Eligibility of costs for EXIM Bank's support of limited recourse project finance ("Project Finance") transactions generally tracks the overall criteria developed and used for other EXIM Bank programs. However, eligibility guidelines for Project Finance cases require further explanation since the coverage requested under these cases brings into focus cost categories and eligibility issues that are only occasionally seen in other EXIM Bank programs.
The following explains the various EXIM Bank cost eligibility guidelines as they pertain to Project Finance cases. The criteria underlying these guidelines are based on assessments of whether the respective cost categories satisfy the two objectives of 1) consistency with EXIM Bank's policies, and 2) the flexibility required to appropriately support Project Finance cases. EXIM Bank's Engineering and Environment Division, with input from the Project Finance Division, determines the eligibility of the various costs associated with a specific project. Actual support determination is always subject to the receipt of proper supporting documentation (invoices, Supplier's Certificates, etc.) by EXIM Bank's Credit Administration Division during the disbursement stage of the transaction.
In order to determine the support available for a given transaction, the total project cost must first be broken down according to major items in a form acceptable to EXIM Bank. An example of an acceptable Project Cost Breakdown is provided as Attachment "A". Before EXIM Bank will consider an application for a final commitment, the Project Sponsors must submit a U.S. Acquisition List satisfactory to EXIM Bank setting forth the U.S. and eligible foreign costs of all the U.S. items of the particular project. An example of a U.S. Acquisition List is provided as Attachment "B".
There are seven major guidelines used to determine the eligibility of costs associated with various elements of Project Finance transactions:
- Foreign Content
- Reach-Back
- Related Parties
- Capital Cost
- Contingencies
- Local Cost
- Progress Payments
The guidelines and the manner in which they are applied are explained as follows:
I - Foreign Content Guidelines
Foreign Content guidelines for Project Finance transactions follow an "aggregate" approach. To be eligible for support, goods and services in a U.S. supply contract must be shipped from the United States to a foreign buyer.
EXIM Bank will finance either 85 percent of the net Contract Price , or 100 percent of its U.S. Content (U.S. Contract Price less Eligible Foreign Content), whichever is less. The amount eligible for EXIM support will be aggregated on a contract by contract
II - "Reach-Back " Policy
Definition: Reachback refers to the amount of time that may elapse between “shipment” of goods and services and the date EXIM receives an application (e.g., a request for a final commitment or medium-term insurance).
POLICY
For MLT loan, guarantee, and insurance transactions, other than transactions supported via Credit Guarantee Facilities (CGFs) , shipments that occur on or after the date of the earliest binding (i.e., signed) commercial contract, pro forma invoice, supply contract, or purchase order (or other similar agreement between buyer and seller) are acceptable to EXIM to be eligible for cover.
OECD guidelines require, in article 13, repayment of an official export credit to start no more than six months after a specified date. This date is referred to as the “starting point of the credit,” or SPOC. The starting point is determined by the nature and timing of the transaction, not by the export credit agency. Hence, the SPOC rules may impact the term and amount of financing available for transactions with reachback.
III - Related Parties Cost Guidelines
Most Project Finance transactions contain elements of costs for services or products provided by a U.S. supplier which also has ownership in the project. EXIM Bank provides support for such costs as long as there is evidence that the sale in question was negotiated and administered on an "arms-length" basis. When parties to a contract are related to one another, EXIM Bank will presume that the contract is not arms-length.
In determining cost eligibility of a related party's contract, the sponsor or supplier may first be asked to provide evidence that the contract was negotiated on an arm's-length basis. It can usually be assumed that if the percentage of ownership between a supplier and buyer is not a controlling one, a negotiated sale may be arms-length. However, when the ownership percentage is close to or greater than 50 percent, EXIM Bank's Engineering and Environment Division will review each cost element of a contract to determine which can be considered arms-length for purposes of EXIM Bank support. Factors taken into account in the EXIM Bank determination include whether or not offers from other suppliers were solicited (thereby introducing competition), whether separate divisions of the company negotiated the contract on an independent basis, and whether the costs involved reflect market prices.
Fees including "development fees" charged by a sponsor having ownership in a project are not considered eligible for EXIM Bank support. In certain instances, however, if a cost breakdown of such a fee shows that it covers the cost of certain project related services subcontracted to a U.S. company, the Engineering and Environment Division will review the costs to determine their eligibility for inclusion in the EXIM Bank supported portion of the project. For example, the cost reflecting an actual invoiced amount for engineering services subcontracted to a U.S. company and undertaken within the Reach-Back period, represents an element of a fee which may be eligible for EXIM Bank support.
