Frequently Asked Questions
All sectors are eligible for support if they meet the export nexus and other criteria. EXIM made it easier for certain sectors to qualify, including small businesses, transformational export areas, and environmentally beneficial exports. EXIM’s Charter prohibition on supporting the sale of defense articles and services still applies, as outlined in Military | EXIM.GOV.
The first eligibility criteria for domestic finance is the export nexus: do you currently export a sufficient amount, or will EXIM’s financing allow you to export a sufficient amount to meet EXIM’s criteria? For most businesses, this means 25% of revenues from exports; for priority sectors (i.e., small business, transformational export areas, and environmentally beneficial exports) this level will be 15%. Domestic transactions must also meet EXIM’s standard criteria of reasonable assurance of repayment and additionality, among other legal and policy requirements. For non-project finance transactions, EXIM will generally require:
- A minimum three-year revenue producing history in the same line of business
- Proven debt service capacity, based on prior financial performance and ability to meet EXIM’s credit standards
- A loan amount not disproportionate to the size of the company (in terms of financial resources and business operations); in general the loan should not be more than 40% of tangible net-worth of the borrower.
For project finance transactions, please see EXIM’s Approach to Project Finance for details (https://www.exim.gov/solutions/project-and-structured-finance/our-approach-to-project-finance)
EXIM’s job metric looks at construction/installation jobs (when appropriate) and jobs directly associated with operating the project or facility. EXIM will count full time equivalents (FTEs) at contracted out service jobs (e.g., security guards, custodial, etc.). However, jobs at companies that provide inputs to the project such as raw materials and goods suppliers (e.g., widgets used in production at the borrower’s project) will not be counted.
Make More in America is open to any U.S.-based project, generally regardless of where the ultimate parent is incorporated The key thing is that U.S. workers are employed.
No, EXIM’s domestic transactions are not export credits and therefore do not need to follow the OECD Arrangement’s terms and conditions. However, EXIM does need the price to be market-reflective, which is the principle outlining OECD pricing methodologies for high-income countries. Therefore, OECD pricing for high-income countries is a good proxy for the pricing you can expect on an EXIM domestic transaction.
EXIM offers market reflective pricing, including by utilizing the OECD’s Through the Cycle Market Benchmark (TCMB) calculator, which provides pricing for high-income markets. EXIM may also price off name specific existing debt or other proxies, if appropriate.
Working capital guarantees are short-tenor, revolving credit facilities backed by specific assets and with use of proceeds for working capital such as purchasing inventory, paying labor, utilities and other costs directly related to producing goods for export. Make More in America allows for longer-tenor, term loans for capital investment: building new factories, purchasing equipment, and other expenses related to manufacturing capacity. These loans could be processed on a corporate, structured or limited recourse project finance basis, and may or may not require a security interest in the asset(s) being financed. Make More in America financing cannot be used for project working capital purposes; however, you may be eligible for EXIM’s existing working capital program.
As part of a larger project with the required export nexus, land acquisition costs may be eligible for EXIM financing.
Yes, EXIM will require goods imported specifically for a project financed by EXIM to ship on a U.S. flag vessel unless the U.S. Maritime Administration issues a certification or determination (historically referred to as “waivers”). Therefore, this does not apply to items generally available in the United States that may have been imported at some point. The exports produced by the borrower do not have a U.S. flag shipping requirement (unless EXIM were to directly finance such exports).
Generally, Buy America does not apply to transactions with private borrowers. However, EXIM public infrastructure projects will need to comply with “Buy America” (requiring iron, steel, manufactured goods and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States) unless a waiver is available2.
Yes, EXIM’s Charter prohibition on the supporting the sale of defense articles and services still applies as outlined in the military policy.
No.
No; EXIM will provide financing under the MMIA initiative for specific projects or equipment purchases, etc. It is not for general corporate debt.
Yes, a parent guarantee would work. The borrower does not necessarily need to be the project.
Yes, MMIA allows for reachback in line with EXIM’s standard policy: Reachback | EXIM.GOV
Yes, EXIM can be flexible with the repayment term, including a possible balloon. A balloon would raise the exposure fee compared to a straight-line amortization of the same tenor.
The equipment does not need to come from the United States, although EXIM would prefer it to be. If foreign equipment is financed by EXIM, it would be subject to U.S. flag shipping requirements. EXIM would need to understand why there is no viable U.S. equipment source.
Approvals under the Make More in America initiative will be required to comply with EXIM’s standard due diligence, including EXIM’s underwriting criteria. Transactions above $25 million must be approved by EXIM’s Board of Directors.3
Other requirements include an environmental review (including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)) and compliance with EXIM’s policies on Know Your Customer, U.S. Flag Shipping, Additionality, Military, Reachback, and Iran Sanctions, along with other program, legal, and eligibility requirements. For more information, please refer to www.exim.gov/policies or https://www.exim.gov/about/special-initiatives/make-more-in-america-initiative
1Subject to country eligibility and the ability of EXIM to separate the project risk from the foreign country risk. Please refer to EXIM's Country Limitation Schedule (Schedule | EXIM.GOV )
2Public infrastructure projects are those where the recipient is a “non-Federal entity,” which includes States, local governments, territories, Indian tribes and Institution of Higher Education (IHE). For more information, please refer to Office of Management Budget Memoranda M-22-11.
3Transactions below $25 million may still have to be approved by the Board if there is an Environmental Assessment attached to the transaction. The Board must approve that document.