Trade Finance Equity Bridge Loans
When a shipment, LC, or receivables facility needs to move and collateral is not in place yet, we arrange an equity-backed bridge. Funds sit in escrow, releases follow milestones, and investors receive a measured equity participation or conversion right. The bridge carries you to LC issuance, receivables discounting, or an ABL takeout without double pledging assets.
Where This Fits
Pre-LC Costs
Supplier deposits, inspection, freight, insurance, or LC advising before a bank issues the LC or UPAS structure.
Margin Top Up
Short collateral to post a cash margin for an LC, SBLC, or performance instrument.
Working Capital Gap
Cash cycle gap between shipment and receivables takeout or insurance payout.
Program Ramp
Bridge until a borrowing base or SCF program is set and audited.
How It Works
1
Underwrite The Takeout
We validate the exit source such as LC issuance, receivables discounting, insured open account, or ABL. Contracts, buyer quality, routes, and insurance are checked.
2
Lock Use Of Proceeds
Funds are held in escrow. Draws pay named invoices for deposits, freight, inspection, and insurance. No unrelated payables. Each draw has supporting documents.
3
Protect The Bridge
Assignment of funded contracts, notice to buyers, and controlled collection accounts. Negative pledge prevents reusing the same receivables or inventory elsewhere.
4
Repay Or Convert
On takeout, the bridge repays from LC proceeds, receivable collections, or ABL availability. If delayed past the long stop date, an agreed equity participation or conversion right applies.
Controls And Safeguards
Cashflow Controls
- Escrowed disbursements tied to milestones
- Blocked collection accounts with daily sweeps
- Use of proceeds certificates and bank statements
- Monthly reporting on shipments and receivables
Legal Protections
- Assignment of sales contracts and receivables with notice
- Negative pledge to avoid a double pledge
- Intercreditor language where programs coexist
- Step in rights on funded contracts if milestones fail
Who Qualifies
Applicant
Importers, exporters, and distributors with post revenue status and a defined trade program.
Documents
Sales contracts, buyer KYC, shipment plan, insurance, and a clear exit route to LC, receivables discounting, or ABL.
Equity Plan
Sponsor equity to share risk and align incentives. Warrants or conversion terms set at mandate.
Indicative One Column Term Sheet
| Terms |
| Facility: Equity linked bridge for trade transactions at parent or SPV level |
| Ticket Size: USD 2,000,000 to USD 25,000,000 per mandate |
| Tenor: 3 to 9 months, extension by agreement with step pricing |
| Pricing: 11% to 15% per year pay rate based on risk, controls, and exit visibility |
| Equity Participation: Warrants or conversion right equal to 1% to 3% fully diluted, sized to tenor and risk |
| Use Of Proceeds: Escrowed payments for supplier deposits, freight, inspection, insurance, LC advising, or margin top up as per approved budget |
| Security And Controls: Escrow, assignment of funded contracts and receivables with notice, controlled collection account, negative pledge, monthly reporting |
| Exit Sources: LC proceeds, receivables discounting or forfaiting, insured open account collections, ABL availability |
| Fees: Financely structuring and underwriting 1.5% to 3.0% of face value, non refundable. Investor fees and bank fees are handled directly with each provider and are outside our scope |
Request A Trade Equity Bridge Proposal
Share your contracts, routes, shipment schedule, and exit plan. We will respond with a structure, pricing range, and closing steps.
Start Your Mandate
Financely acts as arranger and underwriter. Financely is not a bank and does not issue letters of credit or make loans. All transactions depend on due diligence, KYC and AML screening, investor approval, and executed documentation. The term sheet is indicative and not binding.