Although many businesses are prepared for minor setbacks, identifying the steps to take during a major disaster isn't always easy. An international trade finance company can help reduce your exposure to the economic risks within your supply chain. Additionally, there are other ways to minimize the operational and financial impacts on your supply chain during a crisis. 1. Plan for Disruptions Ahead of Time Setting up an effective supply chain contingency policy requires time and planning. During most catastrophes, you'll have limited time...

Europe is the number one destination for US foreign direct investment (FDI) – according to US government data. Its countries dominate league tables of country attractiveness. That trend does not look like changing any time soon. But the tumultuous global events of the year have accelerated protectionist moves based on national security across Europe, as they have in the rest of the world. What does this mean for a US business looking to invest into Europe or divest assets...

Policy was unchanged with FFR at 0.0-0.25%, forward guidance remained unchanged and the Fed committed to at least maintain the current pace of asset purchases. The accompanying statement was mainly unchanged, describing “sharp declines” in activity, but acknowledging improvement in financial conditions. The Fed published medium-term projections for the first time in six months. The Fed expects a slower rebound than we currently project for 2020, with more of a catch up in 2021. Fed Chair Powell described...

On June 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced via its Twitter account that it had launched a website dedicated to the monitoring and enforcement functions of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS or the Committee). The enforcement website, which includes an email tipline—both CFIUS firsts—is a visible indicator of the recent steady increase in CFIUS' monitoring of and enforcement actions aimed at foreign investment transactions. Now that CFIUS has largely finished...

The coronavirus pandemic hit the proverbial “pause button” on virtually all M&A deals that were on the cusp of completion. But businesses can take advantage of this hiatus to better position themselves to close their deals when markets reopen — yes, even in our new socially-distanced world. It’s late February and you had an M&A deal that was well underway. A buyer was lined up. The projection models were all finished. The investment thesis was ironclad. You knew the value...

For the first time since the European Commission’s €1.85 billion budget and Recovery Fund proposal, EU Heads of State and Government met on Friday (19 June) to seek an agreement on its substance. Considering the deep divisions between countries and different political alliances, Friday’s EU leaders’ summit was never expected to result in a breakthrough. Rather, most Heads of State and Government considered their online get together as an initial exchange of views and positions, as German Chancellor Angela...

On June 15, the Federal Reserve Board released proposed term sheets to expand the Main Street Lending Program to nonprofit entities in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement seeks public comment on the new proposal which grants small and medium-sized nonprofits access to additional liquidity. The Main Street Lending Program was established by the Federal Reserve Board with the Secretary of the Treasury under the CARES Act. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will...