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• Operational Efficiency in the Account Receivables Industry
• Evolution of the U.S. Accounts Receivable Management Industry

News Headlines

• Competition Hosed by insideARM.com Summer Photo Contest Winner 9/1/10
• State Fines Debt Buyer Over Collection Lawsuits 8/27/10
• Collection Agencies Maintain Growth Posture in Tough Economy 8/18/10
• NCO Group Reports Wider Loss in Second Quarter 8/13/10
• Leaving Voicemail Messages: Ninth Circuit May Resolve the Foti Issue 8/11/10
• Could Asset Acceptance Exit Create Health Care ARM Market Leader? 8/9/10
• ARM Association Leaders Discuss Coordination of Efforts 8/2/10
• FDCPA and Other Consumer Rights Lawsuit Statistics for July 1-15 8/2/10
• Debt Buyers Portfolio Recovery and Asset Acceptance Beat Earnings Estimates 7/30/10
• NY AG Settles Case Against Debt Collector for $125,000 7/27/10
• Convoke Systems Raises $5.5 Million in Funding; Plans to Expand Services to ARM Industry 7/26/10
• Finance Bill Creates Power Sharing, FDCPA Reform Dilemma in Gov’t 7/22/10
• ARM Firm Intrum Justitia Reports Decline in Earnings and Revenue 7/19/10
• ACA Compels National Membership for State Unit Participation 7/15/10
• FTC Commissioner Presents Debt Collection Report to ARM Industry 7/13/10
• FDCPA Rulemaking Authority Part of Financial Reform Bill 7/7/10
• Judge Throws Out State AG Case Against Debt Buyer 6/30/10
• Legal Experts Indict Flaws in Anti-ARM Report 6/23/10
• Collectors Receive Clarification on New York City ARM Rules 6/14/10
• Early Health Care Reform Rules to Benefit Medical Debt Buyers and Collectors 6/11/10
• FTC Head to Address ARM Industry, Take Questions 6/11/10
• FDCPA Lawsuits Against Collectors Averaging More than 800 Per Month 6/9/10
• Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Secures Amended Credit Facility 6/7/10
• West Virginia Attorney General Sues Two ARM Companies 6/4/10
• Indian BPO Giant Acquires US Collection Agency BCR 6/3/10
• New Report Exposes Systematic Debt Collection Abuses 5/26/10
• B of A Leading Major Card Issuers in Delinquencies and Charge-Offs in April 5/21/10
• Debt Buyers Experiencing Bumpy Ride on Prices 5/20/10
• ARM Industry Turning a Corner, According to Collectors and Debt Buyers 5/18/10
• NCO Group Reports Loss in First Quarter on Increase in Revenue 5/14/10
• FDIC Ramping Up Loan Sales as More Banks Fail 5/13/10
• Irene H. of Account Recovery Specialists Wins Collection Story Contest 5/13/10
• $123 billion in 19 Months: Credit Card Debt's Amazing Plummet 5/11/10
• Federal Regulatory Reform Hits ARM Industry on Three Fronts 5/10/10
• Asta Funding Posts Profit in Latest Quarter on Decrease in Revenue 5/6/10
• New Consumer Credit Default Index to Standardize Late Payment Data 5/5/10
• Sherman Financial Buys Remaining Stake in Itself for $172 million 5/4/10
• Asset Acceptance Stays in the Black in the First Quarter; Discloses FTC Action 4/30/10
• Debt Buyers Report Huge Earnings in First Quarter 4/28/10
• Financial Reform Blocked in Senate...For Now 4/27/10
• California Collectors Amend Bylaws to Allow Choice of ACA Membership 4/23/10
• Appeals Court Ruling in Debt Buying FDCPA Case “All Over the Map” 4/22/10
• Appeals Court Sides with Collection Lawyer in Garnishment Case 4/20/10
• House Passes ACA-Supported Gramm-Leach-Bliley Reforms 4/15/10
• Q1 M&A Activity in the ARM Industry - Financial Buyers Active Again 4/12/10
• FTC Complaints Against Debt Collectors Don't Tell Whole Story: ACA 4/6/10
• NCO Group Posts $84 million Loss in 2009 4/1/10
• Collection Agencies Should be Wary of SIFs: ACA 3/25/10
• Accounts Receivables Management Industry Calls On Congress to Keep FTC As Exclusive Regulator 3/19/10
• Portfolio Recovery Associates Expands Legal Services with Acquisition 3/16/10

