This memo addresses four popular search claims: No Upfront Fee SBLC, Project Finance With No Upfront Fee, Unsecured Business Loans With No Upfront Fee, and Investment Bank With No Upfront Fee. The analysis is factual, cites standard market practice, and uses terminology lenders, counsel, and trustees use in real transactions.
| Promotional Claim | Verifiable Standard | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| No Upfront Fee SBLC — “Standby LC issued in 48 hours, no collateral, pay fees at closing.” | Standby LCs are issued under bank credit policy and UCP600 or ISP98. Issuance requires an application, limits, pricing, and security where applicable. Confirmation and discounting carry separate fees and spreads. | Inconsistent with bank operations. Issuance, advising, confirmation, and negotiation fees apply. KYC precedes action. No bank authenticates a free, uncollateralized SBLC. |
| Project Finance With No Upfront Fee — “Nine-figure PF, diligence paid by lender, equity later.” | Project finance expects equity at risk, permits, EPC, offtake, model audit, and third-party reports. Sponsors pay capped diligence items. Lenders may reimburse at close; they do not pre-fund unknown diligence. | Not bankable as pitched. Without equity and third-party workstreams funded, mainstream PF lenders do not proceed. |
| Unsecured Business Loans With No Upfront Fee — “Cash-flow term loan, no covenants, fees at disbursement only.” | Senior unsecured loans price cash flow and require covenants, reporting, and negative pledge. Legal and agency costs are real. RBF facilities require verified revenue and take a fixed share. | Conflicts with underwriting norms. Costs exist and are not fully deferred. Covenants are standard. “No covenants, no costs” does not clear credit. |
| Investment Bank With No Upfront Fee — “Three months of work, paid only if it closes.” | Mandate-based advisory uses retainer for analysis, structuring, and distribution, plus success fees on funded amounts. Counsel, trustee, and diligence vendors require paid engagements. | Free multi-month work is not industry practice. Retainers compensate work performed; success fees align economics to funding. |
For SBLC or DLC: application, issuing bank name, officer contact, wording draft, pricing schedule, and a path for advising/confirming bank authentication. Absence of these items ends the review.
Exhibit BFor Project Finance: equity commitment evidence, EPC and O&M packages, permits matrix, offtake or availability payment terms, and model audit scope. “Equity later” fails the screen.
Exhibit CFor Unsecured Loans: audited financials, leverage and coverage covenants, negative pledge language, reporting cadence, fees and agency schedule. “No covenants” is a non-starter.
Exhibit DFor Investment Banking Mandates: written scope, retainer, success fee, termination rights, confidentiality, and third-party cost caps. “Work now, maybe pay later” is not a mandate.
| Red Flag | Practical Effect |
|---|---|
| Refusal to provide domain email contacts for banks or counsel | Prevents authentication. Reputable parties accept verification. |
| Promise of guaranteed funding without documents | Conflicts with credit approval processes. Declined on contact. |
| “All fees at closing, no escrow, no retainers anywhere” | Eliminates control of work and payment risk. Vendors disengage. |
| Insistence on “leased SBLC” or “instrument monetization” | Known fraud markers. Banks and insurers will not rely on these. |
| Pressure to bypass KYC/AML due to “urgency” | Triggers automatic exit by regulated institutions. |
Large facilities without onboarding, documentation, third-party work, or any out-of-pocket expense are not how regulated institutions operate. If a promoter cannot pass the checklist or supply Exhibits A–D, treat the offer as promotional content, not finance.
For bankable transactions, we provide scope, fee schedule, controls, and a route to terms acceptable to banks, funds, and insurers.
Request a Term SheetFinancely is an advisory and placement firm. We are not a bank. All engagements require KYC/AML and sanctions screening. Facilities are subject to lender approval and enforceable documentation. Any securities-related activities are conducted through a licensed chaperone, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Submit your deal using our secure intake form, and receive a quote within 1-3 business days. Existing clients can connect with their relationship manager through our secure web portal.
All submissions are
promptly reviewed, and all communications are conducted through the intake form or the client portal for a seamless and secure process.
Thank you for considering working with us. A nominal fee of US$500 is required upon completion of each form. This fee covers the time and effort we invest in reviewing your submission and crafting a thorough proposal. We receive numerous inquiries and prioritize those that carry this fee, ensuring serious applicants receive prompt attention.
