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PRA GROUP INC - Quarter Report: 2014 March (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014.
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission File Number: 000-50058
 
 
 
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
 
75-3078675
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
120 Corporate Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia
 
23502
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(zip code)
(888) 772-7326
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  ý    NO  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  ý    NO  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
ý
  
Accelerated filer
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  ý
The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
Class
 
Outstanding as of May 1, 2014
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
 
50,060,005



PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
INDEX
 
 
 
Page(s)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,819

 
$
162,004

Finance receivables, net
1,253,961

 
1,239,191

Accounts receivable, net
11,551

 
12,359

Income taxes receivable
1,015

 
11,710

Net deferred tax asset
1,369

 
1,361

Property and equipment, net
35,130

 
31,541

Goodwill
104,086

 
103,843

Intangible assets, net
14,714

 
15,767

Other assets
28,968

 
23,456

Total assets
$
1,642,613

 
$
1,601,232

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
24,199

 
$
14,819

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
28,351

 
27,655

Accrued compensation
8,684

 
27,431

Net deferred tax liability
220,883

 
210,071

Borrowings
450,278

 
451,780

Total liabilities
732,395

 
731,756

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

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

 

Common stock, par value $0.01, 60,000 authorized shares, 50,060 issued and outstanding shares at March 31, 2014, and 49,840 issued and outstanding shares at December 31, 2013
501

 
498

Additional paid-in capital
134,892

 
135,441

Retained earnings
770,345

 
729,505

Accumulated other comprehensive income
4,480

 
4,032

Total stockholders’ equity
910,218

 
869,476

Total liabilities and equity
$
1,642,613

 
$
1,601,232

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

3


PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
$
177,970

 
$
154,792

Fee income
15,952

 
14,767

Total revenues
193,922

 
169,559

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and employee services
51,385

 
44,997

Legal collection fees
10,833

 
10,529

Legal collection costs
26,533

 
20,501

Agent fees
1,450

 
1,609

Outside fees and services
10,791

 
7,447

Communications
9,154

 
8,079

Rent and occupancy
2,147

 
1,687

Depreciation and amortization
3,947

 
3,366

Other operating expenses
6,092

 
5,457

Total operating expenses
122,332

 
103,672

Income from operations
71,590

 
65,887

Other income and (expense):
 
 
 
Interest income
1

 

Interest expense
(4,860
)
 
(2,689
)
Income before income taxes
66,731

 
63,198

Provision for income taxes
25,891

 
24,681

Net income
$
40,840

 
$
38,517

Adjustment for loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest

 
83

Net income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
$
40,840

 
$
38,600

Net income per common share attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.82

 
$
0.76

Diluted
$
0.81

 
$
0.75

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
49,929

 
50,811

Diluted
50,363

 
51,273

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

4


PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
$
40,840

 
$
38,517

Other comprehensive income:
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
448

 
(4,418
)
Total other comprehensive income
448

 
(4,418
)
Comprehensive income
41,288

 
34,099

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 
83

Comprehensive income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
$
41,288

 
$
34,182

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

5


PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the three months ended March 31, 2014
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional
 
 
 
Other
 
Total
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Comprehensive
 
Stockholders’
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Income
 
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2013
49,840

 
$
498

 
$
135,441

 
$
729,505

 
$
4,032

 
$
869,476

Components of comprehensive income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.

 

 

 
40,840

 

 
40,840

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 
448

 
448

Vesting of nonvested shares
220

 
3

 
(3
)
 

 

 

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

 
2,836

 

 

 
2,836

Income tax benefit from share-based compensation

 

 
4,115

 

 

 
4,115

Employee stock relinquished for payment of taxes

 

 
(7,497
)
 

 

 
(7,497
)
Balance at March 31, 2014
50,060

 
$
501

 
$
134,892

 
$
770,345

 
$
4,480

 
$
910,218

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

6


PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013
(unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
40,840

 
$
38,517

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Amortization of share-based compensation
2,836

 
2,986

Depreciation and amortization
3,947

 
3,366

Amortization of debt discount
998

 

Deferred tax expense
10,812

 
529

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Other assets
(5,496
)
 
(2,070
)
Accounts receivable
821

 
1,149

Accounts payable
9,361

 
588

Income taxes
10,695

 
19,088

Accrued expenses
686

 
(2,503
)
Accrued compensation
(26,245
)
 
(3,537
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
49,255

 
58,113

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(6,416
)
 
(2,466
)
Acquisition of finance receivables, net of buybacks
(150,087
)
 
(212,389
)
Collections applied to principal on finance receivables
135,397

 
120,671

Net cash used in investing activities
(21,106
)
 
(94,184
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Income tax benefit from share-based compensation
4,115

 
2,207

Proceeds from line of credit

 
95,000

Principal payments on line of credit

 
(50,000
)
Repurchases of common stock

 
(1,912
)
Cash paid for purchase of portion of noncontrolling interest

 
(1,150
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest

 
(51
)
Principal payments on long-term debt
(2,500
)
 
(1,384
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,615

 
42,710

Effect of exchange rate on cash
51

 
(215
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
29,815

 
6,424

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
162,004

 
32,687

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
191,819

 
$
39,111

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
5,731

 
$
2,656

Cash paid for income taxes
1,868

 
2,866

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

 
$
(60
)
Distributions payable relating to noncontrolling interest

 
2

Purchase of noncontrolling interest

 
9,162

Employee stock relinquished for payment of taxes
(7,497
)
 
(4,002
)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


7

Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)



1.
Organization and Business:
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) is a financial and business service company operating principally in the United States and the United Kingdom.  The Company’s primary business is the purchase, collection and management of portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. The Company also services receivables on behalf of clients and provides class action claims settlement recovery services and related payment processing to corporate clients.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and include the accounts of all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Under the guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”), the Company has determined that it has several operating segments that meet the aggregation criteria of ASC 280, and therefore, it has one reportable segment, accounts receivable management, based on similarities among the operating units including homogeneity of services, service delivery methods and use of technology.
The following table shows the amount of revenue generated for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and long-lived assets held at March 31, 2014 and 2013 by geographical location (amounts in thousands):
 
As Of And For The
 
As Of And For The
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
 
Revenues
 
Long-Lived Assets
United States
$
191,188

 
$
32,669

 
$
166,929

 
$
23,770

United Kingdom
2,734

 
2,461

 
2,630

 
1,700

Total
$
193,922

 
$
35,130

 
$
169,559

 
$
25,470

Revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the related operations. Long-lived assets consist of net property and equipment.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, therefore, do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of the Company, however, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2014, its consolidated income statements and statements of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, its consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and its consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The consolidated income statements of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014 may not be indicative of future results. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 28, 2014.

2.
Finance Receivables, net:
Changes in finance receivables, net for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,239,191

 
$
1,078,951

Acquisitions of finance receivables, net of buybacks
150,087

 
212,389

Foreign currency translation adjustment
80

 
(922
)
Cash collections
(313,367
)
 
(275,463
)
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
177,970

 
154,792

Cash collections applied to principal
(135,397
)
 
(120,671
)
Balance at end of period
$
1,253,961

 
$
1,169,747


8

Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


At the time of acquisition, the life of each pool is generally estimated to be between 60 and 96 months based on projected amounts and timing of future cash collections using the proprietary models of the Company. Based upon current projections, cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables as of March 31, 2014 are estimated to be as follows for the twelve months in the periods ending (amounts in thousands):
 
March 31, 2015
$
440,446

March 31, 2016
338,324

March 31, 2017
251,391

March 31, 2018
166,246

March 31, 2019
53,679

March 31, 2020
3,875

 
$
1,253,961

During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company purchased approximately $1.91 billion and $1.85 billion, respectively, in face value of charged-off consumer receivables. At March 31, 2014, the estimated remaining collections (“ERC”) on the receivables purchased in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, were $235.0 million and $266.4 million, respectively. At March 31, 2014, the Company had unamortized purchased principal (purchase price) in pools accounted for under the cost recovery method of $28.3 million; at December 31, 2013, the amount was $26.1 million.
Accretable yield represents the amount of income recognized on finance receivables the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future cash flows as of the balance sheet date. Additions represent the original expected accretable yield, on portfolios purchased during the period, to be earned by the Company based on its proprietary buying models. Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. When applicable, net reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield result from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows and allowance charges that exceed the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. Changes in accretable yield for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended March 31,

2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
1,430,067

 
$
1,239,674

Income recognized on finance receivables, net
(177,970
)
 
(154,792
)
Additions
106,197

 
182,505

Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference
91,636

 
53,764

Foreign currency translation adjustment
1,071

 
(4,007
)
Balance at end of period
$
1,451,001

 
$
1,317,144


A valuation allowance is recorded for significant decreases in expected cash flows or a change in the expected timing of cash flows which would otherwise require a reduction in the stated yield on a pool of accounts. In any given period, the Company may be required to record valuation allowances due to pools of receivables underperforming previous expectations. Factors that may contribute to the recording of valuation allowances include both internal as well as external factors. External factors that may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently on the overall profitability of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables would include: new laws or regulations relating to collections, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the economy. Internal factors that may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables, would include: necessary revisions to initial and post-acquisition scoring and modeling estimates, non-optimal operational activities (which relate to the collection and movement of accounts on both the collection floor of the Company and external channels), as well as decreases in productivity related to turnover and tenure of the Company’s collection staff. The following is a summary of activity within the Company’s valuation allowance account, all of which relates to loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality, for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):


9

Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
 
Core Portfolio (1)
 
Purchased Bankruptcy
Portfolio 
(2)
 
Total
 
Core Portfolio (1)
 
Purchased Bankruptcy
Portfolio 
(2)
 
Total
Valuation allowance - finance receivables:

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$
65,626

 
$
25,475

 
$
91,101

 
$
74,500

 
$
18,623

 
$
93,123

Allowance charges
1,387

 

 
1,387

 
300

 
4,660

 
4,960

Reversal of previous recorded allowance charges
(3,090
)
 
(250
)
 
(3,340
)
 
(2,700
)
 
(87
)
 
(2,787
)
Net allowance (reversals)/charges
(1,703
)
 
(250
)
 
(1,953
)
 
(2,400
)
 
4,573

 
2,173

Ending balance
$
63,923

 
$
25,225

 
$
89,148

 
$
72,100

 
$
23,196

 
$
95,296

Finance Receivables, net:
$
722,989

 
$
530,972

 
$
1,253,961

 
$
598,870

 
$
570,877

 
$
1,169,747

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
“Core” accounts or portfolios refer to accounts or portfolios that are defaulted consumer receivables and are not in a bankrupt status upon purchase. For this table, the Core Portfolio also includes accounts purchased in the United Kingdom. These accounts are aggregated separately from purchased bankruptcy accounts.
(2)
“Purchased bankruptcy” accounts or portfolios refer to accounts or portfolios that are in bankruptcy status when purchased, and as such, are purchased as a pool of bankrupt accounts.

3.
Borrowings:
The Company's borrowings consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Line of credit, term loan
$
192,500

 
$
195,000

Convertible notes
287,500

 
287,500

Less: Debt discount
(29,722
)
 
(30,720
)
Total
$
450,278

 
$
451,780

Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility
On December 19, 2012, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders named therein (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement was amended and modified during 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement as amended and modified, the credit facility includes an aggregate principal amount available of $628.0 million (subject to the borrowing base and applicable debt covenants), which consists of a $192.5 million floating rate term loan that amortizes and matures on December 19, 2017 and a $435.5 million revolving credit facility that matures on December 19, 2017. The term and revolving loans accrue interest, at the option of the Company, at either the base rate or the Eurodollar rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) for the applicable term plus 2.50% per annum in the case of the Eurodollar rate loans and 1.50% in the case of the base rate loans. The base rate is the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 0.50%, (b) Bank of America’s prime rate, and (c) the Eurodollar rate plus 1.00%. The Company’s revolving credit facility includes a $20 million swingline loan sublimit, a $20 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20 million alternative currency equivalent sublimit. The credit facility contains an accordion loan feature that allows the Company to request an increase of up to $214.5 million in the amount available for borrowing under the facility, whether from existing or new lenders, subject to terms of the Credit Agreement.
On April 1, 2014, the Company entered into a Lender Joinder Agreement and Lender Commitment Agreement (collectively, the “Commitment Increase Agreements”) to exercise this accordion feature.  The Commitment Increase Agreements expanded the maximum amount of revolving credit availability under the Credit Agreement by $214.5 million, elevated the revolving credit commitments of certain lenders and added three new lenders to the Credit Agreement. Giving effect to the $214.5 million increase in the amount of revolving credit availability pursuant to the Commitment Increase Agreements, the total credit facility under the Credit Agreement now includes an aggregate principal amount of $842.5 million (subject to compliance with a borrowing base), which consists of (i) a fully-funded $192.5 million term loan, (ii) a $630 million domestic revolving credit facility, of which $630 million is available to be drawn, and (iii) a $20 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, of which $20 million is available

10

Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


to be drawn, all of which mature on December 19, 2017. The Credit Agreement is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Credit Agreement, as amended and modified, contains restrictive covenants and events of default including the following:
borrowings may not exceed 33% of the ERC of all its eligible asset pools plus 75% of its eligible accounts receivable;
the consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) cannot exceed 2.0 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal quarter;
consolidated tangible net worth (as defined in the Credit Agreement) must equal or exceed $455,091,200 plus 50% of positive cumulative consolidated net income for each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ended December 31, 2012, plus 50% of the cumulative net proceeds of any equity offering;
capital expenditures during any fiscal year cannot exceed $40 million;
cash dividends and distributions during any fiscal year cannot exceed $20 million;
stock repurchases during the term of the agreement cannot exceed $250 million and cannot exceed $100 million in a single fiscal year;
investments in loans and/or capital contributions cannot exceed $950 million to consummate the acquisition of the equity of Aktiv Kapital AS (“Aktiv”);
permitted acquisitions (as defined in the Credit Agreement) during any fiscal year cannot exceed $250 million except for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, during which fiscal year permitted acquisitions cannot exceed $25 million;
indebtedness in the form of senior, unsecured convertible notes or other unsecured financings cannot exceed $300 million in the aggregate (without respect to the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020);
the Company must maintain positive consolidated income from operations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) during any fiscal quarter; and
restrictions on changes in control.
The revolving credit facility also bears an unused line fee of 0.375% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears.
The Company's borrowings on its credit facility at March 31, 2014 consisted of $192.5 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of March 31, 2014 of 2.65%. At December 31, 2013, the Company's borrowings on its credit facility consisted of $195.0 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of December 31, 2013 of 2.67%.
Convertible Senior Notes
On August 13, 2013, the Company completed the private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated August 13, 2013 (the "Indenture") between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default after which the Notes may be due and payable immediately. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1, 2014. Prior to February 1, 2020, the Notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of specified events. On or after February 1, 2020, the Notes will be convertible at any time. Upon conversion, the Notes may be settled, at the Company’s option, in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock, or any combination thereof. Holders of the Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or some of their Notes at 100% of their principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture). In addition, upon the occurrence of a make-whole fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture), the Company may, under certain circumstances, be required to increase the conversion rate for the Notes converted in connection with such a make-whole fundamental change. The conversion rate for the Notes is initially 15.2172 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $65.72 per share of the Company’s common stock, and is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances pursuant to the Indenture. The Company does not have the right to redeem the Notes prior to maturity. As of March 31, 2014, none of the conditions allowing holders of the Notes to convert their Notes had occurred.
As noted above, upon conversion, holders of the Notes will receive cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. However, the Company’s current intent is to settle conversions through combination settlement (i.e., the Notes will be converted into cash up to the aggregate principal amount, and shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election, for the remainder). As a result and in accordance with authoritative guidance related to derivatives and hedging and earnings per share, only the conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $65.72.

