Developing international trade

Drawing on more than 75 years of expertise and a vast international network, Coface stands as a prominent global figure in the fields of credit insurance, risk management, and the delivery of business insights.

Since 1995, Coface has been an active participant in Switzerland, swiftly becoming a significant presence in the market. The company maintains a presence in both Lausanne (head office) and Zurich (branch). Our teams of experts (sales, risk assessment, information...) offer local counsel to foster your business growth within Switzerland and across the globe. We consistently enhance our range of products to empower you with informed decisions for business expansion.

Through our worldwide reach, we are equipped to assist Swiss enterprises with inquiries concerning their export markets, providing enduring credit and risk management solutions.

Good reasons to choose us

The combination of historical expertise valued by numerous clients, international proficiency, and an exclusive database is what positions Coface as a global frontrunner in risk management

  • +75years of experience
  • ~100kclient companies
  • 195mcompanies listed in our database
  • ~200markets covered worldwide

Trade Credit Insurance

  • Our core business for more than 75 years
  • Safeguard your business against the risk of buyer non-payment.
  • Leverage our Decision Support tool to steer your business strategy.
  • Coface provides compensation in case of non-payment and initiates the collection procedure.

 

Access Coface's Trade Credit Insurance solutions

Business information

  • Insights from 195 countries and 195 million companies.
  • Continuous updates and enrichment of microeconomic, macroeconomic, and sectoral data.
  • Utilize these risk assessments to ensure the security of your supply or distribution networks.
  • Evaluate the creditworthiness of your business associates with the Coface rating and shape your business strategy accordingly.

 

Access Coface's Business Information solutions

Single Risk

  • Safeguard your complex and unique transactions against commercial and political risks, starting from a minimum of CHF 5 million.
  • Mitigate investment or contract-related risks with dedicated contract analyses covering each transaction.

 

Access Coface's Single Risk offer

To better manage your risks

Debt Collection: how to get paid before it's too late

- Coface provides a rapid and effective debt collection service, whether you hold insurance coverage or not.

- Benefit from the expertise of dedicated professionals specializing in debt collection and indemnification within our global partner network.

- Gain from the knowledge of experts committed to collecting and indemnifying outstanding receivables in our extensive international partner network.

 

Access Coface's Debt Collection services

Why should you opt for Coface risk management?

Our mission is to safeguard businesses against underestimated risks, particularly non-payment

  • 80%of companies are faced with unpaid debts
  • 25%of bankruptcy filings are due to these unpaid debts
  • 10kcredit decisions taken by Coface every day
  • 400risk experts at Coface

Informed Decision-Making: Coface's Economic Research

Coface also has recognized expertise in economic research: it includes microeconomic and macroeconomic studies, risk assessments across countries, sectors and companies, and much more.

In Switzerland, Coface organizes a major risk management conference in addition to the annual country risk conference. These events have become important socio-economic platforms that provide solutions to key issues and promote understanding of the business landscape.

A wide range of studies are available to enable better risk assessment and timely decision making.

Discover our latest studies

Our history

  • 1946

    The Compagnie française d'assurance pour le commerce extérieur (Coface) is established by the French government. Coface is tasked with providing insurance for political, monetary, and exceptional commercial risks.

  • 1992

    Coface starts to expand internationally: Italy (1992), United Kingdom (1994), Germany (1996), Austria (1997), United States (2002) … and now in 100 countries across the globe!

  • 1994

    A significant portion of Coface's capital is being privatized after the privatization of SCOR, its major shareholder. However, the company remains involved in issuing public guarantees on behalf of the French government.

  • 1995

    Coface launches its activities in Switzerland.

  • 2002

    Natixis acquires a 35.26% stake in Coface's capital from SCOR, becoming the majority shareholder.

  • 2006

    Following its delisting in 2004, Coface becomes a subsidiary of Natixis, the financial, management, and financial services bank, which is a part of the BPCE Group.

  • 2012

    Coface Global Solutions (services for multinationals) and TopLiner, additional credit insurance coverage, are launched.

  • 2014

    Coface is listed on the French stock exchange on compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market.

  • 2017

    Coface transfers the management of public export guarantees to Bpifrance.

  • 2019

    Coface successfully completes the acquisition of PKZ, the leading credit insurance provider in Slovenia, and establishes a new unit to facilitate expansion in Greece.

    COFACE SA is integrated into the SBF120, the flagship index of the Paris Stock Exchange.

  • 2020

    The strategic initiative "Build to Lead" is initiated, focusing on solidifying the Group's leadership in the credit insurance sector and expanding into related areas such as information services, debt collection, guarantees, factoring, and individual risk insurance.

    Through the acquisition of GIEK Kredittforsikring AS, Coface enhances its presence in the Nordic market, solidifying its position.

  • 2021

    Coface incorporates its strategy into the global framework of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

    Natixis sells part of the capital of Coface SA to the Arch Capital Group Ltd, which now holds 29.5% of the shares.

  • 2022

    Coface establishes a unit to expand in New Zealand.

  • 2023

    Coface is enhancing its databases with the acquisition of Rel8ed, a North American data analytics company, and strengthening its analytical capabilities to benefit its credit insurance and business information clients.

  • 2024

    Launch of our Power the Core 2024-2027 strategic plan, which aims to expand and strengthen Coface's franchises, with the ambition of developing a benchmark global credit risk management ecosystem.