ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC - Annual Report: 2013 (Form 10-K)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 or

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: 000-26489

ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(877) 445-4581

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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  x    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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ¨

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” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant totaling 23,333,327 shares was approximately $772,566,457 at June 28, 2013, based on the closing price of the common stock of $33.11 per share on such date, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

The number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding at February 3, 2014, was 25,482,713.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the registrant’s proxy statement in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2014 are incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1—Business

An Overview of Our Business

Nature of Our Business

We are an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions for consumers and property owners across a broad range of financial assets.

Portfolio Purchase and Recovery Business

We purchase portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value and manage them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery. Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings. Through certain subsidiaries, we are a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States.

In June 2013, we completed our merger with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (“AACC”), another leading provider of debt recovery solutions in the United States (the “AACC Merger”).

In July 2013, we acquired control of United Kingdom-based Cabot Credit Management Limited (“Cabot”), which is a market leader in debt management in the United Kingdom specializing in portfolios consisting of higher balance, “semi-performing” accounts (i.e., debt portfolios in which over 50% of accounts have made a payment in three of the last four months immediately prior to the portfolio purchase).

In December 2013, we acquired a majority ownership interest in Refinancia S.A. (“Refinancia”), a market leader in the management of non-performing loans in Colombia and Peru. In addition to purchasing defaulted receivables, Refinancia offers portfolio management services to banks for non-performing loans. Refinancia also specializes in non-traditional niches in the geographic areas in which it operates, including providing financial solutions to individuals who have previously defaulted on their obligations, payment plan guarantee services to merchants and loan guarantee services to financial institutions.

On February 7, 2014, Cabot acquired Marlin Financial Group Limited (“Marlin”), a leading acquirer of non-performing consumer debt in the United Kingdom. Marlin is differentiated by its proven competitive advantage in the use of litigation-enhanced collections for non-paying financial services receivables, which we believe complements Cabot’s management of semi-performing accounts.

On February 22, 2014, we agreed to acquire a majority ownership interest in Grove Holdings (“Grove”), through its subsidiaries a leading specialty investment firm focused on consumer non-performing loans, including insolvencies in the United Kingdom (in particular, individual voluntary arrangements, or IVAs) and non-bank receivables in Spain. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2014.

Our portfolio purchase and recovery business now includes accounts originated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Colombia and Peru. Accounts originated in the United States are serviced through our call centers in the United States, India and Costa Rica. Beginning in January 2014, our India call center also began to service Cabot’s United Kingdom accounts. Throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, when we refer to our United States operations, we include accounts originated in the United States that are serviced through our call centers in the United States, India and Costa Rica. When we refer to our United Kingdom operations, we are referring to accounts originated in the United Kingdom and Ireland through Cabot. To date, our operating results from Refinancia’s Colombia and Peru operations are immaterial to our total consolidated operating results.

1

Table of Contents

Tax Lien Business

Through our subsidiary, Propel Financial Services, LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Propel”), we assist Texas and Nevada property owners who are delinquent on their property taxes by paying these taxes on behalf of the property owners in exchange for payment agreements collateralized by a tax lien on the property. Through Propel, we also purchase tax liens directly from taxing authorities in various other states.

The foundation of our success and our commitment to future growth is our people, our organizational agility and our integrity. This foundation supports strengths in four key areas, which we refer to as our pillars:

Although we have enabled over two million consumers to retire a portion of their outstanding debt since 2007, one of the debt collection industry’s most formidable challenges is that many financially distressed consumers will never make a payment, much less retire their total debt obligation. In fact, we generate payments from fewer than one percent of our accounts every month. To address these challenges, we evaluate portfolios of receivables that are available for purchase using robust, account-level valuation methods, and we employ proprietary statistical and behavioral models across all our operations. We believe these business practices contribute to our ability to value portfolios accurately, avoid buying portfolios that are incompatible with our methods or goals, and align the accounts we purchase with our operational channels to maximize future collections. We also have one of the industry’s largest financially distressed consumer databases. We believe that our specialized knowledge, along with our investments in data and analytic tools, have enabled us to realize significant returns from the receivables we have acquired. We maintain strong relationships with many of the largest credit and telecommunication providers in the United States, and believe that we possess one of the industry’s best collection staff retention rates. In addition, through Cabot and Refinancia, we maintain strong relationships with many of the largest financial services providers in the United Kingdom and the Latin American markets we service.

Seasonality

United States

While seasonality does not have a material impact on our portfolio purchasing and recovery segment, collections are generally strongest in our first calendar quarter, slower in the second and third calendar quarters, and slowest in the fourth calendar quarter. Relatively higher collections in the first quarter could result in a lower cost-to-collect ratio compared to the other quarters, as our fixed costs are constant and applied against a larger collection base. The seasonal impact on our business may also be influenced by our purchasing levels, the types of portfolios we purchase, and our operating strategies.

Collection seasonality with respect to our portfolio purchasing and recovery segment can also affect revenue as a percentage of collections, also referred to as our revenue recognition rate. Generally, revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, whereas collections can fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on seasonality, as described above. In quarters with lower collections (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter), the revenue recognition rate can be higher than in quarters with higher collections (e.g., the first calendar quarter).

2

Table of Contents

In addition, seasonality could have an impact on the relative level of quarterly earnings. In quarters with stronger collections, total costs are higher as a result of the additional efforts required to generate those collections. Since revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, in quarters with higher collections and higher costs (e.g., the first calendar quarter), all else being equal, earnings could be lower than in quarters with lower collections and lower costs (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter). Additionally, in quarters where a greater percentage of collections come from our legal and agency outsourcing channels, cost to collect will be higher than if there were more collections from our internal collection sites.

United Kingdom

While seasonality does not have a material impact on Cabot’s operations, collections are generally strongest in the second and third calendar quarters and slower in the first and fourth quarters, largely driven by the impact of the December holiday season and the New Year holiday, and the related impact on customers’ ability to repay their balances. This drives a higher level of plan defaults over this period, which are typically repaired across the first quarter of the following year. The August vacation season in the United Kingdom also has an unfavorable effect on the level of collections, but this is traditionally compensated for by higher collections in July and September.

Operating Segments

We conduct business through two reportable segments: portfolio purchasing and recovery and tax liens. Financial information regarding our operating segments and geographic operations is set forth in Note 15 “Segment Information” to our consolidated financial statements.

Company Information

We were incorporated in Delaware in 1999. Our headquarters is located at 3111 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 1300, San Diego, California 92108 and our telephone number is (877) 445-4581. Investors wishing to obtain more information about us may access the Investors section of our Internet site at http://www.encorecapital.com. The site provides access, free of charge, to relevant investor related information, such as Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, press releases, featured articles, an event calendar, and frequently asked questions. SEC filings are available on our Internet site as soon as reasonably practicable after being filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The content of our Internet site is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any materials that we filed with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC (http://www.sec.gov).

Our Competitive Advantages

Analytic Strength. We believe that success in our portfolio purchase and recovery business depends on our ability to establish and maintain an information advantage. Leveraging an industry-leading financially distressed consumer database, our in-house team of statisticians, business analysts, and software programmers have developed, and continually enhance, proprietary behavioral and valuation models, custom software applications, and other business tools that guide our portfolio purchases. Moreover, our collection channels are informed by powerful statistical models specific to each collection activity, and each year we deploy significant capital to purchase credit bureau and customized consumer data that describe demographic, account level, and macroeconomic factors related to credit, savings, and payment behavior.

Consumer Intelligence. At the core of our analytic approach is a focus on understanding, measuring, and predicting financially distressed consumer behavior. In this effort, we apply tools and methods from statistics, psychology, economics, and management science across the full extent of our business. During portfolio

3

Table of Contents

valuation, we use an internally developed and proprietary family of statistical models that determines the likelihood and expected amount of payment for each consumer within a portfolio. Subsequently, the expectations for each account are aggregated to arrive at a portfolio-level liquidation solution and a valuation for the entire portfolio is determined. During the collection process, we apply our “willingness-capability” framework, which allows us to match our collection approach to an individual consumer’s payment behavior.

Cost Leadership. Cost efficiency is central to our collection and purchasing strategies. We experience considerable cost advantages, stemming from our operations in India and Costa Rica, our enterprise-wide, activity-level cost database, and the development and implementation of operational models that enhance profitability. We believe that we are the only company in our industry with a successful, late-stage collection platform in India. This cost-saving, first-mover advantage helps to reduce our call center variable cost-to-collect.

Principled Intent. We strive to treat consumers with respect, compassion, and integrity. From discounts and payment plans to hardship solutions, we work with our consumers as they attempt to return to financial health. We are committed to dialogue that is honorable and constructive, and hope to play an important and positive role in our consumers’ financial recovery.

Our Strategy

We have implemented a business strategy that emphasizes the following elements:

Extend our knowledge about financially distressed consumers. We believe our investments in data, analytic tools, and expertise related to both general and financially distressed consumer behavior provide us with a competitive advantage. In addition to rigorous data collection practices that take advantage of our unique relationship with financially distressed consumers, our consumer intelligence program focuses on segmentation, marketing communications, and original research conducted in partnership with experts from both industry and academia. We believe this work will continue to bolster our operational success while fueling our efforts to address questions of broad interest to consumers and policy-makers through innovation, good science, and principled intent.

Grow an international specialty finance company. We believe we are well-positioned to take a leading role, worldwide in the distressed debt and subprime consumer financial sectors. Our current footprint includes our industry-leading U.S. and U.K. core debt recovery businesses, our entrance into the Latin American debt market through our Refinancia subsidiary, our tax lien business at Propel, and our international operations through our India and Costa Rica locations.

In addition, we are constantly evaluating additional investments in, or acquisitions of, complementary companies in order to expand into new geographic markets or new types of defaulted consumer receivables, add capacity to our current business lines, and leverage our knowledge of the financially distressed consumer. We believe that our existing underwriting and collection processes can be extended to a variety of consumer receivables and, as portfolio prices fluctuate and the complexity of our industry continues to increase, we expect that our international operations will continue to provide a significant competitive advantage. These capabilities may allow us to develop and provide complementary products or services to specified financially distressed consumer segments. For example, our Refinancia subsidiary provides financial solutions to individuals who have previously defaulted on their obligations, payment plan guarantee services to merchants and loan guarantee services to financial institutions.

Deliver top-quartile Total Shareholder Return. The foundation of our success is our superior management team, ability to learn and evolve as an organization, and commitment to operating with principled intent. This foundation supports strengths in four key areas, which we refer to as our pillars: superior analytics, operational scale and cost leadership (including specialized call centers and our internal legal platform), strong capital stewardship, and an extendable business model (supporting strategic investments in new asset classes and

4

Table of Contents

geographic areas). In turn, we believe these core capabilities position us to deliver strong growth, competitive margins, and strong cash flows. Taken together, we believe these elements will align our business, investor, and financial strategies and allow us to drive top quartile shareholder return.

Safeguard and promote consumer financial health. We believe that our interests, and those of the financial institutions from which we purchase portfolios, are closely aligned with the interests of government agencies seeking to protect consumer rights. Accordingly, and guided by our Consumer Bill of Rights, we expect to continue investing in infrastructure and processes that support consumer advocacy and financial literacy while promoting an appropriate balance between corporate and consumer responsibility.

Acquisition of Portfolio Purchase and Recovery Receivables

We provide sellers of delinquent receivables liquidity and immediate value through the purchase of charged-off consumer receivables. We believe that we are an appealing partner for these sellers given our financial strength, focus on principled intent, and track record of financial success.

United States

Identify purchase opportunities. We maintain relationships with some of the largest credit originators and portfolio resellers of charged-off consumer receivables in the United States. We identify purchase opportunities and secure, where possible, exclusive negotiation rights. We believe that we are a valued partner for credit originators and portfolio resellers from whom we purchase portfolios, and our ability to secure exclusive negotiation rights is typically a result of our strong relationships and our purchasing scale. Receivable portfolios are sold either through a general auction, where the seller requests bids from market participants, or through an exclusive negotiation, where the seller and buyer negotiate a sale privately. The sale transaction can be either for a one-time spot purchase or for a “forward flow” contract. A “forward flow” contract is a commitment to purchase receivables over a duration that is typically three to twelve months with specifically defined volume, frequency, and pricing. Typically, these forward flow contracts have provisions that allow for early termination or price re-negotiation should the underlying quality of the portfolio deteriorate over time or if any particular month’s delivery is materially different than the original portfolio used to price the forward flow contract. We generally attempt to secure forward flow contracts for receivables because a consistent volume of receivables over a set duration can allow us more precision in forecasting and planning our operational needs.

Evaluate purchase opportunities using account-level analytics. Once a portfolio of interest is identified, we obtain detailed information regarding the portfolio’s accounts, including certain information regarding the consumers themselves. We then purchase additional information for the consumers whose accounts we are contemplating purchasing, including credit, savings, or payment behavior. Our Decision Science team, responsible for asset valuation, statistical analysis, and forecasting, then analyzes this information to determine the expected value of each potential new consumer. Our collection expectations are based on these demographic data, account characteristics, and economic variables, which we use to predict a consumer’s willingness and ability to repay his or her debt. The expected value of collections for each account is aggregated to calculate an overall value for the portfolio. Additional adjustments are made to account for qualitative factors that may affect the payment behavior of our consumers (such as prior collection activities, or the underwriting approach of the seller), and servicing related adjustments to ensure our valuations are aligned with our operations.

Formal approval process. Once we have determined the value of the portfolio and have completed our qualitative diligence, we present the purchase opportunity to our investment committee, which either sets the maximum purchase price for the portfolio based on a corporate Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) or other strategic objectives or declines to bid. Members of the investment committee include our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, other members of our senior management team, and experts, as needed.

