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One of the greatest hurdles
facing exporters and importers is finding sufficient financing for their
foreign transactions. Although basically similar to domestice trade, the
financing of international business often involves methods and instruments
which are decidedly different. Traditional commercial bankers concentrate on
balance sheets and apply rigid capitalization and collateral security
requirements before lending money. They often use a formula approach to
finance which may be inappropriate to the deal at hand.
Global Trading Partners is a financier with a different
perspective. It focuses primarily on the underlying transaction's economic
and commercial viability in determining its eligibility for financing. Global
Trading Partners assists exporters and importers by acting as an
expeditor and financier for their profitable international trade
transactions; helping clients to complete transactions which they might not
otherwise be able to undertake due to a lack of sufficient internal capital
or credit facilities.
Global Trading Partners designs the financing to fit the
transaction; it doesn't require the transaction or the customer to fit a
predetermined product and credit structure. This flexibility allows Global
Trading Partners to completely aid a client from raw material
acquisition, through international shipment of the goods, to the receipt of
funds from the ultimate buyer. Global Trading Partners does not lend
money. Rather, it finances trade on a transaction-by-transaction basis. If
the transaction warrants, Global Trading Partners will finance 100% of
the costs, often without outside collateral. Our transaction specific
facilities help the client buy or assemble the merchandise. Then, together
with the client, we assist, if necessary, for the merchandise to be delivered
to the buyer and collect the funds under whatever payment mechanism is in
place.
For our services, Global
Trading Partners charges a Participation Fee that is calculated as a
percentage of total Global Trading Partners funds expended on each
transaction. In addition, Global Trading Partners charges interest on
the actual amount of funds outstanding during the transaction period,
typically at Prime Rate plus 4.0% (annualized).
The Participation Fee is
determined based on the following factors:
1. Gross trading profit in
the transaction;
2. Anticipated volume;
3. Perceived risk (including payment, product, inventory, cancellation,
currency exchange, and performance);
4. Estimated field work and monitoring;
5. Term of transaction;
6. Special conditions, if any (i.e., manufacturing, warehousing, etc.).
Global Trading Partners finances products which have been
pre-sold and does not finance speculative inventory positions.
Global Trading Partners offers customers several advantages:
- The transaction's
financing is usually "off" balance sheet. Thus, the
customer's financial statements do not reflect a potentially undesirable
level of debt which might concern their existing bank and trade creditors.
- Participation and
financing do not interfere with the client's current lines of credit, which
can be reserved for more traditional requirements.
- Unlike venture capital
investors who demand an equity stake in the company, Global Trading
Partners participates only on a transaction-by-transaction basis.
Therefore, the customer need not be concerned about the long term effects of
reduced ownership and loss of management control.
- Customers benefit from the
staff's extensive experience in international trade finance and procedures.
Export Transaction
Description
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1.
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Client is awarded a contract to supply
spare parts to a foreign buyer with payment terms of sight letter of
credit.
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2.
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Client will submit a request for
financing of the order to Global Trading Partners (Global) accompanied by:
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a.
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A copy of
the purchase order or sale contract;
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b.
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A copy of
the Letter of Credit issued which names Client as beneficiary;
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c.
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A
transaction profit and loss pro-forma statement, showing sales price, all
costs (including product cost, inisurance, freight, inland transportation, third
party fees - i.e. freight forwarder services, inspection companies, etc.)
and gross profit;
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d.
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A purchase
order listing identifying all supplies and associated purchase orders;
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e.
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A project schedule;
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3.
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Global will
review the transaction, and upon approval, issue a Secured Promissory Note
to be reviewed and signed by Client. The Note will identify the
Buyer, form of payment, total amount to be financed and term.
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4.
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Client will assign the proceeds of the Letter
of Credit to Global. This can be completed by having the confirming or
paying bank confirm an assignment to Global. In cases where open account
terms are approved, Client will instruct the buyer to remit all
proceeds to Global and such instructions must be acknowledged by the Buyer
in writing.
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5.
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Client will notify Global when a supplier
invoice is ready for review and payment. At the option of Global,
confirmation of delivery of the product by the supplier may be required. Client
will additionally provide payment instructions for direct payment to
suppliers or request reimbursement for payments made directly by Client.
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6.
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Global
will review the request to confirm terms and dollar amounts are within the
previously approved budget. Upon approval by Global, payment will be made
as requested.
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7.
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Upon
completion of the purchase of all product, Client will inform Global
that shipment is scheduled and that the product has been released to the
freight forwarder for shipment.
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8.
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Client will instruct the freight
forwarder to deliver the bill of lading and any other forwarder prepared
documents to Client and Client will prepare the remaining
documents for presentation under the Letter of Credit and deliver them to
the appropriate bank for negotiation. Client will additionally
submit one copy of each document to Global.
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9.
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Upon
receipt of the Letter of Credit proceeds from the bank or open account
payment, Global will prepare a Settlement Statement for Client itemizing
amounts funded plus all fees and interest due. Amounts due Global will be
deducted from the proceeds and the balance will be remitted to Client.
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Import Transaction
Description
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1.
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Client will establish credit terms and
limits for each proposed buyer and submit to Global a request for approval
of each credit limit. The request will include:
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a.
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an agency
report, if available (i.e. Dun & Bradstreet);
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b.
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documented
trade checkings;
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c.
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any other documents requred by
Client (i.e. financial statements, annual reports, etc.) to recommend the
level of credit requested.
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2.
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On the
basis of the information submitted by Client, Global will review for
approval a buyer for the credit terms and amount requested.
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3.
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Upon
credit approval by Global, Client will provide the buyer with
irrevocable instructions to pay Client invoices to Client at
Global. These instructions must be acknowledged by the buyer in writing.
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4.
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To
initiate the transaction, Client will present to Global a request
for funding (specifically identifying all costs to be paid by Global), plus
the following;
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a.
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the relevant
buyer Purchase Order;
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b.
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the Client
Purchase Order and/or letter of credit to the supplier;
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c.
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a transaction profit and loss
pro-forma statement itemizing all direct costs (i.e., cost of goods,
freight, duty, brokerage, agent's fee, insurance, inland transportation,
etc.) and projected profit.
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5.
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Global
will review the request and confirm that the buyer is credit approved and
within limits and that the product is from an approved suppliers. If buyer
and suppliers are approved, Global will prepare a Secured Promissory Note
for Client's approval and signature.
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6.
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Upon Client's
approval of the Secured Promissory Note, Global will instruct its bank to
wire the requested funds to the supplier showing Client as remitter
or issue the letter of credit as per Client's request.
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7.
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Client will provide irrecvocable
instructions to its customs broker to receive goods on behalf of Client
in the name and custody of Global. The broker must agree in writing to take
instructions from Global.
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8.
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Upon
arrival and clearance of the goods, Client will prepare an invoice
and request a release from Global for delivery of the goods to the intended
buyer. Global will release the goods for shipment upon receipt of a faxed
copy of the invoice, unless shipment is delayed beyond cancellation date or
the buyer's credit condition has materially changed.
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9.
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Upon
receipt of confirmation of shipment, Client will mail their invoice
to the buyer instructing them to pay Client at Global.
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10.
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Upon
receipt of buyer payment, Global will deduct all costs, fees and interest
from the payment and remit the balance to Client.
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