Encore Capital Group Announces Successful Completion of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Requirements

SAN DIEGO, CA - Encore Capital Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ECPG), a leading accounts receivable management firm, today provided an update of the status of its compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, commonly referred to as "SOX," which requires companies to satisfy certain internal controls requirements.

Barry Barkley, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, stated, "We are extremely pleased to announce that we have successfully completed the requirements of Section 404. Our compliance plan encompassed the identification, documentation and testing of a sweeping set of controls. Through completion of this project, we have invested approximately $1.2 million in this process and have spared no effort to meet these requirements."

In substance, Section 404 requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of the company's internal controls over financial reporting, and a report by its independent auditors addressing these assessments. Encore previously reported that it was uncertain as to its ability to satisfy SOX 404 requirements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 on a timely basis.