Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank Financing for Domestic Projects, 72967-72968 [2021-27835]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices America’s Supply Chains’’ which recommended that EXPORT-IMPORT BANK Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank Financing for Domestic Projects Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is soliciting comments and feedback concerning a recommendation resulting from Executive Order 14017 on America’s Supply Chains. The report ‘‘Building resilient supply chains, revitalizing American manufacturing, and fostering broad-based growth’’, recommends that EXIM consider developing an option to provide financing in support of the establishment and/or expansion of U.S. manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects in the United States that would facilitate U.S. exports. EXIM requests: (1) Comments on the usefulness of such an option and need for EXIM to extend its medium and long-term loans and guarantees to domestic projects as described in the E.O. 14017 Report recommendation; and (2) Feedback on the hypothetical parameters of such an EXIM program as described in the ‘‘supplementary information’’ below. DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by January 20, 2022. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments on this transaction electronically on www.regulations.gov. To submit a comment, enter ‘‘Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank Financing for Domestic Projects’’ under the heading ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID’’ and select Search. Follow the instructions provided at the Submit a Comment screen. Please include your name, company name (if any) and ‘‘Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank Financing for Domestic Projects’’ on any attached document. Comments can also be sent by email or mail to Scott Condren, Scott.Condren@exim.gov, Export-Import Bank of the United States, 811 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20571. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Condren by telephone at 202–565– 3777 or by email at Scott.Condren@ exim.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: Background On June 8th, 2021, the White House released a report ‘‘Strengthening VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:50 Dec 22, 2021 Jkt 256001 EXIM develop a proposal for Board consideration regarding whether and how to implement a new Domestic Financing Program to support the establishment and/or expansion of U.S. manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects in the United States that would support U.S. exports. The proposal would support and facilitate U.S. exports while rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capacity This notice seeks comment on the value of expanding EXIM’s foreign buyer financing program to include domestic transactions, and feedback on the hypothetical parameters such as described below. In general, this notice only describes where transactions would face different requirements or standards from EXIM’s medium and long-term overseas support. Terms, conditions, and requirements not addressed here, such as additionality, should be presumed to be the same as EXIM’s standard export credit offering. Hypothetical Parameters Export Nexus: EXIM can only support transactions that have a nexus to exports. Foreign ECAs tend to require as a standard (but not rigorously applied minimum) 20% content for their export transactions. Moreover, the British have created a domestic financing program for companies that have an export ‘‘basis’’ that requires at least 5% of annual revenues in any three-year period be from exports, or 20% in one of any three years. EXIM may consider projects between a 25–50% export nexus for support. For example, 25% of a project’s production (e.g., goods produced at an EXIM-supported manufacturing facility) or capacity (e.g., 25% of the traffic at a port) would need to be for export for the transaction to eligible. This export connection could stretch back through a supply chain and account for ‘‘indirect exports’’. For example, if a company sells 50% of its output to a domestic company, which in turn uses 50% of the supplier’s inputs for exports, this transaction would meet the 25% threshold. Pricing: Because financing with no direct export component is not considered official export financing, EXIM’s financing would not be subject to the Organisation for Economic CoOperation and Development (OECD) Arrangement terms and conditions. However, supporting domestic transactions that facilitate exports must comply with both EXIM’s budget and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The former requires transactional ‘‘break even’’; the latter which would require EXIM to provide ‘‘market’’ pricing. PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72967 EXIM may meet both tests via one of two approaches: (1) Direct Market Proxy: There are several options, including lending on identical terms and conditions (or provide cover so that the buyer faces identical all-in pricing on both covered and uncovered tranches) as part of a syndicate, price using issuer specific credit default swaps (CDS) or price using comparable public bond information. (2) Implicit Market Benchmark: In cases where there is no direct market benchmark (e.g., no debt of a comparable term exists), EXIM may as a back-up utilize the OECD ‘‘Through the Cycle Market Benchmark’’ pricing methodology. This methodology uses commercial pricing information to generate market reflective pricing for a wide range of tenors and credit ratings. Jobs supported: EXIM may connect to its jobs mission by scaling its financing in relation to the number of U.S. jobs such financing would support. For purposes of calculating maximum support, EXIM may include the U.S. jobs involved in construction of the project and the U.S. jobs involved in ongoing use of the project over the life of EXIM financing (per year—e.g., 50 jobs per year for five years would be counted as 250 jobs). As all such jobs estimates are projections of the future, EXIM may ask applicants to provide supporting information on why their projections are accurate (e.g., similar projects had similar employment, projections from their EPC when applicable), as well as requesting that EXIM’s independent consultants on projects may be asked to opine on the reasonableness of the jobs projections. EXIM may choose to use a lower jobs number than the applicant provided to determine maximum financing. U.S. flag shipping: EXIM may require U.S. flag shipping on major discrete equipment imports specifically sourced for the project with the same exceptions as EXIM’s current policy. Items that had been imported with no expectation or foreknowledge they would end up being purchased with EXIM financing would not require U.S. flag shipping (such items could also be termed ‘‘Commercial off the shelf’’). Comments: EXIM seeks comments on the eligibility criteria laid out above. In addition, EXIM specifically asks (1) Comments on the usefulness of such an option and need for EXIM to extend its medium and long-term loans and guarantees to domestic projects with an export connection as described in the E.O. 14017 report recommendation; and E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1 72968 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices (2) Feedback on the hypothetical parameters of such an EXIM program as described in the ‘‘supplementary information’’ above. Scott Condren, Sr. Policy Analyst. [FR Doc. 2021–27835 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–0856; FR ID 63574] Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before February 22, 2022. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:50 Dec 22, 2021 Jkt 256001 Direct all PRA comments to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email PRA@ fcc.gov and to nicole.ongele@fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele, (202) 418–2991. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 3060–0856. Title: Universal Service—Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Program Reimbursement Forms. Form Numbers: FCC Forms 472, 473, and 474. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents: Businesses or other forprofit institutions, not-for-profit institutions, and state, local or tribal government. Number of Respondents and Responses: 16,600 respondents; 96,500 responses. Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion and annual reporting requirements. Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201– 205, 214, 254, 312(d), 312(f), 403 and 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3), 601–612; 15 U.S.C. 1, 632; 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4); 47 U.S.C. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201– 205, 214, 254, 312(d), 312(f), 403, 503(b). Total Annual Burden: 144,750 hours. Total Annual Cost: No cost. Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s). Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: If the Commission requests applicants or service providers to submit information that the respondents believe is confidential, respondents may request confidential treatment of such information under section 47 CFR 0.459 of the Commission’s rules. Needs and Uses: The Commission will submit this information collection to OMB, which is an extension of a currently approved collection, to obtain a full three-year clearance from OMB. The FCC Form 472 is used by an applicant (also known as the billed entity) to seek reimbursement for the discounts on services paid in full. After receiving an invoice from the service provider, together with an FCC Form 472, USAC is able to verify the eligible service and approved amounts that should be reimbursed and can make the appropriate payment to the applicant. The FCC Form 472 is also used to ensure that each service provider has provided discounted services within the ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 current funding year and that invoices submitted from service providers for the costs of discounted eligible services do not exceed the amount that has been approved. The FCC Form 473 is used to verify that the service provider is eligible to participate in the schools and libraries universal service support program (ERate program) and to confirm that the invoice forms submitted by the service provider are in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate program rules. The FCC Form 473 is also used by USAC to assure that the dollars paid out by the universal service fund go to eligible providers. The FCC Form 474 is used by an eligible service provider to seek payment for the discounted costs of services it provided to applicants (or billed entities) for eligible services. After receiving an invoice from the service provider, together with an FCC Form 474, USAC is able to verify that the eligible and approved amounts can be paid. The FCC Form 474 is also used to ensure that each service provider has provided discounted services within the current funding year for which it submits an invoice to USAC and that invoices submitted from service providers for the costs of discounted eligible services do not exceed the amount that has been approved. All of the requirements contained in this information collection are necessary to implement the Congressional mandate for the E-Rate program and reimbursement process. Federal Communications Commission. Katura Jackson, Federal Register Liaison, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–27803 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below. The public portions of the applications listed below, as well as E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72967-72968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27835]



