TITLE: Colombia's Financial Regulation Unit Establishes Special Securitization Regime for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Financing
BODY:
In May 2026, Colombia's Financial Regulation Unit (Unidad de Proyección Normativa y Estudios de Regulación Financiera, URF) published a technical document proposing a special securitization regime to enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (Mipymes) to access capital markets financing through asset securitization. The proposal responds to a significant financing gap: Colombian Mipymes face a potential credit demand of USD 64.9 billion against formal sector supply of only USD 21.2 billion in 2024, creating a financing shortfall of USD 43.8 billion, equivalent to 14 percent of Colombia's GDP.
The proposed regulatory framework introduces simplified securitization rules tailored to Mipyme characteristics, including voluntary credit rating, automatic registration of securities, simplified prospectus requirements, and flexible investor protections. Underlying assets originate from Mipyme economic activities and must generate identifiable payment obligations. The regime permits securitization through both trust companies (sociedades fiduciarias) and non-mortgage asset securitization companies (sociedades titularizadoras de activos no hipotecarios), both supervised by the Financial Superintendence (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia, SFC). Securities may be denominated in Colombian pesos, basic tax units (UVB), tax value units (UVT), real value units (UVR), or foreign currency. The proposal defines Mipymes using income thresholds established by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo), varying by economic sector. Originators must retain minimum 5 percent of securitized assets to align incentives and reduce moral hazard. The framework also strengthens the general non-mortgage securitization regime by enabling multi-tranche emission programs and dynamic asset incorporation mechanisms with enhanced risk management requirements.
The URF proposal aims to reduce structuring costs and regulatory compliance burdens while maintaining investor protection through alternative mechanisms including mandatory information disclosure, financial ratios and business indicators, and participation by SFC-supervised entities. The initiative aligns with Colombia's National Development Plan 2022-2026, which prioritizes Mipyme development as essential to socio-productive growth.