1. Metris Global – the case study
of financing American heroes
BNC National Bank financed
Metris Global in the face of
adversity
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2. Metris Global:
Metris is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned
Small Business (SDVOSB) founded by
current and former members of the United
States Special Operations and Interagency
community. Headquartered in Mesa, AZ,
Metris is dedicated to providing robust,
realistic solutions to commercial and
government clients needing security training
services.
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3. The Problem:
The U.S. Special Forces expertise of Metris leadership
places the company in a unique position to deliver realistic,
dynamic training scenarios to commercial and government
clients. Metris’ staff and facilities enable trainees to
experience the full spectrum of circumstances they’re likely
to face in real-life situations. Leadership was able to
leverage skill sets in army training to land contracts with
federal government agencies
However, the fledgling enterprise soon ran into funding
issues with high-profile, long-term contracts. Payroll
expenses for on-staff specialists, facility maintenance costs
and other expenses became overwhelming, especially
when a contract extension fell through. The financial
situation at Metris became so dire that company owner,
Tom Heckens, invested his life savings to cover operating
costs.
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4. The Problem (continued):
To move forward and put the company in the black, Metris’
stakeholders identified their business objectives in addressing
their financial condition. They determined that a $1.8 million loan
would be necessary to fund its operations and enable them to
operate successfully at the outset without reliance on the new
contract’s payments.
Company leaders approached several lenders, but were turned
down by each for the same reasons. Specifically,
– Metris lacked longevity at only 18 months in business.
– The company was unable to pledge assets or receivables as
collateral, sufficient to support the loan amount.
– The company was unable to leverage the value of government
contracts as collateral for a loan. Such contracts yield nebulous
results and payment is subject to slow-moving bureaucratic
decision-making and budgetary constraints. Lending against
government receivables isn’t profitable for banks when the risk of
contract cancellation or de-funding is high.
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5. The Analysis:
Therefore, the cards were stacked against Metris for
conventional funding sources. The company determined that
more creative financing would be necessary, but was unsure
where to turn for assistance after being denied. Then, Metris’
COO, Eric Lachance was introduced to BNC National Bank
referral partner, Craig Willett.
Mr. Willett is a strong believer that human capital and conviction
are as vital to a company as its financial condition. As an
organization, BNC National Bank was and continues to be a
proud lender to Veteran-owned businesses. These enterprises
represent 9% of all U.S. firms and employ 5.793 million
Americans. The impact of Veteran-owned businesses on the
U.S. economy cannot be denied, with firms claiming receipts of
$1.220 trillion in 2007.“We look beyond the financials when trying to help
companies like Metris and we’re dedicated to exploring all
options, leaving no stones unturned to secure funding.
Our people are grateful for the services of our active
military and veterans, so we’re always willing to go the
extra mile.”

6. The Solution:
As such, BNC National Bank lending specialists
explored all avenues to find a way to fund the loan
for Metris. They ultimately determined that an SBA
loan would be their objective and the company was
an excellent candidate:
– Like a typical SBA borrower, Metris had been in
business a relatively short amount of time;
– Because lack of collateral cannot be the basis for loan
refusal, the company’s assets were not an issue;
– SBA borrowers have up to 120 months to repay the
loan;
– Even though it appeared high risk on paper, SBA still
lends to credit-worthy companies with a higher debt to
worth ratio – as in the case of Metris.
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7. The Solution (continued):
Other factors that made an SBA loan a promising option for
Metris were based on the lending process and timing. A
straightforward loan can be funded in as little as 45 days,
especially when the borrower is engaged and goal-oriented. The
fact that SBA documents are executed by the borrower with
support from lender officers was also a plus, as Metris had the
backing of BNC National Bank leadership from the beginning.
“BNC is more like a partner than a lender; they
always have our backs. From the loan officers on
down to administrative staff, we were a team in this
whole thing rather than just a business they wanted
to bank on. Their enthusiasm and support were
instrumental in getting the deal done for Metris,
where so many other banks refused to consider us.”
Eric Lachance, Chief Operating Officer
Metris Global

8. The Results:
Metris LLC was able to turn around its dire financial
situation due to BNC National Bank’s guidance in securing
an SBA loan. Metris utilized the funding to finance its
project with the USG, growing revenues from $2M in FY 14
to $7M in FY 15. Though impressive, the bigger impact
was the ability to work with multiple Joint Venture partners
on much larger contracts, with an estimated value of $20M
in FY 16. From a socio-economic impact, the financing
allowed Metris to hire seven additional veterans, leveraging
their military skills to train others with specific military
training and security needs.
“BNC National Bank stood behind their convictions and saw
Metris as more than just a company looking for a high risk
loan. They believed in our concept and leadership, and
maintained confidence that we were worth taking a chance
on. In fact, we’ve moved our entire banking environment
over to BNC National Bank because of the strength of our
relationship and the character of the bank’s people.”
Thomas Heckens, Owner
Metris Global

9. Contact BNC National Bank today and
Discover the difference…
Fill out our form today!
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