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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes were approximately $279.3 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company used $174.0 million of the net proceeds from this offering to repay the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility and used $50.0 million to repurchase shares of its common stock.
The Company determined that the fair value of the Notes at the date of issuance was approximately $255.3 million, and designated the residual value of approximately $32.2 million as the equity component. Additionally, the Company allocated approximately $7.3 million of the $8.2 million original Notes issuance cost as debt issuance cost and the remaining $0.9 million as equity issuance cost.
ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASC 470-20”), requires that, for convertible debt instruments that may be settled fully or partially in cash upon conversion, issuers must separately account for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in subsequent periods. Additionally, debt issuance costs are required to be allocated in proportion to the allocation of the liability and equity components and accounted for as debt issuance costs and equity issuance costs, respectively.
The balances of the liability and equity components of all of the Notes outstanding were as follows as of the dates indicated (in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Liability component - principal amount
 
$
287,500

 
$
287,500

Unamortized debt discount
 
(29,722
)
 
(30,720
)
Liability component - net carrying amount
 
257,778

 
256,780

Equity component
 
$
31,306

 
$
31,306

The debt discount is being amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the Notes using the effective interest rate, which is 4.92%.
Interest expense related to the Notes was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Interest expense - stated coupon rate
 
$
2,156

 
$

Interest expense - amortization of debt discount
 
998

 

Total interest expense - convertible notes
 
$
3,154


$

The Company was in compliance with all covenants under its financing arrangements as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
The following principal payments are due on the Company's borrowings as of March 31, 2014 for the twelve month periods ending (amounts in thousands):
March 31, 2015
$
11,250

March 31, 2016
16,250

March 31, 2017
25,000

March 31, 2018
140,000

March 31, 2019

Thereafter
287,500

Total
$
480,000




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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


4.
Property and Equipment, net:
Property and equipment, at cost, consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):
 
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Software
$
35,673

 
$
34,108

Computer equipment
19,039

 
17,072

Furniture and fixtures
9,007

 
8,616

Equipment
11,545

 
10,351

Leasehold improvements
11,974

 
11,147

Building and improvements
7,054

 
7,026

Land
1,269

 
1,269

Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(60,431
)
 
(58,048
)
Property and equipment, net
$
35,130

 
$
31,541

Depreciation and amortization expense relating to property and equipment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, was $2.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
The Company, in accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 350-40 “Internal-Use Software” (“ASC 350-40”), capitalizes qualifying computer software costs incurred during the application development stage and amortizes them over their estimated useful life of three to seven years on a straight-line basis beginning when the project is completed. Costs associated with preliminary project stage activities, training, maintenance and all other post implementation stage activities are expensed as incurred. The Company’s policy provides for the capitalization of certain direct payroll costs for employees who are directly associated with internal use computer software projects, as well as external direct costs of services associated with developing or obtaining internal use software. Capitalizable personnel costs are limited to the time directly spent on such projects. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company incurred and capitalized approximately $10.8 million and $10.3 million, respectively, of these direct payroll costs and external direct costs related to software developed for internal use. Of these costs, at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $1.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, was for projects that were in the development stage and, therefore are a component of “Other Assets.” Once the projects are completed, the costs are transferred to Software and amortized over their estimated useful life. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, was approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.  The remaining unamortized costs relating to internally developed software at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were approximately $4.7 million and $4.4 million, respectively.
 
5.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, net:
In connection with the Company’s previous business acquisitions, the Company acquired certain tangible and intangible assets. Intangible assets purchased included client and customer relationships, non-compete agreements, trademarks and goodwill. Pursuant to ASC 350, goodwill is not amortized but rather is reviewed at least annually for impairment. During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company underwent its annual review of goodwill. Based upon the results of this review, which was conducted as of October 1, 2013, no impairment charges to goodwill or the other intangible assets were necessary as of the date of this review. The Company believes that nothing has occurred since the review was performed through March 31, 2014 that would indicate a triggering event and thereby necessitate further evaluation of goodwill or other intangible assets. The Company expects to perform its next annual goodwill review during the fourth quarter of 2014.
At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value of goodwill was $104.1 million and $103.8 million, respectively. The following table represents the changes in goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of period
$
103,843

 
$
109,488

Foreign currency translation adjustment
243

 
(2,576
)
Balance at end of period
$
104,086

 
$
106,912


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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, consist of the following at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (amounts in thousands):
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Gross Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Gross Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
Client and customer relationships
$
40,949

 
$
27,550

 
$
40,870

 
$
26,581

Non-compete agreements
3,896

 
3,764

 
3,880

 
3,723

Trademarks
3,501

 
2,318

 
3,491

 
2,170

Total
$
48,346

 
$
33,632

 
$
48,241

 
$
32,474

Total intangible asset amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The Company reviews these intangible assets for possible impairment upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
 
6.
Share-Based Compensation:
The Company has an Omnibus Incentive Plan to assist the Company in attracting and retaining selected individuals to serve as employees and directors, who are expected to contribute to the Company's success and to achieve long-term objectives that will benefit stockholders of the Company. The 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was approved by the Company's stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting.  The Plan enables the Company to award shares of the Company's common stock to select employees and directors, as described in the Plan, not to exceed 5,400,000 shares as authorized by the Plan. The Plan replaced the 2010 Stock Plan.
As of March 31, 2014, total future compensation costs related to nonvested awards of nonvested shares (not including nonvested shares granted under the Long-Term Incentive ("LTI") Program) is estimated to be $6.2 million with a weighted average remaining life for all nonvested shares of 1.9 years (not including nonvested shares granted under the LTI program). As of March 31, 2014, there are no future compensation costs related to stock options and there are no remaining vested stock options to be exercised.
Total share-based compensation expense was $2.8 million and $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of share-based compensation expense (windfall tax benefits) recognized under the provisions of ASC Topic 718 "Compensation-Stock Compensation" ("ASC 718") are credited to additional paid-in capital in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized tax shortfalls, if any, are first offset against the cumulative balance of windfall tax benefits, if any, and then charged directly to income tax expense. The total tax benefit realized from share-based compensation was approximately $7.5 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
All share amounts presented in this Note 6 have been adjusted to reflect the three-for-one stock split by means of a stock dividend declared by the Company's board of directors on June 10, 2013.
Nonvested Shares
With the exception of the awards made pursuant to the LTI program and a few employee and director grants, the nonvested shares vest ratably over three to five years and are expensed over their vesting period.

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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


The following summarizes all nonvested share transactions, excluding those related to the LTI program, from December 31, 2012 through March 31, 2014 (share amounts in thousands):
 
Nonvested Shares
Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average
Price at Grant Date
December 31, 2012
288

 
$
20.84

Granted
110

 
37.31

Vested
(143
)
 
19.75

Cancelled
(29
)
 
20.57

December 31, 2013
226

 
29.58

Granted
66

 
48.22

Vested
(93
)
 
25.85

Cancelled
(2
)
 
21.90

March 31, 2014
197

 
$
37.66

The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, was $2.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
Pursuant to the Plan, the Compensation Committee may grant time-vested and performance based nonvested shares. All shares granted under the LTI program were granted to key employees of the Company. The following summarizes all LTI program share transactions from December 31, 2012 through March 31, 2014 (share amounts in thousands):
 
Nonvested LTI Shares
Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average
Price at Grant Date
December 31, 2012
497

 
$
21.71

Granted at target level
124

 
34.59

Adjustments for actual performance
108

 
17.91

Vested
(279
)
 
19.10

Cancelled
(16
)
 
25.01

December 31, 2013
434

 
25.79

Granted at target level
97

 
48.09

Adjustments for actual performance
95

 
25.17

Vested
(225
)
 
25.17

March 31, 2014
401

 
$
31.39

The total grant date fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, was $5.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively.
At March 31, 2014, total future compensation costs, assuming the current estimated performance levels are achieved, related to nonvested share awards granted under the LTI program are estimated to be approximately $9.6 million. The Company assumed a 7.5% forfeiture rate for these grants and the remaining shares have a weighted average life of 1.4 years at March 31, 2014.

7.
Income Taxes:
The Company follows the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) as it relates to the provision for income taxes and uncertainty in income taxes. The guidance prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. There were no unrecognized tax benefits at March 31, 2014 and 2013.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examined the Company's tax returns for the 2005 calendar year. The IRS concluded the audit and on March 19, 2009 issued Form 4549-A, Income Tax Examination Changes, for tax years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The IRS has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income, and that unused line fees paid on credit facilities should be capitalized and amortized rather than taken as a current deduction. The Company believes it has sufficient support for the technical merits of its positions and that it is more likely than not these positions will ultimately be sustained; therefore, a reserve for uncertain tax positions is not required. The Company believes cost recovery to be an acceptable tax revenue recognition method for companies in the bad debt purchasing industry. For

15

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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


tax purposes, collections on finance receivables are applied first to principal to reduce the finance receivables to zero before any taxable income is recognized.  On April 22, 2009, the Company filed a formal protest of the findings contained in the examination report prepared by the IRS. On August 26, 2011, the IRS issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005.  The Company subsequently filed a petition in the United States Tax Court to which the IRS responded on January 12, 2012. If the Company is unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, it can appeal to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Payment of the assessed taxes and interest could have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, be material to the Company’s results of operations, and possibly require additional financing from other sources. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, underpayments of federal tax accrue interest, compounded daily, at the applicable federal short term rate plus three percentage points.  An additional two percentage points applies to large corporate underpayments of $100,000 or more to periods after the applicable date as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.  The Company files taxes in multiple state jurisdictions; therefore, any underpayment of state tax will accrue interest in accordance with the respective state statute. On June 30, 2011, the Company was notified by the IRS that the audit period will be expanded to include the tax years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008.
At March 31, 2014, the tax years subject to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions, including the IRS, are 2003, 2005 and subsequent years. The 2003 tax year remains open to examination because of a net operating loss that originated in that year but was not fully utilized until the 2005 tax year. The examination periods for the 2007, 2006 and 2005 tax years were extended through December 31, 2011; however, because the IRS issued the Notice of Deficiency prior to December 31, 2011, the period for assessment is suspended until a decision of the Tax Court becomes final. The statute of limitations for the 2010, 2009 and 2008 tax years has been extended to September 26, 2014.
ASC 740 requires the recognition of interest if the tax law would require interest to be paid on the underpayment of taxes, and recognition of penalties if a tax position does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties. No interest or penalties were accrued or reversed in the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.
 
8.
Earnings per Share:
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders of Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. by weighted average common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS are computed using the same components as basic EPS with the denominator adjusted for the dilutive effect of the Notes and nonvested share awards, if dilutive. For the Notes, only the conversion spread is included in the diluted earnings per share calculation, if dilutive. Under such method, the settlement of the conversion spread has a dilutive effect when the average share price of the Company’s common stock during any quarter exceeds $65.72, which did not occur during the period from which the Notes were issued on August 13, 2013 through March 31, 2014. The Notes were not outstanding during the three months ending March 31, 2013. Share-based awards that are contingent upon the attainment of performance goals are not included in the computation of diluted EPS until the performance goals have been attained. The dilutive effect of nonvested shares is computed using the treasury stock method, which assumes any proceeds that could be obtained upon the vesting of nonvested shares would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price for the period. The assumed proceeds include the windfall tax benefit that would be received upon assumed exercise.
The following tables provide reconciliation between the computation of basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
 
Net Income
attributable to  Portfolio
Recovery  Associates, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
 
Net Income
attributable to  Portfolio
Recovery  Associates, Inc.
 
Weighted  Average
Common  Shares
 
EPS
Basic EPS
$
40,840

 
49,929

 
$
0.82

 
$
38,600

 
50,811

 
$
0.76

Dilutive effect of nonvested share awards
 
 
434

 
 
 
 
 
462

 
 
Diluted EPS
$
40,840

 
50,363

 
$
0.81

 
$
38,600

 
51,273

 
$
0.75

All prior year share amounts presented in this Note 8 have been adjusted to reflect the three-for-one stock split by means of a stock dividend declared by the Company's board of directors on June 10, 2013.
There were no antidilutive options outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.


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Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


9.
Commitments and Contingencies:
Business Acquisitions:

Aktiv Kapital, A.S.

On February 19, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire the equity of Aktiv for approximately $880 million and assume approximately $435 million of Aktiv’s debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014, upon successful completion of customary closing conditions, including approval of the transaction by applicable competition authorities and our ability to obtain the necessary financing to consummate the transaction.

The Company expects to finance this transaction with a combination of cash, $170 million of seller financing (which will bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum and will mature 12 months after the date of issuance), and up to $650 million from its domestic revolving credit facility (subject to borrowing base restrictions). The Company may choose to use other debt instruments to expand, replace or pay down any of these financing options. The Company anticipates total transaction costs of approximately $15 million of which $4.4 million was incurred during the first quarter of 2014.

