On May 8, the U.S. Senate formally confirmed three of the Trump administration’s nominees to the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM). The nominees include Kimberly A. Reed, confirmed as president and chairman of the board, Spencer T. Bachus III, and Judith DelZoppo Pryor. Two additional nominees remain under consideration by the Senate.
The confirmation establishes a quorum of three members on the EXIM board of directors need for the bank to authorize transactions greater than $10 million. EXIM had been operating since July 2015 without a full quorum and was limited in its ability to approve larger, typically long-term financing deals.
EXIM’s inability to fully conduct larger deals hindered its overall ability to support smaller transactions that typically assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to be self-funding—covering its operations on fees and interest it receives from its beneficiary clients. In fiscal year 2018, EXIM reported $3.4 billion in transactions, down significantly from a high of $35.8 billion in 2015, and also forecast a $492.2 million operating deficit. The Wall Street Journal reports that EXIM’s own internal estimates value the amount of lost transactions since mid-2015 at $21.5 billion. While the restoration of EXIMs full financing capacity is welcome news to businesses seeking to increase American exports, EXIMs legal authorization will lapse on September 30, 2019 if Congress fails to reauthorize it past that date.
The Ex-Im Bank helps support U.S. exports through a range of programs, including guaranteeing loans to foreign buyers, credit insurance and some direct lending to foreign companies. To learn more about the range of products offered by the EXIM Bank, click here.
As a certified EXIM broker, Securitas has years of experience working with U.S. companies seeking to access EXIM’s services to help generate export-driven growth. Offering services such as trade credit insurance and risk insurance, Securitas is able to provide these trade insurance solutions, often at no cost to the exporter, and then works with its customers structure insurance solutions that meet their goals of sustained and secure long-term growth. In 2015, Securitas was named EXIM Broker of The Year.
Securitas is ready to help businesses, particularly SMEs interested in pursuing an export strategy, learn how to access EXIM’s services.
As an insurance broker rather than an insurance agent, Securitas Global Risk Solutions is able to apply to multiple carriers to find the best contract, with the most coverage, for the least cost. A carrier’s agent can only advise you as to that carrier’s specific contract. We have a team of experts who are available to you 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns. Additionally, our service comes at no charge to you.
Securitas Global Risk Solutions is pleased to note that it will once again be participating in the 2019 EXIM Conference, to be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC from March 28-29, 2019. The annual event showcases the work of the EXIM Bank and brings together over 1000 business leaders, government officials and foreign dignitaries from across the world with an interest in promoting U.S. exports.
The EXIM Bank is an independent and self-sustaining federal agency that provides a range of trade financing solutions – including loan guarantees, working capital guarantees, direct loans, and export credit insurance – to promote the sale of U.S. goods and services to foreign buyers. To learn more about the range of products offered by the EXIM Bank, click here.
The focus of this year’s conference will be the role of trade in promoting national security, as well as highlighting EXIM’s role in assisting American energy and manufacturing sectors. The program will include keynote speeches, panel discussions, as well as ample networking time for participants to discuss best practices, and export opportunities.
As a certified EXIM broker, Securitas assists U.S. exporters to identify, implement and manage the appropriate EXIM export trade credit insurance program to meet their goals of sustained and secure long-term growth. Securitas provides these services at no additional cost to the exporter. In 2015, Securitas was named EXIM Broker of The Year.
Securitas is ready to help businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in pursuing an export strategy and learn how to access EXIM’s export trade credit insurance programs.
Risk management often requires a counter-intuitive approach, challenging ourselves to think through whether we have accurately assessed the possible risks that face our businesses. Planning for a range of outcomes requires an evaluation of downside risk. This runs counter to the optimistic view we naturally have for our efforts in building individual enterprises. Yet the recent bankruptcy of Toys-R-Us highlights why, even when times are good and indicators seem positive, “black swan” events can happen. The time to plan for those events is ahead of the crisis.
Imagine the scenario: It is August 2017. As the CEO of a toy manufacturing company, your firm is coming up on the biggest, most lucrative season of the year – the December holidays. Irrespective of tradition, the bringer of gifts will need some 21st century manufacturing support — your toy company is just the one for the job!
Knowing the retail toy sector is largely seasonal, your company team understands the traditionally longer manufacturing lead times needed to stock store shelves. They have worked hard, marketed and won contracts from the major toy retailers in advance of the big season. Your company also anticipated the early holiday shoppers and made sure products will be delivered by the middle of September. It is this holiday-season Accounts Receivable that will fund your firm’s working capital throughout a good portion of next year.
Now ask the question: Do you need trade credit insurance on those Accounts Receivable? Is it a luxury or a necessity? There is market concentration with a historically large buyer that could not possibly file for bankruptcy right before the holiday season, the best time of the year. You decide to gamble with that thought in mind.
