424B3 1 d424b3.htm PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 Prospectus Supplement No. 2
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

File Number 333-150885

Supplement No. 2

(To prospectus dated July 3, 2008)

LOGO

NCO GROUP, INC.

 

$165,000,000 Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2013

$200,000,000 11.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014

This prospectus supplement No. 2 supplements and amends the prospectus dated July 3, 2008, as supplemented and amended by prospectus supplement No. 1 dated August 12, 2008 (the “Prospectus”). This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and may not be delivered or utilized without the Prospectus.

On November 13, 2008, NCO Group, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission its quarterly report for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

The date of this prospectus supplement is September 30, 2008


Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark one)

x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008

or

 

¨ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 333-150885

 

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   02-0786880

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

 

507 Prudential Road, Horsham, Pennsylvania   19044
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

215-441-3000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    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  x.

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of November 12, 2008 was: 2,959,882 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value and 400,894 shares of Class L common stock, $0.01 par value.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

NCO GROUP, INC.

INDEX

 

              PAGE

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   Item 1.  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

  
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

   1
    

Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

   2
    

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 and 2007

   3
    

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   4
   Item 2.  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   33
   Item 3.  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   44
   Item 4T.  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   44

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

   Item 1.  

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   45
   Item 1A.  

RISK FACTORS

   46
   Item 2.  

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

   46
   Item 3.  

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

   46
   Item 4.  

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

   46
   Item 5.  

OTHER INFORMATION

   46
   Item 6.  

EXHIBITS

   46

SIGNATURES

   47


Table of Contents

Part I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

      September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 41,330     $ 31,283  

Accounts receivable, trade, net of allowances of $5,745 and $3,137, respectively

     211,600       183,444  

Purchased accounts receivable, current portion, net of allowance for impairment of $87,902 and $24,962, respectively

     77,897       72,617  

Deferred income taxes

     28,842       16,279  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     54,437       32,744  
                

Total current assets

     414,106       336,367  
                

Funds held on behalf of clients

    

Property and equipment, net

     148,501       134,459  
                

Other assets:

    

Goodwill

     847,672       614,744  

Trade names

     99,244       96,613  

Customer relationships and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization

     349,173       280,102  

Purchased accounts receivable, net of current portion

     146,929       172,968  

Other assets

     48,539       42,746  
                

Total other assets

     1,491,557       1,207,173  
                

Total assets

   $ 2,054,164     $ 1,677,999  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Long-term debt, current portion

   $ 25,059     $ 24,644  

Income taxes payable

     15,277       —    

Accounts payable

     25,341       21,457  

Accrued expenses

     116,395       94,151  

Accrued compensation and related expenses

     53,695       32,217  

Deferred revenue

     43,631       1,427  
                

Total current liabilities

     279,398       173,896  

Funds held on behalf of clients

    

Long-term liabilities:

    

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     1,047,865       903,052  

Deferred income taxes

     122,947       126,403  

Other long-term liabilities

     17,658       17,655  

Minority interest

     35,677       48,948  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 6,500 and 6,000 shares authorized, respectively, 2,446 and 1,408 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     25       14  

Class L common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 800 and 400 shares authorized, respectively, 401 and 364 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     4       4  

Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 4,500 and 2,750 shares authorized, 2,960 and 1,822 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     29       18  

Additional paid-in capital

     716,172       518,089  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (2,231 )     2,835  

Accumulated deficit

     (163,380 )     (112,915 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     550,619       408,045  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,054,164     $ 1,677,999  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
September 30,
2008
    For the Three
Months Ended
September 30,
2007
    For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2008
    For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2007
 

Revenues:

        

Services

   $ 382,781     $ 278,939     $ 1,114,379     $ 856,220  

Portfolio

     (2,484 )     35,718       33,730       121,719  

Portfolio sales

     759       10,282       2,499       11,771  
                                

Total revenues

     381,056       324,939       1,150,608       989,710  
                                

Operating costs and expenses:

        

Payroll and related expenses

     218,313       167,825       638,626       509,285  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     147,046       114,154       423,483       346,053  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     31,970       26,212       91,903       76,519  

Restructuring charges

     3,382       —         10,250       —    
                                

Total operating costs and expenses

     400,711       308,191       1,164,262       931,857  
                                

(Loss) income from operations

     (19,655 )     16,748       (13,654 )     57,853  
                                

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     256       664       1,075       2,198  

Interest expense

     (24,982 )     (24,551 )     (70,392 )     (70,867 )

Other income (expense), net

     (1,891 )     826       (2,052 )     1,896  
                                

Total other income (expense)

     (26,617 )     (23,061 )     (71,369 )     (66,773 )
                                

Loss before income taxes

     (46,272 )     (6,313 )     (85,023 )     (8,920 )

Income tax benefit

     (14,171 )     (2,171 )     (26,174 )     (3,686 )
                                

Loss before minority interest

     (32,101 )     (4,142 )     (58,849 )     (5,234 )

Minority interest

     5,623       (465 )     8,384       (3,136 )
                                

Net loss

   $ (26,478 )   $ (4,607 )   $ (50,465 )   $ (8,370 )
                                

See accompanying notes.

 

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NCO GROUP, INC

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2008
    For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2007
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (50,465 )   $ (8,370 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     91,903       76,688  

Stock-based compensation

     543       264  

Amortization of deferred training asset

     2,088       1,779  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     2,145       3,910  

Impairment of purchased accounts receivable

     63,169       —    

Gain on sale of purchased accounts receivable

     (2,499 )     (11,771 )

Other

     1,807       2,484  

Parent remittance on behalf of SST

     —         1,754  

Minority interest

     (8,384 )     4,725  

Deferred income taxes

     (27,787 )     (7,404 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

    

Accounts receivable, trade

     18,939       (5,159 )

Other assets

     2,719       (4,280 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     4,404       (781 )

Income taxes payable

     (3,812 )     (521 )

Other long-term liabilities

     (957 )     (1,434 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     93,813       51,884  
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of accounts receivable

     (107,795 )     (89,805 )

Collections applied to principal of purchased accounts receivable

     68,351       67,487  

Proceeds from sales and resales of purchased accounts receivable

     2,832       16,895  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (31,539 )     (19,669 )

Investment in bond maturities

     —         277  

Proceeds from bonds and notes receivable

     928       855  

Net cash paid for acquisitions and related costs

     (339,299 )     (5,982 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (406,522 )     (29,942 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayment of notes payable

     (28,351 )     (31,146 )

Borrowings under notes payable

     17,046       32,621  

Net borrowings under (repayments of) revolving credit facility

     24,500       (5,000 )

Repayment of borrowings under senior term loan

     (9,232 )     (3,488 )

Borrowings under senior term loan

     139,000       —    

Payment of fees to acquire debt

     (9,182 )     (701 )

Investment in subsidiary by minority interest

     2,436       1,175  

Principal payments on bonds and capital leases

     —         (335 )

Return of investment in subsidiary to minority interest

     (9,234 )     (5,480 )

Issuance of stock, net

     209,719       —    

Payment of dividends

     (12,157 )     —    
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     324,545       (12,354 )
                

Effect of exchange rate on cash

     (1,789 )     1,139  
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     10,047       10,727  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     31,283       20,703  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ 41,330     $ 31,430  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

NCO GROUP, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. Nature of Operations:

On November 15, 2006, NCO Group, Inc. was acquired by One Equity Partners and its affiliates (“OEP”), a private equity investment fund, with participation by certain members of executive management and other investors (the “Transaction”). On February 27, 2007, NCO Group, Inc. was merged with and into the acquiring entity and the surviving corporation was renamed NCO Group, Inc. (collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “NCO”).

NCO is a holding company and conducts substantially all of its business operations through its subsidiaries. NCO is a leading global provider of business process outsourcing solutions, primarily focused on accounts receivable management (“ARM”) and customer relationship management (“CRM”). NCO provides services through over 125 offices in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Panama, the Caribbean, India, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico. The Company provides services to more than 26,000 active clients, including many of the Fortune 500, supporting a broad spectrum of industries, including financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, retail and commercial, utilities, education, transportation/logistics, technology and government services. These clients are primarily located throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Puerto Rico and Latin America. The Company’s largest client during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, was in the telecommunications sector and represented 7.7 percent of the Company’s consolidated revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The Company also purchases and collects past due consumer accounts receivable from consumer creditors such as banks, finance companies, retail merchants, utilities, healthcare companies, and other consumer-oriented companies.

The Company’s business consists of three operating divisions: ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management.

 

2. Accounting Policies:

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries and entities controlled by the Company. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

On January 2, 2008, the Company acquired Systems & Services Technologies, Inc. (“SST”), a third-party consumer receivable servicer. Prior to the acquisition, SST was a wholly owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPM”). JPM also wholly owns OEP, which as described above has had a controlling interest in the Company since the Transaction on November 15, 2006.

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”) states that a “business combination” excludes transfers of net assets or exchanges of equity interests between entities under common control. SFAS 141 also states that transfers of net assets or exchanges of equity interests between entities under common control should be accounted for similar to the pooling-of-interests method (“as-if pooling-of-interests”) in that the entity that receives the net assets or the equity interests initially recognizes the assets and liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts in the accounts of the transferring entity at the date of transfer. Because the Company and SST were under common control at the time of the SST acquisition, the transfer of assets and liabilities of SST were accounted for at historical cost in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. For financial accounting purposes, the acquisition is viewed as a change in reporting entity and, as a result, requires restatement of the Company’s financial statements for all periods subsequent to November 15, 2006, the date of the Transaction and the date at which common control of the Company and SST by JPM commenced. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have been restated to include SST’s financial position information as of December 31, 2007, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents
2. Accounting Policies (continued):

 

Interim Financial Information:

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. The December 31, 2007 balance sheet was derived from the consolidated audited financial statements of the Company, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise disclosed herein) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Because of the seasonal nature of the Company’s business, operating results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008, or for any other interim period. For further information, refer to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2007, a copy of which is included in the Company’s prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) on July 3, 2008.

Revenue Recognition:

ARM:

ARM contingency fee revenue is recognized upon collection of funds by NCO or its client. Fees for ARM contractual services are recognized as services are performed and earned under service arrangements with clients where fees are fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Deferred revenue in the accompanying balance sheet primarily relates to certain prepaid fees for letter services for which revenue is recognized when the letter services are provided or the time period for which the Company is obligated to provide the letter services has expired.

CRM:

Revenue is recognized based on the billable hours of each CRM representative as defined in the client contract. The rate per billable hour charged is based on a predetermined contractual rate, as agreed in the underlying contract. The contractual rate can fluctuate based on certain pre-determined objective performance criteria related to quality and performance, reduced by any contractual performance penalties the client may be entitled to, both as measured on a monthly basis. The impact of the performance criteria and penalties on the rate per billable hour is continually updated as revenue is recognized.

Under performance-based arrangements, the Company is paid by its customers based on achievement of certain levels of sales or other client-determined criteria specified in the client contract. The Company recognizes performance-based revenue by measuring its actual results against the performance criteria specified in the contracts.

Purchased Accounts Receivable:

The Company applies American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of Position 03-3, “Accounting for Loans or Certain Securities Acquired in a Transfer” (“SOP 03-3”). SOP 03-3 addresses accounting for differences between contractual versus expected cash flows over an investor’s initial investment in certain loans when such differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality.

 

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Table of Contents
2. Accounting Policies (continued):

 

Revenue Recognition (continued):

 

Purchased Accounts Receivable (continued):

 

The Company acquires accounts receivable in groups that are initially recorded at cost. All acquired accounts receivable have experienced deterioration of credit quality between origination and the Company’s acquisition of the accounts receivable, and the amount paid for the accounts receivable reflects the Company’s determination that it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to contractual terms of each receivable. The Company determines whether each purchase of accounts receivable is to be accounted for as an individual portfolio or whether multiple purchases will be combined based on common risk characteristics into an aggregated portfolio. Once the Company establishes an individual purchase or aggregated purchases as a portfolio, the receivables in the portfolio are not changed, unless replaced, returned or sold. The Company considers expected collections, and estimates the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest, and other cash flows (expected at acquisition) for each portfolio of accounts receivable. The Company determines nonaccretable difference, or the excess of the portfolio’s contractual principal over all cash flows expected at acquisition as an amount that should not be accreted. The excess of the portfolio’s cash flows expected to be collected over the amount paid is accretable yield. Accretable yield is recognized into earnings, as Portfolio revenue in the statement of operations, over the remaining life of the portfolio, based on its effective interest rate.

At acquisition, the Company derives an internal rate of return (“IRR”) based on the expected monthly collections over the estimated economic life of each portfolio of accounts receivable (typically up to seven years, based on the Company’s collection experience) compared to the original purchase price. Monthly collections on the portfolios are allocated between revenue and carrying value reduction based on applying each portfolio’s effective IRR for the period to its carrying value. Over the life of a portfolio, the Company continues to estimate cash flows expected to be collected. The Company evaluates at the balance sheet date whether the present value of its portfolios determined using the effective interest rates for each portfolio has decreased, and if so, records a valuation allowance to maintain the original IRR. Any increase in actual or estimated cash flows expected to be collected is first used to reverse any existing valuation allowance for that portfolio, and any remaining increases in cash flows are recognized prospectively through an increase in the IRR. The updated IRR then becomes the new benchmark for subsequent valuation allowance testing.

