Liberia Leasing Investment Forum

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Coleen Walker
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1 Finance Leasing in Liberia: Unlocking Accelerated Market and Business Development Long Term Financing for Leasing The Venture Capital Option. Dr. Anthony O. Oboh Ph.d Managing Director/CEO, UVC and Fund Manager, WAVF.

2 Agenda Introduction Overview of Finance structure Key issues to note before setting out to raise finance. Possible Sources of finance Types of finance. Leasing Definition/Types Venture Capital Definition and stages Essential elements What does VC bring to the table? Venture lending and Leasing. Venture Capital and Leasing. Challenges of Long Term Alternate financing mechanisms Role of VC in promoting Leasing development Conclusions

3 Key Issues to note before setting out to raise money: KNOW MONEY? Not all money is the same. Different monies are out to be used for different purposes and not all types of monies are available to all small firms. Understand Financier s mindset (All financiers) Investors or fund providers want to make profit. An investor will only part with money in expectation that at some not too distant future, it will be given back with some profit. If Investors do not see how their investments will be returned to them, it is unlikely that they will be persuaded to part with the money. Have a financial plan. How much funds you would need How the money will be used etc.

4 Possible sources of finance Personal Savings, Friends and relatives Commercial Banks/ DFI s MFI s and Others Multilateral Finance Institutions, etc Financing Projects/ Investments Corporate Institutions, Insurance, Pension funds, Capital Markets, etc Government & NGOs Venture Capital Companies

5 Types and possible Uses of Finance: Types of Finance Use of Finance Long-Term Equity - Shares -Personal Investment -Other people s money Medium and Long-term Bank loans. Debentures. Venture Capital & Private Equity. Leasing Hire Purchase, etc Fixed or permanent assets (Land, buildings, furniture, equipment,, plant, vehicles etc) Short-Term Factoring Suppliers Credit Short-term bank loans and overdraft. Commercial papers etc Working Capital (debtors and stocks)

6 Leasing - Defined A lease is a contractual arrangement in which a party owning an asset (Lessor) provide the asset for use to another party (Lessee) for an agreed period of time, in consideration of a periodic payment (Rentals). At the end of the contract (Lease Period) the asset reverts back to the Lessor, unless there is a provision for the renewal of the contract and/or any other provision.

7 Types of Leasing Finance Lease Operating Lease Sales and Buyback lease Direct Lease Single Investor Lease Leveraged Lease, etc.

8 Finance and Operating Lease Finance Lease Lessee selects the equipment and negotiate with manufacturer. Lessor purchases the equipment and lease. Lessor retains the title, Lessee uses it. Lessor transfers all the risk and rewards of the asset Involves payment of rental over an obligatory non-cancelable lease period. Lessor is a financier, not generally interested in the assets Lessor recovers its investment and earn profit. Operating Lease Its not a Finance Lease Also known as a Service Lease Lessor provides maintenance service for the asset. Lessor bears the risk of obsolescence. Lessee can cancel the lease any time. The lease rental is cost of service provided Lessor does not depend on single lease to cover its entire cost. Etc.

9 Other types of Leases Sales and Lease back Indirect form of Leasing. Owner sells asset to leasing company and takes the same on lease. Direct Lease Bipartite lease Equipment supplier/lessor and Lessee. Tripartite Lease Equipment supplier, Lessor and Lessee. Single Investor Lease Two parties: Lessor and lessee. Leasing Company funds the entire investment. Leveraged Lease Three Parties involved, Lender, Lessor and Lessee. Leasing company buys assets by borrowing. Transaction usually routed through a trustee who looks after the interest of lender and Lessor

10 Venture Capital/Private Equity - Defined Is essentially equity investments in companies, with a view to earn a return commensurate with the risk and to exit at a predetermined date. Typically, It is: Investing in securities through a negotiated process Investing mainly in unquoted companies. Investment Strategy is Active, Value adding and usually Transformational. Requires specialized skills set. The skills set are applied differently depending on the life cycle of the company. Categories: Venture Capital Private Equity. Buyout Mezzanine Others

