mature in August 2024 and require quarterly principal payments of $i9.8 million. The covenants and material terms for the Encore Private Placement Notes are substantially similar to those for the Global Senior Facility.
Senior Secured Notes
i
The
following table provides a summary of the Company’s senior secured notes (the “Senior Secured Notes”) ($ in thousands):
(1)Interest
rate is based on three-month EURIBOR (subject to a i0% floor) plus i4.250% per annum, resets quarterly.
/
The
Senior Secured Notes are secured by the same collateral as the Global Senior Facility and the Encore Private Placement Notes. The guarantees provided in respect of the Senior Secured Notes are pari passu with each such guarantee given in respect of the Global Senior Facility and Encore Private Placement Notes. Subject to the intercreditor agreement described above under the section “Global Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility,” Super Senior Liabilities that are secured by assets that also secure the Senior Secured Notes will receive priority with respect to any proceeds received upon any enforcement action over any such assets.
The following table provides a summary of the principal balance, maturity date and interest rate for the Company’s convertible and exchangeable senior notes (the “Convertible Notes” or “Exchangeable Notes,” as applicable) ($ in thousands):
On March 15, 2022, the Company’s $i150.0 million 2022 Convertible Notes matured. The 2022 Convertible Notes had a conversion price of $i45.33.
In September 2021, in accordance with the indenture for the 2022 Convertible Notes, the Company irrevocably elected “combination settlement” with a specified dollar amount equal to $1,750 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes for all conversions of the 2022 Convertible Notes that occur on or after September 15, 2021, the free conversion date, which effectively resulted in an all cash settlement for the 2022 Convertible Notes so long as the stock price is less than $i79.32
at the time of conversion. As a result, the Company settled the conversion of the 2022 Convertible Notes entirely in cash for $i221.2 million, of which $i71.2 million
(the excess above the principal amount) represents the conversion spread and was recognized in the Company’s stockholder’s equity. No gain or loss was recognized as a result of the conversion of the 2022 Convertible Notes in the Company’s consolidated statements of income during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The Exchangeable Notes were issued by Encore Capital Europe Finance Limited (“Encore Finance”), a 100% owned finance subsidiary of Encore, and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Encore. Unless otherwise indicated in connection with a particular offering of debt securities, Encore will fully and unconditionally guarantee any debt securities issued by Encore Finance. Amounts related
to Encore Finance are included in the consolidated financial statements of Encore subsequent to April 30, 2018, the date of incorporation of Encore Finance.
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 or exchange prices of the Convertible Notes and the Exchangeable Notes, the Company may enter into hedge programs that increase the effective conversion or exchange price for the Convertible Notes and the Exchangeable Notes. As of March 31,
2022, the Company had ione hedge program that increases the effective exchange price for the 2023 Exchangeable Notes. The hedge instrument has been determined to be indexed to the Company’s own stock and meets the criteria for equity classification. The Company recorded the cost of the hedge instrument as a reduction in additional
paid-in capital, and does not recognize subsequent changes in fair value of this financial instrument in its consolidated financial statement. The Company did not hedge the 2022 Convertible Notes or the 2025 Convertible Notes.
Pursuant to certain terms in the indentures of the Company’s Convertible Notes and Exchangeable Notes, the conversion and exchange rates were adjusted upon the completion of the Company’s tender offer effective in December 2021. iCertain
key terms related to the convertible and exchangeable features as of March 31, 2022 are listed below ($ in thousands, except conversion or exchange price):
2023 Exchangeable Notes
2025 Convertible Notes
Initial conversion or exchange price
$
i44.62
$
i40.00
Closing
stock price at date of issuance
$
i36.45
$
i32.00
Closing
stock price date
Jul 20, 2018
Sep 4, 2019
Initial conversion or exchange rate (shares per $1,000 principal amount)
i22.4090
i25.0000
Adjusted
conversion or exchange rate (shares per $1,000 principal amount)
i22.5264
i25.1310
Adjusted
conversion or exchange price
$
i44.39
$
i39.79
Adjusted
effective conversion or exchange price(1)
$
i62.13
$
i39.79
Excess
of if-converted value compared to principal(2)
(1)As discussed above, the Company maintains a hedge program that increases the effective exchange price for the 2023 Exchangeable Notes to $i62.13.
(2)Represents
the premium the Company would have to pay assuming the Convertible Notes and Exchangeable Notes were converted or exchanged on March 31, 2022 using a hypothetical conversion price based on the closing stock price on March 31, 2022. The premium of the 2023 Exchangeable Notes would have been reduced to $i1.7
million with the existing hedge program.