Pamplona Capital Management, LLP

On January 31, 2014, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire certain operating assets from Pamplona Capital Management, LLP ("PCM").  These assets include PCM’s IVA Master Servicing Platform as well as other operating assets associated with PCM’s IVA business.  The purchase price of these assets is approximately $5 million and will be paid from the Company’s existing cash balances.  The transaction is expected to close on July 1, 2014.
Employment Agreements:
The Company has employment agreements, most of which expire on December 31, 2014, with all of its executive officers and with several members of its senior management group. Such agreements provide for base salary payments as well as bonuses which are based on the attainment of specific management goals. At March 31, 2014, the estimated future compensation under these agreements is approximately $7.5 million. The agreements also contain confidentiality and non-compete provisions.
Leases:
The Company is party to various operating leases with respect to its facilities and equipment. The future minimum lease payments at March 31, 2014 total approximately $29.7 million.
Forward Flow Agreements:
The Company is party to several forward flow agreements that allow for the purchase of defaulted consumer receivables at pre-established prices. The maximum remaining amount to be purchased under forward flow agreements at March 31, 2014 is approximately $198.9 million.
Contingent Purchase Price:
The asset purchase agreement entered into in connection with the acquisition of certain finance receivables and certain operating assets of National Capital Management, LLC ("NCM") in 2012, includes an earn-out provision whereby the sellers are able to earn additional cash consideration for achieving certain cash collection thresholds over a five year period. The maximum amount of earn-out during the period is $15.0 million. The Company paid the year one earn-out during December 2013 in the amount of $6.2 million. As of March 31, 2014, the Company has recorded a present value amount for the expected remaining liability of $4.0 million.
Finance Receivables:
Certain agreements for the purchase of finance receivables portfolios contain provisions that may, in limited circumstances, require the Company to refund a portion or all of the collections subsequently received by the Company on particular accounts. The potential refunds as of the balance sheet date are not considered to be significant.

17

Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Litigation:
The Company is from time to time subject to routine legal claims and proceedings, most of which are incidental to the ordinary course of its business. The Company initiates lawsuits against customers and is occasionally countersued by them in such actions. Also, customers, either individually, as members of a class action, or through a governmental entity on behalf of customers, may initiate litigation against the Company in which they allege that the Company has violated a state or federal law in the process of collecting on an account.  From time to time, other types of lawsuits are brought against the Company. Additionally, the Company receives subpoenas and other requests or demands for information from regulators or governmental authorities who are investigating the Company's debt collection activities. The Company makes every effort to respond appropriately to such requests.

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

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

Excluding the matters described below and other putative class action suits which the Company believes are not material, the high end of the range of potential litigation losses in excess of the amount accrued is estimated by management to be less than $1,000,000 as of March 31, 2014.  Notwithstanding our attempt to estimate a range of possible losses in excess of the amount accrued based on current information, actual future losses may exceed both the Company's accrual and the range of potential litigation losses disclosed above.

In certain legal proceedings, the Company may have recourse to insurance or third party contractual indemnities to cover all or portions of its litigation expenses, judgments, or settlements. Loss estimates and accruals for potential liability related to legal proceedings are exclusive of potential recoveries, if any, under the Company's insurance policies or third party indemnities. The Company has not recorded any potential recoveries under the Company's insurance policies or third party indemnities.

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

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation

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

Internal Revenue Service Audit

The IRS examined the Company's tax returns for the 2005 calendar year. The IRS concluded the audit and on March 19, 2009 issued Form 4549-A, Income Tax Examination Changes, for tax years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The IRS

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Table of Contents
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income, and that unused line fees paid on credit facilities should be capitalized and amortized rather than taken as a current deduction. The Company believes it has sufficient support for the technical merits of its positions and that it is more likely than not these positions will ultimately be sustained; therefore, a reserve for uncertain tax positions is not required. On April 22, 2009, the Company filed a formal protest of the findings contained in the examination report prepared by the IRS. On August 26, 2011, the IRS issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005.  The Company subsequently filed a petition in the United States Tax Court to which the IRS responded on January 12, 2012. If the Company is unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, it can appeal to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals.  Refer to Note 7 “Income Taxes” for additional information.

10.
Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures:
In accordance with the disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 825, “Financial Instruments” (“ASC 825”), the table below summarizes fair value estimates for the Company’s financial instruments. The total of the fair value calculations presented does not represent, and should not be construed to represent, the underlying value of the Company. The carrying amounts in the table are recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, under the indicated captions (amounts in thousands):
 
March 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Financial assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,819

 
$
191,819

 
$
162,004

 
$
162,004

Finance receivables, net
1,253,961

 
1,702,786

 
1,239,191

 
1,722,100

Financial liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
192,500

 
192,500

 
195,000

 
195,000

Convertible debt
257,778

 
339,170

 
256,780

 
316,857

As of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, the Company did not account for any financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value. As defined by FASB ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also requires the consideration of differing levels of inputs in the determination of fair values. Those levels of input are summarized as follows:

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

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
Disclosure of the estimated fair values of financial instruments often requires the use of estimates. The Company uses the following methods and assumptions to estimate the fair value of financial instruments:
Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amount approximates fair value and quoted prices for identical assets can be found in active markets. Accordingly, the Company estimates the fair value of cash and cash equivalents using level 1 inputs.
Finance receivables, net: The Company records purchased receivables at cost, which represents a significant discount from the contractual receivable balances due. The Company computed the estimated fair value of these receivables using proprietary pricing models that the Company utilizes to make portfolio purchase decisions. Accordingly, the Company's fair value estimates use level 3 inputs as there is little observable market data available and management is required to use significant judgment in its estimates.

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PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)


Revolving credit: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate periods and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Long-term debt: The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate periods and the observable quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.
Convertible debt: The Notes are carried at historical cost, adjusted for debt discount. The fair value estimate for these Notes incorporates quoted market prices which were obtained from secondary market broker quotes which were derived from a variety of inputs including client orders, information from their pricing vendors, modeling software, and actual trading prices when they occur. Accordingly, the Company uses level 2 inputs for its fair value estimates.

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


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Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Statements Pursuant to Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding overall trends, gross margin trends, operating cost trends, liquidity and capital needs and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions referred to above may include the following:
a prolonged economic recovery or a deterioration in the economic or inflationary environment in the United States or the European Union, particularly the United Kingdom, including the interest rate environment, may have an adverse effect on our collections, results of operations, revenue and stock price or on the stability of the financial system as a whole;
changes in the credit or capital markets, which affect our ability to borrow money or raise capital;
our ability to successfully close the Aktiv acquisition and subsequently integrate the Aktiv business;
our ability to manage risks associated with our international operations, which risks will increase as a result of the Aktiv Acquisition;
our ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of the Aktiv acquisition;
our ability to purchase defaulted consumer receivables at appropriate prices;
our ability to replace our defaulted consumer receivables with additional receivables portfolios;
our ability to obtain accurate and authentic account documents relating to accounts that we acquire and the possibility that documents that we provide could contain errors;
our ability to successfully acquire receivables of new asset types;
our ability to collect sufficient amounts on our defaulted consumer receivables;
changes in tax laws regarding earnings of our subsidiaries located outside of the United States;
changes in bankruptcy or collection laws that could negatively affect our business, including by causing an increase in certain types of bankruptcy filings involving liquidations, which may cause our collections to decrease;
changes in state or federal laws or the administrative practices of various bankruptcy courts, which may impact our ability to collect on our defaulted receivables;
our ability to collect and enforce our finance receivables may be limited under federal and state laws;
our ability to employ and retain qualified employees, especially collection personnel, and our senior management team;
our work force could become unionized in the future, which could adversely affect the stability of our production and increase our costs;
the degree, nature, and resources of our competition;
the possibility that we could incur goodwill or other intangible asset impairment charges;
our ability to retain existing clients and obtain new clients for our fee-for-service businesses;
our ability to comply with existing and new regulations of the collection industry, the failure of which could result in penalties, fines, litigation, damage to our reputation or the suspension or termination of our ability to conduct our business;
changes in governmental laws and regulations which could increase our costs and liabilities or impact our operations;
the possibility that new business acquisitions prove unsuccessful or strain or divert our resources;
our ability to maintain, renegotiate or replace our credit facility;
our ability to satisfy the restrictive covenants in our debt agreements;
our ability to manage risks associated with our international operations;
the possibility that compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions;
the imposition of additional taxes on us;
changes in interest or exchange rates, which could reduce our net income, and the possibility that future hedging strategies may not be successful, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, as could our failure to comply with hedge accounting principles and interpretations;
the possibility that we could incur significant allowance charges on our finance receivables;
our loss contingency accruals may not be adequate to cover actual losses;
our ability to manage growth successfully;
the possibility that we could incur business or technology disruptions or cyber incidents, or not adapt to technological advances;
the possibility that we or our industry could experience negative publicity or reputational attacks; and
the risk factors listed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

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

Overview
The Company is a financial and business services company. Our primary business is the purchase, collection and management of portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. We also service receivables on behalf of clients on either a commission or transaction-fee basis and provide class action claims settlement recovery services and related payment processing to corporate clients.
The Company is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and employs approximately 3,621 team members. The Company's shares of common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “PRAA.”

On February 19, 2014, we entered into an agreement to acquire the equity of Aktiv Kapital AS (“Aktiv”), a Norway-based company specializing in the acquisition and servicing of non-performing consumer loans throughout Europe and in Canada, for approximately $880 million, we also agreed to assume approximately $435 million of Aktiv's corporate debt, resulting in an acquisition of estimated total enterprise value of $1.3 billion. This acquisition will provide us entry into thirteen new markets,

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providing us additional geographical diversity in portfolio purchasing and collection, and with entry into new growth markets. We expect Aktiv's Chief Executive Officer and his executive team and the more than 400 Aktiv employees to join our workforce upon the closing of the transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014, upon successful completion of customary closing conditions, including approval of the transaction by applicable financial supervisory or competition authorities and our ability to obtain the necessary financing to consummate the transaction.

We expect to finance this transaction with a combination of cash, $170 million of seller financing (which will bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum and will mature 12 months after the date of issuance) and $650 million from our domestic revolving credit facility. We may choose to use other debt instruments to expand, replace or pay down any of these financing options. We anticipate total transaction costs of approximately $15 million, which we expect to incur between both the first and second quarters of 2014. During the first quarter of 2014, we incurred approximately $4.4 million of the total estimated transaction costs of $15 million. Our total borrowings are projected to be approximately $1.8 billion after closing the Aktiv acquisition, compared to PRA’s total borrowings of $450 million at March 31, 2014.

A publicly traded company from 1997 until early 2012, Aktiv has developed a mixed in-house and outsourced collection strategy. It maintains in-house servicing platforms in eight markets, and owns portfolios in fifteen markets. Aktiv has more than 20 years of experience and data in a wide variety of consumer asset classes, across an extensive geographic background. Aktiv has acquired more than 2,000 portfolios, with a face value of more than $38 billion. In 2013, Aktiv collected $318 million on its portfolios and purchased $248 million in new portfolios, up from $222 million in 2012. Aktiv’s total assets were approximately $900 million at December 31, 2013.
Earnings Summary
During the first quarter of 2014, net income attributable to the Company was $40.8 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared with $38.6 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2013. Total revenue was $193.9 million in the first quarter of 2014, up 14.3% from the first quarter of 2013. Revenues in the first quarter of 2014 consisted of $178.0 million in income recognized on finance receivables, net of allowance charges, and $16.0 million in fee income. Income recognized on finance receivables, net of allowance charges, in the first quarter of 2014 increased $23.2 million, or 15.0%, over the first quarter of 2013, primarily as a result of a significant increase in cash collections. Cash collections, which drives our finance receivable income, were $313.4 million in the first quarter of 2014, up 13.8%, or $37.9 million, as compared to the first quarter of 2013. During the first quarter of 2014, we incurred $2.0 million in net allowance charge reversals, compared with $2.2 million of net allowance charges in the first quarter of 2013. Our performance has been positively impacted by operational efficiencies surrounding the cash collections process, including the continued refinement of account scoring analytics as it relates to both legal and non-legal collection channels. Additionally, we have continued to develop our internal legal collection staff resources, which enables us to place accounts into that channel that otherwise would have been prohibitively expensive for legal action and to collect these accounts more efficiently and profitably.
Fee income increased to $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $14.8 million in the first quarter of 2013, primarily due to higher fee income generated by Claims Compensation Bureau, LLC ("CCB") and PRA Government Services, LLC ("PGS"). This was partially offset by lower fee income generated in the first quarter of 2014 by Mackenzie Hall Holdings, Limited, ("PRA UK") and PRA Location Services (“PLS”) when compared to the first quarter of 2013.
A summary of how our income was generated during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
($ in thousands)
2014
 
2013
Cash collections
$
313,367

 
$
275,463

Amortization of finance receivables
(137,350
)
 
(118,498
)
Net allowance reversals/(charges)
1,953

 
(2,173
)
Finance receivable income
177,970

 
154,792

Fee income
15,952

 
14,767

Total revenue
$
193,922

 
$
169,559

Operating expenses were $122.3 million in the first quarter of 2014, up 17.9% over the first quarter of 2013, due primarily to increases in compensation expense, legal collection costs and outside fees and services. Compensation expense increased primarily as a result of larger staff sizes, increases in incentive compensation paid as a result of collector performance and normal pay increases. Compensation and employee services expenses increased as total employees grew 11.4% to 3,621 as of March 31,

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2014, from 3,250 as of March 31, 2013. Legal collection costs increased from $20.5 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $26.5 million in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of $6.0 million, or 29.4%.  This increase was the result of our continued expansion of the accounts brought into the legal collection process. Outside fees and services expenses increased $3.4 million, or 46.0%, mainly attributable to the transaction costs incurred in the first quarter of 2014 related to the pending Aktiv acquisition.
During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we acquired defaulted consumer receivables portfolios with an aggregate face value amount of $1.91 billion at a cost of $152.7 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we acquired defaulted consumer receivable portfolios with an aggregate face value of $1.85 billion at a cost of $214.9 million. In any period, we acquire defaulted consumer receivables that can vary dramatically in their age, type and ultimate collectability. We may pay significantly different purchase rates for purchased receivables within any period as a result of this quality fluctuation. In addition, market forces can drive pricing rates up or down in any period, irrespective of other quality fluctuations. As a result, the average purchase rate paid for any given period can fluctuate dramatically based on our particular buying activity in that period. However, regardless of the average purchase price and for similar time frames, we intend to target a similar internal rate of return, after direct expenses, in pricing our portfolio acquisitions; therefore, the absolute rate paid is not necessarily relevant to the estimated profitability of a period's buying.
Results of Operations
The results of operations include the financial results of the Company and all of our subsidiaries.

