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Kompanija EOS Matrix, u saradnji sa kineskom kompanijom “Feitiansuje” potpisala je ugovor o prodaji nekadašnje firme Begej-Plast iz Perleza. Ugovor su potpisali direktor kineske kompanije Haiou Liu i zamenica generalnog direktora EOS Matrixa Jelena Jović, u prisustvu gradonačelnika Zrenjanina Čedomira Janjića. Кineski investitor obavezao se da će u fabriku i mašine investirati pola miliona evra, od čega će 180.000 EUR biti uloženo u fabriku, a oko 350.000 EUR u mašine. Ova investicija obezbediće 100 novih radnih mesta.

„Današnje potpisivanje predstavlja važan korak za razvoj lokalne samouprave i nama je kao nemačkom investitoru važno i drago da možemo biti deo ovakve investicije. Ovo je prva saradnja koju mi ostvarujemo sa gradom Zrenjaninom i nadam se da ćemo imati sličnih uspešnih projekata i u budućnosti“ – zaključuje Jelena Jović

Hamburg, 10 July 2018 – Outstanding performance confirmed. For the 14th time in succession, EOS Holding has once again been given an ‘A’ rating by credit rating agency Euler Hermes Rating, providing renewed confirmation that the debt collection specialist enjoys a good credit standing. The auditors emphasized the company's market leadership in Germany and its strong market position in Western and Eastern Europe. The rating was also the result of the company's longstanding experience in processing non-performing receivables and in receivables purchasing.

“In the last financial year we have invested EUR 0.5 billion in receivables,” says Justus Hecking-Veltman, Member of the EOS Group’s Board of Directors and CFO. This shows how important this business segment continues to be for the EOS Group. “The acquisition of secured debt portfolios in particular is an attractive growth market for us,” explains Hecking-Veltman. This is also evident from the auditors' report, because this year Euler Hermes Rating specifically praised the company's ongoing expansion of expertise in real estate evaluation, development and realization. “We are now active in this business segment in eleven European countries and plan to expand into others.”

As a result, the auditors attested that EOS represents a low financial risk due to its very stable cash flow situation and continually high and consistent earnings level.

The EOS Group 
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customized financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management, in particular the three segments fiduciary collection, receivables purchasing and business process outsourcing. With its workforce of around 7,000 and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 customers in 26 countries around the world financial security through customized services in the B2C and B2B segments. Working in an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has resources in more than 180 countries. The company's key target sectors are banking, insurance, utilities, telecommunications, the public sector, real estate and e-commerce.
For more information please go to: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg, 29.05.2018 - The EOS Group is planning to sell Hamburg-based Health AG and Zahnärztekasse AG, which is located in Switzerland. The companies, both of which have a strong position in the market, offer potential buyers the ideal conditions for establishing a pan-European platform in dental factoring. In addition, the innovative practice management software "Hēa" will enable the development of new markets.

'Our two companies are operating in future markets – healthcare and technology', says Klaus Engberding, CEO of EOS. 'To tap into additional business segments and new markets in the health sector we are now seeking the most suitable future owner to actively support the companies during their next growth phases.' With a factoring volume of around EUR 1 billion, Health AG and Zahnärztekasse AG, together, generate sales in the mid double-digit million Euro range.

Sale by auction
Health AG and Zahnärztekasse AG will be offered for sale together. The sale will be managed by means of a structured auction procedure and potential investors will be approached as of June 2018. Interested parties can submit a non-binding offer by the beginning of September. The completion of the transaction is planned for February 2019. In the past, strategic buyers and financial investors have shown great interest in Health AG and Zahnärztekasse AG. EOS has engaged investment bank Lazard (Frankfurt branch) to ensure an efficient sale process.

Health AG
Health AG, consisting of EOS Health Honorarmanagement AG and EOS Health IT-Concept GmbH, is a provider of financial and IT services for the health market. With more than 2000 customers it is one of the market leaders in German dental factoring. Moreover, thanks to its recently introduced practice management software Hēa, the company is now a frontrunner in the e-health segment: Hēa digitises, networks and simplifies all processes for the web-based management of dental practices with a focus on billing. Since its establishment in 2005, the company has evolved from a factoring start-up to an independent company providing financial and technology services.

Zahnärztekasse AG
Zahnärztekasse AG is a financial services provider in the health sector and with 1000 customers has become the market leader in the Swiss dental factoring segment. Its customised and modular based services, combined with an efficient IT infrastructure, relieves medical practice teams of administrative tasks and secures the liquidity of its clients. Since its foundation in 1963 the company has become established as a reliable partner to Swiss dentists.

Contact for press and media:
fischerAppelt, relations GmbH
Email: eos@fischerappelt.de, Tel.: +49 40 899 699 347

Radionicom u Beogradu završena je ovogodišnja serija besplatnih radionica u oblasti upravljanja potraživanjima koje su za privrednike širom Srbije organizovali Privredna komora Srbije i kompanija EOS Matrix. Na radionicama se govorilo o alatima koji se mogu koristiti u procesu naplate potraživanja, a dati su i pravni saveti u vezi sa mogućnostima sudske naplate i alternative utuženju.

Radionicom u Beogradu završena je ovogodišnja serija besplatnih radionica u oblasti upravljanja potraživanjima koje su za privrednike širom Srbije organizovali Privredna komora Srbije i kompanija EOS Matrix. Na radionicama se govorilo o alatima koji se mogu koristiti u procesu naplate potraživanja, a dati su i pravni saveti u vezi sa mogućnostima sudske naplate i alternative utuženju.

Preko 100 kompanija moglo je da čuje šta je to monitoring faktura, kada nastaje proces naplate potraživanja i koje su njegove osnovne faze, šta je to “soft”, a šta “hard collection”. Ukoliko se potraživanja ne mogu naplatiti vansudski, objašnjeno je kako teče postupak naplate sudskim putem i koje su to situacije kada ne preostaje ništa drugo osim prodaje potraživanja. O ovim i sličnim pitanjima govorili su Milan Savić, Menadžer naplate potraživanja i Slobodanka Blagojević, pravni savetnik, iz kompanije EOS Matrix.  

