News

LCI launches TAJER supporting SMEs, the main drivers of the MENA region’s economy

October 18, 2018 News No comments

TAJER: The simplified trade credit insurance policy helps support SMEs in their growth and expansion strategies

The Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI) has launched TAJER, an innovative, simple and efficient credit insurance policy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating across the MENA region, providing cover for their trade receivables. Utilizing LCI’s expansive market intelligence, including the active monitoring of 16,000 companies focusing on their payment behaviors, TAJER will aid SMEs in growing their businesses and ensuring they get paid for the goods and services they supply.

“SMEs make up a major part of the MENA region’s economy, and in Lebanon, they comprise an estimated 80% of companies. Yet, only a small percentage of them are covered against the risks of non-payment,” said Karim Nasrallah, General Manager of LCI. “As such, we want to support them in their expansion into new markets and in growing their client portfolios. TAJER gives SMEs the confidence to look at new opportunities in their local markets and abroad, and focus on their growth,” he added.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has undergone a series of transformations in recent years, impacting the way businesses operate. LCI’s Risk Department market analysis shows that the risk of payment defaults is increasing, impacting the trade receivables of companies across the region. The highest risks in the market are impacting SMEs, rather than by bigger corporations, especially as they expand their market coverage and export to the different parts of the world – a move needed to optimize revenues and generate profits.

SMEs in Lebanon, as well as in most markets globally, employ the majority of the workforce, and play a major role in creating job opportunities. They are the institutions that fuel the economy. Lebanon is known to have one of the biggest densities of established business owners, not only in the MENA region, but even globally, based on official figures.

Seeing that there is a scarcity of available information (financial and other), the only way for credit insurers to underwrite risk is to conduct research via on-ground visits to companies, to understand, based on their sector experience, what is the potential opportunity and credit worthiness of each entity. Monitoring is also segmented by sector, trade size, company size and country location.

With TAJER, the straightforward and flexible insurance policy covering a company’s biggest asset, its trade receivables, many benefits will be offered which include:

Increase sales, by extending credit limits to existing clients and reconciling between the sales and risk departments
Manage risks, by accessing a large database of information and intelligence on thousands of companies
Be more competitive, by extending payment terms for new and existing clients
Protects against bad debt, by securing cash flow and optimizing financial planning
Achieve better borrowing from banks, turning trade receivables into good quality collaterals, allowing companies to negotiate better borrowing terms

LCI takes part in the Berne Union AGM in Paris

October 18, 2018 News No comments

LCI took part in the Berne Union’s Annual General Meeting, held in Paris in October 2018. Karim Nasrallah, LCI’s General Manager, delivered a presentation on the topic of factoring, covering a case study on fraud detection and prevention.

Over 300 senior executives from the global export credit and investment insurance industry today gathered in Paris, for the 2018 (75th) Berne Union Annual General Meeting, hosted by French export credit agency and Berne Union member – Bpifrance.

Berne Union Members released their 2018 H1 Business Data
Half-year results show stable business for credit and investment insurers, despite the uncertain environment for international trade and investment.
• US$ 1,640 bn aggregate credit limits issued in support of cross border trade
• US$ 88 bn of new medium / long-term export credits insured
• US$ 18.6 bn cover provided for foreign investments

For more: www.berneunion.org

[Blog] Ensure a profitable business in 7 ways

September 24, 2018 News No comments

Are you concerned with your business’ financial health? Do your clients pay late, or sometimes not at all? Here are 7 ways to avoid bad debt and ensure you’re running a healthy, profitable business.

Lower risk factors by setting clear payment terms and conditions

Set clear terms and conditions for your clients about payment procedures, timelines and deadlines. Integrate consequences for payment delays into your agreements.

Maintain constant contact with your clients

Always be in contact with your clients, especially when payments are overdue. Send them reminders and notify them in writing when a payment is overdue.

Understand and track your actions

Send invoices to the correct people, to ensure prompt processing.

Restrict credit limits

Run a background check on a client before doing business with them. This is a vital step. But once you sign them on, take time to understand their needs and challenges, before offering any credit facilities. Set strict credit facility terms.

