It is important to note that stock finance differs from straight funding of working capital as it relates to the movement, purchase and/or sale of goods, and services both domestically and international.

Stock finance is a type of lending used by many cross border and domestically trading companies. It is important to note that there is a difference to trade finance and other supply chain or invoice finance types.

Stock finance is a type of funding whereby the borrower uses a lender’s funds in order to purchase product to sell. This is usually stock that will sit in warehouse to sell on. A reason that this may be used instead of trade finance is that as there will not be confirmed purchase orders, buffer stock is needed or stock will be sold to customers where trade finance is not applicable. An example of this is selling to individual consumers online.

Many businesses are not able to work on the basis of a normal trade finance facility; where there is a buyer and seller. In effect, they will need to purchase and store stock. This will be for many reasons some of which are outlined below:

• Protect reputation by not being under-stocked
• Hedge out risk
• Having stock to provide for seasonal fluctuations
• Demand adjustment in certain products
• Requirements for buyers and suppliers

Stock finance is integral in trading businesses where there are trades that don’t have a straight match up of the purchase order and supplier and where goods flow directly to the end buyer.

Another reason, is to cover risk in international trade and cash flow. There is a risk to the importer that the exporter may simply take the payment and refuse delivery. Conversely, if the exporter extends a facility to the importer, they may refuse to make payment or unnecessarily delay. To solve this obvious problem, one can use an LC, which is opened in the exporter’s name by the importer through a bank, in their country of business. The LC is a mechanism, whereby the bank guarantees payment to the exporter. As an example, the importer’s bank may provide an LC to the exporter’s bank agreeing to pay upon presentation of certain documents e.g. a bill of lading. The exporter’s bank may provide a finance facility to the exporter on the basis of the export contract.

An LC is the most traditional stock finance mechanism.

Security is of the utmost importance in any stock finance transaction and it will largely depend on verifiable and secure tracking of physical risks and events in the chain between both parties. With various risk mitigation techniques, new tailored products offered and technological advances, this allows reduced risk when advance payment is provided to the exporter, while maintaining the importer’s normal payment credit terms and without burdening the importer’s balance sheet.