GROWTH AGENDA

Environmental services group boosts its cash
position pre-IPO.

Sooner or later conventional funding routes run dry. Either the lenders want a
bigger chunk of security on your business, or a new investor will want to dilute existing shareholders. Ocean can enable your enterprise to grow as we did with this company.

Profile
Based in southern Europe and founded in the 1930s, this facilities service management company evolved into a Group with well over 10,000 employees providing environmental services throughout the nation. Consolidated annual turnover is more than €300 million, about 75% of which comes from public entities..

Context
In 2006, the Group’s holding company decided to merge some of its activities through the transfer of shares in Company A to Company B. The enlarged Company B would then float on the stock exchange.

The Holding Company approached international Banks to arrange securitization of the trade receivables with the aim of improving the company’s position prior to IPO by achieving off-balance sheet treatment. A secondary objective was to increase the funding of the Holding Company to enable the Group to expand its activities and operations internationally.

Transaction
Bank X buys Company A’s receivables at a discount—covering the refinancing costs (interest discount), the credit risk (credit discount) and fees. It finances them through the sale of a senior tranche (bonds) and an equity tranche. After the deal closes, all receivables become the property of Bank X which buys a new round every few months in a revolving renewal period. Then Bank X sells the equity tranche to Ocean.

Outcome
As a result of the transaction, the receivables are turned into cash immediately upon sale to Bank X (without Company A having to wait for payment from its clients).

The debt backed by the receivables is not consolidated in the balance-sheet of Company A (and consequently neither on Company B’s balance-sheet). This enables Company B to meet its bank covenants and keep additional borrowing capacity to expand internationally.

See more on our product.

Testimonial

“I’ve worked with Ocean since 2003 and seen firsthand the innovative ways that they solve balance-sheet problems. Their studiously ethical approach means their clients receive all the advantages of off-balance-sheet treatment while fulfilling the criteria of the Basel II and IAS 39 legislation.

“It’s a complex business, yet the team’s process is completely transparent. As auditor to the deals, I have witnessed Ocean’s commitment to long-term partnership. Pedro and Edouard and their teams support each client throughout the whole life-cycle of the transaction.”

Tim Hudson,
Partner at Mazars