Nataša Kecman, rukovodilac Centra za usluge i posredovanje PKS je navela da smatra da je naplata potraživanja jedna od apsolutno najbitnijih tema u svakodnevnom poslovanju privrednika, pa će saradnju sa EOS Matrixom nastaviti i u narednom periodu, kako bi svojim članovima edukacijom pomogla da unaprede svoje poslovanje. 

„Ideja za održavanjem ovakve vrste edukacije nastala je nakon istraživanja Evropske navike plaćanja , koje je pokazalo da privrednici, iako imaju skoro najduže rokove plaćanja u Evropi (46 dana), pokazuju veoma lošu praksu izmirivavanja svojih računa na vreme (samo 67 odsto). Kada klijenti propuste rok plaćanja, kompanije moraju u proseku da čekaju još 50 dana  na naplatu, što je daleko najduže u Evropi (21 dan). Zato privrednicima želimo da skrenemo pažnju na koje detalje da obrate pažnju, kako ne bi došli u situaciju da ne mogu da naplate svoja potraživanja”- objasnila je Nela Deura, specijalista za marketing i prodaju kompanije EOS Matrix. 

Za 2018. godinu planirano je još 12 radionica koje će biti održane u Regionalnim privrednim komorama u Srbiji. 

SEE NPL Forum 2017 održan je 20. oktobra u Beogradu. Događaj je okupio ključne učesnike na tržištu problematičnih potraživanja u Jugoističnoj Evropi i šire. EOS Matrix je drugu godinu za redom učestvovao na ovom veoma značajnom finansijskom događaju. Jelena Jović Milentijević, generalni direktor EOS Matrixa, na nesvakidašnji način je vodila panel diskusiju „Upravljanje portfolijima i olakšavanje procesa prodaje“.

SEE NPL Forum 2017 održan je 20. oktobra u Beogradu. Događaj je okupio ključne učesnike na tržištu problematičnih potraživanja u Jugoističnoj Evropi i šire. EOS Matrix je drugu godinu za redom učestvovao na ovom veoma značajnom finansijskom događaju. Jelena Jović Milentijević, generalni direktor EOS Matrixa, na nesvakidašnji način je vodila panel diskusiju „Upravljanje portfolijima i olakšavanje procesa prodaje“. 

Na panelu je diskutovano o svim gorućim pitanjima vezanim za NPL tržište i regulativama u regionu. Bilo je govora o tome da li će se ukrupnjavanje bankarskog tržišta odraziti i na tržiše NPL-a u regionu, koji pristup treba da ima investitor, kao i da li je “due diligence” proces postao najveći izazov usled različitog tumačenja banaka po pitanju bankarske tajne.

Govorilo se i regulativama: uvođenju “General Data Protection Regulations” (GDPR) koji u maju 2018 godine u Evropskoj Uniji stupa na snagu, kao i mogućim posledicama “Nove odluke o računovodstvenom otpisu bilansne aktive banke” koja ne uzuma u obzir poreski tretman otpisa.

Učesnici panela su se dodakli i teme rešavanja NPL-a van bankarskog sektora i pokušali su da daju odgovor na pitanje da li banke trpe usled nemogućnosti da sredstva plasiraju privredi koja je blokirana godinama.

Jelena Jović, Zamenik generalnog direktora i Operativni direktor EOS Matrixa je učesvovala u panelu “Investiranje i servisiranje NPL portfolija – koje su lekcije naučene”.

Osnovne teme o kojima je diskutovano je kako da investitori iskoriste poznavanje lokalnog tržišta i lokalnih regulativa od strane lokalnih partnera, šta se dešava sa zakonskim regulativama, kao i koje su strategije daljeg razvoja tržišta. Panelisti su izneli svoja iskustva i izazove u servisiranju obezbeđenih i neobezbeđenih portfolija i preneli svoja razmišljanja o tome kako unaprediti "due diligence" proces.

EOS Matrix Srbije kontinuirano unapređuje svoj informacioni sistem, kao i sistem upravljanja bezbednošću informacija. Kompanija je zvanično potvrdila svoj kvalitet IT bezbednosti sertifikatom ISO / IEC 27001: 2013. "Ovo je kruna našeg napornog rada u proteklim godinama", objašnjava Milan Stojanović, IT direktor EOS Matrix-a Srbije.

EOS Matrix Srbije kontinuirano unapređuje svoj informacioni sistem, kao i sistem upravljanja bezbednošću informacija. Kompanija je zvanično potvrdila svoj kvalitet IT bezbednosti sertifikatom ISO / IEC 27001: 2013. "Ovo je kruna našeg napornog rada u proteklim godinama", objašnjava Milan Stojanović, IT direktor EOS Matrix-a Srbije. 

U današnje vreme većina kompanija obrađuje informacije tako što implementira nove tehnologije. Da li je to finansijski sektor, marketing kompanija ili državna institucija neminovno je generisanje i prikupljanje određenog broja informacija od važnosti. Uvođenje pomenutih tehnologija i lakša razmena informacija uslovljavaju nastanak sistema upravljanja bezbednošću informacija (ISMS). ISMS postaje krucijalan momenat uspešnosti jedne kompanije u eri eksponencijalnog rasta broja sigurnosnih napada, gde oštećena strana snosi, kako statusne, tako i finansijske konsekvence. Informacije vezane za dnevne aktivnosti su nešto što se podrazumeva kao važno ali predstoji nam i uvođenje GDPR-a tj. regulative koja će se baviti zaštitom privatnih podataka. Uz ove nove obaveze ISMS još više dobija na značaju jer će morati da pokriva mnogo širi spektar informacija i izvora informacija.

ISMS platformu nose tri sigurnosna stuba: 

• Poverljivost – informacija mora biti na raspolaganju samo licima koji imaju eksplicitno pravo da tim informacijama raspolažu i ne sme biti otkrivena neovlašćenim licima,
• Integritet – informacija ne sme biti promenjena od strane trećih lica, kako na mestu gde se nalazi tako i u transferu do lica od poverenja,
• Dostupnost – informacija mora biti dostupna u istom momentu kada lice od poverenja želi da joj pristupi.