The following table sets forth certain operating data as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:
 
 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues:
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
91.8
%
 
91.3
%
Fee income
8.2
%
 
8.7
%
Total revenues
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Compensation and employee services
26.5
%
 
26.5
%
Legal collection fees
5.6
%
 
6.2
%
Legal collection costs
13.7
%
 
12.1
%
Agent fees
0.7
%
 
0.9
%
Outside fees and services
5.6
%
 
4.4
%
Communication expenses
4.7
%
 
4.8
%
Rent and occupancy
1.1
%
 
1.0
%
Depreciation and amortization
2.0
%
 
2.0
%
Other operating expenses
3.1
%
 
3.2
%
Total operating expenses
63.0
%
 
61.1
%
Income from operations
37.0
%
 
38.9
%
Other expense:
 
 
 
Interest expense
2.5
%
 
1.6
%
Income before income taxes
34.5
%
 
37.3
%
Provision for income taxes
13.4
%
 
14.6
%
Net income
21.1
%
 
22.7
%
Adjustment for loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest
%
 
%
Net income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
21.1
%
 
22.6
%


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Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared To Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
Revenues
Total revenues were $193.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $24.3 million, or 14.3%, compared to total revenues of $169.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Income Recognized on Finance Receivables, net
Income recognized on finance receivables, net was $178.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $23.2 million, or 15.0%, compared to income recognized on finance receivables, net of $154.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to an increase in cash collections on our finance receivables to $313.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $275.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, an increase of $37.9 million, or 13.8%. Our finance receivables amortization rate, including net allowance charges, was 43.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to 43.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Accretable yield represents the amount of income recognized on finance receivables the Company can expect to generate over the remaining life of its existing portfolios based on estimated future cash flows as of the balance sheet date. Additions represent the original expected accretable yield, on portfolios purchased during the period, to be earned by the Company based on its proprietary buying models. Net reclassifications from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield primarily result from the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows. Increases in future cash flows may occur as portfolios age and actual cash collections exceed those originally expected. If those cash flows are determined to be incremental to the portfolio’s original forecast, future projections of cash flows are generally increased resulting in higher expected revenue and hence increases in accretable yield. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified amounts from nonaccretable difference to accretable yield due primarily to increased cash collection forecasts relating to pools acquired from 2009-2012. When applicable, net reclassifications to nonaccretable difference from accretable yield result from the Company’s decrease in its estimates of future cash flows and allowance charges that exceed the Company’s increase in its estimate of future cash flows.
Income recognized on finance receivables, net, is shown net of changes in valuation allowances recognized under FASB ASC Topic 310-30 “Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality” (“ASC 310-30”), which requires that a valuation allowance be recorded for significant decreases in expected cash flows or a change in timing of cash flows which would otherwise require a reduction in the stated yield on a pool of accounts. For the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recorded net allowance charge reversals of $2.0 million. On our Core portfolios, we recorded net allowance reversals of $3.1 million on portfolios purchased between 2005 and 2008, offset by net allowance charges of $0.9 million on portfolios purchased in 2010. On our purchased bankruptcy portfolios, we recorded net allowance charge reversals of $0.3 million on portfolios primarily purchased in 2007. We also recorded a net allowance charge of $0.5 million on our UK portfolios purchased in 2012. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, we recorded net allowance charges of $2.2 million, of which $4.6 million related to purchased bankruptcy portfolios primarily purchased in 2007 and 2008, offset by reversals of $2.4 million related to Core portfolios primarily purchased in 2005 and 2008. In any given period, we may be required to record valuation allowances due to pools of receivables underperforming our previous expectations. Factors that may contribute to the recording of valuation allowances may include both internal as well as external factors. External factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently to the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables include: new laws or regulations relating to collections, new interpretations of existing laws or regulations, and the overall condition of the economy. Internal factors which may have an impact on the collectability, and subsequently the overall profitability, of purchased pools of defaulted consumer receivables would include: necessary revisions to initial and post-acquisition scoring and modeling estimates, non-optimal operational activities (relating to the collection and movement of accounts on both our collection floor and external channels), and decreases in productivity related to turnover of our collection staff.
Fee Income
Fee income increased to $16.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $14.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013, primarily due to higher fee income generated by CCB and PGS. This was partially offset by lower fee income generated in the first quarter of 2014 by PRA UK and PLS when compared to the prior year period.
Income from Operations
Income from operations was $71.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $5.7 million or 8.7% compared to income from operations of $65.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Income from operations was 37.0% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to 38.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.

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Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $122.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $18.6 million or 17.9% compared to total operating expenses of $103.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Total operating expenses were 37.1% of cash receipts for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to 35.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Compensation and Employee Services
Compensation and employee services expenses were $51.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $6.4 million, or 14.2%, compared to compensation and employee services expenses of $45.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Compensation expense increased primarily as a result of larger staff sizes in addition to increases in incentive compensation and normal pay increases. Compensation and employee services expenses increased as total employees grew 11.4% to 3,621 as of March 31, 2014, from 3,250 as of March 31, 2013. Compensation and employee services expenses as a percentage of cash receipts increased to 15.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from 15.5% of cash receipts for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Legal Collection Fees
Legal collection fees represent contingent fees incurred for the cash collections generated by our independent third party attorney network. Legal collection fees were $10.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $0.3 million, or 2.9%, compared to legal collection fees of $10.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  This increase was the result of an increase in cash collections from outside attorneys from $47.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2013 to $51.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $3.1 million, or 6.5%. Legal collection fees for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were 3.3% of cash receipts, compared to 3.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Legal Collection Costs
Legal collection costs consist of costs paid to courts where a lawsuit is filed and the cost of documents received from sellers of defaulted consumer receivables. Legal collection costs were $26.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $6.0 million, or 29.3%, compared to legal collection costs of $20.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.  Since the beginning of 2012, as a result of the refinement of our internal scoring methodology that expanded our account selections for legal action, we expanded the accounts brought into the legal collection process which resulted in significant initial expenses, which we expect to drive additional future cash collections and revenue. Legal collection costs for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were 8.1% of cash receipts, compared to 7.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Agent Fees
Agent fees primarily represent costs paid to repossession agents to repossess vehicles. Agent fees were $1.5 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Outside Fees and Services
Outside fees and services expenses were $10.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $3.4 million, or 46.0%, compared to outside fees and services expenses of $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase of $3.3 million was mainly attributable to the transaction costs incurred in the first quarter of 2014 related to the pending Aktiv acquisition.
Communication Expenses
Communication expenses were $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $1.1 million, or 13.6%, compared to communications expenses of $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to additional postage expense resulting from an increase in special collection letter campaigns as well as a larger customer base. The remaining increase was attributable to higher telephone expenses. Expenses related to customer mailings were responsible for 52.2%, or $0.6 million, of this increase, and the remaining 47.8%, or $0.5 million, was attributable to increases in telephone related charges.
Rent and Occupancy
Rent and occupancy expenses were $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $0.4 million, or 23.5%, compared to rent and occupancy expenses of $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase

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was primarily due to the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013 and the additional space leased as a result of the opening of our North Richland Hills, Texas, call center in December of 2013.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses were $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $0.5 million, or 14.7%, compared to depreciation and amortization expenses of $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase was primarily due to a large investment in capital expenditures resulting from the additional space leased at our Norfolk headquarters during the second half of 2013 and the additional space leased as a result of the opening of our North Richland Hills, Texas, call center in December of 2013.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses were $6.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $0.6 million, or 10.9%, compared to other operating expenses of $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Of the $0.6 million increase, $0.4 million was due to an increase in repairs and maintenance expenses, $0.3 million was due to an increase in insurance costs and $0.3 million was due to an increase in general office expenses. This was partially offset by a $0.9 million reversal of accrued estimated contingent payments related to a previous acquisition. None of the remaining $0.5 million increase was attributable to any significant identifiable items.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $4.9 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the completion on August 13, 2013, through a private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020, offset by a decrease in average borrowings under our variable rate credit facility for the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to the same prior year period.   The average borrowings on our variable rate credit facility were $195.0 million and $359.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes was $25.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, an increase of $1.2 million, or 4.9%, compared to provision for income taxes of $24.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The increase is primarily due to an increase of 5.5% in income before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2013, offset by a decrease in the effective tax rate to 38.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to an effective tax rate of 39.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The decrease in the effective tax rate is primarily attributable to state revenue apportionment changes and tax credits.

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Below are certain key financial data and ratios for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
March 31,
%
 
2014
2013
Change
EARNINGS (in thousands)
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
$
177,970

$
154,792

15
 %
Fee income
15,952

14,767

8
 %
Total revenues
193,922

169,559

14
 %
Operating expenses
122,332

103,672

18
 %
Income from operations
71,590

65,887

9
 %
Net interest expense
4,859

2,689

81
 %
Net income
40,840

38,517

6
 %
Net income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
40,840

38,600

6
 %
 
 
 
 
PERIOD-END BALANCES (in thousands)
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,819

$
39,111

390
 %
Finance receivables, net
1,253,961

1,169,747

7
 %
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
118,800

125,462

(5
)%
Total assets
1,642,613

1,382,739

19
 %
Borrowings
450,278

371,159

21
 %
Total liabilities
732,395

621,413

18
 %
Total equity
910,218

750,990

21
 %
 
 
 
 
FINANCE RECEIVABLE COLLECTIONS (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Cash collections
$
313,367

$
275,463

14
 %
Cash collections on fully amortized pools
16,516

6,345

160
 %
Principal amortization without allowance charges
137,350

118,498

16
 %
Principal amortization with allowance charges
135,397

120,671

12
 %
Principal amortization w/ allowance charges as % of cash collections:
 
 
 
   Including fully amortized pools
43.2
 %
43.8
%
(1
)%
   Excluding fully amortized pools
45.6
 %
44.8
%
2
 %
 
 
 
 
ALLOWANCE FOR FINANCE RECEIVABLES (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Allowance (reversal)/charge
$
(1,953
)
$
2,173

(190
)%
Allowance (reversal)/charge to period-end net finance receivables
(0.2
)%
0.2
%
(184
)%
Allowance (reversal)/charge to net finance receivable income
(1.1
)%
1.4
%
(178
)%
Allowance (reversal)/charge to cash collections
(0.6
)%
0.8
%
(179
)%
 
 
 
 
PURCHASES OF FINANCE RECEIVABLES (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Cash paid - core
$
79,085

$
126,951

(38
)%
Face value - core
837,036

1,398,960

(40
)%
Cash paid - bankruptcy
65,501

86,595

(24
)%
Face value - bankruptcy
557,220

436,508

28
 %
Cash paid - other
8,128

1,387

486
 %
Face value - other
519,118

18,570

2,695
 %
Cash paid - total
152,714

214,933

(29
)%
Face value - total
1,913,374

1,854,038

3
 %
Number of portfolios - total
104

91

14
 %
 
 
 
 
ESTIMATED REMAINING COLLECTIONS (in thousands)
 
 
 
Estimated remaining collections - core
$
1,891,511

$
1,547,644

22
 %
Estimated remaining collections - bankruptcy
788,774

924,520

(15
)%
Estimated remaining collections - other
24,439

14,739

66
 %
Estimated remaining collections - total
2,704,724

2,486,903

9
 %
 
 
 
 
SHARE DATA (7) (share amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
Net income per common share - diluted
$
0.81

$
0.75

8
 %
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted
50,363

51,273

(2
)%
Shares repurchased

48

(100
)%
Average price paid per share repurchased (including acquisitions costs)
$

$
39.34

(100
)%
Closing market price
$
57.86

$
42.31

37
 %
 
 
 
 
RATIOS AND OTHER DATA (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Return on average equity (1)
18.2
 %
21.1
%
(14
)%
Return on revenue (2)
21.1
 %
22.7
%
(7
)%
Return on average assets (3)
10.0
 %
11.3
%
(12
)%
Operating margin (4)
36.9
 %
38.9
%
(5
)%
Operating expense to cash receipts (5)
37.1
 %
35.7
%
4
 %
Debt to equity (6)
49.5
 %
49.4
%
 %
Number of collectors
2,379

2,159

10
 %
Number of full-time equivalent employees
3,621

3,250

11
 %
Cash receipts (5)
$
329,319

$
290,230

13
 %
Line of credit - unused portion at period end
435,500

228,000

91
 %
(1) Calculated as annualized net income divided by average equity for the period
 
 
(2) Calculated as net income divided by total revenues
 
 
 
(3) Calculated as annualized net income divided by average assets for the period
 
 
(4) Calculated as income from operations divided by total revenues
 
 
 
(5) "Cash receipts" is defined as cash collections plus fee income
 
 
 
(6) For purposes of this ratio, "debt" equals borrowings
 
 
(7) Share data has been adjusted to reflect the three-for-one stock split by means of a stock dividend which was declared on June 10, 2013 and
paid August 1, 2013
 
 
 

28

Table of Contents

 
 
Quarter Ended
 
 
March 31,
December 31,
September 30,
June 30,
March 31,
 
 
2014
2013
2013
2013
2013
 
EARNINGS (in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income recognized on finance receivables, net
$
177,970

$
168,728

$
171,456

$
168,570

$
154,792

 
Fee income
15,952

16,125

26,306

14,391

14,767

 
Total revenues
193,922

184,853

197,762

182,961

169,559

 
Operating expenses
122,332

106,503

118,294

109,135

103,672

 
Income from operations
71,590

78,350

79,468

73,826

65,887

 
Net interest expense
4,859

4,860

3,995

2,923

2,689

 
Net income
40,840

45,777

49,211

43,414

38,517

 
Net income attributable to Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc.
40,840