11 VC Phases of intervention Venture Capital Seed Stage Finance the concept prior to start up Stage Start-up Stage Finance Product development and initial marketing. Expansion Stage Financing growth and expansion Increased capacity, increased marketing, working capital etc Replacement Capital Purchase of shares from another shareholder or reduce debt through capital increase

12 Venture Capital What does the VC bring to the table? Sources of medium to long-term capital Investment does not require your provision of collateral. No interest paid on Venture Capital funds Institutional partners lend credibility and serve as a positive signal to other stakeholders Venture Capitalist adds value in providing financial, technical, advisory and managerial support. Impacts discipline and accountability in investee companies Risks are shared equally by all shareholders.

13 Venture Lending and Leasing Funds The Venture Lending & Leasing funds (VLLF) provide asset-backed financing to carefully selected venture capitalbacked companies, in the form of secured loans and equipment leases, in exchange for current coupon payments and equity warrants. Typically, Loans -range from $1 million to $25 million, Warrant coverage of 7% to 12% of the loan amount. Since VLLF needs to be paid in full before the equity venture capitalist realizes a return, the subordinated equity provides an important layer of security. Venture Leasing also provides an alternative carefully structured layer of financing that complements venture capital equity. Such financing is attractive to the venture capital investor, as it reduces the need to increase the amount of capital at risk in the company and increases potential return if the company succeeds.

14 Venture Capital and Leasing Prominent examples of Alternate financing mechanism. Late comers to the financing world. Perhaps created out of innovations to cover some of the short falls of conventional financing mechanisms Un-like conventional financing, VCs and Leasing have substantial cash-flow based consideration. Its about capability and moving forward. Its essentially your quality and what can YOU (entrepreneur) do with the FUNDS (cash) or EQUIPMENT (Assets) if you have it? Contrast to conventional lending which focuses more on your history of past performance (3-years Accounts, etc).

15 Challenges of Long term alternate financing mechanisms Funds sourcing: From International sources. Quality and quantity of Local Fund Managers. Bite size of international investors. Certainty of reparation of funds. Political, economic, currency risks etc Harnessing Salient Local Capital Sources Pension, Insurance, Capital Market, HNI funds etc Legal and regulatory challenges Regulatory environment, Sanctity of contracts, Courts and Legal processes etc Project Promoters (Funds recipients) Understanding money? How money works? Gratis mentality? Understanding Alternate funding mechanisms. Venture Capital, Leasing, factoring, debt preference etc Low Investment Deal flows Quantity, Quality, management inadequacy, depth of promoters equity etc. Low collaterization, inadequate property titles etc. Working at cross purpose with funds custodians/providers.

16 Role of VCs in promoting Leasing Development Promote/establish Leasing Companies Direct Equity participation in a leasing company. Provide Venture Leasing funds Direct leasing ofassets to companies. Direct funds to leasing companies Assist Entrepreneurs access lease and other funds As Institutional partners, VCs lend credibility and serve as a positive signal to other stakeholders including bankers, Lessors etc. VCs enable Risks to be shared equally by all shareholders. Adds value to Entrepreneurs investments Venture Capitalist adds value in providing financial, technical, advisory and managerial support. Impacts discipline and accountability to investee companies.

17 Conclusions Alternate financing mechanisms can be viable sources of financing for Liberian entrepreneurs. Leasing can play a front role in this. Given its many challenges, the key to its entrenchment and eventual flourish will be our ability to evolve a balance between creating a robust and comprehensive investment environment to aid the ease of doing alternative financing and minimal regulatory requirement(s) for operators. To Project Promoters, note that: Leveraging your investment with extra financing is the quickest route to growth. Financing or raising money also involves selling part or control of the business. Always watch out for all stake holders or multitude of actors in the emerging company: management team, employees, customers, suppliers, creditors, investors etc. Life is easier when making decisions with somebody else s money. The price to be paid is that you must account to other interest other than your own. Redirect your thinking from merely looking for Capital to looking for partnership. Remember; the objective of every money owner is singular and transparent. - It is to make money.

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