PRA Named One of Forbes' Top 25 Best Small Compani

NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA ), a financial and business services company operating in the U.S. and U.K, has been named to the Top 25 of Forbes ' 100 Best Small Companies in America for the second consecutive year.

PRA ranked #18 in the 2013 Forbes list , moving up five spots from last year's #23 ranking . The company has appeared on Forbes' 100 Best Small Companies list every year since 2007.

In its listing for PRA , Forbes noted the company's five-year sales growth of 22 percent and five-year EPS growth of 22 percent.

Forbes' 100 Best Small Companies list recognizes companies with significant sales and earnings growth across industries. To be considered for the rankings, companies must have been publicly traded for at least one year and generate annual revenue between $5 million and $1 billion, with a minimum stock price of $5 per share. Forbes ranks the 100 Best Small Companies based on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity in the past 12 months and over five years.

The complete list of America's Best Small Companies will be featured in the Oct. 28, 2013 issue of Forbes and is available online at www.forbes.com/best-small-companies/list/ .

About PRA

As a leader in the U.S. debt buying industry, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRAA ) returns capital to banks and other creditors that helps expand financial services for consumers. PRA collaborates with its customers to create affordable, realistic debt repayment plans. The company also provides a broad range of fee-based services to local governments and law enforcement, U.S. businesses, institutional investors, global hedge funds, and U.K. banks and creditors.

PRA was recognized as one of Fortune's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2013 and 2012. The company also has been named to the Top 25 of Forbes' 100 Best Small Companies in America for the past two years and has been annually ranked on Forbes' list since 2007. For more information, please visit www.PortfolioRecovery.com .

Media Contact: Ray Atkinson Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. 757-351-3264