PRAA-2014.9.30-10Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014.
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File Number: 000-50058
 
 
 
PRA Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
 
75-3078675
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
120 Corporate Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia
 
23502
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(zip code)
(888) 772-7326
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  ý    NO  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  ý    NO  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated filer
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  ý
The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Class
 
Outstanding as of November 6, 2014
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
50,079,501



PRA GROUP, INC.
INDEX
 
 
 
Page(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
70,300

 
$
162,004

Finance receivables, net
1,913,710

 
1,239,191

Other receivables, net
18,217

 
12,359

Income taxes receivable
11,506

 
11,710

Net deferred tax asset
4,639

 
1,361

Property and equipment, net
45,969

 
31,541

Goodwill
594,401

 
103,843

Intangible assets, net
12,315

 
15,767

Other assets
86,372

 
23,456

Total assets
$
2,757,429

 
$
1,601,232

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
15,352

 
$
14,819

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
65,294

 
27,655

Income taxes payable
5,547

 

Accrued compensation
21,466

 
27,431

Net deferred tax liability
237,201

 
210,071

Interest-bearing deposits
27,300

 

Borrowings
1,425,409

 
451,780

Total liabilities
1,797,569

 
731,756

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized shares, 2,000, issued and outstanding shares - 0

 

Common stock, par value $0.01, 100,000 authorized shares, 50,077 issued and outstanding shares at September 30, 2014, and 49,840 issued and outstanding shares at December 31, 2013
501

 
498

Additional paid-in capital
141,490

 
135,441

Retained earnings
859,019

 
729,505

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income
(41,150
)
 
4,032

Total stockholders’ equity
959,860

 
869,476

Total liabilities and equity
$
2,757,429

 
$
1,601,232

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
$
224,326

 
$
171,456

 
$
584,814

 
$
494,818

Fee income
12,882

 
26,306

 
43,659

 
55,464

Other revenue
1,765

 

 
1,765

 

Total revenues
238,973

 
197,762

 
630,238

 
550,282

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee services
65,237

 
52,882

 
169,083

 
146,081

Legal collection fees
13,778

 
10,206

 
35,982

 
31,343

Legal collection costs
20,367

 
19,801

 
72,329

 
63,020

Agency fees
5,988

 
1,404

 
8,902

 
4,293

Outside fees and services
17,221

 
8,707

 
40,125

 
24,789

Communications
8,907

 
6,645

 
26,019

 
21,398

Rent and occupancy
3,018

 
1,950

 
7,384

 
5,462

Depreciation and amortization
4,949

 
3,753

 
13,107

 
10,653

Other operating expenses
11,311

 
6,549

 
25,068

 
17,665

Impairment of goodwill

 
6,397

 

 
6,397

Total operating expenses
150,776

 
118,294

 
397,999

 
331,101

Income from operations
88,197

 
79,468

 
232,239

 
219,181

Other income and (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income

 

 
2

 

Interest expense
(11,808
)
 
(3,995
)
 
(21,736
)
 
(9,607
)
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)
3,251

 

 
(2,961
)
 

Income before income taxes
79,640

 
75,473

 
207,544

 
209,574

Provision for income taxes
28,473

 
26,262

 
78,030

 
78,432

Net income
$
51,167

 
$
49,211

 
$
129,514

 
$
131,142

Adjustment for net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

 
1,873

 

 
1,605

Net income attributable to PRA Group, Inc.
$
51,167

 
$
47,338

 
$
129,514

 
$
129,537

Net income per common share attributable to PRA Group, Inc:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.02

 
$
0.94

 
$
2.59

 
$
2.56

Diluted
$
1.01

 
$
0.93

 
$
2.57

 
$
2.54

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
50,075

 
50,154

 
50,023

 
50,571

Diluted
50,439

 
50,660

 
50,413

 
51,039

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
$
51,167

 
$
49,211

 
$
129,514

 
$
131,142

Other comprehensive (loss)/income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(47,541
)
 
4,425

 
(45,182
)
 
1

Total other comprehensive (loss)/income
(47,541
)
 
4,425

 
(45,182
)
 
1

Comprehensive income
3,626

 
53,636

 
84,332

 
131,143

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 
1,873

 

 
1,605

Comprehensive income attributable to PRA Group, Inc.
$
3,626

 
$
51,763

 
$
84,332

 
$
129,538

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5


PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional
 
 
 
Other
 
Total
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Stockholders’
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
(Loss)/Income
 
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
49,840

 
$
498

 
$
135,441

 
$
729,505

 
$
4,032

 
$
869,476

Components of comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to PRA Group, Inc.

 

 

 
129,514

 

 
129,514

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 
(45,182
)
 
(45,182
)
Vesting of nonvested shares
237

 
3

 
(3
)
 

 

 

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

 
9,456

 

 

 
9,456

Income tax benefit from share-based compensation

 

 
4,159

 

 

 
4,159

Employee stock relinquished for payment of taxes

 

 
(7,563
)
 

 

 
(7,563
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
50,077

 
$
501

 
$
141,490

 
$
859,019

 
$
(41,150
)
 
$
959,860

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6


PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
129,514

 
$
131,142

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Amortization of share-based compensation
9,456

 
10,209

Depreciation and amortization
13,107

 
10,653

Impairment of goodwill

 
6,397

Amortization of debt discount
3,027

 
525

Amortization of debt fair value
(3,595
)
 

Deferred tax expense
31,055

 
2,359

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Other assets
1,622

 
(1,147
)
Other receivables
4,225

 
(1,497
)
Accounts payable
(16,507
)
 
2,237

Income taxes receivable/payable, net
(111
)
 
(5,062
)
Accrued expenses
11,205

 
8,604

Accrued compensation
(13,504
)
 
7,660

Net cash provided by operating activities
169,494

 
172,080

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(16,513
)
 
(9,913
)
Acquisition of finance receivables, net of buybacks
(412,740
)
 
(546,201
)
Collections applied to principal on finance receivables
420,570

 
368,693

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(851,183
)
 

Net cash used in investing activities
(859,866
)
 
(187,421
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Income tax benefit from share-based compensation
4,159

 
2,742

Proceeds from lines of credit
485,000

 
217,000

Principal payments on lines of credit
(48,500
)
 
(344,000
)
Repurchases of common stock

 
(58,511
)
Cash paid for purchase of portion of noncontrolling interest

 
(1,150
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest

 
(51
)
Principal payments on long-term debt
(7,500
)
 
(4,109
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
169,938

 

Net increase in interest-bearing deposits
51

 

Proceeds from convertible debt, net

 
279,285

Net cash provided by financing activities
603,148

 
91,206

Effect of exchange rate on cash
(4,480
)
 
153

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
(91,704
)
 
76,018

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
162,004

 
32,687

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
70,300

 
$
108,705

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
21,097

 
$
9,333

Cash paid for income taxes
41,682

 
78,434

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash information:
 
 
 
Adjustment of the redeemable noncontrolling interest measurement amount
$

 
$
393

Distributions payable relating to the redeemable noncontrolling interest

 
1,237

Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest

 
9,162

Employee stock relinquished for payment of taxes
(7,563
)
 
(4,103
)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


7

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)



1.
Organization and Business:
Throughout this report, the terms "PRA Group," "our," "we," "us," the "Company" or similar terms refer to PRA Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.).
PRA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, is a financial and business service company operating in North America and Europe.  The Company’s primary business is the purchase, collection and management of portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. The Company also services receivables on behalf of clients, provides business tax revenue administration, audit, discovery and recovery services for state and local governments in the U.S. and provides class action claims settlement recovery services and related payment processing to corporate clients.
On July 1, 2014, the Company acquired certain operating assets from Pamplona Capital Management, LLP ("PCM").  These assets include PCM’s IVA ("Individual Voluntary Arrangement") Master Servicing Platform as well as other operating assets associated with PCM’s IVA business. The purchase price of these assets was approximately $5 million and was paid from the Company’s existing cash balances. The Company's consolidated income statements and statements of comprehensive income include the results of operations of PCM for the period from July 1, 2014 through September 30, 2014.
On July 16, 2014, the Company completed the purchase of the outstanding equity of Aktiv Kapital AS (“Aktiv”), a Norway-based company specializing in the acquisition and servicing of non-performing consumer loans throughout Europe and in Canada, for a purchase price of approximately $861.3 million, and assumed approximately $433.7 million of Aktiv’s corporate debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. The Company's consolidated income statements and statements of comprehensive income include the results of operations of Aktiv for the period from July 16, 2014 through September 30, 2014.
A publicly traded company from 1997 until early 2012 (traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol "AIK"), Aktiv has developed a mixed in-house and outsourced collection strategy. This acquisition has provided the Company entry into thirteen new markets, providing additional geographical diversity in portfolio purchasing and collection. Aktiv maintains in-house servicing platforms in eight markets and owns portfolios in fifteen markets. Aktiv has more than 20 years of experience and data in a wide variety of consumer asset classes across an extensive geographic background. Refer to Note 12 "Business Acquisitions" for more information.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and include the accounts of all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Under the guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), the Company has determined that it has several operating segments that meet the aggregation criteria of ASC 280, and, therefore, it has one reportable segment, accounts receivable management, based on similarities among the operating units including the nature of the products and services, the nature of the production processes, the types or class of customer for their products and services, the methods used to distribute their products, and services and the nature of the regulatory environment.
The following table shows the amount of revenue generated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and long-lived assets held at September 30, 2014 and 2013 for the United States, the Company's country of domicile, and outside of the United States (amounts in thousands):
 
As Of And For The
 
As Of And For The
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
United States
$
188,134

 
$
35,411

 
$
194,769

 
$
26,289

Outside the United States
50,839

 
10,558

 
2,993

 
1,770

Total
$
238,973

 
$
45,969

 
$
197,762

 
$
28,059

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As Of And For The
 
As Of And For The
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
United States
$
573,048

 
$
35,411

 
$
542,048

 
$
26,289

Outside the United States
57,190

 
10,558

 
8,234

 
1,770

Total
$
630,238

 
$
45,969

 
$
550,282

 
$
28,059


8

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the related operations. Long-lived assets consist of net property and equipment.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, therefore, do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of the Company, however, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2014, its consolidated income statements and statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, its consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and its consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. The consolidated income statements of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 may not be indicative of future results.  Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2014.

2.
Finance Receivables, net:
Changes in finance receivables, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
 

Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,219,595

 
$
1,236,859

 
$
1,239,191

 
$
1,078,951

Acquisitions of finance receivables (1)
894,779

 
138,854

 
1,146,947

 
546,201

Foreign currency translation adjustment
(52,247
)
 
1,304

 
(51,858
)
 
363

Cash collections
(372,743
)
 
(291,651
)
 
(1,005,384
)
 
(863,511
)
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
224,326

 
171,456

 
584,814

 
494,818

Cash collections applied to principal
(148,417
)
 
(120,195
)
 
(420,570
)
 
(368,693
)
Balance at end of period
$
1,913,710

 
$
1,256,822

 
$
1,913,710

 
$
1,256,822

(1) Acquisitions of finance receivables are net of buybacks and include certain capitalized acquisition related costs. It also includes the acquisition date finance receivable portfolio that was acquired in connection with the Aktiv acquisition. Refer to Note 12 "Business Acquisitions" for more information.
At the time of acquisition, the life of each pool is generally estimated to be between 80 and 120 months based on projected amounts and timing of future cash collections using the proprietary models of the Company. At September 30, 2014, the weighted average remaining life of the Company's pools is estimated to be approximately 97 months. Based upon current projections, cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables as of September 30, 2014 are estimated to be as follows for the twelve months in the periods ending (amounts in thousands):
 
September 30, 2015
$
537,091

September 30, 2016
432,202

September 30, 2017
342,063

September 30, 2018
249,614

September 30, 2019
146,023

September 30, 2020
93,697

September 30, 2021
87,561

September 30, 2022
25,459

 
$
1,913,710


9

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


At September 30, 2014, the estimated remaining collections (“ERC”) on the receivables purchased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, were $1.86 billion and $2.25 billion, respectively. At September 30, 2014, the ERC on the receivables purchased in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, were $184.2 million and $676.0 million, respectively. At September 30, 2014, the Company had unamortized purchased principal (purchase price) in pools accounted for under the cost recovery method of $21.1 million; at December 31, 2013, the amount was $26.1 million.
Accretable yield represents the amount of income recognized on finance receivables the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future cash flows as of the balance sheet date. Additions represent the original expected accretable yield, on portfolios purchased during the period, to be earned by the Company based on its proprietary buying models. Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. When applicable, net reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield result from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows and allowance charges that exceed the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. Changes in accretable yield for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,

2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,481,826

 
$
1,400,906

 
$
1,430,067

 
$
1,239,674

Income recognized on finance receivables, net
(224,326
)
 
(171,456
)
 
(584,814
)
 
(494,818
)
Additions (1)
1,172,796

 
122,976

 
1,377,416

 
472,666

Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference
84,074

 
63,031

 
290,431

 
201,823

Foreign currency translation adjustment
(59,040
)
 
509

 
(57,770
)
 
(3,379
)
Balance at end of period
$
2,455,330

 
$
1,415,966

 
$
2,455,330

 
$
1,415,966

(1) Additions include the acquisition date accretable yield that was acquired in connection with the Aktiv acquisition. Refer to Note 12 "Business Acquisitions" for more information.
A valuation allowance is recorded for significant decreases in expected cash flows or a change in the expected timing of cash flows that would otherwise require a reduction in the stated yield on a pool of accounts. In any given period, the Company may be required to record valuation allowances due to pools of receivables underperforming previous expectations. Factors that may contribute to the recording of valuation allowances include both external and internal factors. External factors that may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently on the overall profitability of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables, would include: new laws or regulations relating to collections, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the economy. Internal factors that may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables, would include: necessary revisions to initial and post-acquisition scoring and modeling estimates, non-optimal operational activities (which relate to the collection and movement of accounts on both the collection floor of the Company and external channels), and decreases in productivity related to turnover and tenure of the Company’s collection staff. The following is a summary of activity within the Company’s valuation allowance account, all of which relates to loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Beginning balance
$
86,849

 
$
94,111

 
$
91,101

 
$
93,123

Allowance charges
2,992

 
1,500

 
5,765

 
7,060

Reversal of previous recorded allowance charges
(4,690
)
 
(4,081
)
 
(11,715
)
 
(8,653
)
Net allowance reversals
(1,698
)
 
(2,581
)
 
(5,950
)
 
(1,593
)
Ending balance
$
85,151

 
$
91,530

 
$
85,151

 
$
91,530



10

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


3.
Borrowings:
The Company's borrowings consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Domestic revolving credit
$
436,500

 
$

Domestic term loan
187,500

 
195,000

Seller note payable
169,938

 

Aktiv revolving credit
239,680

 

Aktiv term loan
79,712

 

Aktiv multicurrency term loan bridge facility
22,833

 

Aktiv subordinated loan
29,439

 

Convertible senior notes
287,500

 
287,500

Less: Debt discount
(27,693
)
 
(30,720
)
Total
$
1,425,409

 
$
451,780

Domestic Revolving Credit and Term Loan
On December 19, 2012, the Company entered into a credit facility with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders named therein (the “Credit Agreement”). The credit facility contained an accordion loan feature that allowed the Company to request an increase of up to $214.5 million in the amount available for borrowing under the facility, whether from existing or new lenders, subject to terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was amended and modified during 2013. On April 1, 2014, the Company entered into a Lender Joinder Agreement and Lender Commitment Agreement (collectively, the “Commitment Increase Agreements”) to exercise the accordion feature.  The Commitment Increase Agreements expanded the maximum amount of revolving credit availability under the Credit Agreement by $214.5 million, by elevating the revolving credit commitments of certain lenders and added three new lenders to the Credit Agreement. Giving effect to the $214.5 million increase in the amount of revolving credit availability pursuant to the Commitment Increase Agreements, the total credit facility under the Credit Agreement now includes an aggregate principal amount of $837.5 million (subject to compliance with a borrowing base and applicable debt covenants), which consists of (i) a fully-funded $187.5 million term loan, (ii) a $630 million domestic revolving credit facility, of which $193.5 million is available to be drawn, and (iii) a $20 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, of which $20 million is available to be drawn. The facilities all mature on December 19, 2017. The term and revolving loans accrue interest, at the option of the Company, at either the base rate or the Eurodollar rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) for the applicable term plus 2.50% per annum in the case of the Eurodollar rate loans and 1.50% in the case of the base rate loans. The base rate is the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 0.50%, (b) Bank of America’s prime rate, and (c) the Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%. The Company’s revolving credit facility includes a $20 million swingline loan sublimit, a $20 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20 million alternative currency equivalent sublimit.
Effective June 5, 2014, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement to amend a provision of the Credit Agreement to increase a basket for permitted indebtedness for the issuance of senior, unsecured convertible notes or other unsecured financings from an aggregate amount not to exceed $300 million to an aggregate amount not to exceed $500 million (without respect to the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020).
The Credit Agreement is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Credit Agreement, as amended and modified, contains restrictive covenants and events of default including the following:
borrowings may not exceed 33% of the ERC of all eligible asset pools plus 75% of eligible accounts receivable;
the consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) cannot exceed 2.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;
consolidated tangible net worth (as defined in the Credit Agreement) must equal or exceed $455.1 million plus 50% of positive cumulative consolidated net income for each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ended December 31, 2012, plus 50% of the cumulative net proceeds of any equity offering;
capital expenditures during any fiscal year cannot exceed $40 million;
cash dividends and distributions during any fiscal year cannot exceed $20 million;

11

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


stock repurchases during the term of the agreement cannot exceed $250 million and cannot exceed $100 million in a single fiscal year;
investments in loans and/or capital contributions cannot exceed $950 million to consummate the acquisition of the equity of Aktiv;
permitted acquisitions (as defined in the Credit Agreement) during any fiscal year cannot exceed $250 million except for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, during which fiscal year permitted acquisitions (excluding the Aktiv acquisition) cannot exceed $25 million;
indebtedness in the form of senior, unsecured convertible notes or other unsecured financings cannot exceed $500 million in the aggregate (without respect to the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020);
the Company must maintain positive consolidated income from operations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) during any fiscal quarter; and
restrictions on changes in control.
The revolving credit facility also bears an unused line fee of 0.375% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears.
The Company's borrowings on this credit facility at September 30, 2014 consisted of $187.5 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of September 30, 2014 of 2.65% and $436.5 million outstanding in 30-day Eurodollar rate loans on the revolving facility with a weighted average interest rate of 2.65%. At December 31, 2013, the Company's borrowings on this credit facility consisted of $195.0 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of December 31, 2013 of 2.67%.
Seller Note Payable
In conjunction with the closing of the Aktiv business acquisition on July 16, 2014, the Company entered into a $169.9 million promissory note (the "Seller Note") with an affiliate of the seller. The Seller Note bears interest at the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 3.75% and matures on July 16, 2015. The quarterly interest due can be paid or rolled into the Seller Note balance at the Company's option. On September 30, 2014, the Company paid the first quarterly interest payment that was due of $1.4 million. At September 30, 2014, the balance due on the Seller Note was $169.9 million with an annual interest rate of 3.99%.
Aktiv Revolving Credit
On May 4, 2012, Aktiv entered into a credit agreement with DNB Bank ASA for a Revolving Credit Facility (“the Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement”). Under the terms of the Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement the credit facility included an aggregate amount of up to NOK 1,500,000,000 (approximately $232 million), including an option of NOK 500,000,000 (approximately $77 million). The Aktiv revolving credit facility accrued interest at the Interbank Offered Rate ("IBOR") plus 3.00%, beared an unused fee of 1.2% per annum, payable monthly in arrears, and matured on October 28, 2014. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event."
At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv revolving credit facility was $239.7 million, with an annual interest rate of 3.53%. Due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, Aktiv's borrowings under this facility exceeded the facility limit. Aktiv requested and received a waiver from the lender which allowed them to be in excess of the limit until the facility matured on October 28, 2014.
Aktiv Term Loan

On March 29, 2011, Aktiv entered into a credit agreement with DNB Bank ASA for a Term Loan Facility (“the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement”). Under the terms of the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement, the credit facility included an aggregate amount of NOK 2,000,000,000 (approximately $310 million) in four different currencies. The Aktiv term loan credit facility accrued interest at the IBOR plus 2.25% - 2.75% (as determined by the Borrowing Base Ratio as defined in the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement), and matured on October 28, 2014. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event."

