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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2010
Registration No. 333-163876
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1
to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Delaware | 48-1090909 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
8875 Aero Drive, Suite 200
San Diego, California 92123
(858) 445-4581
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Ronald E. Naves, Jr.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
8875 Aero Drive, Suite 200
San Diego, California 92123
(877) 445-4581
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
David R. Snyder, Esq.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
501 W. Broadway, Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 9101
(619) 234-5000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ¨ | Accelerated filer | x | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ | |||
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||
| Debt Securities (2) |
||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) |
||||
| Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) |
||||
| Depositary Shares (3) |
||||
| Warrants |
||||
| Total |
$150,000,000(3)(4) | $10,695.00(4)(5) | ||
| (1) | Such indeterminate number or amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, and warrants to purchase any combination of the foregoing securities, as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices, with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies, either by the Registrant or the selling securityholders. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder. |
| (2) | Subject to footnote (1), there are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate principal amount or number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock that may be issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, debt securities or preferred stock registered hereunder or upon exercise of warrants registered hereunder, as the case may be. |
| (3) | Subject to footnote (1), there are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of depositary shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. If the Registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests, and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement. |
| (4) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. Pursuant to Rule 457(o) and General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum offering price of all the securities listed, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered or proposed maximum offering price per unit. |
| (5) | The registration fee was previously paid. |
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We and the selling securityholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject To Completion, Dated May 18, 2010
PROSPECTUS
$150,000,000
Encore Capital Group, Inc.
Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Common Stock
Offered by Selling Securityholders
We may, from time to time, offer and sell debt securities, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, common stock or warrants, either separately or in units, in one or more offerings. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or debt securities. In addition, certain selling securityholders to be identified in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell these securities from time to time, in amounts, at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time the securities are offered. We will specify in the accompanying prospectus supplement more specific information about any such offering. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $150,000,000. We will not receive any of proceeds from the sale of common stock by selling securityholders.
We may offer these securities independently or together in any combination for sale directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers or agents. We will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and their compensation in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus may not be used to sell any of these securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ECPG.” On May 17, 2010, the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $21.21 per share.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2010.
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You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the registration statement. We have not, and the selling securityholders have not, authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and the selling securityholders are not making an offer to sell these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, or incorporated by reference, is accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of debt securities, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, common stock or warrants, either separately or in units, and the selling securityholders may, from time to time, offer and sell common stock, in one or more offerings with a maximum aggregate offering price of $150,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or the selling securityholders may offer. Each time we or the selling securityholders sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the offered securities. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. The registration statement we filed with the SEC includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” before making your investment decision.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to “Encore,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Encore Capital Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering will contain a discussion of risks applicable to an investment in the securities offered. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We are a systems-driven purchaser and manager of charged-off consumer receivable portfolios and, through our wholly owned subsidiary Ascension Capital Group, Inc. (“Ascension”), a provider of bankruptcy services to the finance industry. We acquire receivable portfolios at deep discounts from their face values using our proprietary valuation process that is based upon an analysis of the individual consumer attributes of the underlying accounts. Based upon our ongoing analysis of these accounts, we employ a dynamic mix of collection strategies to maximize our return on investment. The receivable portfolios we purchase consist primarily of unsecured, charged-off domestic consumer credit card, auto loan deficiency and telecom receivables purchased from national financial institutions, major retail credit corporations, telecom companies and resellers of such portfolios. From September 2005 through June 2007, we also purchased healthcare receivables from hospitals and resellers of healthcare receivables. In September 2007, we exited our healthcare purchasing and internal collection activities, although we are still receiving collections from certain healthcare portfolios that we own. Acquisitions of receivable portfolios are financed from operating cash flows and borrowings from third parties. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of our debt. Encore is a Delaware holding company whose assets consist of investments in its subsidiaries.
We have been in the collection business for 56 years and started purchasing portfolios for our own account approximately 19 years ago. From our inception through December 31, 2009, we have invested approximately $1.4 billion to acquire 28.8 million consumer accounts with a face value of approximately $43.8 billion.
We have established certain relationships with credit card issuers, other lenders and resellers that allow us to purchase portfolios directly through negotiated transactions, and we participate in the auction-style purchase processes that typify our industry. In addition, we enter into “forward flow” arrangements in which we agree to buy receivables that meet agreed upon parameters over the course of the contract term.
