Visit the new Octet website. - Octet Finance
Visit the new Octet website. - Octet Finance
Visit the new Octet website. - Octet Finance
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Quarter 3, 2010<br />
Communiqué.<br />
<strong>Visit</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>new</strong><br />
interactive<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong>.<br />
www.octetfinance.com<br />
More power to trade<br />
For assistance with your <strong>Octet</strong> Facility phone:1300 8 OCTET visit: octetfinance.com<br />
Sydney<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> House,<br />
108 Ca<strong>the</strong>dral Street,<br />
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011<br />
Melbourne<br />
Level 8, Como Office Tower,<br />
644 Chapel Street,<br />
South Yarra VIC 3141<br />
Brisbane<br />
Level 18, Riverside Centre,<br />
123 Eagle Street, QLD 4000<br />
Shanghai<br />
1038 Nanjing Rd West,<br />
Westgate Mall Room 1608,<br />
Shanghai, 200041<br />
Shenzhen<br />
Suite 2617, L 26 Anlian Bld.<br />
4018 Jin Tian Rd,<br />
Futian District, Shenzhen<br />
Los Angeles<br />
10850 Wilshire Blvd<br />
Suite 1265, CA 90024
In late 2009 <strong>Octet</strong> opened its<br />
Business Transaction Portal to<br />
<strong>the</strong> North American market in<br />
partnership with North<br />
American working capital<br />
financiers to provide a system<br />
similar to that operating in<br />
Australia, New Zealand,<br />
China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.<br />
In response to increasing demand from<br />
existing <strong>Octet</strong> members who are trading<br />
with companies in <strong>the</strong> United States<br />
through its portal, we are now delighted<br />
to announce <strong>the</strong> opening of our own<br />
office in Los Angeles. As is <strong>the</strong> case in<br />
Australia, businesses and particularly<br />
small to medium sized businesses in <strong>the</strong><br />
USA are impacted by <strong>the</strong> general lack of<br />
available financing options for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
working capital requirements – <strong>Octet</strong><br />
seeks to address this imbalance in <strong>the</strong><br />
US market.<br />
Clive Isenberg, Managing Director of<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> says, “Our <strong>new</strong> LA office will be<br />
headed by Daniel Mafrice in <strong>the</strong><br />
capacity of Executive Vice President<br />
Business Transaction Specialist, and<br />
supported by Ronny Grunwald. They<br />
will assist existing members who are<br />
<strong>Octet</strong>’s Total Working Capital Solution for Businesses<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> has now expanded its<br />
working capital finance<br />
product offering to provide an<br />
all encompassing solution for<br />
SME companies.<br />
<strong>Octet</strong>’s Total Working Capital Solution<br />
provides an integrated offering to<br />
companies that can finance domestically<br />
and internationally both purchases and<br />
sales, and provide o<strong>the</strong>r working capital<br />
requirements that will fund growth. This<br />
is particularly important in <strong>the</strong> current<br />
climate where <strong>the</strong> availability of credit<br />
for business particularly SME’s,<br />
continues to be scarce due to <strong>the</strong> lack of<br />
funds available from traditional financial<br />
institutions.<br />
Clive Isenberg, <strong>Octet</strong>’s Managing<br />
Director, says, “In order to fund growth,<br />
businesses are actively seeking ways to<br />
optimise cash flow by scrutinising <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
own balance sheets and exploring non<br />
traditional funding options. <strong>Octet</strong> is now<br />
in a position to provide <strong>the</strong> solution.”<br />
“<strong>Octet</strong>’s Business Transaction Facility has<br />
traditionally been used to optimise<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> Opens LA Office<br />
10850 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1265,<br />
Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA<br />
ei<strong>the</strong>r exporting to or importing from<br />
<strong>the</strong> US to increase <strong>the</strong>ir trading volumes.<br />
Businesses in <strong>the</strong> USA face <strong>the</strong> same<br />
challenges as those in Australia<br />
especially as far as <strong>the</strong> importing and<br />
exporting process is concerned. Even if<br />
<strong>the</strong>y can achieve competitive product<br />
cost structures through importing, <strong>the</strong><br />
general lack of working capital finance<br />
can prohibit success in <strong>the</strong> marketplace.<br />
<strong>Octet</strong>’s Business Transaction Facility will<br />
help US businesses to bridge this gap in<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir working capital finance.”<br />
Daniel Mafrice, Executive Vice<br />
President <strong>Octet</strong> in LA, says “There have<br />
always been large demands and<br />
insufficient capital resources dedicated<br />
to financing businesses in <strong>the</strong> USA.<br />
Although US companies strive to<br />
become more cost competitive both<br />