At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv term loan credit facility was $79.7 million, with an annual interest rate of 2.66%.

12

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Aktiv Multicurrency Term Loan Bridge Facility
On June 24, 2014, Aktiv entered into a credit agreement with DNB Bank ASA for a Multicurrency Term Loan Bridge Facility (“the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement”). Under the terms of the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement the credit facility included an aggregate amount of NOK 350,000,000 (approximately $54 million). The Aktiv bridge loan credit facility accrued interest at the IBOR plus 4%, beared an unused line fee of 0.35% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, is subordinated to the Aktiv revolving and term loan credit facilities, and matured on October 28, 2014. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event."

At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv bridge loan credit facility was $22.8 million, with an annual interest rate of 4.22%.
The Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement, the Aktiv Term Loan Agreement and the Aktiv Multicurrency Term Loan Bridge Agreement are all secured by i) the shares of most of the subsidiaries of Aktiv ii) all intercompany loans to its subsidiaries and iii) most of the portfolios held by its various subsidiaries. They also contain restrictive covenants and events of default including the following:
borrowing base may not exceed 65% of portfolio book value for portfolios leveraged under the Aktiv Revolving Credit Facility
borrowing base may not exceed 50% of portfolio book value for portfolios leveraged under the Aktiv Term Loan Facility
the debt service-coverage ratio (as defined in the Aktiv Revolving and Term Loan Credit Agreements) must exceed 1.1 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;
the leverage ratio (as defined in the Aktiv Revolving and Term Loan Credit Agreements) cannot exceed 3.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;
interest bearing deposits in AK Nordic AB cannot exceed SEK 200,000,000 (approximately $28 million);
cash collections must exceed 100% of Aktiv's IFRS forecast.
Aktiv Subordinated Loan
On December 16, 2011, Aktiv entered into a subordinated loan agreement with Metrogas Holding Inc., an affiliate with Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. Under the terms of the subordinated loan agreement (the “Commitment”), Aktiv is able to drawdown a commitment in the aggregate amount of up to NOK 200,000,000 (approximately $31 million) for a period of 90 days from the date of the agreement (the “Availability Period”). Aktiv may draw all or a part of the Commitment in the Availability Period, and may utilize the Commitment in up to three drawdowns. The Commitment bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.75%. The maturity date is January 16, 2016. The Commitment does not contain any covenants.

As of September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv subordinated loan was $29.4 million, with an annual interest rate of 3.99%.

Convertible Senior Notes
On August 13, 2013, the Company completed the private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated August 13, 2013 (the "Indenture") between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default after which the Notes may be due and payable immediately. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year. Prior to February 1, 2020, the Notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of specified events. On or after February 1, 2020, the Notes will be convertible at any time. Upon conversion, the Notes may be settled, at the Company’s option, in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock, or any combination thereof. Holders of the Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or some of their Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture). In addition, upon the occurrence of a make-whole fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), the Company may, under certain circumstances, be required to increase the conversion rate for the Notes converted in connection with such a make-whole fundamental change. The conversion rate for the Notes is initially 15.2172 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $65.72 per share of the Company’s common stock, and is subject to adjustment in certain

13

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


circumstances pursuant to the Indenture. The Company does not have the right to redeem the Notes prior to maturity. As of September 30, 2014, none of the conditions allowing holders of the Notes to convert their Notes had occurred.
As noted above, upon conversion, holders of the Notes will receive cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. However, the Company’s current intent is to settle conversions through combination settlement (i.e., the Notes will be converted into cash up to the aggregate principal amount, and shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, for the remainder). As a result, and in accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share, only the conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $65.72.
The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were approximately $279.3 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company used $174.0 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility and used $50.0 million to repurchase shares of its common stock.
ASC 470-20, "Debt with Conversion and Other Options" (“ASC 470-20”), requires that, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled fully or partially in cash upon conversion, issuers must separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. Additionally, debt issuance costs are required to be allocated in proportion to the allocation of the liability and equity components and accounted for as debt issuance costs and equity issuance costs, respectively.
The Company determined that the fair value of the Notes at the date of issuance was approximately $255.3 million, and designated the residual value of approximately $32.2 million as the equity component. Additionally, the Company allocated approximately $7.3 million of the $8.2 million original Notes issuance cost as debt issuance cost and the remaining $0.9 million as equity issuance cost.
The balances of the liability and equity components of all of the Notes outstanding were as follows as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Liability component - principal amount
 
$
287,500

 
$
287,500

Unamortized debt discount
 
(27,693
)
 
(30,720
)
Liability component - net carrying amount
 
259,807

 
256,780

Equity component
 
$
31,306

 
$
31,306

The debt discount is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the Notes using the effective interest rate, which is 4.92%.
Interest expense related to the Notes was as follows for the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Interest expense - stated coupon rate
 
$
2,156

 
$
1,150

 
$
6,469

 
$
1,150

Interest expense - amortization of debt discount
 
1,023

 
525

 
3,027

 
525

Total interest expense - convertible notes
 
$
3,179


$
1,675

 
$
9,496

 
$
1,675

The Company was in compliance with all covenants under its financing arrangements as of December 31, 2013. As of September 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under its financing arrangements with the exception of certain of the Aktiv credit agreements, for which the Company requested and received waivers as described above under the caption, Aktiv Revolving Credit, and in Note 14, "Subsequent Event."


14

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


The following principal payments are due on the Company's borrowings as of September 30, 2014 for the twelve month periods ending (amounts in thousands):
September 30, 2015
$
555,352

September 30, 2016
18,750

September 30, 2017
35,000

September 30, 2018
556,500

September 30, 2019

Thereafter
287,500

Total
$
1,453,102


4.
Property and Equipment, net:
Property and equipment, at cost, consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Software
$
52,377

 
$
34,108

Computer equipment
21,365

 
17,072

Furniture and fixtures
10,937

 
8,616

Equipment
13,606

 
10,351

Leasehold improvements
13,497

 
11,147

Building and improvements
7,044

 
7,026

Land
1,269

 
1,269

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(74,126
)
 
(58,048
)
Property and equipment, net
$
45,969

 
$
31,541

Depreciation and amortization expense relating to property and equipment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, was $3.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense relating to property and equipment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, was $2.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively.
The Company, in accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 350-40 “Internal-Use Software” (“ASC 350-40”), capitalizes qualifying computer software costs incurred during the application development stage and amortizes them over their estimated useful lives of three to seven years on a straight-line basis beginning when the project is completed. Costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance and all other post implementation stage activities are expensed as incurred. The Company’s policy provides for the capitalization of certain direct payroll costs for employees who are directly associated with internal use computer software projects, as well as external direct costs of services associated with developing or obtaining internal use software. Capitalizable personnel costs are limited to the time directly spent on such projects. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company incurred and capitalized approximately $12.5 million and $10.3 million, respectively, of these direct payroll costs and external direct costs related to software developed for internal use. Of these costs, at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $2.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively, were for projects that were in the development stage and, therefore are a component of “Other Assets.” Once the projects are completed, the costs are transferred to Software and amortized over their estimated useful lives. Amortization expense relating to these projects for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, was approximately $0.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively.  Amortization expense relating to these projects for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, was approximately $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively. The remaining unamortized costs relating to internally developed software at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were approximately $4.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively.
 


15

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


5.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net:
In connection with the Company’s business acquisitions, the Company acquired certain tangible and intangible assets. Intangible assets purchased included client and customer relationships, non-compete agreements, trademarks and goodwill. Pursuant to ASC 350, goodwill is not amortized but rather is reviewed at least annually for impairment. The Company underwent its annual review of goodwill on October 1, 2013. Based upon the results of this review, no impairment charges to goodwill or other intangible assets were necessary. The Company believes that no events have occurred or circumstances have changed that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount since the review was performed, and thereby necessitate further evaluation of goodwill or other intangible assets. The Company expects to perform its next annual goodwill review during the fourth quarter of 2014.
At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of goodwill was $594.4 million and $103.8 million, respectively. The following table represents the changes in goodwill for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
105,122

 
$
106,953

 
$
103,843

 
$
109,488

Acquisition of Aktiv and PCM
512,049

 

 
512,049

 

Impairment of goodwill

 
(6,397
)
 

 
(6,397
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
(22,770
)
 
2,335

 
(21,491
)
 
(200
)
Balance at end of period
$
594,401

 
$
102,891

 
$
594,401

 
$
102,891

Goodwill recognized from the acquisitions of Aktiv and PCM represents, among other things, a significant dataset, portfolio modeling, an established workforce, the future economic benefits arising from expected synergies and expanded geographical diversity. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes. Refer to Note 12 "Business Acquisitions" for more information.
Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, consisted of the following at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Gross Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Gross Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
Client and customer relationships
$
35,683

 
$
24,346

 
$
40,870

 
$
26,581

Non-compete agreements
627

 
546

 
3,880

 
3,723

Trademarks
3,474

 
2,577

 
3,491

 
2,170

Total
$
39,784

 
$
27,469

 
$
48,241

 
$
32,474

In accordance with ASC 350, the Company amortizes intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Total intangible asset amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was $1.3 million and $3.5 million, respectively. Total intangible asset amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 was $1.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The Company reviews these intangible assets for possible impairment if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount and thereby necessitate further evaluation of these intangible assets.
 


16

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


6.
Share-Based Compensation:
The Company has an Omnibus Incentive Plan to assist the Company in attracting and retaining selected individuals to serve as employees and directors, who are expected to contribute to the Company's success and to achieve long-term objectives that will benefit stockholders of the Company. The 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the Company's stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Plan enables the Company to award shares of the Company's common stock to select employees and directors, not to exceed 5,400,000 shares, as described in and authorized by the Plan. The Plan replaced the 2010 Stock Plan.
As of September 30, 2014, total future compensation costs related to nonvested awards of nonvested shares (not including nonvested shares granted under the Long-Term Incentive ("LTI") Program) is estimated to be $11.7 million with a weighted average remaining life for all nonvested shares of 1.9 years (not including nonvested shares granted under the LTI program).
Total share-based compensation expense was $4.0 million and $9.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Total share-based compensation expense was $3.5 million and $10.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of share-based compensation expense (windfall tax benefits) recognized under the provisions of ASC Topic 718 "Compensation-Stock Compensation" ("ASC 718") are credited to additional paid-in capital in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized tax shortfalls, if any, are first offset against the cumulative balance of windfall tax benefits, if any, and then charged directly to income tax expense. The total tax benefit realized from share-based compensation was approximately $0.3 million and $7.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The total tax benefit realized from share-based compensation was approximately $0.1 million and $5.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.
Nonvested Shares
With the exception of the awards made pursuant to the LTI program and a few employee and director grants, the nonvested shares vest ratably over three to five years and are expensed over their vesting period.
The following summarizes all nonvested share transactions, excluding those related to the LTI program, from December 31, 2012 through September 30, 2014 (share amounts in thousands):
 
Nonvested Shares
Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average
Price at Grant Date
December 31, 2012
288

 
$
20.84

Granted
110

 
37.31

Vested
(143
)
 
19.75

Cancelled
(29
)
 
20.57

December 31, 2013
226

 
29.58

Granted
212

 
56.07

Vested
(112
)
 
29.33

Cancelled
(2
)
 
24.76

September 30, 2014
324

 
$
47.03

The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, was $0.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively. The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, was $0.2 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation Committee may grant time-vested and performance based nonvested shares. All shares granted under the LTI program were granted to key employees of the Company. The following summarizes all LTI program share transactions from December 31, 2012 through September 30, 2014 (share amounts in thousands):

17

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


 
Nonvested LTI Shares
Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average
Price at Grant Date
December 31, 2012
497

 
$
21.71

Granted at target level
124

 
34.59

Adjustments for actual performance
108

 
17.91

Vested
(279
)
 
19.10

Cancelled
(16
)
 
25.01

December 31, 2013
434

 
25.79

Granted at target level
111

 
49.6

Adjustments for actual performance
95

 
25.17

Vested
(225
)
 
25.17

September 30, 2014
415

 
$
32.35

The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, was $0.0 million and $5.7 million, respectively. The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, was $0.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
At September 30, 2014, total future compensation costs, assuming the current estimated performance levels are achieved, related to nonvested share awards granted under the LTI program are estimated to be approximately $7.1 million. The Company assumed a 7.5% forfeiture rate for these grants and the remaining shares have a weighted average life of 1.0 year at September 30, 2014.

7.
Income Taxes:
The Company follows the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) as it relates to the provision for income taxes and uncertainty in income taxes. The guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.

The income tax expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is comprised of the following (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Federal
 
State
 
Foreign
 
Total
 
Federal
 
State
 
Foreign
 
Total
Current tax expense
$
9,355

 
$
1,659

 
$
1,025

 
$
12,039

 
$
22,612

 
$
3,329

 
$
454

 
$
26,395

Deferred tax expense/(benefit)
10,853

 
337

 
5,244

 
16,434

 
3,707

 
(2,769
)
 
(1,071
)
 
(133
)
Total income tax expense/(benefit)
$
20,208

 
$
1,996

 
$
6,269

 
$
28,473

 
$
26,319

 
$
560

 
$
(617
)
 
$
26,262

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Federal
 
State
 
Foreign
 
Total
 
Federal
 
State
 
Foreign
 
Total
Current tax expense/(benefit)
$
38,279

 
$
7,002

 
$
375

 
$
45,656

 
$
64,591

 
$
11,755

 
$
(269
)
 
$
76,077

Deferred tax expense/(benefit)
23,446

 
3,684

 
5,244

 
32,374

 
5,264

 
(2,018
)
 
(891
)
 
2,355

Total income tax expense/(benefit)
$
61,725

 
$
10,686

 
$
5,619

 
$
78,030

 
$
69,855

 
$
9,737

 
$
(1,160
)
 
$
78,432


18

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


The Company has recognized a net deferred tax liability of $232.6 million and $208.7 million as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. The components of the net deferred tax liability are as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation
 
$
8,075

 
$
9,365

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
332

 
236

State tax credit carryforward
 
879

 
879

Net operating loss carryforward - International
 
70,938

 

Other
 
4,900

 
240

Accrued liabilities
 
4,643

 
4,642

Guaranteed payments
 

 
890

Intangible assets and goodwill
 
183

 
930

Depreciation expense
 
590

 
 
Leases
 
840

 
531

Acquisition costs
 
384

 
687

Total deferred tax assets
 
91,764

 
18,400

 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation expense
 
4,888

 
4,250

Prepaid expenses
 
1,392

 
1,604

Convertible debt
 
10,731

 
11,931

Other
 
339

 

Finance receivable revenue recognition - International
 
38,375

 

Use of cost recovery for income tax purposes - U.S.
 
234,985

 
209,325

Total deferred tax liability
 
290,710

 
227,110

Valuation allowance
 
33,616

 

Net deferred tax liability
 
$
232,562


$
208,710

A reconciliation of the Company’s expected tax expense at the statutory federal tax rate to actual tax expense for the three and nine months ended September, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Expected tax expense at statutory federal rates
$
27,874

 
$
26,415

 
$
72,641

 
$
73,351

State tax expense, net of federal tax benefit
2,139

 
2,412

 
7,217

 
8,138

Other
(1,540
)
 
(2,565
)
 
(1,828
)
 
(3,057
)
Total income tax expense
$
28,473

 
$
26,262

 
$
78,030

 
$
78,432

For tax purposes, the Company utilizes the cost recovery method of accounting. Under the cost recovery method, collections on finance receivables are applied first to principal to reduce the finance receivables to zero before any taxable income is recognized.  The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") examined the Company's 2005 tax return and on March 19, 2009 issued Form 4549-A, Income Tax Examination Changes, for tax years ended December 31, 2005 through 2007. The IRS has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income. The Company believes it has sufficient support for the technical merits of its position, and believes cost recovery to be an acceptable tax revenue recognition method for companies in the bad debt purchasing industry.  On April 22, 2009, the Company filed a formal protest of the IRS’s assessment. On August 26, 2011, the IRS issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2005 through 2007.  The Company subsequently filed a petition in the United States Tax Court.   If the Company is unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, it can appeal to

19

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


the federal Circuit Court of Appeals. On June 30, 2011, the Company was notified by the IRS that the audit period will be expanded to include the tax years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009.  On July 7, 2014, the Company received a Notice of Deficiency for tax years ended December 31, 2008 through 2012.  The proposed deficiencies relate to the cost recovery method of tax accounting. In response to this notice, the company filed a petition in the United States Tax Court on October 3, 2014.
ASC 740 requires the recognition of interest if the tax law would require interest to be paid on the underpayment of taxes, and recognition of penalties if a tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties.  The Company believes it has sufficient support for the technical merits of its position and that it is more likely than not this position will be sustained. Accordingly, the Company has not accrued for interest or penalties on any of its tax positions, including the cost recovery matter.
If the Company is unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court and any potential appeals to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals, it may be required to pay interest. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, underpayments of federal tax accrue interest, compounded daily, at the applicable federal short term rate plus three percentage points. An additional two percentage points applies to large corporate underpayments of $100,000 or more to periods after the applicable date as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.  The Company files taxes in multiple state jurisdictions; therefore, any underpayment of state tax will accrue interest in accordance with the respective state statute. The Company's estimate of the potential federal and state interest is $75.0 million as of September 30, 2014. Payment of the assessed taxes and interest could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, be material to the Company’s results of operations, and possibly require additional financing from other sources.
At September 30, 2014, the tax years subject to examination by the major federal, state and international taxing jurisdictions are 2003, 2005 and subsequent years. The 2003 tax year remains open to examination because of a net operating loss that originated in that year but was not fully utilized until the 2005 tax year. The examination periods for the 2005 through 2012 tax years are suspended until a decision of the Tax Court becomes final.

The Company believes it is more likely than not that the results of future operations will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was not recorded at December 31, 2013 since management believed it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would be realized. A valuation allowance has been recorded at September 30, 2014 because as part of the acquisition of Aktiv Kapital, the Company acquired a deferred tax asset of approximately $33.6 million related to tax losses in Norway which the Company believes does not meet the more likely than not requirement for realization. Because the valuation allowance was recorded in relation to the purchase accounting process, there is no impact to the current quarter earnings. In the event that all or part of the deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. Similarly, if the Company subsequently realizes deferred tax assets that were previously determined to be unrealizable, the respective valuation allowance would be reversed, resulting in a positive adjustment to earnings in the period such determination is made.

