From legal department to global player

1974-1980: The foundation stone for the future EOS Group is laid.

• 1974: The future EOS Group is born as part of the OTTO legal department. Deutscher Inkasso Dienst experiences its first incarnation under the name Mercator-Inkasso: der Spezialist für den Forderungseinzug (‘the debt collection specialist’). Mercator-Inkasso is renamed Deutscher Inkasso-Dienst (DID) on 1 July 1975.
• 1977: DID advances to become market leader in just three years.
• 1978: The increased popularity of out-of-court collection makes the year a successful one for DID, despite the difficult economic situation.
• 1981: DID takes its first big step onto foreign markets by founding Euro Incasso-Dienst B.V. (EID) in the Netherlands.

1981-1990: Deutscher Inkasso-Dienst develops solidly.

• 1984: DID’s collection volume has quadrupled in the ten years since the company was founded.
• 1986: DID bucks the negative commercial trend in the debt collection sector by posting its best annual result since the company was founded. This was the year when DID purchased its first bank receivables.
• 1988: DID purchases a large receivables portfolio, as well as the company Debita in Switzerland.

1991-2000: DID expands in Europe.

• 1991: Inkasso-Dienst Gesellschaft Wien (ÖID) is founded in Vienna.
• 1993: DID acquires the UK-based debt collection company Logic Group in Newcastle.
• 1994: DID opens up new market segments by acquiring a majority stake in Zahnärzte-Kasse AG in Switzerland.
• 1995: DID acquires Verleger-Inkasso-Stelle Wallstab.
• 1996: DID acquires a stake in Bürgel-Wirtschaftsinformationen, Hamburg.
• 1997: The field services division becomes independent under the name Deutscher Kredit-Schutz (DKS).
• 1998: DID establishes the call centre Deutscher Tele-Kredit-Schutz (DTKS) and acquires a stake in Mercator Inkasso, Kamp-Lintfort.
• 1999: DID acquires the Kasolvenzia Group in Bad Rappenau along with its five Eastern European sites in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
• 2000: EOS is launched as the sales label for all subsidiaries and associated companies.

Since 2001: EOS goes international.

• 2001: The EOS Group pulls off the great leap to America by acquiring Collecto Inc.
• 2002: EOS establishes the umbrella brand EOS more firmly by setting up the management company KG EOS Holding GmbH & Co.
• 2005: EOS acquires the Greek debt collection group Matrix, thereby expanding its activities into Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia.
• 2006: Entry onto the Spanish market with the company EOS Field Services.
• 2007: The EOS Group is represented around the world by 35 subsidiaries and associated companies in 19 countries. The global workforce of more than 3,100, including some 1,400 in Germany, handles more than 20,000 clients.