UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G*
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO § 240.13d-1(b), (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO § 240.13d-2
(Amendment No. ___)*
| Encore Capital Group, Inc. |
| (Name of Issuer) |
| Common |
| (Title of Class of Securities) |
| 292554102 |
| (CUSIP Number) |
| September 30, 2015 |
| (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of the Statement) |
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
| x | Rule 13d-1(b) |
| o | Rule 13d-1(c) |
| o | Rule 13d-1(d) |
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
| Cusip No. 292554102 | 13G | Page 2 of 5 Pages |
|
1. |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS William Blair Investment Management, LLC
|
|
2. |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (see instructions) (a) o (b) o
|
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3. |
SEC USE ONLY
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4. |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION 222 W. ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60606 USA
|
|
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5. |
SOLE VOTING POWER 2,632,330
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6. |
SHARED VOTING POWER 0
| |
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7. |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,700,800
| |
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8. |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0
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9. |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,700,800
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10. |
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) o
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11. |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 10.70%
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12. |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IA
|
| Cusip No. 292554102 | 13G | Page 3 of 5 Pages |
| Item 1(a). | Name of Issuer: |
| Encore Capital Group, Inc. | |
| Item 1(b). | Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices: |
| 3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 103, San Diego, CA 92108 | |
| Item 2(a). | Name of Person Filing: |
| William Blair Investment Management, LLC | |
| Item 2(b). | Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: |
| 222 WEST ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60606 | |
| Item 2(c). | Citizenship: |
| USA | |
| Item 2(d). | Title of Class of Securities: |
| Common | |
| Item 2(e). | CUSIP Number: |
| 292554102 | |
| Item 3. | If this statement is filed pursuant to §§ 240.13d-1(b), or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: |
| (a) | ¨ | Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); | |
| (b) | o | Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); | |
| (c) | o | Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); | |
| (d) | o | Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); | |
| (e) | x | An investment adviser in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); | |
| (f) | o | An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); | |
| (g) | o | A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); | |
| (h) | o | A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); | |
| (i) | o | A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); | |
| (j) | o | A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); | |
| (k) | o | Group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). |
If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____________.
| Cusip No. 292554102 | 13G | Page 4 of 5 Pages |
| Item 4. | Ownership: |
| Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. |
| (a) | Amount beneficially owned: 2,700,800 |
| (b) | Percent of class: 10.70% |
| (c) | Number of shares as to which the person has: |
| (i) | Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 2,632,330 |
| (ii) | Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 |
| (iii) | Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 2,700,800 |
| (iv) | Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 |
| Item 5. | Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: |
| If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following ¨ |
| Item 6. | Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: |
| N/A |
| Item 7. | Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company: |
| N/A |
| Item 8. | Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: |
| N/A |
| Item 9. | Notice of Dissolution of Group: |
| N/A |
| Item 10. | Certifications: |
| N/A |
| Cusip No. 292554102 | 13G | Page 5 of 5 Pages |
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
| Date: | October 8, 2015 | ||
| By: | /s/ Michelle R. Seitz | ||
| Name: | Michelle R. Seitz | ||
| Title: | Principal, Head of Investment Management |
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative’s authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, Provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.
Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations
(see 18 U.S.C. 1001).