Find out reasons for delays

Your client may have reasons for the delays, find out what they are. Your priority is to find an amicable solution to settle overdue payments.

Assign debt collectors or lawyers

When the matter is out of your control, there are debt collection agencies that can be tasked to secure outstanding payments for you. Even your lawyer can get involved, to send an official final reminder to your clients who haven’t paid, after numerous follow ups. Adding a third-party puts additional pressure on clients, to take matters seriously.

Be strict yet flexible at the same time

Of course, every client may go through cycles, and sometimes, they may default. Be strict with your payment policies, however sometimes you’ll need to be flexible with specific customers that you highly trust and have a positive history in payments.

Keep in mind that taking preventive measures to avoid late payments, is easier than collection. Always make sure you seek professional advice and understand your business’s situation before taking any decision. A profitable business requires close management, especially when it comes to trade receivables.

[Blog] How is the ongoing trade war impacting the MENA region?

August 6, 2018 News No comments

The trade war between the US and China has been making global headlines in recent months. The headlines then turned into action, with the US implementing a 25% tariff on Chinese exports, worth billions of US Dollars. China responded with a similar approach – and the trade imbalance between the two countries became even more evident.

The world’s two largest economies found themselves in a trade war, which many economists say, will negatively impact the GDP of both countries and will slow trade growth in the long-term.

However, as the world watches on as the two nations battle it out publicly, some experts are analyzing the potential impact of the trade war, on the Middle East. When it comes to the MENA region, whilst the trade war seems like a distant battle, repercussions are already surfacing.

Countries in the MENA region may be forced to take sides, fueling the trade war further. In addition, as the US and China advance further into their battle, they may adopt a protectionist approach, to safeguard their country’s industries. This will lead to a decreased demand for goods from Middle Eastern markets, such as the oil exports from the region into China.

The full extend of the trade war between the US and China is yet to be seen and felt. Let’s hope that an amicable solution is found, before the trade industry is disrupted completely.

LCI and SACE sign cooperation agreement

June 12, 2018 News No comments

LCI and SACE have signed a cooperation agreement, to enhance trade opportunities between Lebanon and Italy by supporting SMEs. The expertise and know-how of both entities will be extended to SMEs, along with training programs and technical assistance offered to financial institutions and commercial banks, as result of this agreement.

SMEs make up the majority of business institutions in both Italy and Lebanon, employing a large proportion of the national workforce. Thus, supporting their growth and enhancing trade opportunities, through trade credit insurance and the sharing of expertise, contributes towards a more prosperous economy.

Berne Union hosts Annual General Meeting in Belgrade

October 16, 2017 LCI-news, News

The Berne Union hosted its 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Belgrade in October, gathering 260 participants representing 70 of the 82 Berne Union member organisations, inclucing external guests. The Meeting was hosted by Serbian Export Credit Agency (ECA), AOFI.

Members reported strong growth in new business across all committees, and although claims remain high, and the global risk environment challenging, most are optimistic about the coming months and into 2018.

Short Term Trade Credit Insurance (ST)
Members of the ST Committee have collectively issued credit limits of USD 1,188 billion at the mid-point of the year. This is 18% higher than the situation at year end 2016, where they stood at USD 1,007 billion. Two thirds (67%) of members surveyed expect further increases in business volumes over the coming 12 months, and the majority of the remainder (27%) anticipate a stable continuation of the current state.

Growth is expected across developed markets generally, especially North America and the European Union, where economies are benefitting from improving fundamentals, relaxed lending conditions and increasing domestic demand. Any changes to interest rates are likely to have a significant impact on this situation.

There is some caution with respect to the impact of fluctuating oil prices – with the potential to adversely affect both oil exporters or net importers, depending on the direction of travel.

For those countries reliant upon commodities exports more generally, there are also concerns, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where levels of national indebtedness are also high.

Members are keeping an eye on the banking sector in Asia, while in OECD countries traditional retail brings greater concern, due to competition coming from online sales. Notwithstanding the challenges highlighted, 94% of ST members express optimism overall with respect to prospects for global economic growth in 2018.