Sa izradom IT dokumentacije, EOS Matrix je započeo još 2009. godine. Dokumentacija je prvo izrađena za internu upotrebu i IT osoblje, ali je vremenom rasla te obuhvatila i IT politiku, procedure, specifikacije i evidencije, koji su bili plodno okruženje za željenu sertifikaciju. Menadžment je pravovremeno prepoznao potrebu za određivanjem nivoa rizika i definisanjem ciljeva, dok su stručnjaci na polju informacionih telhnologija pripremili metodologiju. Ranije definisane politike i procedure su revidirane i kao spontani nastavak uspešnog bavljenja zaštitom podataka kreiran je ISMS. 

Pored tehničkih mera, detaljne dokumentacije i redovnih provera, kompanija EOS Matris Srbija ozbiljno shvata i potrebu edukacije zaposlenih, što se ogleda u tome da je jedan od definisanih ciljeva ISMS-a upravo održavanje radionica na temu sigurnosti informacija.

Peta po redu konferencija „Workout & Restructuring“ održana je u Beču 31. maja i 1.juna i okupila je vodeće stručnjake za restrukturiranje i investiranje iz celog regiona, uključujući Centralnoistočnu Evropu, Jugoistočnu Evropu, Austriju i Nemačku. Jelena Jović Milentijević, generalni direktor EOS Matrix Srbije, govorila je o prodaji obezbeđenih NPL portfolija, kao i šta je to što kompanije treba da znaju da bi minimizirale rizik ukoliko žele da ulažu u date portfolije. Ona je dala kratki rezime procesa gledano iz perspektive investitora. 

Peta po redu konferencija „Workout & Restructuring“ održana je u Beču 31. maja i 1.juna i okupila je vodeće stručnjake za restrukturiranje i investiranje iz celog regiona, uključujući Centralnoistočnu Evropu, Jugoistočnu Evropu, Austriju i Nemačku.

Jelena Jović Milentijević, generalni direktor EOS Matrix Srbije, govorila je o prodaji obezbeđenih NPL portfolija, kao i šta je to što kompanije treba da znaju da bi minimizirale rizik ukoliko žele da ulažu u date portfolije. Ona je dala kratki rezime procesa gledano iz perspektive investitora. 

Poslušajte Jelenine savete:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=latNMqH3H3w

Povodom objavljivanja rezultata istraživanja “Evropske navike plaćanja” u organizaciji Ekonomskog instituta i kompanije EOS Matrix održan je okrugli sto. Rezultati istraživanja su generalno pokazali nedisciplinu u izmirivanju dugova, a ispitanici ukazuju nazabrinutost da se u naredne dve godine ne može očekivati promena ovakvog trenda.

Povodom objavljivanja rezultata istraživanja “Evropske navike plaćanja” u organizaciji Ekonomskog instituta i kompanije EOS Matrix održan je okrugli sto. Rezultati istraživanja su generalno pokazali nedisciplinu u izmirivanju dugova, a ispitanici ukazuju nazabrinutost da se u naredne dve godine ne  može očekivati promena ovakvog trenda.

Postoji velika razlika u navikama plaćanja između privatnih i poslovnih korisnika: privatni korisnici drže evropski prosek u izmirivanju svoijh obaveza na vreme (79 odsto), a najbolju praksu u Evropi pokazuju pri kratkim rokovima plaćanja, dok se poslovni korisnici, iako imaju skoro najduže rokove plaćanja u Evropi (46 dana), ipak nalaze na dnu tabele po procentu izmirivanja svojih računa na vreme (67 odsto). Posebno loša navika plaćanja je primetna u sektoru trgovine.

Kada klijenti propuste rok plaćanja, kompanije moraju u proseku da čekaju još 50 dana  na naplatu, što je daleko najduže u Evropi (21 dan). 

Kao najčešće posledice loših navika plaćanja ispitanici navode investicioni zastoj (22 odsto) i teškoće u likvidnosti (19 odsto).  Za razliku od evropskih kompanija koje pokazuju pozitivan trend u angažovanju spoljnih pružaoca usluga (44 odsto) i zadovoljstvo saradnjom sa istim, srpske kompanije u samo 17 odsto slučajeva angažuju eksterne partnere, što je daljeko najmanji procenat u Evropi. 

Direktor EOS Matriks Jelena Jović Milentijević istakla je da se nedovoljno poznavanje uopšte oblasti upravljanja potraživanjima od strane kompanija i njene važnosti za likvidnost kompanije provlači kao glavni uzročnik svih neplaćanja kroz celo istraživanje. Ona smatra da je krucijalno za svaku kompaniju da prati svoju finansijsku stabilnost, kao i stabilnost svojih kupaca, te da je spremna brzo da reaguje ukoliko je ta stabilnost narušena.

„Naša opšta preporuka za sve kompanije u Srbiji je da posebnu pažnju stave na unapređenje procesa upravljanja potraživanjima, da praćenje likvidnosti kupaca mora da se odvija i pre samog izdavanja fakture, da likvidnost kupaca mora da se prati i pasivnim praćenjem dok je faktura u valuti. Preporučujemo da se to radi na dnevnom nivou”, rekla je Jović Milentijević.

Naglašava da, na dan isteka valute, takođe je preporuka da, ukoliko nije došlo do plaćanja, kupac se mora kontaktirati da se utvrde razlozi neplaćanja, a kako je navela postoje dva osnovna razloga nemar samog kupca. Ona podvlači da je mnogo značajniji problem nelikvidnost kupca.

Događaj je otvorio direktor Ekonomskog instituta, Dragan Šagovnović. Praveći uvod u analizu rezultata istraživanja dr. Ivan Nikolić, direktor istraživačko-razvojnog centra Ekonomskog instituta, se prvo osvrnuo na problem nelikvidnosti, koji je po njemu u Srbiji akutan, odnosno strukturni problem. O pitanjima uticaja navika plaćanja na privredne kretanja i novčane tokove, klimi pod kojom posluju kompanije na teritoriji Srbije, uticaju ovakve prakse plaćanja na strane investicije i konkuretnosti srpskih preduzeća u spoljno-trgovinskoj razmeni sa inostranstvom govorili su i: Miroslav Miletić, potpredsednik Privredne komore Srbije; Jasna Smiljanić, direktor funkcije račuvodstva u kompaniji MTS i Miloš Panjković, direktor kompanije Perutnina Ptuj.