There were no repatriations of unremitted earnings during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company intends for predominantly all foreign earnings to be indefinitely reinvested in its foreign operations and, therefore, the recording of deferred tax liabilities for such unremitted earnings is not required. It is impracticable to determine the total amount of unrecognized deferred taxes with respect to these permanently reinvested earnings; however, foreign tax credits would be available to partially reduce U.S. income taxes in the event of a distribution.

8.
Earnings per Share:
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders of PRA Group, Inc. by weighted average common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS are computed using the same components as basic EPS with the denominator adjusted for the dilutive effect of the Notes and nonvested share awards, if dilutive. For the Notes, only the conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $65.72, which did not occur during the period from which the Notes were issued on August 13, 2013 through September 30, 2014. Share-based awards that are contingent upon the attainment of performance goals are not included in the computation of diluted EPS until the performance goals have been attained. The dilutive effect of nonvested shares is computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes any proceeds that could be obtained upon the vesting of nonvested shares would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price for the period. The assumed proceeds include the windfall tax benefit that would be realized upon assumed exercise.

20

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


The following tables reconcile the computation of basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Net Income
attributable to  PRA Group, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
 
Net Income
attributable to  PRA Group, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
Basic EPS
$
51,167

 
50,075

 
$
1.02

 
$
47,338

 
50,154

 
$
0.94

Dilutive effect of nonvested share awards
 
 
364

 
 
 
 
 
506

 
 
Diluted EPS
$
51,167

 
50,439

 
$
1.01

 
$
47,338

 
50,660

 
$
0.93

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Net Income
attributable to  PRA Group, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
 
Net Income
attributable to  PRA Group, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
Basic EPS
$
129,514

 
50,023

 
$
2.59

 
$
129,537

 
50,571

 
$
2.56

Dilutive effect of nonvested share awards
 
 
390

 
 
 
 
 
468

 
 
Diluted EPS
$
129,514

 
50,413

 
$
2.57

 
$
129,537

 
51,039

 
$
2.54

There were no antidilutive options outstanding for the three or nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

9.
Commitments and Contingencies:
Employment Agreements:
The Company has employment agreements, most of which expire on December 31, 2014, with all of its U.S. executive officers and with several members of its U.S. senior management group. Such agreements provide for base salary payments as well as bonuses that are based on the attainment of specific management goals. At September 30, 2014, the estimated future compensation under these agreements is approximately $5.2 million. The agreements also contain confidentiality and non-compete provisions.  Outside the U.S., employment agreements are in place with employees pursuant to local country regulations.  Generally, these agreements do not have expiration dates and therefore it is impractical to estimate the amount of future compensation under these agreements. Accordingly, the future compensation under these agreements is not included in the $5.2 million total above.  
Leases:
The Company is party to various operating leases with respect to its facilities and equipment. The future minimum lease payments at September 30, 2014 total approximately $39.8 million.
Forward Flow Agreements:
The Company is party to several forward flow agreements that allow for the purchase of defaulted consumer receivables at pre-established prices. The maximum remaining amount to be purchased under forward flow agreements at September 30, 2014 is approximately $622.9 million.
Contingent Purchase Price:
The asset purchase agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition of certain finance receivables and certain operating assets of National Capital Management, LLC ("NCM") in 2012, includes an earn-out provision whereby the sellers are able to earn additional cash consideration for achieving certain cash collection thresholds over a five year period. The maximum amount of earn-out during the period is $15.0 million. The Company paid the year one earn-out during December 2013 in the amount of $6.2 million. As of September 30, 2014, the Company has recorded a present value amount for the expected remaining liability of $4.6 million.

21

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Finance Receivables:
Certain agreements for the purchase of finance receivables portfolios contain provisions that may, in limited circumstances, require the Company to refund a portion or all of the collections subsequently received by the Company on particular accounts. The potential refunds as of the balance sheet date are not considered to be significant.
Litigation:
The Company is from time to time subject to routine legal claims and proceedings, most of which are incidental to the ordinary course of its business. The Company initiates lawsuits against customers and is occasionally countersued by them in such actions. Also, customers, either individually, as members of a class action, or through a governmental entity on behalf of customers, may initiate litigation against the Company in which they allege that the Company has violated a state or federal law in the process of collecting on an account.  From time to time, other types of lawsuits are brought against the Company. Additionally, the Company receives subpoenas and other requests or demands for information from regulators or governmental authorities who are investigating the Company's debt collection activities. The Company makes every effort to respond appropriately to such requests.

The Company accrues for potential liability arising from legal proceedings when it is probable that such liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.  This determination is based upon currently available information for those proceedings in which the Company is involved, taking into account the Company's best estimate of such losses for those cases for which such estimates can be made. The Company's estimate involves significant judgment, given the varying stages of the proceedings (including the fact that many of them are currently in preliminary stages), the number of unresolved issues in many of the proceedings (including issues regarding class certification and the scope of many of the claims), and the related uncertainty of the potential outcomes of these proceedings. In making determinations of the likely outcome of pending litigation, the Company considers many factors, including, but not limited to, the nature of the claims, the Company's experience with similar types of claims, the jurisdiction in which the matter is filed, input from outside legal counsel, the likelihood of resolving the matter through alternative mechanisms, the matter's current status and the damages sought or demands made. Accordingly, the Company's estimate will change from time to time, and actual losses could be more than the current estimate.

Subject to the inherent uncertainties involved in such proceedings, the Company believes, based upon its current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that the legal proceedings currently pending against it, including those that fall outside of the Company's routine legal proceedings, should not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial condition.  However, it is possible in light of the uncertainties involved in such proceedings or due to unexpected future developments, that an unfavorable resolution of a legal proceeding or claim could occur which may be material to the Company's financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for a particular period.

Excluding the matters described below and other putative class action suits that the Company believes are not material, the high end of the range of potential litigation losses in excess of the amount accrued is estimated by management to be less than $1,000,000 as of September 30, 2014.  Notwithstanding our attempt to estimate a range of possible losses in excess of the amount accrued based on current information, actual future losses may exceed both the Company's accrual and the range of potential litigation losses disclosed above.

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. Loss estimates and accruals for potential liability related to legal proceedings are exclusive of potential recoveries, if any, under the Company's insurance policies or third party indemnities. The Company has not recorded any potential recoveries under the Company's insurance policies or third party indemnities.

The matters described below fall outside of the normal parameters of the Company’s routine legal proceedings.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation

The Company has been named as defendant in a number of putative class action cases, each alleging that the Company violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA") by calling consumers' cellular telephones without their prior express consent.  On December 21, 2011, the United States Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation entered an order transferring these matters into one consolidated proceeding in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (the "Court").  On November 14, 2012, the putative class plaintiffs filed their amended consolidated complaint in the matter, now styled as In re Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation, case No. 11-md-02295 (the “MDL action”). 

22

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


On May 20, 2014, the Court stayed this litigation until such time as the United States Federal Communications Commission has ruled on various petitions concerning the TCPA.

Internal Revenue Service Audit

The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") examined the Company's 2005 tax return and on March 19, 2009 issued Form 4549-A, Income Tax Examination Changes, for tax years ended December 31, 2005 through 2007. The IRS has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income. The Company believes it has sufficient support for the technical merits of its position, and believes cost recovery to be an acceptable tax revenue recognition method for companies in the bad debt purchasing industry.  On April 22, 2009, the Company filed a formal protest of the IRS’s assessment   On August 26, 2011, the IRS issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2005 through 2007.  The Company subsequently filed a petition in the United States Tax Court.    If the Company is unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, it can appeal to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals. On June 30, 2011, the Company was notified by the IRS that the audit period will be expanded to include the tax years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009.  On July 7, 2014, the Company received a Notice of Deficiency for tax years ended December 31, 2008 through 2012.  The proposed deficiencies relate to the cost recovery method of tax accounting. In response to this notice, the company filed a petition in the United States Tax Court on October 3, 2014.  Refer to Note 7 “Income Taxes” for additional information.

10.
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures:
As defined by FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also requires the consideration of differing levels of inputs in the determination of fair values. Those levels of input are summarized as follows:

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
 
Level 2 - Observable inputs other than level 1 quoted prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

23

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Financial Instruments Not Required To Be Carried at Fair Value
In accordance with the disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), the table below summarizes fair value estimates for the Company’s financial instruments. The total of the fair value calculations presented does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company. The carrying amounts in the table are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
70,300

 
$
70,300

 
$
162,004

 
$
162,004

Finance receivables, net
1,913,710

 
2,362,165

 
1,239,191

 
1,722,100

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving lines of credit
676,180

 
676,180

 

 

Term loans
290,045

 
290,045

 
195,000

 
195,000

Notes and loans payable
199,377

 
199,377

 

 

Interest-bearing deposits
27,300

 
27,300

 

 

Convertible debt
259,807

 
315,859

 
256,780

 
316,857

Disclosure of the estimated fair values of financial instruments often requires the use of estimates. The Company uses the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:
Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount approximates fair value and quoted prices for identical assets can be found in active markets. Accordingly, the Company estimates the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using level 1 inputs.
Finance receivables, net: The Company records purchased receivables at cost, which represents a significant discount from the contractual receivable balances due. The Company computed the estimated fair value of these receivables using proprietary pricing models that the Company utilizes to make portfolio purchase decisions. Accordingly, the Company's fair value estimates use level 3 inputs as there is little observable market data available and management is required to use significant judgment in its estimates.
Revolving lines of credit: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate periods and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Term loans: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate periods and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Notes and loans payable: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the loan terms and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Interest-bearing deposits: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the deposits and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Convertible debt: The Notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for the debt discount. The fair value estimates for these Notes incorporates quoted market prices which were obtained from secondary market broker quotes which were derived from a variety of inputs including client orders, information from their pricing vendors, modeling software, and actual trading prices when they occur. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.


24

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Financial Instruments Required To Be Carried At Fair Value
The carrying amounts in the following table are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2014 (amounts in thousands):
 
Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 214
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments (recorded in other assets)
$

 
$

 
$
61,951

 
$
61,951

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swap contracts (recorded in accrued expenses)
$

 
$
2,836

 
$

 
$
2,836

Investments: The Company's investments are carried at fair value which is determined by using models for valuing similar assets. The Company’s fair value estimates use level 3 inputs as there is little observable market data available.
Interest rate swap contracts: The interest rate swap contracts are carried at fair value which is determined by 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 and other factors. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
There were no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013.

11.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In March 2013, FASB issued ASU 2013-05, "Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity," ("ASU 2013-05") which defines the treatment of the release of cumulative translation adjustments upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted and prior periods should not be adjusted. The Company adopted ASU 2013-05 in the first quarter of 2014, and it had no material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" (“ASU 2014-08”) that amends the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires the disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. ASU 2014-08 also requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations and disclosures about the disposal of a significant component of an entity that does not qualify as a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impacts of the new standard.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (“ASU 2014-09”) that updates the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also amends the required disclosures of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted. The Company is evaluating its implementation approach and the potential impacts of the new standard on its existing revenue recognition policies and procedures.

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-12, "Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period" (“ASU 2014-12”). ASU 2014-12 requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance

25

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impacts of the new standard on its existing stock-based compensation awards.

The Company does not expect that any other recently issued accounting pronouncements will have a material effect on its financial statements.

12.
Business Acquisitions:

Aktiv Kapital, A.S. Acquisition

On July 16, 2014, the Company completed the purchase of the outstanding equity of Aktiv, for a purchase price of approximately $861.3 million, and assumed approximately $433.7 million of Aktiv’s corporate debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. The Company financed the transaction with cash of $206.4 million, $169.9 million in financing from an affiliate of the seller (which bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum and matures on July 16, 2015), and $485.0 million from the Company’s domestic, revolving credit facility.

The Company incurred transaction costs of approximately $5.9 million and $14.3 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. Additionally, the Company recorded a foreign currency transaction loss as a result of entering into foreign currency exchange rate forward contracts during the second quarter of 2014 to acquire 518 million Euros in anticipation of closing the acquisition of Aktiv.  As a result of the strengthening U.S. dollar relative to the Euro, the Company incurred losses of $2.0 million and $8.2 million on the forward contracts during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

The Company accounted for this purchase in accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations.” Under this guidance, an entity is required to recognize the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the consideration given at their fair value on the acquisition date. The following tables summarize the fair value of the consideration given for Aktiv, as well as the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the July 16, 2014 acquisition date.

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets and liabilities are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Purchase price
$
861,331

Cash
(15,624
)
Other receivables, net
(10,087
)
Finance receivables, net
(727,688
)
Property and equipment, net
(7,715
)
Net deferred tax asset
(33,426
)
Other assets
(64,626
)
Accounts payable
15,862

Accrued expenses
27,714

Income tax payable
5,859

Net deferred tax liability
21,967

Borrowings
404,823

Interest bearing deposits
28,858

Goodwill
$
507,248


The Company has recorded provisional amounts for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in its consolidated financial statements and will adjust the allocations relative to the fair value of the assets and liabilities, as necessary, during the remainder of the one-year measurement period.


26

Table of Contents
PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Aktiv Results

The Company's results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 include the operations of Aktiv from the acquisition date of July 16, 2014 through September 30, 2014.
    
The table below presents the estimated impact of the Aktiv acquisition on our revenue and income from continuing operations, net of tax for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014. The table also includes condensed pro forma information on our combined results of operations as they may have appeared assuming the Aktiv acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2013. These amounts include certain corporate expenses, transaction costs or merger related expenses that resulted from the acquisition and are therefore not representative of the actual results of the operations of these businesses on a stand-alone basis. As we continue to integrate this business into our existing operations over the remainder of the year, it may become impracticable to separately identify and to estimate these operating results.

Included in the combined pro forma results are adjustments to reflect the impact of certain purchase accounting adjustments, including adjustments to Income recognized on finance receivables, net, Outside fees and services, Depreciation and amortization, and Interest expense.

The pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not indicate the actual combined financial results had the closing of the Aktiv acquisition been completed on January 1, 2013 nor does it reflect the benefits obtained through the integration of business operations realized since acquisition. Furthermore, the information is not indicative of the results of operations in future periods. The pro forma condensed combined financial information does not reflect the impact of possible business model changes nor does it consider any potential impacts of market conditions, expense efficiencies or other factors.
 
 
Aktiv Impact
 
Combined Pro Forma Results
 
 
From July 16, 2014 through September 30, 2014
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenue
 
$
47,605

 
$
250,407

 
$
256,665

 
$
769,503

 
$
724,084

Net Income attributable to PRA Group, Inc.
 
17,085

 
49,377

 
86,207

 
172,956

 
201,590


Pamplona Capital Management, LLP Acquisition

On July 1, 2014, the Company acquired certain operating assets from PCM.  These assets include PCM’s IVA Master Servicing Platform as well as other operating assets associated with PCM’s IVA business.  The purchase price of these assets was approximately $5 million and was paid from the Company’s existing cash balances. Due to immateriality, no effect of this acquisition is included in the pro forma results and adjustments described above.

13.
Derivatives:

The Company’s activities are subject to various financial risks including market risk, currency and interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk. The Company’s overall financial risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the Company’s financial performance. The Company may periodically enter into derivative financial instruments, typically interest rate swap agreements, to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on variable-rate debt and their impact on earnings and cash flows. The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments with a level of complexity or with a risk greater than the exposure to be managed nor does it enter into or hold derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. The Company periodically reviews the creditworthiness of the swap counterparty to assess the counterparty’s ability to honor its obligation.  Counterparty default would expose the Company to fluctuations in variable interest rates. Based on the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), the Company records derivative financial instruments at fair value on the consolidated balance sheet.

The financing of portfolio investments is generally drawn in the same currencies as the underlying expected future cash flow from the portfolios. The interest rate risk related to the loan is reduced through the use of a combination of interest rate swaps in

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PRA GROUP, INC.
(Formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


CAD, EUR, GBP, SEK and NOK. At September 30, 2014, approximately 75% of the net borrowing was hedged, reducing the related interest rate risk.

The Company’s financial derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815 and therefore the gain or loss on such hedge and the change in fair value of the derivative is recorded in interest (income)/expense in its consolidated financial statements. During both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recorded $0.7 million in interest (income)/expense in its consolidated income statements. There were no derivatives outstanding during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2013.

The following table sets forth the fair value amounts of the derivative instruments held by the Company as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
 
September 30, 2014
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815
 
Asset Derivatives
 
Liability Derivatives
Interest rate swap contracts
 
$

 
$
2,836

Liability derivatives are recorded in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

14.
Subsequent Event:

On October 23, 2014, the Company entered into a credit agreement with DNB Bank ASA for a Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility (“the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement”).  Under the terms of the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, the credit facility includes an aggregate amount of $500,000,000, accrues interest at the IBOR plus 2.50-3.00% (as determined by the ERC Ratio as defined in the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement), bears an unused line fee of 0.35% per annum, payable monthly in arrears, and matures on October 23, 2019. The Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility also includes an Overdraft Facility aggregate amount of $40,000,000, accrues interest at the IBOR plus 2.50-3.00% (as determined by the ERC Ratio as defined in the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement), bears a facility line fee of 0.50% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, and also matures October 23, 2019.

Due to changes in control provisions of the Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement, the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement, and the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement, the Company requested and obtained a waiver that extended the terms of these agreements through October 28, 2014. Upon closing of the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, the Aktiv Revolving Credit, Aktiv Term Loan Credit, and Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreements were terminated and any outstanding balances owed on the terminated facilities were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement.


