| SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SMALL AND MID-SIZE EXPORTERS can be found among the entire range of export finance services. Here are some examples in a variety of products. TAX INCENTIVES The IC-DISC is the only remaining export benefit in the U.S. tax code, and it’s for closely held, mostly smaller, firms. Accountants often rely on specialists, who include accountant experts and dedicated IC-DISC management firms. OGLE INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORS – Bradenton, FL, specialty accountants, very active in IC-DISC development. Jerry Ogle ran Pepsico international taxes. Contact: Ogle on 941-361-1147, Jerry@ogleintltax.com. EXPORT SUBSIDY SERVICES Ltd. – La Jolla, CA, specialist in IC-DISC management, development. Principal Robert Thornton, a CPA, was pioneer in earlier FSC export tax incentive. Contact: Thornton, 800-243-1372, info@exportsubsidy.com. CREDIT INSURERS Ten insurers currently serve U.S. exporters, seven include smaller and mid-size firms among target clients. ATRADIUS TRADE CREDIT INSURANCE – Baltimore, U.S. subsidiary of Amsterdam-based Atradius Group, global presence, offers multi-buyer, key accounts, single buyer cover. Contact: Eileen Jackson, 410-246-5488. FCIA MANAGEMENT COMPANY – New York, pioneer in field, runs cover for Great American Insurance Co., large specialized group, offers multi-buyer, key account, single buyer policies. Contact: Biz development unit, 212-885-1500. BROKERS-ARRANGERS – About 40 insurance brokers (35 boutique specialists, five large groups) handle 99% of credit insurance placement. Some dozen brokers also double as arrangers, put deals together, bring in lenders, insurers, government agencies. Meridian Finance Group – Santa Monica, CA, combines brokerage, arranging, relationships with lenders, client roster includes a focus on smaller firms. Contact: Gary Mendell, president, 310-260-2130, gmendell@meridianfinance.com. International Risk Consultants – Columbus, OH, largest of specialist brokers (8 U.S., 4 overseas offices), works with exporters of all sizes, also arranger with lender network. Contact: Edward Yauch, 614-224-7623, eyauch@irc-group.com. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS Several Washington, DC-based firms help smaller, mid-size and larger exporters effectively utilize U.S. finance and marketing programs, especially those of Ex-Im Bank, OPIC, and TDA, but also multilateral agencies. HOULIHAN INTERNATIONAL – Reston, VA, helps exporters, lenders with transactions and broader policies. Peggy Houlihan ran CEE (advocacy group), handled Bechtel Corp. biz development. Contact her: 703-713-9410, phoulihan@houlihaninternational.com. INTERLINK CAPITAL STRATEGIES – Falls Church, VA, works with mid-size, large corps in export, project finance, structures deals. Alan Beard, Managing Director, is former Ex-Im official. Contact him: 703-752-5880. CREDIT REPORTS Lenders, insurers, Ex-Im Bank require reliable information on overseas buyers, particularly financial data, performance history, legal status, problems. Credit reports producers include global groups as well as independent specialists. OWENS ONLINE – Tampa, FL, leading independent firm -- international business, personal credit reports, background checks, due diligence services. Worldwide cover. Web site shows pricing, turnaround times, no minimum orders. Contact: 800-745-4656, www.owens.com. COFACE NORTH AMERICA – New York, U.S. subsidiary of Paris-based global trade finance protection group (insurance, company info, ratings, collections). Has 50 million businesses database. Contact: Customer service, 800-929-8374, service@coface-usa.com. SOFTWARE Independent software firms offer products, services to U.S. exporters, typically an automated letter of credit, in some cases electronic open account transactions, plus document dissemination, arranging payment. One specializes in helping manage credit insurance. TRADE TECHNOLOGIES Inc. – Austin, TX, offers software and Web-based services to prepare and disseminate documents, arrange payment, track transactions, compare bank, forwarder performance. Contact: Sales, 512-327-9996, sales@tradetechnologies.com. LEX-TEX INTERNATIONAL – Atlanta, provides software, services to manage credit insurance. One program supports policy compliance, another notifies users of pending events (payments, renewals, reports). Contact: Richard Boger, 404-223-2453, dboger@lex-tek.com. |
Who’s Offering What Ex-Im Bank Lenders Roster is available for Fiscal 2007 (the 2008 edition will be ready in late July). Lists banks and finance companies that worked with Ex-Im in 2007, provides brief profiles of each institution and its export finance activities. Available in PDF format, sent by e-mail. Price: $12.50. Checks only. Contact IBAC: Phone 301-907-8647, e-mail: exportfinance@verizon.net. Looking for a lender, insurance broker or arranger? IBAC can help through its network. Contact us at 301-907-8647, e-mail us at exportfinance@verizon.net. |
