• Encore Capital Group Announces Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 04 Aug 2021 15:05:01   America/Chicago

    • Record collections of $612 million
    • GAAP net income of $97 million
    • GAAP EPS of $3.07
    • Leverage of 1.9x, down from 2.4x a year ago
    • Share repurchases of $27M in Q2 2021

    SAN DIEGO, Aug. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Encore Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECPG), an international specialty finance company, today reported consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

    “Encore delivered another period of strong performance in the second quarter as we continued to execute our strategy, improve our balance sheet and focus on our capital allocation priorities,” said Ashish Masih, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The primary driver of our financial performance in the period was our record collections for both our MCM and Cabot businesses. We continue to see consumers focus on resolving their debts, which led to a high volume of inbound calls and online engagement.”

    “On a global basis, our portfolio purchases were $143 million in the quarter, which was lower than last year due to a lower level of supply coming to market. Although issuers continue to sell, volumes are lower because of fewer charge-offs. As these conditions persist, we have remained disciplined and continue to purchase at attractive returns. ”

    “Our business continues to generate a significant amount of excess capital, driving a further reduction in our leverage ratio, which is now at the low end of our target range of 2 to 3 times. Consistent with our capital allocation priorities, we spent $27 million to repurchase Encore shares during the second quarter,” said Masih.

    In June, the company refinanced the remainder of its legacy Cabot bonds with £250 million of new senior secured notes with a 325-basis point lower coupon while also extending the maturity from 2023 to 2028. The company expects the interest savings from the new notes will pay back the call premium from the redemption of the previous notes by the end of 2021.

    Financial Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2021:

     Three Months Ended June 30,
    (in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share)2021 2020 Change
    Collections$612,427  $508,215  21%
    Revenues$427,735  $426,033  —%
    Portfolio purchases(1)$142,728  $147,939  (4)%
    Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC)$8,111,917  $8,381,829  (3)%
    Operating expenses$253,448  $206,341  23%
    GAAP net income attributable to Encore$96,503  $130,332  (26)%
    GAAP earnings per share$3.07  $4.13  (26)%
    LTM Pre-tax ROIC(2)15.0% 11.9% +310bps
    Leverage Ratio(3)1.9x 2.4x -0.5x

    ______________________
    (1)   Includes U.S. purchases of $89.5 million and $124.8 million, and Europe purchases of $53.2 million and $23.1 million in Q2 2021 and Q2 2020, respectively.
    (2)   See Supplemental Financial Information for calculation of LTM Pre-Tax ROIC (Return on Invested Capital).
    (3)   Leverage ratio is the ratio of Net Debt to (Adjusted EBITDA + collections applied to principal balance), the industry standard for leverage.

    Financial Highlights for the First Half of 2021:

     Six Months Ended June 30,
    (in thousands, except percentages and earnings per share)2021 2020 Change
    Collections$1,218,888  $1,035,494  18%
    Revenues$844,572  $715,114  18%
    Portfolio purchases(1)$312,906  $362,052  (14)%
    Operating expenses$501,971  $448,220  12%
    GAAP net income attributable to Encore$191,133  $119,878  59%
    GAAP earnings per share$6.04  $3.79  59%

    ______________________
    (1)   Includes U.S. purchases of $181.9 million and $310.1 million, and Europe purchases of $131.0 million and $52.0 million in six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

    Conference Call and Webcast

    Encore will host a conference call and slide presentation today, August 4, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. Pacific / 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, to present and discuss second quarter results.

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

    For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a telephonic replay will be available for seven days by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (404) 537-3406 and entering the conference ID number 4169064. A replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the call on the Company's website.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    This news release includes certain financial measures that exclude the impact of certain items and therefore have not been calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Company has included information concerning adjusted EBITDA because management utilizes this information in the evaluation of its operations and believes that this measure is a useful indicator of the Company’s ability to generate cash collections in excess of operating expenses through the liquidation of its receivable portfolios. The Company has included information concerning adjusted operating expenses in order to facilitate a comparison of approximate cash costs to cash collections for the portfolio purchasing and recovery business in the periods presented. The Company has included Pre-Tax ROIC as management uses this measure to monitor and evaluate operating performance relative to our invested capital and because the Company believes it is a useful measure for investors to evaluate effective use of capital. Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted operating expenses and Adjusted Income from Operations (used in Pre-Tax ROIC) have not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income, net income per share, and total operating expenses as indicators of the Company’s operating performance. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has attached to this news release a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

    About Encore Capital Group, Inc.

    Encore Capital Group is an international specialty finance company that provides debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers across a broad range of financial assets. Through its subsidiaries around the globe, Encore purchases portfolios of consumer receivables from major banks, credit unions, and utility providers.

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

    Forward Looking Statements

    The statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including, most importantly, those statements preceded by, or that include, the words “will,” “may,” “believe,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future operating results, performance, business plans or prospects. For all “forward-looking statements,” the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company and its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, each as it may be amended from time to time. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

    Contact:

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

    SOURCE: Encore Capital Group, Inc.

    FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

     
    ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
    (In Thousands, Except Par Value Amounts)
    (Unaudited)
        
     June 30,
    2021    		 December 31,
    2020
    Assets   
    Cash and cash equivalents$198,516  $189,184 
    Investment in receivable portfolios, net3,154,001  3,291,918 
    Property and equipment, net120,090  127,297 
    Other assets292,078  349,162 
    Goodwill915,067  906,962 
    Total assets$4,679,752  $4,864,523 
    Liabilities and Equity   
    Liabilities:   
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$190,707  $215,920 
    Borrowings2,999,296  3,281,634 
    Other liabilities135,399  146,893 
    Total liabilities3,325,402  3,644,447 
    Commitments and Contingencies   
    Equity:   
    Convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding—  — 
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000 shares authorized, 30,413 and 31,345 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively304  313 
    Additional paid-in capital143,827  230,440 
    Accumulated earnings1,269,259  1,055,668 
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss(59,040) (68,813)
    Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity1,354,350  1,217,608 
    Noncontrolling interest—  2,468 
    Total equity1,354,350  1,220,076 
    Total liabilities and equity$4,679,752  $4,864,523 
            

    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.

     June 30,
    2021    		 December 31,
    2020
    Assets   
    Cash and cash equivalents$678  $2,223 
    Investment in receivable portfolios, net516,048  553,621 
    Other assets4,404  5,127 
    Liabilities   
    Borrowings484,078  478,131 
    Other liabilities11  37 
          


     
    ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
    (Unaudited)
        
     Three Months Ended
    June 30,    		 Six Months Ended
    June 30,
     2021 2020 2021 2020
    Revenues       
    Revenue from receivable portfolios$328,150  $335,287  $666,168  $692,652 
    Changes in expected current and future recoveries66,178  66,007  110,715  (32,654)
    Servicing revenue32,064  23,950  64,580  52,630 
    Other revenues1,343  789  3,109  2,486 
    Total revenues427,735  426,033  844,572  715,114 
    Operating expenses       
    Salaries and employee benefits97,774  90,867  194,230  183,965 
    Cost of legal collections66,900  37,356  134,042  103,635 
    General and administrative expenses34,823  28,618  66,971  60,495 
    Other operating expenses28,228  28,275  56,669  55,439 
    Collection agency commissions13,677  10,683  26,501  23,859 
    Depreciation and amortization12,046  10,542  23,558  20,827 
    Total operating expenses253,448  206,341  501,971  448,220 
    Income from operations174,287  219,692  342,601  266,894 
    Other (expense) income       
    Interest expense(44,159) (50,327) (90,685) (104,989)
    Loss on extinguishment of debt(9,300) —  (9,300) — 
    Other income (expense)566  (3,011) 511  (1,572)
    Total other expense(52,893) (53,338) (99,474) (106,561)
    Income before income taxes121,394  166,354  243,127  160,333 
    Provision for income taxes(24,607) (35,570) (51,575) (40,128)
    Net income96,787  130,784  191,552  120,205 
    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest(284) (452) (419) (327)
    Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders$96,503  $130,332  $191,133  $119,878 
            
    Earnings per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:       
    Basic$3.12  $4.15  $6.13  $3.82 
    Diluted$3.07  $4.13  $6.04  $3.79 
            
    Weighted average shares outstanding:       
    Basic30,909  31,413  31,187  31,361 
    Diluted31,415  31,560  31,622  31,628 
                


     
    ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Unaudited, In Thousands)
      
     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2021 2020
    Operating activities:   
    Net income$191,552  $120,205 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
    Depreciation and amortization23,558  20,827 
    Loss on extinguishment of debt9,300  — 
    Other non-cash interest expense, net9,403  12,127 
    Stock-based compensation expense9,056  9,305 
    Deferred income taxes(5,097) (17,101)
    Changes in expected current and future recoveries(110,715) 32,654 
    Other, net12,006  4,923 
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities   
    Other assets11,474  11,917 
    Prepaid income tax and income taxes payable31,374  41,748 
    Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities(32,946) (26,890)
    Net cash provided by operating activities148,965  209,715 
    Investing activities:   
    Purchases of receivable portfolios, net of put-backs(306,549) (350,658)
    Collections applied to investment in receivable portfolios, net552,720  342,842 
    Purchases of property and equipment(10,351) (13,028)
    Other, net4,877  9,831 
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities240,697  (11,013)
    Financing activities:   
    Payment of loan and debt refinancing costs(10,617) — 
    Proceeds from credit facilities358,063  279,070 
    Repayment of credit facilities(511,200) (315,622)
    Proceeds from senior secured notes353,747  — 
    Repayment of senior secured notes(339,585) (32,500)
    Repayment of other debt—  (14,882)
    Repayment of convertible senior notes(161,000) — 
    Repurchase of common stock(47,421) — 
    Other, net(11,634) (3,634)
    Net cash used in financing activities(369,647) (87,568)
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents20,015  111,134 
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents(10,683) (9,669)
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period189,184  192,335 
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$198,516  $293,800 
        