45,777

47,338

43,599

38,600

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PERIOD-END BALANCES (in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
191,819

$
162,004

$
108,705

$
43,459

$
39,111

 
Finance receivables, net
1,253,961

1,239,191

1,256,822

1,236,859

1,169,747

 
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
118,800

119,610

119,636

124,349

125,462

 
Total assets
1,642,613

1,601,232

1,547,985

1,457,246

1,382,739

 
Borrowings
450,278

451,780

452,229

413,774

371,159

 
Total liabilities
732,395

731,756

721,001

655,012

621,413

 
Total equity
910,218

869,476

816,647

791,898

750,990

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCE RECEIVABLE COLLECTIONS (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash collections
$
313,367

$
278,926

$
291,651

$
296,397

$
275,463

 
Cash collections on fully amortized pools
16,516

9,801

8,762

10,612

6,345

 
Principal amortization without allowance charges
137,350

110,626

122,776

129,012

118,498

 
Principal amortization with allowance charges
135,397

110,197

120,195

127,827

120,671

 
Principal amortization w/ allowance charges as % of cash collections:
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Including fully amortized pools
43.2
 %
39.5
 %
41.2
 %
43.1
 %
43.8
%
 
   Excluding fully amortized pools
45.6
 %
40.9
 %
42.5
 %
44.7
 %
44.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ALLOWANCE FOR FINANCE RECEIVABLES (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allowance (reversal)/charge
$
(1,953
)
$
(429
)
$
(2,581
)
$
(1,185
)
$
2,173

 
Allowance (reversal)/charge to period-end net finance receivables
(0.2
)%
 %
(0.2
)%
(0.1
)%
0.2
%
 
Allowance (reversal)/charge to net finance receivable income
(1.1
)%
(0.3
)%
(1.5
)%
(0.7
)%
1.4
%
 
Allowance (reversal)/charge to cash collections
(0.6
)%
(0.2
)%
(0.9
)%
(0.4
)%
0.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PURCHASES OF FINANCE RECEIVABLES (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash paid - core
$
79,085

$
65,759

$
89,044

$
113,314

$
126,951

 
Face value - core
837,036

774,543

1,352,877

1,178,229

1,398,960

 
Cash paid - bankruptcy
65,501

31,987

41,794

82,273

86,595

 
Face value - bankruptcy
557,220

235,064

215,957

1,926,515

436,508

 
Cash paid - other
8,128

1,763

11,037

4,881

1,387

 
Face value - other
519,118

22,493

218,528

81,852

18,570

 
Cash paid - total
152,714

99,509

141,875

200,468

214,933

 
Face value - total
1,913,374

1,032,100

1,787,362

3,186,596

1,854,038

 
Number of portfolios - total
104

83

79

94

91

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ESTIMATED REMAINING COLLECTIONS (in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated remaining collections - core
$
1,891,511

$
1,824,132

$
1,762,369

$
1,694,262

$
1,547,644

 
Estimated remaining collections - bankruptcy
788,774

822,988

877,722

925,223

924,520

 
Estimated remaining collections - other
24,439

22,150

32,272

16,744

14,739

 
Estimated remaining collections - total
2,704,724

2,669,270

2,672,363

2,636,229

2,486,903

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHARE DATA (7) (share amounts in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share - diluted
$
0.81

$
0.91

$
0.93

$
0.85

$
0.75

 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted
50,363

50,375

50,660

51,183

51,273

 
Shares repurchased


989

166

48

 
Average price paid per share repurchased (including acquisitions costs)
$

$

$
50.55

39.82

$
39.34

 
Closing market price
$
57.86

$
52.84

$
59.93

$
51.21

$
42.31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RATIOS AND OTHER DATA (dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Return on average equity (1)
18.2
 %
21.5
 %
23.5
 %
22.5
 %
21.1
%
 
Return on revenue (2)
21.1
 %
24.8
 %
24.9
 %
23.7
 %
22.7
%
 
Return on average assets (3)
10.0
 %
11.5
 %
12.5
 %
12.1
 %
11.3
%
 
Operating margin (4)
36.9
 %
42.4
 %
40.2
 %
40.4
 %
38.9
%
 
Operating expense to cash receipts (5)
37.1
 %
36.1
 %
37.2
 %
35.1
 %
35.7
%
 
Debt to equity (6)
49.5
 %
52.0
 %
55.4
 %
52.3
 %
49.4
%
 
Number of collectors
2,379

2,313

2,054

2,190

2,159

 
Number of full-time equivalent employees
3,621

3,543

3,223

3,362

3,250

 
Cash receipts (5)
$
329,319

$
295,051

$
317,957

$
310,788

$
290,230

 
Line of credit - unused portion at period end
435,500

435,500

435,500

184,000

228,000

 
(1) Calculated as annualized net income divided by average equity for the period
 
(2) Calculated as net income divided by total revenues
 
(3) Calculated as annualized net income divided by average assets for the period
 
(4) Calculated as income from operations divided by total revenues
 
(5) "Cash receipts" is defined as cash collections plus fee income
 
(6) For purposes of this ratio, "debt" equals borrowings
 
(7) Share data has been adjusted to reflect the three-for-one stock split by means of a stock dividend which was declared on June 10, 2013 and paid August 1, 2013
 

29

Table of Contents


Supplemental Performance Data
Domestic Finance Receivables Portfolio Performance:
The following tables show certain data related to our domestic finance receivables portfolio. These tables describe the purchase price, actual cash collections and future estimates of cash collections, income recognized on finance receivables (gross and net of allowance charges), principal amortization, allowance charges, net finance receivable balances, and the ratio of total estimated collections to purchase price (which we refer to as purchase price multiple).
Further, these tables disclose our entire domestic portfolio, as well as its subsets: the portfolio of purchased bankrupt accounts and our Core portfolio. The accounts represented in the purchased bankruptcy tables are those portfolios of accounts that were bankrupt at the time of purchase. This contrasts with accounts that file for bankruptcy after we purchase them, which continue to be tracked in their corresponding Core portfolio. Core customers sometimes file for bankruptcy protection subsequent to our purchase of the related Core portfolio. When this occurs, we adjust our collection practices accordingly to comply with bankruptcy procedures; however, for accounting purposes, these accounts remain in the related Core portfolio. Conversely, bankrupt accounts may be dismissed voluntarily or involuntarily subsequent to our purchase of the related bankrupt portfolio. Dismissal occurs when the terms of the bankruptcy are not met by the petitioner. When this occurs, we are typically free to pursue collection outside of bankruptcy procedures; however, for accounting purposes, these accounts remain in the related bankruptcy pool.
Our United Kingdom and Canadian portfolios are not significant and are therefore not included in these tables.
Purchase price multiples can vary over time due to a variety of factors including pricing competition, supply levels, age of the receivables purchased, and changes in our operational efficiency. For example, increased pricing competition during the 2005 to 2008 period negatively impacted purchase price multiples of our Core portfolio compared to prior years. During the 2009 to 2010 period, for example, pricing disruptions occurred as a result of the economic downturn. This created unique and advantageous purchasing opportunities, particularly within the bankruptcy receivables market, relative to the prior four years.
When competition increases and/or supply decreases, pricing often becomes negatively impacted relative to expected collections, and yields tend to trend lower.  The opposite tends to occur when competition decreases and/or supply increases.
Purchase price multiples can also vary among types of finance receivables. For example, we incur lower collection costs on our bankruptcy portfolio compared with our Core portfolio. This allows us in general to pay more for a bankruptcy portfolio, experience lower purchase price multiples, and yet generate similar internal rates of return when compared with a Core portfolio.
Within a given portfolio type, to the extent that lower purchase price multiples are the result of more competitive pricing and lower yields, this will generally lead to higher amortization rates (payments applied to principal as a percentage of cash collections) and lower profitability. As portfolio pricing becomes more favorable on a relative basis, our profitability will tend to increase. Profitability within given Core portfolio types may also be impacted by the age and quality of the receivables, which impact the cost to collect those accounts.
The numbers presented in the following tables represent gross cash collections and do not reflect any costs to collect; therefore, they may not represent relative profitability. We continue to make enhancements to our analytical abilities, with the intent to collect more cash at a lower cost. To the extent we can improve our collection operations by collecting additional cash from a discrete quantity and quality of accounts, and/or by collecting cash at a lower cost structure, we can positively impact profitability.
Additionally, purchase price multiples can vary among periods due to our implementation of required accounting standards. Revenue recognition under ASC 310-30 is driven by estimates of total collections as well as the timing of those collections. We record new portfolio purchases using a higher confidence level for both estimated collection amounts and timing. Subsequent to the initial booking, as we gain collection experience and confidence with a pool of accounts, we continuously update ERC. These processes, along with the aforementioned operational enhancements, have tended to cause the ratio of ERC to purchase price for any given year of buying to gradually increase over time. As a result, our estimate of total collections to purchase price has generally, but not always, increased as pools have aged. Thus, all factors being equal in terms of pricing, one would typically tend to see a higher collection to purchase price ratio from a pool of accounts that was six years from purchase than say a pool that was just two years from purchase.
Due to all the factors described above, readers should be cautious when making comparisons of purchase price multiples among periods and between types of receivables.



30

Table of Contents

Domestic Portfolio Data – Life-to-Date
Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
 
Inception through March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on  Finance
Receivables (1)
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables, Net (1)
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
10,211

$
7,131

$
3,080

$

$
7,131

 
$

$
16

$
10,227

332%
1997
7,685

25,521

17,836

7,685


17,836

 

79

25,600

333%
1998
11,089

37,384

26,295

11,089


26,295

 

197

37,581

339%
1999
18,898

69,433

50,535

18,898


50,535

 

403

69,836

370%
2000
25,020

116,918

91,898

25,020


91,898

 

1,760

118,678

474%
2001
33,481

176,364

142,883

33,481


142,883

 

2,572

178,936

534%
2002
42,325

199,228

156,903

42,325


156,903

 

4,751

203,979

482%
2003
61,447

266,348

204,901

61,447


204,901

 

7,371

273,719

445%
2004
59,176

199,213

141,237

57,976

1,200

140,037

 

7,081

206,294

349%
2005
143,167

313,029

185,556

127,473

9,970

175,586

 
5,725

15,047

328,076

229%
2006
107,667

210,205

128,312

81,893

19,895

108,417

 
5,878

12,553

222,758

207%
2007
258,367

484,621

265,795

218,826

20,445

245,350

 
19,091

42,356

526,977

204%
2008
275,121

480,864

264,486

216,378

34,145

230,341

 
24,564

52,757

533,621

194%
2009
281,333

776,617

518,026

258,591


518,026

 
22,742

135,913

912,530

324%
2010
357,810

786,876

498,374

288,502

1,215

497,159

 
68,117

261,134

1,048,010

293%
2011
392,929

606,679

356,180

250,499


356,180

 
142,431

412,152

1,018,831

259%
2012
508,683

419,298

210,043

209,255


210,043

 
299,429

598,999

1,018,297

200%
2013
627,917

235,921

116,569

119,352


116,569

 
508,564

897,259

1,133,180

180%
YTD 2014
144,899

10,167

3,617

6,550


3,617

 
138,336

227,885

238,052

164%
Total
$
3,360,094

$
5,424,897

$
3,386,577

$
2,038,320

$
86,870

$
3,299,707

 
$
1,234,877

$
2,680,285

$
8,105,182

241%
(1)
For purposes of the this table, income recognized on finance receivables also includes approximately $1.7 million in gains on sales of finance receivables acquired between 1996 and 2001 and sold between 1999 and 2002.
Purchased Bankruptcy Portfolio
 
 
Inception through March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual  Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996- 2003
$

$

$

$

$

$

 
$

$

$

—%
2004
7,468

14,520

8,252

6,268

1,200

7,052

 

60

14,580

195%
2005
29,301

43,673

14,782

28,891

395

14,387

 
16

101

43,774

149%
2006
17,627

31,659

14,860

16,799

780

14,080

 
47

298

31,957

181%
2007
78,526

104,337

35,632

68,705

9,600

26,032

 
221

1,840

106,177

135%
2008
108,586

164,846

71,324

93,522

13,250

58,074

 
1,814

3,995

168,841

155%
2009
156,030

425,189

275,612

149,577


275,612

 
6,453

46,061

471,250

302%
2010
209,164

417,853

246,609

171,244


246,609

 
37,920

102,111

519,964

249%
2011
181,897

185,643

81,058

104,585


81,058

 
77,312

124,454

310,097

170%
2012
252,383

145,384

49,771

95,613


49,771

 
156,771

201,944

347,328

138%
2013
234,193

71,823

22,530

49,293


22,530

 
184,899

232,266

304,089

130%
YTD 2014
65,501

6,022

712

5,310


712

 
60,192

75,644

81,666

125%
Total
$
1,340,676

$
1,610,949

$
821,142

$
789,807

$
25,225

$
795,917

 
$
525,645

$
788,774

$
2,399,723

179%

31

Table of Contents

Core Portfolio
 
 
Inception through March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on  Finance
Receivables
(1)
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables, Net
 (1)
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
10,211

$
7,131

$
3,080

$

$
7,131

 
$

$
16

$
10,227

332%
1997
7,685

25,521

17,836

7,685


17,836

 

79

25,600

333%
1998
11,089

37,384

26,295

11,089


26,295

 

197

37,581

339%
1999
18,898

69,433

50,535

18,898


50,535

 

403

69,836

370%
2000
25,020

116,918

91,898

25,020


91,898

 

1,760

118,678

474%
2001
33,481

176,364

142,883

33,481


142,883

 

2,572

178,936

534%
2002
42,325

199,228

156,903

42,325


156,903

 

4,751

203,979

482%
2003
61,447

266,348

204,901

61,447


204,901

 

7,371

273,719

445%
2004
51,708

184,693

132,985

51,708


132,985

 

7,021

191,714

371%
2005
113,866

269,356

170,774

98,582

9,575

161,199

 
5,709

14,946

284,302

250%
2006
90,040

178,546

113,452

65,094

19,115

94,337

 
5,831

12,255

190,801

212%
2007
179,841

380,284

230,163

150,121

10,845

219,318

 
18,870

40,516

420,800

234%
2008
166,535

316,018

193,162

122,856

20,895

172,267

 
22,750

48,762

364,780

219%
2009
125,303

351,428

242,414

109,014


242,414

 
16,289

89,852

441,280

352%
2010
148,646

369,023

251,765

117,258

1,215

250,550

 
30,197

159,023

528,046

355%
2011
211,032

421,036

275,122

145,914


275,122

 
65,119

287,698

708,734

336%
2012
256,300

273,914

160,272

113,642


160,272

 
142,658

397,055

670,969

262%
2013
393,724

164,098

94,039

70,059


94,039

 
323,665

664,993

829,091

211%
YTD 2014
79,398

4,145

2,905

1,240


2,905

 
78,144

152,241

156,386

197%
Total
$
2,019,418

$
3,813,948

$
2,565,435

$
1,248,513

$
61,645

$
2,503,790

 
$
709,232

$
1,891,511

$
5,705,459

283%
(1)
For purposes of the this table, income recognized on finance receivables also includes approximately $1.7 million in gains on sales of finance receivables acquired between 1996 and 2001 and sold between 1999 and 2002.