[[Page 72967]]

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EXPORT-IMPORT BANK


Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank 
Financing for Domestic Projects

AGENCY: Export-Import Bank of the United States.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is 
soliciting comments and feedback concerning a recommendation resulting 
from Executive Order 14017 on America's Supply Chains. The report 
``Building resilient supply chains, revitalizing American 
manufacturing, and fostering broad-based growth'', recommends that EXIM 
consider developing an option to provide financing in support of the 
establishment and/or expansion of U.S. manufacturing facilities and 
infrastructure projects in the United States that would facilitate U.S. 
exports.
    EXIM requests:
    (1) Comments on the usefulness of such an option and need for EXIM 
to extend its medium and long-term loans and guarantees to domestic 
projects as described in the E.O. 14017 Report recommendation; and
    (2) Feedback on the hypothetical parameters of such an EXIM program 
as described in the ``supplementary information'' below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
January 20, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments on this transaction 
electronically on www.regulations.gov. To submit a comment, enter 
``Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank 
Financing for Domestic Projects'' under the heading ``Enter Keyword or 
ID'' and select Search. Follow the instructions provided at the Submit 
a Comment screen. Please include your name, company name (if any) and 
``Information Request on Potential Parameters of Export-Import Bank 
Financing for Domestic Projects'' on any attached document. Comments 
can also be sent by email or mail to Scott Condren, 
[email protected], Export-Import Bank of the United States, 811 
Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20571.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Condren by telephone at 202-565-
3777 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 8th, 2021, the White House released a report 
``Strengthening America's Supply Chains'' which recommended that

