NORFOLK, Va., Aug. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PRA Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA), a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, today reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2019. Net income attributable to PRA Group, Inc. was $18.6 million compared to $19.6 million in the second quarter of 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.41 compared to $0.43 in the second quarter of 2018. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, net income attributable to PRA Group, Inc. was $33.8 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.74, compared to $40.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.90, during the same period in 2018.
Second Quarter Highlights
- Record global cash collections of $470.3 million increased 16%, or 18% on a currency adjusted basis, compared to the second quarter of 2018. This growth was primarily driven by a 39% increase in U.S. legal cash collections and a 12% increase in U.S. call center and other cash collections.
- Record Estimated Remaining Collections (ERC) of $6.4 billion which increased $146.6 million from the first quarter of 2019.
- Total investment for the quarter of $289.1 million, a 31% increase compared to the second quarter of 2018 driven largely by investment in Europe.
- Record income recognized on finance receivables of $249.2 million compared to $219.0 million in the second quarter of 2018, contributing to record total revenues of $252.1 million.
- Net operating income of $63.4 million, an increase of 15% compared to the second quarter of 2018.
"Dedication to our founding principles and investing for the long term continues to generate record results for PRA Group. U.S. legal channel cash collections increased nearly 40% from the second quarter of 2018 and the investments we have made over the last year are delivering returns in line with our historical experience but with significantly higher volumes. Our Core businesses globally are benefitting from operational improvements that are both technology-based, such as the digital channel, and personnel based, with productivity improvements," said Kevin Stevenson, president and chief executive officer. "Our patient and rational approach to the European market is paying off as the pricing environment appears to have shifted in certain geographies. We have invested significant amounts in the European market in the last two quarters but have not deviated from our long-standing approach and required returns. All of these efforts drove a record quarter of cash collections, strong investments globally and record estimated remaining collections."
Cash Collections, Revenues, and Net Allowance Charges
- The following table presents cash collections by quarter and by source on an as reported and currency-adjusted basis:
- Cash collections in the quarter increased $63.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to a 39% increase in U.S. legal collections and a 12% increase in U.S. call center and other cash collections as a result of past and continued investments in these channels, as well as record investment levels in Americas Core in 2017 and 2018. This was partially offset by an 8% decrease in Global Insolvency cash collections mainly due to investment in the U.S. not offsetting the wind down of older vintages. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, cash collections increased $98.2 million compared to the same period last year.
- For the quarter, cash collections on fully amortized pools were $13.3 million and cash collections on nonaccrual pools were $3.8 million.
- Income recognized on finance receivables increased $30.2 million compared to the second quarter of 2018 primarily due to record purchases in Americas Core during 2018, significant purchases in Europe Core, and yield raises in Core globally. For the six months ended June 30, 2019, income recognized on finance receivables increased $50.4 million compared to the same period last year.
Expenses
- Operating expenses in the quarter increased $24.1 million compared to the second quarter of 2018 largely due to increased legal collection costs and fees as well as an increase in agency fees.
- Legal collection costs increased $14.4 million due to more accounts being placed in the legal channel and the resultant increase of court costs starting in the third quarter of 2018.
- Additionally, with legal cash collections increasing significantly, much of which was processed through third party attorneys, legal fees increased by $4.0 million as these expenses are contingent upon law firm collections.
- Agency fees increased $4.9 million primarily due to the shifting of fixed expenses to variable as a result of the sale of the RCB operating platform in Brazil and increased volumes of servicing activity outside of the U.S.
- Compensation and employee services decreased $0.9 million primarily due to a decrease in U.S. Core compensation as a result of lower collection FTEs, offset by costs associated with the acquisition in Canada and higher benefits costs.
- For the six months ended June 30, 2019, operating expenses increased $45.5 million compared to the same period last year.
- Interest expense increased 16% compared to the second quarter of 2018 mainly due to higher levels of average borrowings primarily from increased portfolio investment in both the Americas and Europe and higher average interest rates mainly in the U.S.
- The effective tax rate for the first half of the year was 18.6%.
Portfolio Acquisitions
- The Company invested $289.1 million in finance receivables in the second quarter.
- At the end of the second quarter, the Company had in place forward flow commitments of $713.4 million.
Conference Call Information PRA Group, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss results with institutional investors and stock analysts. To listen to a webcast of the call and view the accompanying slides, visit https://ir.pragroup.com/events-and-presentations. To listen by phone, call 844-835-9982 in the U.S. or 412-317-5267 outside the U.S. and ask for the PRA Group conference call. To listen to a replay of the call until August 15, 2019, call 877-344-7529 in the U.S. or 412-317-0088 outside the U.S. and use access code 10130092.
About PRA Group, Inc.As a global leader in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans, PRA Group, Inc. returns capital to banks and other creditors to help expand financial services for consumers in the Americas and Europe. With approximately 5,000 employees worldwide, PRA Group, Inc. companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt. For more information, please visit www.pragroup.com.
About Forward-Looking StatementsStatements made herein which are not historical in nature, including PRA Group, Inc.'s or its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon management's current beliefs, estimates, assumptions and expectations of PRA Group, Inc.'s future operations and financial and economic performance, taking into account currently available information. These statements are not statements of historical fact or guarantees of future performance, and there can be no assurance that anticipated events will transpire or that our expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to PRA Group, Inc. Actual events or results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including risk factors and other risks that are described from time to time in PRA Group, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including but not limited to PRA Group, Inc.'s annual reports on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its current reports on Form 8-K, which are available through PRA Group, Inc.'s website and contain a detailed discussion of PRA Group, Inc.'s business, including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results.
Due to such uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today. Information in this press release may be superseded by recent information or statements, which may be disclosed in later press releases, subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise. Except as required by law, PRA Group, Inc. assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in PRA Group, Inc.'s expectations with regard thereto or to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statements are based, in whole or in part.
Investor Contact:Darby Schoenfeld, CPAVice President, Investor Relations(757) 431-7913Darby.Schoenfeld@PRAGroup.com
News Media Contact:Elizabeth KerseyVice President, Communications and Public Policy(757) 431-3398Elizabeth.Kersey@PRAGroup.com
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SOURCE PRA Group