U.S. EXIM Bank formalizes Russia pullout; approves Sri Lanka, Albania, Iraq deals

(Reuters, Washington, 31 March 2022) The U.S. EXIM's board of directors on Thursday voted to formalize the bank's withdrawal from any further business in Russia and approved financing and to guarantee deals worth up to $381 million for Iraq, Sri Lanka and Albania. The board also voted to notify Congress of a proposed renewal of a $450 million credit guarantee to Citibank that backs a $500 million facility to allow 365 suppliers of aircraft maker Boeing to receive accelerated receivables payments related to export sales of Boeing aircraft. The formal closing of Russian business follows an announcement last week by EXIM and export credit agencies in Britain and Canada to withdraw all support from Russia and Belarus in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. EXIM previously had an administrative hold prohibiting Russian business since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. EXIM still has $410 million in prior credit exposure to Russia, primarily for aviation sector loan guarantees that were granted before Crimea's annexation. Meanwhile, it’s not clear how many of the 500 or so foreign-owed planes stuck in Russia are potentially eligible for the exception, or which owners will be able to apply. Most of the aircraft are on operating leases vs fixed term rental contracts.