Business Focus and Challenges

In most areas, members of the Berne Union report competitive pressures presenting a challenge for their business. In short term business, 26% cited the soft market as a concern, while 30% focused on digitisation of processes and 19% on better provision for SMEs.

INV members cite concern about soft market pricing as well, but also see a challenge in distribution. In some areas a lack of demand, which may be overcome by improvements in marketing awareness of products to potential clients.

According to Secretary General, Vinco David, “The market for commercial credit insurance has seen a number of new well-capitalised entrants offering credit insurance at competitive rates. Due to the current low interest rates, capital markets parties are seeking higher returns and credit insurance may offer this. However, when interest rates begin to rise, this situation will reverse. As supply and demand establish a new balance, we would expect to
see higher premium rates as a consequence”.

For more information, visit www.berneunion.org

LCI appoints Dominique Charpentier as its new Chairman

June 28, 2017 News

The Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI), has appointed Dominque Charpentier as its new Chairman at its Annual General Meeting held in May, 2017.

Charpentier led a seasoned career with extensive experience in the realms of finance and credit insurance, having held senior financial positions in corporations, namely CFO of SCOA and PINAULT Groups and then moving on to become Deputy CEO of Société Marseillaise de Crédit. In 1995, Charpentier ventured into the Credit Insurance industry, within the Euler Group where he was successively Deputy CEO of Cobac Benelux, CEO of Société Française de Factoring and CEO of Eurofactor. In 2002, he moved to Atradius Group, assuming the role of Managing Director of several divisions of the Group: Atradius Factoring, Atradius Bonding, Atradius Instalment Credit Protection and Atradius Credit Insurance Italy.

He then joined the Management Board of Atradius as Chief Insurance Operations Officer in 2013.

Throughout his career, he held numerous Board member positions in professional organizations across Europe, of which: In France, as Director of Association des Sociétés Financières (ASF); in Belgium as Director of Beroep Vereniging van het Krediet (BVK), and on an international level as Director and Chairman of International Factors Group (IFG).

In January 2017, Charpentier retired, and now serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Graydon Holding NV in the Netherlands and has been newly appointed as the Chairman of LCI.

Charpentier graduated from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.

In his capacity as Chairman of LCI, Charpentier will bring his wide experience to support the company in implementing its growth strategy and in its development and expansion. Charpentier succeeds Gerard van Brakel who has been chairing LCI since it was founded in 2001.

LCI elected to Board of Directors of ACAL

May 25, 2017 News

The Lebanese Credit Insurer (LCI), represented by its General Manager, Karim Nasrallah, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association Des Compagnies D’assurance Au Liban (ACAL), at its annual meeting held in April. Mr. Nasrallah, as other board members, will work together to achieve the aims of the Association, which include: building the profession from a technical standpoint; developing the rules and regulations to enhance the insurance industry; safeguarding the public interest and ensuring the proper representation of its members with authorities and third parties.

LCI is the only specialized credit insurance company in Lebanon.

ExCred 27 Conference takes place in London

March 1, 2017 LCI-news, News

The ExCred 27 Conference took place in London from February 28 to March 1, 2017, in the presence of over 300 senior representatives from ECAs, insurers, banks and corporate exporters. The ExCred conferences tackle the global export credit and political risk industry, bringing together experts from the world over, to discuss various topics and share insights on issues of importance.

Karim Nasrallah, GM of LCI, took part in a panel entitled ‘How Middle East Governments Can Foster Growth Through Trade and Innovation. Joining him on the panel, was Dr. Andreas Klasen, Professor at the University of Offenburg, Germany, CEO of ITFC Hani Sunbol, ICIEC’s CEO Oussama Kaissi and chaired by Diana Margaret Smallridge.

Prague Club elects HBOR’s Ante Alić as ‘Rotating Member’ on the Berne Union Management Committee

January 30, 2017 LCI-news, News

The Prague Club has announced the election of HBOR, represented by Mr. Ante Alić as the first ‘Rotating Member’ on the Berne Union Management Committee. Mr. Alić of HBOR was elected by the Prague Club members, and will be taking part in the next Management Committee meeting in London in February, followed by the Prague Club Plenary Spring Meeting in Botswana.

Congratulations to HBOR and Mr. Alić for this new role.