Portfolio Sales:

The Company accounts for gains on sales of purchased accounts receivable under SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” Gains on sales are recognized as revenue and represent the difference between the sales price and the present value of the future cash collections expected from the loans sold at the portfolio’s IRR at the time of sale.

The Company applies a financial components approach. Generally, that approach focuses on control of each of the various retained or sold interests or liabilities in a given financial asset sale to conclude when a sale has actually occurred as compared to a mere financing, and the accounting for any related rights retained and/or duties committed to on an ongoing basis, including servicing. Under that approach, after a transfer of financial assets, an entity allocates a portion of the original cost of the assets to the assets sold in determining any gain or loss, and to any servicing assets it retains, such as servicing rights or rights to residual interests. Gain or loss is reported in the period of the transfer, net of any liabilities the Company has incurred or will incur in the future. Assets retained are amortized over the appropriate useful life of the asset. If control has not been transferred to the other party, the proceeds received are treated as a financing and no gain or loss is recorded at the time of the transfer.

Income Taxes:

For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the effective income tax rate decreased to 30.6 percent from 34.4 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the effective income tax rate decreased to 30.8 percent from 41.3 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. These decreases were due to prior year losses in the domestic ARM and CRM businesses combined with income from certain foreign businesses which are not subject to income tax and less income attributable to minority interests.

 

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2. Accounting Policies (continued):

 

Fair Value Measurement:

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). This statement defines fair value and provides guidance for measuring assets and liabilities at fair value. SFAS 157 is effective for financial assets and financial liabilities in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Effective January 1, 2008 the Company adopted SFAS 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of SFAS 157 that relate to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities. Among other things, SFAS 157 requires enhanced disclosures about assets and liabilities carried at fair value (note 5). As defined in SFAS 157, 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 (exit price). In connection with the evaluation of SFAS 157, the Company also evaluated the provisions of SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 provides a business entity with an option to measure and report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value, while requiring the entity to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. An entity may decide whether to elect the fair value option for each eligible item on its election date, subject to certain requirements as described in the statement. As of the January 1, 2008 effective date, the Company elected not to apply SFAS 159 to any of its existing eligible assets or liabilities; therefore there was no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The application of SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” requires the measurement of fair values of purchased assets and liabilities of an acquired entity. In connection with the Transaction, and other business combinations accounted for as a purchase, management makes additional estimates and assumptions in determining fair value that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The more significant financial statement items for which estimates and assumptions may be made include intangible assets, purchased accounts receivable, and nonrecourse debt.

In the ordinary course of accounting for purchased accounts receivable, estimates are made by management as to the amount and timing of future cash flows expected from each portfolio. The estimated future cash flow of each portfolio is used to compute the IRR for the portfolio, both in the case of any increases in expected cash flows, or to compute impairment or allowances, in the case of decreases in expected cash flows. The IRR is used to allocate collections between revenue and principal reduction of the carrying values of the purchased accounts receivable.

On an ongoing basis, the Company compares the historical trends of each portfolio to projected collections. Future projected collections are then increased or decreased based in part on the actual cumulative performance of each portfolio. Management reviews each portfolio’s adjusted projected collections to determine if further upward or downward adjustment is warranted. Management regularly reviews the trends in collection patterns and uses its reasonable best efforts to improve the collections of under-performing portfolios. However, actual results will differ from these estimates and a material change in these estimates could occur within one reporting period (note 7).

Reclassifications:

Certain amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

 

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3. Restructuring Charges:

In conjunction with an acquisition in September 2005 and streamlining the cost structure of the Company’s legacy operations, the Company recorded total restructuring charges of $22.4 million. These charges primarily related to the elimination of certain redundant facilities and severance costs. The balance of liabilities outstanding at September 30, 2008 was $1.9 million, which the Company expects to pay through 2011.

In conjunction with the acquisitions of Outsourcing Solutions Inc. (“OSI”) and Systems & Services Technologies, Inc. (“SST”) (note 4) and streamlining the cost structure of the Company’s legacy operations, the Company recorded restructuring charges of $3.4 million and $10.3 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively. These charges primarily related to the elimination of certain redundant facilities and severance costs. The balance of liabilities outstanding at September 30, 2008 was $6.8 million. The Company currently expects to pay this remaining balance through 2016 and anticipates recording additional restructuring charges in the fourth quarter of 2008 of $2.0 million to $4.0 million.

The following presents the activity in the accruals recorded for restructuring charges (amounts in thousands):

 

     Leases     Severance     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 3,259     $ —       $ 3,259  

Accruals

     6,796       3,454       10,250  

Cash payments

     (2,214 )     (2,407 )     (4,621 )

Property and equipment write-offs

     (197 )     —         (197 )
                        

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 7,644     $ 1,047     $ 8,691  
                        

In connection with the Transaction, the Company recorded liabilities of $8.6 million for an exit plan the Company began to formulate prior to the Transaction date. These liabilities principally relate to facilities leases, severance and other costs. The following presents the activity in the accruals recorded for restructuring related expenses (amounts in thousands); the Company expects to pay the remaining balance through 2009:

 

     Leases     Severance     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2007

   $ 4,376     $ 971     $ 5,347  

Cash payments

     (1,903 )     (575 )     (2,478 )

Leasehold improvement write-off

     (418 )     —         (418 )
                        

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 2,055     $ 396     $ 2,451  
                        

 

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4. Business Combinations:

On February 29, 2008, the Company acquired OSI, a leading provider of business process outsourcing services, specializing primarily in accounts receivable management services, for $340.0 million in cash, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The purchase price was financed in part by the issuance of 802,262 shares of the Company’s Series A 14% PIK Preferred Stock, 37,738 shares of Class L common stock and 1,012,262 shares of Class A common stock. The remainder of the purchase price was financed by borrowings of $139.0 million under the Company’s amended senior credit facility (note 10). Based on preliminary estimates, the Company allocated $116.0 million of the purchase price to the customer relationships, $3.0 million to the trade names, $683,000 to the non-compete agreements, and recorded goodwill of $219.0 million, which is non-deductible for tax purposes, in the ARM segment.

The following is a preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (amounts in thousands):

 

Purchase price

   $ 340,000  

Transaction costs

     7,261  

Cash

     (25,891 )

Accounts receivable

     (49,487 )

Purchased accounts receivable

     (3,548 )

Customer relationships

     (116,000 )

Trade names

     (2,979 )

Non-compete agreements

     (683 )

Property and equipment

     (21,112 )

Other assets

     (32,431 )

Current net deferred tax assets

     (12,645 )

Long-term net deferred tax liabilities

     24,238  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     99,404  

Accrued restructuring costs

     12,915  
        

Goodwill

   $ 219,042  
        

In connection with the OSI acquisition, the Company recorded liabilities of $12.9 million for an exit plan the Company began to formulate prior to the acquisition date. These liabilities principally relate to facilities leases, severance and other costs. The following presents the activity in the preliminary accruals recorded for restructuring related expenses (amounts in thousands); the Company expects to pay the remaining balance through 2010:

 

     Leases     Severance     Total  

Accruals

   $ 4,026     $ 8,882     $ 12,908  

Cash payments

     (1,380 )     (7,152 )     (8,532 )
                        

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 2,646     $ 1,730     $ 4,376  
                        

 

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4. Business Combinations (continued):

 

On January 2, 2008, the Company acquired SST, a third-party consumer receivable servicer, for $13.4 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The purchase price consisted of a cash payment of $8.1 million and the issuance of 22,484 shares of the Company’s Series A 14% PIK Preferred Stock. As described in note 2, since the Company and SST were under common control by JPM at the time of the SST acquisition, the transfer of assets and liabilities of SST were accounted for at historical cost in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. The $13.4 million of consideration paid to JPM for SST and the return of $4.0 million of cash that was not acquired was treated as dividends to JPM. In “as-if pooling-of-interests” accounting, financial statements of the previously separate companies for periods under common control prior to the combination are restated on a combined basis to furnish comparative information. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have been restated to include SST’s financial position information as of December 31, 2007, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. At December 31, 2007, SST added $50.2 million of total assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, SST added revenue of $17.7 million and $54.0 million, respectively, and net loss of $1.5 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

The following summarizes the unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming the OSI acquisition described above occurred as of the beginning of the respective periods, including the combination of SST’s historical results. The unaudited pro forma information is provided for informational purposes only. It is based on historical information, and does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred, nor is it indicative of future results of operations of the consolidated entities (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
September 30,
2007
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Revenue

   $ 431,151     $ 1,221,993     $ 1,306,650  

Net loss

     (5,749 )     (55,005 )     (14,871 )

On December 18, 2006, the Company acquired the assets of Star Contact (BVI) Ltd. and Call Center-Telemarketing Pro-Panama, S.A. (together “Star Contact”), a provider of outsourced, multi-lingual contact center and customer care services based in Panama City, Panama, for $36.2 million. The acquisition agreement contains a provision for annual earnout payments to be made to the seller, for each of the two years following the acquisition, provided that certain performance measures are met as of the end of each of the two years. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company recorded $15.0 million of additional purchase price for the first annual earnout payment, which was paid during 2008.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company acquired several smaller companies, all of which were providers of ARM services, for an aggregate purchase price of $9.2 million, including an accrual for $886,000 of estimated earnouts, resulting in goodwill of approximately $9.2 million. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company paid $2.2 million of earnouts and recorded a liability of $4.0 million for additional earnouts due in the fourth quarter of 2008, all related to prior acquisitions.

 

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5. Fair Value Measurement:

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157. Among other things, SFAS 157 requires enhanced disclosures about assets and liabilities carried at fair value. Depending on the nature of the asset or liability, the Company uses various valuation techniques and assumptions when measuring fair value of its assets and liabilities. In accordance with SFAS 157, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable (“Level 1”), market corroborated (“Level 2”), or generally unobservable (“Level 3”). The majority of the fair value amounts included in the Company’s current period earnings resulted from Level 2 fair value methodologies; that is, the Company was able to value the assets and liabilities based on observable market data for similar instruments (the “market approach”). The Company applied an income approach to amounts included in its current period earnings resulting from Level 3 fair value methodologies.

The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2008. As required by SFAS 157, financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

 

     At fair value as of September 30, 2008
(amounts in thousands)
     Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total

Assets:

           

Interest rate caps

   $ —      $ 239    $ —      $ 239

Liabilities:

           

Interest rate swaps

     —        3,138      —        3,138

Forward exchange contracts

     —        2,362      —        2,362

Embedded derivatives

     —        —        4,760      4,760
                           

Net liabilities

   $ —      $ 5,739    $ 4,760    $ 10,499
                           

Derivatives include interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward exchange contracts. To value these derivatives, the Company obtains broker quotes from its counterparties. The Company considers such quotes to be Level 2 measurements. To gain assurance that such quotes reflect market participant views, the Company independently values its interest rate swaps, and independently validates the relevant exchange rates of its forward exchange contracts.

The contingent payment provisions embedded in the Company’s nonrecourse credit facility related to purchased accounts receivable are embedded derivatives. The Company values these embedded derivatives using similar current period purchased accounts receivable portfolio purchases’ underlying yields and cash flow changes. Inputs used to value these embedded derivatives are considered Level 3 measurements since they are unobservable. As of September 30, 2008, the value of our embedded derivatives was $4.8 million. Changes in the fair market value of the embedded derivatives are recorded in interest expense on the statement of operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, interest expense was reduced by $461,000 and $4.0 million, respectively, to reflect decreases in the fair value of the embedded derivatives. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the fair value of the embedded derivatives was reduced by interest payments of $923,000 and $2.4 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the fair value of the embedded derivatives was increased by additional accrued interest of $370,000 and $1.5 million, respectively.

For purposes of valuation adjustments to its interest rate swap and foreign currency exchange derivative positions under SFAS 157, the Company has evaluated liquidity premiums that may be demanded by market participants, as well as the credit risk of its counterparties and its own credit. The Company has considered factors such as the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties, its net exposures and remaining maturities in determining the appropriate fair value adjustments to record. These valuation adjustments were not significant for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

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6. Comprehensive Income (Loss):

Comprehensive income (loss) consists of net income (loss) plus certain changes in assets and liabilities, including the effects of intercompany transactions, that are not included in net income (loss) but are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Net loss

   $ (26,478 )   $ (4,607 )   $ (50,465 )   $ (8,370 )

Other comprehensive income (loss):

        

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (3,183 )     1,670       (3,611 )     5,587  

Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax

     (2,195 )     (732 )     (3,966 )     3,666  

Net income (loss) on cash flow hedges reclassified into earnings, net of tax

     1,554       (1,109 )     2,511       (1,383 )
                                

Comprehensive loss

   $ (30,302 )   $ (4,778 )   $ (55,531 )   $ (500 )
                                

The foreign currency translation adjustment was attributable to changes in the exchange rates used to translate the financial statements of the Company’s foreign operations into U.S. dollars.

