In 2015, we celebrated our 90th anniversary, a key milestone in our strong history of supporting world trade.
In August 2003, the name Atradius was introduced through the rebranding of GERLING NCM, a global leader in credit insurance and credit management established in 2001 through the merger of the German credit insurance group Gerling-Konzern Speziale Kreditversicherung (Gerling Credit) and the Dutch credit insurer Nederlandsche Credietverzekering Maatschappij (NCM). This rebranding was completed on 5 January 2004.
Replacing the Gerling Group as shareholder was, at that time, a group of leading international financial institutions including Swiss Re and Deutsche Bank, Sal. Oppenheim, Seguros Catalana Occidente, a leading Spanish financial services company, and Crédito y Caución, the leading Spanish and fourth largest global credit insurer.
On January 25, 2008, Atradius again entered into a major business union teaming up with Crédito y Caución to further strengthen its position in global credit insurance markets.
Atradius - More than 90 years of experience
Atradius however was originally founded as NCM in the Netherlands in 1925. At that time, the company was created with the goal of improving trade for companies in the Netherlands. This business plan was cemented in 1932 when NCM partnered with the Dutch government to provide export credit services to Dutch companies on behalf of the Dutch State. This relationship with Atradius Dutch State Business still exists today.
In Germany, Atradius' roots stem from Gerling Credit, which was established in 1954 as the credit insurance arm of the Gerling Group. Gerling Credit operated solely out of Germany until 1962 when it opened its first international branch office in Switzerland. Gerling Credit was the first private credit insurer to offer export credit protection.
In Spain, Crédito y Caución, founded in 1929, has focused on organically growing to become the dominant credit insurer and surety company on the Iberian Peninsula.
Internationalisation
The internationalisation of business and trade throughout the latter half of the 20th Century was well suited for the business plans of NCM and Gerling Credit and they both prospered and grew rapidly along with the expansion of international trade. This internationalisation drove consolidation in the credit insurance industry and both NCM and Gerling Credit were leading acquirers of credit insurance and collections companies. Crédito y Caución however built on its Spanish roots focusing on the markets of Spain and Portugal. All three strategies provided a strong growth path.
The paths of NCM and Gerling Credit merged in 2001 creating GERLING NCM. Crédito y Caución became a part of the Atradius Group in 2008. Atradius now stands as one of the largest global credit insurance organisations in the world providing credit insurance and credit management products and services through 160 offices in 50 countries worldwide.