EKF

What EKF does

EKF, which has operated under the consolidated brand EIFO (Danmarks Eksport- og Investeringsfond) since 2023, is Denmark's national development finance institution and official export credit agency, wholly owned by the Kingdom of Denmark. The entity was formed through the merger of Eksport Kredit Fonden (EKF, founded 1999) and Investeringsfonden for Udvikningslande (IFU), consolidating Danish state development finance and export credit functions under a single statutorily regulated framework headquartered in Copenhagen.

EIFO's core activity is providing risk-tolerant state financing across the full Danish company lifecycle — from seed-stage startups through SMEs to large exporters — via credit, equity investments, and buyer-credit and EPC guarantees. The institution also issues guarantees to foreign buyers and international banks to facilitate Danish exports, and operates as a fund-of-funds investor in venture vehicles targeting Danish and European growth companies. Distribution is primarily direct application supplemented by formal co-financing partnerships with Danish banks (for SME reach) and international banks (for complex cross-border transactions). The organisation does not publicly disclose pricing, with terms negotiated individually based on company profile and risk.

Commercial outcomes for 2025 — the most recent disclosed period — attribute 22,600 jobs created or maintained in Denmark, 59,600 million DKK contribution to Danish company turnover, 24,500 million DKK in GDP contribution, and 9,700 million DKK in tax contributions to EIFO's activities. Strategic priorities are explicitly named as Denmark's security, green transition, growth and entrepreneurship, innovative technologies, and global business. EIFO carries 101–250 employees, has no subsidiaries, no patents or trademarks, and discloses no own revenue, consistent with its public-policy mandate.

Name

EKF

Legal name

Danmarks Eksport- og Investeringsfond

Website

https://ekf.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EIFO (formerly EKF) is Denmark's state-owned national export credit agency and development finance institution, providing credit, equity, and guarantees to Danish companies across all growth stages and to foreign buyers of Danish exports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Export Credit Financing

NAICS

Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Official Export Finance (FSABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) & Trade Finance Institutions (BPADACAF), Trade Finance, Export Credit & Risk Mitigation (BPADAMAG), Structured Trade & Export Credit (ECA-backed, Structured Solutions) (FSABAHAJ)

Keywords

• Export credit financing
• Trade finance guarantees
• Government development finance
• Export risk insurance
• Sovereign investment fund

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

EKF (now operating as part of EIFO) is Denmark's official export credit agency and national development finance institution. It provides risk-bearing state financing for Danish companies at all stages of development, including credit, equity financing, and financing for foreign customers, along with guarantees for foreign buyers and EPC contractors to facilitate Danish exports. The institution supports Danish businesses across five strategic priorities: Denmark's security, green transition, growth and entrepreneurship, innovative technologies, and global business.

Product overview

EIFO (Danmarks Eksport- og Investeringsfond) is Denmark's national business promotion bank and official export credit institution combined in a single government financing institution. The fund provides risk-bearing state financing for Danish companies at all stages of development through various financing solutions including credit, equity financing, and financing for foreign customers. The organization focuses on five strategic priorities: Denmark's security, green transition, growth and entrepreneurship, innovative technologies, and global business. No specific named products or modules are identified in the available source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Finansieringsløsninger (Financing Solutions) A collective offering of financing solutions (credit, equity financing, and financing for foreign customers) made available to Danish companies across all stages of development, from early-stage through large enterprises.
• Særordninger (Special State Schemes) A range of special schemes that EIFO administers on behalf of the Danish state, supporting specific policy objectives including defense and security, green transition, and innovative technology development.
• Buyer Credit Guarantees for Foreign Buyers Guarantees issued by EIFO to foreign buyers and their banks that enable attractive payment terms for purchases of Danish goods, with immediate payment to the Danish exporter.
• EPC Contractor Financing Flexible financing solutions that strengthen the financial position of EPC contractors and provide a competitive advantage to their customers through Danish-supplied projects.
• Direct Equity Investments in Companies Direct equity investments by EIFO in individual companies, opening access to dynamic and innovative growth opportunities for Danish businesses and their co-investors.
• Fund Investments (Anchor Investor Role) Equity investments by EIFO in professionally managed funds (e.g., Scaleup Europe Fund, Ugly Duckling Ventures), enabling professional fund managers to access sovereign-backed capital.
• Bank Co-Financing Programs Structured co-financing arrangements through which EIFO works with Danish and international banks to underwrite financing for Danish companies and exporters at all stages of development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,600 jobs created or maintained in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Danish Banks and Financial InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEIFO collaborates with Danish banks and financial institutions to provide financing for Danish companies and exporters at all stages of their development. Banks serve as important distribution partners for EIFO's financing solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coface: French export credit agency and trade credit insurer offering export guarantees, buyer credit insurance, and trade finance solutions. Comparable as a European ECA providing risk-bearing instruments to support exporters against commercial and political risks.
• SACE: Italy's official export credit agency offering export credit, guarantees, and investment insurance for Italian companies abroad. Comparable as a national ECA with comprehensive product suite including buyer credit guarantees and project finance.
• UK Export Finance (UKEF): United Kingdom's official export credit agency, providing loans, guarantees, and insurance to support UK exporters. Directly comparable as a national ECA offering buyer credit guarantees, export financing, and risk mitigation to domestic exporters.
• GIEK / Eksportfinansiering Norge: Norway's official export credit agency providing guarantees and loans for Norwegian exporters and their foreign buyers. Comparable as a neighboring Nordic national ECA with a similar mandate and product set.
• Euler Hermes / Allianz Trade: France's official export credit agency (now operating under Allianz Trade), providing trade credit insurance, guarantees, and export financing. Comparable as a national ECA with a similar mandate to support domestic exporters through risk-bearing financing instruments.
• Finnvera: Finland's official export credit agency offering export credit guarantees, special guarantees, and financing for Finnish exporters. Comparable as a Nordic national ECA with overlapping product suite covering guarantees, buyer credits, and SME export financing.
• SEK (Svensk Exportkredit / Swedish Export Credit Corporation): Sweden's official export credit institution providing financing solutions to Swedish exporters and their international customers. Comparable as a neighboring Nordic ECA with a similar mandate focused on export financing and buyer credit guarantees.

Broad incumbents

• Invest-NL: Netherlands' state-owned development finance institution providing financing and equity to Dutch companies in sustainability and innovation. Comparable as a European state-backed DFI with overlapping focus areas including green transition and innovative technology financing.
• Bpifrance: France's national development bank providing financing, guarantees, and equity to French businesses at all stages. Comparable as a state-owned DFI serving SMEs and large enterprises with a similar multi-stage, multi-instrument offering.
• KfW (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau): Germany's state-owned development bank offering export and project finance, SME financing, and investment fund products. Comparable as a larger, broader mandate national development finance institution with overlapping export credit and growth capital activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ekf-danmarks-eksportkredit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EKF