Garantie de Préfinancement Export (export pre-financing guarantee)
This is a public guarantee attached to a pre-financing loan, not a grant paid directly to the exporter. It is for French companies that need bank financing to carry out an export contract. The cover, guaranteed share, fees and eligible countries depend on the policy and the current conditions.
Before being paid by a foreign customer, an exporter often has to finance manufacturing, purchases and delivery. Bpifrance Assurance Export’s Assurance Préfinancement Export makes it easier to obtain a bank loan by covering part of the bank’s risk if the exporting company defaults.
Funded by Bpifrance
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Who can apply
The scheme concerns French exporters and the banks financing their cash needs linked to carrying out an export contract. The contract, the company, the bank and the country must meet Bpifrance Assurance Export’s acceptance rules.
Eligibility conditions
The application must be linked to an export contract and a pre-financing loan. The cover conditions and accepted risks are set by Bpifrance Assurance Export; country policy and French-content rules may apply. The bank must review the financing and obtain the guarantee through the official procedure.
What the scheme covers
The guarantee supports financing of the costs needed to carry out the contract: production, purchases, technology, services and other eligible costs depending on the arrangement. It can be relevant when the cash need comes before the foreign customer’s payments are received.
Amount and funding terms
The guaranteed amount depends on the bank loan, the export contract, the risk and the applicable cover rules. No universal cap can be stated without examining the application. The guarantee reduces the bank’s risk, which can make financing easier to obtain; the company remains liable to repay the loan under the bank agreement.
How to apply
1. Establish the amount and duration of the cash need. 2. Gather the export contract, delivery schedule and payment flows. 3. Consult your bank and Bpifrance Assurance Export about pre-financing insurance. 4. Check the countries, exclusions, fees and guaranteed share. 5. Wait for the bank’s approval and the guarantee to be in place before counting on the loan.
Timeline
The guarantee is reviewed case by case, with no single annual window. Timelines depend on the contract and the bank arrangement; the application must be prepared before the contract is carried out, in coordination with the bank.
Key facts
- Funder
- Bpifrance
- Type of funding
- Guarantee
- Status
- Ongoing
- Geographic scope
- Not specified
Frequently asked questions
Does the guarantee finance the company directly?
No, it secures part of the risk of the bank granting the pre-financing loan.
What need does it cover?
The cash needed to carry out an export contract before the foreign customer pays.
Who is involved?
The lending bank and Bpifrance Assurance Export.
When should I prepare the application?
Before carrying out the contract, in coordination with the bank.
Official source
Official Bpifrance page ↗Applications are made from the official source (usually in French).
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