Trade Finance Structuring And Underwriting
Structured Trade Finance Term Sheet
Financely arranges and underwrites structured trade finance for qualified importers, exporters, distributors, and producers. We work with regulated banks and private credit funds on letters of credit, receivables finance, inventory-backed lines, and related self-liquidating structures. Our engagement fees cover structuring, underwriting, packaging, and lender approach strategy. Bank internal fees sit with the issuing or lending bank. For mandate pricing, see the pricing and payment page.
Indicative Only.
This page is not a commitment to lend, issue, confirm, or discount any instrument. Every transaction remains subject to underwriting, KYC and AML checks, sanctions screening, collateral review, legal documentation, and final credit approval by the relevant lender or issuing bank.
Funding Criteria
Eligibility
- Post-revenue operating companies.
- Two years of audited or review-level financials preferred.
- Clear ownership, management control, and operating history.
- All principals must clear KYC and AML review.
Facility Size And Tenor
- Typical ticket sizes from USD 2 million to USD 150 million.
- Single-trade tenors from 30 to 360 days.
- Program tenors up to 36 months, subject to renewal and performance.
Equity And Collateral
- Sponsor equity per cycle often ranges from 15% to 40%.
- Cash margin may be required depending on issuing bank and structure.
- Pledge of receivables, inventory, or both under lender control.
- Assignment of key contracts and insurance proceeds where relevant.
Goods And Routes
- Goods should have transparent pricing and a workable resale or repayment path.
- No sanctioned goods, prohibited sectors, or restricted corridors.
- Incoterms, logistics chain, and shipment control must be clear.
- Cargo insurance is often required, commonly at 110% of exposure.
Counterparty Quality
- Named buyers and suppliers with a real track record.
- Concentration risk reviewed by obligor and jurisdiction.
- Sanctions, adverse media, and reputational checks must pass.
- Credit insurance, confirmations, or enhancements may be added if needed.
Pricing Range
- Bank debt can price around SOFR plus 300 to 600 bps.
- Private credit can price around 10% to 16% per annum.
- Final economics move with structure, control package, country risk, and obligor quality.
Facilities And Letters Of Credit We Arrange
Import Letters Of Credit
Sight and usance documentary credits, including UPAS structures, advising, and confirmation where justified by the file and bank appetite.
Standby Letters Of Credit
Performance, advance payment, and payment standby letters of credit under ISP98 or UCP 600 for named contracts. An SBLC is not cash and is not a substitute for lender underwriting.
Pre-Export And Prepayment Finance
Funding against production, inventory buildup, or offtake-backed flows with assignment of export proceeds and documentary control.
Borrowing Base And Asset-Based Lending
Revolving facilities against eligible receivables, inventory, equipment, or other accepted collateral, subject to audits, advance rates, and reporting controls.
Receivables Discounting And Forfaiting
Discounting of invoices, accepted drafts, or payment claims under documentary or open-account structures, with non-recourse treatment only where risk transfer is fully documented.
Supply Chain Finance And Purchase Order Finance
Supplier payment structures and purchase-order-backed facilities where the repayment chain and delivery controls are clear and enforceable.
Risk Controls And Security Package
| Category |
Typical Controls |
| Title And Possession |
Bills of lading, airway bills, warehouse receipts, shipping documents, and custody controls to evidence title or control over goods. |
| Receivables Assignment |
Assignment of receivables and proceeds, often with notice to account debtors and collection routing into controlled accounts. |
| Cash Control |
Blocked accounts, collection accounts, reserve accounts, and waterfall controls with lender sweep rights. |
| Insurance |
Cargo and related insurance with lender or loss-payee endorsement where required by the facility structure. |
| Collateral Perfection |
Security agreements, local law perfection steps, UCC filings or local equivalents, and negative pledge protection against double financing. |
| Multi-Lender Situations |
Intercreditor arrangements, ranking terms, and enforcement mechanics where more than one capital provider is involved. |
Reality Check.
Trade finance does not become safe because somebody says the goods are profitable. The lender wants enforceable control over repayment, collateral, documents, and cash movement. Weak counterparties, vague contract chains, poor shipment control, or fantasy margins kill deals fast.
Underwriting And Closing Procedure
1
Intake And Eligibility Review
The client submits contracts, goods list, routes, requested limits, corporate documents, and financial information. We screen for basic eligibility, KYC, AML, and corridor viability.
2
Indicative Structure
We outline workable terms, likely facility type, collateral expectations, equity requirements, pricing ranges, and the documentation stack needed to move forward.
3
Due Diligence
The data room is built out with contracts, invoices, shipping documents, insurance, financial statements, and any existing collateral records. Site checks or audits may be added where the lender requires them.
4
Documentation
Facility agreements, security documents, assignments, account control agreements, and instrument wording are negotiated and aligned with the commercial transaction.
5
Closing And Go-Live
Once conditions precedent are met, accounts and controls are activated, insurance is in force, and the first draw, issuance, or discounting cycle can proceed.
Pricing And Engagement Paths
ABL Mandate
USD 35,000
90-day mandate for companies seeking asset-based lending against receivables, inventory, equipment, or other eligible collateral.
Includes collateral narrative, borrowing base logic, lender fit assessment, and coordinated lender approach strategy.
This is for clients who are already focused on asset-backed financing and need a serious lender-facing process, not general brainstorming.
Standalone File Preparation
Pitch Deck Preparation: USD 2,000
One completed pitch deck in PowerPoint and PDF format for lender, investor, partner, or counterparty discussions.
Lender Memorandum Preparation: USD 2,200
One formal written memorandum in PDF format presenting the funding request, use of proceeds, repayment logic, and collateral position in a cleaner lender-facing format.
Clients can proceed in one of two ways. They can pay directly through the
pricing and payment page
, or they can send an RFQ first if they want the engagement letter signed before funds are remitted. That second route is better for clients who want the paper in place before onboarding starts.
Request A Structured Trade Finance Proposal
Share your goods list, trade routes, contract pack, requested limits, and equity plan. If you are ready to proceed, you can pay directly from the pricing page. If you want the engagement letter signed first, send an RFQ and we will route the file through the formal intake process.