 

7. Purchased Accounts Receivable:

Portfolio Management and the U.K., Canadian and Australian divisions of ARM purchase defaulted consumer accounts receivable at a discount from the contractual principal balance. As of September 30, 2008, the carrying values of Portfolio Management’s and ARM’s purchased accounts receivable were $220.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively. The total outstanding balance due, representing the original undiscounted contractual amount less collections since acquisition, was $52.4 billion and $47.2 billion at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

The following summarizes the change in the carrying amount of the purchased accounts receivable (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2008
    For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2007
 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 245,585     $ 244,100  

Purchases:

    

Cash purchases

     107,795       125,283  

Portfolios acquired in business combinations

     3,548       —    

Collections

     (164,471 )     (232,316 )

Revenue recognized

     96,120       155,088  

Proceeds from portfolio sales and resales applied to carrying value

     (333 )     (23,068 )

Allowance for impairment, net

     (63,169 )     (24,962 )

Other

     979       872  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (1,228 )     588  
                

Balance at end of period

   $ 224,826     $ 245,585  
                

Purchased accounts receivables, current portion

   $ 77,897     $ 72,617  

Purchased accounts receivables, net of current portion

     146,929       172,968  
                
   $ 224,826     $ 245,585  
                

 

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7. Purchased Accounts Receivable (continued):

 

In the ordinary course of purchasing portfolios of accounts receivable, Portfolio Management may sell accounts from an acquired portfolio shortly after they were purchased. The proceeds from these resales are essentially equal to, and applied against, the carrying value of the accounts. Therefore, there is no gain recorded on these resales. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, there were no proceeds from portfolio resales. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, proceeds from portfolio resales were $1.1 million and $6.6 million, respectively.

Portfolio Management sells portfolios of accounts receivable based on a low probability of payment under the Company’s collection platform and other criteria. The net gains from these sales, the proceeds from sales above the carrying value, are recorded as revenue. During the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, Portfolio Management sold portfolios of accounts receivable for $947,000 and $12.8 million with a carrying value of $189,000 and $2.5 million, and recorded revenue of $758,000 and $10.3 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, Portfolio Management sold portfolios of accounts receivable for $2.8 million and $16.9 million with a carrying value of $333,000 and $5.1 million, and recorded revenue of $2.5 million and $11.8 million, respectively.

The following presents the change in the allowance for impairment of purchased accounts receivable accounted for under SOP 03-3 (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2008
    For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2007
 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 24,962     $ —    

Additions

     63,853       25,422  

Recoveries

     (684 )     (460 )

Other

     (229 )     —    
                

Balance at end of period

   $ 87,902     $ 24,962  
                

Accretable yield represents the excess of the cash flows expected to be collected during the life of the portfolio over the initial investment in the portfolio. The following presents the change in accretable yield (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 326,527     $ 355,050     $ 366,584     $ 465,451  

Additions

     25,065       10,480       104,544       64,524  

Additions from business combinations

     —         —         4,418       —    

Other

     (825 )     (195 )     (979 )     (714 )

Revenue recognition

     (29,519 )     (35,443 )     (96,120 )     (120,376 )

Reclassifications (to) from nonaccretable Difference

     (71,205 )     (21,371 )     (128,175 )     (100,119 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,014       (2 )     785       (247 )
                                

Balance at end of period

   $ 251,057     $ 308,519     $ 251,057     $ 308,519  
                                

During the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company purchased accounts receivable with a cost of $33.9 million and $15.8 million, respectively, that had contractually required payments receivable at the date of acquisition of $1.1 billion and $662.3 million, respectively, and expected cash flows at the date of acquisition of $58.4 million and $26.3 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company purchased accounts receivable with a cost of $107.8 million and $89.8 million, respectively, that had contractually required payments receivable at the date of acquisition of $3.5 billion and $4.1 billion, respectively, and expected cash flows at the date of acquisition of $211.8 million and $154.3 million, respectively.

 

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8. Funds Held on Behalf of Clients:

In the course of the Company’s subsidiaries’ regular business activities as a provider of accounts receivable management services, the Company receives clients’ funds arising from the collection of accounts placed with the Company. These funds are placed in segregated cash accounts and are generally remitted to clients within 30 days. Funds held on behalf of clients of $99.4 million and $70.5 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, have been shown net of their offsetting liability for financial statement presentation.

 

9. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets:

SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” requires goodwill to be allocated and tested at the reporting unit level. Goodwill is tested for impairment each year during the fourth quarter, and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. No event occurred or circumstances changed that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. However, if the Company continues to experience adverse effects of the challenging economic and business environment, including changes in financial projections, the Company may have to recognize an impairment of all or some portion of its goodwill. The Company’s reporting units are ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management. The Company’s reporting units had the following goodwill (amounts in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2008    December 31, 2007

ARM

   $ 563,069    $ 330,933

Portfolio Management

     156,239      155,693

CRM

     128,364      128,118
             

Total

   $ 847,672    $ 614,744
             

The increase in ARM’s goodwill balance from December 31, 2007 to September 30, 2008, was primarily due to the goodwill from the OSI acquisition.

In connection with the Transaction, the Company allocated $96.6 million of the purchase price to the fair value of the NCO name, which is an indefinite-lived intangible asset and therefore is not subject to amortization.

In connection with the OSI acquisition, the Company preliminarily allocated $3.0 million of the purchase price to the fair value of certain trade names acquired in connection with the OSI acquisition, which are subject to amortization. At September 30, 2008, accumulated amortization of the OSI trade names was $348,000.

Other intangible assets subject to amortization consist of customer relationships and non-compete agreements. The following represents the other intangible assets subject to amortization (amounts in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2008    December 31, 2007
     Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization

Customer relationships

   $ 448,970    $ 102,565    $ 332,902    $ 55,547

Non-compete agreements

     4,007      1,239      3,372      625
                           

Total

   $ 452,977    $ 103,804    $ 336,274    $ 56,172
                           

 

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Table of Contents
9. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (continued):

 

The Company recorded amortization expense for all other intangible assets of $17.0 million and $13.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $47.9 million and $37.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The following represents the Company’s expected amortization expense from these other intangible assets over the next five years (amounts in thousands):

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

   Estimated
Amortization Expense

2008

   $ 64,721

2009

     67,179

2010

     66,039

2011

     65,676

2012

     61,496

 

10. Long-Term Debt:

Long-term debt consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2008     December 31, 2007  

Senior term loan

   $ 590,118     $ 460,350  

Senior revolving credit facility

     71,500       47,000  

Senior subordinated notes

     200,000       200,000  

Senior notes

     165,000       165,000  

Nonrecourse credit facility

     40,023       53,742  

Other

     6,283       1,604  

Less current portion

     (25,059 )     (24,644 )
                
   $ 1,047,865     $ 903,052  
                

Senior Credit Facility:

On November 15, 2006, the Company entered into a senior credit facility (“Credit Facility”) with a syndicate of financial institutions. The Credit Facility consisted of a $465.0 million term loan and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility. In connection with the OSI acquisition, in February 2008 the Company amended the Credit Facility to add $139.0 million to the term loan. The Company is required to make quarterly principal repayments of $1.5 million on the term loan until its maturity in May 2013, at which time its remaining balance outstanding is due. The Company is also required to make annual prepayments of 50 percent, 25 percent or zero percent of its excess annual cash flow, based on its leverage ratio. The revolving credit facility requires no minimum principal payments until its maturity in November 2011. The availability of the revolving credit facility is reduced by any unused letters of credit ($18.3 million at September 30, 2008). As of September 30, 2008, the Company had $10.2 million of remaining availability under the revolving credit facility.

All borrowings bear interest at an annual rate equal to either, at the option of the Company, (i) the higher of the prime rate (5.00 percent at September 30, 2008) or the federal funds rate (2.03 percent at September 30, 2008) plus 0.50 percent, plus a margin of 1.50 percent to 2.00 percent in the case of the revolving credit facility and 3.00 percent to 3.25 percent in the case of the term loan, based on the Company’s funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) ratio, as defined; or (ii) LIBOR (3.93 percent for a one-month LIBOR at September 30, 2008) plus a margin of 2.50 percent to 3.00 percent in the case of the revolving credit facility, and 4.00 percent to 4.25 percent in the case of the term loan, based on the Company’s funded debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined. The Company is charged a quarterly commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at an annual rate of 0.50 percent. The effective interest rate on the Credit Facility was approximately 7.69 percent and 8.11 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 7.66 percent and 8.20 percent for the nine months ended September 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Credit Facility also requires that the Company obtain interest rate protection for a period of three years in a notional amount not to be less than 50 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the term loan facility.

 

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10. Long-Term Debt (continued):

 

Senior Credit Facility (continued):

 

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The Credit Facility contains certain financial and other covenants such as maintaining a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, and includes restrictions on, among other things, acquisitions, the incurrence of additional debt, investments, disposition of assets, liens and dividends and other distributions. If an event of default, such as failure to comply with covenants or a change of control, were to occur under the Credit Facility, the lenders would be entitled to declare all amounts outstanding under it immediately due and payable and foreclose on the pledged assets. The Company was in compliance with all required financial covenants and was not aware of any events of default as of September 30, 2008.

Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes:

In connection with the Transaction, on November 15, 2006 the Company issued $165.0 million of floating rate senior notes due 2013 (“Senior Notes”) and $200.0 million of 11.875 percent senior subordinated notes due 2014 (“Senior Subordinated Notes”) (collectively, “the Notes”). The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior basis with respect to the Senior Notes and on a senior subordinated basis with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes, in each case by all of the Company’s existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than certain subsidiaries and joint ventures engaged in financing the purchase of delinquent accounts receivable portfolios and certain immaterial subsidiaries).

The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations and are senior in right of payment to all existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness, including the Senior Subordinated Notes, and all future subordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.875 percent, reset quarterly. The effective interest rate of the Senior Notes was approximately 7.62 percent and 10.33 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 8.07 percent and 10.27 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 15, 2008 at varying redemption prices depending on the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Senior Notes and borrowings under the Credit Facility. The Company may redeem the Senior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 15, 2010 at varying redemption prices depending on the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company also may redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2008 and some or all of the Senior Subordinated Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2010, at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the respective Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and an additional premium. Finally, subject to certain conditions, the Company may redeem up to 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2008 and up to 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2009 with the net proceeds of a sale of its capital stock at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the respective Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and an additional premium.

The indentures governing the Notes contain a number of covenants that limit the Company’s and its restricted subsidiaries’ ability, among other things, to: incur additional indebtedness and issue certain preferred stock, pay certain dividends, acquire shares of capital stock, make payments on subordinated debt or make investments, place limitations on distributions from restricted subsidiaries, issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries, guarantee indebtedness, sell or exchange assets, enter into transactions with affiliates, create certain liens, engage in unrelated businesses, and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. In addition, upon a change of control, the Company is required to offer to repurchase all of the Notes then outstanding, at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of their principal amount, plus any accrued interest to the date of repurchase.

 

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10. Long-Term Debt (continued):

 

Nonrecourse Credit Facility:

The Company has a nonrecourse credit facility and an exclusivity agreement (collectively the “Nonrecourse Agreement”). The Nonrecourse Agreement provides that all purchases of accounts receivable by the Company with a purchase price in excess of $1.0 million are first offered to the lender for financing at its discretion. If the lender chooses to participate in the financing of a portfolio of accounts receivable, the financing may be structured, depending on the size and nature of the portfolio to be purchased, either as a borrowing arrangement or under various equity sharing arrangements. The lender will finance non-equity borrowings with floating interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR (3.93 percent for a one-month LIBOR at September 30, 2008) plus 2.50 percent, or as negotiated. These borrowings are nonrecourse to the Company and are due two years from the date of each respective loan, unless otherwise negotiated. As additional return on the debt financed portfolios the lender receives residual cash flows, as negotiated, which is defined as all cash collections after servicing fees, floating rate interest, repayment of the borrowing, and the initial investment by the Company, including interest. Residual cash flow payments are accrued for as imbedded derivatives under FAS 133. The Company may terminate the exclusivity agreement for a cost of $250,000 for each month remaining under the exclusivity agreement from the date of termination until June 30, 2009, when it expires.

Borrowings under the Nonrecourse Agreement are nonrecourse to the Company, except for the assets within the entities established in connection with the financing agreement. The Nonrecourse Agreement contains a collections performance requirement, among other covenants, that, if not met, provides for cross-collateralization with any other portfolios financed through the Nonrecourse Agreement, in addition to other remedies.

Total debt outstanding under this facility was $40.0 million and $53.7 million as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, which included $4.8 million and $9.6 million, respectively, of accrued residual interest. The effective interest rate on these loans, including the residual interest component, was approximately 11.2 percent and 17.7 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and 10.4 percent and 11.4 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The nonrecourse credit facility contains certain covenants such as meeting minimum cumulative collection targets. As of September 30, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all required covenants.

