European Association Of Guarantee Institutions

What European Association Of Guarantee Institutions does

AECM (European Association of Guarantee Institutions) is a Brussels-headquartered, member-based non-profit international association founded in 1992 that represents European guarantee institutions toward EU institutions, facilitates knowledge exchange among its members, and promotes the guarantee instrument as a tool for SME financing. Its membership comprises mutual and private-sector guarantee schemes, public guarantee funds, and national promotional institutions that provide loan guarantees to SMEs lacking sufficient bankable collateral. As of 2017, the association counted 42 member organizations across 26 EU countries plus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Russia, and Turkey, with members collectively reporting over €85 billion in guarantee portfolio volume and €29 billion in new guarantees for 3.1 million SMEs.

AECM's core offerings are non-commercial: member representation at EU level, access to European financial instruments (COSME, InnovFin, EFSI) via the European Investment Fund and European Investment Bank, knowledge exchange through working groups and Operational Training Sessions, annual events, and a content library (Facts & Figures, Statistical Yearbook, Guarantee Activity Survey, Position Papers). It also founded and coordinates the Global Network of Guarantee Institutions (GNGI), linking European guarantee bodies with counterparts in Latin America (REGAR), Asia (ACSIC), and MENA.

The business model is a subscription-style recurring membership dues structure typical of trade associations; pricing is not publicly disclosed. GTM is community-led: institutions apply for membership and participate through working groups, annual events, and training sessions. Revenue, headcount, and membership fees are not disclosed; the secretariat is small (Secretary General Katrin Sturm, Senior Financial Expert Marc Basel, Special Adviser Jean-Louis Leloir, and supporting staff). Governance is by a member-elected Board of Directors led by President Bernhard Sagmeister.

Name

European Association Of Guarantee Institutions

Legal name

European Association Of Guarantee Institutions

Website

https://aecm.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AECM is a Brussels-based, member-funded non-profit association founded in 1992 that represents 42 European guarantee institutions toward EU institutions and facilitates knowledge exchange, training, and joint advocacy on SME loan guarantees across 26+ EU countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: AECM operates as a membership-based non-profit international association. Revenue is derived from membership fees paid by guarantee institutions across Europe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AECM is a member-based non-profit international association founded in 1992 that represents European guarantee institutions toward EU institutions, facilitates knowledge exchange between its members, and promotes the guarantee instrument as a tool for SME financing. Its core deliverables include EU-level advocacy, working groups, annual events, operational training sessions, statistical publications (Facts and Figures, Statistical Yearbook, Scoreboards, Annual Activity Report), position papers, and coordination of the Global Network of Guarantee Institutions (GNGI).

Product overview

AECM is a member-based non-profit international association founded in 1992 that represents guarantee institutions. It does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense. Its core offerings include membership representation towards EU institutions, knowledge exchange facilitation between members, and promotion of the guarantee instrument. The association provides publications (Facts & Figures, Statistical Yearbooks, Scoreboards, Annual Activity Reports), organizes Annual Events and Operational Training Sessions (OTS), facilitates Working Groups, and supports the Global Network of Guarantee Institutions (GNGI) for international cooperation among guarantee organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 85 billion EUR total guarantee volume in portfolio at end of 2016
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Bank GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2017AECM collaborates with the World Bank Group on the Global Conference for Guarantee Institutions for SME Financing. Jointly organized the 2017 Madrid event with World Bank Task Force participation. AECM contributed to developing 'Principles for Public Credit Guarantee Schemes for SMEs' through World Bank Task Force.
• SME Finance ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2017Collaborated with SME Finance Forum to co-organize the 2017 Global Conference in Madrid. Jointly works on guarantee schemes for SME financing initiatives.
• GNGI (Global Network of Guarantee Institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2017GNGI was founded by AECM during the 2016 Porto Annual Event. AECM Special Honorary Chairman José Fernando Figueiredo serves as Global Coordinator. The network connects guarantee organizations from Europe, Asia (ACSIC), Latin America (REGAR), and MENA region.
• REGAR (Ibero-American Guarantee Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2016Pablo Pombo, AECM Founder President, serves as Secretary General of REGAR. Close collaboration between AECM and REGAR through joint events and GNGI network participation.
• EMGN (European Microfinance Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMGN is listed as a member/partner organization of AECM, indicating collaborative relationship in microfinance and guarantee sectors.
• European Investment Fund (EIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIF is a key institutional partner providing counter-guarantees under EU programs (COSME, InnovFin) that AECM members utilize. Collaboration enables guarantee institutions to access European financial instruments for SME support.
• UEAPME (European Association of Craft and SMEs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAECM and UEAPME publish joint position papers on improving guarantee instruments and EU financial instruments. Collaboration on EU mid-term review proposals for COSME and InnovFin.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAECM represents its members towards EU institutions including European Commission. Collaborates on EU financial instruments (COSME, InnovFin, EFSI) and policy development for SME financing.
• European Investment Bank (EIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIB Group (including EIF) collaborates with AECM on Investment Plan for Europe and EFSI initiatives. AECM members facilitate EIB financing to SMEs through guarantee instruments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EUROCHAMBRES (Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry): Brussels-based association representing national chambers of commerce across Europe. Comparable as a pan-European membership association advocating for SME interests at EU level and facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange among members.
• European Association of Public Banks (EAPB): Brussels-based association representing public and savings banks in Europe. Comparable as a Brussels-headquartered membership association for European financial institutions engaged in EU advocacy and SME lending policy.
• European Banking Federation (EBF): Brussels-based pan-European banking trade association that represents banks at EU level and coordinates sector positions on financial regulation and SME finance policy. Directly comparable to AECM in operating model (membership-based, EU advocacy, working groups, Brussels HQ) and in addressing SME access to finance.
• European Microfinance Network (EMGN): EU-level association for microfinance institutions supporting financial inclusion and SME access to finance. Directly comparable in mission (SME finance, EU advocacy) and operating model (membership-based, Brussels-affiliated) and is already listed as an AECM partner.
• European Association of Cooperative Banks (EACB): Brussels-headquartered association representing cooperative banks across Europe. Closely comparable as a membership-based European financial-sector association engaging with EU institutions on SME finance, regulatory advocacy, and knowledge sharing among member institutions.
• EFAMA (European Fund and Asset Management Association): Brussels-based European trade association for the investment management industry. Comparable to AECM as a membership association engaging EU policymakers, publishing sector statistics, and running member working groups and annual events.
• UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises): Brussels-based employers' federation representing crafts and SMEs across Europe. Comparable as a Brussels-based EU advocacy body for SMEs that publishes joint position papers with AECM on guarantee instruments and EU financial programs.

Emerging players

• SME Finance Forum (managed by IFC/World Bank Group): World Bank Group/IFC-hosted platform connecting financial institutions, development banks, and policymakers to expand SME finance. Comparable as a network actor in the SME credit ecosystem and as a documented AECM co-organizer for the 2017 Madrid Global Conference.
• Global Network of Guarantee Institutions (GNGI): Global coordination network for guarantee institutions founded by AECM in 2016. Comparable as a membership-driven international platform for the guarantee sector but with a broader geographic footprint (Europe, Asia, Latin America, MENA) and a coordinating rather than European-advocacy remit.

Regional players

• REGAR (Ibero-American Guarantee Network): Ibero-American association of guarantee institutions, with AECM's founder Pablo Pombo serving as Secretary General. Comparable in mandate (guarantee institutions, SME finance) but focused on Latin America/Iberian region rather than Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aecmeurope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about European Association Of Guarantee Institutions