Avance Préfinancement Export (export pre-financing advance)
This solution is a guarantee or insurance mechanism attached to a bank pre-financing loan, not a grant paid directly to the company. It can make it easier to finance the costs needed to carry out an export contract. Conditions depend on the contract, the company, the bank, the destination country and the guarantees requested; check against the current Assurance Export offer.
Carrying out an export contract can tie up cash before payments from the foreign customer arrive: purchases, production, logistics or sales costs. Bpifrance Assurance Export’s export pre-financing insurance makes it easier to obtain a bank loan to cover these needs by guaranteeing part of the lender’s risk.
Funded by Bpifrance
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Who can apply
The solution is for French exporters that need bank financing to cover costs linked to carrying out an export contract. The lender is generally the bank granting the pre-financing loan; the company and the bank must meet the product’s and the contract’s acceptance criteria.
Eligibility conditions
The financing must be linked to an identified export operation and eligible costs. Eligibility depends notably on the exporter’s standing, the contract, the country, the bank and the risk assessment. The cover terms, guaranteed share, fees and exclusions must be confirmed in the current Assurance Export documentation.
What the scheme covers
The pre-financing loan can cover the cash needed to carry out the export contract: purchases, production, logistics and other costs eligible under the policy. The mechanism reassures the lender about the risk of non-repayment and makes it easier to set up the loan before the foreign customer’s payments are received.
Amount and funding terms
The amount available depends on the loan granted by the bank, the costs linked to the export contract and the level of guarantee accepted by Bpifrance Assurance Export. No general cap is given without confirmation of the current product. The guarantee covers the lender’s risk under a policy and defined conditions; it does not mean Bpifrance pays the advance directly to the exporter.
How to apply
1. Identify the export contract and the costs to be pre-financed. 2. Draw up a cash-flow plan for the execution period. 3. Contact your bank to discuss the loan and the export pre-financing guarantee. 4. Check the cover, exclusions, fees and required documents with Bpifrance Assurance Export. 5. Finalise the application before counting on the financing in your cash-flow plan.
Timeline
This is a financing solution, not a call for projects with a fixed deadline. Availability depends on the review of the operation and the current commercial conditions; ask the bank and Bpifrance Assurance Export for confirmation.
Key facts
- Funder
- Bpifrance
- Type of funding
- Repayable advance
- Status
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope
- Not specified
Frequently asked questions
Is it a direct grant?
No, it is a guarantee or insurance that makes an export pre-financing bank loan easier to obtain.
Which costs can it help finance?
Cash needs linked to carrying out an export contract, under the product’s conditions.
Who sets up the loan?
The lending bank, with Bpifrance Assurance Export involved depending on the arrangement.
How much can be obtained?
It depends on the contract, the loan and the risk assessment.
Official source
Official Bpifrance page ↗Applications are made from the official source (usually in French).
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Discover the funding that fits your company
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