We believe long-term success is best achieved by combining a diverse asset sourcing approach with an account-level scoring methodology and a disciplined evaluation process.

5

Table of Contents

United Kingdom

Through Cabot, we maintain strong relationships with many of the largest financial service providers in the United Kingdom. Cabot primarily acquires receivable portfolios in negotiated spot transactions, but it also participates in auctions on occasion. In addition, Cabot purchases a small number of portfolios by entering into forward flow agreements, although it has substantially moved away from these arrangements.

When Cabot identifies a portfolio of interest, it evaluates account-level information and performs due diligence to evaluate certain features of the portfolio. Cabot next applies its proprietary, highly automated portfolio pricing models to further evaluate the portfolio, using separate models depending on the type of account: a paying model for semi-performing accounts and a regression model for non-performing accounts. Using its substantial database of account holder information, Cabot carries out additional statistical analysis that is customized to evaluate specific repayment characteristics to further evaluate the accounts. The results of due diligence and the outputs of the pricing models and data analysis is presented to Cabot’s pricing committee, which then decides whether to make an indicative bid for the portfolio. If, following the indicative bid, Cabot is short-listed by the vendor, it then conducts further due diligence on the portfolio and refines its analysis. Following this additional due diligence, the pricing committee decides whether to submit a final binding offer for the portfolio.

All purchases require approval by the pricing committee. Cabot’s pricing committee includes its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. In addition, representatives from Encore and J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC participate in all material pricing decisions. We believe that Cabot’s significant industry and management experience enable it to make informed decisions about the portfolios we acquire through it.

Portfolio Purchase and Recovery Collection Approach

United States

We expand and build upon the insight developed during our purchase process when developing our account collection strategies for portfolios we have acquired. Our proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of whether an account is actively serviced post-purchase. Generally, we pursue collection activities on only a fraction of the accounts we purchase, through one or more of our collection channels. The channel identification process is analogous to a decision tree where we first differentiate those consumers who we believe are unable to pay from those who we believe are able to pay. Consumers who we believe are financially incapable of making any payments, or are facing extenuating circumstances or hardships that would prevent them from making payments, are excluded from our collection process. It is our practice to assess each consumer’s willingness to pay through analytics, phone calls and/or letters. Despite our efforts to reach consumers and work out a settlement option, only a small number of consumers who we contact choose to engage with us. Those who do are often offered discounts on their obligations or are presented with payment plans that are intended to suit their needs. However, the majority of consumers we contact ignore our calls and our letters and we must then make the decision about whether to pursue collections through legal action. Throughout our ownership period, we periodically refine our collection approach to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account. These strategies consist of:

6

Table of Contents

United Kingdom

Cabot uses insights discovered during its purchasing process to build account collection strategies. Cabot’s proprietary consumer-level collectability analysis is the primary determinant of how an account will be serviced post-purchase. Cabot continuously refines this analysis to determine the most effective collection strategy to pursue for each account it owns. In recent years, Cabot has concentrated on buying portfolios that are described as semi-performing in which over 50% of accounts have made a payment in three of the last four months immediately prior to the portfolio purchase. Cabot will try to establish contact with these consumers in order to transfer payment arrangements and gauge the willingness of these consumers to pay. Consumers who Cabot believes are financially incapable of making any payments, those having negative disposable income, or those experiencing hardship (such as medical issues or mental incapacity), are handled outside of normal collections processes.

The remaining pool of accounts then receives further evaluation. At that point, Cabot analyzes and determines a consumer’s perceived willingness to pay. Based on that analysis, Cabot pursues collections through

7

Table of Contents

letters and/or phone calls to its consumers. Where contact is made and consumers indicate a willingness to pay, a patient approach of forbearance is applied using regulatory protocols within the United Kingdom to assess affordability and ensure that repayment plans are fair and balanced and therefore sustainable. Where the customer is unwilling to pay, Cabot refers the account to the appropriate escalation point in the collection process, which may include its internal debt collection agency or a third-party collection agency or legal action. Historically, legal action was only used by Cabot as a last-resort collection strategy and was typically outsourced to third parties. The acquisition of Marlin now provides Cabot with robust internal legal collection capabilities. Like Cabot, Marlin uses analytics to segment accounts and determine a consumer’s willingness and ability to pay. We believe the combined Cabot and Marlin organization will have the opportunity to further improve account collection strategies by sharing industry expertise and addressing consumers across the entire willingness to pay spectrum.

Tax Lien Business

Propel’s principal activities are the acquisition and servicing of residential and commercial tax liens on real property. These liens take priority over most other liens. By funding tax liens, Propel provides state and local taxing authorities and governments with much needed tax revenue. To the extent permitted by local law, Propel works with property owners to structure affordable payment plans designed to allow them to keep their property while paying their property tax obligation over time. Propel maintains a foreclosure rate of less than one-half of one percent.

Propel’s receivables secured by property tax liens include Texas tax liens, Nevada tax liens, and tax lien certificates (collectively, “Tax Liens”). With Texas and Nevada Tax Liens, Texas or Nevada property owners choose to have the taxing authority transfer their tax lien to Propel. Propel pays their tax lien obligation to the taxing authority and the property owner pays Propel over time at a lower interest rate than was being assessed by the taxing authority. Propel’s arrangements with Texas and Nevada property owners provide them with repayment plans that are both affordable and flexible when compared with other payment options. Propel also purchases Tax Liens in various other states directly from taxing authorities, securing rights to future property tax payments, interest, and penalties. In most cases, these Tax Liens continue to be serviced by the taxing authority. When the taxing authority is paid, it repays Propel the outstanding balance of the lien plus interest, which is established by statute or negotiated at the time of the purchase.

Based in San Antonio, Texas, Propel is the largest tax lien company in the state of Texas.

Enterprise Risk Management and Legal Oversight

United States

Our compliance and legal oversight functions are divided between our legal and enterprise risk management departments. Our legal department manages regulatory oversight, litigation, corporate transactions, and compliance with our internal ethics policy, while our enterprise risk management department manages risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and internal audit.

The legal department is responsible for interpreting and administering our Standards of Business Conduct (the “Standards”), which apply to all of our directors, officers, and employees and outlines our commitment to a culture of professionalism and ethical behavior. The Standards promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and full and fair disclosure in reports that we file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by us. As described in the Standards, we have also established a toll-free Accounting and Fraud Hotline to allow directors, officers, and employees to report any detected or suspected fraud, misappropriations, or other fiscal irregularities, any good faith concern about our accounting and/or auditing practices, or any other violations of the Standards.

8

Table of Contents

We continually monitor applicable changes to laws governing statutes of limitations and disclosures to consumers. We maintain policies, system controls, and processes designed to ensure that accounts past the applicable statute of limitations do not get placed into legal collections. Additionally, in written and verbal communications with consumers, we provide disclosures to the consumer that the account is past its applicable statute of limitations and, therefore, we will not pursue collections through legal means.

The enterprise risk management department is responsible for the development and administration of internal policies, procedures and controls which apply to all of our business units. The team manages and tests our Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 compliance. The team also performs periodic risk assessments and audits to evaluate the level of compliance to both regulations and standards of internal control for both internal operations and vendors/outsourcers.

Beyond written policies, one of our core internal goals is the adherence to principled intent as it pertains to all consumer interactions. We believe that it is in our shareholders’ and our employees’ best interest to treat all consumers with the highest standards of integrity. Specifically, we have strict policies and a code of ethics, which guide all dealings with our consumers. To reinforce existing written policies, we have established a number of quality assurance procedures. Through our Quality Assurance program, our Fair Debt Collection Practices Act training for new account managers, our Fair Debt Collection Practices Act recertification program for continuing account managers, and our Consumer Support Services department, we take significant steps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and seek to promote consumer satisfaction. Our Quality Assurance team aims to enhance the skills of account managers and to drive compliance initiatives through active call monitoring, account manager coaching and mentoring, and the tracking and distribution of company-wide best practices. Finally, our Consumer Support Services department works directly with consumers to seek to resolve incoming consumer inquiries and to respond to consumer disputes as they may arise.

United Kingdom

Cabot has established a compliance framework, operational procedures and governance structures to enable it to conduct business in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines. Cabot’s employees undergo comprehensive training on legal and regulatory compliance, and Cabot engages in regular call monitoring checks, data checks, performance reviews and other operational reviews to ensure compliance with company guidelines. The laws and regulations under which Cabot operates have at their core the fair treatment of consumers, which is embedded within Cabot’s processes and culture.

Information Technology

Technical Infrastructure. Our internal network has been configured to be redundant in all critical functions, at all sites. This backup system has been implemented within the local area network switches and the data center network, and includes our redundant Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks. We have the capability to handle high transaction volume in our server network architecture, which can be scaled seamlessly with our future growth plans.

Predictive Dialer Technology. Our upgraded predictive dialer technology continues to accommodate the ongoing expansion of our call centers. The technology allows additional call volume capacity and greater efficiency through shorter wait times and an increase in the number of live contacts. We believe this technology helps maximize account manager productivity and further optimizes the yield on our portfolio purchases. We also believe that the use of predictive dialing technology helps us to ensure compliance with certain applicable federal and state laws in the United States that restrict the time, place, and manner in which debt collectors can call consumers.

Computer Hardware. We use a robust computer platform to perform our daily operations, including the collection efforts of our global workforce. Because our custom software applications are integrated within our

9

Table of Contents

database server environment, we are able to process transaction loads with speed and efficiency. The computer platform offers us reliability and expansion opportunities. Furthermore, this hardware incorporates state of the art data security protection. We back up our data daily, and store copies at a secured off-site location. We also mirror our production data to a remote location to give us full protection in the event of the loss of our primary data center. To ensure the integrity and reliability of our computer platform we periodically engage outside auditors specializing in information technology and cybersecurity to examine both our operating systems and disaster recovery plans.

Process Control. To ensure that our entire infrastructure continues to operate efficiently and securely, we have developed a strong process and control environment. These controls govern all areas of the enterprise from physical security and virtual security, to change management, data protection, and segregation of duties.

Ability to Attract and Retain Employees

Of crucial importance to our success is the recruitment and retention of our key employees, account managers, and executive management team. In addition to offering attractive compensation structures for account managers, we may offer employee programs that promote personal and professional goals, such as leadership and skills training, tuition assistance in support of continued education, and wellness initiatives. Our company has historically been recognized as one of San Diego’s healthiest companies, and in India, we were selected as one of “India’s Best Companies to Work For” by India’s Great Place to Work Institute. We believe that these tangible benefits, combined with intangible differentiators, such as a diverse employee base and the prospect of living and working in an extremely temperate climate where our Corporate Headquarters is located, all contribute to a sustainable competitive advantage with respect to recruitment and retention.

Competition

United States

The consumer credit recovery industry is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with a wide range of collection and financial services companies. We also compete with traditional contingency collection agencies and in-house recovery departments. Competitive pressures affect the availability and pricing of receivable portfolios, as well as the availability and cost of qualified recovery personnel. In addition, some of our competitors may have signed forward flow contracts under which credit originators or portfolio resellers have agreed to transfer charged-off receivables to them in the future, which could restrict those credit originators or portfolio resellers from selling receivables to us. We believe some of our major competitors, which include companies that focus primarily on the purchase of charged-off receivable portfolios, have continued to diversify into third-party agency collections and into offering credit card and other financial services as part of their recovery strategy.

When purchasing receivables, we compete primarily on the basis of the price paid for receivable portfolios, the ease of negotiating and closing the prospective portfolio purchases with us, our ability to obtain funding, and our reputation with respect to the quality of services that we provide. We believe that our ability to compete effectively in this market is also dependent upon, among other things, our relationships with credit originators and portfolio resellers of charged-off consumer receivables, and our ability to provide quality collection strategies in compliance with applicable laws.

We believe that smaller competitors are facing difficulties in the portfolio purchasing market because of the higher cost to operate due to increased regulatory pressure and because sellers of charged-off consumer receivables are being more selective with buyers in the marketplace, resulting in consolidation within the portfolio purchasing and recovery industry. We believe this favors larger participants in this market, such as us, because the larger market participants are better able to adapt to these pressures. As smaller competitors limit their participation in or exit the market, it may provide additional opportunities for us to purchase receivables from competitors or to acquire competitors directly, as we did with the AACC Merger, which we completed in 2013.

10

Table of Contents

The Texas and national tax lien industry is highly competitive and fragmented. In Texas, Propel competes primarily on the basis of interest rate, the ease of negotiating and closing the tax liens with the municipality and the consumer, and the reputation with respect to the quality of services that Propel provides. Outside of Texas, liens are usually sold individually or in bulk to the highest bidders, although sometimes the local governments consider non-pricing factors when awarding bulk liens.

United Kingdom

When purchasing receivables in the United Kingdom market, Cabot competes on the basis of the price paid for receivable portfolios, the ease of negotiating and closing the prospective portfolio purchases with Cabot, its ability to obtain funding, and its reputation with respect to the quality of services it provides. We believe that Cabot’s ability to compete effectively in this market is also dependent upon, among other things, Cabot’s relationships with credit originators and financial services companies, its ability to segment portfolios effectively, its high level of compliance governance controls, and its ability to provide quality collection strategies in compliance with applicable laws.

