Case Study: How Financely Structured and Closed a Multi-Step Bunkering Trade Finance Transaction

Trade finance is rarely simple. In this case, a maritime bunkering operator had a confirmed supply deal but lacked the liquidity to issue a letter of credit to secure the cargo. The seller required LC payment terms. The operator faced three urgent problems: margin capital was unavailable, LC issuance terms were unclear, and a long-term facility was needed to scale future trades.

The Challenge

The client needed immediate short-term capital to post margin and secure the LC. Without it, the trade would fall apart. Simultaneously, the LC issuing bank’s terms were not finalized, and they required a clean structure. Finally, the client wanted to avoid repeating this bottleneck on future trades and requested a borrowing base structure for ongoing working capital.

How Financely Solved It

Financely moved quickly. Within five days, we brought in a private lender to fund short-term capital that covered the margin. This secured the LC issuance. Next, we led the negotiation with the issuing bank to finalize favorable terms and executed a cash management agreement (CMA) to control disbursements and build investor confidence.

Once the first transaction completed smoothly, we established a borrowing base facility secured by receivables and inventory. This allowed the client to fund future bunkering trades without seeking bridge capital each time. The end result was a fully integrated capital solution covering short-term margin, LC execution, and repeatable working capital needs.

The Financely Advantage

Trade operators need capital partners who understand how transactions actually move. Financely does not simply broker deals. We structure solutions that solve short-term liquidity issues and build pathways to long-term facilities. This case demonstrates why experienced sponsors rely on us when complexity threatens to kill execution.