PrivateShares’ mission is to  ensure no viable UK export fails due to lack of finance and insurance.

UKEF are the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for International Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.

Private Shares (PS), through its partnership with UKEF, works with over 130+ private credit insurers and lenders to support UK companies access export finance. We provide help, guidance and information covering all aspects of an application including the particular class of loans, insurance policies or bank guarantees that enables international trade to take place as easily and securely as possible.

We can help UK companies to:

  • Win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers
  • Fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans
  • Get paid by insuring against buyer default

We can support exports for any size of company and across all sectors, from capital goods to services and intangibles such as intellectual property.

Here is a summary for the most frequently used services:

Export Working Capital Scheme

This scheme assists UK exporters in gaining access to working capital finance both pre and post shipment in respect of specific export related contracts. The scheme guarantees up to 80% of the lenders risk and there is no minimum or maximum value for the working capital facility.

Eligibility:

  • be carrying on business in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands
  • have entered, or be intending to enter, into a contract for the supply of goods and/or services with a company or other organisation that carries on business outside the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands
  • Show that at least 20% of the value of your contract represents UK content

Buyer Credit Facility

Under a Buyer Credit Facility, UKEF provides a guarantee to a bank making loan to an overseas buyer, so that capital goods and/or services can be purchased. Loans can be made in the main trading currencies (including sterling, US dollars  and euros) as well as some local currencies.

Eligibility:

  • The exporter must be carrying on business in the UK
  • The export contract must have a value of at least £5M or the equivalent in the foreign currency
  • The bank making the loan must be acceptable to UKEF

The maximum amount that can made available under Buyer Credit Facility Loan is 85% of the contract value. A minimum of 15% of the contract value must be paid directly the exporter by the buyer before the loan starts to be repaid.
Over the past 5 years, UKEF has provided over £15 billion worth of finance and insurance to help exporters across the UK sell to over 200 countries.

Case Studies

Ghana – NMS International is leading a consortium of UK SMEs building seven hospitals in Ghana, thanks to a buyer loan guarantee from UKEF.

Brazil – Export Insurance provided to ES Global Solutions to ensure that it received payment for a £400,000 track for pre-Olympic testing on the celebrated Copacabana beach in Brazil

UAE – When Kier Group bid for a contract to develop part of Dubai’s Bluewater Island site, Meraas Holding m the project sponsors, supported with $317.9 million loan, helping Kier win the tender.

Germany – Dudley based Glassvoat was able to secure the working capital it needed to fulfil two lucrative export contracts to Germany and Austria.

Australia – A flexible working capital facility, backed by UKEF, enabled Hertfordshire-based Esprit Digital to fulfil its biggest contract supplying display screens to Westfield.