Similar to certain trends we are observing in the United States, we believe that smaller competitors in the United Kingdom are facing difficulties in the portfolio purchasing market because of the higher cost to operate due to the increased regulatory environment and scrutiny applied by regulators, and also because sellers of charged-off consumer receivables are being more selective with buyers in the marketplace, resulting in a level of consolidation within the portfolio purchasing and recovery industry and the exit of portfolio purchasing and recovery companies from the marketplace. As in the United States, we believe this favors larger participants in the market, such as Cabot, because the larger market participants are better able to adapt to these pressures. As smaller competitors limit their participation in or exit the market, it may provide additional opportunities for us to purchase receivables from competitors or to acquire competitors directly, as we did through Cabot’s acquisition of Marlin in February 2014.

Government Regulation

United States

Our debt purchasing and collection activities are subject to federal, state, and municipal statutes, rules, regulations, and ordinances that establish specific guidelines and procedures that debt purchasers and collectors must follow when collecting consumer accounts. It is our policy to comply with the provisions of all applicable laws in all of our recovery activities. Our failure to comply with these laws could have a material adverse effect on us to the extent that they limit our recovery activities or subject us to fines or penalties in connection with such activities.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and comparable state and local laws establish specific guidelines and procedures that debt collectors must follow when communicating with consumers, including the time, place and manner of the communications, and prohibit unfair, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices. Until 2011, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) administered, and had primary responsibility for the enforcement of, the FDCPA. In July 2011, pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), Congress transferred to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) the FTC’s role of administering the FDCPA, along with certain other federal statutes. The FTC and the CFPB share enforcement responsibilities under the FDCPA.

11

Table of Contents

In addition to the FDCPA, the federal laws that apply to our business (including the regulations that implement these laws) include the following:

The Dodd-Frank Act was adopted to reform and strengthen regulation and supervision of the U.S. financial services industry. It contains comprehensive provisions governing the oversight of financial institutions, some of which apply to us. Among other things, the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB, which has broad authority to implement, examine for compliance with, and enforce “federal consumer financial law” over financial institutions, including credit issuers that may be sellers of receivables and debt buyers and collectors such as us. It has authority to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices by issuing regulations or by using its enforcement authority without first issuing regulations. The Dodd-Frank Act also authorizes state officials to enforce regulations issued by the CFPB and to enforce the CFPA general prohibition against unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices.

The CFPB’s authorities include the ability to issue regulations under all significant federal statutes that affect the collection industry, including the FDCPA, FCRA, and others. On November 12, 2013, the CFPB published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which it seeks comments, data, and information from the public about debt collection practices to help it determine what rules and other CFPB actions, if any, would be useful under the FDCPA and the CFPA.

The Dodd-Frank Act also gave the CFPB supervisory and examination authority over a variety of institutions that may engage in debt collection. The purpose of supervision, including examination, is to assess compliance with federal consumer financial laws, obtain information about activities and compliance systems or procedures, and detect and assess risks to consumers and to markets for consumer financial products and services. On January 2, 2013, the CFPB’s final debt collection larger participant rule took effect. Under the rule, firms that have more than $10 million in annual receipts from consumer debt collection activities, as defined in the rule, are subject to the CFPB’s supervision authority. This definition covers us and, accordingly, authorizes the CFPB to supervise and conduct examinations of our business practices. In addition, effective August 3, 2013, the CFPB assumed supervision authority over nonbanks engaged in activities that pose risks to consumers, which will include debt collectors regardless of size.

The CFPB can conduct hearings, adjudication proceedings, and investigations, either unilaterally or jointly with other state and federal regulators, to determine if federal consumer financial law has been violated. The CFPB has the authority to impose monetary penalties for violations of applicable federal consumer financial laws (including the CFPA, FDCPA, and FCRA, among other consumer protection statutes), require remediation of practices and pursue enforcement actions. The CFPB also has the authority to obtain cease and desist orders (which can include orders for restitution or rescission of contracts, as well as other kinds of affirmative relief), costs, and monetary penalties ranging from $5,000 per day for ordinary violations of federal consumer financial laws to $25,000 per day for reckless violations and $1 million per day for knowing violations.

In addition, the CFPB has issued guidance in the form of bulletins on debt collection activities generally including one that specifically addresses representations regarding credit reports and credit scores during the debt collection process. The CFPB also accepts debt collection consumer complaints and released template letters for

12

Table of Contents

consumers to use when corresponding with debt collectors. The CFPB makes publicly available its data on consumer complaints. The Dodd-Frank Act also mandates the submission of multiple studies and reports to Congress by the CFPB, and CFPB staff is regularly making speeches on topics related to credit and debt. All of these activities could trigger additional legislative or regulatory action.

In addition to the federal statutes detailed above, many states have general consumer protection statutes, and laws, regulations, or court rules that apply to debt purchasing and collection. In a number of states and cities, we must maintain licenses to perform debt recovery services and must satisfy related bonding requirements. It is our policy to comply with all material licensing and bonding requirements. Our failure to comply with existing licensing requirements, changing interpretations of existing requirements, or adoption of new licensing requirements, could restrict our ability to collect in regions, subject us to increased regulation, increase our costs, or adversely affect our ability to collect our receivables.

State laws, among other things, also may limit the interest rate and the fees that a credit originator may impose on our consumers, limit the time in which we may file legal actions to enforce consumer accounts, and require specific account information for certain collection activities. California recently enacted the Fair Debt Buying Practices Act, which directly applies to debt buyers. The law, which applies to accounts sold after January 1, 2014, requires debt buyers operating in the state to have in their possession specific account information before debt collection efforts can begin, among other requirements. In addition, local requirements and court rulings in various jurisdictions also may affect our ability to collect.

Moreover, the relationship between consumers and credit card issuers is extensively regulated by federal and state consumer protection and related laws and regulations. These laws may affect some of our operations because the majority of our receivables originate through credit card transactions. The laws and regulations applicable to credit card issuers, among other things, impose disclosure requirements when a credit card account is advertised, when it is applied for and when it is opened, at the end of monthly billing cycles and at year-end. Federal law requires, among other things, that credit card issuers disclose to consumers the interest rates, fees, grace periods, and balance calculation methods associated with their credit card accounts. Some laws prohibit discriminatory practices in connection with the extension of credit. If the originating institution fails to comply with applicable statutes, rules, and regulations, it could create claims and rights for the consumers that would reduce or eliminate their obligations related to those receivables. When we acquire receivables, we generally require the credit originator or portfolio reseller to represent that they have complied with applicable statutes, rules and regulations relating to the origination and collection of the receivables before they were sold to us.

Federal statutes further provide that, in some cases, consumers cannot be held liable for, or their liability is limited with respect to, charges to their credit card accounts that resulted from unauthorized use of their credit cards. These laws, among others, may give consumers a legal cause of action against us, or may limit our ability to recover amounts owing with respect to the receivables, whether or not we committed any wrongful act or omission in connection with the account.

In January 2012, Asset Acceptance, LLC, a subsidiary of AACC, entered into a consent decree with the FTC. The consent decree ended an FTC investigation into Asset Acceptance, LLC’s compliance with the FTCA, FDCPA, and FCRA. As part of the consent decree, Asset Acceptance, LLC agreed to undertake certain consumer protection practices, including, among other things, furnishing additional disclosures to consumers when collecting debt past the statute of limitations, and paid a civil penalty of $2,500,000. These practices continue to apply to the portfolios we purchased as a result of the AACC Merger. We do not expect compliance with the consent decree to have a material effect on our business.

Our activities are also subject to federal and state laws concerning identity theft, privacy, data security, the use of automated dialing equipment and other laws related to consumers and consumer protection. These laws and regulations, and others similar to the ones listed above, as well as laws applicable to specific types of debt, impose requirements or restrictions on collection methods or our ability to enforce and recover certain of our receivables.

13

Table of Contents

Effects of the law, including those described above and any new or changed laws, rules or regulations and even reinterpretation of the same, may adversely affect our ability to recover amounts owing with respect to our receivables or the sale of receivables by creditors and resellers.

In order to conduct the tax lien business in the State of Texas, our Propel subsidiary is subject to regulation and licensing by the State of Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Tax lien transfers and servicing also are subject to consumer protection, privacy and related laws and regulations, including laws and regulations similar to the federal laws and regulations listed above.

International

As we expand our international footprint, our operations are increasingly affected by foreign statutes, rules and regulations. It is our policy to comply with these laws in all of our recovery activities. For example, debt collection and debt purchase activities in the United Kingdom are highly regulated by a number of different governmental bodies. Under the Consumer Credit Act of 1974, Cabot must currently maintain a consumer credit license from the Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) to perform debt collection activities. The OFT has issued guidance called the Debt Collection Guidance (‘‘DCG’’), which sets out detailed standards that businesses that collect debt must meet. Failure to adhere to the standards of the DCG could result in enforcement action by the OFT, which could involve the placing of requirements on the OFT license, fines and ultimately lead to a revocation of the OFT license.

Additionally, the Consumer Credit Act of 1974 (and its related regulations) and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations of 1999 set forth requirements for the entry into and ongoing management of consumer credit arrangements in the United Kingdom. A failure to comply with these requirements can make agreements unenforceable or can result in a requirement that charged and collected interest be repaid.

In addition to these regulations on debt collection and debt purchase activities, Cabot must comply with requirements established by the Data Protection Act of 1998 in relation to processing the personal data of its consumers.

The regulatory regime to which Cabot is subject is currently experiencing a number of significant changes. Responsibility for the regulation of consumer credit businesses in the United Kingdom is expected to be transferred from the OFT to the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) on April 1, 2014, and the European Commission has proposed that substantial changes be made to the European Union data protection regime. The FCA has implemented an interim permission regime which requires consumer credit licensed businesses to register for the consumer credit permission before March 31, 2014 in order to continue consumer credit activities after April 1, 2014. The interim permission regime is expected to continue between April 1, 2014 and April 1, 2016 for companies currently holding collection licenses from the OFT and during this time businesses will be called upon at different intervals to apply for authorization to be fully regulated by the FCA. Cabot has all regulatory licenses, permissions, registrations and authorizations in place with the OFT and FCA in order to provide and continue debt purchase and collection activities, including the interim permission required by the FCA. The detailed rules relating to conducting consumer credit activities after April 1, 2014 are yet to be finalized by the FCA. Finally, the regulatory regime in the United Kingdom relating to the protection of consumers from unfair terms is also subject to change. In January 2014, a Consumer Bill of Rights was introduced to the U.K. House of Commons, and will now begin its Parliamentary progress to become an Act and formal legislation. The Bill represents the most significant overhaul of U.K. consumer law reform in decades. If enacted, it will reform and consolidate much of consumer law in the United Kingdom and introduce enhanced consumer measures that can be imposed on businesses. It is not yet possible to predict the precise impact that any of these changes will have on Cabot, but it is likely that the requirements under the rules and regulations applicable to it will increase and that the FCA will have greater powers than the OFT has.

14

Table of Contents

Employees

As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately 5,300 employees worldwide. None of our employees is represented by a labor union. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.

Item 1A—Risk Factors

There are risks and uncertainties in our business that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. We urge you to read these risk factors carefully in connection with evaluating our business and in connection with the forward-looking statements and other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the risks described herein could materially affect our business, financial condition, or future results and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made. The list of risks is not intended to be exhaustive, and the order in which the risks appear is not intended as an indication of their relative weight or importance. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or future results.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Financial and economic conditions affect the ability of consumers to pay their obligations, which could harm our financial results.

Economic conditions globally and locally directly affect unemployment, credit availability, and real estate values. Adverse conditions, economic changes, and financial disruptions place financial pressure on the consumer, which may reduce our ability to collect on our consumer receivable portfolios and may adversely affect the value of our consumer receivable portfolios. Further, increased financial pressures on the financially distressed consumer may result in additional regulatory requirements or restrictions on our operations and increased litigation filed against us. These conditions could increase our costs and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Our operating results may be affected by factors that could cause them to fluctuate significantly in the future.

Our operating results will likely vary in the future due to a variety of factors that could affect our revenues and operating expenses. We expect that our operating expenses as a percentage of collections will fluctuate in the future as we expand into new markets, increase our business development efforts, hire additional personnel, and incur increased insurance and regulatory compliance costs. In addition, our operating results have fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate as a result of the factors described below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

Due, in part, to fluctuating prices for receivable portfolios, there has been considerable variation in our purchasing volume from quarter to quarter and we expect that to continue. The volume of our portfolio purchases will be limited when prices are high, and may or may not increase when portfolio pricing is more favorable to us. We believe our ability to collect on receivable portfolios may be negatively affected because of current economic

15

Table of Contents

conditions, and this may require us to increase our projected return hurdles in calculating prices we are willing to pay for individual portfolios. An increase in portfolio return hurdles may decrease the volume of portfolios we are successful in purchasing. Because we recognize revenue on the basis of projected collections on purchased portfolios, we may experience variations in quarterly revenue and earnings due to the timing of portfolio purchases.

We may not be able to purchase receivables at favorable prices, which could limit our growth or profitability.

Our ability to continue to operate profitably depends upon the continued availability of receivable portfolios that meet our purchasing standards and are cost-effective based upon projected collections exceeding our costs. Our profitability also depends on our actual collections on accounts meeting or exceeding our projected collections. We do not know how long portfolios will be available for purchase on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

The availability of receivable portfolios at favorable prices depends on a number of factors, including:

In recent periods, there has been a reduction in the supply of receivable portfolios. We believe that the reduction in supply is partially due to shifts in underwriting standards by financial institutions, which have resulted in lower volumes of charged-off accounts. We believe that this reduction in supply is also the result of certain financial institutions temporarily halting their sales of charged-off accounts while they conduct audits of debt management and recovery companies, including Encore. We are unable to predict the extent to which these financial institutions will re-commence selling charged-off accounts. Financial institutions might not return to selling charged-off accounts at historical levels and certain of them could elect to stop selling charged-off accounts permanently.