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We evaluate each portfolio for purchase using the proprietary valuation and underwriting processes developed by our in-house team of statisticians. Unlike many of our competitors, which we believe primarily base their purchase decisions on numerous aggregated portfolio-level factors, including the originator, the type of receivables to be purchased, or the number of collection agencies the accounts have been placed with previously, we base our purchase decisions primarily on our analysis of the specific accounts included in a portfolio. Based upon this analysis, we determine a value for each account, which we aggregate to produce a valuation of the entire portfolio. We believe this capability allows us to perform more accurate valuations of receivable portfolios. We have successfully applied this methodology to receivables across multiple asset classes.
After we purchase a portfolio, we continuously refine our analysis of the accounts to determine the best strategy for collection. As with our purchase decisions, our collection strategies are based on account level criteria. Our collection strategies include:
| • | the use of a nationwide network of collection attorneys to pursue legal action where appropriate; |
| • | outbound calling, driven by proprietary, predictive software, by our own collection workforce located at our three domestic call centers and our international call center in India; |
| • | the use of multiple third party collection agencies; |
| • | direct mail campaigns coordinated by our in-house marketing group; |
| • | the transfer of accounts to a credit card provider, generating a payment to us; and |
| • | the sale of accounts where appropriate. |
Encore was incorporated in Delaware in 1999. Our principal executive offices are located at 8875 Aero Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92123, and our telephone number is (877) 445-4581.
When used in this prospectus, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “could,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or otherwise implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will discuss many of these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in any prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” Additional cautionary statements or discussions of risks and uncertainties that could affect our results or the achievement of the expectations described in forward-looking statements may also be contained in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Unless we state otherwise in the accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, financing of capital expenditures, repayment or redemption of existing indebtedness, and future acquisitions and strategic investment opportunities. Pending the application of net proceeds, we expect to invest the net proceeds in investment grade, interest-bearing securities. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by selling securityholders.
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The selling securityholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling securityholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling securityholders in connection with sales by them. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including, but not limited to, all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and accountants.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated are set forth in the following table. We have not included a ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends because we do not have any preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
| Year Ended December 31, | Quarter Ended March 31, 2010 | |||||||||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1) |
2.48 | 2.02 | 1.53 | 2.08 | 4.05 | 4.54 | ||||||
| (1) | The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings before taxes plus fixed charges by fixed charges. Fixed charges means the sum of the following: (i) interest expense (including interest expense from capital leases), (ii) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, and (iii) the estimated portion of rental expense deemed by us to be representative of the interest factor of rental payments under operating leases. |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities. You should also read the indenture under which the debt securities are to be issued. We have filed a form of indenture governing different types of debt securities with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.
We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series. The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee named in the indenture. These debt securities that we may issue include senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, convertible debt securities and exchangeable debt securities. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. For each series of debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement for the series may change and supplement the summary below.
General Terms of the Indenture
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and they may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us. For each series of debt securities, any restrictive covenants for those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for United States federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
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You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for a description of the following terms of the debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and by this prospectus:
| • | the title and authorized denominations of those debt securities; |
| • | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities; |
| • | the date or dates on which principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of that series is payable; |
| • | interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity; |
| • | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions; |
| • | if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto; |
| • | the place or places where and the manner in which principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of that series will be payable and the place or places where those debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange; |
| • | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which those debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or the option of a holder of those securities, if we or a holder is to have that option; |
| • | our obligation or right, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase those debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder of those securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation; |
| • | the terms, if any, on which the debt securities of that series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to our other debt; |
| • | the denominations in which those debt securities will be issuable; |
| • | if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations; |
| • | whether those debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons; |
| • | whether any securities of that series are to be issued in whole or in part the form of one or more global securities and the depositary for those global securities; |
| • | if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in which payment of principal of or any premium or interest on those debt securities will be payable; |
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| • | if the principal of or any premium or interest on the debt securities of that series is to be payable, or is to be payable at our election or the election of a holder of those securities, in securities or other property, the type and amount of those securities or other property, or the manner of determining that amount, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made; |
| • | the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus; |
| • | conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto; |
| • | whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture; |
| • | the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities; |
| • | the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount; and |
| • | any other specific terms of any debt securities. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will present material United States federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:
| • | the conversion or exchange price; |
| • | the conversion or exchange period; |
| • | provisions regarding our ability or the ability of any holder to convert or exchange the debt securities; |
| • | events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and |
| • | provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities. |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
The terms of the indenture prevent us from (i) consolidating or merging with or into, or transferring or leasing all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, unless the successor corporation or person to which our assets are transferred or leased is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture or (ii) completing such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, has occurred and is continuing. When the person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.
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This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control affecting us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.