(3)During the quarter ending December 31, 2021, the closing price of the Company’s common stock exceeded i130% of the exchange price of the 2023 Exchangeable Notes and the conversion price of the 2025 Convertible Notes for more than i20
trading days during a i30 consecutive trading day period, thereby satisfying one of the early exchange or conversion events. As a result, the 2023 Exchangeable Notes and the 2025 Convertible Notes became exchangeable or convertible on demand on January 1, 2022.
In the event of conversion or exchange, the 2025 Convertible Notes and the 2023 Exchangeable Notes are convertible or exchangeable into cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the
notes and the excess conversion premium, if any, may be settled in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock at the Company’s election and subject to certain restrictions contained in each of the indentures governing the Convertible Notes and Exchangeable Notes.
Interest expense related to the Convertible Notes and Exchangeable Notes was $i3.7
million and $i4.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility
Cabot Securitisation UK Ltd (“Cabot Securitisation”), an indirect subsidiary of Encore, has a senior facility for a committed amount of £i350.0 million
(as amended, the “Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility”). The Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility matures in September 2026. Funds drawn under the Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to SONIA plus a margin of i3.00% plus, for periods after September 18, 2024, a step-up margin ranging from izero
to i1.00%.
As of March 31, 2022, the outstanding borrowings under the Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility were £i350.0
million (approximately $i459.8 million based on an exchange rate of $1.00 to £i0.76, the exchange rate as of March 31,
2022). The obligations of Cabot Securitisation under the Cabot Securitisation Senior Facility 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 £i363.3 million (approximately $i477.3
million based on an exchange rate of $1.00 to £i0.76, the exchange rate as of March 31, 2022) as of March 31, 2022. The weighted average interest rate was ii3.45/%
and i3.11% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Cabot Securitisation is a securitized financing vehicle and is a VIE for consolidation purposes. Refer to “Note 8: Variable Interest Entities” for further details.
Note
8: iVariable Interest Entities
i
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 expected losses, or the right to receive 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 consolidates VIEs when it is the primary beneficiary.
As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s VIEs include certain securitized financing vehicles and other immaterial special purpose
entities that were created to purchase receivable portfolios in certain geographies. The Company is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs. The Company has the power to direct the activities of the VIEs which includes but is not limited to the ability to exercise discretion in the servicing of the financial assets and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. The Company evaluates its relationships with its VIEs on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary.
Most 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’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was i23.8%.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company’s effective tax rate was i22.2%. The difference between the effective tax rate and the i21%
federal statutory rate was primarily due to the proportion of income earned in higher tax rate jurisdictions compared to lower tax rate jurisdictions.
Each interim period is considered an integral part of the annual period and tax expense or benefit is measured using an estimated annual effective income tax rate. The estimated annual effective tax rate for the full year is applied to the respective interim period, taking into account year-to-date amounts and projected amounts for the year. Since the Company operates in foreign countries with varying tax rates, the Company's quarterly effective tax rate is dependent on the level of income or loss from international operations in the reporting period.
The
Company’s subsidiary in Costa Rica is operating under a i100% tax holiday through December 31, 2026. The impact of the tax holiday in Costa Rica for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, was immaterial.
The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and foreign
jurisdictions. Significant judgement is required in evaluating uncertain tax positions and determining the provision for income taxes. There has been no material change to the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits from December 31, 2021.
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 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.
As of March 31, 2022, there were no material developments in any of the
legal proceedings disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
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. 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. The Company’s legal costs are recorded to expense as incurred. As of March 31, 2022, the Company has ino
material reserves for legal matters.
Purchase Commitments
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into forward flow purchase agreements. A forward flow purchase agreement is a commitment to purchase receivables over a duration that is typically three to twelve months, but can be longer, generally with a specifically defined volume range, 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.
Certain of these forward flow purchase agreements may also have termination clauses, whereby the agreements can be canceled by either party upon providing a certain specified amount of notice.
As of March 31, 2022, the Company had entered into forward flow purchase agreements for the purchase of nonperforming loans with an estimated minimum aggregate purchase price of approximately $i380.1
million. The Company expects actual purchases under these forward flow purchase agreements to be significantly greater than the estimated minimum aggregate purchase price.
Note 12: iSegment and Geographic Information
iThe
Company conducts business through several operating segments. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker 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. The Company determined its operating segments meet the aggregation criteria, and therefore, it has ione
reportable segment, portfolio purchasing and recovery, based on similarities among the operating units including economic characteristics, the nature of the services, the nature of the production process, customer types for their services, the methods used to provide their services and the nature of the regulatory environment./
The
Company has operations in the United States, Europe and other foreign countries. The following table presents the Company’s total revenues by geographic area in which the Company operates (in thousands):
(1)Total
revenues are attributed to countries based on consumer location.