Analysis Headlines

• 6 Ways to Create a Culture of Learning in a Collection Agency
  Many in the ARM put focus on training, especially for new employees. And this is very important. But creating a culture of learning in a collection agency can pay greater dividends for differentiating your company.
• The Looming Economic Recovery: Is ARM Ready?
  The characterization of an economic recovery as “looming” may be somewhat off-putting to most. After all, we’re all in this economy thing together, and a recovery is needed in every sector. But some in the ARM industry might be blindsided when liquidation improves.
• How Do Collection Industry Employees Feel About their Employers?
  Based on our recent Best Places to Work in Collections program, we've identified the keys to what makes an ARM company an employer of choice.
• Understanding the Shift Toward Consumers in the ARM Legal Landscape
  ARM leaders would be well-advised to understand the current legal and regulatory environments governing the industry. There have been major changes recently and even larger ones may be to come.
• Getting Current on Pricing in the U.S. Credit Card Debt Purchasing Market
  Kaulkin Ginsberg has been tracking the changes in credit card portfolio prices and liquidation performance over the past year. Based on these trends, we have made some predictions for where prices will be heading in 2009.
• Consumer Credit At Risk On The Rise
  Kaulkin Ginsberg’s Consumer Default Risk Index provides an indication of consumer credit at risk due to bankruptcy. Rising unemployment has driven this index to rise nearly 60% compared to last year, translating into $20.04 billion worth of consumer credit at risk for the December monthly filing period.
• Managing Collection Processes in Uncertain Credit Markets
  
• Collection Agencies Shifting Strategies in Rough Economy: Survey
  
• $28 Million FTC Settlement with Bear Stearns/EMC Mortgage has Significant Impact on ARM Industry
  
• The Art of the Talk Off Can be Taught
  
• Survey Shows Tough Times But Rosier Outlook for Collectors
  Our Confidence Survey for collection agencies shows that the current economic downturn is impacting ARM companies, but most think that things will improve later this year as the worst is behind us.
• Leveraging Analytics to Prioritize Collections Efforts and Increase Return on Investment
  As more debt goes out for collections, less becomes collectable in the current consumer environment. Analytics can help prioritize collections and put an accurate price on portfolio of purchased debt.
• NCO’s OSI Purchase Helps More Than Just NCO in Government Markets
  
• Getting Current on Pricing in the U.S. Credit Card Debt Purchasing Market
  The price of fresh paper has declined from 10 percent to 30 percent compared with last year while secondary paper has seen even larger price drops as credit card issuers watch their cardholders struggle to pay their bills.
• The State of the Industry: What is Next for ARM?
  
• The Future of Receivables Management
  
• Healthcare Debt: Not Your Typical Portfolio
  
• HIPAA and Medical Collections: Staying Compliant Worth the Hassle
  “If anything, it’s made my job easier, much the way the FDCPA made our jobs easier. That doesn’t make me too popular – I think a lot of my colleagues aren’t happy with too many rules. But the policies put me on solid ground.”
• Global Aspirations: International and Cross-Border ARM M&A Activity Gains Momentum
  
• Supreme Court eDiscovery Ruling Impacts Data Management Strategies for Businesses
  A recent Supreme Court eDiscovery Ruling has impact across all business sectors; however, it is particularly important for industries like ARM that are prone to litigation, consumer watch-dog groups, and regulatory scrutiny.
• How Debt Purchasing Companies are Being Valued in Today’s Market
  
• Interview: Michael Taulbee, Partner and Managing Director of Houston Funding
  
• The Future of Receivables Management
  
• Debt Buyers’ Growing Interest in Alternative Asset Classes
  Alternative asset classes have long been an interest of a niche group of debt buyers. But now that niche is being widely expanded.
• Getting the Word Out on Portfolio Purchases
  
• ARM Business Planning for 2007
  
• Predictions for 2007; What’s Next for ARM?
  Private equity was a major driver of ARM M&A activity in 2006, participating in a whopping 80% of the dollars that changed hands. How will the environment look in 2007? And how will all of that private equity money impact the industry?
• Resources for New Debt Buyers
  
