Programs
Long-Term Facilities
PEFCO offers two facilities for export loans guaranteed under an Ex-Im Bank long-term, comprehensive guarantee.
To be eligible for these facilities, the minimum amount of the Ex-Im Bank guaranteed loan normally must be greater than $10,000,000 (excluding exposure fee and with exceptions such as for Environmental Protection loans) and/or the repayment term must be no less than ten semiannual installments.
The Primary Long-term Loan Program (Primary Program)
offers fixed interest rates which can be set in advance of disbursement, often at rates lower than Ex-Im Bank's CIRR. Users of this program can offer a "securitized" type of fixed-rate financing without the front-end cost and complexity of standard securitizations.
The Secondary Long-term Loan Program (Secondary Program)
offers both floating and fixed interest rate structures, with greater flexibility for lenders in structuring loans.
Direct Long-Term Loan Program
PEFCO's Direct Long Term Loan Program offers the borrower the alternatives of the security of a low fixed interest rate set prior to disbursement (often lower than CIRR), or the flexibility of using floating rates until the end of the disbursement period combined with the safety of being able to fix the interest rate at any time during that period.
Features:
- PEFCO's lowest fixed and floating interest rates for borrowers.
- PEFCO's fixed interest rate may be set in advance of disbursement or at any other point throughout the disbursement period, but it must be set no later than one year after the end of the disbursement period.
- PEFCO must be the direct lender to the borrower.
- PEFCO charges no fees other than a commitment fee.
- The originating party may charge a front-end structuring fee or letter of credit fees.
- The fixed interest rate may include an additional spread for the originating party.
- The originating party may have the opportunity to earn other income, such underwriting fees.
- When PEFCO’s interest rate is not fixed prior to disbursement, PEFCO can directly offer a floating-rate facility for this period, which may be converted to a fixed rate of interest at any time (but not later than) one year after the end of the disbursement period.
The PEFCO Direct Loan Program provides the originating party with the ability to offer a securitized type of fixed-rate loan without the front-end complexity and cost of standard bank securitizations. The originating party can thus offer its customers competitive fixed and floating rates without having to carry low-yielding assets on its books and can convert asset-based income into fee income.
Direct Long-Term Loan Program Fixed Interest Rate
The PEFCO fixed interest rate is made up of the sum of the following six factors expressed in terms of yield:
- The current Treasury yield curve, time-weighted for the maturity schedule of the proposed loan.
- The PEFCO premium -i.e., the underwriters' estimate of the incremental spread over the Treasury yield curve required to sell PEFCO secured notes in the U.S. Agency market.
- The costs of issuance of a PEFCO secured note, based on recent experience -i.e., underwriting, legal, accounting, printing, hedging and trustee fees.
- The estimated cost of the warehousing of borrowed funds until disbursement by PEFCO. (For prompt disbursement or where disbursement has already been accomplished, this is zero.)
- PEFCO's gross margin for administrative costs, taxes and return to shareowners.
- A spread to be paid by PEFCO to the originating party for sourcing the loan for PEFCO.
Direct Long Term Loan Program Floating Interest Rates
PEFCO’s floating interest rates are only available until one year after the end of the disbursement period. During the Floating Rate Period, PEFCO's rate would be three or six month LIBOR (as is appropriate) plus PEFCO’s margin, to which the originating party may add an additional spread.
Direct Long Term Loan Program Commitment Fees
PEFCO may charge a commitment fee on the undisbursed, uncancelled amount of the loan.
Secondary Market Long-Term Purchase Program
As of September 29, 2009, in addition to its fixed rate lending capacity, Ex-Im Bank will permit PEFCO to purchase floating rate, long-term loans made by lenders and fund such loans using PEFCO’s Secured Notes. This development dramatically expands both PEFCO’s capacity to serve as a true secondary market provider of liquidity to Bank’s and other lenders and the price efficiency with which we are able to offer this capacity.
In effect, upon a lender’s request, PEFCO will offer to buy any long-term floating rate loan made by the lender (which loan received its Ex-Im Bank final commitment on or after September 29, 2009). PEFCO’s offer to buy such loans is made at then current market rates. PEFCO allows the selling lender to skim any loan margin in excess of the PEFCO bid price, without limitation. In addition to buying existing loans, PEFCO will provide lenders with commitments to purchase loans not yet made. PEFCO’s commitment to purchase allows capacity or liquidity constrained lenders to bid for new transactions with confidence of knowing they have a committed PEFCO take-out behind them.
In addition to its new floating rate authority, PEFCO continues to be able to offer to purchase fixed rate loans from lenders in a secondary market capacity as well. However, this capacity comes without the benefit of funding through PEFCO’s Secured Notes and, therefore, is offered selectively as funding capacity and market conditions permit.
Interested lenders are encouraged to contact PEFCO loan officers for pricing indications on both fixed and floating rate loans.
Features:
- Under the Secondary Market Loan Purchase Program, lenders document the Ex-Im transaction normally, with the lender acting as the Ex-Im Guaranteed Lender.
- PEFCO can purchase the loan either on a disbursement-by-disbursement basis, as such disbursements are made, or at the end of the disbursement period, after all disbursements are made.