(2)Based on the financial information that is used to produce the general-purpose financial statements, providing further geographic information is impracticable.
/
Note 13: iGoodwill
and Identifiable Intangible Assets
iThe Company’s 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 annual goodwill testing date for the reporting units that are included in the portfolio purchasing and recovery reportable segment is October 1st. There have been no events or circumstances during the three months ended March 31, 2022 that have required the Company to perform an interim assessment of goodwill carried at these 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. 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. iThe following table summarizes the activity in the
Company’s goodwill balance (in thousands):
Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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, financing needs or plans or the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Part
I, Item 1A—Risk Factors” and those set forth in “Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report 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 and commercial retailers. Defaulted receivables may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings. We also provide debt servicing and other portfolio
management services to credit originators for non-performing loans in Europe.
Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Encore”) has three primary business units: MCM, which consists of Midland Credit Management, Inc. and its subsidiaries and domestic affiliates; Cabot, which consists of Cabot Credit Management Limited (“CCM”) and its subsidiaries and European affiliates, and LAAP, which is comprised of our investments and operations in Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
MCM (United States)
Through MCM, we are a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States.
Cabot (Europe)
Through
Cabot, we are one of the largest credit management services providers in Europe and a market leader in the United Kingdom. Cabot, in addition to its primary business of portfolio purchasing and recovery, also provides a range of debt servicing offerings such as early stage collections, business process outsourcing (“BPO”), and contingent collections, including through Wescot Credit Services Limited (“Wescot”), a leading U.K. contingency debt collection and BPO services company.
LAAP (Latin America and Asia-Pacific)
We have purchased non-performing loans in Mexico. Additionally, we have invested in Encore Asset Reconstruction Company (“EARC”) in India. We previously owned non-performing loans in Colombia and Peru (sold in August 2021) and Brazil (sold in April 2020).
To date, operating results from LAAP have not been
significant to our total consolidated operating results. Our long-term growth strategy is focused on continuing to invest in our core portfolio purchasing and recovery business in the United States and United Kingdom and strengthening and developing our business in the rest of Europe.
As discussed in more detail under “Part I - Item 1 - Business - Government Regulation” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our operations in the United States 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.
Cabot (Europe)
As discussed in more detail under “Part I - Item 1 - Business - Government Regulation” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our operations in Europe 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.
Portfolio
Purchasing and Recovery
MCM (United States)
In the United States, the defaulted consumer receivable portfolios we purchase are primarily charged-off credit card debt portfolios. A small percentage of our capital deployment in the United States is comprised of receivable portfolios subject to Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.
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 (limiting 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.
Cabot (Europe)
In Europe, our purchased under-performing debt portfolios primarily consist of paying and non-paying consumer loan accounts. We also purchase: (1) portfolios that are in insolvency status, in particular, individual voluntary arrangements; and (2) non-performing secured mortgage portfolios and real estate assets previously securing mortgage portfolios. When we take possession of the underlying real estate assets or purchase real estate assets, we refer to those as real estate-owned assets, or REO assets.
We purchase paying and non-paying receivable portfolios using a proprietary pricing model that utilizes account-level statistical and behavioral data. This model allows us to value portfolios accurately and
quantify portfolio performance in order to maximize future collections. As a result, we have been able to realize significant returns from the assets we have acquired. We maintain strong relationships with many of the largest financial services providers in the United Kingdom and continue to expand in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe with our acquisitions of portfolios.
Purchases and Collections
Portfolio Pricing, Supply and Demand
MCM (United States)
Issuers have continued to sell predominantly fresh portfolios. Fresh portfolios are portfolios that are generally sold within six months of the consumer’s account being charged-off by the financial institution. Pricing in
the first quarter remained in line with the previous quarter. Issuers continue to sell their volume in mostly forward flow arrangements that are often committed early in the calendar year. We believe growth in lending and rising delinquency rates will drive future supply increases.
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. We believe this favors larger participants, like MCM, because the larger market participants are better able to adapt to these pressures and commit to larger forward flow agreements.
The U.K. market for charged-off portfolios has generally provided a relatively consistent pipeline of opportunities over the past few years, despite a historically low level of charge-off rates, as creditors have embedded debt sales as an integral part of their business models and consumer indebtedness has continued to grow since the financial crisis. An increasing amount of volume is sold in multi-year forward flow arrangements.
