Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee
Find out about our Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee: its benefits, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
The Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee covers a loan to an overseas buyer to finance the purchase of capital goods, services and/or intangibles from a UK supplier. This product is better suited to smaller and more simple transactions.
How it works
Benefits
The benefits of our Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee include:
- the supplier is paid as soon as the goods have been shipped and/or services performed, subject to the terms and conditions of the loan agreement and that loan continuing to be made available to the borrower.
- the buyer or borrower has time to pay over a number of years and can borrow at fixed or floating rates
- the financial institution receives a guarantee from us for the amounts due under the loan
Eligibility criteria
The transaction must satisfy UKEF’s eligibility criteria, which includes the requirements that:
- the supplier must be carrying on business in the UK
- the financial institution must be acceptable to us
All transactions supported by UKEF must satisfy:
- our foreign content policy
- our anti-bribery and corruption and environmental, social and human rights due diligence processes
The transaction may not be supported if there are sanctions imposed on the country of the buyer or borrower.
The maximum amount that can be made available under the facility is 85% of the contract value. A minimum of 15% of the contract value must be paid directly to the supplier by the buyer before the facility starts to be repaid.
The period for payment under the facility is typically 2 to 5 years. It can be shorter or longer depending on the sector and transaction requirements.
Check our country cover indicators to find out what cover is available for the country or territory you want to do business in.
Cost
The fee payable for our cover is determined on a case by case basis.
How to apply
UKEF works with a range of financial institutions to deliver this support.
To find out more about a UKEF Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee or to discuss eligibility for our support, contact our customer services team.
Contact customer.service@ukexportfinance.gov.uk or call +44 (0)20 7271 8010.
Our application forms are also available if you are ready to make an application.
Application form and product documentation
Check our country cover position, and make an application.
More information
- Read our guide for applicants on business processes and factors, to find out how we make decisions on applications
- Read our position on Financial Crime Compliance
Additional note
In accordance with the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits, the maximum amount that can be made available under the facility is normally 85% of the export contract value. However, for a temporary period this has been increased to 95% of the contract value for some transactions for sovereign or public buyers (with a guarantee by the Ministry of Finance or the central bank) in Category II countries with a country risk category of 5, 6 or 7.
In the majority of cases, a minimum of 5% of the contract value must be paid directly to the supplier by the buyer before the facility starts to be repaid. Transactions may benefit from the temporary changes provided that applications are received by 13 December 2024, and the date of the final commitment is within 18 months of the end of the validity period, i.e. by 13 June 2026.
It does not apply to transactions following the Aircraft Sector Understanding (ASU).
Updates to this page
Last updated 4 March 2024 + show all updates
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Requested omission of text from 'Benefits' section.
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Wording added to 'Benefits' section as agreed by LD, PPD and RMG.
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The additional note has been amended.
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Updated Guarantee Letter Specimen and Guarantee Standard Terms and Conditions (GSTCs) Specimen
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OECD note updated.
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First published.