domestically and globally by outsourcing<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir production costs and importing<br />
goods from lower cost labour markets,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y still suffer dramatically from <strong>the</strong><br />
business cash flow by reducing <strong>the</strong><br />
critical timing gap between cash<br />
payments to suppliers and cash receipts<br />
from customers. With <strong>the</strong> recent<br />
introduction of <strong>the</strong> Total Working Capital<br />
Solution, <strong>Octet</strong> can now provide funding<br />
against <strong>the</strong> business’ accounts receivable<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r asset based security.”<br />
<strong>Octet</strong>’s accounts receivable and asset<br />
based funding will be an additional<br />
source of finance available for<br />
businesses when <strong>the</strong> unsecured line<br />
of credit is insufficient to meet <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
needs. The asset may be fixed,<br />
such as property, or a current<br />
asset such as trade receivables.<br />
The business will have <strong>the</strong><br />
flexibility to draw down cash to<br />
<strong>the</strong> value of <strong>the</strong> facility limit or<br />
to allocate an amount to utilise<br />
under <strong>the</strong>ir Purchase Facility.<br />
Clive explains, “This is a true<br />
innovation for Australian businesses<br />
because it will provide an effective<br />
solution to maintain <strong>the</strong>ir working<br />
capital flow. There is no o<strong>the</strong>r facility in<br />
working capital constraints importing<br />
puts on <strong>the</strong>ir businesses.”<br />
“The <strong>Octet</strong> product is a true innovation<br />
to <strong>the</strong> US marketplace. <strong>Octet</strong> offers<br />
businesses <strong>the</strong> ability to match <strong>the</strong><br />
timing of <strong>the</strong>ir cash flow needs to that of<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir vendors and customers. It bridges<br />
<strong>the</strong> major time gap and burden that<br />
importing puts on working capital and<br />
cash flow needs. While <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
competitors working on building similar<br />
products, none seem to provide <strong>the</strong><br />
direct solution for increasing business<br />
working capital flow like <strong>Octet</strong>’s<br />
platform. I believe that <strong>Octet</strong>’s approach,<br />
which causes no interference with<br />
current transactions and ordering<br />
processes, makes it a key differentiator<br />
to o<strong>the</strong>r products in <strong>the</strong> market for<br />
businesses seeking import and<br />
exporting finance. This makes it <strong>the</strong><br />
best choice for businesses.”<br />
<strong>the</strong> Australian market like <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong><br />
Total Working Capital Solution. Whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />
your business is purchasing, selling or<br />
simply needs additional working capital<br />
finance to fuel growth, <strong>Octet</strong> can<br />
provide all of <strong>the</strong> above.”<br />
Patrica Kruse<br />
National<br />
Manager<br />
Marketing and<br />
New Membership<br />
Patricia Kruse joined <strong>Octet</strong> in 2007,<br />
bringing with her a wealth of knowledge<br />
in trade and financial services. Patricia<br />
has worked in <strong>the</strong> financial services<br />
sector in both Australia and <strong>the</strong> United<br />
Kingdom for over 16 years with a<br />
particular emphasis on SME financial<br />
management.<br />
Patricia has put her Masters of<br />
Commerce to good use; initially at <strong>the</strong><br />
State Bank of New South Wales, <strong>the</strong>n in<br />
underwriting at Trade Indemnity (now<br />
known as QBE), before moving into<br />
working capital finance and joining Clive<br />
Isenberg at Scottish Pacific Business<br />
<strong>Finance</strong> (SPBF). Patricia worked at SPBF<br />
in Australia and its sister company<br />
Kellock (part of Bank of Scotland) where<br />
she was seconded to <strong>the</strong> United Kingdom<br />
and Amsterdam. It was during her time at<br />
Kellock that Patricia was introduced to<br />
<strong>the</strong> excitement and challenge of<br />
international trade finance.<br />
Patricia said, “I was exposed to<br />
international trade finance when I joined<br />
<strong>the</strong> marketing committee of <strong>the</strong> world<br />
factoring body, Factors Chain<br />
International, in Amsterdam and it was<br />
something that immediately interested<br />
me. As a non-executive member of <strong>the</strong><br />
committee I travelled to numerous<br />
conferences and seminars on<br />
International Trade <strong>Finance</strong> in <strong>the</strong> USA,<br />
Norway and <strong>the</strong> Philippines. I learnt a<br />
great deal about <strong>the</strong> difficulties faced by<br />
SME’s in <strong>the</strong> international trading<br />
environment.”<br />
The ICAA Business Forum,<br />
held annually in cities around<br />
Australia, offers Chartered<br />
Accountants a diverse,<br />
engaging and interactive<br />
conference program to<br />