The Spanish debt market continues to be one of the largest in Europe with significant debt sales activity, and an expectation of a significant amount of debt to be sold and serviced in the future. Additionally, financial institutions continue to experience both market and regulatory pressure to dispose of non-performing loans, which should continue to provide debt purchasing
opportunities in Spain.
Banks decreased portfolio sales at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to focus on customers’ needs. While we have seen a resumption of sales activity across many of our European markets, underlying default rates are generally low by historic levels, and sales levels are expected to fluctuate from quarter to quarter as banks seek to re-establish a more stable debt sales strategy. In general, supply remains below pre-pandemic levels while portfolio pricing has become more competitive across our European footprint.
Purchases by Geographic Location
The following table summarizes purchases by geographic location during the periods presented (in thousands):
During
the three months ended March 31, 2022, we invested $169.5 million to acquire receivable portfolios, with face values aggregating $1.2 billion, for an average purchase price of 14.4% of face value. The amount invested in receivable portfolios decreased $0.7 million, or 0.4%, compared with the $170.2 million invested during the three months ended March 31, 2021, to acquire receivable portfolios with face values aggregating $1.3 billion, for an average purchase price of 12.8% of face value.
In the United States, portfolio purchases increased slightly during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The majority of our deployments in the U.S. came from forward flow agreements, and the timing, contract
duration, and volumes for each contract can fluctuate leading to variation when comparing to prior periods. Portfolio purchases in the U.S. are still lower than pre-pandemic levels as a result of a decrease in supply, which we believe is temporary.
In Europe, portfolio purchases decreased slightly during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. The decrease was attributable to the unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound. Portfolio purchases in Europe are negatively impacted by a relatively limited supply of portfolios as compared to the pre-pandemic levels.
The average purchase
price, as a percentage of face value, varies from period to period depending on, among other factors, the quality of the accounts purchased and the length of time from charge-off to the time we purchase the portfolios.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we invested $12.4 million and $2.4 million in REO assets, respectively.
Collections from Purchased Receivables by Channel and Geographic Location
We utilize
three channels for the collection of our purchased receivables: call center and digital collections; legal collections; and collection agencies. The call center and digital collections 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 collections agencies to whom we pay a fee or commission. We utilize this channel to supplement capacity in our internal call centers, to service accounts in regions where we do not have collections operations or for accounts purchased where we maintain the collection agency servicing relationship. The following table summarizes the total collections by collection channel and geographic area during the periods presented (in thousands):
Gross
collections from purchased receivables decreased by $87.0 million, or 14.4%, to $519.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022, from $606.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The decrease in collections from purchased receivables in the United States compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily a result of an unusually high level of collections in the year ago period resulting from changes in consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease was also a result of lower purchasing volumes in recent periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes in consumer behavior that resulted from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, while more prevalent a year ago, continued through the quarter. Even though we believe the pandemic-related
drivers of this changed behavior are waning, in the first quarter we continued to see over-performance compared to our collections expectations.
The decrease in collections from purchased receivables in Europe was primarily due to lower purchasing volumes in recent periods due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
—
—
%
(135)
(0.1)
%
Net
income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders
$
175,749
35.2
%
$
94,630
22.6
%
Comparison of Results of Operations
Revenues
Our
revenues primarily include debt purchasing revenue, which is revenue recognized from engaging in debt purchasing and recovery activities. We apply our charge-off policy and fully write-off the amortized costs (i.e., face value net of noncredit discount) of the individual receivables we acquire immediately after purchasing the portfolio. We then record a negative allowance that represents the present value of all expected future recoveries for pools of receivables that share similar risk characteristics using a discounted cash flow approach, which is presented as “Investment in receivable portfolios, net” in our consolidated statements of financial condition. The discount rate is an effective interest rate (or “purchase EIR”) established based on the purchase price of the portfolio and the expected future cash flows at the time of purchase.
Debt purchasing revenue
includes two components:
(1) Revenue from receivable portfolios, which is the accretion of the discount on the negative allowance due to the passage of time (generally the portfolio balance multiplied by the EIR), and
(2) Changes in recoveries, which includes
(a) Recoveries above (below) forecast, which is the difference between (i) actual cash collected/recovered during the current period and (ii) expected cash recoveries for the current period, which generally represents over or under performance for the period; and
26
(b)
Changes in expected future recoveries, which is the present value change of expected future recoveries, where such change generally results from (i) collections “pulled forward from” or “pushed out to” future periods (i.e. amounts either collected early or expected to be collected later) and (ii) magnitude and timing changes to estimates of expected future collections (which can be increases or decreases).
