Project Information Requirements

Funding Proposal Checklist

1.             Overview:

• Business name:
• Date of incorporation:
• Share capital, shareholders and % allocation of shareholding:
• Contacts: Physical location of the business (LR # and town) Telephone contact, Postal address, Fax. E-mail. Web address.
• Description of business: Types of Services, products, key markets, estimated market share
• Amount of funding required and reason for funding request.
• Brief profiles of promoter/shareholders.
• Summary table of financial performance from audited accounts and management accounts; Min 3 year financial statements - Profit and Loss Accounts, Balance sheets, Cash flow statements.

2.             Project Concept

• Project objectives - local production, export, import
• Clearly articulate the value proposition to the customers.
• Summarized history of major events since inception- e.g. started as sole proprietorship, incorporation, merger/acquisition, change in ownership to current status, etc.
• Mission, vision and objectives of the business, philosophy.

3.             Project Sponsors/Promoters and Management

• Sponsor details- Names, ages, nationality, current/proposed shareholding
• Senior management involved in day-to-day management of the business.
• Present occupation, relevant experience, proposed roles, suitability.
• Technical and professional qualifications
• Organization structure, key positions, roles and responsibilities per employee.
• Support functions- sales and marketing, accounting and controls, IT, quality assurance, corporate governance, HR, training and development, employee welfare.

4.             Market

• Description of the market for the product, service.
• Benefits/needs that the products/services meet.
• Market segment targeted by the product/services. 
• Key customers and demand levels.
• Market statistics on existing and potential demand.
• Projected sales volumes, unit prices, estimated market share of the business.
• Marketing strategy, distribution channels.
• Present sources of supply for product/service, substitutes, and competitors.
• Competitive advantage
• Competitive Strategies
  • Product Strategy-
  • Promotion Strategy
  • Pricing Strategy
  • Distribution/Place Strategy
  • Critical success factors for the business

5.             Description of the operations of the business

• Location: owned/rented/leased.
• Source, cost, quality and availability of raw material supply and relations with support industries/linkages
• Source/suppliers of equipment, other technical support
• Description of production/manufacturing process
• Plant size/layout in comparison with other known plants.
• Reason for choice of technology: labour intensive/capital intensive.
• Project location in relation to suppliers, markets, infrastructure and manpower
• Infrastructure/utilities availability (roads, power, telephone, water, security, etc)
• Comments on any technical complexities and need for special skills
• Implementation plan

 6.             Historical Financial Review

• Historical financial performance: Summary of key issues- profitability, key ratios-gross margins, net profit margin, break-even analysis.
• Summary balance sheet review: Debtors review and ageing analysis, creditors, key fixed assets, stocks and stock valuation, obsolescence, etc.
• Summary P&L, Cash flows. 
• Comments on existing loans (source, security, repayment history, etc). 
• Comment on any off-balance sheet items- e.g. guarantee given to third parties, pending litigation, purchase contracts, operating leases.

7.             Financial Projections and Funding Request

• Key assumptions: Projected demand levels and market share,
• Estimated total project cost- land, construction, installed equipment and working capital
• Proposed financial structure (debt/equity) indicating expected source, proposed terms.
• Type of financing required, amount and terms
• Key operating and financial assumptions.
• 5 year projected financial performance with underlying assumptions (Profit & Loss Account, Balance sheet, Cash flows, return on investment)
• Critical factors determining profitability.

8.             Security to be Provided

• Description/nature, location of assets
• Current valuation of the security and any existing charge.

9.             Environmental/Social Considerations and Social Responsibility

• Any environmental/social issues e.g. work place conditions, waste, effluent, pollution, 
• How issues are/will be managed/mitigated.
• Project’s social impact- e.g. number of total jobs created, female jobs, social projects.