Prodaja potraživanja: dokumentacija i izazovi iz perspektive kupca.

Na poziv Udruženja banaka, Jelena Jović Milentijević, direktor kompanije EOS Matrix, učestvovala je na ovogodišnjem savetovanju pravnika pod nazivom „NPL i procena vrednosti u novom tržišnom i privrednom okruženju“, koja se održala od 16. do 17. marta na Paliću. Konferencija je okupila advokate i pravnike, a govorilo se o razlozima prodaje visoko rizičnih plasmana, procesu prodaje, izazovima prilikom prodaje NPL portfolija, iskustvima, ali i rešavanju pravnog okvira za banke. 

G-đa Jović Milentijević je održala prezentaciju „Prodaja potraživanja: dokumentacija i izazovi iz perspektive kupca“, gde se posebno osvrnula na sam proces prodaje potraživanja iz ugla kupca. Ona je napomenula da ključ uspešne realizacije prodaje potraživanja leži u detaljnoj i adekvatnoj pripremi za sam proces prodaje, kao i dobro organizovanoj i prezentovanoj dokumentaciji u vezi sa dugom. Za zakonske izazove i regulatorne prepreke i ograničenja, Jović Milentijević je tokom svog izlaganja 

Šta je to monitoring faktura? Kada nastaje proces naplate potraživanja i koje su njegove osnovne faze? Šta je to “soft”, a šta “hard collection”?

U okviru CSR programa koje ove godine ima za cilj edukaciju preduzetnika u oblasti upravljanja potraživanjima, EOS Matrix Srbije je ušao u strateško partnerstvo sa Privrednom komorom Srbije sa željom da njenim članovima održi niz besplatnih radionica. Evropska mreža preduzetništva, Privredna komora Srbije, Regionalna privredna komora Novi Sad i kompanija EOS Matrix su organizovali prvu, od niza zajedničkih radionica koje su planirane za ovu godinu. Radionica je održana u Regionalnoj privrednoj komori Novi Sad, a događaju su prisustvali predstavnici novosadskog dela grupe “Excellence SME” Privredne komore Srbije.

Šta je to monitoring faktura? Kada nastaje proces naplate potraživanja i koje su njegove osnovne faze? Šta je to “soft”, a šta “hard collection”? Kako teče postupak naplate potraživanja sudskim putem i koje su to situacije kada ne preostaje ništa drugo osim prodaje potraživanja? O ovim i sličnim pitanjima govorile su Jelena Jović, Operativni direktor EOS Matrixa i Jovana Popović, Direktor pravne službe, na radionici pod nazivom “Naplata potraživanja u B2B sektoru”. 

Učesnike sledeće radionice će ugostiti Privredna komora Srbije, u njenim prostorijama u Beogradu, a za 2017. godinu planirano je još 12 radionica koje će biti održane u najvećim gradovima Srbije.

Majority of EU companies associate new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) with even more data security in the receivables management segment / Companies report extra work above all in administrative and HR areas / More than 10 percent of EU companies not familiar with GDPR

Hamburg, 22 May 2018 – Europe’s companies generally have a positive attitude to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), despite the extra work involved. This is because more than two thirds (69 percent) of all European companies that rate the new regulation as relevant to them will benefit from greater data security in receivables management. This applies in particular to Spanish and Danish companies (each 78 percent); in Germany, on the other hand, the figure is 71 percent. These results were the outcome of a special analysis by the EOS Group on the impact of the new regulation in Europe. The survey polled 3,000 companies in 15 European countries. The analysis is part of the EOS Survey ‘European Payment Practices' 2018 conducted by independent market research institute Kantar TNS.

GDPR: Only just over half of EU companies considers it relevant
‘The special analysis shows how important data security and data protection are for European companies,’ explains Kirsten Pedd, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief General Counsel of the EOS Group in Germany. ‘Nevertheless there are still companies that are not familiar with the GDPR at all. There is a risk that the regulation is being taken lightly.’ The EOS analysis shows that 11 percent of the EU companies polled have not known about the GDPR so far. A quarter of the companies surveyed (25 percent) are familiar with the regulation but think it is not very relevant or not relevant at all to their own business. Only just over half (57 percent) of companies polled consider the new regulation to be relevant to them.

Extra work throughout Europe - espacially in the administrative and HR areas
The 57 percent of EU companies that recognise that the GDPR is relevant to them also report that there is extra work involved, primarily affecting administration. As well as an increase in documentation obligations, around two thirds (69 percent) of companies say that there is more bureaucracy as a result of implementing the regulation and an increase in information obligations (65 percent). More than half of the companies (55 percent) also report an increase in the need for personnel resources. A total of 26 percent of companies even state that the GDPR could jeopardise their business model.

Receivables management: companies well prepared
‘Although most experts for receivables management are prepared for the extra work that may be involved, they clearly associate the GDPR with more data security and data protection,’ concludes Kirsten Pedd. ‘Thanks to this clear awareness, companies are well prepared for the implementation of the regulation.’

The GDPR applies to all EU companies from 25 May
The GDPR is a regulation of the European Union that affects private companies and public bodies. The regulation has been in force since 25 May 2016, but all EU countries have to implement it from 25 May 2018. The objective of the regulation is to protect personal data within the EU and ensure free movement of data within the EU single market.

About the EOS survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2018
In the spring of 2018, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,400 companies with a minimum of 20 staff and an annual turnover of at least €5 million about prevailing local payment practices, economic developments in their countries, and issues relating to risk and receivables management. The results presented here are part of a special analysis of the survey of 3,000 companies from 15 EU countries: Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland and Greece.

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. Nine out of ten Germans feel bad if they cannot repay their debts. What is more, they feel much more obliged to pay back debts to relatives and friends than to an online retailer, for example. Just three percent of those polled would settle their bills with online sellers first. The 'EOS Debt Survey' 2017 shows that there are great discrepancies in the way Russians and US Americans feel about debt. In a representative online survey, financial services provider EOS and social research institute forsa compared the attitudes to debt of people in Germany, Russia and the USA.