Certain pools already fully recovered their cost basis and became zero basis portfolios (“ZBA”) prior to our adoption of CECL. We did not establish a negative allowance for these pools as we elected the Transition Resource Group for Credit Losses’ practical expedient to retain the integrity of these legacy pools. Similar to how we treated ZBA collections prior to the adoption of CECL, all subsequent collections to the ZBA pools are recognized as ZBA revenue, which is included in revenue from receivable
portfolios in our consolidated statements of income.
Servicing revenue consists primarily of fee-based income earned on accounts collected on behalf of others, primarily credit originators. We earn fee-based income by providing debt servicing (such as early stage collections, BPO, contingent collections, trace services and litigation activities) to credit originators for non-performing loans in Europe.
Other revenues primarily include revenues recognized from the sale of real estate assets that are acquired as a result of our investments in non-performing secured residential mortgage portfolios and real estate assets in Europe and LAAP.
The following table summarizes revenues for the periods presented (in thousands, except percentages):
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 unfavorably impacted by foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound by 2.8% during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The decreases in revenue recognized from portfolio basis during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 were primarily due to a lower portfolio basis (i.e., a lower investment in receivable balance) driven by a lower volume of purchases and negative changes in expected future recoveries in recent quarters.
As
discussed above, ZBA revenue represents collections from our legacy ZBA pools. We expect our ZBA revenue to continue to decline as we collect on these legacy pools. We do not expect to have new ZBA pools in the future.
Recoveries above or below forecast represent over and under-performance in the reporting period. Collections during the three months ended March 31, 2022 significantly outperformed the projected cash flows. We believe the collection over-performance was a result of changes in consumer behavior and our liquidation improvement initiatives.
When reassessing the forecasts of expected lifetime recoveries during the three months ended March 31, 2022, management considered historical and current collection performance, and believes that for certain static pools sustained collections
over-performance resulted in increased total expected recoveries. As a result, we have updated our forecast, resulting in a net increase of total estimated remaining collections which in turn, when discounted to present value, resulted in a
27
positive change in expected future period recoveries of approximately $120.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we recorded approximately $46.9 million in negative change in expected future period recoveries.
The following tables summarize collections from purchased receivables, revenue from receivable portfolios, end
of period receivable balance and other related supplemental data, by year of purchase (in thousands, except percentages):
(1)Portfolio
balance includes non-accrual pool groups. The EIR presented is only for pool groups that accrete portfolio revenue.
(2)Annual pool groups for other geographies have been aggregated for disclosure purposes.
Servicing revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2022 decreased as compared to servicing revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease was primarily attributable to reduced service demand from BPO clients and the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, which was primarily the result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Other revenues increased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared
to the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily driven by the increased sale of real estate assets, the increase was partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, which was primarily the result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound and Euro.
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. Our operating expenses were favorably impacted by foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound by approximately 2.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Operating expenses are explained in more detail as follows:
Salaries and Employee Benefits
Salaries and employee benefits increased slightly during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The increase was primarily due to the increase of stock-based compensation expense attributable to increased stock price in recent periods. The increase was partially offset by the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Cost of Legal Collections
Cost of legal collections primarily includes contingent fees paid to our external 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. Cost of legal collections does not include internal legal channel employee costs, which are included in salaries and employee benefits in our consolidated statements of income.
The
following table summarizes our cost of legal collections during the periods presented (in thousands, except percentages):
Cost of legal collections decreased driven by decreased legal channel collections as compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was a result of decreased court costs due to fewer placements in the legal collection channel in the three months ended March 31, 2022.
General
and Administrative Expenses
The increase in general and administrative expense during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to increased general and administrative expense associated with our return to the office initiatives. The increase was partially offset by the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Other
operating expenses decreased during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily due to reduced expenditures for temporary services and direct collection expenses and the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Collection Agency Commissions
Collection agency commissions are commissions paid to third-party collection agencies. Collections through the collections agencies channel are predominately in Europe and vary from period to period depending on, among other things, the number of accounts placed with an agency versus accounts collected internally. Commission rates vary 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, and commission rates for purchased bankruptcy portfolios are lower than the commission rates for charged-off credit card accounts.
Depreciation and Amortization
The increase in depreciation and amortization expense during the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily related to the increase in computer software equipment offset by the favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound.
Interest
Expense
The following tables summarize our interest expense (in thousands, except percentages):
The
decrease in interest expense during the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily due to the following reasons:
•Lower average debt balances;
•Decreased interest rates as a result of various refinancing transactions in recent periods;
•The favorable impact of foreign currency translation, primarily by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the British Pound and Euro.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income or
expense 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 $0.4 million and other expense was $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes and effective tax rate are as follows for the periods presented ($in thousands):
For
the three months ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021, the difference between our effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate was primarily due to the proportion of income earned in higher tax rate jurisdictions compared to lower tax rate jurisdictions.