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Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements:
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding overall trends, gross margin trends, operating cost trends, liquidity and capital needs and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above may include the following:
a prolonged economic recovery or a deterioration in the economic or inflationary environment in the United States or Europe, including the interest rate environment, may have an adverse effect on our collections, results of operations, revenue and stock price or on the stability of the financial system as a whole;
changes in the credit or capital markets, which affect our ability to borrow money or raise capital;
our ability to integrate the Aktiv business;
our ability to manage risks associated with our international operations, which risks will increase as a result of the Aktiv acquisition;
our ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of the Aktiv acquisition;
our ability to purchase defaulted consumer receivables at appropriate prices;
our ability to replace our defaulted consumer receivables with additional receivables portfolios;
our ability to obtain accurate and authentic account documents relating to accounts that we acquire and the possibility that documents that we provide could contain errors;
our ability to successfully acquire receivables of new asset types;
our ability to collect sufficient amounts on our defaulted consumer receivables;
changes in tax laws regarding earnings of our subsidiaries located outside of the United States;
changes in, or interpretations of, insolvency or collection laws that could negatively affect our business, including by causing an increase in certain types of insolvency filings involving liquidations, which may cause our collections to decrease;
changes in, or interpretations of, state or federal laws or the administrative practices of various insolvency courts, which may impact our ability to collect on our defaulted receivables;
our ability to collect and enforce our finance receivables may be limited under federal and state laws;
our ability to employ and retain qualified employees, especially collection personnel, and our senior management team;
our work force could become unionized in the future, which could adversely affect the stability of our production and increase our costs;
the degree, nature, and resources of our competition;
the possibility that we could incur goodwill or other intangible asset impairment charges;
our ability to retain existing clients and obtain new clients for our fee-for-service businesses;
our ability to comply with existing and new regulations of the collection industry, the failure of which could result in penalties, fines, litigation, damage to our reputation or the suspension or termination of our ability to conduct our business;
changes in governmental laws and regulations or the manner in which they are interpreted or applied which could increase our costs and liabilities or impact our operations;
our ability to adjust to debt collection and debt buying regulations that may be promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") and the regulatory and enforcement activities of the CFPB;
the possibility that new business acquisitions prove unsuccessful or strain or divert our resources;
our ability to maintain, renegotiate or replace our credit facility;
our ability to satisfy the restrictive covenants in our debt agreements;
our ability to manage risks associated with our international operations;
the possibility that compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions;
the imposition of additional taxes on us;
changes in interest or exchange rates, which could reduce our net income, and the possibility that future hedging strategies may not be successful, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, as could our failure to comply with hedge accounting principles and interpretations;
the possibility that we could incur significant allowance charges on our finance receivables;
our loss contingency accruals may not be adequate to cover actual losses;
our ability to manage growth successfully;
the possibility that we could incur business or technology disruptions or cyber incidents, or not adapt to technological advances;

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the possibility that we or our industry could experience negative publicity or reputational attacks; and
the risk factors listed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) including the risk factors in Part II, Item 1A, of this Form 10-Q.
You should assume that the information appearing in this quarterly report is accurate only as of the date it was issued. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
For a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review the following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as the discussion of “Business” and “Risk Factors” described in our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2014.
Our forward-looking statements could be wrong in light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The future events, developments or results described in this report could turn out to be materially different. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements after the date of this report and you should not expect us to do so.
Investors should also be aware that while we do, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts and others, we do not, by policy, selectively disclose to them any material nonpublic information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, stockholders should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by any analyst regardless of the content of the statement or report. We do not, by policy, confirm forecasts or projections issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not our responsibility.
Definitions
We use the following terminology throughout this document:
“Allowance charges” refers to a reduction in income recognized on finance receivables on pools of finance receivables whose cash collection estimates are not received or projected to not be received.
“Amortization rate” refers to cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables as a percentage of total cash collections.
“Buybacks” refers to purchase price refunded by the seller due to the return of non-compliant accounts.
“Cash collections” refers to collections on our owned portfolios.
“Cash receipts” refers to collections on our owned portfolios plus fee income.
“Core” accounts or portfolios refer to accounts or portfolios that are defaulted consumer receivables and are not in an insolvent status upon purchase. These accounts are aggregated separately from insolvency accounts. Unless otherwise noted, Core accounts do not include the accounts we purchase in Canada or Europe.
“Estimated remaining collections” or "ERC" refers to the sum of all future projected cash collections on our owned portfolios.
“Fee income” refers to revenues generated from our fee-for-service businesses.
“Income recognized on finance receivables” refers to income derived from our owned debt portfolios.
“Income recognized on finance receivables, net” refers to income derived from our owned debt portfolios and is shown net of allowance charges/reversals.
“Insolvency” accounts or portfolios refer to accounts or portfolios that are in insolvency when we purchase them and as such are purchased as a pool of insolvent accounts. These include U.S. purchased bankruptcy accounts.
“Net finance receivable balance” is recorded on our balance sheet and refers to the purchase price less principal amortization and net allowance charges/reversals.
“Principal amortization” refers to cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables.
“Purchase price” refers to the cash paid to a seller to acquire defaulted consumer receivables, plus certain capitalized costs, less buybacks.
“Purchase price multiple” refers to the total estimated collections on owned debt portfolios divided by purchase price.
“Total estimated collections” refers to the actual cash collections, including cash sales, plus estimated remaining collections.
All references in this report on Form 10-Q to the "PRA Group," "our," "we," "us," the "Company" or similar terms are to PRA Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (formerly known as Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.).


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Overview

We are a global financial and business services company with operations in North America and Europe. Our primary business is the purchase, collection and management of portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. We also service receivables on behalf of clients on either a commission or transaction-fee basis and provide class action claims settlement recovery services and related payment processing to corporate clients. 

Our industry is highly regulated under various laws.  In the United States, they include the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act and other federal and state laws. Likewise, our business is regulated by various laws in the European countries and Canadian territories in which we operate.  We are subject to inspections, examinations, supervision by regulators in the U.K., in each U.S. state in which we are licensed, and also by the CFPB. The CFPB is expected to adopt additional rules that will affect our industry, and has sought feedback on a wide range of debt collection issues.  We have provided our input and feedback with written comments and through a number of meetings with CFPB staff.  We are currently engaged in discussions with the CFPB with a view toward adopting certain practices or controls in the conduct of our business.  There can be no assurance that new industry regulations or the outcome of these discussions would not have an adverse effect on our business.

On August 4, 2014, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) issued risk guidance detailing the principles they expect financial institutions to follow in connection with the sale of consumer debt. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact that this guidance may have on our business, if any.
We are currently headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and employ approximately 3,900 full time equivalents. Our shares of common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “PRAA.” Effective October 23, 2014, we changed our name from Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. to PRA Group, Inc.

On July 16, 2014, we completed the purchase of the outstanding equity of Aktiv, a Norway-based company specializing in the acquisition and servicing of non-performing consumer loans throughout Europe and in Canada, for a purchase price of approximately $861.3 million, and assumed approximately $433.7 million of Aktiv’s corporate debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. We financed the acquisition with cash of $206.4 million, $169.9 million in financing from an affiliate of the seller (which bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum and matures on July 16, 2015), and $485.0 million from our domestic, revolving credit facility.

A publicly traded company from 1997 until early 2012 (traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol "AIK"), Aktiv has developed a mixed in-house and outsourced collection strategy. Aktiv maintains in-house servicing platforms in eight markets, and owns portfolios in fourteen markets. Aktiv has more than 20 years of experience and data in a wide variety of consumer asset classes, across an extensive geographic background. Aktiv has acquired more than 2,000 portfolios, with a face value of more than $38 billion. In 2013, Aktiv collected $318 million on its portfolios and purchased $248 million in new portfolios, up from $222 million in 2012. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Aktiv collected $260 million on its portfolios and purchased $139 million in new portfolios. During the period of July 16, 2014 through September 30, 2014, Aktiv collected $74 million on its portfolios and purchased $34 million in new portfolios. Aktiv’s total assets were approximately $1.3 billion and $900 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

This acquisition has provided us entry into thirteen new markets, providing us additional geographical diversity in portfolio purchasing and collection. Aktiv's Chief Executive Officer and his executive team and the more than 400 Aktiv employees joined our workforce upon the closing of the transaction.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, we incurred approximately $5.9 million and $14.3 million, respectively, of transaction costs related to the acquisition. We estimate that we will incur approximately $8-10 million of additional non-recurring integration costs over the next several quarters. Additionally, we recorded a foreign currency transaction loss as a result of us entering into foreign currency exchange rate forward contracts during the second quarter of 2014 to acquire 518 million euros in anticipation of closing the acquisition of Aktiv.  As a result of the strengthening U.S. dollar relative to the Euro, we incurred losses of $2.0 million and $8.2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. 

Earnings Summary
During the third quarter of 2014, net income attributable to the Company was $51.2 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, compared with $47.3 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2013. Total revenue was $239.0 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 20.8% from the third quarter of 2013. Revenues in the third quarter of 2014 consisted of $224.3 million in income recognized on finance receivables, net, $12.9 million in fee income and $1.8 million in other revenue. Income recognized

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on finance receivables, net, in the third quarter of 2014 increased $52.9 million, or 30.8%, over the third quarter of 2013, primarily as a result of an increase in cash collections mainly due to the Aktiv acquisition. Cash collections, which drive our finance receivable income, were $372.7 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 27.8%, or $81.1 million, as compared to the third quarter of 2013. During the third quarter of 2014, we incurred $1.7 million in net allowance reversals, compared with $2.6 million of net allowance reversals in the third quarter of 2013.
Fee income decreased to $12.9 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $26.3 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to lower fee income generated by Claims Compensation Bureau, LLC ("CCB"), whose revenues vary depending on the timing and outcome of individual class action settlements and whose revenue in the 2013 period included significant fee income due to timing. This was partially offset by the fee income generated in the third quarter of 2014 by Aktiv.
A summary of how our income was generated during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
(amounts in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Cash collections
$
372,743

 
$
291,651

Amortization of finance receivables
(150,115
)
 
(122,776
)
Net allowance reversals
1,698

 
2,581

Finance receivable income
224,326

 
171,456

Fee income
12,882

 
26,306

Other revenue
1,765

 

Total revenue
$
238,973

 
$
197,762

Operating expenses were $150.8 million in the third quarter of 2014, up 27.5% over the third quarter of 2013, due primarily to the inclusion of Aktiv's expenses and an increase in outside fees and services. Outside fees and services expenses were $17.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $8.5 million, or 97.7%, compared to $8.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to the $5.9 million of transaction costs incurred in the third quarter of 2014 related to the Aktiv acquisition in addition to the outside fees and services expenses incurred by Aktiv.
During the three months ended September 30, 2014, we acquired defaulted consumer receivables portfolios, including the Aktiv acquisition portfolio, at a cost of $891.4 million. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, we acquired defaulted consumer receivable portfolios at a cost of $141.9 million. In any period, we acquire defaulted consumer receivables that can vary dramatically in their age, type and ultimate collectability. We may pay significantly different purchase rates for purchased receivables within any period as a result of this relative quality fluctuation. In addition, market forces can drive pricing rates up or down in any period, irrespective of other relative quality fluctuations. As a result, the average purchase rate paid for any given period can fluctuate dramatically based on our particular buying activity in that period. However, regardless of the average purchase price and for similar time frames, we intend to target a similar internal rate of return, after direct expenses, in pricing our portfolio acquisitions during any quarter; therefore, the absolute rate paid is not necessarily relevant to the estimated profitability of a period's buying.



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Results of Operations
The results of operations include the financial results of the Company and all of our subsidiaries. The following table sets forth certain operating data as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
93.9
%
 
86.7
%
 
92.8
 %
 
89.9
%
Fee income
5.4
%
 
13.3
%
 
6.9
 %
 
10.1
%
Other revenue
0.7
%
 
%
 
0.3
 %
 
%
Total revenues
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
%
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensation and employee services
27.3
%
 
26.7
%
 
26.8
 %
 
26.5
%
Legal collection fees
5.8
%
 
5.2
%
 
5.7
 %
 
5.7
%
Legal collection costs
8.5
%
 
10.0
%
 
11.5
 %
 
11.5
%
Agency fees
2.5
%
 
0.7
%
 
1.4
 %
 
0.8
%
Outside fees and services
7.2
%
 
4.4
%
 
6.4
 %
 
4.5
%
Communication expenses
3.7
%
 
3.4
%
 
4.1
 %
 
3.9
%
Rent and occupancy
1.3
%
 
1.0
%
 
1.2
 %
 
1.0
%
Depreciation and amortization
2.1
%
 
1.9
%
 
2.1
 %
 
1.9
%
Other operating expenses
4.7
%
 
3.3
%
 
4.0
 %
 
3.2
%
Impairment of goodwill
%
 
3.2
%
 
 %
 
1.2
%
Total operating expenses
63.1
%
 
59.8
%
 
63.2
 %
 
60.2
%
Income from operations
36.9
%
 
40.2
%
 
36.8
 %
 
39.8
%
Other expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
4.9
%
 
2.0
%
 
3.4
 %
 
1.7
%
Foreign exchange gain/(loss)
1.4
%
 
%
 
(0.5
)%
 
%
Income before income taxes
33.4
%
 
38.2
%
 
32.9
 %
 
38.1
%
Provision for income taxes
11.9
%
 
13.3
%
 
12.4
 %
 
14.3
%
Net income
21.5
%
 
24.9
%
 
20.5
 %
 
23.8
%
Adjustment for net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
%
 
0.9
%
 
 %
 
0.3
%
Net income attributable to PRA Group, Inc.
21.5
%
 
24.0
%
 
20.5
 %
 
23.5
%
Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared To Three Months Ended September 30, 2013
Revenues
Total revenues were $239.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $41.2 million, or 20.8%, compared to total revenues of $197.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Income Recognized on Finance Receivables, net
Income recognized on finance receivables, net was $224.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $52.8 million, or 30.8%, compared to income recognized on finance receivables, net of $171.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to an increase in cash collections on our finance receivables to $372.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, from $291.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $81.0 million, or 27.8%. This increase was largely due to the inclusion of Aktiv's cash collections in the third quarter of 2014. Our finance receivables amortization rate, including net allowance charges, was 39.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 41.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Accretable yield represents the amount of income recognized on finance receivables the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future cash flows as of the balance sheet date. Additions represent the original expected accretable yield, on portfolios purchased during the period, to be earned by the Company based on its proprietary buying models. Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. Increases in future cash flows may occur as portfolios age and actual cash collections exceed those originally expected. If those cash flows are determined to be incremental to the portfolio’s original

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forecast, future projections of cash flows are generally increased resulting in higher expected revenue and hence increases in accretable yield. During the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified amounts from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield due primarily to increased cash collection forecasts relating to pools acquired from 2007-2013. When applicable, net reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield result from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows and allowance charges that exceed the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows.
Income recognized on finance receivables, net, is shown net of changes in valuation allowances which are recorded for significant decreases in expected cash flows or a change in timing of cash flows which would otherwise require a reduction in the stated yield on a pool of accounts. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, we recorded net allowance reversals of $1.7 million. On our domestic Core portfolios, we recorded allowance reversals of $4.4 million on portfolios purchased between 2005 and 2008, offset by allowance charges of $2.2 million on portfolios purchased in 2010 and 2011. On our Insolvency portfolios, we recorded net allowance reversals of $0.1 million on our domestic portfolios offset by an allowance charge of $0.6 million on Canadian portfolios purchased in 2014. No allowance charges or reversals were recorded during the period on the portfolios acquired from Aktiv. For the three months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded net allowance reversals of $2.6 million, of which a charge of $1.4 million related to Insolvency portfolios primarily purchased in 2008, offset by reversals of $4.0 million related to domestic Core portfolios purchased between 2005 and 2008.
In any given period, we may be required to record valuation allowances due to pools of receivables underperforming our previous expectations. Factors that may contribute to the recording of valuation allowances may include both internal as well as external factors. External factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently to the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables include: new laws or regulations relating to collections, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the economy. Internal factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables would include: necessary revisions to initial and post-acquisition scoring and modeling estimates, non-optimal operational activities (relating to the collection and movement of accounts on both our collection floor and external channels), and decreases in productivity related to turnover of our collection staff.
Fee Income
Fee income decreased to $12.9 million in the third quarter of 2014 from $26.3 million in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to lower fee income generated by CCB, whose revenues vary depending on the timing and outcome of individual class action settlements and whose revenue in the 2013 period included significant fee income due to timing. This was partially offset by the fee income generated in the third quarter of 2014 by Aktiv.
Income from Operations
Income from operations was $88.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $8.7 million or 10.9% compared to income from operations of $79.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Income from operations was 36.9% of total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 40.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were $150.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $32.5 million or 27.5% compared to operating expenses of $118.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This increase was due largely to the inclusion of Aktiv's operating expenses and acquisition related costs incurred. Operating expenses were 39.1% of cash receipts for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 37.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Compensation and Employee Services
Compensation and employee services expenses were $65.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $12.3 million, or 23.3%, compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $52.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Compensation expense increased primarily as a result of larger staff sizes, mainly attributable to the acquisition of Aktiv, in addition to increases in incentive compensation and normal pay increases. Total full-time equivalents increased 21.4% to 3,913 as of September 30, 2014, from 3,223 as of September 30, 2013. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts increased to 16.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2014, from 16.6% of cash receipts for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

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Legal Collection Fees
Legal collection fees represent contingent fees incurred for the cash collections generated by our independent third party attorney network. Legal collection fees were $13.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $3.6 million, or 35.3%, compared to legal collection fees of $10.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013.  This increase was mainly attributable to legal collection fees incurred by Aktiv. Legal collection fees for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were 3.6% of cash receipts, compared to 3.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Legal Collection Costs
Legal collection costs consist of costs paid to courts where a lawsuit is filed and the cost of documents received from sellers of defaulted consumer receivables. Legal collection costs were $20.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $0.6 million, or 3.0%, compared to legal collection costs of $19.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This increase is the result of the expansion in the number of accounts brought into the legal collection process. Legal collection costs for the three months ended September 30, 2014 were 5.3% of cash receipts, compared to 6.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Agency Fees
Agency fees primarily represent third party collection fees and costs paid to repossession agents to repossess vehicles. Agency fees were $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This increase was mainly attributable to the third party collection fees incurred by Aktiv.
Outside Fees and Services
Outside fees and services expenses were $17.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $8.5 million, or 97.7%, compared to outside fees and services expenses of $8.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to $5.9 million of transaction costs incurred in the third quarter of 2014 related to the Aktiv acquisition in addition to the outside fees and services expenses incurred by Aktiv.
Communication Expenses
Communication expenses were $8.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $2.3 million, or 34.9%, compared to communications expenses of $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was largely due to inclusion of Aktiv's communication expenses as well as additional postage expenses incurred as a result of an increase in special collection letter campaigns and a larger customer base. The remaining increase was attributable to higher telephone expenses. Expenses related to customer mailings were responsible for 69.6%, or $1.6 million, of this increase, and the remaining 30.4%, or $0.7 million, was attributable to increases in telephone related charges.
Rent and Occupancy
Rent and occupancy expenses were $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $1.0 million, or 50.0%, compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the rent and occupancy expense incurred by Aktiv as well as the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013 and the additional space leased as a result of the opening of our Texas call center in December of 2013.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses were $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $1.1 million, or 29.0%, compared to depreciation and amortization expenses of $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the depreciation and amortization expense incurred by Aktiv, as well as capital expenditures resulting from the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013, additional space leased as a result of the opening of our Texas call center in December of 2013, and the relocation of our PRA Government Services, LLC ("PGS") Birmingham operations in March of 2014.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses were $11.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $4.8 million, or 73.9%, compared to other operating expenses of $6.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to other operating expenses incurred by Aktiv as well an increase in taxes, fees and licenses.