• Expert Roundtable: Debt Purchasing for Collection Agencies
  A conversation with debt purchasing experts on the challenges facing agencies looking to get into debt purchasing.
• Buyer Beware: A Word of Caution to Debt Purchasers
  A cautionary tale of deception and fraud in the world of debt purchasing.
• Debt Statute of Limitations
  
• Branching Out: Debt Purchasing Firms Expand and Diversify
  With many debt purchasers finding a high degree of success in the industry, the major players have recently looked to diversify their business.
• Pricing in the U.S. Credit Card Market
  Pricing is a hot topic in debt purchasing right now. So what do industry players think about current prices?
• The Importance and Availability of Media in a Portfolio
  Media, or documents, is an important part of debt buying. So what do you need to know about it?
• Liquidation Rates Can be Higher
  Industry standards for liquidation rates can be very misleading, and more importantly, very low.
• 20 Sure Fire Ways to Lose Money, and Get Sued
  There are a lot of ways to screw up in debt purchasing. Here are 20 of them.
• Unsecured Creditors – Challenges after Bankruptcy Reform
  Bankruptcy reform is sure to have an impact on the debt purchasing industry for years to come. But what are the key points that debt buyers need to look at?
• Interview: Bud Reitzel, Founder of Asset Acceptance
  Bud Reitzel, former Chairman of the Board of Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. and a pioneer in debt purchasing, talks to insideARM.com about his career, his company's IPO and the debt purchasing industry as a whole.
• Separate Your Agency from the Competition
  As the collection agency marketplace gets more competitive, what can agencies do to separate themselves from their peers?
• The Impact of Scoring on Collections
  Scoring can have a huge impact on the collection forecast of a particular account or portfolio. Analytic expert Alan Beshany explains what a scoring model needs to be a successful measure of collectability.
• The Role of Sellers, Resellers & Brokers in Debt Purchasing
  The feature that attracts profit-minded business people to the debt purchasing space as buyers is also a reason for the buyer to beware.
• Early Findings from the Kaulkin Report
  Kaulkin Ginsberg has released the sixth edition of the Kaulkin Report. Given the role that this publication serves in the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry, this is an important milestone for the firm. As the publication’s primary author, this is also an important milestone for me – in more ways than you might expect.
• 2004 Not Just Another Year in the Collection Industry
  Some may reflect upon the events of 2004 in the Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) Industry and say that it was the same as many other years. But having tracked the events of the industry for nearly 15 years, we know that to summarize 2004 as "just another year" would overlook the significance of the events that took place.
• The Media and Debt Purchasers
  Rare is the occasion that a national or even local media outlet will have something positive to say about a collection agency. It now seems that a this trend has been extended to debt purchasers as well.
• Collection Industry M&A Activity Skyrocketing
  Collection industry expert Mike Ginsberg takes a look at the soaring merger and acquisition activity in the collection industry.

Research Headlines

• Kaulkin Report 7 Excerpt - Competition to Intensify in the Debt Buying Market 
• Kaulkin Report 6th Edition - Mergers & Acquisitions 
• Healthcare ARM Report - Healthcare Sector of the ARM Industry 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Outlook on Market Threats 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Bankruptcy Receivables in the U.S. 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Accounting in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Globalization in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Resales in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Pricing in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Volume in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Expected Returns in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Portfolio Sizes in the U.S. Credit Card Market 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Outlook on Emerging Classes of Debt 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Overall Market Outlook 
• Global Debt Buying Report - A Pan-European Debt Buying Perspective 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in France 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Germany 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Italy 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in New Zealand 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Poland 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Spain 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in the United Kingdom 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Outlook on Competition 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Outlook on Pricing 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Auto Deficiency Receivables in the U.S. 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Australia 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Benelux 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Debt Buying in Canada 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Healthcare Receivables in the U.S. 
• Global Debt Buying Report - Telecommunications Receivables in the U.S. 
• Kaulkin Report 6th Edition - Debt Buying 