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 EBITDA. Management utilizes adjusted EBITDA (defined as net income before interest income and expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition, integration and restructuring related 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):
Acquisition,
integration and restructuring related expenses(1)
679
—
Adjusted
EBITDA
$
281,398
$
182,702
Collections applied to principal balance(2)
$
53,567
$
229,510
________________________
(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)Collections applied to principal balance is calculated in the table below:
The tables included in this supplemental performance data section include detail for purchases, collections and ERC by year of purchase.
Our collection expectations are based on 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.
Cumulative Collections from Purchased Receivables to Purchase Price Multiple
The following table summarizes our receivable purchases, related gross collections, and cumulative collections money multiples (in
thousands, except multiples):
(1)Adjusted
for Put-Backs and Recalls. Put-Backs (“Put-Backs”) and recalls (“Recalls”) represent ineligible accounts that are returned by us or recalled by the seller pursuant to specific guidelines as set forth in the respective purchase agreement.
(2)Cumulative collections from inception through March 31, 2022, excluding collections on behalf of others.
(3)Cumulative Collections Money Multiple (“CCMM”) through March 31, 2022 refers to cumulative collections as a multiple of purchase price.
(4)Annual pool groups for other geographies have been aggregated for disclosure purposes.
Total Estimated Collections from Purchased Receivables to Purchase Price Multiple
The following table summarizes our purchases, resulting historical gross collections, and estimated remaining gross collections from purchased receivables (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:
<2012
$
2,143,750
$
6,725,007
$
123,509
$
6,848,516
3.2
2012
548,803
1,306,049
51,630
1,357,679
2.5
2013(3)
551,865
1,605,672
147,585
1,753,257
3.2
2014(3)
517,650
1,064,072
69,436
1,133,508
2.2
2015
499,059
848,072
69,660
917,732
1.8
2016
553,138
1,007,597
141,922
1,149,519
2.1
2017
528,009
1,046,543
244,975
1,291,518
2.4
2018
630,293
1,107,988
378,888
1,486,876
2.4
2019
676,470
1,068,218
684,890
1,753,108
2.6
2020
538,824
735,602
764,395
1,499,997
2.8
2021
406,033
185,828
806,212
992,040
2.4
2022
94,251
4,038
212,656
216,694
2.3
Subtotal
7,688,145
16,704,686
3,695,758
20,400,444
2.7
Europe:
2013(3)
619,079
1,360,764
654,201
2,014,965
3.3
2014(3)
623,129
1,049,218
498,160
1,547,378
2.5
2015(3)
419,941
581,975
317,684
899,659
2.1
2016
258,218
401,964
261,850
663,814
2.6
2017
461,571
530,701
427,751
958,452
2.1
2018
433,302
344,602
480,764
825,366
1.9
2019
273,354
231,648
396,755
628,403
2.3
2020
116,899
95,748
257,338
353,086
3.0
2021
255,788
61,139
498,383
559,522
2.2
2022
75,196
2,968
165,134
168,102
2.2
Subtotal
3,536,477
4,660,727
3,958,020
8,618,747
2.4
Other
geographies(4):
All
vintages
340,283
539,904
59,058
598,962
1.8
Subtotal
340,283
539,904
59,058
598,962
1.8
Total
$
11,564,905
$
21,905,317
$
7,712,836
$
29,618,153
2.6
________________________
(1)Purchase
price refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire a portfolio less Put-backs, Recalls, and other adjustments. Put-Backs and Recalls represent ineligible accounts that are returned by us or recalled by the seller pursuant to specific guidelines as set forth in the respective purchase agreement.
(2)Cumulative collections from inception through March 31, 2022, excluding collections on behalf of others.
(3)Includes portfolios acquired in connection with certain business combinations.
(4)Annual pool groups for other geographies have been aggregated for disclosure purposes.