In addition, because of the length of time involved in collecting charged-off consumer receivables on acquired portfolios and the volatility in the timing of our collections, we may not be able to identify trends and make changes in our purchasing strategies in a timely manner. Ultimately, if we are unable to continually purchase and collect on a sufficient volume of receivables to generate cash collections that exceed our costs, our business will be materially and adversely affected.

We may experience losses on portfolios consisting of new types of receivables due to our lack of collection experience with these receivables, which could harm our results of operations.

We continually look for opportunities to expand the classes of assets that make up the portfolios we acquire. Therefore, we may acquire portfolios consisting of assets with which we have little or no collection experience. Our lack of experience with new types of receivables may cause us to pay too much for these receivable portfolios, which may substantially hinder our ability to generate profits from these portfolios. Further, our existing methods of collections may prove ineffective for these new receivables, and we may not be able to collect on these portfolios. Our inexperience may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

16

Table of Contents

We may purchase receivable portfolios that are unprofitable or we may not be able to collect sufficient amounts to recover our costs and to fund our operations.

We acquire and service charged-off receivables that the obligors have failed to pay and the sellers have deemed uncollectible and have written off. The originating institutions and/or portfolio resellers generally make numerous attempts to recover on these nonperforming receivables, often using a combination of their in-house collection and legal departments, as well as third-party collection agencies. In order to operate profitably over the long term, we must continually purchase and collect on a sufficient volume of charged-off receivables to generate revenue that exceeds our costs. These receivables are difficult to collect, and we may not be successful in collecting amounts sufficient to cover the costs associated with purchasing the receivables and funding our operations. If we are not able to collect on these receivables or collect sufficient amounts to cover our costs, this may materially adversely affect our results of operations.

Sellers may deliver portfolios that contain accounts that do not meet our account collection criteria and cannot be returned, which could have an adverse effect on our cash flows and our operations.

In the normal course of portfolio acquisitions, some accounts may be included in the portfolios that fail to conform to the terms of the purchase agreements and we may seek to return these accounts to the sellers for refund. However, we generally have a limited time in which to return these accounts to the sellers under the terms of our purchase agreements. In addition, sellers may not be able to meet their contractual obligations to us. Accounts that we are unable to return to sellers may yield no return. If sellers deliver portfolios containing too many accounts that do not conform to the terms of the purchase agreements, we may be unable to collect a sufficient amount and the portfolio purchase could be unprofitable, which would have an adverse effect on our cash flows and our operations. If cash flows from operations are less than anticipated, our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and purchase new portfolios and, correspondingly, our results of operations, may be materially adversely affected.

A significant portion of our portfolio purchases during any period may be concentrated with a small number of sellers, which could adversely affect our volume and timing of purchases.

A significant percentage of our portfolio purchases for any given fiscal quarter or year may be concentrated with a few large sellers, some of which may also involve forward flow arrangements. We cannot be certain that any of our significant sellers will continue to sell charged-off receivables to us on terms or in quantities acceptable to us, or that we would be able to replace these purchases with purchases from other sellers.

A significant decrease in the volume of purchases available from any of our principal sellers on terms acceptable to us would force us to seek alternative sources of charged-off receivables. We may be unable to find alternative sources from which to purchase charged-off receivables, and even if we could successfully replace these purchases, the search could take time and the receivables could be of lower quality, cost more, or both, any of which could materially adversely affect our financial performance.

We face intense competition that could impair our ability to maintain or grow our purchasing volumes.

The charged-off receivables purchasing market is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with a wide range of other purchasers of charged-off consumer receivables. To the extent our competitors are able to better maximize recoveries on their assets or are willing to accept lower rates of return, we may not be able to grow or sustain our purchasing volumes or we may be forced to acquire portfolios at expected rates of return lower than our historical rates of return. Some of our competitors may obtain alternative sources of financing at more favorable rates than those available to us, the proceeds from which may be used to fund expansion and to increase the amount of charged-off receivables they purchase.

Barriers to entry into the consumer debt collection industry have traditionally been low. More recently, increased regulatory standards have made entry into the market more difficult and have resulted in sellers of

17

Table of Contents

charged-off consumer receivables being more selective with buyers in the marketplace. Companies with greater financial resources than we have may elect at a future date to enter the market for charged-off consumer receivables. We believe that the entrance of new market participants in our industry could lead to upward pricing pressure on charged-off consumer receivables as a result of increased demand, but also because new purchasers may pay higher prices for the portfolios than more experienced purchasers would due to a lack of experience, data and analytics necessary to properly assess risks and return potential of the portfolios or a desire to add size to their existing operations.

We face bidding competition in our acquisition of charged-off consumer receivables. We believe that successful bids are predominantly awarded based on price and, to a lesser extent, based on service, reputation, and relationships with the sellers of charged-off receivables. Some of our current competitors, and potential new competitors, may have more effective pricing and collection models, greater adaptability to changing market needs, and more established relationships in our industry than we do. Moreover, our competitors may elect to pay prices for portfolios that we determine are not economically sustainable and, in that event, we may not be able to continue to offer competitive bids for charged-off receivables.

If we are unable to develop and expand our business or to adapt to changing market needs as well as our current or future competitors, we may experience reduced access to portfolios of charged-off consumer receivables in sufficient face value amounts at appropriate prices, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

The statistical models we use to project remaining cash flows from our receivable portfolios may prove to be inaccurate and, if so, our financial results may be adversely affected.

For our U.S. accounts, we use our internally developed Unified Collection Score, or UCS model, and Behavioral Liquidation Score, or BLS model, to project the remaining cash flows from our receivable portfolios. Our UCS and BLS models consider known data about our consumers’ accounts, including, among other things, our collection experience and changes in external consumer factors, in addition to all data known when we acquired the accounts. However, we may not be able to achieve the collections forecasted by our UCS and BLS models. For our accounts serviced by Cabot, we use Cabot’s internally developed models to project the remaining cash flows from its receivable portfolios. If we are not able to achieve the levels of forecasted collection, our revenues will be reduced or we may be required to record an allowance charge, which may materially adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

We may incur allowance charges based on the authoritative guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality.

We account for our portfolio revenue in accordance with the authoritative guidance for loans and debt securities acquired with deteriorated credit quality. The authoritative guidance limits the revenue that may be accrued to the excess of the estimate of expected future cash flows over a portfolio’s initial cost and requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over the expected cash flows not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue, expense, or on the balance sheet. The authoritative guidance also freezes the IRR originally estimated when the receivable portfolios are purchased and, rather than lower the estimated IRR if the expected future cash flow estimates are decreased, the carrying value of our receivable portfolios would be written down to maintain the then-current IRR. Increases in expected future cash flows would be recognized prospectively through an upward adjustment of the IRR over a portfolio’s remaining life. Any increased yield then becomes the new benchmark for allowance testing. Since the authoritative guidance does not permit yields to be lowered, there is an increased probability of us having to incur allowance charges in the future, which would negatively affect our results of operations.

18

Table of Contents

If our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets become impaired we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings.

We carry approximately $504.2 million in goodwill and approximately $21.6 million in amortizable intangible assets as of December 31, 2013. Under authoritative guidance, we review our goodwill for potential impairment at least annually, and review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that may indicate that the carrying value of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include adverse changes in estimated future cash flows, growth rates and discount rates. We may be required to record a significant charge in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets is determined, which could negatively affect our results of operations.

Our business is subject to extensive laws and regulations, which have increased and may continue to increase.

Extensive laws and regulations relating to debt collection directly apply to key portions of our business. Our failure or the failure of third-party agencies and attorneys, or the credit originators or portfolio resellers selling our receivables, to comply with existing or new laws, rules, or regulations could limit our ability to recover on receivables, cause us to pay damages to the consumers or result in fines or penalties, which could reduce our revenues, or increase our expenses, and harm our business.

We sometimes purchase accounts in asset classes that are subject to industry-specific restrictions that limit the collection methods that we can use on those accounts. Our inability to collect sufficient amounts from these accounts, through available collections methods, could materially adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

In response to the global economic downturn, or otherwise, additional consumer protection or privacy laws, rules and regulations may be enacted, or existing laws, rules or regulations may be reinterpreted, imposing additional restrictions or requirements on the collection of receivables or the facilitation of tax liens.

The regulatory regime to which Cabot is subject is currently experiencing a number of significant changes. Responsibility for the regulation of consumer credit businesses in the United Kingdom is expected to be transferred from the OFT to the FCA on April 1, 2014, and the European Commission has proposed that substantial changes be made to the European Union data protection regime. The FCA has implemented an interim permission regime which requires consumer credit licensed businesses to register for the consumer credit permission before March 31, 2014 in order to continue consumer credit activities after April 1, 2014. The interim permission regime is expected to continue between April 1, 2014 and April 1, 2016 for companies currently holding collection licenses from the OFT and during this time businesses will be called upon at different intervals to apply for authorization to be fully regulated by the FCA. Cabot has all regulatory licenses, permissions, registrations and authorizations in place with the OFT and FCA in order to provide and continue debt purchase and collection activities, including the interim permission required by the FCA. The detailed rules relating to conducting consumer credit activities after April 1, 2014 are yet to be finalized by the FCA. Furthermore, the regulatory regime in the United Kingdom relating to the protection of consumers from unfair terms is subject to change. In January 2014, a Consumer Bill of Rights was introduced to the U.K. House of Commons, and will now begin its Parliamentary progress to become an Act and formal legislation. The Bill represents the most significant overhaul of U.K. consumer law reform in decades. If enacted, it will reform and consolidate much of consumer law in the United Kingdom and introduce enhanced consumer measures that can be imposed on businesses. It is not yet possible to predict the precise impact that any of these changes will have on Cabot, but it is likely that the rules and regulations applicable to it will increase and that the FCA will have greater powers than the OFT has. Any additional or reinterpreted laws, rules and regulations and the enforcement of them or increased enforcement of existing consumer protection or privacy laws, rules and regulations may materially adversely affect our ability to collect on our receivables and may increase our costs associated with regulatory compliance, which could materially adversely affect our business, our cash flows and results of operations.

19

Table of Contents

The implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act will subject us to substantial additional federal regulation, and we cannot predict the effect of this regulation on our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Federal and state consumer protection, privacy and related laws and regulations extensively regulate the relationship between debt collectors and consumers. In addition, federal and state laws may limit our ability to purchase or recover on our consumer receivables regardless of any act or omission on our part. On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Act was enacted. Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB has rulemaking, supervisory, enforcement, and other authorities relating to consumer financial products and services, including debt collection. We generally are subject to the CFPB’s supervisory and enforcement authority.

Given the uncertainty associated with how provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented and enforced by the various regulatory agencies, the full extent of the impact that these requirements will have on us is unclear. Changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act may affect the profitability of business activities, require changes to certain business practices, or otherwise adversely affect our business. In particular, we expect an increase in the cost of operating due to greater regulatory oversight, supervision, and compliance with consumer debt servicing and collection practices.

Subject to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFPB has responsibility to implement, examine for compliance with, and enforce “federal consumer financial law.” Those laws include, among others, (1) Title X itself, which prohibits unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices in connection with consumer financial products and services, and (2) “enumerated consumer laws” (and their implementing regulations), which include the FDCPA, the FCRA, and others.

The CFPB’s authorities include the ability to issue regulations under all significant federal statutes that affect the collection industry, including the FDCPA, FCRA, and others. This means, for example, that the CFPB has the ability to adopt rules that interpret any of the provisions of the FDCPA, potentially affecting all facets of debt collection, and our activities. On November 12, 2013, the CFPB published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which it seeks comments, data, and information from the public about debt collection practices, to help it determine what rules and other CFPB actions, if any, would be useful under the FDCPA and the Dodd-Frank Act general prohibition against unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices.

In addition, the CFPB has issued guidance in the form of bulletins on debt collection activities generally and one that specifically addresses representations regarding credit reports and credit scores during the debt collection process. The CFPB also accepts debt collection consumer complaints and released template letters for consumers to use when corresponding with debt collectors. The CFPB makes publicly available its data on consumer complaints, and consumer complaints against us could result in reputational damage to us. The Dodd-Frank Act also mandates the submission of multiple studies and reports to Congress by the CFPB, and CFPB staff is regularly making speeches on topics related to credit and debt. All of these activities could trigger additional legislative or regulatory action.

The Dodd-Frank Act also gave the CFPB supervisory and examination authority over a variety of institutions that may engage in debt collection. The purpose of supervision, including examination, is to assess compliance with federal consumer financial laws, obtain information about activities and compliance systems or procedures, and detect and assess risks to consumers and to markets for consumer financial products and services. On January 2, 2013, the CFPB’s final debt collection larger participant rule took effect. Under the rule, firms that have more than $10 million in annual receipts from consumer debt collection activities, as defined in the rule, are subject to the CFPB’s supervision authority. This definition covers us and, accordingly, authorizes the CFPB to supervise and conduct examinations of our business practices. In addition, effective August 3, 2013, the CFPB assumed supervision authority over nonbanks engaged in activities that pose risks to consumers, which will include debt collectors regardless of size.