essentially workshop and<br />
refine <strong>the</strong>ir professional skills.<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> was proud to be a sponsor at <strong>the</strong><br />
ICAA Business Forums held in May 2010 in<br />
both Sydney and in Melbourne. The Sydney<br />
Forum attracted approximately 1,800<br />
attendees, including Chartered Accountants<br />
from <strong>the</strong> profession and industry. Similarly<br />
<strong>the</strong>re were 1,200 delegates in Melbourne.<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> sponsored and chaired five separate<br />
workshops during <strong>the</strong> two Forums and also<br />
ran business card draws with a prize of a<br />
$500 <strong>Octet</strong> Visa Card in both cities.<br />
“When I returned to Sydney in 1999 I<br />
moved into <strong>new</strong> business development at<br />
St George Bank, but eventually found my<br />
niche alongside Clive Isenberg at <strong>Octet</strong><br />
<strong>Finance</strong> in 2007.”<br />
“Although <strong>Octet</strong> is a relatively young<br />
organisation, I was drawn to <strong>the</strong><br />
challenge of building up a business that<br />
has a unique funding and trading<br />
platform at its centre. I believe that <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Octet</strong> concept and process developed by<br />
Clive has all <strong>the</strong> features to benefit<br />
business whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are big<br />
conglomerates or SME’s. <strong>Octet</strong>’s Total<br />
Working Capital Solution offers all <strong>the</strong>se<br />
companies <strong>the</strong> ability to fund both<br />
purchases and sales (domestically and<br />
internationally), and o<strong>the</strong>r working capital<br />
requirements to promote growth. This is<br />
particularly important in <strong>the</strong> current<br />
global financial climate where <strong>the</strong><br />
availability of credit from traditional<br />
lenders continues to be an issue.”<br />
“As a sales executive, it is really satisfying<br />
to see <strong>the</strong> positive impact that <strong>Octet</strong>’s<br />
Total Working Capital Solution has made<br />
to our client’s businesses. Helping our<br />
clients to grow and thrive despite <strong>the</strong><br />
fiscal scarcity in <strong>the</strong> current market<br />
demonstrates <strong>the</strong> effectiveness of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Octet</strong> solution.”<br />
Primarius Resource Management and<br />
Alliance Group HK has partnered with<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> <strong>Finance</strong> to provide savings and<br />
improvements by sourcing and managing<br />
product supply in smarter ways.<br />
Primarius’ focuses on improving inventory<br />
usage, which in turn improves working<br />
capital utilisation and increases<br />
profitability.<br />
“What we do is provide companies with<br />
<strong>the</strong> ability to understand product demand<br />
and create forecasts for <strong>the</strong> products <strong>the</strong>y<br />
sell,” said Paul McCarthy, a director of<br />
Brisbane-based Primarius Resource<br />
Management. “We <strong>the</strong>n use our planning<br />
tools to construct purchasing plans that<br />
increase stock turn rates and minimise<br />
product stock-outs. We’ve been working<br />
in China for a long time and have been<br />
sourcing product via our strategic<br />
partners, Alliance Group HK, for<br />
Australian businesses.”<br />
“Alliance takes out all <strong>the</strong> headaches for<br />
our customers. They have offices all over<br />
China, <strong>the</strong>y share <strong>the</strong> same language and<br />
cultural background as <strong>the</strong> suppliers, and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y know how to negotiate. Alliance are<br />
linked into our forecasting and demand<br />
planning systems, and <strong>the</strong>y can feed<br />
forecasts to <strong>the</strong> suppliers so that<br />
suppliers know what our customers need<br />
all <strong>the</strong> time, even identifying when<br />
products could run out of stock and be<br />
able to do something about it. This has<br />
made a huge impact in reducing costs<br />
and lead-times”.<br />
Willy Bagg, a Chartered Accountant and<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> Business Transaction Specialist, said<br />
“These forums provide an intimate and<br />
direct way in which to educate <strong>the</strong><br />
accounting profession on alternative,<br />
creative and non-traditional forms of<br />
financing that are available to SME’s o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
than from traditional banks. Accountants are<br />
trusted advisors to <strong>the</strong>ir clients so<br />
<strong>the</strong>y need to be aware of all<br />
available financing options to be<br />
able to provide <strong>the</strong> value-added<br />
services that make <strong>the</strong>m<br />
important to <strong>the</strong>ir clients. We also<br />
need to let Accountants know that<br />
accounting practices can offer<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> as a payment mechanism<br />
for <strong>the</strong>ir clients. This enables <strong>the</strong><br />