 

11. Stockholders’ Equity:

The Company’s Series A 14% PIK Preferred Stock (“Series A”) is entitled to a dividend at an annual rate of 14 percent, and the Company’s Class L Common Stock (“Class L”) is entitled to a yield at an annual rate of 14 percent. The dividends and yields are calculated on February 28, May 31, August 31 and November 30 of each year. On February 28, 2008, May 31, 2008 and August 31, 2008, 49,108 shares, 80,879 and 83,159 shares respectively, of Series A were issued for the Series A “paid-in-kind” dividends. The yields for Class L are compounding and accumulate on the unreturned initial investment but are not declared until payment. As of September 30, 2008, the accumulated yield for shares of Class L was $25.9 million.

On January 2, 2008, the Company issued 22,484 shares of Series A to JPM as partial consideration for the acquisition of SST. Due to the related party nature of the acquisition (see Note 4), the remaining consideration of $8.1 million was a deemed cash dividend payment.

In connection with the OSI acquisition, the Company increased its authorized capital to the following amounts: 6,500,000 shares of Series A; 800,000 shares of Class L; and 4,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (“Class A”). The Company privately placed 802,262 shares of Series A, 37,738 shares of Class L and 1,012,261 shares of Class A for aggregate proceeds of $210.0 million. The entire amount of the proceeds was used to acquire OSI.

 

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12. Derivative Financial Instruments:

The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to minimize the impact of currency fluctuations on transactions and cash flows. These contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. The Company had forward exchange contracts for the purchase of 467.0 million Philippine pesos and 65.6 million Canadian dollars outstanding at September 30, 2008, which mature throughout 2008 and into 2009. The impact of the settlement of the Company’s foreign exchange cash flow hedges was recorded in payroll and related expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses and other income (expense) in the statement of operations. At September 30, 2008, the fair market value of all outstanding cash flow hedges was a net liability of $2.4 million, which was included in other liabilities. All of the accumulated gains and losses in other comprehensive income (loss) related to foreign exchange cash flow hedges at September 30, 2008, are expected to be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

The Company has interest rate swap agreements to minimize the impact of LIBOR fluctuations on interest payments on the Company’s floating rate debt. The interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges. The interest rate swaps cover an aggregate notional amount of $367.5 million. The Company is required to pay the counterparties quarterly interest payments at a weighted average fixed rate ranging from 3.41 to 4.89 percent, and receives from the counterparties variable quarterly interest payments based on LIBOR. The net interest paid or received is included in interest expense. As of September 30, 2008, the fair market value of the interest rate swaps was a net liability of $3.1 million, which was included in other liabilities.

The following presents the Company’s unrealized and realized gains (losses) relating to cash flow hedges (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Forward exchange contracts:

        

Unrealized net gains (losses)

   $ (790 )   $ 1,348     $ (3,441 )   $ 5,523  

Realized net gains (losses) reclassified into earnings

     (763 )     1,394       (1,027 )     1,414  

Interest rate swap agreements:

        

Unrealized net gains (losses)

     (2,587 )     (2,475 )     (2,660 )     116  

Realized net gains (losses) reclassified into earnings

     (1,357 )     (311 )     (2,836 )     (713 )

The Company’s nonrecourse credit facility relating to purchased accounts receivable contains contingent payments that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the estimated fair value of the embedded derivative was $4.8 million and $9.6 million, respectively. Changes in the fair market value of the embedded derivatives are recorded in interest expense on the statement of operations. During the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, interest expense was reduced by $461,000 and increased by $71,000 respectively, to reflect decreases and increases, respectively, in the fair value of the embedded derivatives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, interest expense was reduced by $4.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively, to reflect decreases in the fair value of the embedded derivatives.

The Company enters into interest rate cap contracts to minimize the impact of LIBOR fluctuations on transactions and cash flows. The Company had interest rate caps covering an aggregate notional amount of $517.7 million at September 30, 2008, with a weighted average LIBOR cap rate of 6.00 percent. The interest rate caps are not designated as cash flow hedges, and, accordingly, changes in fair market value, if any, are recorded in other income (expense) in the statement of operations. As of September 30, 2008, the fair market value of all outstanding interest rate caps was $239,000, which was included in other current assets.

 

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13. Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

The following are supplemental disclosures of cash flow information (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     2008    2007

Noncash investing and financing activities:

     

Fair value of assets acquired

   $ 143,960    $ 2,856

Liabilities assumed from acquisitions

     136,916      776

General and admin. expenses paid by SST parent

     —        1,208

Disposal of fixed assets

     —        740

Adjustments to purchased accounts receivable

     979      714

 

14. Commitments and Contingencies:

Purchase Commitments:

The Company enters into noncancelable agreements with various telecommunications companies, a foreign labor subcontractor in India and other vendors that require minimum purchase commitments. These agreements expire between 2008 and 2011. The following represents the future minimum payments, by year and in the aggregate, under noncancelable purchase commitments (amounts in thousands):

 

2008

   $ 33,827

2009

     29,943

2010

     27,476

2011

     9,540
      
   $ 100,786
      

The Company incurred $12.6 million and $14.8 million of expense in connection with these purchase commitments for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $40.4 million and $45.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Forward-Flow Agreements:

The Company has several fixed price agreements, or forward-flows, that obligate the Company to purchase, on a monthly basis, portfolios of charged-off accounts receivable meeting certain criteria. The forward flow agreements expire between November 2008 and December 2012, and the terms of the agreements vary; some may be terminated by the seller with either 30, 60 or 90 day written notice. The following represents the future forward-flow commitments by year (amounts in thousands):

 

4th quarter 2008

   $ 24,346

2009

     26,491

2010

     18,588

2011

     2,730

2012

     1,193
      
   $ 73,348
      

Litigation and Investigations:

The Company is party, from time to time, to various legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations incidental to its business. The Company continually monitors these legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations to determine the impact and any required accruals.

 

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14. Commitments and Contingencies (continued):

Litigation and Investigations (continued):

Fort Washington Flood:

In June 2001, the first floor of the Company’s Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, headquarters was severely damaged by a flood caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Allison. The Company subsequently decided to relocate its corporate headquarters to Horsham, Pennsylvania. The Company filed a lawsuit on August 14, 2001 in the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Civil Action No. 01-15576) against the current landlord and the former landlord of the Fort Washington facilities to terminate the leases and to obtain other relief. The landlord and the former landlord filed counter-claims against the Company. The Company maintains a reserve that it believes is adequate to address its exposure, if any, to this matter and plans to continue to contest this matter.

U.S. Department of Justice:

On February 24, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged certain civil damages of approximately $5.0 million. The alleged damages relate to a matter the Company reported to federal authorities and the client in 2003 involving three employees who engaged in unauthorized student loan consolidations in connection with a client contract. The responsible employees were terminated at that time in 2003. The Company does not agree with the allegations regarding damages and has and will continue to engage in discussions with the Department of Justice in an effort to amicably resolve the matter. The Company expects that actual damages incurred as a result of this incident, if any, will be covered by insurance.

Tax Matters:

In 2004, the Company received notice of a proposed reassessment from a foreign taxing authority relating to certain matters occurring from 1998 through 2001 regarding one of the Company’s subsidiaries. In September 2006, the Company received the formal notice of reassessment in the amount of $16.3 million including interest and penalties, converted as of September 30, 2008 ($14.6 million converted as of December 31, 2006), and in December 2006 the Company paid a deposit of $8.5 million including interest to contest the reassessment. The Company maintains a reserve that it believes is adequate to address its exposure to this matter.

The Company is under audit by the State of Texas relating to state sales tax on collection services. Under Texas law, both client and debtor need to be within the state to create a taxable transaction. The State of Texas issued an initial assessment, which was subsequently reduced to approximately $3.5 million after working with the Company’s clients. The Company paid this amount in March 2008.

New York and Texas Attorneys General:

In August 2006, the Company received a subpoena from the New York Attorney General and in April 2007 the Company received a subpoena from the Texas Attorney General requesting information relating to the Company’s debt collection practices in such states. The Company has responded to such subpoenas and provided certain information to the respective Attorneys General offices. The Company believes it is in compliance with the state laws of New York and Texas relating to debt collection practices in all material respects. However, no assurance can be given that any such inquiries or investigations will not result in a formal investigation or an enforcement action. Any such enforcement actions could result in fines as well as the suspension or termination of the Company’s ability to conduct business in such states.

Other:

The Company is involved in other legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. Management believes that none of these other legal proceedings, regulatory investigations or tax examinations will have a materially adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

 

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15. Segment Reporting:

As of September 30, 2008, the Company’s business consisted of three operating divisions: ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in note 2, “Accounting Policies.”

ARM provides accounts receivable management services to consumer and commercial accounts for all market sectors including financial services, healthcare, retail and commercial, telecommunications, utilities, education, and government. ARM serves clients of all sizes in local, regional, and national markets in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. ARM provides services to its U.S. customers through offices in the U.S., Canada, the Philippines, Panama, India, Antigua, Barbados and Mexico. In addition to traditional accounts receivable collections, these services include developing the client relationship beyond bad debt recovery and delinquency management, and delivering cost-effective accounts receivable solutions to all market sectors. ARM had total assets, net of any intercompany balances, of $1.3 billion and $913.7 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. ARM also provides accounts receivable management services to Portfolio Management. ARM recorded revenue of $20.3 million and $28.5 million for these services for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $65.9 million and $81.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The CRM division provides customer relationship management services to clients in the United States, Canada and Latin America through offices in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Panama and Barbados. CRM had total assets, net of any intercompany balances, of $330.8 million and $340.9 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. CRM also provides certain services to ARM. CRM recorded revenue of $929,000 and $115,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and $1.8 million and $302,000 for these services for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Portfolio Management purchases and manages defaulted consumer accounts receivable from consumer creditors such as banks, finance companies, retail merchants, utilities, healthcare companies and other consumer oriented companies. Portfolio Management had total assets, net of any intercompany balances, of $404.0 million and $423.4 million at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

The following tables represent the revenue, payroll and related expenses, selling, general, and administrative expenses, restructuring charges and income from operations before depreciation and amortization for each segment:

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
     (amounts in thousands)
     ARM    CRM    Portfolio
Management
    Eliminations     Total

Revenue

   $ 315,012    $ 91,671    $ (4,365 )   $ (21,262 )   $ 381,056

Payroll and related expenses

     152,428      64,865      1,949       (929 )     218,313

Selling, general and admin. expenses

     130,461      15,795      21,123       (20,333 )     147,046

Restructuring charges

     3,016      366      —         —         3,382
                                    

Income (loss) from operations before depreciation and amortization

   $ 29,107    $ 10,645    $ (27,437 )   $ —       $ 12,315
                                    

 

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15. Segment Reporting (continued):

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007
     (amounts in thousands)
     ARM    CRM    Portfolio
Management
    Eliminations     Total

Revenue

   $ 225,254    $ 83,141    $ 45,115     $ (28,571 )   $ 324,939

Payroll and related expenses

     103,791      62,265      1,884       (115 )     167,825

Selling, general and admin. expenses

     99,726      13,675      29,209       (28,456 )     114,154
                                    

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization

   $ 21,737    $ 7,201    $ 14,022     $ —       $ 42,960
                                    
     For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
     (amounts in thousands)
     ARM    CRM    Portfolio
Management
    Eliminations     Total

Revenue

   $ 922,990    $ 262,188    $ 33,139     $ (67,709 )   $ 1,150,608

Payroll and related expenses

     443,217      191,219      6,022       (1,832 )     638,626

Selling, general and admin. expenses

     375,082      45,825      68,453       (65,877 )     423,483

Restructuring charges

     7,428      2,822      —         —         10,250
                                    

Income (loss) from operations before depreciation and amortization

   $ 97,263    $ 22,322    $ (41,336 )   $ —       $ 78,249
                                    

Capital expenditures

   $ 15,052    $ 16,487    $ —       $ —       $ 31,539
     For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
     (amounts in thousands)
     ARM    CRM    Portfolio
Management
    Eliminations     Total

Revenue

   $ 695,272    $ 243,911    $ 132,605     $ (82,078 )   $ 989,710

Payroll and related expenses

     322,565      181,166      5,856       (302 )     509,285

Selling, general and admin. expenses

     303,675      39,565      84,589       (81,776 )     346,053
                                    

Income from operations before depreciation and amortization

   $ 69,032    $ 23,180    $ 42,160     $ —       $ 134,372
                                    

Capital expenditures

   $ 15,370    $ 3,786    $ —       $ —       $ 19,156

 

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16. Related Party Transactions:

The Company has agreed to pay OEP a management fee of $3.0 million per year, plus reimbursement of expenses, for management, advice and related services. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company incurred $750,000 and $2.3 million, respectively, relating to such management fees, which were included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

OEP is an affiliate of JPM, and JPM is a client of the Company. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company received fees for providing services to JPM of $3.2 million and $11.1 million, respectively. At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had accounts receivable of $12,100 and $138,000, respectively, due from JPM. Additionally, affiliates of Citigroup are investors of the Company, and Citigroup is a client of the Company. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company received fees for providing services to Citigroup of $16.2 million and $54.4 million, respectively. At September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company had accounts receivable of $3.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively, due from Citigroup.