Engineering services undertaken directly by a sponsor may also be considered eligible when factors including competitive pricing elements and inter-company contractual controls of the service costs are evident. While certain bona fide sponsor incurred costs (such as the salaries paid for the undertaking of required project services) may be eligible for support, actual fees associated with any related party's contract are not eligible for EXIM Bank support.
IV - Capital Cost Guidelines
This straightforward guideline reflects the fundamental policy that EXIM Bank will limit its support of Project Finance transactions (as it does for all project related transactions) to only those items deemed to be "capital cost" in nature. This means that pre-development costs incurred at the project definition stage, as well as costs incurred after the project is operational, such as operations & maintenance (O& M) activities, will not be considered eligible for EXIM Bank financial support. Working capital costs are also considered ineligible for support. Only those capital cost items, such as equipment and services covered under an engineer, procure and construct contract (EPC), legal, financial and engineering services associated with the undertaking of the project, and items such as training and insurance during construction will be considered eligible for EXIM Bank support. Refer to the Sample Acquisition List, Attachment B, for examples of eligible capital cost items.
The costs of all pre-construction activity must be itemized so that EXIM Bank can establish whether they constitute a capital cost eligible for EXIM Bank support. Specific costs incurred in the project development stage may be considered eligible if EXIM Bank determines that a) they were incurred on an arms-length basis, b) fall within the established Reach-Back period, and c) relate to final design, construction and related activities such as acquisition of permits or finalization of financial support. Investments made by sponsors to cover preliminary studies regarding the viability or feasibility of a project, especially related to decisions of sponsor participation, are not considered capital in nature. (Usually such costs will have been incurred well before the established Reach-Back date.) Similarly, post-completion operating expenses should be met with project revenue, and will not be considered eligible for support.
V - Contingency Cost Guidelines
Generally, amounts for contingencies associated with EPC contracts or major supply contracts which do not exceed 10 percent of the total contract price, will not be questioned by EXIM Bank at the application stage and thus will be considered eligible. However, prior to any EXIM Bank disbursement, these amounts will be reviewed by the Engineering and Environment Division to ascertain whether they are technically appropriate and necessary to successfully complete the project. Also, input from the Lender's Independent Engineer will be used in the determination. Contingency related items must also be fully described and are subject to the other eligibility criteria described in this paper. In no case will disbursements be made for an unused contingency.
Only those contingencies associated with eligible project supply contracts will be considered for financial support by EXIM Bank. The appropriateness of the request, and the nature of the project and related project risks will always be the principal factors by which EXIM Bank will determine the eligibility at the application stage of a contract contingency allowance.
EXIM Bank considers "Owner's Contingencies" as an element of the equity portion of a project, and hence ineligible for financial support. Contingencies associated with related party contracts will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility.
VI - Local Cost Guidelines
EXIM Bank will generally support eligible local costs to an amount of up to 40 or 50 percent of the U.S. Contract Price associated with the project. This support is in addition to the normal support of 85 percent of the U.S. Contract Price. To be eligible for EXIM Bank support, the local costs must represent goods and services produced and procured within the host country and must be included in the Export Certificate.
VII - Contract Progress Payment Guidelines
Progress payments (and construction "milestone payments") made under the terms of an EPC or other supply contract, are generally eligible for EXIM Bank support to the extent that the supplier can certify that the accrued costs for actual work performed under the contract, including expenses for any subcontracted equipment, are at least equal to the value of the respective progress payment. A certification that the value of the progress payment does not exceed the costs incurred by the supplier to date must accompany any request for a progress payment disbursement. Similarly, disbursements for initial down payments will only be made once the supplier can certify to EXIM Bank that actual expenses associated with the work performed are equal to the value of the requested disbursement. The Lender's Independent Engineer may be required to confirm the level of work performed. EXIM Bank disbursements may not serve as general working capital for the supplier.
In cases where the requested progress payments exceed 60 percent of the value of the export before it is shipped, the Engineering and Environment Division will advise the Credit Administration Division as to whether any further disbursements should be made until such time as the product is actually delivered. The Engineering and Environment Division will review the payment terms of the major project supply contracts, especially the EPC contract, and will advise the U.S. supplier if it appears that the progress payment schedule conflicts with EXIM Bank requirements, as described above.
¹ If the pre-project services were financed under the EXIM Bank Engineering Multiplier Program, then these services may be rolled into the capital cost of the project, in keeping with the special feature of that Program
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