Tap into solutions like letters of credit, bank guarantees, and payment facilitation. We address the challenge of global transaction risk through structured strategies that foster cross-border growth. Complete the form to unlock streamlined funding aligned with your commercial objectives.
Submit a RequestAccess non-recourse funding for infrastructure, renewable energy, or other capital-intensive ventures. We mitigate capital constraints by isolating project assets and focusing on risk management. Provide your details to receive a structure that drives growth and maximizes returns.
Submit a RequestSecure financing for business or real estate acquisitions. We ease transaction hurdles by reviewing cash flow, synergy opportunities, and exit plans. Complete the form for a customized proposal that supports your strategic investment objectives.
Submit a RequestFinancely assists banks facing Basel III pressures by distributing trade finance deals and providing collateral for letters of credit. We reduce capital burdens while preserving client relationships and fostering service expansion. Submit your request to optimize your trade finance offerings.
Submit a RequestOnce we receive your submission, our team will review your information to determine feasibility. If eligible, you will receive a proposal or term sheet within 1–3 business days. Visit our FAQ and Procedure pages for more information.
Disclaimer: Financely provides financing based on due diligence and feasibility. Approval is not guaranteed, and past performance does not predict future outcomes. All terms are subject to review. Financely primarily assists with structuring and distribution. Qualified parties carry out the project if the client approves the proposal.
Financely advises growth-focused businesses on accessing capital by introducing their opportunities to professional investors. Financely is not a securities broker or dealer. Where appropriate, engagements are coordinated with regulated broker-dealers, investment banks, legal counsel, and other specialists.
Financely does not solicit, offer, or accept orders to buy or sell securities and makes no assurance regarding capital-raising outcomes.
Services are strictly business-to-business. Financely does not provide personal finance, consumer credit, or retail advisory services.
Advisory services are reserved for post-revenue companies that recognize the time and resources required for professional underwriting.
All mandates start with an RFQ. We review submissions, issue a brief Go/No-Go memo, and where bankable, release a Term Sheet that leads to funding. We arrange capital across Senior Secured, Unitranche, Second Lien/Mezzanine, Preferred Equity, and Gap Solutions. We do not process deals by email or chat.
Letters of Credit, Standby LCs, Confirmations, Receivables Finance, and Inventory Lines with control.
Funding arranged for trade flows with instruments sized to your cycle and aligned to delivery and settlement.
Move forward to secure working capital and keep goods moving. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting for funding.
Limited or non-recourse structures for energy and infrastructure with lender-ready materials.
Funding solutions aligned to project cash flows with credible covenants and conditions to reach notice to proceed.
Advance the file to termable status. Submit the RFQ so we can underwrite and secure funding.
Debt and Preferred solutions anchored on cash flow, Quality of Earnings, and clear closing mechanics.
Funding across senior, unitranche, and preferred to match stable cash flows and acquisition timelines.
Get financed on workable terms for closing. Submit the RFQ to start underwriting.
Acquisition, development, bridge, and refinance with lender-ready packs and third-party reports managed.
Funding calibrated to DSCR, leverage, and tenancy with terms designed to close.
Move to a financeable package. Submit the RFQ to initiate underwriting for funding.
KYC and Source of Funds required. Engagements are best-efforts and subject to underwriting. Preference for operating companies with meaningful revenue. See our FAQ and Procedure.
Financely Inc. (“Financely”) provides corporate-finance advice and is wholly owned by Aurora Bay Trust, a trust formed under Bahamian law, together with its authorized affiliates. Depending on deal structure, jurisdiction, and local rules, engagements may be carried out through Financely Group LLC, a non-deposit-taking, non-banking financial company; Ashford Capital Advisory LLC; or another related entity.
Financely and its affiliates are not registered as securities broker-dealers and do not execute securities transactions or hold client funds or securities. When a mandate involves the purchase or sale of securities and a registered intermediary is required, any orders are introduced to and executed by one or more independent U.S. broker-dealers registered with the SEC and FINRA. Those broker-dealers are solely responsible for trade execution, custody, and related regulatory obligations. Nothing in this material constitutes an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or to engage in any specific transaction. Before engaging Financely Group LLC, Ashford Capital Advisory LLC, or any affiliate, you are responsible for confirming that such engagement complies with your own legal, regulatory, tax, and other requirements. In the United States, certain advisory activities may be conducted in reliance on exemptions available under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including the “foreign private adviser” exemption where applicable. Our services and regulatory status may vary by jurisdiction and by transaction type.
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