In January 2008, the Company acquired SST for $13.4 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. SST was a wholly owned subsidiary of JPM. The $13.4 million of consideration paid to JPM for SST and the return to JPM of $4.0 million of cash that was not acquired was treated as dividends to JPM.

 

17. Recently Issued and Proposed Accounting Pronouncements:

FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”:

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”), which replaces FASB SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”). While SFAS 141(R) retains the fundamental requirements of SFAS 141 to use the purchase method for acquisitions, it broadens the scope to apply this method to all transactions in which one entity obtains control over one or more other businesses. Among other things, SFAS 141(R) requires that acquired businesses be recognized at their fair values at the date of acquisition, acquisition-related costs to be recognized separately from the acquisition, contingent assets and liabilities to be recognized at fair value at the date of acquisition and restructuring costs of the acquirer to be recognized separately from the acquisition. SFAS 141 (R) is effective for business combinations effected on or after the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 31, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. The Company has not completed its review and assessment of the impact of the adoption of SFAS 141(R).

FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51”:

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). This statement establishes accounting and reporting standards that require a noncontrolling interest, or minority interest, in a subsidiary to be presented in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet, net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest to be presented on the consolidated statement of income and sufficient disclosures to clearly distinguish between the interests of the parent and the noncontrolling interest, among other requirements. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. The Company is currently reviewing the standard to assess the impact of the adoption of SFAS 160.

FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”:

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). This statement requires enhanced disclosures for derivative instruments and hedging activities that include how and why an entity uses derivatives, how these instruments and the related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS 133 and related interpretations, and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the entity’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is currently reviewing the standard to assess the impact of the adoption of SFAS 161.

 

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17. Recently Issued and Proposed Accounting Pronouncements (continued):

 

FASB Staff Position 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets”:

In April 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets,” (“FSP 142-3”). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FSP 142-3 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company is currently reviewing FSP 142-3 to assess the impact of adoption.

FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”:

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). This statement identifies the sources of accounting principles and the framework for selecting the principles used in the preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States (the GAAP hierarchy). SFAS 162 is effective 60 days following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fair in Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” The Company is currently reviewing the standard to assess the impact of the adoption of SFAS 162.

 

18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information:

The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by certain domestic wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “Guarantors”). Non-guarantors consist of all non-domestic subsidiaries, certain subsidiaries engaged in financing the purchase of delinquent accounts receivable portfolios, portfolio joint ventures (which are engaged in portfolio financing transactions) and certain immaterial subsidiaries (collectively, the “Non-Guarantors”). The following tables present the consolidating financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors, together with eliminations, as of and for the periods indicated.

 

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18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Balance Sheet

September 30, 2008

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors    Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated

ASSETS

           

Current assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 22,143    $ 19,187     $ —       $ 41,330

Accounts receivable, trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     —         190,126      21,474       —         211,600

Purchased accounts receivable, current portion

     —         21,780      56,117       —         77,897

Deferred income taxes

     303       28,756      (217 )     —         28,842

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,292       44,878      7,267       —         54,437
                                     

Total current assets

     2,595       307,683      103,828       —         414,106
                                     

Property and equipment, net

     —         108,974      39,527       —         148,501
                                     

Other assets:

           

Goodwill

     —         764,352      83,320       —         847,672

Trade names

     —         96,397      2,847       —         99,244

Customer relationships and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization

     —         325,064      24,109       —         349,173

Purchased accounts receivable, net of current portion

     —         50,700      96,229       —         146,929

Investment in subsidiaries

     975,625       97,557      —         (1,073,182 )     —  

Other assets

     15,651       54,072      (21,184 )     —         48,539
                                     

Total other assets

     991,276       1,388,142      185,321       (1,073,182 )     1,491,557
                                     

Total assets

   $ 993,871     $ 1,804,799    $ 328,676     $ (1,073,182 )   $ 2,054,164
                                     

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

           

Current liabilities:

           

Long-term debt, current portion

   $ 6,054     $ 403    $ 18,602     $ —       $ 25,059

Intercompany (receivable) loan

     (151,955 )     69,791      82,164       —         —  

Income taxes payable

     —         —        15,277       —         15,277

Accounts payable

     750       21,805      2,786       —         25,341

Accrued expenses

     18,210       81,315      16,870       —         116,395

Accrued compensation and related expenses

     —         40,815      12,880       —         53,695

Deferred revenue

     —         43,223      408         43,631
                                     

Total current liabilities

     (126,941 )     257,352      148,987       —         279,398

Long-term liabilities:

           

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     636,159       389,785      21,921       —         1,047,865

Deferred income taxes

     (67,162 )     175,087      15,022       —         122,947

Other long-term liabilities

     1,196       7,364      9,098       —         17,658

Minority interest

     —         —        35,677       —         35,677

Stockholders’ equity

     550,619       975,211      97,971       (1,073,182 )     550,619
                                     

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 993,871     $ 1,804,799    $ 328,676     $ (1,073,182 )   $ 2,054,164
                                     

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Balance Sheet

December 31, 2007

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors    Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated

ASSETS

           

Current assets:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 17,755    $ 13,528     $ —       $ 31,283

Accounts receivable, trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

     —         162,030      21,414       —         183,444

Purchased accounts receivable, current portion

     —         7,899      64,718       —         72,617

Deferred income taxes

     430       15,988      (139 )     —         16,279

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,830       21,402      9,512       —         32,744
                                     

Total current assets

     2,260       225,074      109,033       —         336,367
                                     

Property and equipment, net

     —         88,579      45,880       —         134,459
                                     

Other assets:

           

Goodwill

     —         545,543      69,201       —         614,744

Trade names

     —         93,766      2,847       —         96,613

Customer relationships and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization

     —         250,247      29,855       —         280,102

Purchased accounts receivable, net of current portion

     —         18,038      154,930       —         172,968

Investment in subsidiaries

     802,824       89,557      —         (892,381 )     —  

Other assets

     17,303       23,543      1,900       —         42,746
                                     

Total other assets

     820,127       1,020,694      258,733       (892,381 )     1,207,173
                                     

Total assets

   $ 822,387     $ 1,334,347    $ 413,646     $ (892,381 )   $ 1,677,999
                                     

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

           

Current liabilities:

           

Long-term debt, current portion

   $ 9,341     $ 209    $ 15,094     $ —       $ 24,644

Intercompany (receivable) loan

     (188,345 )     91,563      96,782       —         —  

Accounts payable

     750       16,349      4,358       —         21,457

Accrued expenses

     9,566       63,082      21,503       —         94,151

Accrued compensation and related expenses

     —         18,269      13,948       —         32,217

Deferred revenue

     —         1,427      —         —         1,427
                                     

Total current liabilities

     (168,688 )     190,899      151,685       —         173,896

Long-term liabilities:

           

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     627,604       236,096      39,352       —         903,052

Deferred income taxes

     (45,193 )     141,178      30,418       —         126,403

Other long-term liabilities

     619       4,881      12,155       —         17,655

Minority interest

     —         —        48,948       —         48,948

Stockholders’ equity

     408,045       761,293      131,088       (892,381 )     408,045
                                     

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 822,387     $ 1,334,347    $ 413,646     $ (892,381 )   $ 1,677,999
                                     

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues:

          

Services

   $ —       $ 371,274     $ 96,080     $ (84,573 )   $ 382,781  

Portfolio

     —         7,186       (9,670 )     —         (2,484 )

Portfolio sales

     —         121       638       —         759  
                                        

Total revenues

     —         378,581       87,048       (84,573 )     381,056  
                                        
          

Operating costs and expenses:

          

Payroll and related expenses

     4       222,533       56,422       (60,646 )     218,313  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,120       134,347       35,506       (23,927 )     147,046  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     —         24,945       7,025       —         31,970  

Restructuring charges

     —         681       2,701       —         3,382  
                                        

Total operating costs and expenses

     1,124       382,506       101,654       (84,573 )     400,711  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (1,124 )     (3,925 )     (14,606 )     —         (19,655 )
                                        
          

Other income (expense):

          

Interest and investment income

     177       535       (456 )     —         256  

Interest expense

     (16,252 )     (7,873 )     (857 )     —         (24,982 )

Interest (expense) income to affiliate

     (646 )     2,386       (1,740 )     —         —    

Subsidiary income

     (15,523 )     (6,679 )     —         22,202       —    

Other income

     —         (1,891 )     —         —         (1,891 )
                                        
     (32,244 )     (13,522 )     (3,053 )     22,202       (26,617 )
                                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (33,368 )     (17,447 )     (17,659 )     22,202       (46,272 )

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (6,890 )     (1,890 )     (5,391 )     —         (14,171 )
                                        

(Loss) income before minority interest

     (26,478 )     (15,557 )     (12,268 )     22,202       (32,101 )

Minority interest

     —         —         5,623       —         5,623  
                                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (26,478 )   $ (15,557 )   $ (6,645 )   $ 22,202     $ (26,478 )
                                        

 

-27-


Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2007

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues:

          

Services

   $ —       $ 289,453     $ 79,365     $ (89,879 )   $ 278,939  

Portfolio

     —         6,662       29,056       —         35,718  

Portfolio sales

     —         6,923       3,359       —         10,282  
                                        

Total revenues

     —         303,038       111,780       (89,879 )     324,939  
                                        

Operating costs and expenses:

          

Payroll and related expenses

     3       169,980       58,999       (61,157 )     167,825  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,013       102,367       39,496       (28,722 )     114,154  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     —         18,744       7,468       —         26,212  
                                        

Total operating costs and expenses

     1,016       291,091       105,963       (89,879 )     308,191  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (1,016 )     11,947       5,817       —         16,748  
                                        

Other income (expense):

          

Interest and investment income

     (17 )     531       150       —         664  

Interest expense

     (16,276 )     (6,031 )     (2,244 )     —         (24,551 )

Interest (expense) income to affiliate

     (280 )     2,085       (1,805 )     —         —    

Subsidiary income

     6,251       (295 )     —         (5,956 )     —    

Other income

     —         826       —         —         826  
                                        
     (10,322 )     (2,884 )     (3,899 )     (5,956 )     (23,061 )
                                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (11,338 )     9,063       1,918       (5,956 )     (6,313 )

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (6,731 )     3,735       825       —         (2,171 )
                                        

(Loss) income before minority interest

     (4,607 )     5,328       1,093       (5,956 )     (4,142 )

Minority interest

     —         —         (465 )     —         (465 )
                                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (4,607 )   $ 5,328     $ 628     $ (5,956 )   $ (4,607 )
                                        

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues:

          

Services

   $ —       $ 1,107,384     $ 271,740     $ (264,745 )   $ 1,114,379  

Portfolio

     —         24,821       8,909       —         33,730  

Portfolio sales

     —         439       2,060       —         2,499  
                                        

Total revenues

     —         1,132,644       282,709       (264,745 )     1,150,608  
                                        

Operating costs and expenses:

          

Payroll and related expenses

     11       652,415       175,835       (189,635 )     638,626  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     3,222       386,854       108,517       (75,110 )     423,483  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     —         69,674       22,229       —         91,903  

Restructuring charges

     —         4,316       5,934       —         10,250  
                                        

Total operating costs and expenses

     3,233       1,113,259       312,515       (264,745 )     1,164,262  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (3,233 )     19,385       (29,806 )     —         (13,654 )
                                        

Other income (expense):

          

Interest and investment income

     146       1,066       (137 )     —         1,075  

Interest expense

     (48,304 )     (21,753 )     (335 )     —         (70,392 )

Interest (expense) income to affiliate

     (1,956 )     6,982       (5,026 )     —         —    

Subsidiary income

     (17,409 )     (17,962 )     —         35,371       —    

Other income

     —         (2,052 )     —         —         (2,052 )
                                        
     (67,523 )     (33,719 )     (5,498 )     35,371       (71,369 )
                                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (70,756 )     (14,334 )     (35,304 )     35,371       (85,023 )

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (20,291 )     3,125       (9,008 )     —         (26,174 )
                                        

(Loss) income before minority interest

     (50,465 )     (17,459 )     (26,296 )     35,371       (58,849 )

Minority interest

     —         —         8,384       —         8,384  
                                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (50,465 )   $ (17,459 )   $ (17,912 )   $ 35,371     $ (50,465 )
                                        

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC.