Domestic Portfolio Data – Current Quarter
Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
3

$
3

$

$

$
3

 
$

$
16

$
10,227

332%
1997
7,685

15

15



15

 

79

25,600

333%
1998
11,089

33

33



33

 

197

37,581

339%
1999
18,898

78

78



78

 

403

69,836

370%
2000
25,020

253

253



253

 

1,760

118,678

474%
2001
33,481

457

457



457

 

2,572

178,936

534%
2002
42,325

751

751



751

 

4,751

203,979

482%
2003
61,447

1,143

1,143



1,143

 

7,371

273,719

445%
2004
59,176

937

937



937

 

7,081

206,294

349%
2005
143,167

1,927

980

947

(785
)
1,765

 
5,725

15,047

328,076

229%
2006
107,667

1,754

834

920

(820
)
1,654

 
5,878

12,553

222,758

207%
2007
258,367

5,809

3,248

2,561

(235
)
3,483

 
19,091

42,356

526,977

204%
2008
275,121

7,169

3,478

3,691

(1,500
)
4,978

 
24,564

52,757

533,621

194%
2009
281,333

30,634

23,232

7,402


23,232

 
22,742

135,913

912,530

324%
2010
357,810

43,637

32,815

10,822

890

31,925

 
68,117

261,134

1,048,010

293%
2011
392,929

52,989

35,171

17,818


35,171

 
142,431

412,152

1,018,831

259%
2012
508,683

67,810

33,954

33,856


33,954

 
299,429

598,999

1,018,297

200%
2013
627,917

81,779

34,275

47,504


34,275

 
508,564

897,259

1,133,180

180%
YTD 2014
144,899

10,167

3,617

6,550


3,617

 
138,336

227,885

238,052

164%
Total
$
3,360,094

$
307,345

$
175,274

$
132,071

$
(2,450
)
$
177,724

 
$
1,234,877

$
2,680,285

$
8,105,182

241%


32

Table of Contents

Purchased Bankruptcy Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996-2003
$

$

$

$

$

$

 
$

$

$

—%
2004
7,468

28

28



28

 

60

14,580

195%
2005
29,301

32

16

16

(15
)
31

 
16

101

43,774

149%
2006
17,627

94

69

25

(20
)
89

 
47

298

31,957

181%
2007
78,526

206

74

132

(215
)
289

 
221

1,840

106,177

135%
2008
108,586

658

143

515


143

 
1,814

3,995

168,841

155%
2009
156,030

20,381

14,933

5,448


14,933

 
6,453

46,061

471,250

302%
2010
209,164

27,131

19,022

8,109


19,022

 
37,920

102,111

519,964

249%
2011
181,897

21,294

9,159

12,135


9,159

 
77,312

124,454

310,097

170%
2012
252,383

24,386

6,917

17,469


6,917

 
156,771

201,944

347,328

138%
2013
234,193

19,295

5,767

13,528


5,767

 
184,899

232,266

304,089

130%
YTD 2014
65,501

6,022

712

5,310


712

 
60,192

75,644

81,666

125%
Total
$
1,340,676

$
119,527

$
56,840

$
62,687

$
(250
)
$
57,090

 
$
525,645

$
788,774

$
2,399,723

179%
Core Portfolio
 
 
Quarter Ended March 31, 2014
 
As of March 31, 2014
($ in thousands)
Actual Cash
Collections
Including Cash
Sales
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables
Principal
Amortization
Allowance
Charges
Income
Recognized
on Finance
Receivables,  Net
 
Net Finance
Receivables
Balance
Estimated
Remaining
Collections
Total
Estimated
Collections
Total Estimated
Collections to
Purchase Price
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
1996
$
3,080

$
3

$
3

$

$

$
3

 
$

$
16

$
10,227

332%
1997
7,685

15

15



15

 

79

25,600

333%
1998
11,089

33

33



33

 

197

37,581

339%
1999
18,898

78

78



78

 

403

69,836

370%
2000
25,020

253

253



253

 

1,760

118,678

474%
2001
33,481

457

457



457

 

2,572

178,936

534%
2002
42,325

751

751



751

 

4,751

203,979

482%
2003
61,447

1,143

1,143



1,143

 

7,371

273,719

445%
2004
51,708

909

909



909

 

7,021

191,714

371%
2005
113,866

1,895

964

931

(770
)
1,734

 
5,709

14,946

284,302

250%
2006
90,040

1,660

765

895

(800
)
1,565

 
5,831

12,255

190,801

212%
2007
179,841

5,603

3,174

2,429

(20
)
3,194

 
18,870

40,516

420,800

234%
2008
166,535

6,511

3,335

3,176

(1,500
)
4,835

 
22,750

48,762

364,780

219%
2009
125,303

10,253

8,299

1,954


8,299

 
16,289

89,852

441,280

352%
2010
148,646

16,506

13,793

2,713

890

12,903

 
30,197

159,023

528,046

355%
2011
211,032

31,695

26,012

5,683


26,012

 
65,119

287,698

708,734

336%
2012
256,300

43,424

27,037

16,387


27,037

 
142,658

397,055

670,969

262%
2013
393,724

62,484

28,508

33,976


28,508

 
323,665

664,993

829,091

211%
YTD 2014
79,398

4,145

2,905

1,240


2,905

 
78,144

152,241

156,386

197%
Total
$
2,019,418

$
187,818

$
118,434

$
69,384

$
(2,200
)
$
120,634

 
$
709,232

$
1,891,511

$
5,705,459

283%




33

Table of Contents

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

 
As shown in the above chart, the composition of our domestic purchased portfolios shifted in favor of bankrupt accounts in 2009 and 2010, before returning to equilibrium with Core in 2011 and 2012. In 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, Core purchases exceeded those of bankrupt accounts. We began buying bankrupt accounts during 2004 and slowly increased the volume of accounts we acquired through 2006 as we tested our models, refined our processes and validated our operating assumptions. After observing a high level of modeling confidence in our early purchases, we began increasing our level of purchases more dramatically commencing in 2007.
Our ability to profitably purchase and liquidate pools of bankrupt accounts provides diversity to our distressed asset acquisition business. Although we generally buy bankrupt portfolios from many of the same consumer lenders from whom we acquire Core customer portfolios, the volumes and pricing characteristics as well as the competitors are different. Based upon market dynamics, the profitability of portfolios purchased in the bankrupt and Core markets may differ over time. We have found periods when bankrupt accounts were more profitable and other times when Core accounts were more profitable. From 2004 through 2008, our bankruptcy buying fluctuated between 13% and 39% of our total portfolio purchasing. In 2009, for the first time in our history, bankruptcy purchasing exceeded that of our Core buying, at 55% of total portfolio purchasing and during 2010 this percentage increased to 59%. This occurred as severe dislocations in the financial markets, coupled with legislative uncertainty, caused pricing in the bankruptcy market to decline substantially, thereby driving our strategy to make advantageous bankruptcy portfolio acquisitions during this period. For 2011, 2012, our bankruptcy buying leveled off and represented 48% and 50% of our total domestic portfolio purchasing and in 2013 and the first quarter of 2014, it declined to 38% and 45%, respectively, of our total domestic portfolio purchasing.
In order to collect our Core portfolios, we generally need to employ relatively higher amounts of labor and incur additional collection costs to generate each dollar of cash collections as compared with bankruptcy portfolios. In order to achieve acceptable levels of net return on investment (after direct expenses), we are generally targeting a total cash collections to purchase price multiple in the 1.75-3.0x range.  On the other hand, bankrupt accounts generate the majority of cash collections through the efforts of the U.S. bankruptcy courts and trustees.  In this process, cash is remitted to our Company with no corresponding cost other than the cost of filing claims at the time of purchase, court fees associated with the filing of ownership claim transfers and general administrative costs for monitoring the progress of each account through the bankruptcy process.  As a result, overall collection costs are much lower for us when liquidating a pool of bankrupt accounts as compared to a pool of Core accounts, but conversely the price we pay for bankrupt accounts is generally higher than Core accounts.  We generally target similar returns on investment (measured after direct expenses) for bankrupt and Core portfolios at any given point in the market cycles. However, because of the lower related collection costs, we can pay more for bankrupt portfolios, which causes the estimated total cash collections to purchase price multiples of bankrupt pools generally to be in the 1.2-2.0x range.  In summary, compared to a similar investment in a pool of Core accounts, to the extent both pools had identical targeted returns on investment (measured after direct expenses), the bankrupt pool would be expected to generate less revenue, less direct expenses, similar operating income, and a higher operating margin.
In addition, collections on younger, newly filed bankrupt accounts tend to be of a lower magnitude in the earlier months when compared to Core charge-off accounts. This lower level of early period collections is due to the fact that we primarily purchase portfolios of accounts that represent unsecured claims in bankruptcy, and these unsecured claims are scheduled to begin

34

Table of Contents

paying out after payment of the secured and priority claims. As a result of the administrative processes regarding payout priorities within the court-administered bankruptcy plans, unsecured creditors do not generally begin receiving meaningful collections on unsecured claims until 12 to 18 months after the bankruptcy filing date. Therefore, to the extent that we purchase portfolios with more recent bankruptcy filing dates, as we did to a significant extent commencing in 2009, we would expect to experience a delay in cash collections compared with Core charged-off portfolios.
We utilize a long-term approach to collecting our owned portfolios of receivables. This approach has historically caused us to realize significant cash collections and revenues from purchased portfolios of finance receivables years after they are originally acquired. As a result, we have in the past been able to temporarily reduce our level of current period acquisitions without a corresponding negative current period impact on cash collections and revenue.
The following tables, which exclude any proceeds from cash sales of finance receivables, demonstrate our ability to realize significant multi-year cash collection streams on our domestic portfolios.
Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase – Entire Domestic Portfolio
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase
Period
Purchase
Price
Cash Collection Period
1996-2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
YTD 2014
Total
1996
$
3,080

$
9,414

$
237

$
102

$
83

$
78

$
68

$
100

$
39

$
24

$
3

$
10,148

1997
7,685

22,803

597

437

346

215

216

187

112

84

15

25,012

1998
11,089

32,889

1,415

882

616

397

382

332

241

173

33

37,360

1999
18,898

57,198

3,032

2,243

1,533

1,328

1,139

997

709

483

78

68,740

2000
25,020

87,520

8,067

5,202

3,604

3,198

2,782

2,554

1,927

1,349

253

116,456

2001
33,481

119,238

16,048

10,011

6,164

5,299

4,422

3,791

3,104

2,339

457

170,873

2002
42,325

119,570

24,729

16,527

9,772

7,444

6,375

5,844

4,768

3,433

751

199,213

2003
61,447

126,654

43,728

30,695

18,818

13,135

10,422

8,945

7,477

5,331

1,143

266,348

2004
59,176

64,494

40,424

30,750

19,339

13,677

9,944

8,522

6,604

4,522

937

199,213

2005
143,167

18,968

75,145

69,862

49,576

33,366

23,733

17,234

13,302

9,916

1,927

313,029

2006
107,667


22,971

53,192

40,560

29,749

22,494

18,190

12,560

8,735

1,754

210,205

2007
258,367



42,263

115,011

94,805

83,059

67,088

47,136

29,450

5,809

484,621

2008
275,121




61,277

107,974

100,337

89,344

71,806

42,957

7,169

480,864

2009
281,333





57,338

177,407

187,119

177,273

146,846

30,634

776,617

2010
357,810






86,562

218,053

234,893

203,731

43,637

786,876

2011
392,929







77,190

240,840

235,660

52,989

606,679

2012
508,683








74,289

277,199

67,810

419,298

2013
627,917









154,142

81,779

235,921

YTD 2014
144,899










10,167

10,167

Total
$
3,360,094

$
658,748

$
236,393

$
262,166

$
326,699

$
368,003

$
529,342

$
705,490

$
897,080

$
1,126,374

$
307,345

$
5,417,640

Cash Collections By Year, By Year of Purchase – Purchased Bankruptcy Portfolio

(in thousands)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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

5,297

3,956

2,777

1,455

496

164

149

108

90

28

$
14,520

2005
29,301

3,777

15,500

11,934

6,845

3,318

1,382

466

250

169

32

43,673

2006
17,627


5,608

9,455

6,522

4,398

2,972

1,526

665

419

94

31,659

2007
78,526



2,850

27,972

25,630

22,829

16,093

7,551

1,206

206

104,337

2008
108,586




14,024

35,894

37,974

35,690

28,956

11,650

658

164,846

2009
156,030





16,635

81,780

102,780

107,888

95,725

20,381

425,189

2010
209,164






39,486

104,499

125,020

121,717

27,131

417,853

2011
181,897







15,218

66,379

82,752

21,294

185,643

2012
252,383




 



17,388

103,610

24,386

145,384

2013
234,193









52,528

19,295

71,823

YTD 2014
65,501

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,022

6,022

Total
$
1,340,676

$
9,074

$
25,064

$
27,016

$
56,818

$
86,371

$
186,587

$
276,421

$
354,205

$
469,866

$
119,527

$
1,610,949


35

Table of Contents

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

$
9,414

$
237

$
102

$
83

$
78

$
68

$
100

$
39

$
24

$
3

$
10,148

1997
7,685

22,803

597

437

346

215

216

187

112

84

15

25,012

1998
11,089

32,889

1,415

882

616

397

382

332

241

173

33

37,360

1999
18,898

57,198

3,032

2,243

1,533

1,328

1,139

997

709

483

78

68,740

2000
25,020

87,520

8,067

5,202

3,604

3,198

2,782

2,554

1,927

1,349

253

116,456

2001
33,481

119,238

16,048

10,011

6,164

5,299

4,422

3,791

3,104

2,339

457

170,873

2002
42,325

119,570

24,729

16,527

9,772

7,444

6,375

5,844

4,768

3,433

751

199,213

2003
61,447

126,654

43,728

30,695

18,818

13,135

10,422

8,945

7,477

5,331

1,143

266,348

2004
51,708

59,197

36,468

27,973

17,884

13,181

9,780

8,373

6,496

4,432

909

184,693

2005
113,866

15,191

59,645

57,928

42,731

30,048

22,351

16,768

13,052

9,747

1,895

269,356

2006
90,040


17,363

43,737

34,038

25,351

19,522

16,664

11,895

8,316

1,660

178,546

2007
179,841



39,413

87,039

69,175

60,230

50,995

39,585

28,244

5,603

380,284

2008
166,535




47,253

72,080

62,363

53,654

42,850

31,307

6,511

316,018

2009
125,303





40,703

95,627

84,339

69,385

51,121

10,253

351,428

2010
148,646






47,076

113,554

109,873

82,014

16,506

369,023

2011
211,032







61,972

174,461

152,908

31,695

421,036

2012
256,300








56,901

173,589

43,424

273,914

2013
393,724









101,614

62,484

164,098

YTD 2014
79,398










4,145

4,145

Total
$
2,019,418

$
649,674

$
211,329

$
235,150

$
269,881

$
281,632

$
342,755

$
429,069

$
542,875

$
656,508

$
187,818

$
3,806,691

When we acquire a new pool of finance receivables, our estimates typically result in a 60-96 month projection of cash collections, depending on the type of finance receivables acquired. The following chart shows our historical cash collections (including cash sales of finance receivables) in relation to the aggregate of the total estimated collection projections made at the time of each respective pool purchase, adjusted for buybacks, for the last ten years.
 