Events of Default
The indenture provides that the following will be “events of default” with respect to any series of debt securities:
| • | failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; |
| • | failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise and, in the case of technical or administrative difficulties, only if such default persists for a period of more than three business days; |
| • | failure to make sinking fund payments when due and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
| • | failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required; |
| • | events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or |
| • | any other event of default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities. |
An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. For each series of debt securities, any modifications to the above events of default will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement for those debt securities.
The indenture provides that if an event of default specified in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullets above occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the fifth bullet above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all those debt securities (or, in the case of discount securities or indexed securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) will be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. In certain cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of holders of all those debt securities, rescind and annul a declaration of acceleration.
The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:
| • | the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of such default; |
| • | the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action; |
| • | the requesting holders have offered the trustee indemnity for the reasonable expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action; |
| • | the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request and offer of indemnity; and |
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| • | the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series. |
We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.
We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within one year. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:
| • | we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or government obligations denominated in the currency of the debt securities, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and any premium and interest on, all outstanding debt securities of the series; and |
| • | we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, and any premium and interest payments on, the series of debt securities. |
In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on that date.
Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:
| • | evidence the assumption by a successor entity of our obligations; |
| • | add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of debt securities, or to surrender any rights or power conferred upon us; |
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| • | add any additional events of default; |
| • | cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture; |
| • | add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply; |
| • | secure any debt securities; |
| • | establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series; |
| • | evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee; |
| • | modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or under any similar federal statute later enacted, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the Trust Indenture Act; and |
| • | make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not be inconsistent with any provision of the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification. |
The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of each series of debt securities affected by such supplemental indenture then outstanding, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or any supplemental indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:
| • | extend the final maturity of any debt security; |
| • | reduce the principal amount or premium, if any; |
| • | reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest; |
| • | reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration; |
| • | change the currency in which the principal, and any premium or interest, is payable; |
| • | impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; |
| • | if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or |
| • | reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture or for waivers of compliance with or defaults under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series. |
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The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of that series waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:
| • | a default in the payment of, any premium and any interest on, or principal of, any such debt security held by a nonconsenting holder; or |
| • | a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected. |
Registered Global Securities and Book Entry System
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in book-entry form and will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities. We will deposit any registered global securities with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:
| • | by the depositary for the registered global security to its nominee; |
| • | by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or |
| • | by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor. |
The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion of the series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:
| • | ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for such registered global security, these persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants; |
| • | upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants; |
| • | any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and |
| • | ownership of beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of the ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security for interests of participants, and on the records of participants for interests of persons holding through participants. |
The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:
| • | will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names; |
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| • | will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and |
| • | will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the relevant indenture. |
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. Neither we nor the trustee, or any other agent of ours or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.
If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.
We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities.” We will deposit these securities with a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the applicable terms and procedures. These will include the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, in proportion to the series represented by a bearer global security.
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Concerning the Trustee
The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.
The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise those rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.
No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors
The indenture provides that no past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee of ours, any of our affiliates, or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of May 18, 2010, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. We may issue preferred stock, in series, with such designations, powers, preferences and other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as our board of directors may authorize, without further action by our stockholders, including:
| • | the distinctive designation of each series and the number of shares that will constitute the series; |
| • | the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series and the terms and conditions of the voting rights; |
| • | the dividend rate on the shares of the series, the dates on which dividends are payable, any restriction, limitation or condition upon the payment of dividends, whether dividends will be cumulative, and the dates from and after which dividends shall accumulate; |
| • | the prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable; |
| • | the terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series, if such a fund is provided; |
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| • | any preferential amount payable upon shares of the series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon the distribution of any of our assets; and |
| • | the prices or rates of conversion or exchange at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged into other securities, if the shares are convertible or exchangeable. |
The particular terms of any series of preferred stock, and the transfer agent and registrar for that series, will be described in a prospectus supplement. All preferred stock offered, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable. Any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations with respect to any preferred stock offered under this prospectus will also be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the relevant deposit agreement and the depositary receipts with respect to the depositary shares relating to any particular series of preferred stock. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, will define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of depositary shares.
General
If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.
The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.
If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.
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Conversion, Exchange, Redemption and Liquidation
If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.
The terms on which the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock of any series may be redeemed, and any amounts distributable upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.
Voting
When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.
Amendments
We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.
Termination
We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
| • | the depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares, or |
| • | we have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares. |
Payment of Fees and Expenses
We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.
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Resignation and Removal of Depositary
At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.
Reports
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our restated certificate of incorporation to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.
This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. This description is only a summary. Our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws for additional information before you buy any of our common stock or other securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
General. We are authorized to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock. As of May 14, 2010, there were 23,617,927 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in the election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they so choose.
Dividends. Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Other Rights. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and the shares of common stock offered, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and our Charter and Bylaws
The provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws described below may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us.