    EXIM develop a proposal for Board consideration regarding 
whether and how to implement a new Domestic Financing Program to 
support the establishment and/or expansion of U.S. manufacturing 
facilities and infrastructure projects in the United States that 
would support U.S. exports. The proposal would support and 
facilitate U.S. exports while rebuilding U.S. manufacturing capacity

    This notice seeks comment on the value of expanding EXIM's foreign 
buyer financing program to include domestic transactions, and feedback 
on the hypothetical parameters such as described below. In general, 
this notice only describes where transactions would face different 
requirements or standards from EXIM's medium and long-term overseas 
support. Terms, conditions, and requirements not addressed here, such 
as additionality, should be presumed to be the same as EXIM's standard 
export credit offering.

Hypothetical Parameters

    Export Nexus: EXIM can only support transactions that have a nexus 
to exports. Foreign ECAs tend to require as a standard (but not 
rigorously applied minimum) 20% content for their export transactions. 
Moreover, the British have created a domestic financing program for 
companies that have an export ``basis'' that requires at least 5% of 
annual revenues in any three-year period be from exports, or 20% in one 
of any three years. EXIM may consider projects between a 25-50% export 
nexus for support. For example, 25% of a project's production (e.g., 
goods produced at an EXIM-supported manufacturing facility) or capacity 
(e.g., 25% of the traffic at a port) would need to be for export for 
the transaction to eligible. This export connection could stretch back 
through a supply chain and account for ``indirect exports''. For 
example, if a company sells 50% of its output to a domestic company, 
which in turn uses 50% of the supplier's inputs for exports, this 
transaction would meet the 25% threshold.
    Pricing: Because financing with no direct export component is not 
considered official export financing, EXIM's financing would not be 
subject to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development 
(OECD) Arrangement terms and conditions. However, supporting domestic 
transactions that facilitate exports must comply with both EXIM's 
budget and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The former requires 
transactional ``break even''; the latter which would require EXIM to 
provide ``market'' pricing. EXIM may meet both tests via one of two 
approaches:
    (1) Direct Market Proxy: There are several options, including 
lending on identical terms and conditions (or provide cover so that the 
buyer faces identical all-in pricing on both covered and uncovered 
tranches) as part of a syndicate, price using issuer specific credit 
default swaps (CDS) or price using comparable public bond information.
    (2) Implicit Market Benchmark: In cases where there is no direct 
market benchmark (e.g., no debt of a comparable term exists), EXIM may 
as a back-up utilize the OECD ``Through the Cycle Market Benchmark'' 
pricing methodology. This methodology uses commercial pricing 
information to generate market reflective pricing for a wide range of 
tenors and credit ratings.
    Jobs supported: EXIM may connect to its jobs mission by scaling its 
financing in relation to the number of U.S. jobs such financing would 
support. For purposes of calculating maximum support, EXIM may include 
the U.S. jobs involved in construction of the project and the U.S. jobs 
involved in ongoing use of the project over the life of EXIM financing 
(per year--e.g., 50 jobs per year for five years would be counted as 
250 jobs). As all such jobs estimates are projections of the future, 
EXIM may ask applicants to provide supporting information on why their 
projections are accurate (e.g., similar projects had similar 
employment, projections from their EPC when applicable), as well as 
requesting that EXIM's independent consultants on projects may be asked 
to opine on the reasonableness of the jobs projections. EXIM may choose 
to use a lower jobs number than the applicant provided to determine 
maximum financing.
    U.S. flag shipping: EXIM may require U.S. flag shipping on major 
discrete equipment imports specifically sourced for the project with 
the same exceptions as EXIM's current policy. Items that had been 
imported with no expectation or foreknowledge they would end up being 
purchased with EXIM financing would not require U.S. flag shipping 
(such items could also be termed ``Commercial off the shelf'').
    Comments:
    EXIM seeks comments on the eligibility criteria laid out above. In 
addition, EXIM specifically asks
    (1) Comments on the usefulness of such an option and need for EXIM 
to extend its medium and long-term loans and guarantees to domestic 
projects with an export connection as described in the E.O. 14017 
report recommendation; and

[[Page 72968]]

    (2) Feedback on the hypothetical parameters of such an EXIM program 
as described in the ``supplementary information'' above.

Scott Condren,
Sr. Policy Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2021-27835 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6690-01-P


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