Company Description
PRA Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRAA) is a collection agency company that focuses on acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans. According to the company’s disclosures, PRA Group describes itself as a global leader in this area, returning capital to banks and other creditors and helping expand financial services for consumers in the Americas, Europe and Australia. The company’s stock trades on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol PRAA.
PRA Group’s core activity is purchasing portfolios of nonperforming loans from banks and other creditors and then collecting on those portfolios over time. The Polygon description notes that the company also provides fee-based services on class action claims recoveries in the United States. Its portfolio segments are described as Core, which involves purchasing and collecting nonperforming loans that originators have chosen not to pursue, and Insolvency, which involves purchasing and collecting nonperforming loans where the customer is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Business model and geographic footprint
Across its communications, PRA Group emphasizes its role in acquiring and collecting nonperforming loans and returning capital to banks and other creditors. The company states that its activities help expand financial services for consumers in the Americas, Europe and Australia. PRA Group also notes that it has thousands of employees worldwide and that its companies collaborate with customers to help them resolve their debt.
The company’s operations are organized around portfolio purchases and subsequent collections. Press releases for the first, second and third quarters of 2025 describe portfolio purchases and estimated remaining collections (ERC) on nonperforming loan portfolios. These disclosures highlight that PRA Group invests in portfolios in the Americas, Europe and Australia and then generates cash collections over time from those portfolios. The company also references forward flow commitments with sellers of nonperforming loans, which are contractual agreements that allow for the purchase of portfolios at pre-established prices.
Portfolio segments and revenue characteristics
PRA Group’s portfolio segments, as described in the Polygon data, consist of:
- Core – purchasing and collecting nonperforming loans that the originators have chosen not to pursue.
- Insolvency – purchasing and collecting nonperforming loans where the customer is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The company’s quarterly press releases describe portfolio income, changes in expected recoveries, and total portfolio revenue as key revenue-related metrics. They also reference cash collections on nonperforming loan portfolios and a cash efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing cash receipts less operating expenses by cash receipts. Cash receipts are defined as cash collections on nonperforming loan portfolios plus fees and revenue recognized from class action claims recovery services.
Capital structure and financing
PRA Group uses various credit facilities and debt instruments to finance its portfolio purchases. In 2025, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, PRA Group Europe Holding II S.à r.l., issued €300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% senior notes due 2032 in a private transaction, as disclosed in the company’s press releases and Form 8-K filings. The notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by PRA Group, Inc. and certain domestic subsidiaries that are borrowers or guarantors under the company’s North American Credit Agreement.
The company has disclosed that it intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay borrowings under its North American and European revolving credit facilities. SEC filings describe the ranking of the notes, optional redemption features, change of control repurchase provisions, and covenants that limit, among other things, additional indebtedness, liens, certain distributions, and asset sales.
Operational focus and regions
In its quarterly results, PRA Group presents cash collections and portfolio purchases by region and segment, including Americas and Australia Core, Americas Insolvency, Europe Core, and Europe Insolvency. These disclosures indicate that PRA Group’s activities span multiple regions and that both core and insolvency portfolios contribute to its collections and portfolio revenue.
The company’s communications also highlight the performance of its European business. For example, PRA Group has noted strong results and record portfolio investments in Europe and has described its European operations as a significant driver of overall performance. In 2025, the company announced the promotion of an experienced leader to president of PRA Group Europe, with responsibilities that include leadership across multiple European markets as well as Canada and Australia, and oversight of portfolio investments across Europe.
Management and governance developments
SEC filings in 2025 describe changes in PRA Group’s executive leadership. The company reported the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer and disclosed related compensation arrangements. It also reported the promotion of a president of PRA Group Europe, including details of amended employment terms and equity awards. In addition, the company’s annual meeting results, as filed with the SEC, show the election of directors, ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm, and an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation.
Key metrics discussed in company communications
Across its earnings releases, PRA Group highlights several metrics related to its nonperforming loan portfolios, including:
- Total portfolio purchases – the amount invested in portfolios of nonperforming loans during a period.
- Estimated remaining collections (ERC) – defined as the sum of all future projected cash collections on the company’s nonperforming loan portfolios.
- Total cash collections – cash collected on nonperforming loan portfolios, reported by region and segment.
- Cash efficiency ratio – cash receipts less operating expenses divided by cash receipts.
- Adjusted EBITDA – a non-GAAP measure reconciled to net income or net loss attributable to PRA Group, Inc. in the company’s press releases.
These metrics are used by the company to describe the performance of its portfolio investments, cash generation, and operating efficiency. The company also discusses forward flow commitments, which are contractual agreements with sellers of nonperforming loans that provide for future portfolio purchases at pre-established prices.
Regulatory reporting and disclosures
PRA Group files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The company uses Form 8-K filings to report material events such as quarterly earnings releases, the completion and pricing of debt offerings, executive appointments and compensation changes, and annual meeting voting results. These filings often incorporate press releases by reference and provide additional detail on material definitive agreements, direct financial obligations and other events.