Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INCd8k.htm
Encore Capital Group Investor Presentation
March 15, 2011
Exhibit 99.1


CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
1
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements in this presentation that are not historical facts, including, most
importantly, those statements preceded by, or that include, the words “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 and growth.  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, 10-Q and 8-K, each as it
may be amended from time to time.  The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.


INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
2
Favorable supply and demand dynamics have existed since
2008, with only a few credible, large buyers
Strong performance is expected to continue
Operational
and
financial
leverage
is
increasing,
largely
due
to
our
successful operating center in India
Analytic insights inform our valuation and operating strategies
and allow for a closer partnership with consumers


ENCORE IS A LEADING PLAYER IN THE CONSUMER DEBT BUYING AND
RECOVERY INDUSTRY
3
Revenue Composition
As of December 31, 2010
Global Capabilities
95%
5%
Debt Purchasing & Collections
Bankruptcy Servicing
Purchase and collection
of
charged-off unsecured
consumer receivables
(primarily credit card)
Robust business model
emphasizing consumer
intelligence and
operational
specialization
Invested ~$1.8 billion to
acquire receivables with a face
value of ~$55 billion
Acquired ~33 million consumer
accounts since
inception
Process secured consumer bankruptcy accounts for leading
auto
lenders and other financial institutions
Proprietary software dedicated to bankruptcy servicing
Operational platform that integrates lenders, trustees,
and
consumers
Debt Purchasing & Collections
Bankruptcy Servicing
St Cloud, MN
Arlington, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Delhi, India
Call Center /
Technology Site
Call Center Site
Bankruptcy
Servicing
Call Center Site
San Diego,
CA
Headquarters
Call Center
Site


STRATEGIC DECISIONS MADE OVER THE PAST DECADE DEMONSTRATE
OUR ABILITY TO FORESEE AND ADAPT TO CHANGES
4
Hired first statisticians
Created first and second generation
forecasting models
Created 1 
generation operational
models
An Emerging
Market
2001
2003
In late 2005, we established a call center in
India. We believe
it is in the only late-stage
collections platform in India, at
approximately 1/3 the cost of our U.S.
operations.
Between 2005 and 2007 we remained
disciplined
and
avoided
high
priced
portfolios
that
did
not
meet
internal
hurdle
rates
In 2008 we built and implemented the industry’s
first known ability-to-pay (capability) model
Overconfidence and
Irrational Pricing
2005
2007
In 2009, we ramped up
purchasing
to take
advantage of the favorable
market environment
In
February
2010,
we
entered
into a new $327.5 million
revolving credit facility which
was subsequently increased
to $410.5 million and added
$75 million in two private
placement transactions with
Prudential
Significant
Opportunity
2011
2009
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
Demand
Supply
st
(mail channel and call center)


2010
2009
YOY Growth
Annual Variance
$604,609
$116,817
24%
$487,792
Collections
$381,308
$64,889
21%
$316,419
Revenue
$346,656
$82,051
31%
$264,605 
Adjusted EBITDA*
$361,957 
$105,325
41%
$256,632
Purchases
$1.95
$0.58
42%
$1.37
EPS
($000s, except EPS and ratios)
THESE DECISIONS ARE DRIVING STRONG RESULTS
5
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP number. The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of operating performance and uses it as a measure to
assess the operating performance of the Company. See Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Income at the end of the presentation.
Q4 10
$149,181
$99,772
$83,888
$119,100 
$0.56
Q4 09 
$124,476
$81,552
$66,103
$40,952 
$0.34


WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED BOTH OPERATING CASH FLOW
(ADJUSTED EBITDA) AND CASH COLLECTIONS
Adjusted EBITDA* and Gross Collections by quarter
($ millions)
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP number. The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of operating performance and uses it as a measure to
assess the operating performance of the Company. See Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Income at the end of the presentation.
6
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
$450
$500
$550
$600
2007
2008
2009
2010
Gross Collections
Adjusted  EBITDA


OUR OPERATING CASH FLOW IS IMPROVING PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF OUR
INDIA TEAM, WHICH IS PRODUCING HALF OF CALL CENTER COLLECTIONS
7
Collections from all call centers
($ millions)
$126
$157
$186
$268
Percent
of Total:
10%
19%
30%
44%
2007
2008
2009
2010
India
U.S.