Delaware Law. While we are not subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers because we opted out of those provisions with an express statement in our restated certificate of incorporation which was filed in 1999 at the time of our initial public offering, we do have a provision in our restated certificate of incorporation that operates similar to Section 203, as described below.
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Charter. Our restated certificate of incorporation precludes an “interested stockholder” (generally a holder of 15% or more of our common stock), from engaging in a merger, asset sale or other business combination with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless one of the following occurs:
| • | prior to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested stockholder; |
| • | the stockholder owned at least 85% of our outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by directors who were also officers or held in certain employee stock plans, upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in a stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; or |
| • | the business combination was approved by the board of directors and by two-thirds of our outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the interested stockholder. |
Our charter defines “business combination” to include the following:
| • | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
| • | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
| • | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
| • | any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
| • | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, our charter defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any of these entities or persons, and certain permitted transferees. JCF FPK I LP, one of our major stockholders, is exempt from this provision because it is a permitted transferee of stockholders who were exempt from this provision when it was initially added to our charter in 1999.
This provision in our charter could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us.
In addition, our charter provides that the vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors is required to remove a director, with or without cause. Additionally, our charter provides that our board of directors is authorized to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval, and that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses that they may incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include services in connection with takeover defense measures.
Bylaws. Our bylaws provide that, subject to certain exceptions, any stockholder desiring to propose business or nominate a person to the board of directors at a stockholders meeting must give notice of any proposals or nominations within a specified time frame. In addition, our bylaws provide that we will hold a special meeting of stockholders only if three of our directors or the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the board of directors calls the meeting or if the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at a meeting make a written demand for the meeting.
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These provisions may have the effect of precluding a nomination for the election of directors or the conduct of business at a particular annual meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of Encore, even if the conduct of such solicitation or such attempt might be beneficial to us and our stockholders. In order to have us include a proposal in our annual proxy statement, the proponent and the proposal must also comply with the proxy proposal submission rules of the SEC.
In addition, stockholders can amend or repeal our bylaws only with the vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding common stock.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, depositary shares, or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the other offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into by us with a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreements will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, as applicable, the following:
| • | the title of the warrants; |
| • | the aggregate number of the warrants; |
| • | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
| • | the designation, terms and number of shares of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| • | the designation and terms of the offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with each offered security; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable; |
| • | the price at which each share of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which that right shall expire; |
| • | the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
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| • | a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
This prospectus also relates to the possible resale of shares of our common stock that were issued and outstanding prior to the original date of filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part as follows:
| • | shares acquired by certain stockholders through privately negotiated third party transactions in 2007; and |
| • | shares issued to our officers, directors and employees pursuant to our equity incentive compensation plans. |
Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Selling securityholders named in a prospectus supplement may use this prospectus in connection with the resale of shares of common stock held by them. The selling securityholders may be our directors, executive officers, former directors, employees, former employees or other holders of our common stock. The prospectus supplement for any offering of common stock by selling securityholders will include the following information:
| • | the names of the selling securityholders; |
| • | the nature of any position, office or other material relationship each selling securityholder has had within the last three fiscal years with us; |
| • | the number of shares held by each of the selling securityholders before and after the offering; |
| • | the percentage of common stock held by each of the selling securityholders before and after the offering; and |
| • | the number of shares of common stock offered by each of the selling securityholders. |
Selling securityholders shall not sell any shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus until we have identified such selling securityholders and the shares being offered for resale by such selling securityholders in a subsequent prospectus supplement. However, the selling securityholders may sell or transfer all or a portion of their shares of our common stock pursuant to any available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
We and the selling securityholders may sell the securities offered by this prospectus to one or more underwriters or dealers for public offering and sale by them or to investors directly or through agents. The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:
| • | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
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| • | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us and the selling shareholders from the sale; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents; |
| • | any public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed. |
Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at prices determined as the applicable prospectus supplement specifies. The securities may be sold through a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may be deemed to have received compensation from us or the selling securityholders in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and also may receive commissions from securities purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent. Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the securities distribution may engage in other transactions with, and perform other services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
The selling securityholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares of common stock in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that such transactions meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule. We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any underwriting discounts or other compensation that we or the selling securityholders pay to underwriters or agents in connection with the securities offering, and any discounts, concessions or commissions which underwriters allow to dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the securities distribution may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions they receive and any profit they realize on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. Underwriters and their controlling persons, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us or the selling securityholders, to indemnification against and contribution toward specific civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. In connection with an offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an offering is in progress. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions. These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of the securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time.
The validity of any securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, San Diego, California.
