History

East-West Debt started its activities in 1997 when Dutch and Belgian economists and counsellors with more than 15 years of experience in the market found each other and decided to establish a structured cooperation. During the years they had realised that they needed the knowledge of one another to come to valuable possibilities to solve claims on emerging markets. Having experience on countries like Iraq, Iran, Angola and Zaire (DRC), both were confronted with the fact that they lacked the right know how respectively on the economic and judicial field.

A counsellor knows how to obtain a judgement, but a judgement is nothing more than a nice piece of paper - to be framed and hung up on the wall of the office - if you do not know where to find the assets of your debtor. An economist is more capable of finding the assets of his debtor but does not have the capability of obtaining the necessary documents to collect the amounts found.

Between 1997 and 2001, East-West Debt was located in the Scaldis building at the Orteliuskaai (Quay Ortelius) on the banks of Antwerp's famous Scheldt river. Although nicely residing and having a great view on the Antwerp port, the success of the company also brought along new businesses and East-West Debt was forced to move to bigger offices.

Indeed, whereas East-West Debt in the early days only focussed on judicial collection procedures, the company always realised that, if possible, an amicable solution from time to time was more rewarding for all parties. Therefore, from the beginning on, a network of local contacts and agents was established in various African, Middle Eastern and Latin American countries in order to provide the East-West Debt clients with the right solutions.

Since 2001, East-West Debt is residing in the Antwerp city centre on the famous Meir Street with its 19th century grandeur. The building at number 24 used to be the Head Office of one of Belgium's most important banks, Anhyp, known in the 19th century as "Caisse HypothÈcaire Anversoise". The great black iron letters of this nomination still decorate the neo-classical building. It allows East-West Debt also to receive its clients in the atmosphere they deserve and makes a business trip to Antwerp certainly worth while having the Hilton Hotel at walking distance.

In the meantime, East-West Debt is still growing. The company is active on all continents in a mounting number of emerging market countries and experiences that there are still exploration possibilities in the market to help new clients and to find new solutions. It can only make the company better and help it to maintain its world leading position of today.