Little sense of obligation to repay online shopping debts
29 per cent of Germans feel the strongest obligation to pay back debt to relatives, 28 per cent to friends or colleagues, and 26 per cent to a bank. Only six per cent feel the same kind of obligation towards a bricks-and-mortar store or service provider, and as little as 3 per cent towards online shops. 39 per cent of Germans would pay debts from internet shopping last. 'Especially in the context of Christmas trading, this is an important insight for retailers that sell their products online. It is therefore recommended that they establish a personal relationship as close as possible with the buyer, to keep the number of payment defaults to a minimum,' says Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group.

'Personal debts' are an emotional burden
At the same time, 91 per cent of Germans feel bad if they cannot settle debts. 'For Germans, finances are a very personal matter, so they generally find debts to be a burden. From our own experience, however, we also know that they generally try very hard to find a solution, if on occasion they don't have enough money to pay back debts,' says Klaus Engberding about the results of the EOS Debt Survey 2017.

Different countries, different attitudes to debt
Unlike Germans, only around three-quarters of people in Russia and the USA feel bad if they cannot pay back their debts. In those countries, the sense of obligation towards creditors known personally to the debtor is also lower: For example, 60 per cent of Russians and 48 per cent of US Americans would pay back debts to a bank first. In Russia only 13 per cent of people and in the USA 18 per cent have the strongest sense of obligation to pay back debts to relatives, on the other hand.

About the ‘EOS Debt Survey’ 2017
On behalf of the EOS Group, independent market and social research institute forsa conducted a survey of adults in three countries from 17 August till 4 September 2017. In online interviews, 2,017 people in Germany and 1,005 each in the USA and Russia were asked about their personal attitude to debt, their handling of debt and their own financial status. The results are representative of internet users aged between 18 and 69 in the respective country. In the survey, people are referred to as having debts if they are currently paying back one or several instalment loans, leasing agreements or a mortgage. Further results of the survey are available online at www.eos-solutions.com/debt-survey-2017.
 

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. 55 per cent of Russians are ‘debt avoiders’, ahead of Germans (45 per cent) and US Americans (37 per cent). The ‘EOS Debt Survey’ 2017 shows how people deal with debt differently depending on the country they live in. On behalf of financial services provider EOS, social research institute forsa conducted a representative online survey in Germany, the USA and Russia. It identified five different types of debtor: The ‘careless debtor’, the ‘debt junkie’, the ‘occasional debtor’, the ‘mortgage debtor’ and the ‘debt avoider’.

The figures: Debtor types compared by country
Although ‘debt avoiders’ are in the relative majority in all three countries, there are distinct differences in the second-placed categories:

Typical for Germany is the ‘mortgage debtor, who does not like to take on debt on principle but often does not regard a loan to buy property as real debt. The ‘mortgage debtor’ comes in second place in Germany at 36 per cent – a remarkable level compared with the other countries, especially as this figure has risen by as much as 10 percent points in Germany since 2015. ‘The stable economic conditions in Germany and low interest rates are allowing many Germans to realise their dream of owning a home. However, compared with US Americans, for example, we are more cautious here in Germany and reluctant to take on further debt’, explains Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group.

‘Careless debtors’, who service several loans at once, actually come in second place in the USA at 29 per cent, only just behind the top position – but this figure has gone up by nine per cent points since 2015. Professor Manfred Güllner, founder and Managing Director of forsa, explains the background:
‘Americans have a strong reliance on credit. But at the same time, due to the lack of state insurance cover in the health system and a partially fee-based education system in the USA, there is also a great necessity to take on debt’.

In Russia, on the other hand, the second most frequent type is the ‘occasional debtor’, at 27 per cent. Accordingly, every fourth Russian finds debt to be an emotional burden, but is still prepared to take out instalment loans in emergency situations. Because of the low rate of home ownership, mortgage loans only play a subordinate role in Russia. ‘In the ‘Putin era’, the economic situation in everyday life is relatively stable, albeit at a low level for many people. Our figures therefore show little change in the last two years’, says Professor Güllner. Klaus Engberding sheds light on the significance of the results for EOS: ‘The survey makes social and cultural differences transparent. For us as a financial services provider this offers the ideal basis for a better understanding of debtors worldwide and helps us find solutions that are in the interest of all participants’.

About the ‘EOS Debt Survey’ 2017
On behalf of the EOS Group, independent market and social research institute forsa conducted a survey of adults in three countries from 17 August till 4 September 2017. In online interviews, 2,017 people in Germany and 1,005 each in the USA and Russia were asked about their personal attitude to debt, their handling of debt and their own financial status. The results are representative of internet users aged between 18 and 69 in the respective country. In the survey, people are referred to as having debts if they are currently paying back one or several instalment loans, leasing agreements or a mortgage. Further results of the survey are available online at www.eos-solutions.com/debt-survey-2017.

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. 78 per cent of Germans have had debts before. And seven per cent of Germans know the feeling of not being able to repay debts. The ''EOS Debt Survey" 2017 shows that Germans are becoming more reticent about taking on debt. Almost nine out of ten Germans (88 per cent) for example, say that they want to keep their debts to a minimum – that is as much as nine per cent more than in 2015. In the USA and Russia this was stated by 67 and 76 per cent of respondents respectively. "What is astonishing is that particularly in Germany, where the economic situation is very good at the moment, there is a mood of reluctance to get into debt. Periods of stable income and the current interest rate situation worldwide actually present the best conditions for making major investments and paying instalments on time,'' says Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group, by way of analysis. These facts represent the basic results of the second "EOS Debt Survey" 2017, a representative online poll that was conducted on behalf of financial services provider EOS by social research institute forsa.

The emotional "debt account"
Not being able to pay back debts makes people feel bad. This was the experience of nine out of ten Germans (91 per cent), but only three out of four Americans and Russians (76 per cent). This result has gone up by as much as seven per cent in Germany since the first EOS Debt Survey in 2015. Only four per cent of Germans – that is a decrease compared to two years ago – are in favour of taking on debt if they have no money. Nevertheless, only three per cent of Germans would get into debt in order to pay for vacations. For 17 per cent of Russians and Americans, however, this would not be a problem.