Your CFO, however, has been reading the trade press on the difficulties facing the retail sector, as the major box stores wither under cost competition from online retailers. She recommends you take a look at insuring buyer risk, just in case retailing has indeed crossed a Rubicon and become an online enterprise. The is not really the news you want to hear going into the busiest season of the year — but then again, you made her CFO because she is willing to bring you the hard news. With a quick call to your broker, you are able to line up a trade credit solution covering the risk concentration associated with a large buyer. As it turns out, this one call can be the move that saves your toy company. Unlike many of your competitors, you will now get paid for the shipped merchandise.
When everything is going well, accounts receivable are being paid and aging accounts are small, trade credit insurance might look like a luxury. However, it is also a good time to review your options and risks with an experienced trade credit insurance expert at Securitas Global. The premium rates can be lower with greater underwriting capacity. Even more importantly, markets recognize the value of supporting existing clients on credits like Toys “R” Us. Just prior to the bankruptcy filing, our Securitas Global team heard comments from vendors with respect to getting trade credit insurance on Toys-R-Us that included: “It’s expensive” and “We’re concerned, but we don’t think they’ll file yet.” When it became clear there would be a loss, and insurance was no longer available since underwriters will not insure a certain loss, the cost of protection became secondary. The conversation became one of whether any available coverage options existed.
The moral of the story: The time to put trade credit insurance in place is before there is a known risk. As one client shared “I have too much invested in my business to risk it because one of my customers can’t pay me.” Securitas Global can develop a customized solution to cover your needs at the right price point. We work with clients to determine their level of risk and how to allocate it then devise a policy that will cover their specific needs. This can include coverage for overseas buyers and ways to mitigate political risk. By insuring accounts receivable, we are able to preserve your firm’s working capital and support credit access.
Securitas Global Risk Solutions is delighted to announce that Pamela Bates has joined our team to provide customized solutions to mitigate credit and investment risk in global markets. Pamela will be based in Virginia, where, in addition to risk mitigation, she will provide strategic and policy advice to assist our clients in navigating international business opportunities. Working for the U.S. Department of State for over two decades as a foreign service officer, Pamela managed U.S. diplomatic efforts on energy, information technology and government procurement issues. In addition, she earned an MBA from the Wharton School. Pamela brings the skills, knowledge and network to support our clients’ international expansion goals.
International markets provide outstanding opportunities for U.S. exporters to diversify their customer base. Securitas provides risk mitigation strategies to help reduce the uncertainty associated with approaching new markets. Pamela will concentrate on solutions ranging from mitigating private sector credit risk, sovereign contract frustration risk, financing international trade, protecting equity investments against political risk, along with government relations strategies, to bring products to global markets.
Having previously lived and worked in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil, Pamela has an extensive network of contacts around the world. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and French, along with English. While a State Department employee, she taught classes on diplomatic tradecraft, including how to evaluate sources of risk. In addition to her MBA, Pamela earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College in Maine and a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Its mission is to support American jobs by facilitating the export of U.S. goods and services. It does so by assuming credit risk, primarily through two programs – extending export credit insurance for exporters and providing working capital guarantees. These programs are available to companies of any size with 80% of authorizations are to SBA defined small business.
The Current State:
EXIM is congressionally authorized through 2019. While this seems several years from now, it’s important to note the last two authorizations have been tenuous, including a period in 2015 when its charter lapsed for six months. President Obama and congressional Democrats generally supported EXIM through this period, however there was an influential group of House Republicans that held up authorization process.
In addition to upcoming the re-authorization debate, EXIM also lacks three board members. Therefore, it does not have the quorum required to approve authorizations over $10MM.
The new administration brings renewed and increased speculation regarding the future of EXIM. President Trump campaigned on a platform of reduced government and seemed less friendly toward global trade. However, he heavily emphasized his business background and experience, which included strong support of U.S. manufacturers and small businesses, both of which he believes are critical to economic growth.
Against this backdrop, members of the Securitas team attended the EXIM 2017 Annual Conference on April 7-8 to learn more about the bank’s future.
Key Takeaways:
95% of global population and 80% of global GDP is outside the U.S.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there are 32 countries with Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) that compete with the U.S.
Exports will become even more critical in helping the U.S. grow its GDP, reduce the debt and balance the budget.
In order to compete globally against China, the U.S. needs to increase its support of exports. For example, the U.S. EXIM Bank supported $10 billion in authorizations in 2015. In comparison, China supported $500+ billion in exports through EXIM-China, China Development Bank and Sinosure).
Jobs created by export-related business tend to pay an estimated 18% more according to the International Trade Administration.
During a panel discussion regarding the future of EXIM, congressional members Jack Ryan, R-PA and Chris Collins R-NY both indicated President Trump fully supported the bank and recognized the need to support U.S. exporters though tax policy and regulation reform. They further indicated his commitment to a fully functioning bank by filling the vacancies on its board with immediate appointment approval of three new board members.
While there is still internal debate within the Republican caucus regarding the future of EXIM, it does appear the agency has the backing of President Trump and will continue to be an important tool in the U.S. government’s toolbox to support exports.
Get Your Free Guide to Export Credit Insurance
