Europe’s Biggest Debt Collector Cranks Up Acquisition Ambitions

The biggest debt collector in Europe, Intrum Justitia AB, is getting closer to its first expansion into new markets in 13 years and may look outside Europe as it sees scope to spend at least 6 billion kronor ($730 million).

Lars Wollung, the company’s chief executive officer, says he sees “such attractive expansion opportunities” in Intrum’s current markets. So “right now it feels more important to focus on those than to enter new countries.” But the company is “approaching the point when we will expand outside our existing markets,” either in Europe or elsewhere, he said.