Self-image versus the way others see us: "I'm conscientious, others are reckless!"
What attitude do Germans have to their own debts – and those of others? Three out of four respondents (73 per cent) assume that nowadays a lot of people have debts. A look at the facts, however, shows that around half of Germans (51 per cent) are currently paying back debts. Anyone who has at some point had difficulties repaying debts usually gave the main reason for this as losing their job (29 per cent) or over-extending themselves financially (24 per cent, in Russia 44 per cent and in the USA 24 per cent). When asked about the general situation in society, however, nine out of ten Germans (89 per cent) believe that the reason for payment difficulties is overextending oneself financially (in Russia 54 per cent and in the USA 48 per cent). Around two thirds of Germans (63 per cent) describe themselves as only taking on debt in absolute emergencies (in Russia 75 per cent and in the USA 40 per cent). "Germans only rarely have problems paying back debt but they assume that their fellow citizens are reckless and take on debt a lot,'' comments Professor Manfred Güllner from forsa. "But one would actually do better to trust one's fellow citizens to generally do the right thing in respect of financial matters."

Germans dream of owning their own homes – but then buy a car
In their own estimation, Germans are most likely to take on debt to buy residential property (82 per cent). The purchase of a car or motorcycle comes in third place at 56 per cent. But in reality, 60 per cent of Germans are currently paying off loans, or have done so in the past, for a car or motorcycle – while only about every second has done so for the purchase of real estate (45 per cent). If you leave out mortgages, every third German (33 per cent) is currently paying back debts. Of these, 55 per cent are servicing just one loan, 30 per cent two loans and 14 per cent three or more loans. "The survey confirms our experience that most people generally behave responsibly as far as financial matters are concerned. We basically assume that the vast majority of consumers would like to pay their bills on time, but are sometimes simply unable to do so due to short-term or long-term problems,'' concludes Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group.

About the “EOS Debt Survey” 2017
On behalf of the EOS Group, independent market and social research institute forsa conducted a survey of adults in three countries from 17 August till 4 September 2017. In online interviews, 2,017 people in Germany and 1,005 each in the USA and Russia were asked about their personal attitude to debt, their handling of debt and their own financial status. The results are representative of internet users aged between 18 and 69 in the respective country. In the survey, people are referred to as having debts if they are currently paying back one or several instalment loans, leasing agreements or a mortgage. Further results of the survey are available online at www.eos-solutions.com/debt-survey-2017.
 

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. German companies are falling behind when it comes to digitalising their dunning processes. So far, only three per cent of companies in Germany have completely electronically upgraded their dunning and billing systems. At present, one third of companies doubt that digitalisation has a beneficial effect on payment collection. A misconception, as demonstrated by a look at the rest of Europe, where 18 per cent of companies have already completely digitalised their dunning processes – and are reaping the benefits of a better repayment rate, according to 49 per cent of respondents. These were some of the findings of the representative EOS Survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2017, which was conducted this year for the tenth time (by Kantar TNS, formerly TNS Infratest).

The status quo of Europe's modern receivables management
Digital dunning means that companies set up and manage dunning processes to be customer-specific and highly automated, for example using big data analyses. Although for the most part companies continue to use software to support the dunning process, staff are often still intervening in the process themselves. In future, the role of employees will change as a result of digitalised processes. Their daily work routine will consist of control tasks and the processing of specific complex cases, instead of a series of individual activities along the entire process chain.
In Western Europe in particular, companies have already responded to the benefits of digitalisation and have adapted their dunning processes accordingly. Every fifth company here is already exploiting the benefits of a digital dunning system. The trailblazers are Spain (58 per cent), Switzerland (53 per cent) and Hungary (53 per cent).

German companies sceptical about digitalisation
European companies are recognising the signs of the times and are increasingly introducing digital processes into their dunning systems. Their expectations of the benefits range from saving time (43 per cent), improved planning of resources (34 per cent), better customer-specific receivables processing (36 per cent) and more automated processes (36 per cent). With the exception of Germany, where only 33 per cent of companies believe digital processes improve outcomes. Across Europe, on the other hand, every second company is confident that a modernised dunning process further reduces payment delays.

Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group, conjectures: ‘One of the reasons for the scepticism may be that German companies have the lowest rate of payment defaults and so do not see the need to change their collection processes’. But Engberding cautions against continuing to neglect the digitalisation of the dunning system. ‘Companies have to open their eyes to the necessity of digitalisation so they do not fall behind and give money away’.

About the EOS survey: ‘European Payment Practices’
In the spring of 2017, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,200 companies in 16 European nations about the prevailing payment practices in their respective countries. 200 companies in each of the countries Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia and Greece answered questions about their own payment experiences, economic developments in their countries and issues relating to risk and receivables management.

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce.
For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. The Greek economy is still Europe's underachiever. As recently as this July, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it would be supporting Greece with another EUR 1.6 billion; however the situation remains precarious in respect of payment defaults. Because in many cases, Greek companies are not able to absorb the resulting hole in their budget. The result is potential insolvency. In a total of 28 per cent of the Greek companies polled, payment delays and defaults put the company's viability in jeopardy – in no other country in Europe is this correlation so strong. In Western Europe, British companies in particular are struggling with the impact of late and unrecoverable payments. As a result, almost every fourth company in the United Kingdom (24 per cent) has to fear for its very existence. These are some of the findings of the EOS survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2017, which was conducted this year for the tenth time (by Kantar TNS, formerly TNS Infratest).

Countries in crisis – but no widespread pessimism
In Eastern Europe, Bulgarian companies are also having difficulty in absorbing payment defaults which jeopardise the survival of nearly one in four companies (24 per cent). On average, 17 per cent of Eastern European companies are at risk of bankruptcy as a result of outstanding payments by customers.

At the same time, the EOS survey shows that the crisis-ridden companies have different views of the future. In Greece, the mood in companies tends to be optimistic, as it was in 2016: 29 per cent (2016: 33 per cent) still expect the payment practices of their customers to improve in the next two years. ‘In this context it is interesting to observe the spirit of optimism in Greece. Fortified by intensive support from Europe for some considerable time, there is a positive mood in the country despite the weak economy’, says Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group.