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The financial statements as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO Seidman, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus is part of the registration statement but the registration statement includes and incorporates by reference additional information and exhibits. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy the registration statement and any document we file with the SEC at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The address of that site on the world wide web is http://www.sec.gov. The information on the SEC’s web site is not part of this prospectus, and any references to this web site or any other web site are inactive textual references only.
The SEC permits us to “incorporate by reference” the information contained in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents rather than by including them in this prospectus. Information that is incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and you should read it with the same care that you read this prospectus. Later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information that is either contained, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, and will be considered to be a part of this prospectus from the date those documents are filed. We have filed with the SEC, and incorporate by reference in this prospectus:
| • | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009; |
| • | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010; |
| • | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed March 1, 2010 and May 10, 2010; and certain portions of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 8, 2010 not otherwise identified therein as being furnished and excepted from any incorporation by reference; and |
| • | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June 24, 1999, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference all additional documents that we file with the SEC under the terms of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the initial filing date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the effectiveness of the registration statement, as well as between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any offering of securities offered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with SEC rules.
You may request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference but not delivered with this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and number: Investor Relations, Encore Capital Group, Inc., 8875 Aero Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92123, telephone (877) 445-4581. We will not, however, send exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in those documents. We also maintain a website at www.encorecapitalgroup.com. However, the information included in our website is not part of this prospectus.
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PART II
Information Not Required In Prospectus
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The following is a statement of estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commission.
| SEC Registration Fee |
$ | 10,695 | |
| The NASDAQ Stock Market Listing Fees* |
* | ||
| Transfer Agent and Registrar, Trustee and Depositary Fees* |
* | ||
| Printing Expenses* |
* | ||
| Legal Fees and Expenses* |
* | ||
| Accounting Fees and Expenses* |
* | ||
| Miscellaneous* |
* | ||
| $ | 10,695 |
| * | Estimated expenses not presently known |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides for the indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act. Article Nine of the Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, filed as (a) Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 14, 1999 (File No. 333-77483) and (b) Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2002 (File No. 000-26489), provides for indemnification of the Registrant’s directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.
| Item 16. | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
| 4.1** | Form of Indenture relating to debt securities. | |
| 4.2* | Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security). | |
| 4.3* | Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
| 4.4* | Form of Deposit Agreement. | |
| 4.5* | Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4). | |
| 4.6* | Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate. | |
| 4.7** | Specimen Common Stock Certificate. | |
| 5.1** | Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. | |
| 5.2* | Opinion of Counsel as to the validity of any securities offered by selling securityholders. | |
| 12.1 | Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges. | |
| 23.1** | Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP. | |
| 24.1** | Power of Attorney. | |
| 25.1+ | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities. | |
| * | To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| + | To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable. |
| ** | Previously filed. |
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| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
(7) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(8) With respect to any offering in which securities are to be offered to existing security holders pursuant to warrants or rights and any securities not taken by security holders are to be reoffered to the public, the Registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to any charter provision, by law or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of San Diego, State of California, on May 18, 2010.
| ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP, INC. | ||
| By: | /S/ J. BRANDON BLACK | |
| J. Brandon Black | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name |
Title |
Date | ||
| /S/ J. BRANDON BLACK J. Brandon Black |
President and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
May 18, 2010 | ||
| /S/ PAUL GRINBERG Paul Grinberg |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
May 18, 2010 | ||
| * George Lund |
Executive Chairman of the Board | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * Timothy J. Hanford |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * Richard A. Mandell |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * Willem Mesdag |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * John J. Oros |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * J. Christopher Teets |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
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| * Warren Wilcox |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| * H Ronald Weissman |
Director | May 18, 2010 | ||
| *By: | /S/ J. BRANDON BLACK | |
| J. Brandon Black | ||
| As attorney-in-fact pursuant to powers of attorney dated October and November 2009. |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
| 4.1** | Form of Indenture relating to debt securities. | |
| 4.2* | Form of supplemental indenture or other instrument establishing the issuance of one or more series of debt securities (including the form of such debt security). | |
| 4.3* | Form of Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |
| 4.4* | Form of Deposit Agreement. | |
| 4.5* | Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.4). | |
| 4.6* | Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate. | |
| 4.7** | Specimen Common Stock Certificate. | |
| 5.1** | Opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. | |
| 5.2* | Opinion of Counsel as to the validity of any securities offered by selling securityholders. | |
| 12.1 | Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges. | |
| 23.1** | Consent of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP. | |
| 24.1** | Power of Attorney. | |
| 25.1+ | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the trustee for the debt securities. | |
| * | To be filed by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| + | To be filed by amendment or pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 305(b)(2), if applicable. |
| ** | Previously filed. |