Estimated Remaining Gross Collections by Year of Purchase
The following table summarizes our estimated remaining gross collections from purchased receivable portfolios and estimated future cash flows from real estate-owned assets (in thousands):
Estimated
Remaining Gross Collections by Year of Purchase(1)
2022(3)
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
>2030
Total(2)
United
States:
<2012
$
31,723
$
30,671
$
21,215
$
14,551
$
9,940
$
6,712
$
4,378
$
2,593
$
1,350
$
376
$
123,509
2012
12,826
12,114
8,420
5,896
4,129
2,892
2,026
1,420
996
911
51,630
2013(4)
35,087
33,671
23,852
16,910
11,989
8,501
6,028
4,275
3,031
4,241
147,585
2014(4)
16,638
16,238
11,060
7,777
5,486
3,871
2,733
1,930
1,364
2,339
69,436
2015
17,719
16,566
11,061
7,420
5,136
3,618
2,553
1,805
1,279
2,503
69,660
2016
36,329
34,343
22,687
15,188
10,198
7,064
4,960
3,498
2,472
5,183
141,922
2017
63,375
57,200
38,205
26,120
18,269
12,619
8,866
6,253
4,422
9,646
244,975
2018
104,964
96,621
61,103
40,074
26,403
17,345
11,151
7,470
4,912
8,845
378,888
2019
179,250
168,884
113,726
74,974
49,813
33,293
22,158
14,578
9,842
18,372
684,890
2020
208,631
190,306
125,886
83,418
54,035
35,432
23,337
15,309
9,957
18,084
764,395
2021
182,155
222,681
132,106
84,128
57,792
39,111
27,257
19,251
13,677
28,054
806,212
2022
43,110
56,315
39,591
23,528
15,599
10,872
7,292
5,133
3,636
7,580
212,656
Subtotal
931,807
935,610
608,912
399,984
268,789
181,330
122,739
83,515
56,938
106,134
3,695,758
Europe:
2013(4)
58,236
71,942
65,964
60,047
54,824
49,551
44,756
40,977
36,995
170,909
654,201
2014(4)
49,982
59,866
54,007
48,242
42,222
36,860
33,013
29,447
26,756
117,765
498,160
2015(4)
33,144
40,219
34,821
30,733
27,937
23,633
20,949
18,459
16,583
71,206
317,684
2016
35,097
40,302
33,216
28,792
24,116
19,437
16,060
13,364
11,347
40,119
261,850
2017
53,157
62,020
51,838
43,549
37,006
31,913
26,774
23,008
19,778
78,708
427,751
2018
51,868
65,511
58,328
49,847
43,528
36,971
31,843
27,218
23,011
92,639
480,764
2019
51,534
59,249
50,739
42,567
35,352
28,405
23,681
20,100
17,089
68,039
396,755
2020
35,279
41,915
35,077
30,279
25,118
18,300
13,940
11,730
9,120
36,580
257,338
2021
59,446
75,643
63,230
53,244
45,527
38,715
33,290
28,132
22,917
78,239
498,383
2022
16,588
23,117
20,479
17,401
15,288
13,915
12,639
11,199
8,973
25,535
165,134
Subtotal
444,331
539,784
467,699
404,701
350,918
297,700
256,945
223,634
192,569
779,739
3,958,020
Other
geographies(5):
All
vintages
7,370
9,227
8,218
6,908
4,386
2,505
2,278
2,278
2,278
13,610
59,058
Subtotal
7,370
9,227
8,218
6,908
4,386
2,505
2,278
2,278
2,278
13,610
59,058
Portfolio
ERC
1,383,508
1,484,621
1,084,829
811,593
624,093
481,535
381,962
309,427
251,785
899,483
7,712,836
REO
ERC(6)
12,019
31,774
27,610
10,590
1,644
1,014
1,753
685
14
1
87,104
Total
ERC
$
1,395,527
$
1,516,395
$
1,112,439
$
822,183
$
625,737
$
482,549
$
383,715
$
310,112
$
251,799
$
899,484
$
7,799,940
________________________
(1)As
of March 31, 2022, ERC for Zero Basis Portfolios include approximately $75.1 million for purchased consumer and bankruptcy receivables in the United States. ERC for Zero Basis Portfolios in Europe and other geographies was immaterial. ERC also includes approximately $59.1 million from cost recovery portfolios, primarily in other geographies.
(2)Represents the expected remaining gross cash collections over a 180-month period. As of March 31, 2022, ERC for 84-month and 120-month periods were:
(5)Annual pool groups for other geographies have been aggregated for disclosure purposes.
(6)Real estate-owned assets ERC includes approximately $85.7 million and $1.4 million of estimated future cash flows for Europe and Other Geographies,
respectively.
Estimated Future Collections Applied to Investment in Receivable Portfolios
As of March 31, 2022, we had $3.1 billion in investment in receivable portfolios. The estimated future collections applied to the investment in receivable portfolios net balance is as follows (in thousands):
Cash efficiency margin facilitates a comparison of cash receipts to operating expenses and enhances visibility into operating expense management. The following table summarizes our cash efficiency margin calculation for the periods indicated (in thousands, except for percentages):
Cash
flows from operating activities represent the cash receipts and disbursements related to all of our activities other than investing and financing activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $54.5 million and $69.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Operating cash flows are derived by adjusting net income for non-cash operating items such as depreciation and amortization, changes in recoveries, 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.
