RBS joins forces with Sainsbury's in leading supplier financing programme
Solution powered by PrimeRevenue delivers quicker and easier supplier access to early payments, payment visibility

LONDON and ATLANTA June 9, 2009 –The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) announces today that it will become the funding provider for Sainsbury’s Trading Finance Platform (TFP), effective June 19, 2009.

The TFP, which was launched in 2007, is a UK retail industry first.  This internet-based payment management system, developed by PrimeRevenue, is designed to make it quicker and easier for suppliers to access account information and to benefit from early payments.  

The system provides suppliers with an online view of their trading account with Sainsbury's – including invoices, debit notes, remittance advices and payment dates – and complete visibility of their expected cash flow.
  
Registered suppliers have the option to be paid early once their invoices are approved for payment.  Suppliers can opt to receive early cash settlement by selling their invoices to RBS at a competitive financing rate.  This crucial flexibility in payment terms allows Sainsbury’s to support the cash flow needs of its core suppliers, while minimising the risk of supply chain disruption.   

Suppliers already registered on the system have been contacted to advise them that RBS is the funding provider from June 19, 2009.  Each supplier has been invited to visit an online portal to ensure the orderly and efficient transition of their details to RBS.

Darren Shapland, Chief Financial Officer, Sainsbury’s, said, “Since the launch of our Trading Finance Platform in 2007, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of suppliers utilising the platform to better manage their cash flow.  We are delighted that RBS, a key relationship bank, has agreed to provide funding for the programme going forward. We believe RBS’ participation offers considerable scope to grow the programme and further improve liquidity throughout our supply chain.”   

Brian Stevenson, Chief Executive of Global Transaction Services, RBS, said: "We are proud to be bringing our expertise to this innovative solution for suppliers.  As the UK’s largest corporate bank*, RBS is committed to supporting the needs of UK businesses, and trade finance is an integral part of this.  Moreover, at a time when many companies are recognising the value of supporting the finance needs of their suppliers, Sainsbury’s is demonstrating clear leadership with this programme.  We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Sainsbury’s and supporting their supply chain objectives through this programme in the future."

Joe Juliano, Chief Executive Officer of technology and services provider PrimeRevenue, Inc. added: “The success of Sainsbury’s Trading Finance Platform to date will grow given the banking leadership that RBS brings to the offering.  Now, more than ever, supply chain finance solutions like these are compelling for corporates and their suppliers who seek to address mutual objectives in challenging economic times.”

RBS website version of this release available here.

How the Sainsbury’s Trading Finance Platform works

For example, at an indicative financing rate of 3.25%, selling a £1,000 invoice 30 days before its due date would cost the supplier £2.67 (£1,000 * 30/365 * 3.25% p.a. = £2.67) meaning the supplier would receive early payment of £997.33 on the day following the sale.    

About RBS
The RBS group is a large international banking and financial services company. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the Group operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas and Asia, serving more than 40 million customers. The Group provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers through its two principal subsidiaries, The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, as well as through a number of other well known brands including, Citizens, Ulster Bank, Coutts, Direct Line and Churchill.
*Source: Greenwich Associates customer relationship ranking

About PrimeRevenue
PrimeRevenue's leading global Supply Chain Finance (SCF) platform and solutions enable dramatic new working capital efficiencies for the benefit of buyers and their suppliers. PrimeRevenue achieves this through the delivery of secure, robust, industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) technology, a global community of the world's most innovative financial institutions and partners, and flexible working capital solutions and advice. Bank Technology News named PrimeRevenue as a "Top 20 innovation in the past 20 years." Companies are relying on SCF deployments powered by PrimeRevenue to optimize working capital, remove risk from their supply chain, and forge stronger trading partner relationships. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, PrimeRevenue has offices and customers throughout the world.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Shamira Alidina
RBS Media Relations
+44 (0)20 3361 1570
+44 7827 842958

Bob Kramer
+1 (678) 904-7103
PrimeRevenue
pr@primerevenue.com

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