20

Table of Contents

The prospect of supervision has increased the potential consequences of noncompliance with federal consumer financial law. The CFPB can also conduct hearings and adjudication proceedings, conduct investigations, either unilaterally or jointly with other state and federal regulators, to determine if federal consumer financial law has been violated. The CFPB has the authority to impose monetary penalties for violations of applicable federal consumer financial laws (including Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, FDCPA, and FCRA, among other consumer protection statutes), require remediation of practices and pursue enforcement actions. The CFPB also has the authority to obtain cease and desist orders (which can include orders for restitution or rescission of contracts, as well as other kinds of affirmative relief), costs, and monetary penalties ranging from $5,000 per day for ordinary violations of federal consumer financial laws to $25,000 per day for reckless violations and $1 million per day for knowing violations. In addition, where a company has violated Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act or CFPB regulations implemented under Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Dodd-Frank Act empowers state Attorneys General and state regulators to bring civil actions to remedy violations of state law. If the CFPB, the FTC, acting under the FTCA or other applicable statute such as the FDCPA, or one or more state Attorneys General or state regulators believe that we have violated any of the applicable laws or regulations, they could exercise their enforcement powers in ways that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

We expect that we will be required to invest significant management attention and resources to continue to evaluate, develop, and make any changes to our policies and procedures necessary to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act or other applicable laws, which may negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows, and our financial condition. However, we cannot predict the scope and substance of the regulations, guidance, and policies ultimately adopted by the CFPB related to our activities. The CFPB continues to initiate rulemakings, issue regulatory guidance and bulletins, and to exercise its supervisory and enforcement authority. It is therefore unclear at this time what affect these regulations will have on financial markets generally, on original creditors, or our business and service providers specifically; the additional costs associated with compliance with these regulations; or what changes, if any, to our operations may be necessary to comply with the CFPB’s expectations or the Dodd-Frank Act. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Our results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected if bankruptcy filings increase or if bankruptcy laws change.

Our business model may be uniquely vulnerable to an economic recession, which typically results in an increase in the amount of defaulted consumer receivables, thereby contributing to an increase in the amount of personal bankruptcy filings. Under certain bankruptcy filings, a consumer’s assets are sold to repay credit originators, with priority given to holders of secured debt. Since the defaulted consumer receivables we purchase are generally unsecured, we often are not able to collect on those receivables. In addition, since we purchase receivables that may have been delinquent for a long period of time, this may be an indication that many of the consumers from whom we collect will be unable to pay their debts going forward and are more likely to file for bankruptcy in an economic recession. Furthermore, potential changes to existing bankruptcy laws could contribute to an increase in bankruptcy filings. We cannot be certain that our collection experience would not decline with an increase in bankruptcy filings. If our actual collection experience with respect to a defaulted consumer receivable portfolio is significantly lower than we projected when we purchased the portfolio, our results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

Failure to comply with government regulation could result in the suspension or termination of our ability to conduct business, may require the payment of significant fines and penalties, or require other significant expenditures.

The collections industry is heavily regulated under various federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. Many states and several cities require that we be licensed as a debt collection company. The CFPB, FTC, state Attorneys General and other regulatory bodies have the authority to investigate a variety of matters,

21

Table of Contents

including consumer complaints against debt collection companies, and can bring enforcement actions and seek monetary penalties, consumer restitution, and injunctive relief. If we, or our third-party collection agencies or law firms fail to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including, but not limited to, identity theft, privacy, data security, the use of automated dialing equipment, laws related to consumer protection, debt collection, and laws applicable to specific types of debt, it could result in the suspension or termination of our ability to conduct collection operations, which would materially adversely affect us. Further, our ability to collect our receivables may be affected by state laws, which require that certain types of account documentation be in our possession prior to the institution of any collection activities. In addition, new federal, state or local laws or regulations, or changes in the ways these rules or laws are interpreted or enforced, could limit our activities in the future and/or significantly increase the cost of regulatory compliance.

We are dependent upon third parties to service a substantial portion of our consumer receivable portfolios.

We use outside collection services to collect a substantial portion of our charged-off receivables. We are dependent upon the efforts of third-party collection agencies and attorneys to help service and collect our charged-off receivables. Any failure by our third-party collection agencies and attorneys to perform collection services for us adequately or remit those collections to us could materially reduce our revenue and our profitability. In addition, if one or more of those third-party collection agencies or attorneys were to cease operations abruptly, or to become insolvent, the cessation or insolvency could materially reduce our revenue and profitability. Our revenue and profitability could also be materially adversely affected if we were not able to secure replacement third-party collection agencies or attorneys or promptly transfer account information to our new third-party collection agencies, attorneys or in-house in the event our agreements with our third-party collection agencies and attorneys were terminated. Our revenue and profitability could also be materially adversely affected if our third-party collection agencies or attorneys fail to perform their obligations adequately, or if our relationships with these third-party collection agencies and attorneys otherwise change adversely.

Increases in costs associated with our collections through collection litigation can materially raise our costs associated with our collection strategies and the individual lawsuits brought against consumers to collect on judgments in our favor.

We hire in-house counsel and contract with a nationwide network of attorneys that specialize in collection matters. In connection with collection litigation, we advance certain out-of-pocket court costs, which we refer to as deferred court costs. These court costs may be difficult or impossible to collect, and we may not be successful in collecting amounts sufficient to cover the amounts deferred in our financial statements. If we are not able to recover these court costs, our results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

Further, we have substantial collection activity through our legal channel and, as a consequence, increases in deferred court costs, increases in costs related to counterclaims, and an increase in other court costs may increase our costs in collecting on these accounts, which may have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.

Our network of third-party agencies and attorneys may not utilize amounts collected on our behalf or amounts we advance for court costs in the manner for which they were intended.

In the normal course of operations, our third-party collection agencies and attorneys collect funds on our behalf. These third parties may fail to remit amounts owed to us in a timely manner or at all. Additionally, we advance court costs to our third-party attorneys, which are intended for their use in filing lawsuits on our behalf. These third-party attorneys may misuse some or all of the funds we advance to them. Our ability to recoup our funds may be diminished if these third parties become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy proceedings. If we are not able to recover these funds, our results of operations and cash flows may be materially and adversely affected.

22

Table of Contents

A significant portion of our collections relies upon our success in individual lawsuits brought against consumers and our ability to collect on judgments in our favor.

We generate a significant portion of our revenue by collecting on judgments that are granted by courts in lawsuits filed against consumers. A decrease in the willingness of courts to grant these judgments, a change in the requirements for filing these cases or obtaining these judgments, or a decrease in our ability to collect on these judgments could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations. As we increase our use of the legal channel for collections, our short-term margins may decrease as a result of an increase in upfront court costs and costs related to counter claims. We may not be able to collect on certain aged accounts because of applicable statutes of limitations and we may be subject to adverse effects of regulatory changes. Further, courts in certain jurisdictions require that a copy of the account statements or applications be attached to the pleadings in order to obtain a judgment against consumers. If we are unable to produce those account documents, these courts could deny our claims, and our results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

We are subject to ongoing risks of litigation, including individual and class action lawsuits, under consumer credit, consumer protection, theft, privacy, collections, and other laws, and may be subject to awards of substantial damages.

We operate in an extremely litigious climate and currently are, and may in the future be, named as defendants in litigation, including individual and class action lawsuits under consumer credit, consumer protection, theft, privacy, data security, automated dialing equipment, debt collections, and other laws. Many of these cases present novel issues on which there is no clear legal precedent, which increases the difficulty in predicting both the potential outcomes and costs of defending these cases. We are subject to ongoing risks of regulatory investigations, inquiries, litigation, and other actions by the CFPB, FTC, state Attorneys General, or other governmental bodies relating to our activities. These litigation and regulatory actions involve potential compensatory or punitive damage claims, fines, costs, sanctions, civil monetary penalties, consumer restitution, or injunctive relief, as well as other forms of relief, that, if granted, could require us to pay damages or make other expenditures in amounts that could have a material and adverse effect on our financial position or otherwise negatively affect results of operations. We have recorded loss contingencies in our financial statements only for matters on which losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Our assessments of these matters involve significant judgments, and may change from time to time. Actual losses incurred by us in connection with judgments or settlements of these matters may be more than our associated reserves. Furthermore, defending lawsuits and responding to governmental inquiries or investigations, regardless of their merit, could be costly and divert management’s attention from the operation of our business. All of these factors could have a material and adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition, and results of operations.

Negative publicity associated with litigation, governmental investigations, regulatory actions, and other public statements could damage our reputation.

From time to time there are negative news stories about our industry or company, especially with respect to alleged conduct in collecting debt from consumers. These stories may follow the announcements of litigation or regulatory actions involving us or others in our industry. Negative publicity about our alleged or actual debt collection practices or about the debt collection industry in general could adversely affect our stock price, our position in the marketplace in which we compete, and our ability to purchase charged-off receivables.

We may make acquisitions that prove unsuccessful or our time spent on mergers, acquisitions or joint venture activities may strain or divert our resources.

We recently acquired a controlling interest in United Kingdom-based Cabot, as well as a majority ownership interest in Refinancia, a market leader in Colombia and Peru. In addition, through Cabot, we recently acquired Marlin. We have also signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority ownership interest in Grove. From time to time, we may make further acquisitions of other companies that could complement our business, including the acquisition of entities in diverse geographic regions and entities offering greater access to businesses and markets

23

Table of Contents

that we do not currently serve. We may not be able to successfully acquire other businesses and the acquisitions we make may be unprofitable. In addition, we may not successfully operate the businesses that we acquire, or may not successfully integrate these businesses with our own, which may result in our inability to maintain our goals, objectives, standards, controls, policies, culture, or profitability. Through acquisitions, we may enter markets in which we have limited or no experience. Any acquisition may result in a potentially dilutive issuance of equity securities, and the incurrence of additional debt which could reduce our profitability. In addition, our time spent on mergers and acquisitions activities may place additional constraints on our resources and divert the attention of our management from other business concerns, which may materially adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger with AACC.

The success of the June 2013 merger with AACC will depend on, among other things, our ability to realize anticipated cost savings and to combine our business and AACC’s business in a manner that does not materially disrupt the existing business relationships of either company nor result in decreased revenues from any disruption in our business operations. The success of the merger will also depend upon the integration of employees, systems, operating procedures and information technologies, as well as the retention of key employees. If we are not able to successfully achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected, and any such events could adversely affect the value of our common stock.

It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of AACC’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with our third-party vendors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger.

Unanticipated costs relating to the merger with AACC could reduce our future earnings per share.

We believe that we have reasonably estimated the likely costs of integrating our operations with that of AACC, and the incremental costs of operating as a combined company. However, it is possible that unexpected transaction costs, such as taxes, fees, or professional expenses or unexpected future operating expenses such as increased personnel costs or increased taxes, as well as other types of unanticipated adverse developments, could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of the combined company. If unexpected costs are incurred, the earnings per share of our common stock could be less than they would have been if the merger had not been completed.

We are dependent on our management team for the adoption and implementation of our strategies and the loss of its services could have a material and adverse effect on our business.

Our management team has considerable experience in finance, banking, consumer collections, and other industries. We believe that the expertise of our executives obtained by managing businesses across numerous other industries has been critical to the enhancement of our operations. Our management team has created a culture of new ideas and progressive thinking, coupled with increased use of technology and statistical analysis. Cabot’s management team is also important to the success of its operations. The loss of the services of one or more key members of management could disrupt our collective operations and seriously impair our ability to continue to acquire or collect on portfolios of charged-off receivables and to manage and expand our business.

Regulatory, political, and economic conditions in India expose us to risk, including loss of business.

A significant element of our business strategy is to continue to develop and expand offshore operations in India. While wage costs in India are significantly lower than in the United States, the United Kingdom and other industrialized countries for comparably skilled workers, wages in India are increasing at a faster rate than in the United States or the United Kingdom, and we experience higher employee turnover in our operations in India

24

Table of Contents

than is typical in our U.S. or U.K. locations. The continuation of these trends could result in the loss of the cost savings we sought to achieve by establishing a portion of our collection operations in India. In the past, India has experienced significant inflation and shortages of readily available foreign currency for exchange and has been subject to civil unrest. We may be adversely affected by changes in inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, interest rates, tax provisions, social stability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in or affecting India in the future. In addition, the infrastructure of the economy in India is relatively poor. Further, the Indian government is significantly involved in and exerts considerable influence over its economy through its complicated tax code and pervasive bureaucracy. In the recent past, the Indian government has provided significant tax incentives and relaxed certain regulatory restrictions in order to encourage foreign investment in certain sectors of the economy, including the technology industry. Changes in the business or regulatory climate of India could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

We may not be able to manage our growth effectively, including the expansion of our foreign operations.

We have expanded significantly in recent years. Continued growth will place additional demands on our resources, and we cannot be sure that we will be able to manage our growth effectively. For example, continued growth could place strains on our management, operations, and financial resources that our infrastructure, facilities, and personnel may not be able to adequately support. In addition, the recent expansion of our foreign operations, including our recent acquisition of a controlling interest in Cabot, Cabot’s recent acquisition of Marlin, and our operations in India and Latin America, subjects us to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including:

To support our growth and improve our international operations, we continue to make investments in infrastructure, facilities, and personnel in our operations; however, these additional investments may not be successful or our investments may not produce profitable results. If we cannot manage our growth effectively, our results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

If our technology and telecommunications systems were to fail, or if we are not able to successfully anticipate, invest in, or adopt technological advances within our industry, it could have a material and adverse effect on our operations.

Our success depends in large part on sophisticated computer and telecommunications systems. The temporary or permanent loss of our computer and telecommunications equipment and software systems, through casualty, operating malfunction, software virus, or service provider failure, could disrupt our operations. In the normal course of our business, we must record and process significant amounts of data quickly and accurately to properly bid on prospective acquisitions of receivable portfolios and to access, maintain, and expand the databases we use for our collection activities. Any simultaneous failure of our information systems and their backup systems would interrupt our business operations.