Consolidating Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues:

          

Services

   $ —       $ 870,103     $ 251,478     $ (265,361 )   $ 856,220  

Portfolio

     —         27,421       94,298       —         121,719  

Portfolio sales

     —         8,148       3,623       —         11,771  
                                        

Total revenues

     —         905,672       349,399       (265,361 )     989,710  
                                        

Operating costs and expenses:

          

Payroll and related expenses

     10       519,512       172,716       (182,953 )     509,285  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     3,075       296,808       128,578       (82,408 )     346,053  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     —         57,661       18,858       —         76,519  
                                        

Total operating costs and expenses

     3,085       873,981       320,152       (265,361 )     931,857  
                                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (3,085 )     31,691       29,247       —         57,853  
                                        

Other income (expense):

          

Interest and investment income

     7       1,527       664       —         2,198  

Interest expense

     (49,364 )     (15,612 )     (5,891 )     —         (70,867 )

Interest (expense) income to affiliate

     (4,972 )     9,967       (4,995 )     —         —    

Subsidiary income

     28,153       6,061       —         (34,214 )     —    

Other income

     —         1,896       —         —         1,896  
                                        
     (26,176 )     3,839       (10,222 )     (34,214 )     (66,773 )
                                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (29,261 )     35,530       19,025       (34,214 )     (8,920 )

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (20,891 )     11,417       5,788       —         (3,686 )
                                        

(Loss) income before minority interest

     (8,370 )     24,113       13,237       (34,214 )     (5,234 )

Minority interest

     —         —         (3,136 )     —         (3,136 )
                                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (8,370 )   $ 24,113     $ 10,101     $ (34,214 )   $ (8,370 )
                                        

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC

Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Consolidated  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (27,198 )   $ 72,806     $ 48,205     $ 93,813  
                                

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchases of accounts receivable

     —         (54,654 )     (53,141 )     (107,795 )

Collections applied to principal of purchased accounts receivable

     —         1,156       67,195       68,351  

Proceeds from sales and resales of purchased accounts receivable

     —         531       2,301       2,832  

Purchases of property and equipment

     —         (28,074 )     (3,465 )     (31,539 )

Proceeds from bonds and notes receivable

     —         928       —         928  

Net cash paid for acquisitions and related costs

     —         (322,517 )     (16,782 )     (339,299 )
                                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     —         (402,630 )     (3,892 )     (406,522 )
                                

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Repayment of notes payable

     —         (161 )     (28,190 )     (28,351 )

Borrowings under notes payable

     —         —         17,046       17,046  

Net borrowings under (repayments of) revolving credit facility

     24,500       —         —         24,500  

Repayment of borrowings under senior term loan

     —         (9,232 )     —         (9,232 )

Borrowings under senior term loan

     —         139,000       —         139,000  

Borrowings under (repayment of) intercompany notes payable

     (191,013 )     213,777       (22,764 )     —    

Payment of fees to acquire debt

     (10 )     (9,172 )     —         (9,182 )

Investment in subsidiary by minority interest

     —         —         2,436       2,436  

Return of investment in subsidiary to minority interest

     —         —         (9,234 )     (9,234 )

Issuance of stock, net

     209,719       —         —         209,719  

Payment of dividends

     (12,157 )     —         —         (12,157 )
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     31,039       334,212       (40,706 )     324,545  
                                

Effect of exchange rate on cash

     (3,841 )     —         2,052       (1,789 )
                                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —         4,388       5,659       10,047  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     —         17,755       13,528       31,283  
                                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ —       $ 22,143     $ 19,187     $ 41,330  
                                

 

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Table of Contents
18. Subsidiary Guarantor Financial Information (continued):

 

NCO GROUP, INC

Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

(Unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands)

 

     Parent     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Consolidated  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

   $ (52,155 )   $ 79,565     $ 24,474     $ 51,884  
                                

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Purchases of accounts receivable

     —         (5,875 )     (83,930 )     (89,805 )

Collections applied to principal of purchased accounts receivable

     —         6,203       61,284       67,487  

Proceeds from sales and resales of purchased accounts receivable

     —         6,420       10,475       16,895  

Purchases of property and equipment

     —         (12,972 )     (6,697 )     (19,669 )

Proceeds from bonds and notes receivable

     —         1,132       —         1,132  

Net cash paid for acquisitions and related costs

     —         (3,743 )     (2,239 )     (5,982 )
                                

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (8,835 )     (21,107 )     (29,942 )
                                

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Repayment of notes payable

     —         (468 )     (30,678 )     (31,146 )

Borrowings under notes payable

     —         —         32,621       32,621  

Principal payments on bonds and capital leases

     —         (335 )     —         (335 )

Net borrowings under (repayments of) revolving credit facility

     (5,000 )     —         —         (5,000 )

Repayment of borrowings under senior term loan

     (3,488 )     —         —         (3,488 )

Borrowings under senior term loan

     —         —         —         —    

Payment of fees to acquire debt

     (171 )     (530 )     —         (701 )

Investment in subsidiary by minority interest

     —         —         1,175       1,175  

Return of investment in subsidiary by minority interest

     —         —         (5,480 )     (5,480 )

Repayment of intercompany notes payable

     60,475       (67,845 )     7,370       —    
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     51,816       (69,178 )     5,008       (12,354 )
                                

Effect of exchange rate on cash

     —         —         1,139       1,139  
                                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (339 )     1,552       9,514       10,727  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     339       8,083       12,281       20,703  
                                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ —       $ 9,635     $ 21,795     $ 31,430  
                                

 

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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this Quarterly Report, other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the regulations thereunder), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements as to:

 

   

the Company’s expected future results of operations;

 

   

economic conditions;

 

   

the Company’s growth strategy;

 

   

fluctuations in quarterly operating results;

 

   

the integration of acquisitions;

 

   

the final outcome of the Company’s litigation with its former landlord;

 

   

the effects of terrorist attacks, war and the economy on the Company’s business;

 

   

expected increases in operating efficiencies;

 

   

anticipated trends in the business process outsourcing industry;

 

   

estimates of future cash flows and allowances for impairments of purchased accounts receivable;

 

   

estimates of intangible asset impairments and amortization expense of other intangible assets;

 

   

the effects of legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations;

 

   

the effects of changes in accounting pronouncements; and

 

   

statements as to trends or the Company’s or management’s beliefs, expectations and opinions.

The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “guidance,” “potential,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “confident,” and similar expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the Company’s management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of the Company’s future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties and may be affected by various factors that may cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

 

   

risks related to the Company’s substantial indebtedness incurred in connection with the Transaction;

 

   

the risk that the Company will not be able to implement its growth strategy as and when planned;

 

   

risks associated with growth and acquisitions;

 

   

the risk that the Company will not be able to realize operating efficiencies in the integration of its acquisitions;

 

   

fluctuations in quarterly operating results;

 

   

risks related to the timing of contracts;

 

   

risks related to purchased accounts receivable;

 

   

risks related to possible impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets;

 

   

risks related to union organizing efforts at the Company’s facilities;

 

   

risks associated with technology;

 

   

risks related to the final outcome of the Company’s litigation with its former landlord;

 

   

risks related to litigation, regulatory investigations and tax examinations;

 

   

risks related to past or possible future terrorist attacks;

 

   

risks related to natural disasters or the threat or outbreak of war or hostilities;

 

   

risks related to the domestic and international economies;

 

   

the risk that the Company will not be able to improve margins;

 

   

risks related to the Company’s international operations;

 

   

risks related to the availability of qualified employees, particularly in new or more cost-effective locations;

 

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risks related to currency fluctuations;

 

   

risks related to reliance on independent telecommunications service providers;

 

   

risks related to concentration of the Company’s clients in the financial services, telecommunications and healthcare sectors;

 

   

risks related to potential consumer resistance to outbound services;

 

   

risks related to the possible loss of key clients;

 

   

risks related to changes in government regulations affecting the teleservices and telecommunications industries;

 

   

risks related to competition from other outside providers of BPO services and the in-house operations of existing and potential clients; and

 

   

risks related to competition with other purchasers of accounts receivable.

The Company can give no assurance that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them does, what impact they will have on our results of operations and financial condition. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise. For additional information concerning the risks that affect us, see “Part II. Other Information – Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

On November 15, 2006, NCO Group, Inc. was acquired by an entity controlled by One Equity Partners and its affiliates, referred to as OEP, with participation by certain members of executive management and other co-investors, referred to as the Transaction. On February 27, 2007, NCO Group, Inc. was merged with and into the acquiring entity and the surviving corporation was renamed NCO Group, Inc.

We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our business operations through our subsidiaries. We are an international provider of business process outsourcing services, referred to as BPO, primarily focused on accounts receivable management, referred to as ARM, and customer relationship management, referred to as CRM, serving a wide range of clients in North America and abroad through our global network of over 125 offices. We also purchase and collect past due consumer accounts receivable from consumer creditors such as banks, finance companies, retail merchants, utilities, healthcare companies, and other consumer-oriented companies.

Our operating costs consist principally of payroll and related costs; selling, general and administrative costs; and depreciation and amortization. Payroll and related expenses consist of wages and salaries, commissions, bonuses, and benefits for all of our employees, including management and administrative personnel. Selling, general and administrative expenses include telephone, postage and mailing costs, outside collection attorneys and other third-party collection services providers, and other collection costs, as well as expenses that directly support operations, including facility costs, equipment maintenance, sales and marketing, data processing, professional fees, and other management costs. During the second half of 2007 and continuing into 2008, our payroll and related expenses increased due to the decline in the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar and the Philippine peso.

Toward the end of 2007 and continuing into 2008, the weakness in the U.S. economy significantly impacted our business. Further changes with the economic conditions in the U.S., either positive or negative, could have a significant impact on our business, including, but not limited to:

 

   

fluctuations in the volume of placements of accounts and the collectability of those accounts for our ARM contingency fee based services;

 

   

volume fluctuations in our ARM fixed fee based services;

 

   

volume fluctuations in our CRM services; and,

 

   

variability in the collectability of existing portfolios and the ability to purchase portfolios at acceptable prices for our Portfolio Management business.

We have grown rapidly, through both acquisitions as well as internal growth. On January 2, 2008, we acquired Systems & Services Technologies, Inc., referred to as SST, a third-party consumer receivable servicer, for $13.4 million. On February 29, 2008, we acquired Outsourcing Solutions Inc., referred to as OSI, a leading provider of

 

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business process outsourcing services, specializing primarily in accounts receivable management services, for $340.0 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company also acquired several smaller companies, all of which were providers of ARM services, for an aggregate purchase price of $8.3 million which was paid in cash.

On January 2, 2008, we acquired SST, a third-party consumer receivable servicer. Prior to the acquisition, SST was a wholly owned subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., referred to as JPM. JPM also wholly owns OEP, which as described above has had a controlling interest in us since the Transaction on November 15, 2006. Financial Accounting Standards Board, referred to as FASB, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations,” referred to as SFAS 141, states that a “business combination” excludes transfers of net assets or exchanges of equity interests between entities under common control. SFAS 141 also states that transfers of net assets or exchanges of equity interests between entities under common control should be accounted for similar to the pooling-of-interests method (“as-if pooling-of-interests”) in that the entity that receives the net assets or the equity interests initially recognizes the assets and liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts in the accounts of the transferring entity at the date of transfer. Because NCO and SST were under common control at the time of the SST acquisition, the transfer of assets and liabilities of SST was accounted for at historical cost in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. For financial accounting purposes, the acquisition is viewed as a change in reporting entity and, as a result, requires restatement of our financial statements for all periods subsequent to November 15, 2006, the date of the Transaction and the date at which common control of NCO and SST by JPM commenced.

In “as-if pooling-of-interests” accounting, financial statements of the previously separate companies for periods prior to the combination are restated on a combined basis to furnish comparative information. Accordingly, our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2007, the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 have been restated to include SST’s financial position information as of December 31, 2007, its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Our business currently consists of three operating divisions: ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2007

Revenue. Revenue increased $56.2 million, or 17.3 percent, to $381.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $324.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2008 included a $32.4 million impairment charge, including $169,000 in ARM for international portfolios, recorded for a valuation allowance against the carrying value of the portfolios.

Our operations are organized into three market specific divisions that include: ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, these divisions accounted for $315.0 million, $91.7 million and $(4.4) million of revenue, respectively. Included in ARM’s revenue was $20.3 million of intercompany revenue from Portfolio Management and included in CRM’s revenue was $929,000 of intercompany revenue from ARM, which was eliminated upon consolidation. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, these divisions accounted for $225.3 million, $83.1 million and $45.1 million of revenue, respectively. Included in ARM’s revenue was $28.6 million of intercompany revenue from Portfolio Management and included in CRM’s revenue was $115,000 of intercompany revenue from ARM, which was eliminated upon consolidation.

ARM’s revenue increased $89.8 million, or 39.9 percent, to $315.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $225.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in ARM’s revenue was primarily attributable to the acquisition of OSI on February 29, 2008, which added $103.8 million of revenue. This was offset in part by the weaker collection environment during 2008 and a $8.1 million decrease in fees from collection services performed for Portfolio Management.

Revenue for the CRM division increased $8.6 million, or 10.3 percent, to $91.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $83.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in CRM’s revenue was primarily due to increased client volume related to the implementation of new contracts during 2007, partially offset by lower volumes from certain existing clients due to the impact of the economy.

