Polish debt collector Kruk posts 4% first-quarter net profit rise

Kruk SA

29/04/2026 17:03

April 29 (Reuters) - Poland's leading debt management company Kruk KRU.WA reported a 4% rise in its first-quarter net profit on Wednesday, aided by lower operating costs and higher cash collections that outpaced rising expenditures on debt portfolios.

First-quarter net profit rose to 262.3 million zlotys ($72 million) from 251.6 million zlotys a year earlier.

Kruk's first-quarter operating profit fell to 384.5 million zlotys from 393.4 million zlotys a year earlier.

Revenue for the same period decreased 2% year-on-year to 783.4 million zlotys.

In the first quarter, expenditure on debt portfolios jumped 124% on the year to 513 million zlotys.

Operating costs excluding depreciation and amortisation decreased 3% to 379.9 million zlotys.

Cash recoveries from purchased debt portfolios increased 5% to 971 million zlotys, with over half coming from foreign makets.

Kruk plans to separate its operational and investment activities in 2026 as a part of its 2025-2029 strategy

The separation will allow Kruk to invest in new asset classes, with plans to spend about 200 million zlotys during its strategy period

"We are focused on growth in five major European markets, while at the same time completing our exit from smaller destinations", CEO Piotr Krupa said in a statement.

Warsaw-listed Kruk buys and collects on portfolios of unpaid consumer and corporate debt, with core operations in Poland, Romania, Italy and Spain.

($1 = 3.6387 zlotys)

 (Reporting by Julia Zmarzlik and Rafal Nowak)

 ((julia.zmarzlik@thomsonreuters.com))