    Supplemental disclosure of cash information:   
    Cash paid for interest$69,152  $88,363 
    Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds24,273  16,292 
          


     
    ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
    Supplemental Financial Information
     
    Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Income, and Adjusted Operating Expenses Related to Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery Business to GAAP Total Operating Expenses
    (In Thousands, Except Per Share amounts) (Unaudited)
        
     Three Months Ended
    June 30,    		 Six Months Ended
    June 30,
     2021 2020 2021 2020
    GAAP net income, as reported$96,787  $130,784  $191,552  $120,205 
    Adjustments:       
    Interest expense44,159  50,327  90,685  104,989 
    Interest income(426) (559) (900) (1,559)
    Provision for income taxes24,607  35,570  51,575  40,128 
    Depreciation and amortization12,046  10,542  23,558  20,827 
    Stock-based compensation expense5,651  4,778  9,056  9,305 
    Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(1)—  4,776  —  4,963 
    Loss on extinguishment of debt9,300  —  9,300  — 
    Adjusted EBITDA$192,124  $236,218  $374,826  $298,858 
    Collections applied to principal balance(2)$224,074  $106,921  $453,584  $375,496 

    ________________________
    (1)   Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
    (2)   Amount represents (a) gross collections from receivable portfolios less the sum of (b) revenue from receivable portfolios and (c) changes in expected recoveries. For consistency with the Company debt covenant reporting, for periods subsequent to June 30, 2020, the collections applied to principal balance also includes proceeds applied to basis from sales of REO assets and related activities; prior period amounts have not been adjusted to reflect this change as such amounts were immaterial.

     Three Months Ended
    June 30,    		 Six Months Ended
    June 30,
     2021 2020 2021 2020
    GAAP total operating expenses, as reported$253,448  $206,341  $501,971  $448,220 
    Adjustments:       
    Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business(1)(43,267) (42,386) (85,920) (83,875)
    Stock-based compensation expense(5,651) (4,778) (9,056) (9,305)
    Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(2)—  32  —  (155)
    Adjusted operating expenses related to portfolio purchasing and recovery business$204,530  $159,209  $406,995  $354,885 

    ________________________
    (1)   Operating expenses related to non-portfolio purchasing and recovery business include operating expenses from other operating segments that primarily engage in fee-based business, as well as corporate overhead not related to our portfolio purchasing and recovery business.
    (2)   Amount represents acquisition, integration and restructuring related operating expenses. We adjust for this amount because we believe these operating expenses are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for these expenses enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.

    Pre-Tax Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”)

    ROIC is calculated as last twelve months adjusted income from operations, divided by our average invested capital. Adjusted income from operations excludes acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses, amortization of certain acquired intangible assets and other charges or gains that are not indicative of ongoing operations. Average invested capital is defined as the aggregate of average Net Debt (defined below) and average GAAP equity and is calculated as the sum of current and prior period ending amounts divided by two.

     Last Twelve Months Ended June 30,
    (in thousands, except percentages)2021
    		 2020
    Numerator   
    Income from operations$609,269  $488,449 
    Adjustments:(1)   
    CFPB settlement fees15,009  — 
    Acquisition, integration and restructuring related expenses(1) 4,678 
    Amortization of certain acquired intangible assets(2)7,326  6,737 
    Goodwill impairment—  10,718 
    Net gain on fair value adjustments to contingent considerations—  (101)
    Adjusted income from operations$631,603  $510,481 
        
    Denominator   
    Average Net Debt$3,016,599  $3,301,314 
    Average equity1,198,369  972,672 
    Total average invested capital$4,214,968  $4,273,986 
        
    Pre-tax ROIC 15.0%  11.9%

    ________________________
    (1)   We believe these amounts are not indicative of ongoing operations; therefore, adjusting for them enhances comparability to prior periods, anticipated future periods, and our competitors’ results.
    (2)   We have acquired intangible assets, such as trade names and customer relationships, as a result of our acquisition of debt solution service providers. These intangible assets are valued at the time of the acquisition and amortized over their estimated lives. We believe that amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, especially the amortization of an acquired company’s trade names and customer relationships, is the result of pre-acquisition activities. In addition, the amortization of these acquired intangibles is a non-cash static expense that is not affected by operations during any reporting period.

    Net Debt

    Net Debt is GAAP borrowings adjusted for debt issuance costs and debt discounts, cash and cash equivalents and client cash. Net Debt is a measure commonly used by lenders to our industry to represent the net borrowings of market participants, and is also used regularly by lenders and others as the numerator in industry leverage calculations.

    (in thousands)June 30,
    2021    		 June 30,
    2020    		 June 30,
    2019
    GAAP Borrowings$2,999,296  $3,353,730  $3,529,717 
    Debt issuance costs and debt discounts64,468  63,017  73,248 
    Cash & cash equivalents(198,516) (293,800) (168,565)
    Client cash(1)23,907  21,097  24,183 
    Net Debt$2,889,155  $3,144,044  $3,458,583 

    ________________________
    (1)   Client cash is cash that was collected on behalf of, and remains payable to, third party clients.


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