Svenska bankers kreditgivning till företag i Kina : En jämförelse mellan kreditgivning till svenska företag i utlandet och inhemska företag

The lending process is considered as important for both banks as well as businesses. There are many variables that must be taken into account by the banks in the lending process for businesses. Many companies choose to go abroad to establish operations and many of these companies are in need of funding. Bank funding is one solution. A curiosity for how bank lending is made to companies abroad began to grow. Research in this area was limited, which made us wonder what’s taken into consideration when granting loans to companies abroad compared to domestic companies. With this in mind the following question arose; How is Swedish banks' lending process done to companies abroad compared to companies in Sweden? To answer this question the lending process has been described and explained, and by identifying five assessment criterias. These criterias are as follows; accounting, the business itself, assets, owners and management, business concept. These five assessment criterias along with research on risks regarding internationalization identified several factors that should be considered in the lending process to companies abroad. These factors are the company's previous experience in other international markets, the company's network in the country, the country risk and transfer risk. These five assessment criterias, together with the four factors were the starting point of this study but also the pillars in both the theoretical framework and analysis model, but also in the qualitative study. The qualitative study was carried out by eight interviews with lenders at Swedish banks in two different markets; Sweden and China. The conclusion that emerged from the study is that the lending process differs between companies abroad and domestic companies. The main differences identified were within the following credit steps; credit application, credit assessment and decisions and credit terms. The biggest difference identified in the study is that these three steps are done in cooperation between the Bank abroad and a credit manager in the domestic market. In the credit assessment this study could identify factors considered when granting loans to companies abroad but which are not taken into account in lending to domestic companies. The factors identified were those that could be identified by the theory, experience in international markets, networks in the country, the country risk and transfer risk. From these discoveries we devised a model that is practical useful both for banks and companies. This model can help banks identify the factors that should be assessed in the lending process to companies abroad and to reduce the bank's credit risk. This model can also help companies to gain an understanding of their own lending process to the bank and also provide the company with a scope for preparation.