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Impairment of Goodwill
Impairment of goodwill expense was $0.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $6.4 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company evaluated the goodwill associated with one of its reporting units, which had experienced a revenue and profitability decline, recent net losses and a loss of a significant client during the quarter. Based on this evaluation, the Company recorded a $6.4 million impairment of goodwill in the third quarter of 2013. This non-cash charge represented the full amount of goodwill previously recorded for PLS. All other intangible assets related to PLS were fully amortized as of September 30, 2013.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $11.8 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the additional financing needed to facilitate the closing of the Aktiv acquisition and the additional interest incurred on the Aktiv assumed debt and interest rate swap contracts as well as the completion on August 13, 2013, through a private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020. This was partially offset by a reduction in interest expense of $3.6 million related to the amortization of fair value adjustment on Aktiv's debt.  
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes was $28.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $2.2 million, or 8.4%, compared to provision for income taxes of $26.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase is primarily due to an increase of 5.5% in income before taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013. During the three months ended September 30, 2014, our effective tax rate was 35.8%, compared to 34.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was due primarily to non-deductible transaction costs incurred in the acquisition of Aktiv. This was partially offset by having proportionately more income in the recent quarterly period in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the U.S., due to the Aktiv acquisition.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 Compared To Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013
Revenues
Total revenues were $630.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $79.9 million, or 14.5%, compared to total revenues of $550.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Income Recognized on Finance Receivables, net
Income recognized on finance receivables, net was $584.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $90.0 million, or 18.2%, compared to income recognized on finance receivables, net of $494.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to an increase in cash collections on our finance receivables to $1,005.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, from $863.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, an increase of $141.9 million, or 16.4%. Our finance receivables amortization rate, including net allowance charges, was 41.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 42.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Accretable yield represents the amount of income recognized on finance receivables the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future cash flows as of the balance sheet date. Additions represent the original expected accretable yield, on portfolios purchased during the period, to be earned by the Company based on its proprietary buying models. Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. Increases in future cash flows may occur as portfolios age and actual cash collections exceed those originally expected. If those cash flows are determined to be incremental to the portfolio’s original forecast, future projections of cash flows are generally increased resulting in higher expected revenue and hence increases in accretable yield. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified amounts from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield due primarily to increased cash collection forecasts relating to pools acquired from 2007-2013. When applicable, net reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield result from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows and allowance charges that exceed the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows.
Income recognized on finance receivables, net, is shown net of changes in valuation allowances recognized under ASC 310-30, which requires that a valuation allowance be recorded for significant decreases in expected cash flows or a change in timing of cash flows which would otherwise require a reduction in the stated yield on a pool of accounts. For the nine months

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ended September 30, 2014, we recorded net allowance reversals of $5.9 million. On our domestic Core portfolios, we recorded allowance reversals of $10.8 million on portfolios purchased between 2005 and 2008, offset by allowance charges of $4.0 million on portfolios purchased in 2010 and 2011. On our Insolvency portfolios, we recorded net allowance reversals of $0.7 million on our domestic portfolios primarily purchased in 2007 and 2008, offset by net allowance charges of $1.1 million on Canadian portfolios purchased in 2014. We also recorded a net allowance charge of $0.5 million on our UK portfolios purchased in 2012. No allowance charges or reversals were recorded during the period on the portfolios acquired from Aktiv. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, we recorded net allowance charge reversals of $1.6 million, of which $6.5 million of net charges related to Insolvency portfolios primarily purchased in 2007 and 2008, offset by reversals of $8.1 million related to domestic Core portfolios primarily purchased between 2005 and 2008.
In any given period, we may be required to record valuation allowances due to pools of receivables underperforming our previous expectations. Factors that may contribute to the recording of valuation allowances may include both internal as well as external factors. External factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables include: new laws or regulations relating to collections, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the economy. Internal factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables would include: necessary revisions to initial and post-acquisition scoring and modeling estimates, non-optimal operational activities (relating to the collection and movement of accounts on both our collection floor and external channels), and decreases in productivity related to turnover of our collection staff.
Fee Income
Fee income decreased to $43.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, from $55.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to lower fee income generated by CCB, whose revenues vary depending on the timing and outcome of individual class action settlements and whose revenue in the 2013 period included significant fee income due to timing. This was partially offset by higher fee income generated by PGS and the fee income generated by Aktiv in the third quarter of 2014.
Income from Operations
Income from operations was $232.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $13.0 million or 5.9% compared to income from operations of $219.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Income from operations was 36.8% of total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 39.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were $398.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $66.9 million or 20.2% compared to operating expenses of $331.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Operating expenses were 38.0% of cash receipts for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to 36.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Compensation and Employee Services
Compensation and employee services expenses were $169.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $23.0 million, or 15.7%, compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $146.1 million for nine months ended September 30, 2013. Compensation expense increased primarily as a result of larger staff sizes, mainly attributable to the acquisition of Aktiv, in addition to increases in incentive compensation and normal pay increases. Total full-time equivalents increased 21.4% to 3,913 as of September 30, 2014, from 3,223 as of September 30, 2013. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts increased to 16.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, from 15.9% of cash receipts for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Legal Collection Fees
Legal collection fees represent contingent fees incurred for the cash collections generated by our independent third party attorney network. Legal collection fees were $36.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $4.7 million, or 15.0%, compared to legal collection fees of $31.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  This increase was mainly attributable to legal collection fees incurred by Aktiv as well as an increase in cash collections from outside attorneys from $146.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $155.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $9.6 million, or 6.6%. Legal collection fees for both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 3.4% of cash receipts.

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Legal Collection Costs
Legal collection costs consist of costs paid to courts where a lawsuit is filed and the cost of documents received from sellers of defaulted consumer receivables. Legal collection costs were $72.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $9.3 million, or 14.8%, compared to legal collection costs of $63.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  This increase is the result of the expansion in the number of accounts brought into the legal collection process. Legal collection costs for both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were 6.9% of cash receipts.
Agency Fees
Agency fees primarily represent third party collection fees and costs paid to repossession agents to repossess vehicles. Agency fees were $8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $4.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This increase was mainly attributable to the third party collection fees incurred by Aktiv.
Outside Fees and Services
Outside fees and services expenses were $40.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $15.3 million, or 61.7%, compared to outside fees and services expenses of $24.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to the $14.3 million of transaction costs incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 related to the Aktiv acquisition in addition to the outside fees and services expenses incurred by Aktiv.
Communication Expenses
Communication expenses were $26.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $4.6 million, or 21.5%, compared to communications expenses of $21.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was largely due to inclusion of Aktiv's communication expenses as well as additional postage expenses incurred as a result of an increase in special collection letter campaigns and a larger customer base. The remaining increase was attributable to higher telephone expenses. Expenses related to customer mailings were responsible for 69.6%, or $3.2 million, of this increase, and the remaining 30.4%, or $1.4 million, was attributable to increases in telephone related charges.
Rent and Occupancy
Rent and occupancy expenses were $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $1.9 million, or 34.5%, compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the rent and occupancy expenses incurred by Aktiv as well as the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013 and the additional space leased as a result of the opening of our Texas call center in December of 2013.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses were $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $2.4 million, or 22.4%, compared to depreciation and amortization expenses of $10.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to the depreciation and amortization expenses incurred by Aktiv, as well as capital expenditures resulting from the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013, additional space leased as a result of the opening of our Texas call center in December of 2013, and the relocation of our PGS Birmingham operations in March of 2014.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses were $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of $7.4 million, or 41.8%, compared to other operating expenses of $17.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Of the $7.4 million increase, $3.7 million was due to an increase in taxes, fees and licenses, mainly attributable to Aktiv. None of the remaining increase was attributable to any significant identifiable items.
Impairment of Goodwill
Impairment of goodwill expense was $0.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $6.4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. During the three months ended September 30, 2013, the Company evaluated the goodwill associated with one of its reporting units, which had experienced a revenue and profitability decline, recent net losses and a loss of a significant client during the quarter. Based on this evaluation, the Company recorded a $6.4 million impairment of goodwill in the third quarter of 2013. This non-cash charge represented the full amount of goodwill previously recorded for PLS. All other intangible assets related to PLS were fully amortized as of September 30, 2013.


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Interest Expense
Interest expense was $21.7 million and $9.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the additional financing needed to facilitate the closing of the Aktiv acquisition and the additional interest incurred on the Aktiv assumed debt and interest rate swap contracts as well as the completion on August 13, 2013, through a private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020. This was partially offset by a reduction in interest expense of $3.6 million related to the amortization of fair value adjustment on Aktiv's debt.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes was $78.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, a decrease of $0.4 million or 0.5%, compared to provision for income taxes of $78.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease of 1.0% in income before taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, our effective tax rate was 37.6%, compared to 37.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was due primarily to non-deductible transaction costs incurred in the acquisition of Aktiv. This was partially offset by having proportionately more income in the recent quarterly period in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates than the U.S., due to the Aktiv acquisition.


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Table of Contents

Supplemental Performance Data
Domestic Finance Receivables Portfolio Performance:
The following tables show certain data related to our domestic finance receivables portfolio. These tables describe the purchase price, actual cash collections and future estimates of cash collections, income recognized on finance receivables (gross and net of allowance charges/(reversals)), principal amortization, allowance charges/(reversals), net finance receivable balances, and the ratio of total estimated collections to purchase price (which we refer to as purchase price multiple).
Further, these tables disclose our entire domestic portfolio, as well as its subsets: our domestic Insolvency portfolio and our domestic Core portfolio. The accounts represented in the Insolvency tables are those portfolios of accounts that were bankrupt at the time of purchase. This contrasts with accounts that file for bankruptcy after we purchase them, which continue to be tracked in their corresponding Core portfolio. Core customers sometimes file for bankruptcy protection subsequent to our purchase of the related Core portfolio. When this occurs, we adjust our collection practices accordingly to comply with insolvency procedures; however, for accounting purposes, these accounts remain in the related Core portfolio. Conversely, insolvency accounts may be dismissed voluntarily or involuntarily subsequent to our purchase of the related insolvency portfolio. Dismissal occurs when the terms of the bankruptcy are not met by the petitioner. When this occurs, we are typically free to pursue collection outside of bankruptcy procedures; however, for accounting purposes, these accounts remain in the related insolvency pool.
Our European and Canadian portfolios are not included in these tables. When we report our full year results on our annual report on Form 10-K, we intend to provide additional supplemental performance data on our international portfolios.
Purchase price multiples can vary over time due to a variety of factors including pricing competition, supply levels, age of the receivables purchased, and changes in our operational efficiency. For example, increased pricing competition during the 2005 to 2008 period negatively impacted purchase price multiples of our Core portfolio compared to prior years. Conversely, during the 2009 to 2011 period, pricing disruptions occurred as a result of the economic downturn. This created unique and advantageous purchasing opportunities, particularly within the insolvency receivables market, relative to the prior four years.
When competition increases and/or supply decreases, pricing often becomes negatively impacted relative to expected collections, and yields tend to trend lower.  The opposite tends to occur when competition decreases and/or supply increases.
Purchase price multiples can also vary among types of finance receivables. For example, we incur lower collection costs on our insolvency portfolio compared with our Core portfolio. This allows us, in general, to pay more for an insolvency portfolio, experience lower purchase price multiples, while generating similar internal rates of return when compared with a Core portfolio.
Within a given portfolio type, to the extent that lower purchase price multiples are the result of more competitive pricing and lower yields, this will generally lead to higher amortization rates (payments applied to principal as a percentage of cash collections) and lower profitability. As portfolio pricing becomes more favorable on a relative basis, our profitability will tend to increase. Profitability within given Core portfolio types may also be impacted by the age and quality of the receivables, which impact the cost to collect those accounts.
The numbers presented in the following tables represent gross cash collections and do not reflect any costs to collect; therefore, they may not represent relative profitability. We continue to make enhancements to our analytical abilities, with the intent to collect more cash at a lower cost. To the extent we can improve our collection operations by collecting additional cash from a discrete quantity and quality of accounts, and/or by collecting cash at a lower cost structure, we can positively impact profitability.
Revenue recognition under ASC 310-30 is driven by estimates of total collections as well as the timing of those collections. We record new portfolio purchases using a higher confidence level for both estimated collection amounts and timing. Subsequent to the initial booking, as we gain collection experience and confidence with a pool of accounts, we continuously update ERC. These processes, along with the aforementioned operational enhancements, have tended to cause the ratio of ERC to purchase price for any given year of buying to gradually increase over time. As a result, our estimate of total collections to purchase price has generally, but not always, increased as pools have aged. Thus, all factors being equal in terms of pricing, one would typically tend to see a higher collection to purchase price ratio from a pool of accounts that was six years from purchase than say a pool that was just two years from purchase.
Due to all the factors described above, readers should be cautious when making comparisons of purchase price multiples among periods and between types of receivables.

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Domestic Portfolio Data – Life-to-Date
Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
 
Inception through September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on  Finance
Receivables (1)
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables, Net (1)
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
10,216

$
7,136

$
3,080

$

$
7,136

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

25,545

17,860

7,685


17,860

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

37,449

26,360

11,089


26,360

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

69,548

50,650

18,898


50,650

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

117,310

92,290

25,020


92,290

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

177,173

143,692

33,481


143,692

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

200,602

158,277

42,325


158,277

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

268,441

206,994

61,447


206,994

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
59,176

200,901

142,925

57,976

1,200

141,725

 

4,901

205,802

348%
2005
143,166

316,453

187,508

128,945

8,230

179,278

 
5,993

16,763

333,216

233%
2006
107,666

213,147

129,875

83,272

17,855

112,020

 
6,539

14,203

227,350

211%
2007
258,363

494,865

272,242

222,623

17,500

254,742

 
18,235

51,353

546,218

211%
2008
275,110

492,107

270,368

221,739

32,645

237,723

 
20,690

45,976

538,083

196%
2009
281,322

822,517

553,850

268,667


553,850

 
12,652

104,121

926,638

329%
2010
357,753

866,812

557,022

309,790

2,090

554,932

 
45,823

211,841

1,078,653

302%
2011
392,759

705,102

422,357

282,745

2,250

420,107

 
107,758

335,638

1,040,740

265%
2012
508,261

540,178

273,765

266,413


273,765

 
241,840

501,095

1,041,273

205%
2013
620,906

407,264

196,714

210,550


196,714

 
410,745

814,913

1,222,177

197%
YTD 2014
382,835

67,335

31,313

36,022


31,313

 
346,946

602,514

669,849

175%
Total
$
3,590,342

$
6,032,965

$
3,741,198

$
2,291,767

$
81,770

$
3,659,428

 
$
1,217,221

$
2,715,219

$
8,748,184

244%
(1)
For purposes of the this table, income recognized on finance receivables also includes approximately $1.7 million in gains on sales of finance receivables acquired between 1996 and 2001 and sold between 1999 and 2002.
Domestic Insolvency Portfolio
 
 
Inception through September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual  Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996- 2003
$

$

$

$

$

$

 
$

$

$

—%
2004
7,468

14,554

8,286

6,268

1,200

7,086

 

51

14,605

196%
2005
29,301

43,725

14,807

28,918

355

14,452

 
29

74

43,799

149%
2006
17,627

31,773

14,924

16,849

740

14,184

 
38

178

31,951

181%
2007
78,525

104,682

35,769

68,913

9,385

26,384

 
227

1,498

106,180

135%
2008
108,583

165,726

71,543

94,183

13,050

58,493

 
1,349

3,535

169,261

156%
2009
156,025

453,149

297,124

156,025


297,124

 

28,280

481,429

309%
2010
209,155

469,920

281,843

188,077


281,843

 
21,007

80,536

550,456

263%
2011
181,779

229,952

102,360

127,592


102,360

 
54,187

103,360

333,312

183%
2012
252,247

193,487

62,040

131,447


62,040

 
120,800

153,696

347,183

138%
2013
228,851

114,062

35,022

79,040


35,022

 
149,295

193,910

307,972

135%
YTD 2014
120,476

23,610

5,445

18,165


5,445

 
102,312

130,132

153,742

128%
Total
$
1,390,037

$
1,844,640

$
929,163

$
915,477

$
24,730

$
904,433

 
$
449,244

$
695,250

$
2,539,890

183%

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Table of Contents

Domestic Core Portfolio
 
 
Inception through September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on  Finance
Receivables
(1)
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables, Net
 (1)
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
10,216

$
7,136

$
3,080

$

$
7,136

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

25,545

17,860

7,685


17,860

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

37,449

26,360

11,089


26,360

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

69,548

50,650

18,898


50,650

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

117,310

92,290

25,020


92,290

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

177,173

143,692

33,481


143,692

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

200,602

158,277

42,325


158,277

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

268,441

206,994

61,447


206,994

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
51,708

186,347

134,639

51,708


134,639

 

4,850

191,197

370%
2005
113,865

272,728

172,701

100,027

7,875

164,826

 
5,964

16,689

289,417

254%
2006
90,039

181,374

114,951

66,423

17,115

97,836

 
6,501

14,025

195,399

217%
2007
179,838

390,183

236,473

153,710

8,115

228,358

 
18,008

49,855

440,038

245%
2008
166,527

326,381

198,825

127,556

19,595

179,230

 
19,341

42,441

368,822

221%
2009
125,297

369,368

256,726

112,642


256,726

 
12,652

75,841

445,209

355%
2010
148,598

396,892

275,179

121,713

2,090

273,089

 
24,816

131,305

528,197

355%
2011
210,980

475,150

319,997

155,153

2,250

317,747

 
53,571

232,278

707,428

335%
2012
256,014

346,691

211,725

134,966


211,725

 
121,040

347,399

694,090

271%
2013
392,055

293,202

161,692

131,510


161,692

 
261,450

621,003

914,205

233%
YTD 2014
262,359

43,725

25,868

17,857


25,868

 
244,634

472,382

516,107

197%
Total
$
2,200,305

$
4,188,325

$
2,812,035

$
1,376,290

$
57,040

$
2,754,995

 
$
767,977

$
2,019,969

$
6,208,294

282%
(1)
For purposes of the this table, income recognized on finance receivables also includes approximately $1.7 million in gains on sales of finance receivables acquired between 1996 and 2001 and sold between 1999 and 2002.

