Report Highlights Differences in Latin American Business Climate

Owings Mills, MD (PRWEB) June 21, 2007

Latin America is one of the fastest growing regions in the world and, because of free trade agreements, provides a source of potential new buyers for U.S. goods and services. However, when entering a new market like Latin America, knowing the local culture and the business environment are two key elements that can help to ensure success, according to global trade credit insurer and accounts receivable management provider Euler Hermes ACI.

In a special report, "Critical Elements Intrinsic to Conducting Business in Latin America," Euler Hermes ACI Senior Vice President - Director of International Development, Marketing & Strategy Arjan van de Wall discusses unique market details for business executives looking to expand into the Latin American market. "Latin America's culture is very rich and differs quite a bit from the U.S. business culture," he said. "The market has tremendous growth potential, but you need to do your research and use all of the resources available to you to ensure the successful expansion of sales to this region."

The report focuses on several main points about the Latin American market, ranging from language and communication styles to political and economic risk. Topics covered include:

•     Meeting strategies
•     Business and interpersonal communications
•     Differences in legal and collections systems
•     Payment performance
•     Export financing methods

One of the most beneficial pieces of advice within the report deals with having local contacts before expanding sales to the region. "The most prudent exporter will explore and evaluate new buyers in risky markets through a local resource, such as a trade credit insurer," sad van de Wall. "Free trade agreements have brought many motivated buyers out in the open in Latin America, but it is imperative to know which are the best companies with which to do business."

Euler Hermes maintains a strong presence in Latin America, with local offices in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico that can provide detailed information on potential buyers in those countries. This information is obtained in close proximity to the risk source, rather than from a central global location, and therefore provides expert business intelligence and client support services to exporters seeking to increase trade flows to the Latin American region.

"Exporters need to be both practical and assertive in exploring new markets, such as Latin America, van de Wall concluded. "The fear of the unknown can be daunting, but utilizing sound accounts receivable protection practices to allay that fear is a constructive and available solution."

The full report is available upon request from the Euler Hermes ACI communications department. To obtain a copy, send an email to eulerhermes.usa(at)eulerhermes.com or call 410-753-0652.

Euler Hermes ACI is North America's oldest and largest provider of trade credit insurance and accounts receivable management solutions and is the US subsidiary of the Euler Hermes Group. Headquartered in Owings Mills, MD, the company protects and insures more than $150 billion in US trade transactions annually. Additionally, Euler Hermes ACI provides a suite of receivables management services that includes commercial third party collections, receivables management outsourcing, and international collections. For more information, visit http://www.eulerhermes.com/usa.

Euler Hermes is the worldwide leader in credit insurance and one of the leaders in bonding and guarantees. With 5,500 employees in 49 countries, Euler Hermes offers a complete range of services for the management of customer receivables and posted a consolidated turnover of 2.01 billion euros in 2006.

Euler Hermes, a subsidiary of AGF and a member of Allianz, is listed on Euronext Paris. Standard & Poor's rates the group and its principal credit insurance subsidiaries AA-.

Press Contact:
Rick Ostopowicz
Euler Hermes ACI Public Relations and Communications Specialist
Phone: (410) 753-0652
Email: rick.ostopowicz(at)eulerhermes.com

These assessments are, as always, subject to the disclaimer provided below.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain of the statements contained herein may be statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. In addition to statements which are forward-looking by reason of context, the words 'may, will, should, expects, plans, intends, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential, or continue' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, without limitation, (i) general economic conditions, including in particular economic conditions in the Allianz SE's core business and core markets, (ii) performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, (iii) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, (iv) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (v) persistency levels, (vi) the extent of credit defaults (vii) interest rate levels, (viii) currency exchange rates including the Euro-U.S. Dollar exchange rate, (ix) changing levels of competition, (x) changes in laws and regulations, including monetary convergence and the European Monetary Union, (xi) changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments, (xii) the impact of acquisitions, including related integration issues, (xiii) reorganization measures and (xiv) general competitive factors, in each case on a local, regional, national and/or global basis. Many of these factors may be more likely to occur, or more pronounced, as a result of terrorist activities and their consequences. The matters discussed herein may also involve risks and uncertainties described from time to time in Allianz SE's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Group assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained herein.

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