Programme on Letter of Credit Transactions and UCP 600

SESSION I Features of an International commercial contract & terms of payment A quick review…..

Initial quote confirmed order contract

Features of a commercial contract - Everything they have agreed between themselves Evidence of contract Record of agreed goods Record of agreed time of delivery Record of agreed terms of delivery Record of agreed point of delivery Record of agreed method of payment Design can vary but not the contents First document to bring parties together Any inaccuracy or inconsistency may have legal repercussions if shipment is not as per contract

Essential details in a contract Details of buyer / seller – with full address Manufacturer – Seller – buyer – end user…. Method of despatch Terms of delivery Exact point at which risks and responsibilities pass from seller to buyer (INCO TERMS 2000) Insurance freight References / dates – terms to be avoided FAV (first available vessel) /ASAP Appointment of freight forwarder Terms of payment Documentation Other instructions

Four main categories of charges / cost Despatch, carriage, delivery Customs clearance for export / import Service / assistance rendered in addition Insurance

Responsibilities of the parties Loading charges at sellers place Local transportation charges – Inland freight in the sellers country Delivery to the carrier at notified place or at the port Customs clearance in the exporting country Export charges – loading expenses Any special equipment and accessories Main carriage expenses Transit insurance – cargo insurance

Responsibilities of the parties Unloading expenses Customs clearance at importing country Importing country’s taxes Local cartage – transportation charges Unloading at buyers place

INCO TERMS 2000 EXWEX-WORKS (place) Loading charges for buyer FCAFREE CARRIER (place) FASFREE ALONGSIDE SHIP (port of loading) FOBFREE ON BOARD (port of loading) FCA/FAS/FOB – customs clearance in the exporting country for seller CFRCOST AND FREIGHT (port of discharge) CIFCOST INSURANCE FREIGHT (port of discharge)

INCOTERMS CONTD CPTCARRIAGE PAID TO (Place of destination) CIPCARRIAGE INSURANCE PAID TO(place of destination) DAFDELIVERED AT FRONTIER (place of delivery) DESDELIVERED EX SHIP (port of destination) DAF / DES importing country’s customs clearance for buyer DEQDELIVERED EX QUAY(private port of buyer) Import clearance – customs clearance for seller

INCO TERMS CONTD DDUDELIVERED DUTY UNPAID (place of destination) DDPDELIVERED DUTY PAID (place of destination)

In short… Sea transport – FAS/FOB/CFR/CIF/DES/DEQ Others – all other modes of transport EXW/FCA/CPT/CIP/DAF/DDU/DDP

Different types of trade transactions Export / import of capital goods Export / import of accessories – non capital goods Export / import of services

Terms of payment Documents on collection basis Documentary collection At sight – DP basis On due date – DA basis Direct collection Consignment basis Payment guarantees Documentary Credit / Letter of Credit Standby letter of credits Advance Payment

Establishing Letter of Credit COMMERCIAL CONTRACT Citi Bank, ABC LTD Sau Paulo Importer HPC L Banco Bradesco, Sau Paulo

Commercial contract insisting letter of credit LC application submitted by the applicant to the issuing bank LC established by issuing bank through their correspondent bank with a request to pay on their behalf against submission of prescribed documents by the beneficiary LC advised- with /without confirmation

NEGOTIATION OF DOCUMENTS UNDER CONFIRMED CREDIT Banco Bradesco Citi Bank ABC LTD HPC L

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BENEFITS OF A CONFIRMED CREDIT  Since the credit is confirmed by confirming bank they have a commitment to pay to the beneficiary if the documents presented, represents ‘complying presentation’.  Their undertaking will be an additional undertaking in addition to the issuing bank’s undertaking  Beneficiary is more comfortable under this arrangement since he is assured of payment immediately on presentation of documents to the confirming bank

NEGOTIATION OF DOCUMENTS UNDER UNCONFIRMED CREDIT Banco BradescoBARCLAYS BANK ABC LTD HPC L

UNCONFIRMED CREDIT PAYMENT BY A NEGOTIATING BANK…  Even though Negotiating bank does not have any commitment to pay, they pay value against set of credit complied documents drawn under a letter of credit to the beneficiary.

Reimbursing Bank- JP MORGAN LC Issuing Bank (BANCO BRADESCO) CITI BANK / BARCLAYS BANK Confirming or Negotiating Bank Reimbursement under LC transaction 4 1.Reimbursement authority from Issuing Bank to RB 2.IB advising claiming bank 3.Claiming bank submits valid claim message 4.RB debits the IB account and reimburses the claiming bank

DOCUMENTARY CREDIT…..  An arrangement whereby a bank acting at the request and on instructions of a customer i.e., the applicant  To make payment to a third party (the beneficiary) by themselves or authorize other bank to pay or negotiate  Against stipulated documents Provided  The documents presented represents ‘complying presentation’.