Domestic Portfolio Data – Year to Date
Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
 
Year to Date September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
8

$
8

$

$

$
8

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

38

38



38

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

98

98



98

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

192

192



192

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

644

644



644

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

1,266

1,266



1,266

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

2,125

2,125



2,125

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

3,236

3,236



3,236

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
59,176

2,625

2,625



2,625

 

4,901

205,802

348%
2005
143,166

5,351

2,933

2,418

(2,525
)
5,458

 
5,993

16,763

333,216

233%
2006
107,666

4,696

2,398

2,298

(2,860
)
5,258

 
6,539

14,203

227,350

211%
2007
258,363

16,053

9,696

6,357

(3,180
)
12,876

 
18,235

51,353

546,218

211%
2008
275,110

18,412

9,358

9,054

(3,000
)
12,358

 
20,690

45,976

538,083

196%
2009
281,322

76,534

59,057

17,477


59,057

 
12,652

104,121

926,638

329%
2010
357,753

123,573

91,462

32,111

1,765

89,697

 
45,823

211,841

1,078,653

302%
2011
392,759

151,412

101,349

50,063

2,250

99,099

 
107,758

335,638

1,040,740

265%
2012
508,261

188,690

97,675

91,015


97,675

 
241,840

501,095

1,041,273

205%
2013
620,906

253,122

114,420

138,702


114,420

 
410,745

814,913

1,222,177

197%
YTD 2014
382,835

67,335

31,313

36,022



31,313

 
346,946

602,514

669,849

175%
Total
$
3,590,342

$
915,410

$
529,893

$
385,517

$
(7,550
)
$
537,443

 
$
1,217,221

$
2,715,219

$
8,748,184

244%


42

Table of Contents

Domestic Insolvency Portfolio
 
 
Year to Date September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996-2003
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2004
7,468

62

62



62

 

51

14,605

196%
2005
29,301

84

41

43

(55
)
96

 
29

74

43,799

149%
2006
17,627

208

134

74

(60
)
194

 
38

178

31,951

181%
2007
78,525

551

212

339

(430
)
642

 
227

1,498

106,180

135%
2008
108,583

1,538

360

1,178

(200
)
560

 
1,349

3,535

169,261

156%
2009
156,025

48,341

36,445

11,896


36,445

 

28,280

481,429

309%
2010
209,155

79,198

54,256

24,942


54,256

 
21,007

80,536

550,456

263%
2011
181,779

65,603

30,462

35,141


30,462

 
54,187

103,360

333,312

183%
2012
252,247

72,489

19,186

53,303


19,186

 
120,800

153,696

347,183

138%
2013
228,851

61,534

18,259

43,275


18,259

 
149,295

193,910

307,972

135%
YTD 2014
120,476

23,610

5,445

18,165



5,445

 
102,312

130,132

153,742

128%
Total
$
1,390,037

$
353,218

$
164,862

$
188,356

$
(745
)
$
165,607

 
$
449,244

$
695,250

$
2,539,890

183%
Domestic Core Portfolio
 
 
Year to Date September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
8

$
8

$

$

$
8

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

38

38



38

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

98

98



98

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

192

192



192

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

644

644



644

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

1,266

1,266



1,266

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

2,125

2,125



2,125

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

3,236

3,236



3,236

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
51,708

2,563

2,563



2,563

 

4,850

191,197

370%
2005
113,865

5,267

2,892

2,375

(2,470
)
5,362

 
5,964

16,689

289,417

254%
2006
90,039

4,488

2,264

2,224

(2,800
)
5,064

 
6,501

14,025

195,399

217%
2007
179,838

15,502

9,484

6,018

(2,750
)
12,234

 
18,008

49,855

440,038

245%
2008
166,527

16,874

8,998

7,876

(2,800
)
11,798

 
19,341

42,441

368,822

221%
2009
125,297

28,193

22,612

5,581


22,612

 
12,652

75,841

445,209

355%
2010
148,598

44,375

37,206

7,169

1,765

35,441

 
24,816

131,305

528,197

355%
2011
210,980

85,809

70,887

14,922

2,250

68,637

 
53,571

232,278

707,428

335%
2012
256,014

116,201

78,489

37,712


78,489

 
121,040

347,399

694,090

271%
2013
392,055

191,588

96,161

95,427


96,161

 
261,450

621,003

914,205

233%
YTD 2014
262,359

43,725

25,868

17,857


25,868

 
244,634

472,382

516,107

197%
Total
$
2,200,305

$
562,192

$
365,031

$
197,161

$
(6,805
)
$
371,836

 
$
767,977

$
2,019,969

$
6,208,294

282%


43

Table of Contents

Domestic Portfolio Data – Current Quarter
Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
2

$
2

$

$

$
2

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

10

10



10

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

23

23



23

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

52

52



52

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

179

179



179

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

384

384



384

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

631

631



631

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

990

990



990

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
59,176

779

779



779

 

4,901

205,802

348%
2005
143,166

1,634

986

648

(815
)
1,801

 
5,993

16,763

333,216

233%
2006
107,666

1,377

794

583

(1,110
)
1,904

 
6,539

14,203

227,350

211%
2007
258,363

4,902

3,231

1,671

(1,715
)
4,946

 
18,235

51,353

546,218

211%
2008
275,110

5,219

2,821

2,398

(900
)
3,721

 
20,690

45,976

538,083

196%
2009
281,322

19,246

15,953

3,293


15,953

 
12,652

104,121

926,638

329%
2010
357,753

37,411

27,215

10,196

400

26,815

 
45,823

211,841

1,078,653

302%
2011
392,759

46,695

32,042

14,653

1,800

30,242

 
107,758

335,638

1,040,740

265%
2012
508,261

56,625

30,566

26,059


30,566

 
241,840

501,095

1,041,273

205%
2013
620,906

83,095

41,605

41,490


41,605

 
410,745

814,913

1,222,177

197%
YTD 2014
382,835

34,783

17,595

17,188


17,595

 
346,946

602,514

669,849

175%
Total
$
3,590,342

$
294,037

$
175,858

$
118,179

$
(2,340
)
$
178,198

 
$
1,217,221

$
2,715,219

$
8,748,184

244%
Domestic Insolvency Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996-2003
$

$

$

$

$

$

 
$

$

$

—%
2004
7,468

16

16



16

 

51

14,605

196%
2005
29,301

26

14

12

(15
)
29

 
29

74

43,799

149%
2006
17,627

57

33

24

(10
)
43

 
38

178

31,951

181%
2007
78,525

159

67

92


67

 
227

1,498

106,180

135%
2008
108,583

375

100

275

(100
)
200

 
1,349

3,535

169,261

156%
2009
156,025

10,810

9,041

1,769


9,041

 

28,280

481,429

309%
2010
209,155

24,445

16,084

8,361


16,084

 
21,007

80,536

550,456

263%
2011
181,779

21,251

10,730

10,521


10,730

 
54,187

103,360

333,312

183%
2012
252,247

22,598

5,716

16,882


5,716

 
120,800

153,696

347,183

138%
2013
228,851

20,958

6,404

14,554


6,404

 
149,295

193,910

307,972

135%
YTD 2014
120,476

9,198

2,683

6,515


2,683

 
102,312

130,132

153,742

128%
Total
$
1,390,037

$
109,893

$
50,888

$
59,005

$
(125
)
$
51,013

 
$
449,244

$
695,250

$
2,539,890

183%

44

Table of Contents

Domestic Core Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended September 30, 2014
 
As of September 30, 2014
(amounts in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
2

$
2

$

$

$
2

 
$

$
8

$
10,224

332%
1997
7,685

10

10



10

 

42

25,587

333%
1998
11,089

23

23



23

 

107

37,556

339%
1999
18,898

52

52



52

 

213

69,761

369%
2000
25,020

179

179



179

 

1,081

118,391

473%
2001
33,481

384

384



384

 

1,818

178,991

535%
2002
42,325

631

631



631

 

3,539

204,141

482%
2003
61,447

990

990



990

 

5,093

273,534

445%
2004
51,708

763

763



763

 

4,850

191,197

370%
2005
113,865

1,608

972

636

(800
)
1,772

 
5,964

16,689

289,417

254%
2006
90,039

1,320

761

559

(1,100
)
1,861

 
6,501

14,025

195,399

217%
2007
179,838

4,743

3,164

1,579

(1,715
)
4,879

 
18,008

49,855

440,038

245%
2008
166,527

4,844

2,721

2,123

(800
)
3,521

 
19,341

42,441

368,822

221%
2009
125,297

8,436

6,912

1,524


6,912

 
12,652

75,841

445,209

355%
2010
148,598

12,966

11,131

1,835

400

10,731

 
24,816

131,305

528,197

355%
2011
210,980

25,444

21,312

4,132

1,800

19,512

 
53,571

232,278

707,428

335%
2012
256,014

34,027

24,850

9,177


24,850

 
121,040

347,399

694,090

271%
2013
392,055

62,137

35,201

26,936


35,201

 
261,450

621,003

914,205

233%
YTD 2014
262,359

25,585

14,912

10,673


14,912

 
244,634

472,382

516,107

197%
Total
$
2,200,305

$
184,144

$
124,970

$
59,174

$
(2,215
)
$
127,185

 
$
767,977

$
2,019,969

$
6,208,294

282%

The following graph shows the purchase price of our domestic portfolios by year for the last ten years. The purchase price number represents the cash paid to the seller, plus certain capitalized costs, less buybacks.

 
As shown in the above chart, the composition of our domestic purchased portfolios shifted in favor of insolvency accounts in 2009 and 2010, before shifting to equilibrium with Core in 2011 and 2012. In 2013 and the first three quarters of 2014, Core purchases exceeded those of insolvency accounts. We began buying insolvency accounts during 2004 and slowly increased the volume of accounts we acquired through 2006 as we tested our models, refined our processes and validated our operating assumptions. After observing a high level of modeling confidence in our early purchases, we began increasing our level of purchases more dramatically commencing in 2007.
Our ability to profitably purchase and liquidate pools of insolvency accounts provides diversity to our distressed asset acquisition business. Although we generally buy insolvency portfolios from many of the same consumer lenders from whom we acquire Core customer portfolios, the volumes and pricing characteristics as well as the competitors are different. Based upon market dynamics, the profitability of portfolios purchased in the insolvency and Core markets may differ over time. We have found

45

Table of Contents

periods when insolvency accounts were more profitable and other times when Core accounts were more profitable. From 2004 through 2008, our insolvency buying fluctuated between 13% and 39% of our total portfolio purchasing. In 2009, for the first time in our history, insolvency purchasing exceeded that of our Core buying, at 55% of total portfolio purchasing and during 2010 this percentage increased to 59%. This occurred as severe dislocations in the financial markets, coupled with legislative uncertainty, caused pricing in the insolvency market to decline substantially, thereby driving our strategy to make advantageous insolvency portfolio acquisitions during this period. For 2011 and 2012, our insolvency buying leveled off and represented 48% and 50% of our total domestic portfolio purchasing and in 2013 and the first nine months of 2014, it declined to 30% and 32%, respectively, of our total domestic portfolio purchasing.
In order to collect our Core portfolios, we generally need to employ relatively higher amounts of labor and incur additional collection costs to generate each dollar of cash collections as compared with insolvency portfolios. In order to achieve acceptable levels of net return on investment (after direct expenses), we are generally targeting a total cash collections to purchase price multiple in the 1.75-3.0x range.  On the other hand, insolvency accounts generate the majority of cash collections through the efforts of the U.S. bankruptcy courts and trustees.  In this process, cash is remitted to our Company with no corresponding cost other than the cost of filing claims at the time of purchase, court fees associated with the filing of ownership claim transfers and general administrative costs for monitoring the progress of each account through the bankruptcy process.  As a result, overall collection costs are much lower for us when liquidating a pool of insolvency accounts as compared to a pool of Core accounts, but conversely the price we pay for insolvency accounts is generally higher than Core accounts.  We generally target similar returns on investment (measured after direct expenses) for insolvency and Core portfolios at any given point in the market cycles. However, because of the lower related collection costs, we can pay more for insolvency portfolios, which causes the estimated total cash collections to purchase price multiples of insolvency pools generally to be in the 1.2-2.0x range.  In summary, compared to a similar investment in a pool of Core accounts, to the extent both pools had identical targeted returns on investment (measured after direct expenses), the insolvency pool would be expected to generate less revenue, less direct expenses, similar operating income, and a higher operating margin.
In addition, collections on younger, newly filed insolvency accounts tend to be of a lower magnitude in the earlier months when compared to Core charge-off accounts. This lower level of early period collections is due to the fact that we primarily purchase portfolios of accounts that represent unsecured claims in bankruptcy, and these unsecured claims are scheduled to begin paying out after payment of the secured and priority claims. As a result of the administrative processes regarding payout priorities within the court-administered bankruptcy plans, unsecured creditors do not generally begin receiving meaningful collections on unsecured claims until 12 to 18 months after the bankruptcy filing date. Therefore, to the extent that we purchase portfolios with more recent bankruptcy filing dates, as we did to a significant extent commencing in 2009, we would expect to experience a delay in cash collections compared with Core portfolios.
We utilize a long-term approach to collecting our owned portfolios of receivables. This approach has historically caused us to realize significant cash collections and revenues from purchased portfolios of finance receivables years after they are originally acquired. As a result, we have in the past been able to temporarily reduce our level of current period acquisitions without a corresponding negative current period impact on cash collections and revenue.

46

Table of Contents

The following tables, which exclude any proceeds from cash sales of finance receivables, demonstrate our ability to realize significant multi-year cash collection streams on our domestic portfolios.
Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase – Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
Cash Collection Period
1996-2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
YTD 2014
Total
1996
$
3,080

$
9,414

$
237

$
102

$
83

$
78

$
68

$
100

$
39

$
24

$
8

$
10,153

1997
7,685

22,803

597

437

346

215

216

187

112

84

38

25,035

1998
11,089

32,889

1,415

882

616

397

382

332

241

173

98

37,425

1999
18,898

57,198

3,032

2,243

1,533

1,328

1,139

997

709

483

192

68,854

2000
25,020

87,520

8,067

5,202

3,604

3,198

2,782

2,554

1,927

1,349

644

116,847

2001
33,481

119,238

16,048

10,011

6,164

5,299

4,422

3,791

3,104

2,339

1,266

171,682

2002
42,325

119,570

24,729

16,527

9,772

7,444

6,375

5,844

4,768

3,433

2,125

200,587

2003
61,447

126,654

43,728

30,695

18,818

13,135

10,422

8,945

7,477

5,331

3,236

268,441

2004
59,176

64,494

40,424

30,750

19,339

13,677

9,944

8,522

6,604

4,522

2,625

200,901

2005
143,166

18,968

75,145

69,862

49,576

33,366

23,733

17,234

13,302

9,916

5,351

316,453

2006
107,666


22,971

53,192

40,560

29,749

22,494

18,190

12,560

8,735

4,696

213,147

2007
258,363



42,263

115,011

94,805

83,059

67,088

47,136

29,450

16,053

494,865

2008
275,110




61,277

107,974

100,337

89,344

71,806

42,957

18,412

492,107

2009
281,322





57,338

177,407

187,119

177,273

146,846

76,534

822,517

2010
357,753






86,562

218,053

234,893

203,731

123,573

866,812

2011
392,759







77,190

240,840

235,660

151,412

705,102

2012
508,261








74,289

277,199

188,690

540,178

2013
620,906









154,142

253,122

407,264

YTD 2014
382,835










67,335

67,335

Total
$
3,590,342

$
658,748

$
236,393

$
262,166

$
326,699

$
368,003

$
529,342

$
705,490

$
897,080

$
1,126,374

$
915,410

$
6,025,705

Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase – Domestic Insolvency Portfolio

(amounts in thousands)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
Cash Collection Period
1996-2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
YTD 2014
Total
2004
$
7,468

5,297

3,956

2,777

1,455

496

164

149

108

90

62

$
14,554

2005
29,301

3,777

15,500

11,934

6,845

3,318

1,382

466

250

169

84

43,725

2006
17,627


5,608

9,455

6,522

4,398

2,972

1,526

665

419

208

31,773

2007
78,525



2,850

27,972

25,630

22,829

16,093

7,551

1,206

551

104,682

2008
108,583




14,024

35,894

37,974

35,690

28,956

11,650

1,538

165,726

2009
156,025





16,635

81,780

102,780

107,888

95,725

48,341

453,149

2010
209,155






39,486

104,499

125,020

121,717

79,198

469,920

2011
181,779







15,218

66,379

82,752

65,603

229,952

2012
252,247




 



17,388

103,610

72,489

193,487

2013
228,851









52,528

61,534

114,062

YTD 2014
120,476

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23,610

23,610

Total
$
1,390,037

$
9,074

$
25,064

$
27,016

$
56,818

$
86,371

$
186,587

$
276,421

$
354,205

$
469,866

$
353,218

$
1,844,640


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Table of Contents

Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase – Domestic Core Portfolio
 
(amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
Cash Collection Period
1996-2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
YTD 2014
Total
1996
$
3,080

$
9,414

$
237

$
102

$
83

$
78

$
68

$
100

$
39

$
24

$
8

$
10,153

1997
7,685

22,803

597

437

346

215

216

187

112

84

38

25,035

1998
11,089

32,889

1,415

882

616

397

382

332

241

173

98

37,425

1999
18,898

57,198

3,032

2,243

1,533

1,328

1,139

997

709

483

192

68,854

2000
25,020

87,520

8,067

5,202

3,604

3,198

2,782

2,554

1,927

1,349

644

116,847

2001
33,481

119,238

16,048

10,011

6,164

5,299

4,422

3,791

3,104

2,339

1,266

171,682

2002
42,325

119,570

24,729

16,527

9,772

7,444

6,375

5,844

4,768

3,433

2,125

200,587

2003
61,447

126,654

43,728

30,695

18,818

13,135

10,422

8,945

7,477

5,331

3,236

268,441

2004
51,708

59,197

36,468

27,973

17,884

13,181

9,780

8,373

6,496

4,432

2,563

186,347

2005
113,865

15,191

59,645

57,928

42,731

30,048

22,351

16,768

13,052

9,747

5,267

272,728

2006
90,039


17,363

43,737

34,038

25,351

19,522

16,664

11,895

8,316

4,488

181,374

2007
179,838



39,413

87,039

69,175

60,230

50,995

39,585

28,244

15,502

390,183

2008
166,527




47,253

72,080

62,363

53,654

42,850

31,307

16,874

326,381

2009
125,297





40,703

95,627

84,339

69,385

51,121

28,193

369,368

2010
148,598






47,076

113,554

109,873

82,014

44,375

396,892

2011
210,980







61,972

174,461

152,908

85,809

475,150

2012
256,014








56,901

173,589

116,201

346,691

2013
392,055









101,614

191,588

293,202

YTD 2014
262,359










43,725

43,725

Total
$
2,200,305

$
649,674

$
211,329

$
235,150

$
269,881

$
281,632

$
342,755

$
429,069

$
542,875

$
656,508

$
562,192

$
4,181,065

When we acquire a new pool of domestic finance receivables, our estimates typically result in an 80-96 month projection of cash collections, depending on the type of finance receivables acquired. The following chart shows our historical cash collections (including cash sales of finance receivables) in relation to the aggregate of the total estimated collection projections made at the time of each respective pool purchase, adjusted for buybacks, for the last ten years for our domestic portfolios.
 

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Primarily as a result of the downturn in the economy, the decline in the availability of consumer credit, our efforts to help customers establish reasonable payment plans, and improvements in our collections capabilities which have allowed us to profitably collect on accounts with lower balances or lower quality, the average payment size decreased in prior years. However, due to improved scoring and segmentation, together with enhanced productivity, we have been able to realize increased amounts of cash collections by generating enough incremental payments to overcome the decrease in payment size. The decreasing average payment size trend moderated during 2012, and the average payment size was stable during 2013 and the first nine months of 2014.
Portfolios by Type and Geography (Domestic Portfolio)
The following table categorizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of September 30, 2014, into the major asset types represented (amounts in thousands):
 
Account Type
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase
Price (2)
 
%
Major Credit Cards
 
19,901

 
55
%
 
$
55,378,976

 
68
%
 
$
2,389,836

 
66
%
Consumer Finance
 
6,708

 
18

 
8,688,900

 
11

 
151,179

 
4

Private Label Credit Cards
 
9,152

 
25

 
12,386,041

 
15

 
980,848

 
26

Auto Deficiency
 
678

 
2

 
4,837,651

 
6

 
156,883

 
4

Total
 
36,439

 
100
%
 
$
81,291,568

 
100
%
 
$
3,678,746

 
100
%
 
(1)
"Face Value" represents the original face amount purchased from sellers and has not been reduced by any adjustments including payments and buybacks.
(2)
"Original Purchase Price" represents the cash paid to sellers to acquire portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables and has not been reduced by any adjustments, including payments and buybacks.