25

Table of Contents

In addition, our business relies on computer and telecommunications technologies, and our ability to integrate new technologies into our business is essential to our competitive position and our success. We may not be successful in anticipating, investing in, or adopting technological changes on a timely or cost-effective basis. Computer and telecommunications technologies are evolving rapidly and are characterized by short product life cycles.

We continue to make significant modifications to our information systems to ensure that they continue to be adequate for our current and foreseeable demands and continued expansion, and our future growth may require additional investment in these systems. These system modifications may exceed our cost or time estimates for completion or may be unsuccessful. If we cannot update our information systems effectively, our results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

In the event of a security breach, our business and operations could suffer.

We rely on information technology networks and systems to process and store electronic information. We collect and store sensitive data, including personally identifiable information of our consumers, on our information technology networks. Despite the implementation of security measures, our information technology networks and systems may be vulnerable to disruptions and shutdowns due to attacks by hackers or breaches due to malfeasance by contractors, employees and others who have access to our networks and systems. The occurrence of any of these events could compromise our networks and the information stored on our networks could be accessed. Any such access could disrupt our operations or result in legal claims, liability, reputational damage or regulatory penalties under laws protecting the privacy of personal information.

We may not be able to adequately protect the intellectual property rights upon which we rely and, as a result, any lack of protection may materially diminish our competitive advantage.

We rely on proprietary software programs and valuation and collection processes and techniques, and we believe that these assets provide us with a competitive advantage. We consider our proprietary software, processes, and techniques to be trade secrets, but they are not protected by patent or registered copyright. We may not be able to protect our technology and data resources adequately, which may materially diminish our competitive advantage.

Exchange rate fluctuations could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Because we conduct some business in currencies other than U.S. dollars but report our financial results in U.S. dollars, we face exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon translation of these business results into U.S. dollars. In the normal course of business, we employ various strategies to manage these risks, including the use of derivative instruments. These strategies may not be effective in protecting us against the effects of fluctuations from movements in foreign exchange rates. Fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Taxes may materially adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

We are subject to taxes in the United States and, increasingly, in foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for taxes. We regularly are under audit by tax authorities, and economic and political pressures to increase tax revenues in various jurisdictions may make resolving tax disputes more difficult. The final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. In addition, potential adverse tax consequences could limit our ability to repatriate funds held in jurisdictions outside of the United States. Accordingly, taxes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

26

Table of Contents

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our significant indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and could harm our ability to react to changes to our business.

As of December 31, 2013, our total long-term indebtedness outstanding was approximately $1.9 billion, which includes $846.7 million of debt at our Cabot subsidiary. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to investors. For example, it could:

Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. If we do not have sufficient earnings to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets, borrow more money, or sell securities, none of which we can guarantee we will be able to do.

Servicing our indebtedness requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial indebtedness.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal of, to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including our Convertible Notes (defined under “Risks Related to Our Convertible Notes and Common Stock” below) or to make cash payments in connection with any conversion of our Convertible Notes depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our indebtedness and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate adequate cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring indebtedness or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at that time. We may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations.

Despite our current indebtedness levels, we may still incur substantially more indebtedness or take other actions which would intensify the risks discussed above.

Despite our current consolidated indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries (including the guarantor of our Convertible Notes due 2020) may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, subject to the restrictions contained in our debt instruments, (some of which may be secured indebtedness under our Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”)). We will not be restricted under the terms of the indentures governing our Convertible Notes from incurring additional indebtedness, securing existing or future indebtedness, recapitalizing our indebtedness or taking a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the indentures governing our Convertible Notes that could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on our indebtedness. Our revolving credit facility and term loan facility (the “Credit Facility”) under the Restated Credit Agreement currently limits the ability of us and certain of our subsidiaries

27

Table of Contents

(including the guarantor of our Convertible Notes due 2020) to incur additional indebtedness; however, if that facility is repaid or matures, we may not be subject to similar restrictions under the terms of any subsequent indebtedness.

We may not be able to continue to satisfy the restrictive covenants in our debt agreements.

Our debt agreements impose a number of covenants, including restrictive covenants on how we operate our business. Failure to satisfy any one of these covenants could result in negative consequences including the following, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and our ability to conduct business:

Significant increases in interest rates could materially adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Portions of our outstanding debt bear interest at a variable rate. Increases in interest rates could increase our interest expense which would, in turn, lower our earnings. We may periodically enter into derivative financial instruments, typically interest rate swap agreements, to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on variable interest rate debt and their impact on earnings and cash flows. These strategies may not be effective in protecting us against the effects of fluctuations from movements in interest rates. Significant increases in interest rates could materially adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Convertible Notes and Common Stock

Our $115 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due November 27, 2017 (the “2017 Convertible Notes”), our $172.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due July 1, 2020 (the “2020 Convertible Notes” and together with the 2017 Convertible Notes, the “Convertible Notes”) and the guarantee (the “Guarantee”) of the 2020 Convertible Notes by our wholly owned subsidiary, Midland Credit Management, Inc. (the “Guarantor”), are effectively subordinated to our and the Guarantor’s secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness.

The Convertible Notes and the Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to claims of our and the Guarantor’s secured creditors, respectively, to the value of the assets securing those claims. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our and the Guarantor’s assets that secure indebtedness ranking senior in right of payment to the Convertible Notes and the Guarantee, which includes all current and future amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility, will be available to pay obligations on the Convertible Notes or make payments under the Guarantee only after the secured indebtedness has been repaid in full from these assets. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the Convertible Notes then outstanding or to fulfill obligations under the Guarantee. The indentures governing the Convertible Notes do not prohibit us from incurring additional senior indebtedness or secured indebtedness, nor do they prohibit any of our subsidiaries, including the Guarantor, from incurring additional liabilities.

As of December 31, 2013, our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $1.9 billion, approximately $555.4 million of which was secured indebtedness of Encore that would have been effectively senior to the Convertible Notes as of December 31, 2013. The amounts presented do not include any indebtedness incurred subsequent to December 31, 2013.

28

Table of Contents

Our operations are conducted through, and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by, our subsidiaries, and accordingly, we must rely on our subsidiaries to provide us with cash in order to pay amounts due on the Convertible Notes.

The Convertible Notes are our obligations exclusively. The Convertible Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries other than the Guarantor, who has guaranteed the 2020 Convertible Notes. Our operations are conducted through, and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by, our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to service our indebtedness, including the Convertible Notes, depends on the results of operations of our subsidiaries and upon the ability of those subsidiaries to provide us with cash, whether in the form of dividends, loans or otherwise, to pay amounts due on our obligations, including the Convertible Notes. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities, and other than the Guarantor have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to make payments on the Convertible Notes or to make any funds available for that purpose. In addition, dividends, loans or other distributions to us from our subsidiaries may be subject to contractual and other restrictions and are subject to other business considerations.

Federal and state laws allow courts, under certain circumstances, to void guarantees and require noteholders to return payments received from guarantors.

The 2020 Convertible Notes will be guaranteed by the Guarantor. The Guarantee may be subject to review under U.S. federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent conveyance laws if a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or a lawsuit is commenced by or on behalf of us or the Guarantor or by our unpaid creditors or the unpaid creditors of the Guarantor. Under these laws, a court could void the obligations under the Guarantee, subordinate the Guarantee of the 2020 Convertible Notes to the Guarantor’s other debt or take other action detrimental to the holders of the 2020 Convertible Notes and the Guarantee, if, among other things, the Guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its Guarantee:

In those cases where our solvency or the solvency of the Guarantor is a relevant factor, the measures of insolvency will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however, a party would be considered insolvent if:

We cannot be sure as to the standard that a court would use to determine whether or not a party was solvent at the relevant time, or, regardless of the standard that the court uses, that the issuance of the Guarantee would not be voided or the Guarantee would not be subordinated to the Guarantor’s other debt. If such a case were to occur, the Guarantee could also be subject to the claim that, since the Guarantee was incurred for our benefit and only indirectly for the benefit of the Guarantor, the obligations of the Guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration.

29

Table of Contents

Recent and future regulatory actions and other events may adversely affect the trading price and liquidity of the Convertible Notes.

We expect that many investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Convertible Notes will employ, or seek to employ, a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the Convertible Notes. Investors would typically implement such a strategy by selling short the common stock underlying the Convertible Notes and dynamically adjusting their short position while continuing to hold the Convertible Notes. Investors may also implement this type of strategy by entering into swaps on our common stock in lieu of or in addition to short selling the common stock.

The SEC and other regulatory and self-regulatory authorities have implemented various rules and taken certain actions, and may in the future adopt additional rules and take other actions, that may affect those engaging in short selling activity involving equity securities (including our common stock). These rules and actions include Rule 201 of SEC Regulation SHO, the adoption by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and the national securities exchanges of a “Limit Up-Limit Down” program, the imposition of market-wide circuit breakers that halt trading of securities for certain periods following specific market declines, and the implementation of certain regulatory reforms required by the Dodd-Frank Act. Any governmental or regulatory action that restricts the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the Convertible Notes to effect short sales of our common stock or enter into swaps on our common stock could adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the Convertible Notes.

In addition, if investors and potential purchasers seeking to employ a convertible arbitrage strategy are unable to borrow or enter into swaps on our common stock, in each case on commercially reasonable terms, the trading price and liquidity of the Convertible Notes may be adversely affected.

Our common stock price may be subject to significant fluctuations and volatility, which could adversely affect the trading price of the Convertible Notes and our shares issuable upon conversion.

The market price of our common stock has been subject to significant fluctuations. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2013, our stock price has ranged from a low of $26.84 on April 23, 2013 to a high of $51.95 on November 8, 2013. These fluctuations could continue. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:

The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including in response to the risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or for reasons unrelated to our operations, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions or negative announcements by our customers, competitors or suppliers regarding their own performance, as well as industry conditions and general financial, economic and political instability. A decrease in the market price of our common stock would likely adversely affect the trading price of the Convertible Notes.

30

Table of Contents

The price of our common stock could also be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the Convertible Notes as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that we expect to develop involving our common stock. This trading activity could, in turn, affect the trading prices of the Convertible Notes.

If securities or industry analysts have a negative outlook regarding our stock or our industry, or our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline. The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us. If one or more of the analysts who cover our company downgrade our stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, our stock price could decline.

Future sales of our common stock or the issuance of other equity may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

A substantial number of shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted shares, upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and the warrant transactions entered into in connection with the 2017 Convertible Notes. We are not restricted from issuing additional common stock, including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. The issuance of additional shares of our common stock or convertible securities, including our outstanding options and restricted shares, or otherwise, would dilute the ownership interest of our common stockholders.

The liquidity and trading volume of our common stock is limited. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the average daily trading volume of our common stock was approximately 255,000 shares. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public market by us or others could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the Convertible Notes upon a fundamental change or to settle conversions in cash, and our future indebtedness may contain limitations on our ability to pay cash upon conversion and our current indebtedness contains, and our future indebtedness may contain, limitations on our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes.

Holders of the Convertible Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase their Convertible Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change at a repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, upon a conversion of Convertible Notes, unless we elect to deliver solely shares of our common stock to settle the conversion (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares of our common stock), we will be required to make cash payments for each $1,000 in principal amount of Convertible Notes converted of at least the lesser of $1,000 and the sum of certain daily conversion values. However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of Convertible Notes surrendered therefor or to settle conversions in cash. In addition, our Restated Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of transactions, which may affect our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes. Further, our ability to repurchase the Convertible Notes or to pay cash upon conversion may be limited by law, by regulatory authority or by agreements governing our future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase Convertible Notes or to pay cash upon conversion of the Convertible Notes at a time when the repurchase or cash payment upon conversion is required by either indenture pursuant to which the Convertible Notes were offered would constitute a default under the relevant indenture. A default under either indenture could constitute a default under the other indenture or our Restated Credit Agreement, and any such default or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under the Restated Credit Agreement or agreements governing our future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Convertible Notes.

31

Table of Contents

The conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

In the event the conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes is triggered, holders of the Convertible Notes will be entitled to convert the Convertible Notes at any time during specified periods at their option. Even if holders do not elect to convert their Convertible Notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the relevant series of Convertible Notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.

Holders of the Convertible Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock, but will be subject to all changes made with respect to them to the extent our conversion obligation includes shares of our common stock.

Holders of Convertible Notes will not be entitled to any rights with respect to our common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock) prior to the conversion date relating to those Convertible Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), but holders of Convertible Notes will be subject to all changes affecting our common stock. For example, if an amendment is proposed to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the conversion date related to a holder’s conversion of its Convertible Notes (if we have elected to settle the relevant conversion by delivering solely shares of our common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share)) or the last trading day of the relevant observation period (if we elect to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of our common stock in respect of the relevant conversion), that holder will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although that holder will nevertheless be subject to any changes affecting our common stock.

The conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes could result in the holders of the Convertible Notes receiving less than the value of our common stock into which the Convertible Notes would otherwise be convertible.

Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding May 27, 2017 in the case of the 2017 Convertible Notes and January 1, 2020 in the case of the 2020 Convertible Notes, holders of Convertible Notes may convert those Convertible Notes only if specified conditions are met. If the specific conditions for conversion are not met, holders of Convertible Notes will not be able to convert their Convertible Notes, and they may not be able to receive the value of the cash, shares of common stock or combination of cash and shares of common stock, as applicable, into which the Convertible Notes would otherwise be convertible.

Upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, holders of the Convertible Notes may receive less valuable consideration than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after holders of the Convertible Notes exercise their conversion right but before we settle our conversion obligation.

Under the Convertible Notes, a converting holder will be exposed to fluctuations in the value of our common stock during the period from the date that holder surrenders Convertible Notes for conversion until the date we settle our conversion obligation.