 

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Portfolio Management’s revenue decreased $49.5 million, or 110.0 percent, to $(4.4) million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $45.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Portfolio Management’s collections, excluding all portfolio sales, decreased $5.2 million, or 9.7 percent, to $48.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $53.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2008 included a $32.2 million impairment charge recorded for a valuation allowance against the carrying value of the portfolios. Excluding the effect of the impairment charge, Portfolio Management’s revenue represented 55 percent of collections for the three months ended September 30, 2008 as compared to 64.9 percent of collections, excluding all portfolio sales, for the three months ended September 30, 2007. Such decreases were attributable to the impairment charge on portfolios, as well as lower IRR’s, internal rate of return, on certain forward-flow purchase commitments. The remaining decrease in revenue and collections primarily reflects the effect of the weaker collection environment during 2008. Portfolio sales for the three months ended September 30, 2008 were $759,000 compared to $10.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007.

Payroll and related expenses. Payroll and related expenses increased $50.5 million to $218.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $167.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 57.3 percent from 51.7 percent. The increase of payroll and related expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue due to the $32.4 million impairment charge recorded on purchased accounts receivables in the third quarter of 2008. Included in ARM’s payroll and related expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was $929,000 and $115,000, respectively, of intercompany expense to CRM, for services provided to ARM.

ARM’s payroll and related expenses increased $48.6 million to $152.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $103.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 48.4 percent from 46.1 percent. Payroll and related expenses increased primarily due to the acquisition of OSI on February 29, 2008.

CRM’s payroll and related expenses increased $2.6 million to $64.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $62.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, but decreased as a percentage of revenue to 70.8 percent from 74.9 percent. The decrease as a percentage of revenue was primarily a result of our continuing deployment of additional staff in off-shore locations, where labor costs are cheaper.

Portfolio Management’s payroll and related expenses stayed the same at $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, and the three months ended September 30, 2007. Portfolio Management outsources all of its collection services to ARM and, therefore, has a relatively small fixed payroll cost structure.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $32.9 million to $147.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $114.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 38.6 percent from 35.1 percent. The increase of selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue is primarily attributable to the decrease in revenues due to the $32.4 million impairment charge recorded on purchased accounts receivables in the third quarter of 2008. Included in Portfolio Management’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was $20.3 million and $28.5 million, respectively, of intercompany expense to ARM, for services provided to Portfolio Management.

ARM’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $30.8 million to $130.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $99.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, but decreased as a percentage of revenue to 41.4 percent from 44.3 percent. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to leveraging our infrastructure over the larger revenue base. The dollar amount increase is attributable to the OSI acquisition.

CRM’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2.1 million to $15.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $13.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 17.2 percent from 16.5 percent. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to ramping up capacity due to increasing client volumes, in advance of the offsetting revenue generation.

 

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Portfolio Management’s selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $8.1 million to $21.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $29.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from lower servicing fees from ARM.

Restructuring charge. During the three months ended September 30, 2008, we incurred restructuring charges of $3.4 million related to the restructuring of our legacy operations to streamline our cost structure, in conjunction with the OSI acquisition. The charges consisted primarily of costs associated with the closing of redundant facilities and severance. The Company currently anticipates recording an additional $2.0 million to $4.0 million of restructuring charges in the fourth quarter of 2008 (see note 3 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q).

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased to $32.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $26.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The increase was attributable to amortization of the customer relationships resulting from the OSI acquisition.

Other income (expense). Interest expense increased slightly to $25.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2008, from $24.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007. The increase was attributable to additional borrowings under the senior credit facility which were primarily incurred to fund a portion of the acquisition of OSI. The impact of the additional borrowings was partially offset by lower floating interest rates on the senior credit facility and the senior notes. Other income (expense), net for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 included approximately $1.9 million of net losses and $477,000 of net gains, respectively, resulting from the settlement of certain foreign exchange contracts.

Income tax (benefit) expense. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, the effective income tax rate decreased to 30.6 percent from 34.4 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2007, due to losses in the domestic ARM and CRM businesses combined with income from certain foreign businesses which are not subject to income tax and less income attributable to minority interests.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007

Revenue. Revenue increased $160.9 million, or 16.3 percent, to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $989.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included a $63.2 million impairment charge, including $169,000 in ARM for international portfolios, recorded for a valuation allowance against the carrying value of the portfolios.

Our operations are organized into three market specific divisions that include: ARM, CRM and Portfolio Management. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, these divisions accounted for $923.0 million, $262.2 million and $33.1 million of revenue, respectively. Included in ARM’s revenue was $65.9 million of intercompany revenue from Portfolio Management and included in CRM’s revenue was $1.9 million of intercompany revenue from ARM, which was eliminated upon consolidation. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, these divisions accounted for $695.3 million, $243.9 million and $132.6 million of revenue, respectively. Included in ARM’s revenue was $81.8 million of intercompany revenue from Portfolio Management and included in CRM’s revenue was $302,000 of intercompany revenue from ARM, which was eliminated upon consolidation.

ARM’s revenue increased $227.7 million, or 32.8 percent, to $923.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $695.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in ARM’s revenue was primarily attributable to the acquisition of OSI on February 29, 2008, which added $245.4 million of revenue. This was offset in part by the weaker collection environment during 2008 and a $15.9 million decrease in fees from collection services performed for Portfolio Management.

Revenue for the CRM division increased $18.3 million, or 7.5 percent, to $262.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $243.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in CRM’s revenue was primarily due to increased client volume, related to the implementation of new contracts during 2007, partially offset by lower volumes from certain existing clients due to the impact of the economy.

 

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Portfolio Management’s revenue decreased $99.5 million, or 75.0 percent, to $33.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $132.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Portfolio Management’s collections, excluding all portfolio sales, decreased $18.6 million, or 10.6 percent, to $157.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $176.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 included a $63.0 million impairment charge recorded for a valuation allowance against the carrying value of the portfolios. Excluding the effect of the impairment charge, Portfolio Management’s revenue represented 59 percent of collections for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, as compared to 68.7 percent of collections, excluding all portfolio sales, for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The remaining decrease in revenue and collections primarily reflects the effect of the weaker collection environment during 2008. Portfolio sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $2.5 million compared to $11.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Payroll and related expenses. Payroll and related expenses increased $129.3 million to $638.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $509.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 55.5 percent from 51.5 percent. The increase of payroll and related expenses as a percentage of revenue is primarily attributable to the decrease in revenues due to the $63.2 million impairment charge recorded on purchased accounts receivables in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Included in ARM’s payroll and related expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was $1.8 million and $303,000, respectively, of intercompany expense to CRM, for services provided to ARM.

ARM’s payroll and related expenses increased $120.6 million to $443.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $322.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 48.0 percent from 46.4 percent. Payroll and related expenses increased primarily due to the acquisition of OSI on February 29, 2008.

CRM’s payroll and related expenses increased $10.0 million to $191.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $181.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, but decreased as a percentage of revenue to 72.9 percent from 74.3 percent. The decrease as a percentage of revenue was primarily a result of our continuing deployment of additional staff in off-shore locations, where labor costs are cheaper.

Portfolio Management’s payroll and related expenses increased $166,000 to $6.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $5.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Portfolio Management outsources all of its collection services to ARM and, therefore, has a relatively small fixed payroll cost structure.

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $77.4 million to $423.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $346.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 36.8 percent from 35.0 percent. The increase of selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue is primarily attributable to the decrease in revenue due to the $63.2 million impairment charge recorded on purchased accounts receivables in the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Included in Portfolio Management’s selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, was $65.9 million and $81.8 million, respectively, of intercompany expense to ARM, for services provided to Portfolio Management.

ARM’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $71.4 million to $375.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $303.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, but decreased as a percentage of revenue to 40.6 percent from 43.7 percent. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to leveraging our infrastructure over the larger revenue base. The dollar amount increase is attributable to the OSI acquisition.

CRM’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased $6.3 million to $45.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $39.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, and increased as a percentage of revenue to 17.5 percent from 16.2 percent. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was primarily attributable to ramping up capacity due to increasing client volumes, in advance of the offsetting revenue generation.

 

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Portfolio Management’s selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $16.1 million to $68.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $84.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily resulted from lower servicing fees from ARM.

Restructuring charge. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we incurred restructuring charges of $10.3 million related to the restructuring of our legacy operations to streamline our cost structure, in conjunction with the OSI acquisition. The charges consisted primarily of costs associated with the closing of redundant facilities and severance. The Company currently anticipates recording an additional $2.0 million to $4.0 million of restructuring charges in the fourth quarter of 2008 (see note 3 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q).

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased to $91.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $76.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to amortization of the customer relationships resulting from the OSI acquisition.

Other income (expense). Interest expense decreased to $70.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from $70.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The decrease was attributable to lower floating interest rates on the senior credit facility and the senior notes. The lower interest rates were partially offset by additional borrowings under the senior credit facility primarily to fund a portion of the acquisition of OSI. Other income (expense), net for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 included approximately $2.2 million of net losses and $847,000 of net gains, respectively, resulting from the settlement of certain foreign exchange contracts.

Income tax (benefit) expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the effective income tax rate decreased to 30.8 percent from 41.3 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, due to losses in the domestic ARM and CRM businesses combined with income from certain foreign businesses which are not subject to income tax and less income attributable to minority interests.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of cash have been cash flows from operations, including collections on purchased accounts receivable, bank borrowings, nonrecourse borrowings, and equity and debt offerings. Cash has been used for acquisitions, repayments of bank borrowings, purchases of equipment, purchases of accounts receivable, and working capital to support our growth.

The capital and credit markets have recently experienced significant volatility and if this continues, it is possible that our ability to access the capital and credit markets may be limited. Currently, our senior notes and senior subordinated notes are assigned ratings by certain rating agencies. Changes in our business environment, operating results, cash flows, or financial position could impact the ratings assigned by these rating agencies. Such significant volatility could also significantly affect the costs of borrowing, which could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We are currently in compliance with all of our debt covenants, but the future impact on the Company’s operations and financial projections from the challenging economic and business environment may impact our ability to meet our debt covenants in the future.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at this time, we believe that we will be able to finance our current operations, planned capital expenditure requirements, internal growth and debt service obligations, at least through the next twelve months, with the funds generated from our operations, with our existing cash and available borrowings under our senior credit facility and nonrecourse credit facility, and with our ability to obtain cash through additional equity and debt offerings.

 

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In connection with the Transaction on November 15, 2006, we repaid the Predecessor senior credit facility and entered into a new senior credit facility, referred to as the Credit Facility, to, in part, finance the Transaction and certain related costs and expenses. At the time of the Transaction, the Credit Facility consisted of a $465.0 million term loan and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility. Additionally, in connection with the Transaction, on November 15, 2006 we issued $165.0 million of floating rate senior notes and $200.0 million of 11.875 percent senior subordinated notes. As a result of the Transaction, we are significantly leveraged.

In January 2008, we issued 22,484 shares of Series A preferred stock, referred to as Series A, for merger consideration in connection with the acquisition of SST. In February 2008, we privately placed 802,262 shares of Series A, 37,738 shares of Class L common stock and 1,012,261 shares of Class A common stock for aggregate proceeds of $210.0 million. The entire amount of proceeds was used to acquire OSI. We amended the Credit Facility in connection with the OSI acquisition to, among other things, add $139.0 million to the term loan. The entire amount of this additional term loan was used to fund the remainder of the purchase price to acquire OSI.

The cash flow from our contingency collection business and our purchased portfolio business is dependent upon our ability to collect from consumers and businesses. 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 expected future cash flows.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities was $93.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to $51.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to the operating activities from OSI, which was acquired on February 29, 2008, and a decrease in accounts receivable, trade of $18.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to an increase of $5.2 million in the prior year, resulting from the collection of a large outstanding receivable balance during the current year period.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $406.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to $29.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable to net cash paid for acquisitions and related costs of $339.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily incurred in connection with the acquisition of OSI on February 29, 2008.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities was $324.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, compared to $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in cash provided by financing activities was due primarily to the additional borrowings of $139.0 million under our amended Credit Facility and the issuance of $210.0 million of stock, both of which were used primarily to fund the OSI acquisition. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we paid a deemed cash dividend of $12.2 million to JPM in connection with acquisition of SST.

Senior Credit Facility. On November 15, 2006 we entered into the Credit Facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. The Credit Facility consisted of a $465.0 million term loan and a $100.0 million revolving credit facility. In connection with the OSI acquisition, in February 2008 we amended the Credit Facility to add $139.0 million to the term loan. We are required to make quarterly principal repayments of $1.5 million on the term loan until its maturity in May 2013, at which time its remaining balance outstanding is due. We are also required to make annual prepayments of 50 percent, 25 percent or zero percent of our excess annual cash flow, based on our leverage ratio. The revolving credit facility requires no minimum principal payments until its maturity in November 2011. At September 30, 2008, the balance outstanding on the term loan was $590.1 million and the balance outstanding on the revolving credit facility was $71.5 million. The availability of the revolving credit facility is reduced by any unused letters of credit ($18.3 million at September 30, 2008). As of September 30, 2008, we had $10.2 million of remaining availability under the revolving credit facility.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility are collateralized by substantially all of our assets. The Credit Facility contains certain financial and other covenants such as maintaining a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, and includes restrictions on, among other things, acquisitions, the incurrence of additional debt, investments, disposition of assets, liens and dividends and other distributions. If an event of default, such as failure to comply with covenants or a change of control, were to occur under the Credit Facility, the lenders would be entitled to

 

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declare all amounts outstanding under it immediately due and payable and foreclose on the pledged assets. We were in compliance with all required financial covenants and we were not aware of any events of default as of September 30, 2008.

