Category Archives: Trade Credit

For years, trade credit insurance has lived in the footnotes of board presentations. Renewed annually. Negotiated by brokers. Reviewed when limits were cut. Filed away when claims were paid. A prudent hedge. A defensive instrument. A cost center. That framing is now obsolete. What is unfolding in 2025–2026 is not a cyclical adjustment in underwritingContinue reading “Capital, Certainty, and the End of Passive Credit Insurance”

Insights for CFOs, Treasurers, and Credit Managers For multinational CFOs, Treasurers, and Credit Managers, evaluating whether to extend a credit insurance program early (my definition: 6 months or more prior renewal date, without market tender) involves weighing multiple strategic factors. Brokers and insurers frequently advocate for early multi-year extensions, but assessing the full context—from marketContinue reading “Strategic Considerations for Extending MNC Credit Insurance Programs Early”

In an increasingly globalized economy, the traditional model of centrally negotiated but locally implemented international credit insurance programs presents significant inefficiencies for multinational corporations (MNCs). Leveraging sophisticated technologies, MNCs can transition to a streamlined approach where central negotiations are complemented by consolidated regional policies. This strategy not only reduces operational and manpower costs but alsoContinue reading “The next generation of multinational credit insurance programs and the importance of the right broker choice”

Happy new year to all members of the “world of credit insurance” community. The last blog update is already several months old and between the years I had some time to recap 2021 and think about the potential upcoming challenges. Here are my personal thoughts about the key hurdles our industry might face in 2022.Continue reading “The 3 main challenges the credit insurance industry might face in 2022”

In times of globalization, many companies are looking for new markets and cheaper production sites abroad and becoming more and more international. As a consequence, this development has led to the establishment of subsidiaries, sales offices and production facilities all over the world. The following post explains the challenges of multinational corporations (MNCs) in timesContinue reading “What are the three main challenges for multinational corporations in the implementation process of credit insurance?”

Despite recent successes in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, most parts of the world are currently in a lockdown. The economic consequences are far-reaching. As a result, the credit insurer Euler Hermes expects a decline in the movement of goods and services of around 320 billion US dollars per quarter. No question about it, the worldContinue reading “How to proactively manage your credit insurance policy and credit limits during the Covid-19 crisis”

Short answer? Yes it works. Together with Matthias Beck, Head of Risk Management at the Würth Group I was delighted to develop a new credit insurance purchasing strategy, with the aim of moving the placement of dozens of local policies across the world, into central negotiated credit insurance programs. On the one side, we couldContinue reading “Does central purchasing of credit insurance work in a multi-national company with over 400 subsidaries?”

In times of Covid-19 many corporations are looking for options, how to transfer the rising non-payment risk of their buyers from their balance sheet and/or using credit insured account receivables for asset- based financing. Credit insurance is a well known tool for decades, providing following functions to the insured: Risk Assessment/ Risk Prevention Risk TransferContinue reading “Is Excess-of-loss credit insurance the future of risk transfer for multi-national corporations? (including Podcast with Wibke Kuhnert from Henkel AG & Co. KGaA)”

How did #Kloeckner manage to implement a sophisticated group credit insurance purchasing strategy, achieve significant economies of scale but also take local responsiveness as well as central group financing and reporting into consideration? Rolf Klee, Head of Group Treasury I were delighted to present our success story at the #StructuredFinance in Stuttgart. Klöckner & Co SE (commonly abbreviated as KlöCo) with headquartersContinue reading “Implementing an international credit insurance program at Klöckner & Co SE”