Encore Capital Closes Asset Acceptance Purchase

Debt buyer Encore Capital Group Inc. on Thursday closed its $200 million acquisition of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. All subsidiaries of Asset Acceptance are part of Encore Capital and Asset Acceptance’s stock, NASDAQ ticker symbol AACC, has been delisted.

AACC shareholders, under terms of the deal, were offered the option of taking cash or the equivalent amount of stock in Encore as compensation. The newly combined company has purchased more than 60 million consumer accounts with a face value of more than $130 billion.

In early March, when the proposed merger was announced, Encore's then-President and CEO Brandon Black, said, “Our industry is highly fragmented, and we have long been anticipating consolidation as the regulatory and business climate grows more complex. This transaction clearly signals that Encore will play a key role in driving this phase in our industry’s development.

"This acquisition moves our industry into a new phase of maturity defined by more efficient companies that are committed to operating ethically and treating consumers with respect. Encore’s strong operating and cost advantages will allow Asset Acceptance’s investments to be significantly more profitable and will deliver greater value to shareholders," he said.

In late May, Encore announced its first international acquisition, agreeing to purchase a controlling interest in Cabot Credit Management, a United Kingdom and Ireland-based debt purchaser.

Encore earlier this month announced it will be added to the Barron’s 400 index for the fourth time since the index’s inception in 1997.