Getting Started with CAP Project Funding
We provide capital for mid-market projects (new construction or retrofits, refurbishments or renovations) that fit our sweet spot. We strive to keep an open mind when strong projects and experienced developers are well prepared to secure funding, so long as there is social or environmental harm.
For a synopsis of our flagship program, what it is, and how it works, please read this introductory letter or CAP funding tear sheet.
To find out if you qualify for this flagship funding, you may want to review these 4 cornerstones of Completion Assurance Program™ (CAP) — size, space (or sector), stage and surety or just jump to Simple Steps.
For the “Security” cornerstone, #3 of our Six Essentials, there is an innovative structure that helps developers secure advantageous terms without up-front costs or cash deposits (for full leverage, 100% funding), which relies on the developer’s ability to facilitate a Completion Assurance guarantee. This is a financial instrument, most often a bank-issued Standby Letter of Credit, ideally for 50-75% of the required funding, used only until the project and commissioned to begin commercial operation. It is not insurance or bonding, as is often supplied by a sponsoring EPC firm, General Contractor, or other major vendor, though if you provide the right incentives, the right type of guarantee (used for security) could work. Sponsor information
Developers can either facilitate their own guarantee or hire In3 to arrange one on a split fee basis.
See the complete steps for funding from “inception to completion” via CAP funding. Eventually the complete package will be needed, but to streamline as much as possible, the Six Essentials boil down to just these 3 as the “onramp” to the road ahead:
1) Project name, total budget and funding request in $ or €
2) Uses of funds – categories and amounts / % (sample format), and
3) Proposed completion assurance “demand” guarantee type and wording.
That’s it! Do you have access, or could you gain such access, to a qualifying guarantee?
- If yes or maybe a guarantee could be facilitated, please continue, using these complete INSTRUCTIONS to guide you. Note the following conditions when CAP funding is the best or only option.
- If not, and you can qualify for any of our alternative programs, they do not use financial instruments, but all of these senior debt sources, up to 100% loan-to-cost, require some cash for either interest reserve or due diligence or both, and are largely intolerant of perceived risk exposures, unlike CAP funding. Side-by-side comparison (PDF); only CAP funding is free to apply and get under contract. For the other programs, our Affiliates or In3 can provide initial vetting to help sell your funding proposal to the selected lender. Let us know which program you prefer.
The rest of this article is about how to arrange a Completion Assurance guarantee. In brief, either …
a) via your own holdings (company balance sheet or other assets)
b) via a “sponsor” (such as an EPC contractor, construction firm or major equipment supplier to the project), or
c) by hiring an advisor to help you obtain it.
More on guarantees as well as further instructions here.
In3’s CAP Profile Builder is where you will find all templates and tools to obtain a usable, bank-involved financial guarantee as well as to summarize project finance request to pre-qualify.
Per the first 3 “essential” items above, we look forward to receiving your project name/type, total budget, uses of funds, and bank’s proposed guarantee (SbLC, usually) wording for our review. All templates available here.
Once prepared, use our “Onboarding” System to apply for CAP funding
If you have questions, want help with preparation, or wish to benchmark your project against our standards, we probably have additional tools available at no charge. Just ask us!
We will keep all information entirely confidential. Our review for CAP funding is free. We usually respond within 48 hours, but since Summer of 2021 we have been back-logged due to the COVID pandemic (presently about 2 weeks behind). Thanks in advance for your patience.
In the interim, if you have questions, please review our background materials, including
- Definition of “Completion Assurance (financial) Guarantee“
- Decision-making guide: Guarantee Options to select the best one for your situation
- How we (happily) disrupt traditional project finance (full-length version)
- Indexed Frequently Asked Questions (CAP), and Success Tips, to please make sure we’ve not already answered your initial question online, then (if still needed) Email or call us +1.831-761-0700 Ext 1, preferably during US Pacific Time business hours (9am – 7:00pm PT).