36

Table of Contents

Primarily as a result of the downturn in the economy, the decline in the availability of consumer credit, our efforts to help customers establish reasonable payment plans, and improvements in our collections capabilities which have allowed us to profitably collect on accounts with lower balances or lower quality, the average payment size has decreased over the past several years. However, due to improved scoring and segmentation, together with enhanced productivity, we have been able to realize increased amounts of cash collections by generating enough incremental payments to overcome the decrease in payment size. The decreasing average payment size trend moderated during 2012, and the average payment size was stable during 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.
The following chart illustrates the excess of our cash collections on our owned portfolios over income recognized on finance receivables on a quarterly basis. The difference between cash collections and income recognized on finance receivables is referred to as payments applied to principal. It is also referred to as amortization of purchase price. This amortization is the portion of cash collections that is used to recover the cost of the portfolio investment represented on the balance sheet.
 
(1)
Includes cash collections on finance receivables only and excludes cash proceeds from sales of defaulted consumer receivables.

Seasonality
Cash collections tend to be higher in the first and second quarters of the year and lower in the third and fourth quarters of the year, due to customer payment patterns in connection with seasonal employment trends, income tax refunds and holiday spending habits. Historically, our growth has partially offset the impact of this seasonality.
The following table displays our quarterly cash collections by source, for the periods indicated.
Cash Collection Source ($ in thousands)
 
Q12014
 
Q42013
 
Q32013
 
Q22013
 
Q12013
 
Q42012
 
Q32012
 
Q22012
Call Center and Other Collections
 
$
97,736

 
$
84,375

 
$
89,512

 
$
90,229

 
$
89,037

 
$
72,624

 
$
72,394

 
$
73,582

External Legal Collections
 
50,990

 
46,066

 
48,274

 
50,131

 
47,910

 
41,521

 
39,913

 
41,464

Internal Legal Collections
 
43,939

 
34,101

 
33,288

 
30,365

 
29,283

 
23,968

 
25,650

 
25,361

Bankruptcy Court Trustee Payments
 
120,702

 
114,384

 
120,577

 
125,672

 
109,233

 
91,098

 
91,095

 
92,018

Total Cash Collections
 
$
313,367

 
$
278,926

 
$
291,651

 
$
296,397

 
$
275,463

 
$
229,211

 
$
229,052

 
$
232,425


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Rollforward of Net Finance Receivables
The following table shows the changes in finance receivables, net, including the amounts paid to acquire new portfolios (amounts in thousands).
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Balance at beginning of year
$
1,239,191

 
$
1,078,951

Acquisitions of finance receivables (1)
150,087

 
212,389

Foreign currency translation adjustment
80

 
(922
)
Cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables (2)
(135,397
)
 
(120,671
)
Balance at end of period
$
1,253,961

 
$
1,169,747

Estimated Remaining Collections
$
2,704,274

 
$
2,486,903

 
(1)
Acquisitions of finance receivables is net of buybacks and includes certain capitalized acquisition related costs.
(2)
Cash collections applied to principal (also referred to as amortization) on finance receivables consists of cash collections less income recognized on finance receivables, net of allowance charges.
Portfolios by Type and Geography (Domestic Portfolio Only)
The following table categorizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of March 31, 2014, into the major asset types represented (amounts in thousands):
 
Account Type
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase
Price (2)
 
%
Major Credit Cards
 
19,220

 
55
%
 
$
54,375,091

 
69
%
 
$
2,294,576

 
67
%
Consumer Finance
 
6,704

 
19

 
8,662,030

 
11

 
149,220

 
4

Private Label Credit Cards
 
8,418

 
24

 
11,446,685

 
14

 
856,010

 
25

Auto Deficiency
 
669

 
2

 
4,743,406

 
6

 
141,624

 
4

Total
 
35,011

 
100
%
 
$
79,227,212

 
100
%
 
$
3,441,430

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

The following table summarizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of March 31, 2014, into the delinquency categories represented (amounts in thousands).
Account Type
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase
Price (2)
 
%
Fresh
 
3,375

 
10
%
 
$
7,965,408

 
10
%
 
$
866,279

 
25
%
Primary
 
4,814

 
14

 
9,193,673

 
12

 
504,570

 
15

Secondary
 
6,302

 
18

 
9,346,529

 
12

 
395,334

 
11

Tertiary
 
4,321

 
12

 
6,321,309

 
8

 
105,806

 
3

Bankruptcy Trustees
 
5,595

 
16

 
23,054,136

 
29

 
1,403,635

 
41

Other
 
10,604

 
30

 
23,346,157

 
29

 
165,806

 
5

Total
 
35,011

 
100
%
 
$
79,227,212

 
100
%
 
$
3,441,430

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

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We review the geographic distribution of accounts within a portfolio because we have found that state specific laws and rules can have an effect on the collectability of accounts located there. In addition, economic factors and bankruptcy trends vary regionally and are factored into our maximum purchase price equation.
The following table summarizes our life to date domestic portfolio purchases as of March 31, 2014, by geographic location (amounts in thousands):
Geographic Distribution
 
No. of Accounts
 
%
 
Face Value (1)
 
%
 
Original Purchase

Price
(2)
 
%
California
 
3,777

 
11
%
 
$
10,486,895

 
13
%
 
$
434,197

 
13
%
Texas
 
4,862

 
14

 
8,560,640

 
11

 
298,005

 
9

Florida
 
2,789

 
8

 
7,466,473

 
9

 
306,508

 
9

New York
 
1,979

 
6

 
4,634,669

 
6

 
178,355

 
5

Ohio
 
1,637

 
5

 
2,977,400

 
4

 
143,251

 
4

Pennsylvania
 
1,256

 
4

 
2,881,721

 
4

 
123,527

 
4

Illinois
 
1,327

 
4

 
2,837,952

 
4

 
136,042

 
4

North Carolina
 
1,259

 
4

 
2,782,437

 
4

 
119,931

 
3

Georgia
 
1,150

 
3

 
2,618,798

 
3

 
136,028

 
4

Michigan
 
938

 
3

 
2,176,547

 
3

 
103,878

 
3

New Jersey
 
817

 
2

 
2,142,912

 
3

 
96,623

 
3

Arizona
 
640

 
2

 
1,723,415

 
2

 
74,295

 
2

Virginia
 
924

 
3

 
1,672,537

 
2

 
80,097

 
2

Tennessee
 
753

 
2

 
1,646,478

 
2

 
81,246

 
2

Massachusetts
 
598

 
2

 
1,451,393

 
2

 
61,112

 
2

Indiana
 
641

 
2

 
1,425,072

 
2

 
75,700

 
2

Other(3)
 
9,664

 
25

 
21,741,873

 
26

 
992,635

 
29

Total
 
35,011

 
100
%
 
$
79,227,212

 
100
%
 
$
3,441,430

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

 
$
193

 
$
166

 
$
162

 
$
135

Q2

 
190

 
169

 
154

 
127

Q3

 
191

 
171

 
152

 
127

Q4

 
190

 
150

 
137

 
129

 

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

 
$
304

 
$
258

 
$
241

 
$
182

Q2

 
315

 
275

 
243

 
188

Q3

 
310

 
279

 
249

 
200

Q4

 
308

 
245

 
228

 
204


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

 
$
251

 
$
216

 
$
204

 
$
154

Q2

 
261

 
225

 
205

 
160

Q3

 
259

 
230

 
212

 
170

Q4

 
256

 
200

 
194

 
174


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

 
$
140

 
$
125

 
$
125

 
$
106

Q2

 
137

 
120

 
116

 
100

Q3

 
140

 
122

 
115

 
97

Q4

 
138

 
105

 
103

 
98

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

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, our primary sources of cash have been cash flows from operations, bank borrowings, and convertible debt and equity offerings. Cash has been used for acquisitions of finance receivables, corporate acquisitions, repurchase of our common stock, repayments of bank borrowings, operating expenses, purchases of property and equipment, and working capital to support our growth.
As of March 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalents totaled $191.8 million, compared to $162.0 million at December 31, 2013. We had no debt outstanding on the revolving portion of our credit facility which represents availability of $435.5 million (subject to the borrowing base and applicable debt covenants). In addition, at March 31, 2014 we had $192.5 million outstanding on the floating rate term loan portion of our credit facility.
We have in place forward flow commitments for the purchase of defaulted consumer receivables over the next twelve months of approximately $198.9 million as of March 31, 2014.  Additionally we may enter into new or renewed flow commitments in the next twelve months and close on spot transactions in addition to the aforementioned flow agreements.  We believe that funds generated from operations and from cash collections on finance receivables, together with existing cash and available borrowings under our credit facility will be sufficient to finance our operations, planned capital expenditures, the aforementioned forward flow commitments, and additional, normal-course portfolio purchasing during the next twelve months. Business acquisitions or higher than normal levels of portfolio purchasing could require additional financing from other sources. We continue to prepare to finance

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our announced acquisition of Aktiv with a combination of cash, $170 million of seller financing, and $650 million from our domestic revolving credit facility. We may choose to use other debt instruments to expand, replace, or pay down any of these financing options.
For domestic income tax purposes, we recognize revenue using the cost recovery method with respect to our debt purchasing business.  The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has audited and issued a Notice of Deficiency for the tax years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. It has asserted that tax revenue recognition using the cost recovery method does not clearly reflect taxable income, and that unused line fees paid on credit facilities should be capitalized and amortized rather than taken as a current deduction.  We have filed a petition in the United States Tax Court and believe we have sufficient support for the technical merits of our positions.  If we are unsuccessful in the United States Tax Court, we can appeal to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals.  If judicial appeals prove unsuccessful, we may ultimately be required to pay the related deferred taxes, and possibly interest and penalties, which may require additional financing from other sources. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, underpayments of federal tax accrue interest, compounded daily, at the applicable federal short term rate plus three percentage points.  An additional two percentage points applies to large corporate underpayments of $100,000 or more to periods after the applicable date as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. Deferred taxes related to this item were $219.1 million at March 31, 2014.
Cash generated from operations is dependent upon our ability to collect on our finance receivables. Many factors, including the economy and our ability to hire and retain qualified collectors and managers, are essential to our ability to generate cash flows. Fluctuations in these factors that cause a negative impact on our business could have a material impact on our future cash flows.
Our operating activities provided cash of $49.3 million and $58.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In these periods, cash from operations was generated primarily from net income earned through cash collections and fee income received for the period. The decrease was due in part to a decrease in accrued compensation as well as net changes in other accounts related to our operating activities partially offset by an increase in deferred tax expense as well as an increase in net income to $40.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, from $38.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.
Our investing activities used cash of $21.1 million and $94.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash provided by investing activities is primarily driven by cash collections applied to principal on finance receivables. Cash used in investing activities is primarily driven by acquisitions of defaulted consumer receivables and purchases of property and equipment. The majority of the decrease was due to a decrease in acquisitions of finance receivables, from $212.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 to $150.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, partially offset by an increase in collections applied to principal on finance receivables from $120.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 to $135.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Our financing activities provided cash of $1.6 million and $42.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Cash is primarily provided by draws on our line of credit. Cash used in financing activities is primarily driven by principal payments on our line of credit, principal payments on long-term debt and repurchases of our common stock. The decrease was due primarily due to changes in the net borrowings on our credit facility. We had net borrowings on our credit facility of $45.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to net borrowings of $0 during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Cash paid for interest was $5.7 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest was paid on our revolving credit facility, long-term debt and convertible debt. Cash paid for income taxes was $1.9 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Borrowings
On December 19, 2012, we entered into a credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders named therein (the “Credit Agreement”).  The Credit Agreement was amended and modified during 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.  Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, as amended and modified, the credit facility includes an aggregate principal amount available of $628.0 million (subject to the borrowing base and applicable debt covenants), which consists of a $192.5 million floating rate term loan that amortizes and matures on December 19, 2017 and a $435.5 million revolving credit facility that matures on December 19, 2017.  Our revolving credit facility includes a $20.0 million swingline loan sublimit, a $20.0 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20.0 million alternative currency equivalent sublimit. It also contains an accordion loan feature that allows us to request an increase of up to $214.5 million in the amount available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility, whether from existing or new lenders, subject to terms of the Credit Agreement.