Investing Cash Flows
Cash flows relating to investing activities
is primarily affected by receivable portfolio purchases offset by collection proceeds applied to the investment in receivable portfolios.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $37.1 million and $95.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Receivable portfolio purchases, net of put-backs, were $166.3 million and $167.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Collection proceeds applied to the investment in receivable portfolios, were $215.3 million and $268.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Financing
Cash Flows
Financing cash flows are generally affected by borrowings under our credit facilities and proceeds from various debt offerings, offset by repayments of amounts outstanding under our credit facilities and repayments of various notes.
Net cash used in financing activities was $118.0 million and $160.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Borrowings under our credit facilities were $328.3 million and $273.3 million during the three months ended March 31,
2022 and 2021, respectively. Repayments of amounts outstanding under our credit facilities were $180.6 million and $235.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We paid $221.2 million and $161.0 million to settle our convertible senior notes using cash on hand and drawings under our Global Senior Facility during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Capital Resources
Historically, we have met our cash requirements by utilizing our cash flows from operations, cash collections from our investment in receivable portfolios, bank borrowings, debt offerings, and equity offerings.
Depending on the capital markets, we consider additional financings to fund our operations and acquisitions. Our primary capital resources are cash collections from our investment in receivable portfolios and bank borrowings. From time to time, we may repurchase outstanding debt or equity and/or restructure or refinance debt obligations. Our primary cash requirements have included the purchase of receivable portfolios, entity acquisitions, operating expenses, the payment of interest and principal on borrowings, and the payment of income taxes.
We are in material compliance with all covenants under our financing arrangements. See “Note 7: Borrowings” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of our debt. Available capacity under our Global Senior Facility, after taking into account applicable debt covenants, was $559.9 million as of March 31,
2022.
Our Board of Directors has approved a $300.0 million share repurchase program. Repurchases under this program are expected to be made from cash on hand and/or a drawing from our Global Senior Facility 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 our management and Board of Directors, and in accordance with market conditions, other corporate considerations, and applicable regulatory requirements. The program does not obligate us to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be modified or suspended at our discretion. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, we repurchased 399,522 shares of our common stock for approximately $25.6 million. Our practice is to retire the shares repurchased.
Our
cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2022 consisted of $17.9 million held by U.S.-based entities and $142.3 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 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.
Included in cash and cash equivalents is cash that was collected on behalf of, and remains payable to, third-party clients. The balance of cash held for clients was $26.2 million as of March 31, 2022.
Cash from operations could also be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, timing
of cash collections from our consumers, and other risks detailed in our Risk Factors. However, 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, cash collections from our investment in receivable portfolios, 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.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” contained in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a complete discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates. There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates since our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates. As of March 31, 2022, there had not been a material change in any of the foreign currency risk information disclosed in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Interest Rates. As of March 31, 2022, there had not been a material change in the interest rate risk information disclosed in Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021.
Item 4 – Controls and Procedures
Attached as exhibits to this Form 10-Q are the certifications required by Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This section includes information concerning the controls and controls evaluation referred to in the certifications.
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 (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO),
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 CEO and CFO concluded that, as of March 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date due to a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that was disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Remediation
As previously described in Part II, Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, we began implementing a remediation plan to address the material weakness mentioned above. The weakness will not be considered remediated, until the
applicable controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. We expect that the remediation of this material weakness will be completed no later than December 31, 2022.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Information with respect to this item may be found in “Note 11: Commitments and Contingencies,” to the consolidated financial statements.
Item 1A – Risk Factors
Except for the updates to the risk factor set forth below, there is no material change in the information reported under “Part I-Item 1A-Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
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 and credit availability. Adverse conditions, economic changes (including significant inflation), 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.
Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 399,522 shares of our common stock for approximately $25.6 million. The following table presents information with respect to purchases of common stock of the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2022, by the
Company or an “affiliated purchaser” of the Company, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act:
(1)On
August 12, 2015, we publicly announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a stock repurchase program for the Company to purchase $50.0 million of our Company’s common stock. On May 5, 2021, we publicly announced that our Board of Directors had authorized a $250.0 million increase to the stock repurchase program, which increased the size of the program from $50.0 million to $300.0 million.
(2)This column discloses the number of shares purchased pursuant to the program during the indicated time periods.
XBRL
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Pursuant to the requirements 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.