accounting practice to be paid<br />
quickly while still offering terms<br />
and a reward program to <strong>the</strong> client”.<br />
Primarius Resource<br />
Management uses<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> to add value<br />
and reduce costs<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> Communiqué / Quarter 3, 2010 More power to trade For assistance with your <strong>Octet</strong> Facility phone: 1300 8 OCTET <strong>Visit</strong>: octetfinance.com<br />
When <strong>Octet</strong> released <strong>the</strong>ir Business<br />
Transaction Facility for China-sourced<br />
inventory, Primarius immediately saw <strong>the</strong><br />
benefits it could offer its customers. “We<br />
saw a fantastic opportunity to fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />
decrease costs and improve value for our<br />
customers by working with <strong>Octet</strong>. I<br />
contacted Michael Knauf in <strong>Octet</strong>’s<br />
Brisbane office and we pulled apart <strong>the</strong><br />
service offering we could provide. Our<br />
idea was pretty simple – use our sourcing<br />
ability from Alliance to find suppliers who<br />
could produce <strong>the</strong> ‘right’ quality products,<br />
on time, every time, and at quantities<br />
that suited our Australian customers, and<br />
utilise <strong>the</strong> Business Transaction Facility<br />
with <strong>Octet</strong> to improve payment terms.”<br />
“Our China-based partners, Alliance<br />
Group HK, were happy to become<br />
involved and our concept became quite<br />
simple – for companies wanting to source<br />
product on a consistent basis from China,<br />
Alliance would source <strong>the</strong> product, handle<br />
all negotiations with <strong>the</strong> original suppliers<br />
and manage all China-based logistics. In<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> system Alliance became <strong>the</strong><br />
supplier and gained first-hand experience<br />
in how simple and effective <strong>the</strong> system<br />
could be. We have two clients using <strong>the</strong><br />
system at <strong>the</strong> moment, with great<br />
results.”<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> Sponsors <strong>the</strong> Institute of Chartered<br />
Accountants in Australia (ICAA) Business Forum<br />
<strong>Octet</strong>’s ICAA sponsorship and participation<br />
in <strong>the</strong> forum resulted in many enquiries both<br />
during and after <strong>the</strong> show, allowing <strong>Octet</strong> to<br />
communicate directly with accounting<br />
professionals and providing <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />
to form relationships that have a mutual<br />
benefit.
Michael Rom<br />
Director<br />
Net Starter<br />
Late in 2009, <strong>Octet</strong> approached<br />
Net Starter, one of <strong>the</strong> largest<br />
digital agencies in Australia, to<br />
take <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> brand online. The<br />
agency utilised digital technology<br />
(such as video, interactive<br />
financial modelling, and a holistic<br />
content management system) to<br />
enable <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong> to<br />
engage and inform its visitors.<br />
The <strong>Octet</strong> and Net Starter<br />
partnership has produced a<br />
<strong>website</strong> that communicates <strong>Octet</strong><br />
as a market leader, offering world<br />
class financial products.<br />
Michael Rom, Net Starter Director, led <strong>the</strong><br />
development of <strong>the</strong> <strong>website</strong> from <strong>the</strong><br />
detailed blueprint designed by Information<br />
Architects, to a rich user journey that each<br />
visitor will eventually experience. As a<br />
As <strong>the</strong> Manager of Information<br />
Technology, Ian Rees is responsible<br />
for turning <strong>the</strong> often complex<br />
array of financial services that<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> offers businesses, into<br />
comprehensive user-friendly<br />
details on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> portal.<br />
With an accounting tertiary qualification and<br />
proven software developer experience, Ian<br />
joined Scottish Pacific Business <strong>Finance</strong><br />
(SPBF) in 1989 to build, extend and improve<br />
<strong>the</strong> application that enabled SPBF to service<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir clients. Since 2001, Ian has served on<br />
<strong>the</strong> Communications Committee of Factors<br />
Chain International, which is charged with<br />
<strong>the</strong> responsibility of overseeing <strong>the</strong><br />
management and ongoing development of<br />
<strong>the</strong> communications portal that allows its<br />
252 members in 66 countries to transact<br />
with one ano<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Chartered Accountant himself, Michael was<br />
able to digest <strong>the</strong> key distinguishing factors<br />
of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> platform from both an<br />
accounting and finance perspective and<br />
succinctly translate this to <strong>website</strong> visitors.<br />
Michael said, “Due to <strong>the</strong> high level<br />
