IE and IFS
Unit 37
FORFAITING ANDTRADE
RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• Factoring is a service that is concerned with the financing and
collection of account receivables in domestic and international trade. It
is a continuous arrangement in which receivables created out of sale of
goods or services are sold to an agent known as the 'factor'. This
arrangement is called factoring'. It is regulated by Factoring Regulation
Act, 2011.
• Factoring is an arrangement for management of receivables, maintaining
registers and sales accounts, collection of debt etc. It can be done with
recourse or without recourse. In India "without recourse factoring is not
permitted.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• Factoring does NOT include credit facilities provided by a bank in its ordinary course
of business against security of receivables and any activity as commission agent or
otherwise for sale of agricultural produce or goods.
• Domestic factoring: Buyers & sellers are in the same country. Maximum period
normally permitted is 150 days, inclusive of grace period of 60 days.
• International (cross-border) factoring: Buyers & sellers are in different countries.
Here, there are usually two factors. Export factor finances and administers sales
(presenting invoices at the right time & collecting payments). Import factor evaluates
the buyer, collecting money on time and ensuring that buyer is protected against
default. Pre-payments, sales ledger administration, credit protection and collections
are the services provided.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• Single factor system: Here, import factor comes into focus only if
the buyer defaults in making payment, in which case export factor
recovers the amount from import factor. Import factor will then
recover the amount from buyer.
• Direct Export Factoring System: Here, export factor manages all
aspects.
• Direct Import Factoring System: Here, import factor manages all
aspects.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
Bills Discounting Vs. Factoring:
BILLS DISCOUNTING FACTORING
Requires strong Bal. Sheet & Can be done with weak Bal. Sheet. No
collaterals collaterals if good quality receivables
Always with recourse Can be with or without recourse
Collection is job of seller (exporter) Collection is job of factor
Transaction-based financing Accounts receivables based financing
It is only a mode of financing Involves complete mgt. of receivables, incl.
MIS, collection & even credit insurance
No assignment of debt involved Involves assignment of debt
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• Fees involved in factoring: Finance charges, based on pre-payment
outstanding in exporter's (seller's) account, at monthly intervals.
• Service Fee nominal charges levied at monthly intervals in order to
cover the cost of services viz. collection, sales ledger
administration and periodical MIS reports. It ranges from 0.1% to
0.3% on the total value of invoices.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
Advantages of Factoring:
• It replaces high cost market credit and enables purchases on cash basis.
• Customer gets instant finance against each invoice.
• Low margin (up to 20%), thereby improving cash flow.
• Customer gets large credit / grace period.
• Each invoice is followed up by factor till payment.
• Accelerates receivables turnover and improves operating cycle, resulting in
more production, sales, higher profits / Return on Investment (ROI).
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
FORFAITING:
• Financing exports by discounting export receivables, evidenced by
B/E, or Promissory Note, carrying medium to long term maturities on
fixed rate basis (known as discount) up to 100% of invoice value.
• Transferring the right of the exporter to receive payment in favour of
the forfaiter is called forfaiting. It is done on "Without Recourse"
basis (without recourse to the exporter in case importer fails to make
payment).
• Exporter, while assured of payment, is also protected against credit
risk and exchange rate risk.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• RBI has permitted EXIM Bank and AD Category I Banks (on non-
recourse basis only) to handle forfaiting transactions.
• Fees involved: Discount fee (interest cost for the entire credit
period, payable by the exporter), normally linked to an
international benchmark rate (ARR).
• Commitment fee for forfaiter's commitment to execute a specific
transaction at a firm discount rate. Ranges from 0.5% to 1.5% of
the unutilized amount.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
Advantages of forfaiting to the exporter:
• Provides 100% financing, without recourse, and not occupying
exporter's credit line. Improves cash flows of the exporter.
• It improves administration costs, freeing from management of
receivables.
• It increases trade opportunity, as exporter is able to grant credit
freely to his buyer. Exporter can also include the cost of forfaiting in
his sale price.
• Enables the exporter to avoid various risks like interest rate risk,
currency risk, credit and political risks.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
FACTORING Vs. FORFAITING:
FACTORING FORFAITING
Suitable for ongoing open account sales, not Suitable for one-off transactions backed by
backed by LCs or accepted B/E LCs/accepted B/E
Short term in nature Medium to long term in nature
Can be with our without recourse Generally without recourse
Continuous arrangement between the client Sellers need not route all the transactions through
and factor all sales are routed through the the forfeiter
factor
Factor assumes responsibility for collection & Extends to collection of forfeited debt only
helps client reduce overhead
Charges include those for financing, collection, Charges include discount and commitment charges
MIS & sales ledger administration
Both for domestic and international Only for international transactions
transactions
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING SYSTEM:
• TReDS is a scherne for setting up and operating institutional
mechanism for facilitating financing of trade receivables of MSMEs
• In respect of dues from corporates and other buyers, including
Govt. Depts. and PSUs through multiple financiers.
• It is a form of factoring. Introduced by RBI in 2014.
• It is a secure, digital platform, facilitating discounting of invoices
and Bills of Exchange.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• It can deal with receivables factoring & reverse factoring (initiated
by the corporate buyer).
• All transactions processed will be "without recourse" to MSMES.
• MSME sellers, corporate and other buyers, incl. Govt. Depts. &
PSUs and financiers (banks and NBFCs) are the direct participants.
• Bankers of sellers and buyers may be provided access for obtaining
information on the portfolio of Invoices/bills discounted, of their
respective clients.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
Eligibility criteria to set up and operate TReDS:
• Financial criteria: As TReDs will not assume any credit risk, the
entity's minimum paid-up capital shall be Rs.25 crores.
• Foreign shareholding as per foreign investment policy.
• Entities, other than promoters, shall not hold more than 10% of the
equity capital of TReDS & overall financial strength will be an
important criterion of assessment/selection.
FORFAITING AND TRADE RECEIVABLES DISCOUNTING
SYSTEM (TReDs)
• Due Diligence of Promoters: Entities and their promoters should be
"fit and proper", as assessed by RBI on the basis of their past record
of sound credentials, integrity, financial soundness & track record of
at least 5 years in running their businesses. RBI may gather
information on these aspects from other regulators, enforcement
agencies (IT, ED, CBI, SEBI etc.).
• Technological Capability: Able to provide electronic platform to all
participants; robust MIS to provide real time information about
bills/invoices/discounting/quotes. Shall have suitable Business
Continuity Plan (BCP) including disaster recovery site. Online
surveillance capability to monitor positions, prices, volumes in real
time so as to check system manipulation.