Things look very different in the UK, where pessimistic voices are on the increase. Whereas in the previous year, only 12 per cent of the companies polled assumed that payment practices would get worse, a total of 19 per cent hold this view in 2017. ‘Brexit has hit the British economy hard. This is reflected in the weak increase in GDP in the first two quarters and the moderate growth forecast by the International Monetary Fund for 2018’, continues Engberding.

German companies the most stable
In Western Europe too, payment defaults represent a threat to the viability of many companies. Alongside British firms, French (22 per cent) and Spanish companies (21 per cent) in particular are battling against these consequences. The situation is different in Germany, where companies are better equipped to absorb outstanding payments. Because although in 17 per cent of all cases payments are made late or not at all, only two per cent of all companies see this as a threat to their existence.
‘Companies need to be able to compensate for payment defaults. Otherwise they will quickly be paralysed by their own insolvency’, explains Engberding. ‘Working with a professional receivables management provider really can pay, in the truest sense of the word. In addition, companies can focus fully on their core business and do not have to invest any resources in additional expertise.’

About the EOS survey: ‘European Payment Practices’
In the spring of 2017, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,200 companies in 16 European nations about the prevailing payment practices in their respective countries. 200 companies in each of the countries Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia and Greece answered questions about their own payment experiences, economic developments in their countries and issues relating to risk and receivables management. Further results from the survey can be found online: https://www.eos-solutions.com/paymentpractices2017

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce.
For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. With short payment terms consumers often feel that their hands are tied. But these short deadlines actually do help, because the saying ‘Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today’ also applies to paying your bills. The longer a customer has to pay the more likely they are to get into arrears. This results in late fees for the consumer and outstanding payments for the company. European companies are responding accordingly to this correlation: Compared with the previous year, customers in the B2C and B2B segments have a day less to settle their invoices on time (2017: 35 days, 2016: 36 days). Those 24 hours help achieve more consistent punctuality of payments. In the B2C segment, the punctuality rate was 80 per cent in 2017 (2016: 79 per cent), while B2B customers pay 77 per cent of invoices on time (2016: 76 per cent).  These are some of the findings of the EOS survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2017, which was conducted this year for the tenth time (by Kantar TNS, formerly TNS Infratest).

The fine line between retaining customers and achieving good payment practices
'From 2015 to 2016, companies in Europe extended their payment terms. Immediately, a slight deterioration in on-time payments was identified. Currently, companies are revising the terms down again', says Klaus Engberding, CEO of the Hamburg-based EOS Group. 'We are talking about a very fine line here. If payment deadlines are too short customers can be scared off', he adds. 'This is why companies are proceeding with caution and are implementing only very moderate reductions of the terms granted from year to year'.

Germany benefits from the most punctual payments
In Western Europe the payment terms are shorter than in Eastern Europe. On average, Western European customers have 33 days to pay their invoices, and the late payment rate is 19 per cent. The country with the shortest payment terms is Germany, which prescribes 24 days on average. Only 17 per cent of customers do not meet this payment deadline. Other countries such as the UK allow much longer time frames of 34 days on average. But the UK also sees a higher proportion of overdue payments (22 per cent).

Eastern Europe: lots of patience means a lot of payment delays
In Eastern Europe in particular, companies offer their customers long payment terms. In this region, customers have 37 days on average to settle their invoices, while business customers have as much as 40 days. In 25 per cent of cases, however, customers pay late or do not pay at all. Last year the average payment term was still 38 days and payment delays or defaults stood at 26 per cent. Among the countries substantially cutting their payment terms this year are Romania (2017: 37 days, 2016: 39 days) and Slovakia (2017: 36 days, 2016: 38 days). The correlation between long payment terms and resulting payment delays is most evident in Greece, where customers have an average of 47 days to pay their bills. Despite this, more than a quarter of them (26 per cent) pay too late.

About the EOS survey: ‘European Payment Practices’
In the spring of 2017, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,200 companies in 16 European nations about the prevailing payment practices in their respective countries. 200 companies in each of the countries Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia and Greece answered questions about their own payment experiences, economic developments in their countries and issues relating to risk and receivables management. Further results from the survey can be found online: https://de.eos-solutions.com/en/press/surveys.html#paymentpractices2017

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce.
For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. In Europe, personal predicaments continue to be the main reason for payment delays and defaults. Most customers who fall behind with payments have a short-term cash flow problem (66 per cent) or excessive debt, or have declared themselves bankrupt (52 per cent). This is one of the findings of the EOS survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2017, which was conducted this year for the tenth time (Kantar TNS, formerly TNS Infratest).

However, the percentage is surprisingly high in the case of what is an avoidable problem: 49 per cent of the companies polled believe that their customers pay late or don't pay at all due to sheer forgetfulness. Klaus Engberding, CEO of the EOS Group, takes a differentiated view: 'We basically assume that the majority of consumers would like to pay their bills on time, but often simply cannot due to short-term or long-term problems. If the fridge breaks down for example, or the car that you need for your daily journey to work, then these purchases take priority. Other bills then have to be paid a little later if possible, and so they get forgotten. What is worrying, on the other hand, is when customers are intentionally not paying their invoices – because that is fraud.’

Wilful intent as a reason for unpaid bills is not uncommon throughout Europe: 38 per cent of the European companies surveyed complain about wilful non-payment in the B2C segment, while in the B2B segment the figure is 34 per cent. Anyone who deliberately ignores their invoices is liable to prosecution: 'Intentional non-payment – for example when buying on account online or deliberately deferring payment instalments – meets the criteria for the crime of fraud and is not a trivial offence', explains the CEO.

Germany has lowest incidence of wilful non-payment / More common in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe
Only 10 per cent of companies in the Federal Republic complain about wilful non-payment in the B2C segment. At European level, Eastern European companies are much more likely than Western European firms to complain that consumers deliberately do not pay their bills. A total of 41 per cent regard themselves as having been fraudulently deprived of revenue (34 per cent in Western Europe). At the bottom of the rankings in this respect are Romania (50 per cent), Greece (45 per cent) and the Czech Republic (42 per cent). In Western Europe, Belgian (43 per cent), Austrian (41 per cent) and French companies (40 per cent) report the highest numbers of deliberate non-payers.