Senior Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes. In connection with the Transaction, on November 15, 2006 we issued $165.0 million of floating rate senior notes due 2013, referred to as the Senior Notes, and $200.0 million of 11.875 percent senior subordinated notes due 2014, referred to as the Senior Subordinated Notes, collectively referred to as the Notes. The Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior basis with respect to the Senior Notes and on a senior subordinated basis with respect to the Senior Subordinated Notes, in each case by all of our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than certain subsidiaries and joint ventures engaged in financing the purchase of delinquent accounts receivable portfolios and certain immaterial subsidiaries).

The Senior Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are senior in right of payment to all existing and future senior subordinated indebtedness, including the Senior Subordinated Notes, and all future subordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 4.875 percent, reset quarterly. We may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 15, 2008 at varying redemption prices depending on the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The Senior Subordinated Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Senior Notes and borrowings under the Credit Facility. We may redeem the Senior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 15, 2010 at varying redemption prices depending on the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest. We also may redeem some or all of the Senior Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2008 and some or all of the Senior Subordinated Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2010, at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the respective Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and an additional premium. Finally, subject to certain conditions, we may redeem up to 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2008 and up to 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes at any time prior to November 15, 2009 with the net proceeds of a sale of our capital stock at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the respective Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and an additional premium.

The indentures governing the Notes contain a number of covenants that limit our and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability, among other things, to: incur additional indebtedness and issue certain preferred stock, pay certain dividends, acquire shares of capital stock, make payments on subordinated debt or make investments, place limitations on distributions from restricted subsidiaries, issue or sell stock of restricted subsidiaries, guarantee indebtedness, sell or exchange assets, enter into transactions with affiliates, create certain liens, engage in unrelated businesses, and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. In addition, upon a change of control, we are required to offer to repurchase all of the Notes then outstanding, at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of their principal amount, plus any accrued interest to the date of repurchase.

Upon certain events of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25 percent in the aggregate principal amount of the notes, then outstanding, may, and the trustee at the request of the holders will, declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the notes to be immediately due and payable. In the event a court enters a decree or order for relief against us in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, the court appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official or for all or substantially all of our property and assets or the winding up or liquidation of our affairs and, in each case, such decree or order remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the notes then outstanding will automatically become and be immediately due and payable. Additionally, if we or any subsidiary guarantor commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official or for all or substantially all of our property and assets or substantially all of the property and assets of a significant subsidiary (as defined in the indentures) or effect any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the notes then outstanding will automatically become and be immediately due and payable.

 

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Nonrecourse Credit Facility. We have a nonrecourse credit facility and an exclusivity agreement, collectively referred to as the Nonrecourse Agreement. The Nonrecourse Agreement provides that all purchases of accounts receivable by us with a purchase price in excess of $1.0 million are first offered to the lender for financing at its discretion. If the lender chooses to participate in the financing of a portfolio of accounts receivable, the financing may be structured, depending on the size and nature of the portfolio to be purchased, either as a borrowing arrangement or under various equity sharing arrangements. The lender will finance non-equity borrowings with floating interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus 2.50 percent, or as negotiated. These borrowings are nonrecourse to us and are due two years from the date of each respective loan, unless otherwise negotiated. As additional return on the debt financed portfolios, the lender receives residual cash flows, as negotiated, which is defined as all cash collections after servicing fees, floating rate interest, repayment of the borrowing, and our initial investment, including interest. We may terminate the Nonrecourse Agreement for a cost of $250,000 for each month remaining under the Nonrecourse Agreement from the date of termination until June 30, 2009, when the Nonrecourse Agreement expires. Total debt outstanding under this facility as of September 30, 2008 was $40.0 million, including $4.8 million of accrued residual interest. As of September 30, 2008, we were in compliance with all required covenants.

Borrowings under the Nonrecourse Agreement are nonrecourse to us, except for the assets within the entities established in connection with the financing agreement. The Nonrecourse Agreement contains a collections performance requirement, among other covenants, that, if not met, provides for cross-collateralization with any other portfolios financed through the agreement, in addition to other remedies.

Contractual Obligations. There have been no material changes, outside the ordinary course of our business, to our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007 as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, except as disclosed below.

In February 2008, we amended the senior credit facility in connection with the OSI acquisition to, among other things, add $139.0 million to the term loan. We are now required to make annual principal repayments of $6.1 million on the term loan until its maturity in May 2013, at which its remaining balance outstanding is due (see note 10 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q).

Market Risk

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of business, including the impact of interest rate changes, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in corporate tax rates, and inflation. We employ risk management strategies that may include the use of derivatives, such as interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, and foreign currency forwards and options to manage these exposures. We do not enter into derivatives for trading purposes.

Foreign Currency Risk. Foreign currency exposures arise from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency and from foreign denominated revenue and profit translated into U.S. dollars. The primary currencies to which we are exposed include the Canadian dollar, the British pound, the Australian dollar and the Philippine peso. Due to the size of the Canadian and Philippine operations, we currently use forward exchange contracts to limit potential losses in earnings or cash flows from adverse foreign currency exchange rate movements. These contracts are entered into to protect against the risk that the eventual cash flows resulting from such contracts will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. Our objective is to maintain economically balanced currency risk management strategies that provide adequate downside protection. A five percent increase or decrease in the Canadian exchange rate could have an annual impact of approximately $4.0 million on our business, excluding the impact of foreign currency hedges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we continued to see volatility of the U.S. dollar, primarily as it relates to the Canadian dollar and the Philippine peso. We believe this trend may continue, and if so, it could have a negative impact on our future results of operations.

Interest Rate Risk. At September 30, 2008, we had $866.6 million in outstanding variable rate borrowings. A material change in interest rates could adversely affect our operating results and cash flows. A 25 basis-point increase in interest rates could increase our annual interest expense by $125,000 for each $50 million of variable debt outstanding for the entire year. We currently use interest rate swap agreements and interest rate cap agreements in a effort to limit potential losses from adverse interest rate changes.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

General. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe the following accounting policies and estimates are the most critical and could have the most impact on our results of operations: goodwill, other intangible assets and purchase accounting, revenue recognition for purchased accounts receivable, income taxes, and allowance for doubtful accounts. These and other critical accounting policies are described in note 2 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q, and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and note 2 to our 2007 financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we did not make any material changes to our estimates or methods by which estimates are derived with regard to our critical accounting policies, except for the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” referred to as SFAS 157, on January 1, 2008.

Effective January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS 157. Among other things, SFAS 157 requires enhanced disclosures about assets and liabilities carried at fair value. As defined in SFAS 157, 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 (exit price). In connection with the evaluation of SFAS 157, we also evaluated the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115,” referred to as SFAS 159. SFAS 159 provides a business entity with an option to measure and report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value, while requiring the entity to report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. An entity may decide whether to elect the fair value option for each eligible item on its election date, subject to certain requirements as described in the statement. As of the January 1, 2008 effective date, we elected not to apply this standard to any of our existing eligible assets or liabilities; therefore there was no impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Although we did not elect to adopt the provisions of SFAS 159, fair value is used on a recurring basis for those assets and liabilities in which fair value is the primary basis of accounting. Examples of these include derivative instruments and contingent payment provisions in our nonrecourse credit facility relating to purchased accounts receivable accounted for as embedded derivatives. Additionally, fair value is used on a non-recurring basis to evaluate assets or liabilities for impairment or for disclosure purposes in accordance with SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” Examples of these non-recurring uses of fair value include purchased accounts receivable, notes receivable, and long-term debt.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

For a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements, see note 17 in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Included in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

As of December 31, 2007, our control procedures did not include adequate review over the completeness and accuracy of our income tax accounts to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Beginning in 2007, we out-sourced the preparation of the income tax provision to a third party and did not apply a sufficient review of the third party’s documentation to determine the accuracy and completeness of such provision. This deficiency resulted in material errors in our preliminary income tax provision in our 2007 consolidated financial statements. Our management determined that this control deficiency constituted a material weakness as of December 31, 2007. We corrected the provision for income taxes and related balances prior to the issuance of the 2007 consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the 2007 consolidated financial statements reflect the corrected provision for income taxes and related balances. To remediate this material weakness, our management is in the process of implementing review controls to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the provision for income taxes and related balances in the future.

A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a control deficiency (within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) Auditing Standard No. 2), or combination of control deficiencies, that adversely affects a company’s ability to initiate, authorize, record, process or report external financial data reliably in accordance with GAAP that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Therefore, the control deficiency that resulted in material errors in our preliminary income tax provision in our 2007 consolidated financial statements represented a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e), as of September 30, 2008. Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2008, due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as discussed above, in reaching a reasonable level of assurance that (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2008, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, there were no such changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2008. In March 2008, our management began to implement a process to review controls to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the provision for income taxes and related balances in the future.

A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all controls systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

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Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is party, from time to time, to various legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations incidental to its business. The Company continually monitors these legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations to determine the impact and any required accruals.

Fort Washington Flood:

In June 2001, the first floor of the Company’s Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, headquarters was severely damaged by a flood caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Allison. The Company subsequently decided to relocate its corporate headquarters to Horsham, Pennsylvania. The Company filed a lawsuit on August 14, 2001 in the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Civil Action No. 01-15576) against the current landlord and the former landlord of the Fort Washington facilities to terminate the leases and to obtain other relief. The landlord and the former landlord filed counter-claims against the Company. The Company maintains a reserve that it believes is adequate to address its exposure to this matter and plans to continue to contest this matter.

U.S. Department of Justice:

On February 24, 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged certain civil damages of approximately $5.0 million. The alleged damages relate to a matter the Company reported to federal authorities and the client in 2003 involving three employees who engaged in unauthorized student loan consolidations in connection with a client contract. The responsible employees were terminated at that time in 2003. The Company does not agree with the allegations regarding damages and has and will continue to engage in discussions with the Department of Justice in an effort to amicably resolve the matter. The Company expects that actual damages incurred as a result of this incident, if any, will be covered by insurance.

Tax Matters:

In 2004, the Company received notice of a proposed reassessment from a foreign taxing authority relating to certain matters occurring from 1998 through 2001 regarding one of the Company’s subsidiaries. In September 2006, the Company received the formal notice of reassessment in the amount of $16.3 million including interest and penalties, converted as of September 30, 2008 ($14.6 million converted as of December 31, 2006), and in December 2006 the Company paid a deposit of $8.5 million including interest. The Company maintains a reserve that it believes is adequate to address its exposure to this matter and has contested the reassessment.

The Company is under audit by the State of Texas relating to state sales tax on collection services. Under Texas law, both client and debtor need to be within the state to create a taxable transaction. The State of Texas issued an initial assessment, which was subsequently reduced to approximately $3.5 million after working with the Company’s clients. The Company paid this amount in March 2008.

New York and Texas Attorneys General:

In August 2006, the Company received a subpoena from the New York Attorney General and in April 2007 the Company received a subpoena from the Texas Attorney General requesting information relating to the Company’s debt collection practices in such states. The Company has responded to such inquiries or investigations and provided certain information to the respective Attorneys General offices. The Company believes it is in compliance with the state laws of New York and Texas relating to debt collection practices in all material respects. However, no assurance can be given that any such inquiries or investigations will not result in a formal investigation or an enforcement action. Any such enforcement actions could result in fines as well as the suspension or termination of the Company’s ability to conduct business in such states.

 

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Other:

The Company is involved in other legal proceedings, regulatory investigations and tax examinations from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. Management believes that none of these other legal proceedings, regulatory investigations or tax examinations will have a materially adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, referred to as the “2007 Form 10-K” in this filing and the Prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to section 424(b)(3) on July 3, 2008, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risk factors in our 2007 Form 10-K have not materially changed. The risks described in our 2007 Form 10-K are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

  (a) None

 

  (b) Not applicable

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

12   Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
32.1*   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  * This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the exhibits filed with the Company’s quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2008. Exhibits 31.1, 31.2, 32.1 and 32.2 are not filed with and should not be deemed a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 13, 2008     By:  

/s/ Michael J. Barrist

      Michael J. Barrist
      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
      (principal executive officer)
Date: November 13, 2008     By:  

/s/ John R. Schwab

      John R. Schwab
      Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
      (principal financial and accounting officer)

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

12   Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
31.1*   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
31.2*   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
32.1*   Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*   Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

* This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the exhibits filed with the Company’s quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2008. Exhibits 31.1, 31.2, 32.1 and 32.2 are not filed with and should not be deemed a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

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