Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Encore) is engaged in consumer debt buying and recovery. Encore purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value and use a variety of operational channels to maximize its collections from these portfolios. Defaulted receivables are consumers� unpaid financial commitments to credit originators, including banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, commercial retailers, auto finance companies, and telecommunication companies, and may also include receivables subject to bankruptcy proceedings, or consumer bankruptcy receivables. In February 2014, the Company's subsidiary Cabot Credit Management acquired Marlin Financial Group. In February 2014, Encore Capital Group Inc announced that it has acquired a 51% interest in Refinancia, a debt purchaser in Colombia and Peru. In April 2014, Encore Capital Group Inc acquired a controlling stake in Grove Capital Management (Grove).