The Region represents a rather large market with over $130 billion of imports from the United States alone (over $20 billion in Central America and the Caribbean). Financing sources for this market are fragmented with no dominant figures. Market participants include local financial institutions (relatively higher financing costs and limited access to medium term financing); multinational banks (lower financing cost, however, less players in the region); multinational corporations and medium/small sized companies (relatively short tenors that do not match the customers' trade cycle). This situation has provided an opportunity for the Company to position itself quickly as a player in the trade finance business in Latin America.

The Company believes that there is an opportunity to provide Export Finance services through Government Programs. Ex-Im Bank supported over $3 billion in authorizations including direct loans, guarantees and MT insurance to the region . This support represents only 2% of the total exported from the U.S. into Latin America. At the same time, some of the smaller economies (the Caribbean countries, Central American Countries and Andean Region) received limited support from Ex-Im Bank in 2002. The Company believes that there is an opportunity to help U.S. Exporters gain additional market share in these countries and at the same time help importers increase investment using available Ex-Im Bank programs.

With regards to Capital Market activities, there is currently an under-exploited opportunity to assist top corporate issuers in accessing sophisticated long term funding sources in the United States and elsewhere. The experience and specific expertise of Management and Advisors in these types of financing is unique.