TRADE FINANCE - Facilities extend beyond SA borders

SASFIN'S TRADE finance division has grown significantly over the past three years, says assistant GM business finance Maurice Van Bergen. “And we are cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue for 2007 because of our uniqueness and flexibility.
“To a large degree our growth has come from the big commercial banks not being able to offer the kind of business understanding that we do. We understand the deal and make it happen for the client – that is not the bank’s role.”
Sasfin’s trade finance facilities are not limited to South African clients. “What we do for a client in South Africa we will do for a client in Australia or southern Africa and we are looking further afield,” says GM business finance Joe Rivkind.
A dedicated staff member has been appointed to grow its overborder market.
The company is involved to a lesser extent in export finance, dealing primarily with post-shipment finance, although pre-shipment finance is also part of the mix. “And while this has never been a major part of the business, a number of nice enquiries have come in,” says Van Bergen. As a 60% shareholder in logistics company Premier Freight, the synergies for both parties add value for the customer, he added.
“For Premier Freight customers, the connection means that should the customer require it, the group is in a position to offer a full logistics package, with financing and related paper work, the correct international routing and customs clearance under one roof,” says Premier sales and marketing manager Michaela Milne.
And while the two companies operate entirely independently, where the need arises they are able to offer the importer a complete cradle-to-grave finance and freight solution.