Under the Convertible Notes, we have the option to pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of common stock, at our election. If we elect to settle our conversion obligation solely in cash or in a combination of cash and shares of common stock, the amount of consideration that holders of our Convertible Notes will receive upon conversion of their Convertible Notes will

32

Table of Contents

be determined by reference to the volume-weighted average prices of our common stock for each trading day in a 50 consecutive trading-day observation period applicable to each series of the Convertible Notes. For the 2017 Convertible Notes, this period would be (i) if the relevant conversion date occurs prior to May 27, 2017, the 50 consecutive trading-day period beginning on, and including, the second trading day after this conversion date; and (ii) if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after May 27, 2017, the 50 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 52nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. For the 2020 Convertible Notes, this period would be (i) if the relevant conversion date occurs prior to January 1, 2020, the 50 consecutive trading-day period beginning on, and including, the second trading day after this conversion date; and (ii) if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after January 1, 2020, the 50 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 52nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases during the applicable observation period, the amount and/or value of consideration holders of the Convertible Notes will receive will be adversely affected. In addition, if the market price of our common stock at the end of the applicable observation period is below the average of the volume-weighted average price of our common stock during that period, the value of any shares of our common stock that holders of Convertible Notes will receive in satisfaction of our conversion obligation will be less than the value used to determine the number of shares that those holders will receive.

The Convertible Notes are not protected by restrictive covenants.

The indentures governing the Convertible Notes do not contain any financial or operating covenants or restrictions on the payments of dividends, the incurrence of indebtedness or the issuance or repurchase of securities by us or any of our subsidiaries. The indentures contain no covenants or other provisions to afford protection to holders of the Convertible Notes in the event of a fundamental change or other corporate transaction involving us except to the extent described in the Convertible Notes and the applicable indenture.

The adjustment to the conversion rate for Convertible Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may not adequately compensate holders of the Convertible Notes for any lost value of the Convertible Notes as a result of that transaction.

If a make-whole fundamental change occurs prior to the maturity date, under certain circumstances, we will increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of our common stock for Convertible Notes converted in connection with that make-whole fundamental change. The increase in the conversion rate will be determined based on the date on which the specified corporate transaction becomes effective and the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of our common stock in that transaction. The adjustment to the conversion rate for Convertible Notes converted in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may not adequately compensate holders of the Convertible Notes for any lost value of the Convertible Notes as a result of that transaction. In addition, if the price of our common stock in the transaction is, in the case of the 2017 Convertible Notes, greater than $150.00 per share or less than $25.25 per share, or in the case of the 2020 Convertible Notes, greater than $250.00 per share or less than $35.17 per share, (in each case, subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate. Moreover, in no event will the conversion rate per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes as a result of any adjustment exceed, in the case of the 2017 Convertible Notes, 39.6039 shares, or in the case of the 2020 Convertible Notes, 28.4333 shares, in each case subject to adjustments described in the applicable series of Convertible Notes.

Our obligation to increase the conversion rate upon the occurrence of a make-whole fundamental change could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness of economic remedies.

The conversion rate of the Convertible Notes may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.

The conversion rate of the Convertible Notes is subject to adjustment for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of certain stock dividends on our common stock, the issuance of certain rights or

33

Table of Contents

warrants, subdivisions, combinations, distributions of capital stock, indebtedness, or assets, cash dividends and certain issuer tender or exchange offers. However, the conversion rate will not be adjusted for other events, such as a third-party tender or exchange offer or an issuance of common stock for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the Convertible Notes or our common stock. An event that adversely affects the value of the Convertible Notes may occur, and that event may not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate.

Some significant restructuring transactions may not constitute a fundamental change, in which case we would not be obligated to offer to repurchase the Convertible Notes.

Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to require us to repurchase their Convertible Notes. However, the fundamental change provisions will not afford protection to holders of the Convertible Notes in the event of other transactions that could adversely affect the Convertible Notes. For example, transactions such as leveraged recapitalizations, refinancings, restructurings or acquisitions initiated by us may not constitute a fundamental change requiring us to repurchase the Convertible Notes, even though each of these transactions could increase the amount of our indebtedness, or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or any credit ratings, thereby adversely affecting the holders of the Convertible Notes.

We have not registered the Convertible Notes or our common stock issuable upon conversion, which will limit the ability to resell them.

The Convertible Notes and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws. Unless the Convertible Notes and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, if any, have been registered, they may not be transferred or resold except in a transaction exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not intend to file a registration statement for the resale of the Convertible Notes and our common stock, if any, into which the Convertible Notes are convertible.

An active trading market may not develop for the Convertible Notes.

Prior to the respective offerings of the 2017 Convertible Notes and the 2020 Convertible Notes, there was no trading market for the Convertible Notes, and we do not intend to apply to list the Convertible Notes on any securities exchange or to arrange for quotation on any automated dealer quotation system. We were informed by the initial purchasers that they intended to make a market in the Convertible Notes after the offering is completed. However, the initial purchasers may cease their market-making at any time without notice. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market in the Convertible Notes, and the market price quoted for the Convertible Notes, may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for this type of security and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. As a result, we cannot assure holders of the Convertible Notes that an active trading market will develop for the Convertible Notes. If an active trading market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the Convertible Notes may be adversely affected. In that case holders of the Convertible Notes may not be able to sell their Convertible Notes at a particular time or at a favorable price.

Any adverse rating of the Convertible Notes may cause their trading price to fall.

We do not intend to seek a rating on the Convertible Notes. However, if a rating service were to rate the Convertible Notes and if that rating service were to lower its rating on the Convertible Notes below the rating initially assigned to the Convertible Notes or otherwise announces its intention to put the Convertible Notes on credit watch, the trading price of the Convertible Notes could decline.

34

Table of Contents

Holders of the Convertible Notes should carefully consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of converting the Convertible Notes.

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the conversion of the Convertible Notes into a combination of our common stock and cash is not entirely certain. Holders of the Convertible Notes should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences resulting from the conversion of Convertible Notes into a combination of cash and common stock.

Holders of our Convertible Notes may be deemed to have received a taxable distribution without the receipt of any cash.

The conversion rate of the Convertible Notes will be adjusted in certain circumstances. Under Section 305(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), adjustments (or failures to make adjustments) that have the effect of increasing a holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits may in some circumstances result in a deemed distribution to that holder. Certain of the conversion rate adjustments with respect to the Convertible Notes (including, without limitation, adjustments in respect of taxable dividends to holders of our common stock) will result in deemed distributions to the holders of Convertible Notes even though they have not received any cash or property as a result of those adjustments. In addition, an adjustment to the conversion rate in connection with a make-whole fundamental change may be treated as a deemed distribution. Any deemed distributions will be taxable as a dividend, return of capital or capital gain in accordance with the distribution rules under the Code. If a holder of the Convertible Notes is a non-U.S. holder (as defined under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”), any deemed dividend may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty, which may be set off against subsequent payments on the Convertible Notes (or in certain circumstances, on our common stock). Under proposed regulations, certain “dividend equivalent” payments, which generally will be deemed to occur as a result of an adjustment to the conversion rate of the Convertible Notes in connection with the payment of a dividend on our common stock, may be subject to withholding tax at a different time or in a different amount than the withholding tax otherwise imposed on dividends and constructive dividends.

The 2020 Convertible Notes capped call transactions may affect the value of the Convertible Notes and our common stock.

In connection with the offering and sale of the 2020 Convertible Notes, we entered into capped call transactions with the option counterparties (the “2020 Option Counterparties”). The capped call transactions are expected to reduce the potential dilution and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount upon conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes, with any reduction and/or offset subject to a cap.

In connection with establishing their initial hedge of the capped call transactions, the 2020 Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates expected to enter into various derivative transactions with respect to our common stock and/or purchase shares of our common stock in privately negotiated transactions and/or open market transactions concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the 2020 Convertible Notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of our common stock or the Convertible Notes at that time.

In addition, the 2020 Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to our common stock and/or purchasing or selling our common stock in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the 2020 Convertible Notes and prior to the maturity of the Convertible Notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of the 2020 Convertible Notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of our common stock or the Convertible Notes, which could affect a holder’s ability to convert the Convertible Notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of the Convertible Notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that a holder will receive upon conversion of the Convertible Notes.

35

Table of Contents

The 2017 Convertible Notes convertible note hedge transactions and warrant transactions may affect the value of the Convertible Notes and our common stock.

In connection with the offering and sale of the 2017 Convertible Notes, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with certain financial institutions (the “2017 Option Counterparties”). The convertible note hedge transactions are expected to reduce the potential dilution and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount upon conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes. We also entered into warrant transactions with the 2017 Option Counterparties, which we amended in December 2013. The warrant transactions could separately have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent that the market price per share of our common stock exceeds the applicable strike price of the warrants. However, subject to certain conditions, we may elect to settle the warrant transactions in cash.

The 2017 Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to our common stock and/or purchasing or selling our common stock in secondary market transactions prior to the maturity of the Convertible Notes (and are likely to do so during any observation period related to a conversion of the 2017 Convertible Notes). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of our common stock or the Convertible Notes, which could affect a holder’s ability to convert the Convertible Notes and, to the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of the Convertible Notes, it could affect the amount and value of the consideration that a holder will receive upon conversion of the Convertible Notes.

Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent acquisition of us, which could decrease the value of shares of our common stock.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us without the consent of our Board of Directors. These provisions include advance notice provisions, limitations on actions by our stockholders by written consent and special approval requirements for transactions involving interested stockholders. We are authorized to issue up to five million shares of preferred stock, the relative rights and preferences of which may be fixed by our Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of our articles of incorporation, without stockholder approval. The issuance of preferred stock could be used to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer. The provisions that discourage potential acquisitions of us and adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock may adversely affect the price of our common stock and the value of the Convertible Notes.

We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. In addition, we must comply with the covenants in our credit facilities if we want to pay cash dividends. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the further development and expansion of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in current or future financing instruments and such other factors as our Board of Directors deems relevant.

Item 1B—Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

36

Table of Contents

Item 2—Properties

We lease the following properties with more than 30,000 square feet:

The properties listed in the table above are our principal properties and are primarily used in our portfolio purchasing and recovery business. We also lease other immaterial office space in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Peru.

We believe that our current leased facilities are generally well maintained and in good operating condition. We believe that these facilities are suitable and sufficient for our operational needs. Our policy is to improve, replace, and supplement the facilities as considered appropriate to meet the needs of our operations.

Item 3—Legal Proceedings

Information with respect to this item may be found in Note 14, “Commitments and Contingencies,” to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 4—Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

37

Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5—Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ECPG.”

The high and low sales prices of our common stock, as reported by NASDAQ Global Select Market for each quarter during our two most recent fiscal years, are reported below:

The closing price of our common stock on February 3, 2014, was $46.75 per share and there were 15 stockholders of record. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these stockholders of record.

38

Table of Contents

Performance Graph

The following Performance Graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.

The following graph compares the total cumulative stockholder return on our common stock for the period from December 31, 2008 through December 31, 2013, with the cumulative total return of (a) the NASDAQ Index and (b) Asta Funding, Inc. and Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc., which we believe are comparable companies. The comparison assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 2008, in our common stock and in each of the comparison indices. The stock price performance on the following graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.

39

Table of Contents

Equity Compensation Plans

Information regarding our equity compensation plan required by this item is incorporated by reference to the information in Part III, Note 12 “Stock-Based Compensation” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

In June and July 2013, we sold $172.5 million of 3.0% convertible senior notes due July 1, 2020 in a private placement transaction. Information regarding this transaction is set forth on our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on June 19, 2013 and July 23, 2013.

Dividend Policy

As a public company, we have never declared or paid dividends on our common stock. However, the declaration, payment, and amount of future dividends, if any, is subject to the discretion of our board of directors, which may review our dividend policy from time to time in light of the then existing relevant facts and circumstances. Under the terms of our revolving credit facility, we are permitted to declare and pay dividends in an amount not to exceed, during any fiscal year, 20% of our audited consolidated net income for the then most recently completed fiscal year, so long as no default or unmatured default under the facility has occurred and is continuing or would arise as a result of the dividend payment. We may also be subject to additional dividend restrictions under future financing facilities.

40

Table of Contents

Item 6—Selected Financial Data

This table presents selected historical financial data of Encore Capital Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. This information should be carefully considered in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report. The selected data in this section are not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements. The selected financial data (except for “Selected Operating Data”) in the table below, as of December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected financial data as of December 31, 2013, and 2012 and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, were derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Selected Operating Data were derived from our books and records (in thousands, except per share data):

41

Table of Contents

42

Table of Contents

Item 7—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” relating to Encore Capital Group, Inc. (“Encore”) and its subsidiaries (which we may collectively refer to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”) within the meaning of the securities laws. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “may,” and similar expressions often characterize forward-looking statements. These statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of collections, revenues, income or loss, estimates of capital expenditures, plans for future operations, products or services, and financing needs or plans, as well as assumptions relating to these matters. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution that these expectations or predictions may not prove to be correct or we may not achieve the financial results, savings or other benefits anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which may be beyond our control or cannot be predicted or quantified, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Many factors, including but not limited to, those set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, achievements or industry results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Our business, financial condition, or results of operations could also be materially and adversely affected by other factors besides those listed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events, or for any other reason, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements will not be realized. In addition, it is generally our policy not to make any specific projections as to future earnings, and we do not endorse projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.