THE INCREASED CONTRIBUTION FROM INDIA, HAS REDUCED OUR INTERNAL,
DIRECT COST-TO-COLLECT BY 58% OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS
Variable cost to collect *
* Represents salaries, variable compensation and employee benefits
8
51.5
50.2
47.6
43.7
5
10
15
20
25
2007
2008
2009
2010
40
44
48
52
Global Call Centers (LHS)
India Call Center (LHS)*
Total CTC (RHS)
(%)


AND THE TREND SHOULD CONTINUE, AS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR
INDIA EMPLOYEES ARE STILL IN THEIR LEARNING CURVES
Encore India Account Manager headcount and indicative cash average
Headcount (number)*; Cash average (indicative)
*Headcount data as of 12/31/2010
9
50
100
150
200
250
300
0-3 Months
4-6 Months
7-15 Months
15+ Months
AM HC
Indicative cash average


Full
year
purchases
for
2008
-
2010
($ millions)
WE ARE INVESTING IN THE FUTURE THROUGH INCREASED PURCHASING
VOLUMES
$230.3
$362.0
$256.6
2008
2009
2010
10


Annual Estimated Remaining Gross Collection (ERC)
and Total Debt  ($ millions, at end of period)
WHICH HAS MEANINGFULLY ENHANCED THE COMPANY’S EMBEDDED
VALUE, WHILE MAINTAINING CONSERVATIVE RATIOS
11
* CTC = Cost-to-Collect    ** DTL = Deferred Tax Liability
$758
Net Debt +
DTL**
Taxes
(40% Rate)
Gross ERC
$1,389
40% CTC*
Net ERC
We are
approximately 1.9X
over-collateralized
Net
Debt
DTL**
$374
$18
($556)
($75)
Annual Estimated Remaining Net Collection (Net ERC)
and Net Debt  + Deferred Taxes ($ millions, at end of period)
$757
$892
$1,063
$1,160
$1,389
$179
$256
$304
$303
$385
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
ERC
Debt
$392


WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE OF REMAINING COLLECTIONS
IS CONSERVATIVE GIVEN OUR HISTORY
12
$-
$250
$500
$750
$1,000
$1,250
$1,500
$1,750
$2,000
$2,250
$2,500
$2,750
$3,000
$3,250
Cumulative collections (initial expectation vs. actual)
($ millions,
December
01
December
10)
Actual cash
collections
Initial
projections


MARKET DYNAMICS INFLUENCE OUR APPROACH TO THE BUSINESS
13
Charge-offs
remain
elevated
Consumer
credit continues
to experience
losses at near
record levels
Supply more
closely
managed by
the issuers
Demand
increasing, albeit
slowly
Few players with
access to
significant
amounts of capital
Continued exit of
large players, but
others starting to
gain traction
Consumer
performance
remains predictable
Our models continue
to predict consumer
behavior with a high
degree of accuracy
Significant
regulatory and
legislative scrutiny
Both in our industry
and in the financial
services sector at
large


DESPITE THE MACROECONOMIC HEADWINDS, OUR CONSUMER’S BEHAVIOR
REMAINS CONSISTENT
14
Metric
Recent trend
Payer rates
Slightly upward
Average payment size
Stable
Single vs. multi-payers
More payment plans
Broken payer rates
Mild improvement
Settlement rates
Upward trend


IN FACT, WE SAW IMPROVEMENT IN PAYER RATES OVER THE PRIOR YEAR
THROUGHOUT 2010
15
Overall payer rate for all active inventory
2008
2009
2010


WE UNDERSTAND OUR CONSUMERS ARE GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT
TIME AND WE STRIVE TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO ENCOURAGE A DIALOGUE
16
Operational practices
Activity
Interest policy
Discounts
Outbound
communication
Work segmentation
We do not charge interest during the course of payment plans to
improve the likelihood that  consumers will be able to fulfill their
obligations
We consistently provide significant discounts to consumers in an
effort to establish a mutually beneficial negotiation
It is our policy not to leave messages on answering machines
(unless previous contact made) or intentionally contact third-
parties
out
of
respect
for
our
consumers’
privacy
We use our suite of powerful analytic scores to identify those
consumers that are unable to repay their obligations, and we
proactively choose to forgo all work effort either temporarily or
permanently


THESE PRACTICES HAVE ALLOWED US TO EFFECTIVELY HELP MILLIONS OF
CONSUMERS
Consumers with whom we have partnered to retire their debt (cumulative)
17
-
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
1,600,000
1,800,000
2,000,000


OUR OPERATIONAL SUCCESS IS BASED UPON FOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
18
ENCORE’S
STRATEGIC
PILLARS
ANALYTIC
STRENGTH
COST
LEADERSHIP
CONSUMER
INTELLIGENCE
PRINCIPLED
INTENT