- PEFCO is able commitment to lenders during the bidding stage (in advance of mandate) to allow lenders to bid with confidence, knowing they have a committed PEFCO take-out.
- The floating rate loans may include embedded fixed rate conversion options which PEFCO will honor
- Lenders are entitled to earn any excess margin in the loan over the margin required in the PEFCO bid.
Secondary Long Term Loan Program Commitment Fees
PEFCO may charge a commitment fee for PEFCO's Secondary Long Term Loan Program.
Long-Term Facilities Selection Chart
OPTION 1
If you need:
Financing with fixed interest rate set before during or at end of disbursement period.
Use this program:
Direct Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
Features
Restrictions
Prior to Disbursement
- gives borrower maximum security
- fixed rates often below CIRR
- originator may charge structuring and L/C fees
- Lender may add an additional spread on the loan rate
- originator may earn underwriting income
- PEFCO must be direct lender
- interest rate must be fixed no later than one year after the final disbursement
- PEFCO must be disclosed to Ex-Im Bank as possible lender prior to Ex-Im Bank's final approval of guarantee
During or at End of Disbursement Period
- gives borrower flexibility of using floating rates to potentially lower average cost of funds
- maintains borrower's security of being able to fix rate prior to one year after the final disbursement
- allows originator to be lender of floating-rate loan
- PEFCO will participate in floating-rate loan at a reasonable spread over LIBOR and originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's floating interest rate
- originator may charge structuring and L/C fees
- originator may earn underwriting income
same as above, except while interest rate is floating, originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's rate
OPTION 2
If you need:
Financing with fixed interest rate set in the period beyond one year after end of disbursement period.
Use this program:
Secondary Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
Features
Restrictions
At or After End of Disbursements
- gives borrower increased flexibility because interest rate may be fixed at any point after end of disbursement period
- while interest rate is floating, originator may be direct lender or may have PEFCO be direct lender
- originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's interest rate on fixed and floating rate loans
- originator may charge structuring and/or L/C fees
- in some case originator may earn underwriting income
- fixed and floating rates slightly higher than under Primary Program
- reduces borrower's security because interest rate cannot be fixed until end of disbursements
- when interest rate is fixed, PEFCO must take over as direct lender
- not necessary to disclose PEFCO to Ex-Im Bank on borrower until interest rate fixing
OPTION 3
If you need:
Financing with floating interest rate for life of loan.
Use this program:
Secondary Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
Features
Restrictions
No Fixed Rate
- gives borrower maximum flexibility because no requirement to fix interest rate
- originator may be direct lender or may have PEFCO be direct lender
- originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's interest rate
- originator may charge L/C fees
- not necessary to disclose PEFCO
- gives borrower no security because interest rate can't be fixed
- PEFCO's interest rate higher than under Primary Program
OPTION 1
If you need:
Financing with fixed interest rate set before during or at end of disbursement period.
Use this program:
Direct Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
Prior to Disbursement
Features
- gives borrower maximum security
- fixed rates often below CIRR
- originator may charge structuring and L/C fees
- Lender may add an additional spread on the loan rate
- originator may earn underwriting income
Restrictions
- PEFCO must be direct lender
- interest rate must be fixed no later than one year after the final disbursement
- PEFCO must be disclosed to Ex-Im Bank as possible lender prior to Ex-Im Bank's final approval of guarantee
During or at End of Disbursement Period
Features
- gives borrower flexibility of using floating rates to potentially lower average cost of funds
- maintains borrower's security of being able to fix rate prior to one year after the final disbursement
- allows originator to be lender of floating-rate loan
- PEFCO will participate in floating-rate loan at a reasonable spread over LIBOR and originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's floating interest rate
- originator may charge structuring and L/C fees
- originator may earn underwriting income
Restrictions
same as above, except while interest rate is floating, originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's rate
OPTION 2
If you need:
Financing with fixed interest rate set in the period beyond one year after end of disbursement period.
Use this program:
Secondary Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
At or After End of Disbursements
Features
- gives borrower increased flexibility because interest rate may be fixed at any point after end of disbursement period
- while interest rate is floating, originator may be direct lender or may have PEFCO be direct lender
- originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's interest rate on fixed and floating rate loans
- originator may charge structuring and/or L/C fees
- vi. in some case originator may earn underwriting income
Restrictions
- fixed and floating rates slightly higher than under Primary Program
- reduces borrower's security because interest rate cannot be fixed until end of disbursements
- when interest rate is fixed, PEFCO must take over as direct lender
- not necessary to disclose PEFCO to Ex-Im Bank on borrower until interest rate fixing
OPTION 3
If you need:
Financing with floating interest rate for life of loan.
Use this program:
Secondary Long-Term Loan Program
Interest Rate Setting Options
No Fixed Rate
Features
- gives borrower maximum flexibility because no requirement to fix interest rate
- originator may be direct lender or may have PEFCO be direct lender
- originator may charge borrower additional spread over PEFCO's interest rate
- originator may charge L/C fees
- not necessary to disclose PEFCO
Restrictions
- gives borrower no security because interest rate can't be fixed
- PEFCO's interest rate higher than under Primary Program