Our Business and Operating Segments

We are an international specialty finance company providing debt recovery solutions for consumers and property owners across a broad range of financial assets. We purchase portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value and manage them by working with individuals as they repay their obligations and work toward financial recovery. Defaulted receivables are consumers’ unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, and telecommunication companies. Defaulted receivables may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings. Through certain subsidiaries, we are a market leader in portfolio purchasing and recovery in the United States. Our subsidiary, Janus Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l. (“Janus Holdings”), through its indirectly held United Kingdom-based subsidiary Cabot Credit Management Limited (“Cabot”), is a market leader in debt management in the United Kingdom specializing in portfolios consisting of higher balance, “semi-performing” accounts (i.e., debt portfolios in which over 50% of accounts have made a payment in three of the last four months immediately prior to the portfolio purchase). Our newly acquired majority-owned subsidiary, Refinancia S.A. (“Refinancia”), is a market leader in management of non-performing loans in Colombia and Peru. In addition, through our subsidiary, Propel Financial Services, LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Propel”), we assist Texas and Nevada property owners who are delinquent on their property taxes by paying these taxes on behalf of the property owners in exchange for payment agreements collateralized by a tax lien on the property. Through Propel, we also purchase tax liens in various other states directly from taxing authorities.

We conduct business through two reportable segments: portfolio purchasing and recovery and tax lien business. The operating results from our tax lien business segment are immaterial to our total consolidated operating results. However, the total segment assets are significant as compared to our total consolidated assets. As a result, in accordance with authoritative guidance on segment reporting, our tax lien business segment is determined to be a reportable segment.

43

Table of Contents

Our long-term growth strategy involves extending our knowledge about financially distressed consumers, growing our core portfolio purchase and recovery business, expanding into new asset classes and geographic areas, utilizing our core capabilities to align our business, investor and financial strategies to drive top quartile shareholder return, and investing in initiatives to safeguard and promote consumer financial health.

Portfolio Purchasing and Recovery

United States. Our portfolio purchasing and recovery segment purchases receivables based on robust, account-level valuation methods and employs proprietary statistical and behavioral models across the full extent of our operations. These investments allow us to value portfolios accurately (and limit the risk of overpaying), avoid buying portfolios that are incompatible with our methods or goals and align the accounts we purchase with our operational channels to maximize future collections. As a result, we have been able to realize significant returns from the receivables we acquire. We maintain strong relationships with many of the largest credit and telecommunication providers in the United States and believe we possess one of the industry’s best collection staff retention rates.

While seasonality does not have a material impact on our portfolio purchasing and recovery segment, collections are generally strongest in our first calendar quarter, slower in the second and third calendar quarters, and slowest in the fourth calendar quarter. Relatively higher collections in the first quarter could result in a lower cost-to-collect ratio compared to the other quarters, as our fixed costs are constant and applied against a larger collection base. The seasonal impact on our business may also be influenced by our purchasing levels, the types of portfolios we purchase, and our operating strategies.

Collection seasonality with respect to our portfolio purchasing and recovery segment can also affect revenue as a percentage of collections, also referred to as our revenue recognition rate. Generally, revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, whereas collections can fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on seasonality, as described above. In quarters with lower collections (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter), the revenue recognition rate can be higher than in quarters with higher collections (e.g., the first calendar quarter).

In addition, seasonality could have an impact on the relative level of quarterly earnings. In quarters with stronger collections, total costs are higher as a result of the additional efforts required to generate those collections. Since revenue for each pool group declines steadily over time, in quarters with higher collections and higher costs (e.g., the first calendar quarter), all else being equal, earnings could be lower than in quarters with lower collections and lower costs (e.g., the fourth calendar quarter). Additionally, in quarters where a greater percentage of collections come from our legal and agency outsourcing channels, cost to collect will be higher than if there were more collections from our internal collection sites.

United Kingdom. Through Cabot, we purchase receivable portfolios using a proprietary pricing model. This model allows Cabot to value portfolios with a high degree of accuracy and quantify portfolio performance in order to maximize future collections. As a result, Cabot has been able to realize significant returns from the assets it has acquired. Cabot maintains strong relationships with many of the largest financial service providers in the United Kingdom.

While seasonality does not have a material impact on Cabot’s operations, collections are generally strongest in the second and third calendar quarters and slower in the first and fourth quarters, largely driven by the impact of the December holiday season and the New Year holiday, and the related impact on its customers’ ability to repay their balances. This drives a higher level of plan defaults over this period, which are typically repaired across the first quarter of the following year. The August vacation season in the United Kingdom also has an unfavorable effect on the level of collections, but this is traditionally compensated for by higher collections in July and September.

Colombia and Peru. In December 2013, we acquired a majority ownership interest in Refinancia, a market leader in management of non-performing loans in Colombia and Peru. In addition to purchasing defaulted

44

Table of Contents

receivables, Refinancia offers portfolio management services to banks for non-performing loans. Refinancia also specializes in non-traditional niches in the geographic areas in which it operates, including providing financial solutions to individuals who have previously defaulted on their obligations, payment plan guarantee services to merchants and loan guarantee services to financial institutions.

Tax Lien Business

Our tax lien business segment focuses on the property tax financing industry. Propel’s principal activities are the acquisition and servicing of residential and commercial tax liens on real property. Propel’s receivables secured by property tax liens include Texas tax liens, Nevada tax liens, and tax lien certificates (collectively, “Tax Liens”). With Texas and Nevada Tax Liens, Texas or Nevada property owners choose to have the taxing authority transfer their tax lien to Propel. Propel pays their tax lien obligation to the taxing authority and the property owner pays Propel over time at a lower interest rate than is being assessed by the taxing authority. Propel’s arrangements with Texas and Nevada property owners provide them with repayment plans that are both affordable and flexible when compared with other payment options. Propel also purchases Tax Liens in various other states directly from taxing authorities, securing rights to future property tax payments, interest and penalties. In most cases, such Tax Liens continue to be serviced by the taxing authority. When the taxing authority is paid, it repays Propel the outstanding balance of the lien plus interest, which is established by statute or negotiated at the time of the purchase.

Revenue from our tax lien business segment comprised 2% of total consolidated revenues for each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. Operating income from our tax lien business segment comprised 2% and 3% of our total consolidated operating income for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Cabot Acquisition

On July 1, 2013, through our wholly owned subsidiary Encore Europe Holdings S.a.r.l., we completed the purchase of 50.1% of the equity interest in Janus Holdings, the indirect holding company of Cabot (the “Cabot Acquisition”), from an affiliate of J.C. Flowers & Co. LLC (“J.C. Flowers”). Our effective equity ownership of Cabot is approximately 42.9%, after reflecting the ownership of the noncontrolling interests. Cabot is a market leader in debt management in the United Kingdom specializing in higher balance, “semi-performing” accounts. We expect that the Cabot Acquisition will provide Cabot with access to more capital, which will enable Cabot to purchase additional debt and expand into other asset categories. In addition, the Cabot Acquisition provides synergy opportunities through Cabot’s ability to leverage our analytic capabilities and efficient operating platform. Our initial focus is to help Cabot expand into the large secondary and tertiary markets by leveraging our analytical insights in these markets and utilizing our workforce in India, during the day, when this site would otherwise be dormant. Beginning in January 2014, our India call center began to service Cabot’s United Kingdom accounts. The Cabot Acquisition also enables us to deploy capital globally in a market that we believe has strong growth potential. Cabot continues to be a stand-alone entity. It will retain its current staff and brand and continue to be run as its own company. The consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2013 include the results of operations of Janus Holdings only since the closing date of the Cabot Acquisition.

As discussed in Note 1, “Ownership, Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, we have determined that our less than wholly owned subsidiary, Janus Holdings is a Variable Interest Entity, or VIE, and that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIE. As a result, the financial results of Janus Holdings are consolidated under the VIE consolidation model. Consequently, all financial data included in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” has been presented on a consolidated basis prior to the allocation of noncontrolling interests.

On February 7, 2014, Cabot acquired Marlin Financial Group Limited (“Marlin”), a leading acquirer of non-performing consumer debt in the United Kingdom. Marlin is differentiated by its proven competitive advantage in

45

Table of Contents

the use of litigation-enhanced collections for non-paying financial services receivables. We expect Marlin’s litigation capabilities will create substantial uplift from Cabot’s existing portfolio of non-performing accounts. Similarly, we believe that there may be further synergies by applying Cabot’s scoring model to Marlin’s portfolio.

AACC Merger

On June 13, 2013, we completed our merger with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. (“AACC”), another leading provider of debt management and recovery solutions in the United States (the “AACC Merger”). We believe that our operating and cost advantages will improve the profitability of AACC’s investments and that the AACC Merger will provide us with valuable operations capabilities and synergy opportunities. However, the success of the merger will depend on our ability to successfully integrate AACC’s business with our business in a cost-effective manner that does not disrupt the existing business relationships of either company. The consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2013 include the results of operations of AACC only since the closing date of the AACC Merger.

In January 2012, Asset Acceptance, LLC, a subsidiary of AACC, entered into a consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). The consent decree ended an FTC investigation into Asset Acceptance, LLC’s compliance with the Federal Trade Commission Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act. As part of the consent decree, Asset Acceptance, LLC agreed to undertake certain consumer protection practices, including, among other things, furnishing additional disclosures when collecting debt past the statute of limitations, and paid a civil penalty of $2,500,000. These practices continue to apply to the portfolios we purchased as a result of the AACC Merger. We do not expect compliance with the consent decree to have a material effect on our business.

Purchases and Collections

Portfolio Pricing, Supply and Demand

United States Markets

Prices for portfolios offered for sale directly from credit issuers continued to remain elevated during the third and fourth quarters of 2013, especially for fresh portfolios. Fresh portfolios are portfolios that are generally transacted within six months of the consumer’s account being charged-off by the financial institution. We believe this elevated pricing is due to a reduction in the supply of charged-off accounts and continued demand in the marketplace. We believe that the reduction in supply is partially due to shifts in underwriting standards by financial institutions, which have resulted in lower volumes of charged-off accounts. We believe that this reduction in supply is also the result of certain financial institutions temporarily halting their sales of charged-off accounts while they conduct audits of debt management and recovery companies, including Encore. While we anticipate that most issuers will return to the market this year, we expect that pricing will remain at these elevated levels for some period of time. We believe that pricing will not decline until buyers who have paid prices that are too high recognize that they are unable to realize a profit or until the financial institutions complete their audits of debt management and recovery companies and resume selling their charged-off accounts in volumes greater than current levels. The AACC Merger accounted for a significant portion of our 2013 forecasted purchases and, as a result, we slowed our purchasing efforts in the third and fourth quarters of 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012.

We believe that smaller competitors are facing difficulties in the portfolio purchasing market because of the high cost to operate due to regulatory pressure and because the issuers are being more selective with buyers in the marketplace, resulting in consolidation within the portfolio purchasing and recovery industry. We believe this favors larger participants in this market, such as us, because the larger market participants are better able to adapt to these pressures. Furthermore, as smaller competitors limit their participation in or exit the market, it may provide additional opportunities for us to purchase portfolios from competitors or to acquire competitors directly.

46

Table of Contents

United Kingdom Markets

While prices for portfolios offered for sale directly from credit issuers in the United Kingdom remain at levels higher than historical averages, as a result of a backlog caused by issuers reducing their sales volumes during the 2008-2010 time period, we believe that the supply of debt sold to debt purchasers has increased and is expected to increase further in the coming year. Additionally, over the last few years, portfolios are being sold earlier in the life cycle, and therefore, include a higher proportion of paying accounts. We expect, that as a result of an increase in available funding to industry participants and lower return requirements for certain debt purchasers, pricing will remain elevated. However, we also believe that as Cabot’s business increases in scale, and with anticipated improvements in the rate of collections and improved efficiencies in collections, Cabot’s margins will remain competitive. Additionally, the acquisition of Marlin resulted in a new channel of liquidation through litigation in the United Kingdom, which will enable us to collect from consumers who have the ability to pay, but are unwilling to do so. This further complements Cabot’s success with collecting on semi-performing debt, where consumers have a high willingness to pay. We believe that the combined companies will have an enhanced ability to compete for portfolios.

Purchases by Type

The following table summarizes the types of charged-off consumer receivable portfolios we purchased for the periods presented (in thousands):

During the year ended December 31, 2013, we invested $1.2 billion to acquire portfolios, primarily charged-off credit card portfolios, with face values aggregating $84.9 billion, for an average purchase price of 1.4% of face value. Purchases of charged-off credit card portfolios include $383.4 million and $559.0 million of portfolio acquired in conjunction with the AACC Merger and Cabot Acquisition, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we invested $562.3 million to acquire portfolios with a face value aggregating $18.5 billion, for an average purchase price of 3.0% of face value. During the year ended December 31, 2011, we invested $386.9 million for portfolios with face values aggregating $11.7 billion, for an average purchase price of 3.3% of face value.

Average purchase price, as a percentage of face value, varies from period to period depending on, among other things, the quality of the accounts purchased and the length of time from charge-off to the time we purchase the portfolios. The low purchase rate for the year ending December 31, 2013 is related to the portfolio acquired in connection with the AACC Merger. This low rate is a result of us acquiring the entire portfolio of AACC, which included accounts to which we ascribed little or no value and which we have no intention to collect.

47

Table of Contents

Collections by Channel

We currently utilize various business channels for the collection of our receivables. The following table summarizes the total collections by collection channel and geographic areas (in thousands):

Gross collections increased $331.5 million, or 35.0%, to $1.3 billion during the year ended December 31, 2013, from $948.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to increased portfolio purchases in the current and prior years.

Gross collections increased $186.9 million, or 24.6%, to $948.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2012, from $761.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.

48

Table of Contents

Results of Operations

Results of operations, in dollars and as a percentage of total revenue, were as follows (in thousands, except percentages):