Fasten your seatbelts: Why Asia’s SMEs should plan for Euro turbulence

Asia’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are thriving, benefiting from strong economic growth throughout the region. But in an increasingly interconnected world, they are not immune to problems elsewhere, such as the Euro crisis.

Even for SMEs not directly exposed to European trade flows and/or currencies, there could be bottom line implications. The uncertain outcome of the crisis could lead to increased volatility in foreign exchange and commodity prices, both of which could impact SMEs involved in trade and manufacturing. Given these risks, it is important for all SMEs to have sufficient liquidity, including access to debt, in order to ensure business continuity in their operations.

SMEs are often an integral part of the supply chain of multinational companies (MNCs). For larger medium sized enterprises, they may supply to or buy direct from the MNCs and for smaller businesses,they may also deal direct or through other companies, including other SMEs. If a MNC is headquartered or based in Europe, then all SMEs in its supply chain are likely to feel the impact of the debt crisis.

The challenge is that MNCs literally ‘anchor’ the chain and often dictate buying and selling terms. During lean times, MNCs will need to balance their own survival and shareholder expectations with the longer term objective of creating a sustainable and reliable supply chain. It is no surprise then that some MNCs would need to shorten the credit terms extended to SME buyers and lengthen the payment periods to SME suppliers (or perhaps completely cancel orders) in order to reduce their own working capital requirements in the short term. The downstream knock-on effect is clear when considering the significant reliance that SMEs place on their relationships with the MNCs – many SMEs would rather end up absorbing the working capital impact than ending the erstwhile valuable relationship.

The irony is that SMEs are in fact in an inferior position to absorb these downstream macro effects and this consequently has a number of implications for them:

• Reduced credit appetite from their banks due to their European exposure (in complete contrast to the generally     positive impact this has for SMEs during better times)
• Increased working capital requirements relative to the proportion of the impact they in turn can pass on to their customers
• Reduced bank and country risk limits and/or increased pricing on solutions or products incorporating these as risk mitigants
• Increased currency volatility or new / additional currency heading costs
• Credit insurance costs on counterparties not considered as a default risk before
• Possibility of price increases for SME buyers or price reductions for SME suppliers to MNCs

Need to consider diversifying their reliance on a particular MNC or country but it is not a simple process to replicate a track record and long relationship. Additional resources and time are needed to pursue new partnerships whilst still relying on an existing and possibly strained relationship.

Asian SMEs should assess their FX, interest rate and commodity exposures and review the different options available in mitigating these risks. These can be in the form of FX forwards, interest rate/currency swaps, vanilla options or commodity hedging solutions. With the help of treasury specialists, SMEs can mitigate some of these uncertainties in their operating costs. SMEs should also analyze their ongoing business exposures to clients, in particular, those that are in or are dealing with Europe. Credit risk on receivable counterparties can be mitigated by taking appropriate insurance and working capital lines to support any lengthening of payment terms should be secured now rather than when the company has a cash crunch. Businesses often fail due to cash shortages and not because they are not profitable.

SMEs who are concerned about maintaining cash-flow liquidity can also opt for loan-to-value investments, which allow them the option of drawing on the value of their yield enhancing investments should the requirement arise.

There are different opinions on the ultimate outcome to the Euro crisis and the extent to which it may affect businesses in Asia. However, there is no doubt that SMEs should prepare and plan ahead, taking measured actions to ensure their continued survival.

Tim Hinton, Global Head - SME Banking, Standard Chartered Bank