The following table summarizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of September 30, 2014, into the delinquency categories represented (amounts in thousands).
Account Type
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase
Price (2)
 
%
Fresh
 
3,657

 
10
%
 
$
8,506,528

 
10
%
 
$
956,604

 
26
%
Primary
 
4,884

 
14

 
9,383,045

 
12

 
530,819

 
14

Secondary
 
7,067

 
19

 
10,099,827

 
12

 
449,080

 
12

Tertiary
 
4,475

 
12

 
6,479,719

 
8

 
115,299

 
3

Insolvency
 
5,709

 
16

 
23,429,392

 
29

 
1,458,356

 
40

Other
 
10,647

 
29

 
23,393,057

 
29

 
168,588

 
5

Total
 
36,439

 
100
%
 
$
81,291,568

 
100
%
 
$
3,678,746

 
100
%
 
(1)
"Face Value" represents the original face amount purchased from sellers and has not been reduced by any adjustments including payments and buybacks.
(2)
"Original Purchase Price" represents the cash paid to sellers to acquire portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables and has not been reduced by any adjustments, including payments and buybacks.
We review the geographic distribution of accounts within a portfolio because we have found that state specific laws and rules can have an effect on the collectability of accounts located there. In addition, economic factors and insolvency trends vary regionally and are factored into our maximum purchase price equation.

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The following table summarizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of September 30, 2014, by geographic location (amounts in thousands):
Geographic Distribution
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase

Price
(2)
 
%
California
 
3,943

 
11
%
 
$
10,740,815

 
13
%
 
$
462,494

 
13
%
Texas
 
5,009

 
14

 
8,750,847

 
11

 
320,430

 
9

Florida
 
2,914

 
8

 
7,643,397

 
9

 
326,608

 
9

New York
 
2,076

 
6

 
4,749,220

 
6

 
190,765

 
5

Ohio
 
1,686

 
5

 
3,053,185

 
4

 
151,232

 
4

Pennsylvania
 
1,316

 
4

 
2,960,717

 
4

 
132,621

 
4

Illinois
 
1,381

 
4

 
2,920,725

 
4

 
145,370

 
4

North Carolina
 
1,316

 
4

 
2,863,000

 
4

 
128,879

 
4

Georgia
 
1,203

 
3

 
2,707,208

 
3

 
146,176

 
4

Other(3)
 
15,595

 
41

 
34,902,454

 
42

 
1,674,171

 
44

Total
 
36,439

 
100
%
 
$
81,291,568

 
100
%
 
$
3,678,746

 
100
%
 
(1)
"Face Value" represents the original face amount purchased from sellers and has not been reduced by any adjustments, including payments and buybacks.
(2)
"Original Purchase Price" represents the cash paid to sellers to acquire portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables and has not been reduced by any adjustments, including payments and buybacks.
(3)
Each state included in “Other” represents less than 3% of the face value of total defaulted consumer receivables.
Collections Productivity (Domestic Portfolio)
The following tables display various collections productivity measures that we track. The tables below contain our collector productivity metrics as defined by calendar quarter.
Cash Collections per Collector Hour Paid (Domestic Portfolio)
 
 
Core cash collections (1)
 
2014
 
2013 (5)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Q1
$
223

 
$
193

 
$
166

 
$
162

 
$
135

Q2
220

 
190

 
169

 
154

 
127

Q3
217

 
191

 
171

 
152

 
127

Q4

 
190

 
150

 
137

 
129


 
Total cash collections (2)
 
2014
 
2013 (5)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Q1
$
337

 
$
304

 
$
258

 
$
241

 
$
182

Q2
354

 
315

 
275

 
243

 
188

Q3
338

 
310

 
279

 
249

 
200

Q4

 
308

 
245

 
228

 
204


 
Non-legal cash collections (3)
 
2014
 
2013 (5)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Q1
$
282

 
$
251

 
$
216

 
$
204

 
$
154

Q2
293

 
261

 
225

 
205

 
160

Q3
280

 
259

 
230

 
212

 
170

Q4

 
256

 
200

 
194

 
174


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Table of Contents

 
Non-legal/non-insolvency cash collections (4)
 
2014
 
2013 (5)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Q1
$
167

 
$
140

 
$
125

 
$
125

 
$
106

Q2
158

 
137

 
120

 
116

 
100

Q3
159

 
140

 
122

 
115

 
97

Q4

 
138

 
105

 
103

 
98

(1)
Represents total cash collections less insolvency cash collections from trustee-administered accounts. This metric includes cash collections from insolvency accounts administered by the Core call center as well as cash collections generated by our internal staff of legal collectors. This calculation does not include hours paid to our internal staff of legal collectors or to employees processing the insolvency-required notifications to trustees.
(2)
Represents total cash collections (assigned and unassigned) divided by total hours paid (including holiday, vacation and sick time) to collectors (including those in training).
(3)
Represents total cash collections less external legal cash collections. This metric includes internal legal collections and all insolvency collections and excludes any hours associated with either of those functions.
(4)
Represents total cash collections less external legal cash collections and less insolvency cash collections from trustee-administered accounts. This metric does not include any labor hours associated with the insolvency or legal (internal or external) functions but does include internally-driven cash collections from the internal legal channel.
(5)
Due to a change in our calculation methodology, figures for the first and second quarter of 2013 have been revised to conform to current period presentation.

Consolidated Finance Receivables Portfolio Performance:
The following chart illustrates the excess of our cash collections on our owned portfolios over income recognized on finance receivables on a quarterly basis. The difference between cash collections and income recognized on finance receivables is referred to as payments applied to principal. It is also referred to as amortization of purchase price. This amortization is the portion of cash collections that is used to recover the cost of the portfolio investment represented on the balance sheet.
(1)
Includes cash collections on finance receivables only and excludes cash proceeds from sales of defaulted consumer receivables.

Seasonality
Cash collections tend to be higher in the first and second quarters of the year and lower in the third and fourth quarters of the year, due to customer payment patterns in connection with seasonal employment trends, income tax refunds and holiday spending habits. Historically, our growth has partially offset the impact of this seasonality.

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The following table displays our quarterly cash collections by source, for the periods indicated.
Cash Collection Source (amounts in thousands)
 
Q3-2014
 
Q2-2014
 
Q1-2014
 
Q4-2013
 
Q3-2013
 
Q2-2013
 
Q1-2013
 
Q4-2012
Call Center and Other Collections
 
$
97,301

 
$
95,072

 
$
97,736

 
$
84,375

 
$
89,512

 
$
90,229

 
$
89,037

 
$
72,624

External Legal Collections
 
49,930

 
55,011

 
50,990

 
46,066

 
48,274

 
50,131

 
47,910

 
41,521

Internal Legal Collections
 
41,400

 
45,090

 
43,939

 
34,101

 
33,288

 
30,365

 
29,283

 
23,968

Insolvency Collections
 
110,544

 
124,101

 
120,702

 
114,384

 
120,577

 
125,672

 
109,233

 
91,098

Legacy Aktiv Kapital
 
73,568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Cash Collections
 
$
372,743

 
$
319,274

 
$
313,367

 
$
278,926

 
$
291,651

 
$
296,397

 
$
275,463

 
$
229,211

Rollforward of Net Finance Receivables
The following table shows the changes in finance receivables, net, including the amounts paid to acquire new portfolios (amounts in thousands).
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,219,595

 
$
1,236,859

 
$
1,239,191

 
$
1,078,951

Acquisitions of finance receivables (1)
894,779

 
138,854

 
1,146,947

 
546,201

Foreign currency translation adjustment
(52,247
)
 
1,304

 
(51,858
)
 
363

Cash collections applied to principal (2)
(148,417
)
 
(120,195
)
 
(420,570
)
 
(368,693
)
Balance at end of period
$
1,913,710

 
$
1,256,822

 
$
1,913,710

 
$
1,256,822

Estimated remaining collections
$
4,369,050

 
$
2,672,361

 
$
4,369,050

 
$
2,672,361

(1)
Acquisitions of finance receivables is net of buybacks and includes certain capitalized acquisition related costs. It also includes the acquisition date finance receivable portfolio that was acquired in connection with the Aktiv acquisition.
(2)
Cash collections applied to principal (also referred to as amortization) consists of cash collections less income recognized on finance receivables, net of allowance charges/reversals.
Portfolio Purchasing
The following table displays our quarterly portfolio purchases for the periods indicated.
Portfolio Type (amounts in thousands)
 
Q3-2014
 
Q2-2014
 
Q1-2014
 
Q4-2013
 
Q3-2013
 
Q2-2013
 
Q1-2013
 
Q4-2012
Core - U.S.
 
$
91,326

 
$
91,904

 
$
79,085

 
$
65,759

 
$
89,044

 
$
113,314

 
$
126,951

 
$
85,476

Insolvency - U.S.
 
38,535

 
16,187

 
65,501

 
31,987

 
41,794

 
82,273

 
86,595

 
111,001

Core - International
 
761,495

 
1,121

 
1,626

 
1,763

 
11,037

 
4,881

 
1,387

 
2,631

Insolvency - International
 

 

 
6,502

 

 

 

 

 

Total Portfolio Purchasing
 
$
891,356

 
$
109,212

 
$
152,714

 
$
99,509

 
$
141,875

 
$
200,468

 
$
214,933

 
$
199,108


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Table of Contents

Estimated Remaining Collections
The following chart shows our ERC by geographical region at September 30, 2014 (amounts in millions).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, our primary sources of cash have been cash flows from operations, bank borrowings, and convertible debt and equity offerings. Cash has been used for acquisitions of finance receivables, corporate acquisitions, repurchase of our common stock, repayments of bank borrowings, operating expenses, purchases of property and equipment, and working capital to support our growth.
As of September 30, 2014, cash and cash equivalents totaled $70.3 million, compared to $162.0 million at December 31, 2013. We had $1.4 billion in borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2014, which represents $513.8 million of availability under all of our credit facilities (subject to the borrowing base and applicable debt covenants). See the "Borrowings" section below for more information.
We have in place forward flow commitments for the purchase of defaulted consumer receivables over the next twelve months in which the maximum amount that could be purchased is approximately $622.9 million as of September 30, 2014.  Additionally we may enter into new or renewed flow commitments in the next twelve months and close on spot transactions in addition to the aforementioned flow agreements.  We believe that funds generated from operations and from cash collections on finance receivables, together with existing cash and available borrowings under our credit facility will be sufficient to finance our operations, planned capital expenditures, the aforementioned forward flow commitments, and additional, normal-course portfolio purchasing during the next twelve months. Business acquisitions or higher than normal levels of portfolio purchasing could require additional financing from other sources. On July 16, 2014, we completed the purchase of the outstanding equity of Aktiv, for a purchase price of approximately $861.3 million, and assumed approximately $433.7 million of Aktiv’s corporate debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. We financed the transaction with cash of $206.4 million, $169.9 million in financing from an affiliate of the seller, and $485.0 million from our domestic, revolving credit facility.
For domestic income tax purposes, we recognize revenue using the cost recovery method with respect to our debt purchasing business.  The IRS has audited and issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2005 through 2012.  It has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income.  We have filed a petition in the United States Tax Court and believe we have sufficient support for the technical merits of our positions.  If we are unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, we can appeal to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals.  If judicial appeals prove unsuccessful, we may ultimately be required to pay the related deferred taxes, and possibly interest and penalties, which may require additional financing from other sources.  In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, underpayments of federal tax accrue interest, compounded daily, at the applicable federal short term rate plus three percentage points.  An additional two percentage points applies to large corporate underpayments of $100,000 or more to periods after the applicable date as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. We file taxes in multiple state jurisdictions; therefore, any underpayment of state tax will accrue interest in accordance with the respective state statute.  Our estimate of the potential federal and state interest is $75.0 million as of September 30, 2014.  Deferred tax liabilities related to this item were $235.0 million at September 30, 2014.

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Cash generated from operations is dependent upon our ability to collect on our finance receivables. Many factors, including the economy and our ability to hire and retain qualified collectors and managers, are essential to our ability to generate cash flows. Fluctuations in these factors that cause a negative impact on our business could have a material impact on our future cash flows.
Our operating activities provided cash of $169.5 million and $172.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In these periods, cash from operations was generated primarily from net income earned through cash collections and fee income received for the period.
Our investing activities used cash of $859.9 million and $187.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash used in investing activities is primarily driven by corporate acquisitions, acquisitions of defaulted consumer receivables and purchases of property and equipment. Cash provided by investing activities is primarily driven by cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables. The majority of the increase in cash used in investing activities was due net cash payments for corporate acquisitions totaling $851.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to $0 for the comparable prior year period, partially offset by a decrease in acquisitions of finance receivables, from $546.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $412.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, in addition to an increase in collections applied to principal on finance receivables from $368.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to $420.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Our financing activities provided cash of $603.1 million and $91.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash for financing activities is normally provided by draws on our line of credit, proceeds from long-term debt and gross proceeds from convertible debt offerings. Cash used in financing activities is primarily driven by principal payments on our lines of credit, principal payments on long-term debt and repurchases of our common stock. The increase in cash provided by financing activities was due primarily due to changes in the net borrowings on our credit facility and net proceeds from long-term debt. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we had net borrowings on our lines of credit of $436.5 million, compared to net payments on our line of credit of $127.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In addition, we had net proceeds of $162.4 million on long-term debt during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to net payments on our long-term debt of $4.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This was partially offset by net proceeds from the convertible debt offering that occurred in the third quarter of 2013. This provided us with $279.3 million in net proceeds of the offering during the nine months ended September 30, 2013 compared to $0 in the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
Cash paid for interest was $21.1 million and $9.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest was paid on our revolving credit facilities, long-term debt, convertible debt and our interest rate swap agreements. Cash paid for income taxes was $41.7 million and $78.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Borrowings
Domestic Revolving Credit and Term Loan

On December 19, 2012, we entered into the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement contained an accordion loan feature that allowed us to request an increase of up to $214.5 million in the amount available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility, whether from existing or new lenders, subject to terms of the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement was amended and modified during 2013.  On April 1, 2014, we entered into the Commitment Increase Agreements to exercise the accordion feature. The Commitment Increase Agreements expanded the maximum amount of revolving credit availability under the Credit Agreement by $214.5 million, by elevating the revolving credit commitments of certain lenders and added three new lenders to the Credit Agreement. Given effect to the $214.5 million increase in the amount of revolving credit availability pursuant to the Commitment Increase Agreements, the total credit facility under the Credit Agreement now includes an aggregate principal amount of $837.5 million (subject to compliance with a borrowing base and applicable debt covenants), which consists of (i) a fully funded $187.5 million term loan, (ii) a $630 million domestic revolving credit facility, of which $193.5 million is available to be drawn, and (iii) a $20 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, of which $20 million is available to be drawn. The facilities all mature on December 19, 2017.  Our revolving credit facility includes a $20.0 million swingline loan sublimit and a $20.0 million letter of credit sublimit. The Credit Agreement is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets.
Borrowings outstanding on this credit facility at September 30, 2014 consisted of $187.5 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of September 30, 2014 of 2.65% and $436.5 million outstanding in 30-day Eurodollar rate loans on the revolving facility with a weighted average interest rate of 2.65%. At December 31, 2013, our borrowings on this credit facility consisted of $195.0 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of December 31, 2013 of 2.67%.

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Seller Note Payable
In conjunction with the closing of the Aktiv business acquisition on July 16, 2014, we entered into the $169.9 million Seller Note. The Seller Note bears interest at the three-month LIBOR plus 3.75% and matures on July 16, 2015. The quarterly interest due can be paid or rolled into the Seller Note balance at our option. On September 30, 2014, we paid the first quarterly interest payment of $1.4 million. At September 30, 2014, the balance due on the Seller Note was $169.9 million with an annual interest rate of 3.99%.
Aktiv Revolving Credit
On May 4, 2012, Aktiv entered into the Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Aktiv Revolving Credit Agreement the credit facility includes an aggregate amount of up to NOK 1,500,000,000 (approximately $232 million), including an option of NOK 500,000,000 (approximately $77 million). The Aktiv revolving credit facility accrues interest at the Interbank Offered Rate ("IBOR") plus 3.00%, bears an unused fee of 1.2% per annum, payable monthly in arrears, and matured on October 28, 2014. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event."
At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv revolving credit facility was $239.7 million, with an annual interest rate of 3.53%. Due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, Aktiv's borrowings under this facility exceeded the facility limit. Aktiv requested and received a waiver from the lender which allowed them to be in excess of the limit until the facility matured on October 28, 2014.
Aktiv Term Loan

On March 29, 2011, Aktiv entered into the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement the credit facility includes an aggregate amount of NOK 2,000,000,000 (approximately $310 million) in four different currencies. The Aktiv term loan credit facility accrues interest at the IBOR plus a range of 2.25% - 2.75% (as determined by the Borrowing Base Ratio as defined in the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement), and matured on October 28, 2014. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event."

At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv term loan credit facility was $79.7 million, with an annual interest rate of 2.66%.
Aktiv Multicurrency Term Loan Bridge Facility
On June 24, 2014, Aktiv entered into the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement. Under the terms of the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement the credit facility includes an aggregate amount of NOK 350,000,000 (approximately $54 million). The Aktiv bridge loan credit facility accrues interest at the IBOR plus 4%, bears an unused line fee of 0.35% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, matured on October 28, 2014, and is subordinated to the Aktiv revolving and term loan credit facilities. At maturity, any outstanding balances owed on this facility were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event".

At September 30, 2014, the balance on the Aktiv bridge loan credit facility was $22.8 million, with an annual interest rate of 4.22%.
Aktiv Subordinated Loan
On December 16, 2011, Aktiv entered into the Commitment with Metrogas Holding Inc., an affiliate with Geveran Trading Co. Ltd. Under the terms of the Commitment, Aktiv is able to drawdown a commitment in the aggregate amount of up to NOK 200,000,000 (approximately $31 million) for a period of 90 days from the date of the agreement (the “Availability Period”). Aktiv may draw all or a part of the Commitment in the Availability Period, and may utilize the Commitment in up to three drawdowns. The Commitment bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.75%. The maturity date is January 16, 2016. The Commitment does not contain any covenants.

As of September 30, 2014, the aggregate drawdown is $29.4 million, with an annual interest rate of 3.99%.


