Project Finance

What is Project Finance?

Project finance is a means of funding projects that are typically infrastructure-heavy, capital-intensive, or related to public utilities. These projects are treated as distinct entities from their parent during their lifetime. A project finance venture undertaken is completely an off-balance sheet item for the parent. Therefore, all financing this entity avails must be repaid exclusively out of its own cash flow and subject to its own assets. The parent’s assets cannot encroach for payback of its subordinate’s liabilities even if the venture fails. Popular sectors where project finance finds its applications include real estate, mining, telecommunication, and power, to name a few.

Parties Involved and Transaction Flow in Project Finance

Sponsors

Sponsors are usually the equity share capital holders of the parent company who wish to seek project finance. Two or more entities may also join hands to float an SPV. This phenomenon occurs when two organizations create synergy for one another or are likely to mutually benefit from the underlying SPV. They are the equity providers of the SPV. Before floating an SPV, they must obtain authorization from the shareholders of the parent company via a shareholder’s agreement (SHA).

Banks/Financial Institutions

It may be a single lender or a consortium of financial institutions. They are the providers of senior debt and hold precedence over debt extended (if any) by the sponsors. The loan is secured strictly against the cash flows and assets of the SPV only. Therefore, sufficient due diligence is performed before the grant of any credit.

Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)

It is a separate legal entity floated by the sponsors of the project. The project finance obtained is directed exclusively only towards this SPV. The SPV acts as a corporate veil between the lenders and the parent company preventing seepage of credit and attachment of property between the two parties.

Also Read: Syndicated Loan

Host Government

Refers to the government of the home country where the SPV is located. The SPV must be incorporated in accordance with the government’s rules and regulations. It also often acts as a guardian angel in providing various tax concessions, subsidies, and rebates.

Off Takers

Off-takers are bound via an off-take agreement to mandatorily purchase a certain minimum quantity of produce from the selling party. An off-take agreement is frequently resorted to in mining, construction, and other industries of mass significance. The vendor (SPV) incurs a huge amount of capital expenditure. An off-take agreement ensures the seller of the existence of a market upon completion.

Suppliers & Contractors

As in any construction job, suppliers and contractors are necessary for executing a contract. They are the key suppliers of raw materials. They also perform crucial functions such as design and build (D&B), operations and maintenance (O&M), etc.

Project Finance

Advantages of Project Finance

Effective Debt Allocation

Project finance enables the sponsors to raise debt over and above the capacity of the parent. This borrowing can be viewed in an individual capacity and is not impacted by the credit reputation of its sponsors. Therefore, more beneficial and flexible terms of credit can be negotiated depending solely on the merit and potential of the project under review.

Risk Management

As already discussed, what makes project finance truly special is the separation of the legal identity of the parents and SPV. This provides enormous diversification and dilution of the risk element. The shareholders of the parent company are immune against the fluctuations in the project’s fate. The liability is limited to the amount of equity contributed by the sponsors. Additionally, the risk is also reduced upon involve of multiple entities. More than one company may often form a joint venture to form a single SPV. Thus, when distributed among a larger number of participants, the same amount of risk reduces each party’s exposure.

Economies of Scale

When floated by more than one parent, an SPV is very likely to demonstrate economies of scale. Two contemporary organizations will only agree to come together for a common goal when they see a significant benefit flowing from the association. Especially in the case of manufacturing and construction industries, one entity can hugely benefit at the expense of another and vice-a-versa. For example, an extraction company and a mine owner may agree to combine for the sale of extracted material. Vertical synergies will come into play. Both entities will be able to achieve the scale and profits they could not have achieved in their individual capacity. Also, they will also hold better bargaining power with vendors and buyers.

Also, read Syndicated Loan – an important source for project financing.

Disadvantages of Project Finance

Complexity

Project finance is a notch above a simple transaction of credit. It is based upon several contracts between multiple parties, each of them involving complex negotiations. It may be difficult to maintain a record of the flow of funds among the parties involved if proper discretion is not exercised. Also, an imaginary entity(SPV) is used to route all transactions. Therefore, it becomes important to have dedicated resources that monitor the flow of exchanges at all times.

Compliance and Documentation

At all stops, setting up an SPV faces resistance. Banks and financial institutions perform extreme due diligence and checks before extending even a penny of credit. This is mainly for the reason that an SPV holds separate legal status. The bank can make recoveries only against the asset and cash flows of the SPV. Therefore, they must be doubly sure of the future prospects and soundness of the operating plans. All these checks are time-consuming and expensive. Obviously, the SPV and its sponsors have to bear the brunt of this excruciating process.

Also, a project finance venture sets off the radars of the government. The government is extremely vigilant when it comes to sanctioning the creation of an SPV. This is because several parallel organizations that come into being have been known to evade taxes, circumvent money, and indulgence in gross negligence of regulations. Therefore, a potential SPV must be patient and comply with all conditions imposed to win over its trust.

Constant Expert Assistance

Project finance involves complex transactions and multiple parties. Therefore, availing of the services of professionals and experts is inevitable. Setting up a dynamic model for availing credit and conducting business involves huge costs. Think of this cost as the fancy and outrageous fees paid to investment bankers and other professionals who make the project finance happen.

Continue reading – Term Loan or Project Finance – A Long Term Source of Finance



Sanjay Borad

Sanjay Bulaki Borad

MBA-Finance, CMA, CS, Insolvency Professional, B'Com

Sanjay Borad, Founder of eFinanceManagement, is a Management Consultant with 7 years of MNC experience and 11 years in Consultancy. He caters to clients with turnovers from 200 Million to 12,000 Million, including listed entities, and has vast industry experience in over 20 sectors. Additionally, he serves as a visiting faculty for Finance and Costing in MBA Colleges and CA, CMA Coaching Classes.

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