A Luxembourg Listed Rated Asset Backed Securitisation of Trade and Commodity Finance Transactions
Low default rates and high recovery rates
Exceptional risk-adjusted returns regardless of market conditions
Excellent floating rate returns protecting investors in a rising interest rate environment
Short tenor transactions with default rates significantly below other asset classes*
Payment risk in each transaction is credit enhanced by insurance or letters of credit protected by banks, each with a minimum credit rating of BBB+, further reducing risk of financial loss
A highly experienced team of trade and commodity finance experts with deep knowledge of the traditional, robust structuring and monitoring techniques which are no longer available at many banks, minimising transaction risks
* Source: International Chamber of Commerce Trade Register Report 2021
Underlying Transactions
Transactional Commodity Trade Finance
Borrowing Base Finance
Performance Risk Finance (Pre-Export, Prepayment Finance and Tolling Finance)
Receivables Purchase
TRANSACTIONAL COMMODITY TRADE FINANCE
KEY RISKS
Performance risk on seller (borrower)
Payment risk on buyer (off-taker)
KEY MITIGANTS MAY INCLUDE
Security over underlying goods, contracts, accounts Over collateralisation
Independent collateral management
Marine/other insurance assigned to lender
Credit enhancement of payment risk if sub-investment grade
Robust infrastructure for monitoring and control (including digital platform)
BENEFITS OF SECURED TRADE & COMMODITY FINANCING
Other creditors structurally subordinated/short term/self liquidating
Low loss/default profile
High recovery rates
Real-time monitoring and control
Capital Deployment
SYNTHESIS is an issuer of asset backed notes. Notes proceeds are deployed to fund its activities as an alternative credit provider in the global trade and commodity finance market.
Notes bear a 3 year maturity. The underlying assets are short-dated, real economy trade and commodity finance transactions. Transactions are selected by SYNTHESIS to form a diverse portfolio. Transactions are compliant with strict selection criteria set by the notes prospectus and monitored by the credit ratings agency on a monthly basis and by Maples independent directors prior to signing the transaction documents.
A Highly experienced team selects the underlying portfolio assets monitored by an external advisory committee.
Portfolio Parameters
Strict concentration limits by counterparty, commodity, country and maturity, actively managed to ensure optimum diversification
Transaction tenors typically 30-90 days, maximum 180 days
Robust procedures and IT systems for active monitoring and control of all transactions
Self-liquidating transaction structures with security/title/control over one or more of commodities, contract rights, payment flows, collection accounts and other transaction assets
Investment grade offtakers (buyers of the commodity) or credit-enhanced through letters of credit, bank guarantees or trade credit insurance issued by financial institutions with a rating of BBB+ or above
Individual obligor exposure capped at US$ 30 million
Diversified across agricultural, metals, energy and other commodities
WHY TRADE AND COMMODITY FINANCE NOW?
THE MOMENTUM
TRADE FINANCE IS A SIGNIFICANTLY UNDEREXPLOITED MARKET
Global trade has nearly doubled since 2000 to around US$28.5 trillion in 2021
Trade finance revenues are currently estimated at c. US$51 billion in 2021, and are expected to grow
There is lack of data on the trade finance funding gap, but the estimate amounts to US$1.7 trillion “WTO 2021 estimates”.


Source: Boston Consulting Group, July 2020 (Source: UN Contrade, OECD, World Economic Forum, IHS, TradeAlert). Corridors represent ~30% of global trade; not including intra EU (~20%), intra NAFTA (~8%), China incl. Hong Kong (~4%), intra Southeast Asia (~3%), rest of world (~35%). 1 International Chamber of Commerce Global Survey on Trade Finance 2020. 2 BCG Omnia Global Trade Finance Model 2020.
3 International Chamber of Commerce Global Survey on Trade Finance 2018.
Opportunity
The trade finance funding gap has increased to US$1.7 trillion (WTO 2020 estimates)
Regulatory changes are driving banks away from commodity trade finance
Large infrastructure programmes are increasing demand for commodities
A genuine need for transparent and accountable alternative credit providers who adhere to their published lending criteria has emerged
Method
Focus on strategic global supply chains and relying on a premium proprietary origination network
Loans with a short revolving tenor which are over-collateralised by liquid commodities
Receivables which are either investment grade or enhanced by bank instruments/credit insurance from institutions with a minimum credit rating of BBB+
Robust credit model and risk analysis, strict concentration limits, on-site due diligence and industry leading monitoring agents
USP
World-class team members
Multi-layered governance structure, with an experienced legal team of former “Magic Circle” senior partners involved from an early stage of the investment process
External monitoring for compliance with the notes prospectus performed by ARC Ratings (monthly) and by Maples’ independent directors (before signing the transaction documents)
Cutting edge IT systems digitise the operating model, minimising fraud and operational risk