Offer
significant
discounts
and
plans
that
accommodate
many small payments
Focus on payment plans and
opportunities to build longer
relationships
with consumers
Hardship
strategies
Remind
consumers
of
their
obligation
through
legal
communications
Our
attempts
to
contact
or
work
with
consumers
are
typically
ignored,
and
the
legal
option
becomes
necessary
OUR ANALYTIC INSIGHTS ALLOW US TO MATCH OUR COLLECTION
APPROACH TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER’S PAYMENT BEHAVIOR
19
Strong
partnership
opportunities
with
willing
and able consumers
Willingness to pay
Is the debtor willing to resolve the debt on fair terms?
HIGH
HIGH
LOW
LOW


Core competency in understanding the
payer behavior of distressed consumers
Cross-channel
coordination
and optimization
Consumer
behavior
research
Market data
and insight
Portfolio
valuation
Pre-purchase
model
No effort
Legal
Outsourcing
Legal effort
model with
Capability
Call
Centers
Call effort
model with
Capability
Direct
Mail
Letter effort
model with
Capability
Collection
Agency
Outsourcing
Agency effort
model with
Capability
Collections operations that
optimize effort and profitability
OUR ANALYTIC REACH EXTENDS FROM PRE-PURCHASE THROUGHOUT OUR
ENTIRE OWNERSHIP PERIOD
20
Continuous feedback between
operations and valuation


Collections lift over deciles, comparing Encore’s ability-to-pay model against both
commercial scores and random servicing strategies
Commercial score 1
Random
servicing
Commercial score 2
Encore
AND IS SUPERIOR TO WHAT CAN BE ACQUIRED COMMERCIALLY
21


OUR CONSUMER-CENTRIC FOCUS ENABLES US TO PROACTIVELY DEAL
WITH THE INCREASING REGULATORY ACTIVITY
22
Technology
Proprietary software platforms allow the company to make
changes as new regulations and laws emerge
Sophisticated software and analytics platforms ensure that
all data-driven activities are compliant
Data management
Expanded legal and quality assurance teams partner with training
department to keep account managers abreast of changes
Training
Zero tolerance policy in place to address errors by account
managers
Self-discipline


SUMMARY
23
Strong performance is expected to continue
Operational and financial leverage is increasing, largely due to
our
successful operating center in India
Favorable supply and demand dynamics have existed since
2008, with only a few credible, large buyers
Analytic insights inform our valuation and operating strategies
and allow for a closer partnership with consumers


Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP Net Income
(Unaudited, In Thousands)
Three Months Ended
Note:
The
periods
3/31/07
through
12/31/08
have
been
adjusted
to
reflect
the
retrospective
application
of
ASC
470-20
APPENDIX:  RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
24
3/31/07
6/30/07
9/30/07
12/31/07
3/31/08
6/30/08
9/30/08
12/31/08
3/31/09
6/30/09
9/30/09
12/31/09
3/31/10
6/30/10
9/30/10
12/31/10
GAAP net income, as reported
4,991
    
(1,515)
  
4,568
    
4,187
    
6,751
    
6,162
    
3,028
    
(2,095)
  
8,997
    
6,641
    
9,004
    
8,405
    
10,861
  
11,730
  
12,290
  
14,171
  
Interest expense
4,042
    
4,506
    
4,840
    
5,260
    
5,200
    
4,831
    
5,140
    
5,401
    
4,273
    
3,958
    
3,970
    
3,959
    
4,538
    
4,880
    
4,928
    
5,003
    
Contingent interest expense
3,235
    
888
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
Pay-off of future contingent interest
-
       
11,733
  
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
-
       
Provision for income taxes
3,437
    
(1,031)
  
1,315
    
2,777
    
4,509
    
4,225
    
2,408
    
(1,442)
  
5,973
    
4,166
    
5,948
    
4,609
    
6,490
    
6,749
    
6,632
    
9,075
    
Depreciation and amortization
869
       
840
       
833
       
810
       
722
       
766
       
674
       
652
       
623
       
620
       
652
       
697
       
673
       
752
       
816
       
958
       
Amount applied to principal on receivable portfolios
28,259
  
29,452
  
26,114
  
29,498
  
40,212
  
35,785
  
35,140
  
46,364
  
42,851
  
48,303
  
49,188
  
47,384
  
58,265
  
64,901
  
63,507
  
53,427
  
Stock-based compensation expense
801
       
1,204
    
1,281
    
1,001
    
1,094
    
1,228
    
860
       
382
       
1,080
    
994
       
1,261
    
1,049
    
1,761
    
1,446
    
1,549
    
1,254
    
Adjusted EBITDA
45,634
  
46,077
  
38,951
  
43,533
  
58,488
  
52,997
  
47,250
  
49,262
  
63,797
  
64,682
  
70,023
  
66,103
  
82,588
  
90,458
  
89,722
  
83,888