Press Releases

• More Than You Ever Thought You Could Know About Debt Collection Complaints 9/2/10
• Executive Change: Marco Angheben to Link Financial Group as Project Director 9/2/10
• FDCPA and Other Consumer Rights Lawsuit Statistics, August 1-15 8/25/10
• New Strategic Partnership Brings ARM Industry Veterans Kristin Dougherty, Chris Della Ratta & Frank Woodhouse Together Again 8/24/10
• Executive Change: Global Debt Registry Announces Mark Parsells as Executive Chairman 8/24/10
• Bill Bartmann Enterprises Makes Inc. 500 List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies 8/23/10
• Sierra Group Compliance Signs Contact with United Collection Bureau to Launch ETHIcollect Compliance Program 8/20/10
• Aktiv Kapital Reports Flat Earnings in Second Quarter 8/19/10
• CreditMax Receives Growth Equity to Expand NDSE Consumer Debt Exchange 8/18/10
• Lowell Group Staff Complete Three Peaks Charity Challenge 8/16/10
• FTC Proposes Changes to Update and Improve Credit Reporting Notices 8/16/10
• FDCPA and Other Consumer Rights Lawsuit Statistics, July 16-31 8/12/10
• Eltman, Eltman & Cooper Announces DEEP LOOK: Free Judgment Portfolio Netback Analysis 8/11/10
• The Receivables Exchange Reports 300% YTD Growth 8/11/10
• Crown Asset Management, LLC Completes Recapitalization 8/9/10
• National Consumer Law Center Releases Report on “The Debt Collection Machine” 8/9/10
• Martin Sher Takes the Gavel as President of ACA International 8/9/10
• Cabot Financial Awarded Bronze Status By Investors In People 8/6/10
• Asta Funding Announces Financial Results for Third Quarter and Nine Months of Fiscal 2010 8/5/10
• Executive Changes: New Managers in Sales and Collections at Lowell Group 8/4/10
• Encore Capital Group Announces Record Net Income for Second Quarter 2010 and Increased Revolving Credit Facility 8/3/10
• Executive Change: Asset Acceptance Names Steve Yanover Branch Manager in San Antonio 8/2/10
• Cabot Financial Wins West Kent Stop Smoking Service Award 7/30/10
• Asta Funding to Report Third Quarter and Nine Months Results of Fiscal Year 2010 7/30/10
• insideARM.com Appoints Forward Thinking Editorial Board 7/28/10
• ACA International Announces New Strategic Plan 7/27/10
• New Financial Regulatory Law to Impact the Debt Collection Industry 7/23/10
• Portfolio Recovery Associates to Announce Second Quarter 2010 Results on July 29, 2010 7/23/10
• City of Fairhope Partners With Revenue Discovery Systems (RDS) to Administer Local Sales Tax 7/21/10
• The Sagres Company Expanding Third Party Collection Platform 7/20/10
• EOS Group Enters Joint Venture for ARM Services in China 7/20/10
• Asset Acceptance to Host Second Quarter Conference Call July 29 7/16/10
• Asta Funding CEO to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell 7/14/10
• Roger Knauf Resigns as DBA International Executive Director 7/13/10
• Strategic and Financial Buyers Return to the ARM M&A Market 7/12/10
• ACA International's 71st Annual Convention and Exposition Opens 7/12/10
• FDCPA and Other Consumer Rights Lawsuit Statistics, June 16-30 7/9/10
• Encore Capital Group to Announce Second Quarter 2010 Results on August 2 7/9/10
• Kaulkin Media Appoints Stephanie Eidelman President to Drive Change 7/8/10
• AIS Services, LLC Converts to Contingency Collections 7/8/10
• Fredrickson International Collects Half a Billion Pounds 7/2/10
• Executive Changes: Portfolio Recovery Associates Appoints New Attorneys 7/1/10
• Executive Changes: Portfolio Recovery Associates Appoints Three Senior Executives 6/30/10
• SquareTwo Financial Raises Nearly $500M in Financing 6/22/10
• The Receivables Exchange Named Finalist for 2010 American Business Awards in Two Categories 6/18/10
• Executive Change: Collection House Names Matt Thomas as CEO 6/17/10
• Encore Capital Group Announces Availability of 2010 Investor Day Webcast 6/17/10
• Portfolio Recovery Associates to Present at William Blair Growth Stock Conference 6/16/10
• Balboa Capital Selects The Receivables Exchange to Provide Receivables Financing Solution to U.S. Businesses 6/15/10
• Executive Change: Tina Carter to Cabot Financial as PR & Marketing Manager 6/2/10