Our Focus
Infospectrum focuses on two core markets – Maritime and Commodities – ensuring that we can deliver unparalleled specialist expertise to our clients. So whether you are a charterer, owner or investor, and wherever in the world you are doing business, you can rely on us for the best and latest insight.
The Maritime Sector
The market challenges:
The commercial shipping market is of significant scale and complexity, with every shipment usually involving a chain of ship owners, ship managers and operators, often registered as limited liability companies in low-disclosure jurisdictions.
- 100,000+ vessels trading globally, almost all held through offshore-registered special purpose vehicles
- Increasingly complex corporate structures and financing methods, particularly in the emerging/high-growth markets
- A requirement to make rapid decisions on high-value transactions based on what is often limited data
- The acceptance and use of open credit terms to facilitate transactions, often into the millions of dollars
- The emergence of sanctions and anti-bribery legislation increasing reputational risk and compliance requirements
What we deliver:
As the industry’s most experienced analyst team, we can provide the one-to-one support and in-depth information that enables our clients to prosper in the maritime market.
24/7 access to concise counterparty risk reports reports on 25,000 companies from our database
Rapid turnaround on new reports compiled in a matter of hours
Detailed due diligence for those with higher exposures or more extensive requirements
Learn more about our capabilities in the maritime sector – contact one of our specialists
The Commodities sector
The market challenges:
Rapid diversification of the commodities industry since the 1970s has led to the emergence of low profile, privately owned and asset-light intermediaries. This lack of transparency has led to greater risk and regulation for those operating in this sector.
- Prevalence of complex, multi-layered corporate structures, often registered in low-disclosure jurisdictions, to assist in tax/transfer pricing management
- High levels of scrutiny from governmental and non-governmental organisations
- High levels of operational, reputational and market risk
- Requirement to support and cross-check documentation provided by trading partners to trade finance banks and sellers/buyers
What we deliver:
We give our clients direct access to support from a team with global commodities experience underpinned by detailed local knowledge.
We provide bespoke due diligence covering 'soft factors', including background, wider corporate structures, the experience of principals, and current market performance and reputation
We have established KYC/AML checks and also provide counterparty information to assist with anti bribery and sanctions compliance
Learn more about our capabilities in the Commodities sector– contact one of our specialists
We have known Infospectrum since they started. Their professionalism and expert knowledge enable us to benefit from good business opportunities. We look forward to continuing the valuable working relationship.
Our clients
Suppliers
We work with suppliers, traders and brokers of marine fuels, lubricants, paints and other major consumables.
- Helping our clients structure the efficient and prudent allocation of credit
- Assessing leads and new counterparties, while regularly reviewing current client bases
- Delivering cost-effective due diligence, compiled by analysts who understand the market
Ship charterers/owners
We help freight traders and risk management departments to make rapid decisions, with our global office network allowing them to work within the time constraints of subjects on transactions.
- Providing reassurance that clients are dealing with the correct corporate entity
- Assessing the financial strength and performance of the contractual entity, both during and after the fixture has taken place.
Insurers (P&I and hull)
For underwriting, broking and claims departments, we provide timely and accurate insight on existing and potential insured parties.
- Providing structured feedback on existing insureds up for renewal, established non-insureds and new vessel owners and operators (the latter often with little or no track record in the industry)
- Assessing risk for time-sensitive transactions, enabling clients to consider taking on a wider range of risk
- Adding value on reputational risk aspects including sanctions, KYC and anti bribery issues (often for clients who are regulated)
Commodity traders
We work with both buyers and sellers of commodities, well-known trade finance banks and worldwide risk management and compliance departments covering client onboarding.
- Cross-checking data on the beneficial ownership and activities of counterparties, often provided as an established internal due diligence process
- Providing the experience to identify risks and other trading issues
- Supporting our advice with discreetly compiled research that will not endanger existing or potential client relationships
Finance/lessors
We provide lenders and lessors with counterparty suitability decisions and strategic intelligence to support their compliance and onboarding requirements.
- Pre-financing / pre-acquisition / pre-IPO due diligence
- Corporate intelligence
- KYC and ultimate beneficial ownership / Client onboarding
- Appraisal of borrowers' key counterparties
- Integrity risk / Compliance checks
- Discrete commercial problem-solving