About the EOS survey: ‘European Payment Practices’
In the spring of 2017, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,200 companies in 16 European nations about the prevailing payment practices in their respective countries. 200 companies in each of the countries Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia and Greece answered questions about their own payment experiences, economic developments in their countries and issues relating to risk and receivables management. Further results from the survey can be found online at: www.eos-solutions.com/debt-survey-2017

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce.
For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. Minor cause, major effect: At 29 per cent of the European companies polled, errors of form in invoice handling are already resulting in payment delays and defaults by customers. This is one of the findings of the EOS survey ‘European Payment Practices’ 2017, which was conducted this year for the tenth time. Accordingly, an invoice issued too late is just as likely to lead to serious problems as errors such as an incorrect address or the failure to adhere to formal guidelines. ‘Companies are regularly giving away their money because they have not organised their invoicing processes efficiently', says Klaus Engberding, CEO of the Hamburg-based EOS Group.

But even a perfectly organised invoicing process may not be enough. Companies will need to call in professional receivables management services if their customers still do not pay. In this context, the companies' failings are not just isolated incidents but systemic problems. In some cases there are no standardised processes whatsoever for recovering non-performing receivables. ‘It is striking that the professionalism is actually continuing to decline', Engberding notes. The number of companies admitting to this in the survey has doubled. In 2017, eight per cent of the companies polled stated that they did not have a standardised receivables management. This is up from four per cent in 2016. ‘The work involved in processing non-performing receivables is often underestimated', says the CEO. ‘It calls for a lot of expertise and ties up personnel'. This is why working with debt collection companies is often more expedient than in-house processes. ‘The specialists handle professional receivables management so that companies can concentrate on their core business'.

Western Europe: German companies the masters of diligence
As the survey shows, Germany has the most professional organisation of receivables management. In the B2B segment, only two per cent of the companies surveyed said that they did not have any standardised processes for recovering outstanding debts. This was true of four per cent of companies in the B2C segment. French and British firms in particular are facing major challenges. In both countries, 13 per cent of companies do not have any defined organisational structures for recovering outstanding debts from consumers. In the B2B segment, there is also work to be done in the UK, where ten per cent of companies do not have any standardised receivables management.

Eastern Europe's ‘underachievers’
A lack of proper procedures for payment collection is most prevalent in Eastern Europe. In the B2C segment, companies in Greece (15 per cent), Hungary and Slovakia (each 14 per cent) in particular are battling this problem. In the B2B segment, companies in Greece, Slovakia and Russia (9 per cent each), are at the bottom of the rankings in this respect.

About the EOS survey: ‘European Payment Practices’
In the spring of 2017, in partnership with independent market research institute Kantar TNS (formerly TNS Infratest), EOS surveyed 3,200 companies in 16 European nations about the prevailing payment practices in their respective countries. 200 companies in each of the countries Germany, UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, Russia and Greece answered questions about their own payment experiences, economic developments in their countries and issues relating to risk and receivables management. Further results from the survey can be found online at:
( Verlinkung nachtragen: www.eos-solutions.com/paymentpractices2017/invoicingprocesses)

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.

Hamburg. For the financial year 2016/17, Hamburg-based EOS Consolidated is reporting an exceptionally good result: At 195.4 million euros, its EBT (earnings before tax) is well above the previous year's total. The debt collection specialist has also significantly increased its sales to 663.8 million euros.

This success is all the more remarkable given that the competitive pressures are growing: 'Due to expansionary monetary policy, numerous competitors with a lot of capital are swamping the market. Nevertheless we have held our ground very well, particularly in the receivables purchasing segment', says Klaus Engberding, Chairman of the EOS Group’s Board of Directors. EOS Consolidated has substantially increased its investment in this sector. ‘Our expertise in analysing, acquiring and processing non-performing debt portfolios is acknowledged and valued in the industry’, he continues.

However, EOS was not going to be resting on its laurels. 'Our focus is on the future. For example, we want to further increase our efficiency and therefore are putting even more emphasis than before on data-driven management of debt collection processes.' At 90 million euros, EOS Consolidated is making its largest investment ever in IT systems.

'We are not just investing in bits and bytes but also in people. To make the best possible use of the opportunities afforded by digitalisation, we need the right mindset’, says Mr Engberding. This is why the Group has initiated a comprehensive change process: 'With our Cultural Journey@EOS we are defining how we are going to be working together in the future and to what end. It is a process that will involve our entire workforce of around 7,000 people worldwide'.

Overview of key performance indicators:

2016/17
Sales revenue (MEUR): 663.8
EBITDA (MEUR): 222.6
EBT (MEUR): 195.4

2015/16
Sales revenue (MEUR): 596.1
EBITDA (MEUR): 173.8
EBT (MEUR): 181.4

With a 46 per cent share of revenue, Germany remains the company's most important regional market. Compared with the previous year, it grew by 11.1 per cent to 305.5 million euros. Developments in Western Europe were very gratifying, with sales revenue up 33.5 per cent to 164.2 million euros. One reason for this is the strong increase in investments in receivables purchases, for example in France and Belgium.

In Eastern Europe, sales revenue rose by 21.5 per cent to 131.4 million euros. This is the highest level in the region in the history of the EOS Group to date. The much higher revenue from receivables purchases in Croatia and Hungary made a significant contribution to this pleasing result. In North America, sales revenue fell to 59.5 million euros. This is attributable above all to the downturn in receivables management for government-issued student loans.

The EOS Group
The EOS Group is one of the leading international providers of customised financial services. Its main focus is on receivables management covering three key business segments: fiduciary collection, debt purchase and business process outsourcing. With around 7,000 employees and more than 55 subsidiaries, EOS offers some 20,000 clients in 26 countries around the world financial security with tailored services in the B2C and B2B segments. Being connected to an international network of partner companies, the EOS Group has access to resources in more than 180 countries. Its key target sectors are banking, utilities and telecommunications, along with the public sector, real estate, mail order and e-commerce. For more information please visit: www.eos-solutions.com.