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Convertible Senior Notes
On August 13, 2013, we completed the private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture. The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default after which the Notes may be due and payable immediately. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning as of February 1, 2014.
We were in compliance with all covenants under our financing arrangements as of December 31, 2013. As of September 30, 2014, we were in compliance with all covenants under our financing arrangements with the exception of certain of the Aktiv credit agreements, for which we requested and received waivers as described above under the caption, Aktiv Revolving Credit, and in Note 14, "Subsequent Event."
 Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries
We intend to use remaining accumulated and future undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries to expand operations outside the United States; therefore, such undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. federal and state income tax has been provided thereon. If management's intentions change and eligible undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are repatriated, taxes would be accrued and paid on such earnings.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity was $968.4 million at September 30, 2014 and $869.5 million at December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to $129.5 million in net income attributable to the Company during the nine months ended September 30, 2014, offset by net foreign currency translation losses of $45.2 million.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2014 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
 
Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
 
Less
than 1
year
 
1 - 3
years
 
3 - 5
years
 
More
than 5
years
Operating leases
 
$
39,829

 
$
9,737

 
$
17,998

 
$
9,513

 
$
2,581

Lines of credit (1)
 
725,354

 
255,044

 
29,753

 
440,557

 

Long-term debt (2)
 
879,354

 
332,276

 
112,245

 
138,708

 
296,125

Purchase commitments (3)
 
629,923

 
566,376

 
32,642

 
30,905

 

Employment agreements
 
5,236

 
5,236

 

 

 

Total
 
$
2,279,696

 
$
1,168,669

 
$
192,638

 
$
619,683

 
$
298,706


(1)
This amount includes estimated unused line fees due on our revolving lines of credit and assumes that the balance on the domestic line of credit remains constant from the September 30, 2014 balance of $436.5 million until maturity.
(2)
This amount includes scheduled interest and principal payments on our term loan, convertible debt and other loans and notes payable. Also, the Aktiv Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Aktiv Bridge Loan Credit Agreement matured on October 28, 2014. Any outstanding balances owed on these terminated agreements were automatically transferred to the Multicurrency Revolving Credit Facility Agreement as described in Note 14 "Subsequent Event." For purposes of this table, the balances owed under these agreements are included in the "Less than 1 year" column.
(3)
This amount includes the maximum remaining amount to be purchased under forward flow contracts for the purchase of charged-off consumer debt in the amount of approximately $622.9 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements as defined by Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2013, FASB issued ASU 2013-05, which defines the treatment of the release of cumulative translation adjustments upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. ASU 2013-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted and prior periods should not be adjusted. We adopted ASU 2013-05 in the first quarter of 2014 which had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In April 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-08, that amends the requirements for reporting discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires the disposal of a component of an entity or a group of components of an entity to be reported in discontinued operations if the disposal represents a strategic shift that will have a major effect on the entity’s operations and financial results. ASU 2014-08 also requires additional disclosures about discontinued operations and disclosures about the disposal of a significant component of an entity that does not qualify as a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the potential impacts of the new standard.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, that updates the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also amends the required disclosures of the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted. We are evaluating our implementation approach and the potential impacts of the new standard on our existing revenue recognition policies and procedures.

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-12, which requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award. ASU 2014-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the potential impacts of the new standard on our existing stock-based compensation awards.

We do not expect that any other recently issued accounting pronouncements will have a material effect on our financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2014. Our significant accounting policies are fundamental to understanding our results of operations and financial condition because they require that we use estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities.

Three of these policies are considered to be critical because they are important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and because they require management to make judgments and estimates that are difficult, subjective, and complex regarding matters that are inherently uncertain.

We base our estimates on historical experience, current trends and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. If these estimates differ significantly from actual results, the impact on our consolidated financial statements may be material.

Management has reviewed these critical accounting policies with the Company's Audit Committee.

Revenue Recognition - Finance Receivables

We account for our investment in finance receivables under the guidance of ASC 310-30. We acquire portfolios of accounts that have experienced deterioration of credit quality between origination and our acquisition of the accounts. The amount paid for a portfolio reflects our determination that it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to an account's contractual terms. At acquisition, we review the accounts to determine whether there is evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination, and if it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the loan's contractual terms.

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If both conditions exist, we then determine whether each such account is to be accounted for individually or whether such accounts will be assembled into pools based on common risk characteristics. We consider expected prepayments and estimate the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows (expected at acquisition) for each acquired portfolio based on our proprietary models, and then subsequently aggregate portfolios of accounts into pools. We determine the excess of the pool's scheduled contractual principal and contractual interest payments over all cash flows expected at acquisition as an amount that should not be accreted (nonaccretable difference). The remaining amount, representing the excess of the pool's cash flows expected to be collected over the amount paid, is accreted into income recognized on finance receivables over the remaining estimated life of the pool (accretable yield). ASC 310-30 requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows, based on our estimates derived from our proprietary collection models, not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue or expense or on the balance sheet.

Each accounting pool is recorded at cost, which may include certain direct costs of acquisition paid to third parties, and is accounted for as a single unit for the recognition of income, payments applied to principal and loss provision. Once an accounting pool is established for a calendar quarter, individual receivable accounts are not added to the pool (unless replaced by the seller) or removed from the pool (unless sold or returned to the seller). ASC 310-30, utilizing the interest method, initially freezes the yield, estimated when the accounts are purchased, as the basis for subsequent impairment testing. The yield is estimated and periodically recalculated based on the timing and amount of anticipated cash flows using our proprietary collection models. Income on finance receivables is accrued quarterly based on each accounting pool's effective yield. Significant increases in expected future cash flows may be recognized prospectively, through an upward adjustment of the yield, over a pool's remaining life. Any increase to the yield then becomes the new benchmark for impairment testing. Under ASC 310-30, rather than lowering the estimated yield if the collection estimates are not received or projected to be received, the carrying value of a pool would be written down to maintain the then current yield and is shown as a reduction in revenue in the consolidated income statements with a corresponding valuation allowance offsetting finance receivables, net, on the consolidated balance sheets. Cash flows greater than the interest accrual will reduce the carrying value of the accounting pool. This reduction in carrying value is defined as payments applied to principal (also referred to as principal amortization). Likewise, cash flows that are less than the interest accrual will accrete the carrying balance. Generally, we do not record accretion in the first six to twelve months of the estimated life of the pool; accordingly, we utilize either the cost recovery method or cash method when necessary to prevent accretion as permitted by ASC 310-30. Under the cash method, revenue is recognized as it would be under the interest method up to the amount of cash collections. Under the cost recovery method, no revenue is recognized until we have fully collected the cost of the pool, or until such time that we consider the collections to be probable and estimable and begin to recognize income based on the interest method as described above. We also use the cost recovery method when collections on a particular pool of accounts cannot be reasonably estimated.

A pool can become fully amortized (zero carrying balance on the balance sheet) while still generating cash collections. In this case, all cash collections are recognized as revenue when received.

We establish valuation allowances, if necessary, for acquired accounts subject to ASC 310-10. Valuation allowances are established only subsequent to acquisition of the accounts.

We implement the accounting for income recognized on finance receivables under ASC 310-30 as follows. We create each accounting pool using our projections of estimated cash flows and expected economic life. We then compute the effective yield that fully amortizes the pool over a reasonable expectation of its economic life based on the current projections of estimated cash flows. As actual cash flow results are recorded, we balance those results to the data contained in our proprietary models to ensure accuracy, then review each pool watching for trends, actual performance versus projections and curve shape (a graphical depiction of the timing of cash flows), regularly re-forecasting future cash flows utilizing our statistical models. The review process is primarily performed by our finance staff; however, our operational and statistical staff is also involved, providing updated statistical input and cash projections to the finance staff. If there is a significant increase in expected cash flows, we will recognize the effect of the increase prospectively through an increase in yield. If a valuation allowance had been previously recognized for that pool, the allowance is reversed before recording any prospective yield adjustments. If the over performance is considered more of an acceleration of cash flows (a timing difference), we will: a) adjust estimated future cash flows downward which effectively extends the amortization period to fall within a reasonable expectation of the pool's economic life, b) adjust future cash flow projections as noted previously coupled with an increase in yield in order for the amortization period to fall within a reasonable expectation of the pool's economic life, or c) take no action at all if the amortization period falls within a reasonable expectation of the pool's expected economic life. To the extent there is underperformance, we will record an allowance if the underperformance is significant and will also consider revising estimated future cash flows based on current period information, or take no action if the pool's amortization period is reasonable and falls within the currently projected economic life.


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Valuation of Acquired Intangibles and Goodwill

In accordance with ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”), we amortize intangible assets over their estimated useful lives. Goodwill, pursuant to ASC 350, is not amortized but rather is evaluated for impairment annually or earlier if indicators of potential impairment exist. The goodwill evaluation for impairment is highly subjective and requires that: (1) goodwill is allocated to various reporting units of our business to which it relates; and (2) we estimate the fair value of those reporting units to which the goodwill relates and then determine the book value of those reporting units. During the evaluation, we also consider qualitative factors that may have an impact on the final assessment regarding potential impairment. If the estimated fair value of reporting units with allocated goodwill is determined to be less than their book value, we are required to estimate the fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities of those reporting units in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation for an acquired business.

This may require independent valuation of certain unrecognized assets. Once this process is complete, the amount of goodwill impairment, if any, can be determined.

Income Taxes

We follow the guidance of ASC 740 as it relates to the provision for income taxes and uncertainty in income taxes. Accordingly, we record a tax provision for the anticipated tax consequences of the reported results of operations. In accordance with ASC 740, the provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized or settled. The evaluation of a tax position in accordance with the guidance is a two-step process. The first step is recognition: the enterprise determines whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the enterprise should presume that the position will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step is measurement: a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. We record interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.

In the event that all or part of the deferred tax assets are determined not to be realizable in the future, a valuation allowance would be established and charged to earnings in the period such determination is made. If we subsequently realize deferred tax assets that were previously determined to be unrealizable, the respective valuation allowance would be reversed, resulting in a positive adjustment to earnings or a decrease in goodwill in the period such determination is made. The calculation of tax liabilities involves significant judgment in estimating the impact of uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Resolution of these uncertainties in a manner inconsistent with our expectations could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.

For domestic income tax purposes, we recognize revenue using the cost recovery method with respect to our debt purchasing business. We believe cost recovery to be an acceptable method for companies in the bad debt purchasing industry. Under the cost recovery method, collections on finance receivables are applied first to principal to reduce the finance receivables to zero before any income is recognized.


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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk from outstanding borrowings on our variable rate credit facilities. As such, our consolidated financial results are subject to fluctuations due to changes in the market rate of interest. We assess this interest rate risk by estimating the increase or decrease in interest expense that would occur due to a change in short-term interest rates. The borrowings on our variable rate credit facilities were $1.2 billion as of September 30, 2014. Assuming a 25 basis point decrease in interest rates, for example, interest expense over the following twelve months would decrease by an estimated $2.3 million. Assuming a 50 basis point increase in interest rates, interest expense over the following twelve months would increase by an estimated $4.6 million.

To reduce the exposure to changes in the market rate of interest, we have entered into interest rate swap agreements for a portion of our floating rate financing arrangements. Terms of the interest rate swap agreements require us to receive a variable interest rate and pay a fixed interest rate. For the majority of our floating rate financing arrangements, we have no interest rate swap agreements in place.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements was a net liability of $2.8 million at September 30, 2014. A hypothetical 25 basis points decrease in interest rates would cause a decrease in the estimated fair value of our interest rate swap agreements and the resulting estimated fair value would be a liability of $4.3 million at September 30, 2014. Conversely, a hypothetical 50 basis point increase in interest rates would cause an increase in the estimated fair value of our interest rate swap agreements and the resulting estimated fair value would be an asset of $3.0 million at September 30, 2014.
Currency Exchange Risk
We operate internationally and enter into transactions denominated in foreign currencies, including the euro, the Great British pound, the Canadian dollar, Norwegian kroner, Swiss franc, Danish kroner, and Swedish kroner. As such, our financial results are subject to the variability that arises from exchange rate movements. Significant fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the aforementioned currencies or between the aforementioned currencies could adversely affect our comprehensive income. We may or may not implement a hedging program related to currency exchange rate fluctuation.

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions and the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. We conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.  However, we completed the Aktiv acquisition during the third quarter of 2014.  We have begun the process of assessing Aktiv’s controls for design and operating effectiveness, and intend to include the results of that work in our 2015 annual evaluation of internal control over financial reporting.  The acquisition of certain operating assets from PCM during the quarter was immaterial. 


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are from time to time subject to routine legal claims and proceedings, most of which are incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We initiate lawsuits against customers and are occasionally countersued by them in such actions. Also, customers, either individually, as members of a class action, or through a governmental entity on behalf of customers, may initiate litigation against us in which they allege that we have violated a state or federal law in the process of collecting on an account.  From time to time, other types of lawsuits are brought against us.
No litigation was commenced during the period covered by this report that we believe could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Refer to Note 9 “Commitments and Contingencies” of our Consolidated Financial Statements for material developments with respect to legal proceedings previously disclosed with respect to prior periods.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risk factors listed under Part I, Item 1A of our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2014, together with the additional risk factors discussed below and all other information included herein or incorporated by reference in our reports filed with the SEC. Any such risks may materialize, and additional risks not known to us, or that we now deem immaterial, may arise. In such event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that occurs, the market price of our common stock could fall, and investors could lose all or part of your investment.
Our acquisition of Aktiv exposes us to risks which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.
On July 16, 2014, we completed the purchase of the outstanding equity of Aktiv. We have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant costs in connection with the Aktiv acquisition and we have diverted, and will continue to divert, significant management resources in an effort to integrate the operations of Aktiv with that of our own. This could have a negative impact on our ability to manage our existing operations or pursue alternative strategic transactions, which could have a negative effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We financed the Aktiv acquisition with a combination of cash, seller financing and funding from our domestic revolving credit facility. Additionally, we assumed Aktiv’s corporate debt as of July 16, 2014.
As a result of the financing of the Aktiv acquisition, our debt has increased significantly, both in terms of the total amount of our borrowings and as a percentage of the equity of the combined company. This increase in our indebtedness could increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, make it more difficult for us to satisfy obligations with respect to our indebtedness, require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service payments on our debt, limit our flexibility to react to changes in our business and the industry in which we operate, place us at a competitive disadvantage with our competitors that have less debt and limit our ability to borrow additional funds.
Other than our existing UK business, PRA UK, which we acquired in 2012, we have limited operating experience in international markets. The international nature of the Aktiv acquisition expands the risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this section, including the following:
changes in local political, economic, social and labor conditions in Europe and Canada;
foreign exchange controls that might prevent us from repatriating cash earned in countries outside the United States;
currency exchange rate fluctuations and our ability to manage these fluctuations through a foreign exchange risk management program;
different employee/employer relationships, laws and regulations and existence of employment tribunals;
laws and regulations imposed by foreign governments, including those relating to governing data security, sharing and transfer;
potentially adverse tax consequences resulting from changes in tax laws in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate;
logistical, communications and other challenges caused by distance and cultural and language differences, making it harder to do business in certain jurisdictions; and
risks related to crimes, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars in a variety of new geographical locations.
Any one of these factors could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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If we do not successfully integrate Aktiv into our business operations, our business could be adversely affected.
As a result of the Aktiv acquisition, we will need to successfully integrate the operations of Aktiv with our business operations. Integrating the operations of Aktiv with that of our own will be a complex and time-consuming process. Prior to the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv operated independently, with its own business, corporate culture, locations, employees and systems. There may be substantial difficulties, costs and delays involved in any integration of the business of Aktiv with that of our own. These may include:
distracting management from day-to-day operations;
potential incompatibility of corporate cultures;
an inability to achieve synergies as planned;
changes in the combined business due to potential divestitures or other requirements imposed by antitrust regulators;
costs and delays in implementing common systems and procedures; and
increased difficulties in managing our business due to the addition of international locations.
Many of these risks may be accentuated because the vast majority of Aktiv’s operations, employees and customers are located outside of the United States. Any one or all of these factors may increase operating costs or lower anticipated financial performance. Many of these factors are also outside of our control. Achieving anticipated synergies and the potential benefits underlying our reasons for the Aktiv acquisition will depend on successful integration of the businesses. The failure to integrate the business operations of Aktiv successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations, which will be expanded as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions.
Although we currently have international operations, as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, we will operate on an expanded international basis with additional offices or activities in a number of new jurisdictions throughout Europe. We will face increased exposure to risks inherent in conducting business internationally, including compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations, which could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions. These laws and regulations include anti-corruption laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act of 2010 and other local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to governmental officials, and those related to taxation. The FCPA and similar antibribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit U.S.-based companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 prohibits certain entities from making improper payments to governmental officials and to commercial entities. Given the high level of complexity of these laws, there is a risk that we may inadvertently breach certain provisions of these laws, for example through fraudulent or negligent behavior of individual employees, our failure to comply with certain formal documentation requirements, or otherwise. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties; criminal sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees; prohibitions on the conduct of our business and on our ability to offer our products and services in one or more countries, and could also adversely affect our brand, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, our business and our operating results. Although we have implemented and, with respect to new jurisdictions we will enter as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, will implement, policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate our policies. Additionally, in accordance with the European Union Capital Requirements Directive (“CRD IV”), the Swedish Banking and Financing Business Act and the Supervision of Credit and Investment Institutions Act, certain of our European Union ("EU") subsidiaries are subject to capital adequacy requirements as prescribed by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (“SFSA”), because they are included in a group that includes an entity which has been determined to be an EU authorized credit institution (AK Nordic AB), thereby resulting in their supervision by the SFSA and regulatory capital requirements.
Exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
Because we conduct business in various currencies, and because we report our financial results in U.S. dollars, we face exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. This exposure is likely to increase as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, as a larger portion of our operating expenses will likely be incurred in non-U.S. dollar currencies. As a result, significant fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies or between the foreign currencies may adversely affect our net income. We may or may not implement a hedging program related to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Additionally, if implemented, such hedging programs could expose us to additional risks that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Net capital requirements pursuant to the CRD IV may impede the business operations of our subsidiaries.
A sub-group of the company’s EU subsidiaries has been determined by the SFSA to be financial institutions subject to consolidated capital requirements under EU Directives and regulatory oversight, supervision and reporting requirements by the

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SFSA.  These and other similar provisions of applicable law may limit our ability to withdrawl capital from our subsidiaries. Additionally, we have limited experience with the regulatory oversight, supervision, and reporting requirements of the SFSA.
We will incur significant transaction, integration and restructuring costs in connection with the Aktiv acquisition.
We have and will incur significant transaction costs related to the Aktiv acquisition. In addition, the combined business will incur integration and restructuring costs as we integrate the Aktiv business with our business. Although we expect that the realization of benefits related to the integration of the businesses may offset these costs over time, no assurances can be made that this net benefit will be achieved in the near term, or at all, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
A write-off of a significant portion of the goodwill recorded in connection with the Aktiv acquisition would negatively affect the combined company’s financial results.
We have recorded a significant amount of goodwill as a result of the Aktiv acquisition. On at least an annual basis, we assess whether there has been an impairment in the value of goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value, impairment is deemed to have occurred, and the carrying value of goodwill is written down to fair value. Under accounting rules, this would result in a charge to the combined company’s operating earnings. Accordingly, any determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of goodwill recorded in connection with the Aktiv acquisition would negatively affect our results of operations.
We may have exposure to additional tax liabilities as a result of the Aktiv acquisition.
As a multinational corporation, we are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities. Changes in tax laws or tax rulings may have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate. Recent proposals by the current U.S. administration for fundamental U.S. international tax reform, including without limitation provisions that would limit the ability of U.S. multinationals to defer U.S. taxes on foreign income, if enacted, could have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate following the Aktiv acquisition.
Prior to the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv had been a privately-held company, and its new obligations for being a part of a public company may require significant resources and management attention.
Upon consummation of the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv and its subsidiaries became subsidiaries of our consolidated company and will need to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. We will need to ensure that Aktiv establishes and maintains effective disclosure controls as well as internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and such compliance efforts may be costly and may divert the attention of management.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information
None.


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Item 6. Exhibits
3.1
Amended By-Laws of PRA Group, Inc. effective as of July 28, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 31, 2014).
10.1
Employment Agreement, dated February 19, 2014, by and between Geir Olsen and Aktiv Kapital AS.
31.1
Section 302 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2
Section 302 Certifications of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
32.1
Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkable Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkable Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkable Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRA GROUP, INC.
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
Date: November 10, 2014
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Steven D. Fredrickson
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steven D. Fredrickson
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Date: November 10, 2014
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Kevin P. Stevenson
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kevin P. Stevenson
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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