On April 1, 2014, we entered into a Lender Joinder Agreement and Lender Commitment Agreement (collectively, the “Commitment Increase Agreements”) to exercise this accordion feature.  The Commitment Increase Agreements expanded the maximum amount of revolving credit availability under the Credit Agreement by $214.5 million, elevated the revolving credit

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commitments of certain lenders and added three new lenders to the Credit Agreement. Given effect to the $214.5 million increase in the amount of revolving credit availability pursuant to the Commitment Increase Agreements, the total credit facility under the Credit Agreement now includes an aggregate principal amount of $842.5 million (subject to compliance with a borrowing base), which consists of (i) a fully-funded $192.5 million term loan, (ii) a $630 million domestic revolving credit facility, of which $630 million is available to be drawn, and (iii) a $20 million multi-currency revolving credit facility, all of which is available to be drawn. The facilities all mature on December 19, 2017.  The Credit Agreement is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets.
Borrowings outstanding on our credit facility at March 31, 2014 consisted of $192.5 million outstanding on the term loan with an annual interest rate as of March 31, 2014 of 2.65%. The revolving credit facility also bears an unused line fee of 0.375% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears.
On August 13, 2013, we completed the private offering of $287.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated August 13, 2013 (the "Indenture") between us and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including certain events of default after which the Notes may be due and payable immediately. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning as of February 1, 2014.
We were in compliance with all covenants of our credit facilities and the Indenture as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.
 Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries
We intend to use remaining accumulated and future undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries to expand operations outside the United States; therefore, such undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. federal and state income tax has been provided thereon. If management intentions change and eligible undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries are repatriated, taxes would be accrued and paid on such earnings.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stockholders’ equity was $910.2 million at March 31, 2014 and $869.5 million at December 31, 2013. The increase was primarily attributable to $40.8 million in net income attributable to PRA during the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2014 were as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
 
Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
 
Less
than 1
year
 
1 - 3
years
 
3 - 5
years
 
More
than 5
years
Operating Leases
 
$
29,704

 
$
6,645

 
$
11,654

 
$
7,731

 
$
3,674

Line of Credit (1)
 
6,143

 
1,652

 
3,266

 
1,225

 

Long-term Debt (2)
 
557,533

 
25,445

 
70,246

 
161,404

 
300,438

Purchase Commitments (3)
 
220,427

 
218,036

 
2,178

 
213

 

Employment Agreements
 
7,517

 
7,517

 

 

 

Total
 
$
821,324

 
$
259,295

 
$
87,344

 
$
170,573

 
$
304,112

 
(1)
This amount includes estimated unused line fees due on the line of credit and assumes that the balance on the line of credit remains constant from the March 31, 2014 balance of $0.0 million.
(2)
This amount includes scheduled interest and principal payments on our term loan and and our convertible debt.
(3)
This amount includes the maximum remaining amount to be purchased under forward flow contracts for the purchase of charged-off consumer debt in the amount of approximately $198.9 million.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements as defined by Regulation S-K 303(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, "Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity," which defines the treatment of the release of cumulative translation adjustments upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted and prior periods should not be adjusted. We adopted ASU 2013-02 in the first quarter of 2014 which had no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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

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

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

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

Revenue Recognition - Finance Receivables

We account for our investment in finance receivables under the guidance of ASC 310-30. We acquire portfolios of accounts that have experienced deterioration of credit quality between origination and our acquisition of the accounts. The amount paid for a portfolio reflects our determination that it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to an account's contractual terms. At acquisition, we review the accounts to determine whether there is evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination, and if it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the loan's contractual terms. If both conditions exist, we then determine whether each such account is to be accounted for individually or whether such accounts will be assembled into pools based on common risk characteristics. We consider expected prepayments and estimate the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows (expected at acquisition) for each acquired portfolio based on our proprietary models, and then subsequently aggregate portfolios of accounts into pools. We determine the excess of the pool's scheduled contractual principal and contractual interest payments over all cash flows expected at acquisition as an amount that should not be accreted (nonaccretable difference). The remaining amount, representing the excess of the pool's cash flows expected to be collected over the amount paid, is accreted into income recognized on finance receivables over the remaining estimated life of the pool (accretable yield). ASC 310-30 requires that the excess of the contractual cash flows over expected cash flows, based on our estimates derived from our proprietary collection models, not be recognized as an adjustment of revenue or expense or on the balance sheet.

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


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

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

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

Valuation of Acquired Intangibles and Goodwill

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

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

Income Taxes

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

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Table of Contents


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

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


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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk from outstanding borrowings on our variable rate credit facility. We assess this interest rate risk by estimating the increase in interest expense that would occur due to an increase in short-term interest rates. The average borrowings on our variable rate credit facility were $195.0 million and $359.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Assuming a 200 basis point increase in interest rates, for example, interest expense would have increased by $1.0 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, resulting in a decrease in income before income taxes of 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we had $192.5 million and $195.0 million, respectively, of variable rate debt outstanding on our credit facility. We did not have any other variable rate debt outstanding as of March 31, 2014. We had no interest rate hedging programs in place for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Significant increases in future interest rates on our variable rate credit facility could lead to a material decrease in future earnings assuming all other factors remained constant.
Currency Exchange Risk
We are subject to currency exchange risk from our UK subsidiary, PRA UK. It conducts business in the Pound Sterling, but we report our financial results in U.S. dollars. Significant fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Pound Sterling may adversely affect our net income. We may or may not implement a hedging program related to currency exchange rate fluctuation. In the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, PRA UK revenues were 1.4% and 1.6% of consolidated revenues, respectively. We had no currency exchange risk hedging programs in place for the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013.
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Also, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions and the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. We conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

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

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Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risk factors listed under Part I, Item 1A of our 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2014, together with all other information included herein or incorporated in our reports filed with the SEC. Any such risks may materialize, and additional risks not known to us, or that we now deem immaterial, may arise. In such event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that occurs, the market price of our common stock could fall, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Our potential acquisition of Aktiv exposes us to risks which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.
On February 19, 2014, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which we are to acquire the equity of Aktiv. The announcement and pendency of the Aktiv acquisition could cause disruptions in and create uncertainty surrounding our business. In addition, we have incurred, and will continue to incur, significant costs in connection with the Aktiv acquisition and we have diverted, and will continue to divert, significant management resources in an effort to complete the Aktiv acquisition. This could have a negative impact on our ability to manage our existing operations or pursue alternative strategic transactions, which could have a negative effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Aktiv acquisition is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2014 upon successful completion of customary closing conditions, including approval of the Aktiv acquisition by applicable competition authorities and our ability to obtain the necessary financing to consummate the Aktiv acquisition. No assurances can be given that we will be able to close the Aktiv acquisition on the terms and conditions contemplated by the Aktiv agreement in accordance with the anticipated timing, or at all. If the Aktiv acquisition is not consummated, investors could react negatively and could become concerned about our growth prospects over the next several years, which could negatively impact the price of our common stock.
We expect to finance the Aktiv acquisition with a combination of cash, seller financing and funding from our domestic revolving credit facility. Additionally, we have agreed to assume Aktiv’s current corporate debt.
As a result of the financing of the Aktiv acquisition, we expect our debt to increase significantly, both in terms of the total amount of our borrowings and as a percentage of the equity of the combined company. This increase in our indebtedness could increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, make it more difficult for us to satisfy obligations with respect to our indebtedness, require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service payments on our debt, limit our flexibility to react to changes in our business and the industry in which we operate, place us at a competitive disadvantage with our competitors that have less debt and limit our ability to borrow additional funds.
Other than our existing UK business, PRA UK, which we acquired in 2012, we have limited operating experience in international markets. If consummated, the international nature of the Aktiv acquisition expands the risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this section, including the following:
changes in local political, economic, social and labor conditions in Europe and Canada;
foreign exchange controls that might prevent us from repatriating cash earned in countries outside the United States;
currency exchange rate fluctuations and our ability to manage these fluctuations through a foreign exchange risk management program;
different employee/employer relationships, laws and regulations and existence of employment tribunals;
laws and regulations imposed by foreign governments, including those relating to governing data security, sharing and transfer;
potentially adverse tax consequences resulting from changes in tax laws in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate;
logistical, communications and other challenges caused by distance and cultural and language differences, making it harder to do business in certain jurisdictions; and
risks related to crimes, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars in a variety of new geographical locations.
Any one of these factors could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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If we do not successfully integrate Aktiv into our business operations, our business could be adversely affected.
Upon the close of the Aktiv acquisition, we will need to successfully integrate the operations of Aktiv with our business operations. Integrating the operations of Aktiv with that of our own will be a complex and time-consuming process. Prior to the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv operated independently, with its own business, corporate culture, locations, employees and systems. There may be substantial difficulties, costs and delays involved in any integration of the business of Aktiv with that of our own. These may include:
distracting management from day-to-day operations;
potential incompatibility of corporate cultures;
an inability to achieve synergies as planned;
changes in the combined business due to potential divestitures or other requirements imposed by antitrust regulators;
costs and delays in implementing common systems and procedures; and
increased difficulties in managing our business due to the addition of international locations.
Many of these risks may be accentuated because the vast majority of Aktiv’s operations, employees and customers are located outside of the United States. Any one or all of these factors may increase operating costs or lower anticipated financial performance. Many of these factors are also outside of our control. Achieving anticipated synergies and the potential benefits underlying our reasons for the Aktiv Acquisition will depend on successful integration of the businesses. The failure to integrate the business operations of Aktiv successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations, which will be expanded as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions.
Although we currently have international operations, upon the consummation of the Aktiv acquisition, we will operate on an expanded international basis with additional offices or activities in a number of new jurisdictions throughout Europe. We will face increased exposure to risks inherent in conducting business internationally, including compliance with complex foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations, which could increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions. These laws and regulations include anti-corruption laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act of 2010 and other local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to governmental officials, and those related to taxation. The FCPA and similar antibribery laws in other jurisdictions generally prohibit U.S.-based companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 prohibits certain entities from making improper payments to governmental officials and to commercial entities. Given the high level of complexity of these laws, there is a risk that we may inadvertently breach certain provisions of these laws, for example through fraudulent or negligent behavior of individual employees, our failure to comply with certain formal documentation requirements, or otherwise. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines and penalties; criminal sanctions against us, our officers, or our employees; prohibitions on the conduct of our business and on our ability to offer our products and services in one or more countries, and could also adversely affect our brand, our international expansion efforts, our ability to attract and retain employees, our business and our operating results. Although we have implemented, and, with respect to new jurisdictions we will enter as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, will implement, policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate our policies.
Exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.
Because we conduct 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. This exposure is likely to increase as a result of the Aktiv acquisition, as a larger portion of our operating expenses will likely be incurred in non-U.S. dollar currencies. As a result, significant fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may adversely affect our net income. We may or may not implement a hedging program related to currency exchange rate fluctuations. Additionally, if implemented, such hedging programs could expose us to additional risks that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We will incur significant transaction, integration and restructuring costs in connection with the Aktiv acquisition.
We will incur significant transaction costs related to the Aktiv acquisition. In addition, the combined business will incur integration and restructuring costs following the completion of the Aktiv acquisition as we integrate the Aktiv businesses with our businesses. Although we expect that the realization of benefits and efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses may offset these costs over time, no assurances can be made that this net benefit will be achieved in the near term, or at all, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

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A write-off of a significant portion of the goodwill recorded in connection with the Aktiv acquisition would negatively affect the combined company’s financial results.
We expect to record a significant amount of goodwill as a result of the Aktiv acquisition. On at least an annual basis, we assess whether there has been an impairment in the value of goodwill. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its estimated fair value, impairment is deemed to have occurred, and the carrying value of goodwill is written down to fair value. Under current accounting rules, this would result in a charge to the combined company’s operating earnings. Accordingly, any determination requiring the write-off of a significant portion of goodwill recorded in connection with the Aktiv acquisition would negatively affect our results of operations.
The Aktiv acquisition may not close as anticipated.
While we expect that the Aktiv acquisition will close during the second or third quarter of 2014, the closing of the Aktiv acquisition may not occur when anticipated, if at all. The closing of the Aktiv acquisition is subject to, among other things, financial supervisory authority and antitrust approval, certain third-party consents being obtained, the absence of a material adverse change to the assets, liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of Aktiv and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and the parties’ compliance with other requirements contained in the Agreement. A delay in the closing of the Aktiv acquisition or a failure to consummate the Aktiv acquisition may inhibit our ability to execute our business plan.
Upon the close of the Aktiv acquisition, we may have exposure to additional tax liabilities.
As a multinational corporation, we are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities. Changes in tax laws or tax rulings may have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate. Recent proposals by the current U.S. administration for fundamental U.S. international tax reform, including without limitation provisions that would limit the ability of U.S. multinationals to defer U.S. taxes on foreign income, if enacted, could have a significant adverse impact on our effective tax rate following the Aktiv acquisition.
Prior to the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv has been a privately-held company and its new obligations of being a part of a public company may require significant resources and management attention.
Upon consummation of the Aktiv acquisition, Aktiv and its subsidiaries will become subsidiaries of our consolidated company and will need to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. We will need to ensure that Aktiv establishes and maintains effective disclosure controls as well as internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and such compliance efforts may be costly and may divert the attention of management.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information
None.


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Item 6. Exhibits
10.1
Deed of Novation, Amendment and Restatement, dated May 5, 2014, by and between Geveran Trading Co. Ltd and Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc., PRA Holding IV, LLC and Tekagel Invest 742 AS.
10.2
Novated, Amended and Restated Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated May 5, 2014, for the Sale and Purchase of Aktiv Kapital AS.
10.3
Second Amendment, entered into as of February 19, 2014, to Credit Agreement dated as of December 19, 2012 by and among the Company, the domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, swing line lender, and l/c issuer, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and SunTrust Bank as co-syndication agents, KeyBank, National Association, as documentation agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, and the lenders named therein. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 20, 2014).
31.1
Section 302 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer.
31.2
Section 302 Certifications of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
32.1
Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, INC.
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
Date: May 8, 2014
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Steven D. Fredrickson
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steven D. Fredrickson
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Date: May 8, 2014
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Kevin P. Stevenson
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kevin P. Stevenson
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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