competition in <strong>the</strong> market, <strong>the</strong> primary goal<br />
of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong> was to deliver a strong<br />
message swiftly to time poor decision<br />
makers. Just like a bricks-and-mortar<br />
business, visitors form an opinion within a<br />
few seconds, so it is very important to<br />
deliver an engaging experience quickly that<br />
In recent months, Ian has been a group<br />
leader at Factors Chain International<br />
Communications Seminars examining <strong>the</strong><br />
feasibility of introducing a PO management<br />
product into <strong>the</strong> FCI community.<br />
Ian moved from SPBF to <strong>Octet</strong> with Clive<br />
Isenberg to set up <strong>Octet</strong>’s intricate online<br />
Business Transaction Facility and to oversee<br />
<strong>the</strong> development of <strong>the</strong> company’s portal.<br />
Ian says, “The <strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong> is <strong>the</strong> first port<br />
of call for many of our clients to investigate<br />
<strong>the</strong> facilities that we can offer <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
businesses. It needs to be easy to<br />
understand, succinct and uncomplicated to<br />
navigate. Allowing our clients to find<br />
information quickly on <strong>the</strong> site has been a<br />
feature we have placed considerable<br />
emphasis on throughout <strong>the</strong> <strong>website</strong>’s<br />
development.”<br />
“We take <strong>the</strong> same care with <strong>the</strong> design and<br />
styling of <strong>the</strong> portal that our clients use on a<br />
day to day basis, as we do with <strong>the</strong> publicly<br />
“Allowing our clients to find information<br />
quickly on <strong>the</strong> site has been a feature we<br />
have placed considerable emphasis on”<br />
<strong>Octet</strong> Communiqué / Quarter 3, 2010 For assistance with your <strong>Octet</strong> Facility phone: 1300 8 OCTET <strong>Visit</strong>: octetfinance.com<br />
users can identify with. We delivered a<br />
comprehensive and cohesive message that<br />
could be easily understood by anyone in<br />
business, answering <strong>the</strong> most common<br />
question asked by prospective <strong>Octet</strong><br />
members – in relation to how <strong>the</strong><br />
product worked.”<br />
“The old <strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong> attempted to answer<br />
this question in a detailed, feature-rich<br />
manner, which was informative – but overly<br />
complex. In contrast, Net Starter developed<br />
an immersive video presentation that walks<br />
users through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> concept and<br />
value proposition.”<br />
“The video presentation is an interactive<br />
journey for potential clients, identifying<br />
inherent problems that exist in <strong>the</strong><br />
working-capital finance markets, explaining<br />
how <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> platform addresses <strong>the</strong>se<br />
issues and determining whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong><br />
offering is right for <strong>the</strong> user. In just a few<br />
minutes a user is able to fully comprehend<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> offering and determine its viability<br />
for <strong>the</strong>ir business.”<br />
The <strong>new</strong> <strong>Octet</strong> <strong>website</strong> went live on <strong>the</strong><br />
15th June 2010.<br />
Ian Rees<br />
National Manager of Information Technology<br />
facing <strong>website</strong>. We want to ensure that <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
experience is a uniformly positive one.”<br />
Particularly as <strong>the</strong> <strong>new</strong> Total Working Capital<br />
Solution is now available for <strong>Octet</strong> members,<br />
<strong>the</strong> portal has become even more important<br />
because <strong>Octet</strong>’s reach has extended to o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
areas within our clients business and at <strong>the</strong><br />
same time opened up <strong>new</strong> markets for <strong>the</strong>m<br />
as well.<br />
“The portal helps our clients to apply online<br />
and get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for approval in a timely<br />
fashion”, Ian explains. “Once <strong>the</strong>y come on<br />
board as a client, <strong>the</strong> portal helps <strong>the</strong>m to<br />
monitor <strong>the</strong>ir transactions and track <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
spending. The portal provides an overview of<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir flexible funding, with a comprehensive<br />
back-end system to allow our clients to<br />
monitor <strong>the</strong>ir account. The <strong>new</strong> Total<br />
Working Capital Solution <strong>Octet</strong> has<br />
developed will provide our clients with<br />
greater flexibility in spending <strong>the</strong>ir funds, and<br />
still allow <strong>the</strong>m to monitor this spending<br />
through <strong>the</strong> Business Transaction Facility.”<br />
- Ian Rees, National Manager of Information Technology