Buyer credit is a short term credit available to an importer from overseas lenders such as banks and other financial institution for goods they are importing. The overseas banks usually lend the importer based on the letter of comfort issued by the importer's bank. For this service the importer's bank or buyer's credit consultant charges a fee called an arrangement fee. Buyer's credit helps local importers gain access to cheaper foreign funds that may be closer to LIBOR rates as against local sources of funding which are more costly. The duration of buyer's credit may vary from country to country, as per the local regulations. For example, in India, buyer's credit can be availed for one year in case the import is for tradeable goods and for three years if the import is for capital goods.
Benefits to importer
Buyer's credit has several advantages for the importer. The exporter gets paid on due date; whereas importer gets extended date for making an import payment as per the cash flows. The importer can deal with exporter on sight basis, negotiate a better discount and use the buyers credit route to avail financing. The funding currency can be depending on the choice of the customer and availability of LIBOR rates in the exchange market. The importer can use this financing for any form of payment mode, such as: open account, collections, or LCs.
Steps involved
The customer requests the Buyer's Credit Arranger to arrange the credit before the due date of the bill
Arrange to request overseas bank branches to provide a buyer's credit offer letter in the name of the importer. Best rate of interest is quoted to the importer
Overseas bank to fund Importer's bank Nostro account for the required amount
Importer's bank to make import bill payment by utilizing the amount credited
Importer's bank will recover the required amount from the importer and remit the same to overseas bank on due date.
Interest cost is charged by overseas bank as a financing cost.
Risk involved
Buyer's credit is associated with currency risk. Thus, Hedging may be required as foreign currency is involved, making Buyer's Credit risky at times.
Indian regulatory framework
Banks can provide buyer’s credit up to US$20 million per import transactions for a maximum maturity period of one year from date of shipment. In case of import of capital goods, banks can approve buyer’s credits up to $20 million per transaction with a maturity period of up to three years. No rollover beyond that period is permitted. As per RBI directives dated 11.07.13, at the time of availment of trade credit, the period of trade credit should be linked to the operating cycle and trade transaction. AD banks need to ensure that these instructions are strictly complied with. RBI has issued directions under Sec 10 and Sec 11 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, stating that authorized dealers may approve proposals received for short-term credit for financing—by way of either suppliers' credit or buyers' credit—of import of goods into India, based on uniform criteria. Credit is to be extended for a period of less than three years; amount of credit should not exceed $20 million, per import transaction; the `all-in-cost' per annum, payable for the credit is not to exceed 6 months LIBOR + 350 basis points for credit up to one year, and LIBOR + 125 basis points for credits for periods beyond one year but less than three years, for the currency of credit. All applications for short-term credit exceeding $20 million for any import transaction are to be forwarded to the Chief General Manager, Exchange Control Department, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, External Commercial Borrowing Division, Mumbai. Each credit has to be given `a unique identification number' by authorised dealers and the number so allotted should be quoted in all references. The International Banking Division of the authorised dealer is required to furnish the details of approvals granted by all its branches, during the month, in Form ECB-ST to the RBI, so as to reach not later than 5th of the following month. No 24 dated September 27, 2002. As per RBI Master circular on External Commercial Borrowing and Trade Finance 1 July 2011, the all-in cost ceiling for interest is now six month L + 200 for buyer's credit arrange for tenure up to three years. All cost ceiling includes arranger fee, upfront fee, management fee, handling and processing charges, out-of-pocket and legal expenses, if any. The above ceiling got revised on 15/11/2011 to 6 Month Libor + 350 and got further extended on 30/03/2012 till 30/09/2012. From 01-10-2012 Maximum cap of 6 Month Libor + 350 bsp has been extended till further review.