PARTIES TO DOC. CREDIT  Applicant  Beneficiary  Issuing bank  Advising bank  Confirming bank  Negotiating bank  Reimbursing bank

Discounting of bills under Inland letter of credit Issuing bank Sellers Bank buyer seller

TYPES OF CREDIT  Irrevocable (from 1 st July 2007 all credits are irrevocable)  Confirmed /unconfirmed  Restricted/free  Transferable  Back to back  Revolving  Deferred  Red clause  Standby

Requirements….. Name of the issuing bank Name of the confirming bank Value of LC Last date of shipment Expiry date If the shipment is completed on 1 st Dec what will be the expiry date for LC Documents required Type of LC

Confirmed Credit Issuing Bank requests another Bank – can be in the exporter’s country or in the third country to pay to the beneficiary on their behalf against presentation of documents. Once this arrangement is agreed for, then this credit is known as confirmed credit.

Restricted Credit Issuing Bank, while issuing the letter of credit, nominates a specified bank to negotiate the documents under this credit. It means only the nominated Bank will be authorised to negotiate the documents. Recent developments

Freely Negotiable credit.. In a freely negotiable letter of credit any bank can negotiate the documents and claim reimbursement. Beneficiary has got the choice of presenting the documents to his own bank and claim payment. This will be advantageous to the exporter.

1.Beneficiary approaches nominated bank to transfer this L/C in favour of 3 sub suppliers (A, B & C) at 50%, 25%, 25% retaining his profit margin of 10 %.Please note the same L/C is transferred in parts.

Transferable Credit  A LC is transferable only if the issuing bank designates it.  Beneficiary has the right to request the nominated bank to transfer credits in parts or in full in favour of one or more beneficiaries if partial shipment permitted.

Beneficiary Global Exports India Ltd. is now becoming the Applicant and requests for opening fresh L/C’s Back To Back L/C Beneficiary’s Bank Bank of India A KARNAL B DELHI C CHANDIGARH At the request of Beneficiary, Bank of India has opened 3 fresh L/C’s

Back to Back  The second set of LC opened by a bank at the request of the exporter is known as Back to Back Credit. ( in case the exporter is not the actual manufacturer)  The beneficiary of the original LC becomes the applicant for the Back to Back LC.

Revolving Credit The amount of drawing is reinstated and made available to the beneficiary again for the agreed period of time on notification of payment by the applicant or on submission of documents.

Deferred Payment Credits  The amount is payable by the Issuing Bank in installments on deferred payment basis.  Partial payment is done in advance and balance in agreed installments according to terms in LC.

STANDBY CREDITS  Promise to honour beneficiary’s presentation of a document indicating the default of the applicant  Act as a standby arrangement in case the obligation is not fulfilled by the applicant

Exporter’s Bank Issuing Bank Submission of Draft / Bill of Exchange Documents forwarded Documents Presented Payment made Payment made Payment made to Exporter Goods consigned directly Payment demanded on due date and defaulted by importer 3 Standby credit

Date of shipment 15 th dec 2008 Expiry date 31th dec 2008 Payment terms: 10% advance payment 80% on 360 th day from date of shipment 10% on installation and satisfactory commissioning of the equipments

STANDBY CREDITS More useful in collection instruments On account – consignment sale.  In respect of any debt, obligation or any liability by the overseas party in connection with bonafide trade transaction  As a back up instrument for collection

STANDBY CREDITS..  To present a copy of commercial invoice & unpaid bill of exchange  ISP 98 issued by ICC is the governing guidelines for this transaction  Reserve bank of India has since permitted authorised dealers to open standby credits to cover import trade transactions….

TYPES OF STANDBY CREDITS.. Performance standby – to pay the losses arising out of default of the applicant Advance payment standby Bid bond / tender Counter standby – separate standby by the beneficiary Financial standby – obligation to repay the borrowed money Commercial standby – applicant to pay for the goods Insurance standby – to meet reinsurance obligation

Presently used in case of Export transactions: Advance payment of the overseas buyer to the exporter can be secured by Standby credit Direct dispatch of shipping documents to the overseas buyer can be secured by the exporter Consignment sales Deferred payments …… if not paid on due date

Import transactions... Default of payment by the importer in case of suppliers credit and buyers credit Risk factors: absence of evidence of shipment/ Insurance documents…..

Who can opt for Import Standby credits.. Importers of crude oil & petroleum products Independent power producers Status exporters / 100% EOUs Public Sector Undertakings / Public Limited Companies with good track record Private Ltd companies / non corporate bodies

Precautions... Status report on the seller invocation of SBC only with supportive documents declaration of importers default copy of invoice non-negotiable bill of lading*** Lloyds / SGS inspection certificate

Precautions... Incorporation of an additional clause In the event of payment being made earlier - provision to dishonor the claim Subject to Intl.Standby Practices (ISP 98) certain highlights on ISP 98

ISP If local laws conflicting with SBC operations, local law will prevail Expiration day - if closed for transaction - extended to 30 calendar days Reasonable time for refusal of documents by Issuing Bank / Confirming bank within 3 days - reasonable beyond 7 days - unreasonable…..?

END OF PART I